ITEM:		CONSENT CALENDAR
4.	Authorize Expenditure to Replace the Vertical Water Quality Profiling Device’s Drive System in the Carmel River Lagoon
Meeting Date:			August 21, 2017	Budgeted:	Yes
From:			Dave Stoldt,	Program/	Aquatic Resources/
			General Manager	Line Item No.:	Fisheries 2-4-1 B
Prepared By:			Kevan Urquhart	Cost Estimate:	$38,031.25
General Counsel Approval: N/A
Committee Recommendation: The Administrative Committee reviewed this item on August 14, 2017 and recommended approval.
CEQA Compliance: This action does not constitute a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15378.

SUMMARY: In 2014, the District took over the operation of the California State Department of Parks and Recreation’s (CDPR) vertical water quality profiler in the Carmel Lagoon that they had installed in 2008. A copy of that memorandum of agreement is attached as Exhibit 4-A. CDPR operated their Sonde for a little over two years before funding to support it expired.

The profiler and water quality probe set up is mounted on the Carmel Area Wastewater District’s outlet pipe in the south arm of the lagoon. This profiler and its Xylem/YSI probe (known as a ‘Sonde’) collect salinity, dissolved oxygen, and temperature data at one meter increments, every four hours. It had not been operated for about four years, when we attempted to reactivate it. In 2015, CDPR also paid to add a turbidity probe to the Sonde, in expectation of future monitoring for the Carmel River Free project, being promoted by Big Sur Land Trust.

Fisheries Program staff attempted to operate the profiler for three years, but it had significant reliability problems. We expended ~$6,600 on repair services in 2014 – 2016 with the technician that built the device, but could not get it to operate reliably for more than a couple of months at a time. The original mechanical profiler installation was a custom design, manufactured by Kinnetic Laboratories Inc. in Santa Cruz. The technician that built and maintained the profiler has now retired and recommended that we either rebuild it from scratch, or purchase the only available off-the-shelf solution from Xylem/YSI. The Xylem/.YSI bid is attached as Exhibit 4-B.

While Fisheries staff collect data at least monthly at five sites in the lagoon, this is only useful for characterizing general trends, not for modelling or analysis of lagoon dynamics needed to evaluate any further lagoon restoration actions, including inflow improvements due to compliance with the Cease and Desist Order, Water Rights Order 20016-0016. The District and its partners who are interested in the data, need a reliable mechanical device to move the probe through the water column and control its sampling on a daily basis.

This bid from Xylem/YSI is the only option other than sending out a Request For Proposal (RFP) seeking bidders on a replacement custom installation, as was done originally by CDPR. The probe itself (the ‘Sonde’) is operating reliably. The Xylem/YSI mechanical profiler is the only non-custom device available for this installation.

We are seeking authorization for funds to cover the bid for hardware/software ($27,270.65), and installation ($5,800), and a 15% contingency ($4,960.60), since the vendor’s agent could not reach the installation site on his bid visit, as the site was under water. The total is not to exceed $38,031.25

RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the District Board authorize expenditure of budgeted funds in a not-to-exceed amount of $38,031.25, to cover the bid price and 15% contingency for the purchase and installation of a Xylem/YSY Model E78 fixed profiler. The Administrative Committee reviewed this item at its August 14, 2017 meeting and voted 2 to 0 recommend approval of the expenditure.

IMPACT TO STAFF/RESOURCES: The Fiscal Year 20017-2018 Budget includes $40,000 for the replacement of the mechanical profiler. The actual bid plus any unforeseen contingency will be less than that amount.

EXHIBITS

4-A 2014 MOU Between MPWMD and CDPR Regarding operation and Ownership of the Carmel River Lagoon Water Quality Profiler and Sonde

4-B 06/06/17 Xylem/YSI Bid to Replace the Lagoon Profiler Using the Existing Sonde and Probes

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