ITEM:		CONSENT CALENDAR
7.	CONSIDER DIRECTING THE GENERAL MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH MONTGOMERY AND ASSOCIATES TO PROVIDE GROUNDWATER MODELING SUPPORT TO THE DISTRICT
Meeting Date:			November 15, 2021	Budgeted:	Yes
From:			Dave Stoldt	Program/	1-1-3
			General Manager	Line Item No.:
Prepared By:			Jon Lear	Cost Estimate:	$50,000
General Counsel Approval:  N/A
Committee Recommendation:  The Administrative Committee reviewed this item on November 8, 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:  District Staff has been working with two groundwater models over the past number of years to support the development of water resources projects, the evaluation of possibly removing Los Padres Reservoir, and the effects of climate change on the future of water resources on the Monterey Bay region. District staff has been working with M1W and Montgomery and Associates to support the effort of expanding Pure Water Monterey and to permit the ongoing tracer test associated with the current operating project. District staff has been utilizing the USGS to support the effort of evaluating the alternatives for Los Padres Dam and climate change on the Carmel River Basin. Recently, District staff was notified that the USGS lead for the Carmel River Basin Model was taking a different role at the USGS and would not be available to continue to support the Carmel Valley model. A line item of $50,000 was included in the FY2021-2022 budget to support the continued use of the Carmel River Model by the USGS and to date has not been utilized.

As new water resource projects come online and regulations that are more restrictive begin to onset, it is important that the District maintain the ability to model future iterations of projects and regulations as we plan for the future of water resources. Montgomery and Associates currently maintains the Seaside Basin model for the Watermaster and M1W and has the ability to run and maintain the Carmel River Basin Model. District staff worked with Montgomery and Associates to develop a scope of work that would bring the Carmel River Model from the USGS to their staff as well as give the District access to the Seaside Basin Model should the District need to complete modeling for either Basin. This proposed contract included in this staff note as Exhibit 7-A would provide the District the ability of use one consultant that is already familiar with the water resources needs of the region to operate and maintain both groundwater models for District Purposes.

RECOMMENDATION:  The Administrative Committee recommends that the Board direct the General Manager to enter into a contract with Montgomery and Associates to provide groundwater modeling support to the District.

BACKGROUND:  The District utilizes two groundwater models to simulate hydrologic processes associated with proposed projects such as the Pure Water Monterey Expansion and the investigation into the removal of Los Padres Dam. The Seaside Groundwater model was developed by the Seaside Watermaster in 2010 and the Carmel River Basin Hydrologic Model was developed by the USGS and District staff over the past 5 years. Both models are currently in use supporting projects including water resources and the evaluation of climate change on future water resources for the Monterey Bay Area.

EXHIBIT

7-A Letter Proposal from Montgomery and Associates to provide groundwater modeling support to the District

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