ITEM:		CONSENT CALENDAR
3.	WILDLIFE CONSERVATION BOARD CALIFORNIA STREAMFLOW ENHANCMEENT PROGRAM GRANT APPLICATION (A) CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 2015-16 IN SUPPORT OF FILING A PROPOSITION 1 GRANT APPLICATION (B) Authorize the General Manager to ENTER INTO GRANT AGREEMENTS
Meeting Date:			September 21, 2015	Budgeted:	Yes
From:			David J. Stoldt,	Program/	Water Supply Projects
			General Manager	Line Item No:	1-8-1-A IFIM feasibility studies
Prepared By:			Larry Hampson	Cost Estimate:	$125,000
General Counsel Review: N/A
Committee Recommendation: The Administrative Committee reviewed this item on September 14, 2015 and recommended approval.
CEQA Compliance: N/A

SUMMARY: For Fiscal Year 2015/16 the Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) is proposing to award up to $38,400,000 statewide in competitive grants from Proposition 1 bond funds. Up to $5 million will be available for scientific studies including “… studies to evaluate instream flow needs…or evaluate habitat suitability and temperature needs.” The FY 2015-16 District budget includes $125,000 for the development of such studies. District staff is requesting authorization to move forward with a grant application for a project estimated at $400,000 with a local match of $125,000 (31.25% local match). Applications are due September 30, 2015. If this item is approved by the Board and a grant is awarded to the District, an agreement would be executed between MPWMD and the WCB and staff would retain one or more consultants to complete the project.

RECOMMENDATION: If this item is approved, the Board will:

A) Adopt Resolution 2015-16 to apply for a grant from the Proposition 1 California Stream Flow Enhancement Program;

B) Authorize the General Manager to enter into a contract with the Wildlife Conservation Board (or State of California) to receive a grant. The General Manager will also be authorized to negotiate agreements with consultants to carry out the scope of work described in the grant contract.

District staff recommends approval of the above actions.

DISCUSSION: A 2010 report by the State Water Resources Control Board recommends completion of an instream flow study for the Carmel River and estimates its cost at $400,000 to $800,000. The District previously authorized up to $100,000 for assistance to develop a scope of work for an Instream Flow Incremental Method study and for work to test existing habitat suitability criteria for steelhead in the Carmel River (see March 25, 2015 Board meeting agenda, Item 3). Approximately $90,000 has been expended to date to complete a detailed scope of work for the study and to begin testing for habitat suitability.

If this project is awarded grant funds, the District would be responsible for grant administration, in-house analysis, and oversight of consultant contracts. Where feasible, both MPWMD and CDFW resources would be used in the field to defray the cost of field sampling, which can be labor intensive. For a grant, the District would provide in-kind services and fund consultant costs for a total of up to $125,000 in local cost share. The State would be asked to fund up to $275,000 for the project for a total project cost of $400,000.

The IFIM study would involve developing a one-dimensional (1D) and 2D hydraulic model to simulate flow and habitat at specific locations in the Carmel River that are considered representative of the river from Highway 1 at River Mile (RM) 1 to Los Padres Dam at RM 25. Habitat suitability criteria (HSC) would be developed based on a test of whether Big Sur River HSC can be used in the Carmel River (to be conducted) or on field measurements in the Carmel River.

The IFIM study would be used to evaluate what instream flows are appropriate for various steelhead life stages and how different levels of flow diversions would affect habitat in the river for each life stage. In addition, staff would analyze lagoon elevation data and inflow to the lagoon collected since 1991 to determine beach percolation rates and the frequency of specific water levels. This would be coupled with data from a study by the Malpaso Water Company of steelhead habitat quality and quantity at various levels and in all four seasons.

The District, CDFW, NMFS, Cal-Am, and others are interested in evaluating both existing Carmel River operations and the effects to steelhead habitat from proposed alternatives for water supply, surface flow management, and well operations in the Carmel Valley Alluvial Aquifer.

IMPACT ON STAFF/RESOURCES: Application for a grant will be completed by the District’s Planning and Engineering Division staff with assistance from the Water Resources Division. Minimal direct costs may be incurred to obtain relevant documents from other agencies and to copy and mail the application. If the District receives a grant, staff time will be required to administer a grant, to coordinate with other agencies, and to facilitate consultant services.

EXHIBIT

3-A Resolution No. 2015-16

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