ITEM:

CONSENT CALENDAR

 

8.

Consider ENTERING INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE BIG SUR LAND TRUST TO FUND AN UPDATE OF the Integrated Regional Water Management Plan for the Monterey Peninsula, Carmel Bay and Southern Monterey Bay

 

Meeting Date:

April 16, 2018

Budgeted: 

Yes

 

From:

Dave Stoldt,

General Manager

Program/

Protect Environmental Quality

 

 

Line Item No.:    

Program 2-6-1-A

 

 

 

Prepared By:

Larry Hampson

Cost Estimate:

$ 34,000

 

General Counsel Approval:  N/A

Committee Recommendation:  The Administrative Committee reviewed this item on April 9, 2018 and recommended approval.

CEQA Compliance:  This action does not constitute a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines section 15378.

 

SUMMARY:  Last fall, MPWMD staff requested assistance with facilitating and implementing the Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) program within the Monterey Peninsula region.  Sarah Hardgrave, the Big Sur Land Trust (BSLT) Conservation Program Manager,  volunteered to review and identify the scope of activities that would be needed to position this region to be eligible for Proposition 1 grant funds for project implementation.

 

BSLT currently has the capacity to support this effort and is proposing that Sarah Hardgrave serve in an IRWM program management capacity this year.  Based on comments from the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) 2014 review of the Monterey Peninsula IRWM Plan and DWR’s 2016 updated requirements for the IRWM Plan standards, minor updates to the 2014 IRWMP need made this year in order to be eligible for the Prop 1 Project Implementation funding. In addition, based on discussion with members of the Regional Water Management Group (RWMG) and other stakeholders, the 2014 IRWM Project list needs to be updated to reflect current projects that may be pursued in a Prop 1 IRWM implementation grant.  Based on the attached scope of work and budget (Exhibit 8-A), BSLT costs to provide these services is about $34,000.

 

RECOMMENDATION:  Staff recommends that the General Manager be authorized to enter into an agreement with the Big Sur Land Trust to carry out an IRWM Plan update and facilitate a project solicitation process for a not-to-exceed amount of $34,000.

 

DISCUSSION:  The MPWMD Board approved an updated IRWM Plan for the region on June 23, 2014.  That plan conformed to Proposition 84 standards and was accepted by DWR.  The passage of Proposition 1 in November 2014 mandated several changes to IRWM Plan Standards as described in Attachment 3 to Exhibit A.  The Monterey Peninsula region is eligible to receive up to $4.33 million of the funds allocated to the Central Coast Funding area as shown in Attachment 2 to Exhibit A.  However, to be eligible to receive grant funds from DWR, the region must update the IRWM Plan to current standards and must carry out a project solicitation to identify the best projects to fund.

 

Since 2005, MPWMD has facilitated the development and implementation of the IRWM program for the Monterey Peninsula region and should continue to provide assistance with this effort.  However, BSLT is exceptionally qualified to lead an expansion of the RWMG and position the region for receiving implementation funds.

 

IMPACT TO STAFF/RESOURCES:  Funds are included in Project Expenditures Line Item 2-6-1-A “Prop 1 Coordination” in the Fiscal Year 2017-18 budget adopted by the Board of Directors on June 19, 2017. 

 

EXHIBIT

8-A      March 29, 2018 Letter (Saunders to Stoldt)

 

 

 

 

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