STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD

BOARD MEETING SESSION--DIVISION OF WATER QUALITY

FEBRUARY 17, 2000

ITEM 11

SUBJECT

CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION APPROVING AUGMENTATION OF THE TRUCKEE RIVER WATERSHED NONPOINT SOURCE MANAGEMENT STUDY

DISCUSSION

On September 30, 1998 (Resolution 97-087), the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) approved the Clean Water Act (CWA) section 205(j) Phase XII Water Quality Management Grant to fund water quality planning projects. One of the projects funded was the Truckee River Watershed Nonpoint Source Management Study which received $134,180. The goals of the project are to determine critical areas from which highest sediment and nutrient loads originate, define required loading reductions for beneficial use restoration and protection, construct and calibrate a watershed management model as a tool for future nonpoint source problem assessment, and design solutions for specific nonpoint source controls. The current project scope of work relies on historical water quality data to construct the watershed management model.

Recently, the Governor’s budget provided an additional source of State General Funds for developing Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs). The Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board (LRWQCB) allocated $200,000 for work on TMDLs and approved spending $80,000 of these funds in the Truckee River watershed. As the existing CWA section 205(j) project contract is already in place, the proposed TMDL work and funding will be amended into that contract. We would like to use the $80,000 to collect new, more recent data to be used in constructing the watershed management model under development. The new data to be collected include various soil and sediment parameters and other field information that will greatly enhance the value of the model as a predictive tool for development of a TMDL for the watershed. With the addition of the $80,000 the total amended contract amount will exceed $200,000, requiring SWRCB approval of the augmentation.

POLICY ISSUE

Should the SWRCB:

1. Approve the augmentation of $80,000 to the existing contract (Contract No. 8-102-250-0) in order to enhance the watershed management model as a more useful tool in developing a TMDL for the Truckee River watershed;

2. Authorize the Executive Director, or his designee, to amend the CWA section 205(j) contract to include this augmentation.

FISCAL IMPACT

The funding source has already been approved and is specifically designated for TMDL work at the RWQCBs. This augmentation is an appropriate use of the funds. Funding is available for this contract through the Division of Water Quality, who will administer this contract.

RWQCB IMPACT

Yes. All RWQCBs.

STAFF RECOMMENDATION

That the SWRCB:

1. Approves the augmentation of $80,000 to the existing contract (Contract No. 8-102-250-0) in order to enhance the watershed management model as a more useful tool in developing a TMDL for the Truckee River watershed;

2. Authorizes the Executive Director, or his designee, to amend the CWA section 205(j) contract to include this augmentation.

_______________________________________

January 24, 2000 DRAFT

STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD

RESOLUTION NO. 2000-___

APPROVING AUGMENTATION OF THE TRUCKEE RIVER WATERSHED NONPOINT SOURCE MANAGEMENT STUDY

WHEREAS:

1. The Truckee River Watershed Nonpoint Source Management Study was approved for funding under the Clean Water Act (CWA) section 205(j) Phase XII Water Quality Management Grant for $134,180 on September 30, 1998;

2. The goals of the project are to determine critical areas from which highest sediment and nutrient loads originate, define required loading reductions for beneficial use restoration and protection, construct and calibrate a watershed management model as a tool for future nonpoint source problem assessment, and design solutions for specific nonpoint source controls;

3. The current project scope of work relies on historical water quality data to construct the watershed management model;

4. The Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board has approved allocating $80,000 of State General Fund money, approved by the Watershed Management Initiative Group and designated for developing Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL), to augment the CWA section 205(j) project to collect additional data to develop a TMDL for the Truckee River watershed;

5. The new data to be collected will include various soil and sediment parameters and other field information that will greatly enhance the value of the model as a predictive tool for development of a TMDL for the watershed;

6. The addition of $80,000 to the current contract amount will exceed $200,000 requiring State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) approval of the augmentation;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

The SWRCB:

1. Approves the augmentation of $80,000 to the existing contract in order to enhance the watershed management model as a more useful tool in developing a TMDL for the Truckee River watershed.

2. Authorizes the Executive Director, or his designee, to amend the CWA section 205(j) contract to include this augmentation.

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 February 17, 2000.

Maureen Marché