FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
ITEM:		ACTION ITEM
11.	CONSIDER DIRECTING THE GENERAL MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH MONTGOMERY AND ASSOCIATES TO PROVIDE GROUNDWATER MODELING SUPPORT TO THE DISTRICT
Meeting Date:			June 12, 2023	Budgeted:	Yes
From:			Dave Stoldt	Program/	1-5-1-A
			General Manager	Line Item No.:
Prepared By:			Jon Lear	Cost Estimate:	$55,000
General Counsel Approval:  N/A
Committee Recommendation: The Finance and Administration Committee reviewed this item on June 12, 2023 and recommended _________________.
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 Monterey One Water (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 United States Geological Survey (USGS) to support the effort of evaluating the alternatives for Los Padres Dam and climate change on the Carmel River Basin. A line item of $55,000 is included in the FY2023-2024 budget to support the continued use of the Carmel River and Seaside Groundwater Basin Models by Montgomery.

As new water resource projects come online and more restrictive regulations on how much water can be produced from Carmel Valley, it is important that the District maintain the ability to model future iterations of projects and regulations as we plan for the Pure Water Monterey Expansion Project. Montgomery and Associates currently maintains the Seaside Basin model for the Watermaster and M1W and maintains the Carmel River Basin Model for the District. As the Expansion project is constructed and wells are performance tested, the groundwater system will need to be modeled with the new information to establish travel times of groundwater from injection wells to recovery wells. In addition, District Ordinance No. 183 will need to be updated with the results of this modeling as a requirement from the Department of Drinking Water to operate the expanded project.

(https://www.mpwmd.net/ordinances/final/ord183/Ordinance183.pdf) The proposed contract included in this staff note as Exhibit 11-A would provide the District the ability to retain the consultant that is already familiar with the water resources needs of the region in a timely manner to operate and maintain both groundwater models for District Purposes.

RECOMMENDATION:  The Finance and Administration Committee should recommend that the Board authorize and direct the General Manager to enter into a contract with Montgomery and Associates to provide groundwater modeling support to the District in an amount not-to-exceed $55,000

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 6 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

11-A Contract with Montgomery and Associates to perform as needed groundwater modeling

work to support buildout and permitting of Pure Water Monterey Expansion

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