FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
ITEM:		ACTION ITEM
16.	CONSIDER RECOMMENDING TO AUTHORIZE MONTEREY BAY ANALYTICAL SERVICES TO PROVIDE LABORATORY SUPPORT FOR AQUIFER STORAGE AND RECOVERY, WATERMASTER MONITORING AND MAINTENANCE PLAN, AND CARMEL VALLEY ALLUVIAL AQUIFER WATER QUALITY MONITORING
Meeting Date:			June 10, 2024	Budgeted:	Yes
From:			David J. Stoldt,	Program/	Hydrologic Monitoring
			General Manager	Line Item:	1-2-2, 2-5-2, 2-5-3
Prepared By:			Jonathan Lear	Cost Estimate:	$30,000
General Counsel Review: N/A
Committee Recommendation: The Finance and Administration Committee discussed this item on June 10, 2024 and recommended___________________.
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: Staff proposes to use Monterey Bay Analytical Services (MBAS) to complete water quality analysis in support of the District’s Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) Project, the Watermaster’s Seaside Groundwater Basin Monitoring and Maintenance Program, and the District’s Carmel Valley Alluvial Aquifer monitoring network. Each of the programs has a specific set of constituents, sample frequency, and locations required to satisfy the program contributing the variability of costs between the programs. The District currently has a business relationship with MBAS and is billed on a net 30 following completion of laboratory analysis.

RECOMMENDATION: The Finance and Administration Committee may recommend that the Board authorize the General Manager to approve expenditures in an amount not-to-exceed $30,000 to complete laboratory analysis related to the ASR, Watermaster, and District Programs FY 2024- 2025. The District allows contracts for professional specialized services and administrative matters under Chapter 5 of the Purchasing Policy and Gov. Code. 53060.

BACKGROUND: The District uses MBAS to complete the water quality laboratory analysis related to the ASR, Watermater and District programs. The following is an explanation of how MPAB is used in each program.

ASR: The Districts Carmel River ASR Program is enrolled in the General Permit for the injection of drinking water at the Regional Water Quality Control Board.

(https://www.dropbox.com/s/ryes0bpe4754a8y/MPWMD_NOA_ASR_final_signed%20%28003 %29.pdf?dl=0)

Water quality sampling is driven by this permit and project operations which are controlled largely by the availability of excess runoff on the Carmel River Watershed. The total cost of the water quality program is unknown due to these factors, however the average cost of the program is less than the budget placeholder of $11,000. All funds spent on this program are reimbursed by CalAm through the ASR agreement.

Watermaster: The Seaside Groundwater Basin was Adjudicated in 2006. On May 25, 2006, the Basin Monitoring and Maintenance Plan was approved by the Monterey County Superior Court.

(https://www.seasidebasinwatermaster.org/seasidebasinwatermaster.org/Other/5-25- 06BMMP%20Court%20Approval1.pdf)

This plan set the required hydrologic monitoring required by the Watermaster to measure the health and the effects of the Adjudication Decision on the Seaside Groundwater Basin. The District is under contract with the Watermaster to complete the hydrologic monitoring and database tasks to support this Plan. Budget allocated for this sampling over FY 2024-2025 is $17,000. All laboratory expenditures for the Watermaster are reimbursed through the contractual agreement to complete the work.

District CVAA Program: The District installed monitor wells into the Carmel Valley Alluvium in the late 1980’s and began collecting water quality data from the monitoring network. Data from this network is used to track water quality related to septic systems in the Mid-Valley region and trends in salinity in the aquifer over periods of drought. Water quality sampling at private wells is also used when permitting Water Distribution Systems to determine if the private well is connected to the Alluvial Aquifer. Budget allocated for this program is $2,000 for FY 2024-2025.

EXHIBIT

None

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