ITEM:		ACTION ITEM
14.	CONSIDER EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS TO EXPAND PILOT FRACTURED ROCK INVESTIGATION
Meeting Date:			September 20, 2010	Budgeted:	N/A
From:			Darby Fuerst,	Program/	N/A
			General Manager	Line Item No.:
Prepared By:			Henrietta Stern, Jonathan Lear	Cost Estimate:	$30,100
General Counsel Review: Counsel has not reviewed this staff note.
Committee Recommendation: The Water Demand Committee reviewed this item and recommended approval at its July 21, 2010 meeting. The Administrative Committee reviewed this item on September 13, 2010 and recommended that it be considered by the full Board as an Action Item on the agenda.
CEQA Compliance: N/A

SUMMARY: The Board will consider expenditure of funds to expand the previously authorized pilot study of wells in fractured rock formations in the Carmel Woods, Carmel Views and Aguajito areas to fractured rock wells within the entire District. Approximately 650 wells are known to exist in the expanded study area, which includes the Carmel Valley Upland and Miscellaneous areas (including incorporated cities, upland Highway 68 corridor, Pebble Beach, and Carmel Highlands). The study area does not include the Carmel Valley Alluvial Aquifer or Seaside Groundwater Basin, as these source areas are not supplied by fractured rock formations.

As explained below, the requested amount is $30,100 for consultant assistance and equipment purchase. This item is partially budgeted in the current fiscal year budget.

RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Board:

Ø approve the expanded study;

Ø authorize staff to retain Hutnak Hydrologic Consultant Services for a not-to-exceed amount of $26,500 for 530 hours (Exhibit 14-A);

Ø authorize staff to purchase six automatic data loggers at $600 each for a total of $3,600; and

Ø direct staff to present its findings to the Water Demand Committee at a future meeting (mid-2011).

BACKGROUND: At its January 28, 2010 meeting, the Board did not approve Urgency Ordinance No. 143 that would have temporarily suspended receipt and processing of Pre-Applications and Applications for a MPWMD Water Distribution System (WDS) permit that is supplied by a well drilled in “fractured rock.” The Board referred additional research and discussion back to the Water Demand, Rules and Regulations Review, and Technical Advisory Committees. Ordinance No. 143 information is available at:

http://www.mpwmd.dst.ca.us/asd/board/boardpacket/2010/20100128/20/item20.htm

The Water Demand Committee (WDC) has been the lead committee regarding this matter. It encouraged staff to conduct a pilot study of fractured rock wells in an area of concern and report back to the committee.

At the June 18, 2010 Water Demand Committee (WDC) meeting, staff presented its findings, conclusions and recommendations based on a pilot study of wells in the Carmel Woods, Carmel Views and Aguajito areas. The presentation relied on an extensive data mining effort, primarily using a consultant, who used District, County and State of California records of wells in the study area. Staff then applied GIS technology to create visual representations of the hydrogeology, well location and water use trends. Additional information and the pilot study PowerPoint presentation is provided on the District website at:

http://www.mpwmd.dst.ca.us/asd/board/committees/waterdemandcommittee/2010/20100618/0618agenda.htm (see agenda item 2). A presentation on the pilot study and status update on regulations governing fractured rock wells was also made at the Technical Advisory Committee at its August 3, 2010 meeting.

On June 18, 2010, the WDC directed District staff to develop a scope and cost estimate to expand the pilot study methodology to fractured rock wells within the entire District. This information was presented to the WDC at its July 21, 2010 meeting, and the committee recommended approval.

IMPACT ON STAFF/RESOURCES: As shown in Exhibit 14-A, expanding this effort to other fractured rock areas within the District, using the same consultant and methods, would cost an estimated $26,500 for 530 hours. The nine major tasks would take about six months to complete. The consultant rate is $50 per hour. The consultant cost estimate does not include instrumentation of selected monitor wells. Assuming six wells are found to be adequate for monitoring, another $3,600 would be needed for six automatic data loggers at $600 each. Thus, the total cost estimate is $30,100.

Given that procedures from the pilot study are already established, only 40 hours are expected for staff oversight and administration. Another 40 hours would be needed to download information from the data loggers.

The adopted Fiscal Year 2010-2011 budget includes a line item for $10,000 for fractured rock analysis (item 2-8-7). Thus, if this expanded study is approved by the Board, a mid-year budget adjustment will be needed to account for the estimated $20,100 overage.

It is noted that the General Manager requested co-funding of the expanded study from Monterey County. The County declined due to its current budget crisis and the fact that they will be providing in-kind services regarding this matter. Attached as Exhibit 14-B is the correspondence between the District and the Monterey County Health Department.

EXHIBITS

14-A Cost estimate for Hutnak Hydrologic Consultant Services

14-B MPWMD funding request letter and MCHD response letter

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