ITEM:		ACTION ITEM
16.	CONSIDER APPROVAL OF REVISED MOU FOR INTEGRATED REGIONAL WATER MANAGEMENT IN THE MONTEREY PENINSULA, CARMEL BAY AND SOUTH MONTEREY BAY ITEMS RELATED TO INTEGRATED REGIONAL WATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
Meeting Date:			January 23, 2019	Budgeted:	N/A
From:			David J. Stoldt,	Program/	2-6-1-A
			General Manager	Line Item No.:	Prop. 1 Coordination
Prepared By:			Larry Hampson	Cost Estimate:	N/A
General Counsel Review: N/A
Committee Recommendation: The Administrative Committee has not reviewed this item due to cancellation of the January 2019 meeting.
CEQA Compliance: Exempt under CEQA Section 15262

SUMMARY: In 2018, the Regional Water Management Group (RWMG) formed to implement the Monterey Peninsula Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Plan met with local stakeholders, several of whom expressed an interest in joining the RWMG. A copy of the draft amended MOU to add new members to the RWMG is attached as Exhibit 16-A.

RECOMMENDATION: With this recommendation, the General Manager would be authorized to make minor or non-substantive modifications to the RWMG Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) presented to the Board (Exhibit 16-A, attached), in order to accommodate changes requested by other signatories, and to execute the MOU on behalf of the District. District staff recommends approval of the above action.

DISCUSSION: In 2014, voters approved the $7 billion Proposition 1, a portion of which authorized $43 million in competitive grants for Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) projects in the six Central Coast IRWM regions^[1]. Funding is administered by the Department of Water Resources (DWR). The amount allocated to the Monterey Peninsula, Carmel Bay, and Southern Monterey Bay (Monterey Peninsula) region is proposed to be $4.3 million. The District has represented the Monterey Peninsula region in negotiating a funding area agreement.

The Central Coast IRWM regions have agreed to a funding area allocation that requires a local entity from each planning region to execute a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on behalf of each region (see attached Exhibit 14-A).

The intent of the IRWM Grant Program is to encourage integrated regional strategies for management of water resources and to provide funding, through competitive grants, for projects that protect communities from drought, protect and improve water quality, and improve local water security by reducing dependence on imported water. The IRWM Grant Program is administered by DWR and is intended to promote a comprehensive model for water management. One of the goals of the IRWM Grant Program is to encourage communities to work on synergistic approaches to solving regional water supply and environmental quality problems.

In 2007, MPWMD helped form a Regional Water Management Group (RWMG) to implement the IRWM Plan with other local agencies that have regional responsibilities for water resources management. The RWMG initially executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in June 2008 and has subsequently amended the MOU several times to expand the RWMG in response to state legislation and local interest. The MOU formalizes the collaborative planning effort that several local agencies have been involved in for several years, describes the process for completing and amending, and describes the role of stakeholders in carrying out the Plan.

In 2016, MPWMD worked with the Monterey Peninsula RWMG and other Central Coast RWMGs to negotiate a funding area allocation for Prop. 1 IRWM funds. The Monterey Peninsula region is eligible for approximately $4.3 million of the $43 million to be awarded to the Central Coast funding area.

STAFF/RESOURCE IMPACTS: Section 6.16 of the MOU, Personnel resources, states “It is expected that the General Managers and/or other officials of each entity signatory to this MOU will periodically meet to insure that adequate staff resources are available to implement the IRWM Plan.” Staff anticipates additional effort over the next few years to coordinate the completion and adoption of an updated IRWM Plan, an application to the State in 2019 for IRWM grant funds, and continuing efforts in administering Disadvantage Community grant funds previously awarded to the planning region.

EXHIBIT

16-A Draft Amended Memorandum of Understanding for in the Monterey Peninsula, Carmel Bay, and South Monterey Bay Area

U:\staff\Boardpacket\2019\20190123\ActionItems\16\Item-16.docx

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[1]. The Central Coast funding area is comprised of the watershed areas draining to the Monterey Bay, and includes portions of Santa Clara County and San Benito County, and all of Monterey, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties. The Monterey Peninsula region includes the Carmel River watershed, the six Monterey Peninsula cities, and portions of unincorporated Monterey County in the Carmel Highlands and along Highway 68.