ITEM: 8

SUBJECT:  CONSIDERATION OF A PROPOSED RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO NEGOTIATE, EXECUTE, AND AMEND, AS NECESSARY, A STANDARD AGREEMENT WITH THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COASTAL WATER RESEARCH PROJECT (SCCWRP) FOR STORM WATER INVESTIGATIONS

DISCUSSION:  Assembly Bill (AB) 1429 (Shelley) and Water Code Section 13181 require the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to deliver a number of products to the Legislature by January 1, 2001. These include to the extent possible: (1) estimate of the total discharge of pollutants from State coastal watersheds to bays, estuaries, and coastal waters from all sources; (2) identification of the relative contribution of storm water to the total discharge of contaminants to coastal waters; (3) description of a method for monitoring the mass discharge of contaminants from storm water into coastal waters, including the appropriate frequency of monitoring for each pollutant; (4) establishment of standard protocols for sampling and data collection methods; (5) recommendations for a standard format for reporting monitoring results to maximize access to and use of the data; and (6) estimate of the costs of implementing the monitoring program and a proposed schedule of implementation.

AB 1429 and Water Code Section 13181 further provide that the SWRCB shall consult with the San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) and SCCWRP to prepare the report and possibly to contract with these institutions to carry out the work.

The purpose of the proposed standard agreement is to complete the six tasks listed above. Staff expects the work to be divided among SCCWRP, SFEI, and the Moss Landing Marine Laboratory (MLML) of the California State University system. These three organizations performed satisfactorily in previous agreements, which accomplished other tasks required by AB 1429 and Water Code Section 13181, including preparation of a comprehensive inventory of coastal water quality monitoring programs in California and a coastal water quality monitoring strategy. As in previous agreements, the three organizations would divide the work geographically, with MLML, SCCWRP, and SFEI focusing on northern California, southern California, and San Francisco Bay, respectively.

POLICY ISSUE: Should the SWRCB adopt a resolution authorizing the Executive Director or his designee to negotiate, execute, and amend, as necessary, a standard agreement with SCCWRP to perform storm water investigations and related studies mandated by AB 1429 and Water Code Section 13181 for an amount not to exceed $400,000 from Bond funds?

FISCAL IMPACT: The proposed budget for the standard agreement will not exceed $400,000 from Bond funds.

RWQCB IMPACT:  Yes.  RWQCBs 1, 2, 3, 4, 8 and 9.

STAFF RECOMMENDATION:  That the SWRCB adopt a resolution authorizing the Executive Director or his designee to negotiate, execute, and amend, as necessary, a standard agreement with SCCWRP to perform storm water investigations and related studies mandated by AB 1429 and Water Code Section 13181 for an amount not to exceed $400,000 from Bond funds.

1.  Assembly Bill (AB) 1429 and Water Code Section 13181 require the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to deliver a report to the Legislature by January 1, 2001 related to loads and sources of storm water pollution and methods to monitor storm water in the coastal zone.

2.  SCCWRP has qualified personnel, facilities, and experience to conduct the investigations necessary to prepare the report.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

1.  The SWRCB authorizes the Executive Director, or his designee, to negotiate, execute, and amend, as necessary, a standard agreement with SCCWRP to perform storm water investigations and related studies mandated by AB 1429 and

2.  Water Code Section 13181 for an amount not to exceed $400,000 from Bond funds.

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 May 20, 1999.

Maureen Marché
Administrative Assistant to the Board