Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Ann M. Stillman, Director of Public Works
Subject: Amendment to the Memorandum of Understanding with the San Mateo Resource Conservation District
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing an amendment to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the San Mateo Resource Conservation District (RCD) incorporating climate resilience activities, extending the agreement term through March 8, 2028, and increasing the amount by $4,000,000 to an amount not to exceed $5,000,000.
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BACKGROUND:
On March 9, 2021, this Board adopted Resolution No. 078059, which authorized the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the San Mateo Resource Conservation District (RCD) for watershed protection and enhancement services in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000 and for a period of five (5) years through March 8, 2026.
DISCUSSION:
Under the MOU, the Department of Public Works (Department) and RCD have successfully partnered on multiple grant applications and implementation of the Butano Creek Channel Stabilization and Habitat Enhancement at the Cloverdale Road Bridge Project, which was completed in 2021 in compliance with the Pescadero and Butano Creek Watershed Sediment Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL).
The Department, in collaboration with the RCD, Sustainability Department, and Parks Department, was recently selected for $1,500,000 in funding through the California State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) Nonpoint Source 319(h) (Grant) grant program for the Pescadero Creek Watershed Roads Sediment Reduction Program Project and the Little Butano Creek at Cloverdale Road Sediment Reduction Project. These projects will be implemented by the RCD and include improvements and/or replacement of five culverts at TMDL priority sites. Three of the five culverts are at County-maintained roadway creek crossings, will be funded through this MOU, and are estimated to cost $4,600,000, of which $1,192,500 will be funded by the Grant. The two other culverts are located in County Parks and the remaining Grant amount of $307,500 will be used to fund their replacement.
In addition to watershed protection and enhancement efforts, improving infrastructure reliability is a priority of the Department and will require community-focused collaboration and planning. The County owns and is responsible for the closed Half Moon Bay Landfill located adjacent to the Pacific Ocean and coastal bluffs. The County also has responsibilities for two small rural water systems, County Service Area No. 7 (CSA 7) in La Honda and County Service Area No. 11 (CSA 11) in Pescadero. These facilities face significant challenges related to climate-driven drought, wildfire risk, sea level rise, and infrastructure aging, and addressing these challenges requires collaboration and grant funding. The RCD’s expertise in watershed management, conservation, climate adaptation planning, and community-based collaboration can be leveraged to assist with planning, seeking grant funding, and implementation of projects that improve the resilience and sustainability of the closed Half Moon Bay Landfill and the County-operated water systems. The Department is currently partnering with the RCD on Coastal Conservancy grant applications for the closed Half Moon Bay Landfill and CSA 7.
Amendment of the MOU will allow the Department to continue partnering with the RCD on watershed protection and climate resilience activities and projects specific to the Department’s infrastructure and operational activities. This work supports compliance with environmental regulatory requirements, such as TMDL planning and implementation, endangered species recovery actions, protection of natural resources, and improved infrastructure reliability.
This Amendment increases the not-to-exceed amount of the MOU by $4,000,000 to an amount not-to-exceed $5,000,000 and extends the agreement term through March 8, 2028.
The County Attorney has reviewed and approved the resolution and amendment to the MOU as to form.
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
The Department, through this recommended action and in partnership with the RCD, reaffirms its commitment to implement projects that serve our communities by protecting natural resources and improving infrastructure reliability for climate adaptation.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Work performed by the RCD pursuant to the MOU will be funded by specific Department projects and associated budgets and/or future grant funding for collaborative projects.
The increase in the not-to-exceed amount of the MOU by $4,000,000 will primarily be used to support the construction of the TMDL sediment reduction projects in connection with the Grant at County-maintained creek crossings. The estimated cost of this work is $4,600,000, with $1,192,500 from the State Water Board Grant, and the remaining funds from the FY 2025-26 Department budget.
The remaining MOU capacity will support Department efforts in climate resilience and watershed protection, including planning, grant pursuit, and implementation of projects that improve long-term reliability and sustainability, which may include work related to the closed Half Moon Bay Landfill and the County-operated water systems.
There is no impact on the General Fund.