ITEM:

CONSENT CALENDAR

 

19.

CONSIDER RECOMMENDATION TO EXTEND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY FOR STREAMFLOW GAGING IN WATER YEAR 2025

 

Meeting Date:

June 17, 2024

Budgeted: 

Yes

 

From:

David J. Stoldt,

Program/

Hydrologic Monitoring

 

General Manager

Line Item:

2-5-1

 

Prepared By:

Jonathan Lear

Cost Estimate:

$17,500

 

General Counsel Review:  N/A

Committee Recommendation:   The Finance and Administration Committee discussed this item on June 10, 2024, and recommended approval.

CEQA Compliance: This action is a categoric exemption from CEQA under CEQA Guideline Section 15301 for “Existing Facilities.” District will prepare a NOE for this effort

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUMMARY:  The United States Geological Survey (USGS) operates two streamflow gaging stations on the Carmel River:

 

        (1) Carmel River at Robles del Rio (No. 11143200) and

        (2) Carmel River near Carmel (No. 11143250)

 

The upper or "Robles" gage is immediately downstream of Esquiline Bridge (River Mile 14.4) and the lower or "Carmel" gage is immediately downstream of Via Mallorca Bridge (River Mile 3.6). The Monterey Peninsula Water Management District (District) relies on the flow data from both of these stations to support ASR operations and both gages are named in the water rights associated with ASR diversions. It should be noted that the Robles del Rio station is funded by the Monterey County Water Resources Agency.

 

RECOMMENDATION: The Finance and Administration Committee recommends that the Board authorize the General Manager to execute the agreement with the USGS providing cooperative investigation of the water resources within the District for Water Year (WY) 2025 for an amount not-to-exceed $17,500.

 

BACKGROUND: The District has funded a cooperative water resources program with the USGS to monitor Carmel River streamflow since the late 1980s. Other than the District, the USGS is the only other independent agency that monitors continuous Carmel River streamflow. The Carmel station provides a long-term streamflow record that began in 1962. The USGS streamflow data provide a valuable cross check for the District’s streamflow data when verifying the daily, annual, and peak flows that occur on the Carmel River. The USGS Carmel River streamflow data also support the District’s implementation of Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) operations in the Seaside Groundwater Basin in that the data are utilized in real-time to assist in scheduling when to commence or cease injection, given current trends in streamflow conditions. In addition, as a cooperator with the USGS, the District has access to purchase equipment from the USGS Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility and keep informed of advancements in instrumentation. The Agreement for WY 2024 is included as Exhibit 19-A as an example of the agreement that would be negotiated in WY 2025.

 

IMPACT TO STAFF/RESOURCES: The District's share for the continuation of streamflow monitoring at the Carmel River near Carmel station for WY 2025 (October 1, 2024 - September 30, 2025) is $17,500.

 

EXHIBIT

19-A    MPWMD-USGS Cooperative Agreement for Water Year 2024

 

 

 

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