FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE

 

ITEM:

ACTION ITEM

 

4.

CONSIDER CONTRACTING WITH WEBER WATER RESOURCES TO DESTROY MONITOR WELL FO-10

 

Meeting Date:

October 13, 2025

Budgeted: 

Yes

 

From:

David J. Stoldt,

Program/

Project Operations

 

General Manager

Line Item:

2-5-3.11

 

Prepared By:

Jonathan Lear

Cost Estimate:

$74,000

 

General Counsel Review:  N/A

Committee Recommendation: The Finance and Administration Committee considered this item on October 13, 2025, and recommended ________________.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

SUMMARY: In the early 1990’s, the District installed a number of monitor wells on the former Fort Ord after the base closed.  The monitor well network was installed to gain a better understanding of the hydrogeology of the Seaside Groundwater Basin in the Northern Coastal Sub Area of the Seaside Groundwater Basin.  The wells were named the Fort Ord Monitor wells.  A total of 11 wells were installed over 3 years.  Fort Ord 10 and 11 exist in what is now the Monterey Sub-Basin and is managed under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) by Marina Coast.  Because FO 10 and 11 are not in the Seaside Groundwater Basin, the District offered to deed them to Marina Coast so that they could be utilized in the SGMA monitor network for the Monterey Sub-Area.  Marina Coast performed a number of analyses on the monitor wells and determined that FO-10 was compromised and would not be of use for groundwater monitoring.  Additionally, FO-10 is in the footprint of the Campus Town and would need to be addressed as to how it would interfere with the development plans.  Because the well is owned by the District, it is our responsibility to destroy the well.

 

It has been known for over 6 months that this well might need to be destroyed, and it was put in the 2025-2026 Budget with a $30,000 placeholder.  District staff reached out to three well-drilling companies in August and asked for quotes to perform the well destruction. Two of the companies did not respond with quotes, and the District received a quote from Weber Water Resources for $68,500 to complete the work.  District staff recommends that this work be completed as soon as possible to allow the City of Seaside to continue with its development of this area.  The additional funds in excess of $30,000 will be addressed in a mid-year budget adjustment.  Staff recommends an additional 8% contingency (approximately) be included in this project, which would bring the total contract amount to $74,000.  District staff will perform permitting and construction management to keep the project costs low.

 

RECOMMENDATION:   Staff recommends that the Finance and Administration Committee recommend the Board authorize District Staff to enter into a contract with Weber Water Resources to complete the Destruction of FO10 for an amount not to exceed $74,000.

 

BACKGROUND: With the closing of Fort Ord as an active Army Base in the early 1990’s, the District gained access to land that had previously been restricted.  This provided the District the opportunity to drill a number of exploratory wells to better understand the Hydrogeology of the Seaside Groundwater Basin.  These wells are 2” PVC monitor wells and have a lifetime of approximately 30 years.  This monitor network is showing age, and some of the wells have failed.  In 2023, FO-9 failed and needed to be re-drilled.  The District is now proposing to re-drill FO-10 as it is in the Monterey Sub-Basin, which is managed by Marina Coast.  The quote for performing this work is included as Exhibit 4-A. 

 

The District adopted the California Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act and its contracting policies for construction projects as part of its updated Purchasing Policy in April 2024. This allows District staff to perform projects less than $75,000 by force account, negotiated contract, or by purchase order as of January 1, 2025, as prescribed by California Public Contract Code 22032. 

 

EXHIBIT

4-A  Quote from Weber Water Resources to destroy FO-10

 

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