ITEM: 9

SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO NEGOTIATE, EXECUTE, AND AMEND, AS NECESSARY, AN INTERAGENCY AGREEMENT WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA TO CONDUCT WORK TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEDIMENT TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOADS.

DISCUSSION: The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) and Regional Water Quality Control Boards (RWQCBs) are responsible for developing and implementing management programs that assure attainment of water quality standards. In part, this involves the development of Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) as required by the federal Clean Water Act. TMDLs are comprised of allocations of allowable loadings of specific pollutants from both point sources (discrete, flow controlled discharges from facilities) and nonpoint sources (broadly dispersed discharges that collect pollutants from large land areas). Approximately 500 waterbodies are currently listed as needing TMDLs. Of these, about 90 are listed for sediment or siltation impairments.

To assist the RWQCBs in developing sediment TMDLs, it is proposed that the expertise of academics throughout the State be made available through a contractual arrangement. The Center for Water Resources (Center) at the University of California has a goal of supporting water related research among departments and organizations throughout the University system. It also serves this role in relation to the California State University System and some private universities within the State. It is, therefore, ideally placed to serve to identify key expertise within academia that could assist in TMDL development. Furthermore, the Center has in place agreements that can streamline the administration of contract funds that are distributed to the various campuses and organizations.

With the expectation of a consistent need for contractual support from the State’s universities over the next several years, staff is proposing that a contract be established that could serve as a prototype for other TMDL assistance. The contract would be structured to allow task orders to be issued that define the exact nature of the work to be performed. In this way, the RWQCB staffs can tailor the contract needs to their specific situations and base their requests on the latest information available to them. The proposed contract would serve as an umbrella authorization for the submittal of task orders to the University.

POLICY ISSUE: Should the SWRCB adopt a resolution authorizing the Executive Director or his designee to negotiate, execute, and amend, as necessary, an interagency agreement with the University of California to support sediment TMDL work during FYs 1999-2002 at a cost of $239,000.

FISCAL IMPACT: It is proposed that funds from the State Clean Water and Water Conservation Fund (Bond Act of 1978, Fund Number 0737) be used to support this contract. This work is consistent with the requirements and authority for the identified funds. To the extent that this contract serves as a prototype, any subsequent requests would evaluate the availability and appropriateness of other fund sources at the time of requests.

RWQCB IMPACT: This contract would fund work in the North Coast RWQCB,
the San Francisco Bay RWQCB, and the Central Coast RWQCB.

STAFF RECOMMENDATION: That the SWRCB adopt a resolution authorizing the Executive Director or his designee to negotiate, execute, and amend, as necessary, an interagency agreement with the University of California to support sediment TMDL work during FYs 1999-2002 at a cost of $239,000.

WHEREAS:

1. The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) has the responsibility to protect the quality of the State’s waters pursuant to the federal Clean Water Act.

2. In carrying out this responsibility, the SWRCB is assisting the Regional Water Quality Control Boards (RWQCBs) in the development of Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) analyses consistent with Section 303 of the federal Clean Water Act.

3. The assistance of experts from various universities within California is desirable in developing sediment TMDLs.

4. The University of California, through the Center for Water Resources is ideally positioned and capable to assist the SWRCB in identifying and securing the assistance of experts within the University of California, California State University, and private universities within the State.
 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

That the SWRCB adopt a resolution authorizing the Executive Director or his designee to negotiate, execute, and amend, as necessary, an interagency agreement with the University of California to support sediment TMDL work during FYs 1999-2002 at a cost of $239,000.

The undersigned, Administrative Assistant to the Board, does hereby certify that the foregoing is a full, true, and correct copy of a resolution duly and regularly adopted at a meeting of the State Water Resources Control Board held on June 17, 1999.
 

Maureen Marché
Administrative Assistant to the Board