Action 2.
Flood Control District Meeting
Engineering & Natural Resources
- Meeting Date:
- 03/24/2020
- Title:
- 2020 San Pedro River Recharge Project Monitoring Contract
- Submitted By:
- Teresa Vasquez, Engineering & Natural Resources
- Department:
- Engineering & Natural Resources
Presentation:
No A/V Presentation
Recommendation:
Approve
Document Signatures:
BOS Signature NOT Required
# of ORIGINALS
Submitted for Signature:
Submitted for Signature:
0
NAME
of PRESENTER:
of PRESENTER:
Jackie Watkins, P.E.
TITLE
of PRESENTER:
of PRESENTER:
Director
Mandated Function?:
Federal or State Mandate
Source of Mandate
or Basis for Support?:
or Basis for Support?:
Docket Number (If applicable):
Information
Agenda Item Text:
Approve the contract between Cochise County and J.E. Fuller/Hydrology and Geomorphology, Inc. for monitoring services in the amount of $130,592, effective April 1, 2020 through March 31, 2021.
Background:
The Palominas Recharge project was the first in what has grown into a series of properties along the upper San Pedro River that Cochise County owns and/or operates. Palominas Recharge was built in 2014 and the grant funding required at least five years of monitoring of this pilot project. 2020 will be the sixth year of monitoring of Palominas and will continue to provide important data regarding the effectiveness of stormwater recharge at this facility.
Cochise County has acquired other properties for potential recharge projects and reduction of future water use through conservation easements. Those properties are Riverstone, 3 Canyons, Bella Vista, Horseshoe Draw and Babocomari. It is important that both baseline monitoring and project monitoring be continued. This monitoring (groundwater levels and streamflow peaks and volumes) gives critical information for design of projects and it allows us to measure the effects of a project over doing nothing-- that is to prove the effects of the projects over time. Project monitoring is occurring on Palominas and Horseshoe Draw and baseline monitoring on all others.
The County is currently engaged in a Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) grant funded Watershed Plan and Engineering Design project on Bella Vista to recharge Urban Enhanced Runoff (UER) near the San Pedro River. The baseline monitoring that has been ongoing for three years is proving critically important in the design of this project. It is allowing us to better determine what amount of UER is available for recharge and to optimally design the size of the facilities. This will save construction costs, lead to better functioning of the project and reduce operations and maintenance costs for the life of the project.
Cochise County has acquired other properties for potential recharge projects and reduction of future water use through conservation easements. Those properties are Riverstone, 3 Canyons, Bella Vista, Horseshoe Draw and Babocomari. It is important that both baseline monitoring and project monitoring be continued. This monitoring (groundwater levels and streamflow peaks and volumes) gives critical information for design of projects and it allows us to measure the effects of a project over doing nothing-- that is to prove the effects of the projects over time. Project monitoring is occurring on Palominas and Horseshoe Draw and baseline monitoring on all others.
The County is currently engaged in a Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) grant funded Watershed Plan and Engineering Design project on Bella Vista to recharge Urban Enhanced Runoff (UER) near the San Pedro River. The baseline monitoring that has been ongoing for three years is proving critically important in the design of this project. It is allowing us to better determine what amount of UER is available for recharge and to optimally design the size of the facilities. This will save construction costs, lead to better functioning of the project and reduce operations and maintenance costs for the life of the project.
Department's Next Steps (if approved):
Contract with JE Fuller for the period of: 4/1/2020 through 3/31/2021 to complete watershed monitoring services to compile necessary data, analysis and reporting in order to be compliant with on-going grants.
Impact of NOT Approving/Alternatives:
County would lose the continuity of data on County recharge projects that is being used to demonstrate positive contributions to both local groundwater tables and baseflows in the San Pedro River in the upper San Pedro basin. In addition, monitoring is providing crucial baseline data on groundwater and ephemeral streams in and around our other properties. This information is critically important to guide future projects and understand and prove the benefits of different projects as well as their cumulative effect.
To BOS Staff: Document Disposition/Follow-Up:
No Follow-up from BOS Staff needed.
Fiscal Impact
- Fiscal Year:
- 20/21
- One-time Fixed Costs? ($$$):
- 130592
- Source of Funding?:
- 261-4110-9-421.900
Fiscal Impact & Funding Sources (if known):
Monitoring project spans two fiscal years, 20 and 21. It begins on 04/01/2020 and ends on 3/31/2021. Approximately a quarter of the
$130,592 will be spent this fiscal year (20) and next fiscal year.
$130,592 will be spent this fiscal year (20) and next fiscal year.