STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA

JUNE 15, 2000

ITEM 9

SUBJECT:

CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF THE IMPLEMENTATION PLANS FOR PROPOSITION 13 WATERSHED AND NONPOINT SOURCE GRANT PROGRAMS AND AUTHORIZATION OF SET-ASIDE PROJECTS

DISCUSSION:

This item proposes approval of implementation plans to be used by the Division of Water Quality (DWQ) in administering three new grant programs that were authorized by Proposition 13--Safe Drinking Water, Clean Water, Watershed Protection, and Flood Protection Act (Act). The three programs are:

1. Watershed Protection Program (Watershed Program)--$90 million (Water Code [WC] section 79075)

2. Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Program (NPS Program)--$100 million (WC section 79110)

3. Coastal Nonpoint Source Control Program (Coastal NPS Program)--$90 million (WC section 79148)

Each Program has specific requirements stipulated in the Act that will be fully incorporated into future request for proposals (RFP). However, for the Watershed and Coastal NPS Programs, the Act identified six specific set-aside projects to be implemented pursuant to the Act. These specified project recipients are:

Watershed Program

1. Pajaro River Watershed Flood Prevention Authority--$2 million (WC section 79085.5(a))

2. County of Sonoma (Russian River)—$1 million (WC section 79085.5(b))

3. City of Redding (Clover Creek Project)--$5 million (WC section 79085.5(c))

4. Lake County Special Districts (Clear Lake)--$2 million (WC section 79085.5(d))

Coastal NPS Program

1. City of Huntington Beach--$4 million (WC section 79148.7)

2. San Diego County Water Authority--$3 million (WC section 79148.15)

DWQ staff has already met with most of the set-aside project proponents and is proceeding with preliminary contract negotiation to implement the set-aside projects. Staff proposes to execute the “set-aside” projects by December 31, 2000 if the projects are fully approved for implementation (including compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act). Attachments 1-3 summarize the provisions and proposed implementation plans for Watershed, NPS, and Coastal NPS Programs, respectively. At this time, staff anticipates that the funding will be released annually over a period of three to five years. The content of the RFPs will be developed in a public process; however, it is recommended that staff undertake an expedited effort to develop the initial limited scope RFPs in order to initiate release of the reduced appropriation for the first year (Fiscal Year 2000-01). The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) will make final decisions on all project awards.

POLICY ISSUE:

Should the SWRCB:

1. Approve the implementation plans for the Watershed, NPS, and Coastal NPS Programs?

2. Authorize the Executive Director or his designee to negotiate, execute, and amend contracts for the four set-aside projects in the Watershed Program and the two set-aside projects in the Coastal NPS Program?

FISCAL IMPACT:

Funding for the Act is to be appropriated annually by the Legislature. Local assistance appropriations of $20 million for the Watershed Program, and $10 million each for the NPS and Coastal NPS Programs have been proposed in the FY 2000-01 Budget. Therefore, funding for the local assistance grants and the SWRCB administrative costs will be established beginning FY 2000-01 through the annual budget process if approved.

RWQCB IMPACT:

Yes. All RWQCBs.

STAFF RECOMMENDATION:

That the SWRCB:

1. Approves the implementation plans for the Watershed, NPS, and Coastal NPS Programs.

2. Authorizes the Executive Director or his designee to negotiate, execute, and amend contracts for the four set-aside projects in the Watershed Program and the two set-aside projects in the Coastal NPS Program.

(Note: Attachments 1-3 are available in Word 6.0)

May 22. 2000 Draft

STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD

RESOLUTION NO. 2000-___

APPROVAL OF THE IMPLEMENTATION PLANS FOR PROPOSITION 13

WATERSHED AND NONPOINT SOURCE GRANT PROGRAMS

AND AUTHORIZATION OF SET-ASIDE PROJECTS

WHEREAS:

1. Proposition 13—Safe Drinking Water, Clean Water, Watershed Protection, and Flood Protection Control Act (Act) was enacted on March 7, 2000.

2. The Act authorizes the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to implement three new programs:

a.Watershed Protection Program (Watershed Program)--$90 million (Water Code

WC] section 79075)

b. Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Program (NPS Program) )--$100 million (WC section 79110)

c. Coastal Nonpoint Source Control Program (Coastal NPS Program)--$90 million (WC section 79148)

3. The Watershed and Coastal NPS Programs in the Act identified the following six entities to receive funding for set-aside projects to be implemented initially with the available funds:

a. Watershed Program

(1) Pajaro River Watershed Flood Prevention Authority--$2 million (WC section 79085.5(a))

(2) County of Sonoma (Russian River)—$1 million (WC section 79085.5(b))

(3) City of Redding (Clover Creek Project)--$5 million (WC section 79085.5(c))

(4) Lake County Special Districts (Clear Lake)--$2 million (WC section 79085.5(d))

b. Coastal NPS Program

(1) City of Huntington Beach--$4 million (WC section 79148.7)

(2) San Diego County Water Authority--$3 million (WC section 79148.15)

4. SWRCB staff has prepared preliminary implementation plans for the Watershed, NPS, and Coastal NPS Programs (Attachments 1-3).

5. All projects proposed for funding under the Act will be submitted to the SWRCB for approval.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

The SWRCB:

1. Approves the implementation plans for the Watershed, NPS, and Coastal NPS Programs.

2. Authorizes the Executive Director or designee staff to negotiate, execute, and amend contracts for the four set-aside projects in the Watershed Program and the two set-aside projects in the Coastal NPS Program.

CERTIFICATION

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 15, 2000.

Maureen Marché