TO: Napa County Groundwater Sustainability Agency (NCGSA)
FROM: Brian D. Bordona, Director of Planning, Building & Environmental Services
REPORT BY: Jamison Crosby, Natural Resources Conservation Manager
SUBJECT: Approval of Amendment No. 4 to Agreement 210015B (NCGSA) with Luhdorff & Scalmanini Consulting Engineers
RECOMMENDATION
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Approve and authorize Amendment No. 4 to Agreement No. 210015B (NCGSA) with Luhdorff & Scalmanini Consulting Engineers, with a term through June 30, 2027, for a new contract maximum of $4,589,623 for additional services to support the implementation of the Groundwater Sustainability Plan and three implementation Workplans. (Fiscal Impact: $2,408,915 Expense; Groundwater Sustainability Agency Special Revenue Fund; Budgeted; Discretionary).
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BACKGROUND
In September 2014, the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) was signed into law. SGMA provides a framework for long-term sustainable groundwater management across California. It requires that local authorities in medium- and high-priority groundwater basins form a locally-controlled and governed Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA), to prepare and implement a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP). GSPs are detailed road maps for how groundwater basins will reach and/or maintain long term sustainability. GSPs for high- and medium-priority basins in California were due to the Department of Water Resources (DWR) by January 31, 2022. The NCGSA submitted the Napa Subbasin GSP by the required deadline and it was approved by DWR on January 26, 2023.
As part of their SGMA 2019 Basin Prioritization, DWR designated the Napa Valley Groundwater Subbasin as a high-priority basin due to the local reliance on groundwater resources. The Napa Valley Subbasin is the only groundwater basin in Napa County at this time that requires a GSP.
On June 9, 2020 the Agency entered into an agreement with Luhdorff & Scalmanini to provide technical and highly specialized services needed for the GSA to comply with GSP and SGMA Regulations. The agreement included tasks to support groundwater stakeholder outreach and involvement, development of a GSP for the Napa Valley Subbasin supported by an integrated hydrogeologic model, collection, management and dissemination of groundwater data, installation of groundwater/surface water monitoring facilities and reporting of annual groundwater conditions to the public, DWR's SGMA portal and the California Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring Program.
Amendment No. 1 provided additional funding for increased stakeholder engagement, completion of the GSP, development of the NV Integrated Hydrologic Model as well as a task to revise the County's Groundwater Ordinance and Water Availability Analysis.
Amendment No. 2 provided funding for a number of activities and initiatives which were new or unanticipated at the time of the first amendment. These included: development of three detailed GSP implementation workplans, the creation of the Technical Advisory Group to advise the GSA, the creation of the Drought and Water Shortage Task Force (as a result of SB 552), and support for the implementation of the Governor’s Executive Order N-7-22 (March 2022). Amendment No. 2 also provided funding for the preparation of grant proposals to support GSP implementation.
Amendment No. 3 provided funding to implement the three Workplans which have been in development since 2022 and adopted by the NCGSA on March 26, 2024. Amendment No. 3 will provide funding to support GSP implementation through June 30, 2025.
Amendment No. 4 will provide continued support for ongoing tasks in addition to new tasks including: Annual Reports for Water Years 2025 and 2026, Stream Gage Improvement Program, coordination with the State Water Board on their modeling of the Napa River Watershed, GSP Periodic Evaluation due to Department of Water Resources in January 2027 and optional activities, providing support through June 30, 2027.
Requested Action:
Approve and authorize Amendment No. 4 to Agreement No. 210015B (NCGSA) with Luhdorff & Scalmanini Consulting Engineers, increasing the maximum compensation to $4,589,623 for additional services to support the implementation of the Groundwater Sustainability Plan and three implementation Workplans.
FISCAL & STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
Yes |
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Is it currently budgeted? |
Yes |
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Where is it budgeted? |
2720000-52310 Groundwater Sustainability Agency |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
Ongoing implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) is a State requirement. |
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Is the general fund affected? |
No |
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Future fiscal impact: |
Fiscal impact through FY 2026-27 is as described in the amendment. |
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Consequences if not approved: |
Implementation of SGMA and the GSP will be jeopardized. |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is not a project as defined by 14 California Code of Regulations 15378 (State CEQA Guidelines) and therefore CEQA is not applicable.