ITEM:		CONSENT CALENDAR
6.	CONSIDER ALLOCATING FUNDS TO PURCHASE A PORTABLE SONIC FLOW METER TO SUPPORT ASR AND SLEEPY HOLLOW OPERATIONS AND WATER RIGHTS REPORTING
Meeting Date:			October 18, 2021	Budgeted:	Yes
From:			David J. Stoldt	Program/	Hydrologic Monitoring
			General Manager	Line Item:	2-5-3
Prepared By:			Jonathan Lear	Cost Estimate:	$5,000
General Counsel Review: N/A
Committee Review: The Administrative Committee reviewed this item on October 11, 2021 and recommended approval.
CEQA Compliance: This action does not constitute a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines section 15378.

SUMMARY: The District tests the calibration of meters on the ASR and Sleepy Hollow Facilities on an annual schedule. In order to be compliant, the State Water Resources Control Board requires a meter calibration plan to be put into place to keep meters used at the projects within factory specifications. Over the past few years, the District has hired consultants to perform the calibration checks at ASR and Sleepy Hollow. District staff would like to procure a sonic flow meter that would allow staff to bring the task in house. Additionally, the ASR project operates in response to the River flow conditions and the meters totalize in the reverse direction when ASR is injecting water and scheduling consultants on short notice in response to project operations is sometimes tricky.

RECOMMENDATION: The Administrative Committee recommends that the Board authorize the General Manager to allocate funds up to $5,000 to purchase a sonic flow meter to support Water Rights and Statement of Use reporting to the State Water Resources Control Board.

BACKGROUND: The District maintains several Water Rights related to its projects. Water Rights 20808 A and C are used to divert water from the Cal-Am Carmel Valley wells during high flows and inject water into the Seaside Groundwater Basin. The District files a Statement of Use under Permit S027340 to use a Riparian Right to divert water to use in the Sleepy Hollow Rearing Facility. In 2017, new reporting requirements were added to the Water Rights and Statement of Use reporting to the State Water Resources Control Board. The new regulations required statements of calibrations for the meters used to measure water used or diverted related to Water Rights and Statements of Use. Over the past few years, the District has hired consultants to use a portable sonic flow meter to test the calibrations of meters at the ASR and Rearing facilities. District staff have completed the necessary training required to perform the calibration in house and is seeking to purchase a sonic flow ammeter to facilitate reporting to the State Water Resources Control Board and avoid using consultants to provide calibration reports. The cost of the meter will be recovered in 5 years in lieu or hiring out the work.

EXHIBITS

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