ITEM:		CONSENT CALENDAR
3.	Consider EXPENDITURE OF BUDGETED REIMBURSABLE FUNDS TO CONTRACT With Right on Q hydrogeology to PROVIDE TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO ASSESS AND INVENTORY DATA TO SUPPORT A FUTURE COUPLED SURFACE WATER GROUNDWATER MODELING EFFORT IN CARMEL VALLEY
Meeting Date:			April 16, 2012	Budgeted:	Yes
From:			Dave J. Stoldt, General Manager	Program/	Protect Environmental Quality
				Line Item No.:	Program 2
Prepared By:			Thomas Christensen	Cost Estimate:	$ 16,000 ($ 16,000 is reimbursable)
General Counsel Review: N/A
Committee Recommendation: The Administrative Committee reviewed this item on April 9, 2012 and recommended approval.
CEQA Compliance: N/A

SUMMARY: This item is to request approval to enter into an agreement for services in an amount not-to-exceed $16,000 with Right on Q Hydrogeology to provide technical assistance with development of a new model to help manage the coupled surface and groundwater resources in Carmel Valley. Attached is Exhibit 3-A, Scope of Work, Fee Schedule, and Work Schedule for the project. Funds for this project were included in the FY 2011-12 budget under Program line item 2-6-I “Hydrologic Monitoring – Carmel Valley Alluvial Aquifer” and are reimbursable from an Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) program grant from the Department of Water Resources. This project is part of an update of the IRWM Plan for the Monterey Peninsula, Carmel Bay, and Southern Monterey Bay Region.

RECOMMENDATION: In order to begin the development of a coupled surface and groundwater model for the Carmel Valley Alluvial Aquifer, staff recommends that the Board of Directors authorize the General Manager to enter into a consultant agreement with Right on Q Hydrogeology to provide technical assistance for the IRWM Plan Update, Project 8 – “Development of a Surface and Groundwater Model for the Carmel Valley Aquifer” at a cost not-to-exceed $16,000, of which $16,000 would be reimbursed with State grant funds from Proposition 84.

BACKGROUND: The Monterey Peninsula Water Management District (MPWMD or District) is coordinating an update of the Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (IRWM Plan or Plan) for the Monterey Peninsula, Carmel Bay, and Southern Monterey Bay Region. The update includes tasks to bring the plan into conformance with Proposition 84 standards and includes nine projects related to the update. The total cost to update the plan is estimated to be $1.8 million. About 55% of this cost will be reimbursed by a grant from the California Department of Water

Resources of $995,000 from Proposition 84 funds. The balance of the project costs ($809,000) will be from cash and in-kind services provided from the stakeholders in the planning region.

The Work Plan, Budget, and Schedule to update the IRWM Plan can be viewed or downloaded at the District’s IRWM web site at:

http://www.mpwmd.dst.ca.us/Mbay_IRWM/Mbay_IRWM.htm

One of the projects contained in the update is Project 8 – “Development of a Surface and Groundwater Model for the Carmel Valley Aquifer”. The Carmel Valley Alluvial Aquifer and the Carmel River have been modeled using various techniques in the past; however, these models are not current, and have limited ability to answer questions about how to best manage the coupled resource of surface river flow and flow in the subterranean channels underlying the river (i.e., the alluvial aquifer). Newer models, such as GSFLOW, which was first released in 2008 by the United States Geologic Service, more accurately model the link between stream flow and the underlining aquifer and can incorporate the effect of individual diversions on aquifer storage and surface flow. Developing a GSFLOW model will provide MPWMD with an up-to-date model to simulate the interaction between stream flow and groundwater movement in the alluvial portion of the Carmel River. With this tool, MPWMD will be able to provide recommendations concerning the best management practices for the resource and will be able to answer questions surrounding the effects of regional and local projects on the resources of the Carmel River. Ultimately, it is hoped that the new model will help to:

1. Predict the effects of changes in well pumping patterns and locations on the surface flow and aquifer storage along the Carmel River;

2. Achieve better management of flows in the Carmel River to protect riparian vegetation and reduce erosion;

3. Predict effects of regional projects on the Carmel River and prescribe best management practices for Carmel River diversions;

4. Assess effects of ASR diversions of the Carmel River on critical riffles that may block migration of adult steelhead;

5. Assess the effects of main stem dam removal or modifications on the flows in the Carmel River;

6. Assess the effects on aquatic habitat in the Carmel River Lagoon by better management of flows in the Carmel River or from projects proposed to augment lagoon volume;

7. Assess the effects of climate change on aquifer storage and flows in the Carmel River;

8. Assess the impacts of single water distribution systems (private wells) on flows in the Carmel River.

The work product from this task would be used in a Request for Proposal to fully develop the surface-groundwater model for the basin.

IMPACT TO STAFF/RESOURCES: Funds for this project expenditure are included in the Project Expenditures portion of the FY 2011-12 budget under Program line item 2-6-I “Hydrologic Monitoring – Carmel Valley Alluvial Aquifer” and are reimbursable from an Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) program grant from the Department of Water Resources. The non-State share funding match (local match) of $19,350 will be met with in-kind service (staff time) by MPWMD.

EXHIBITS

3-A Scope of Work, Fee Schedule, and Work Schedule

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