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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 11191991 - WC.1 WCA - Contra TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Costa gi w FROM: WATER COMMITTEE ' County o•., 1 SUPERVISOR TOM TORLAKSON, CHAIR T, �"'" SUPERVISOR SUNNE WRIGHT MCPEAK DATE: November 19, 1991 SUBJECT: BRENTWOOD/DISCOVERY BAY AREA GROUNDWATER STUDY; BOAT SEWAGE; WETLANDS ASSESSMENT SPECIFIC REQUEST,(S) OR.RECOMMENDATION(S). & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Approve in concept, a grant of $5, 000 for a study of groundwater in the Brentwood and Discovery Bay area; direct the Community Development Department (CDD) , to meet with interested parties and determine detailed aspects of this study, including work product and method of formal participation prior to final consideration by the Board. 2. Direct the Health Services Department-Environmental Health and the Community Development Department to distribute the boat sewage disposal public information pamphlets to marina owners and boaters. 3a. Direct the Community Development Department to negotiate a revised scope of work with selected consultants for a wetlands assessment of designated County areas; request a determination from County Counsel on potential consultant conflict of interest. 3b. Direct the Community Development Department to delay further work on a proposed Wetlands Protection Ordinance until the wetlands assessment study is essentially complete. FISCAL IMPACT 1. Should the County elect to go forward at a later date with participation in a preliminary study of groundwater in the east County area, $5, 000 would be required from Water Agency, Health Department, or Sanitary District 19 funds, or some combination thereof. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: XX YES SIGNATURE RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S) : Supervisor Tom Torlakson, Chair Supervisor Sunne Wright McPeak ACTION OF BOARD ON Wy I J IdJ1 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDEDOTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A UNANIMOUS (ABSENT TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN AYES: NOES: ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ON THE ABSENT: ABSTAIN: MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. Orig: Community Development Dept. (CDD) ATTESTED NO VI9 1991 Cc: GMEDA PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF Health Services - Environmental Health THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS County Administrator AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR County Counsel BY , DEPUTY RG: se Wa1:1bo11191WCl.bo Brentwood/Discovery Bay Area Groundwater Study; Boat Sewage; Wetlands Assessment Continued - Page Two 2. The Water Committee is recommending" that a wetlands assessment go forward, with funding from the Water Agency in an amount not to exceed $50, 000. An approval of this assessment, or the funding source is not before the Board at this time. BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS 1. In March of 1989, the Board referred the issue of potential groundwater overdraft and recharge to the Water Committee. At that time, the Water Committee met and addressed this issue, reviewing a preliminary study recently completed for the City of Brentwood. The preliminary study concluded that 1) no studies of this resource have been done; 2) local groundwater levels need to be monitored as a basis for future detailed studies; and 3) firm groundwater yield was estimated at 2-4, 000 acre feet annually, enough to meet current needs. The need to determine accurate firm groundwater yield and recharge characteristics of this aquifer is apparent, given growth of this area increasing the need for water supply, and the potential for contamination. The City of Brentwood has called together interested parties, and requested a $5, 000 contribution toward this end. Currently the combined contributions totaling $30,000 would result in preliminary planning for a comprehensive study, a well monitoring program and a preliminary geologic study. Other long term funding sources would also be identified. Cost of a comprehensive study is currently estimated at about $1 million, and would take 4-6 years to complete. Currently, interested parties include the County, Contra Costa Water District, East Contra Costa Irrigation District, Byron Bethany Irrigation District, -Discovery Bay, and the City of Brentwood. The Department of Water Resources has also been involved. The Water- Committee is recommending that CDD meet with interested parties and determine additional detail on the proposed work product. Additional information on the extent and capabilities of this aquifer, geology, recharge characteristics, contamination potential, and provisions for fireflow demands were determined to be essential components of an interim report. The interim report could aid in determination of the need for a groundwater management program in the short-term. In addition, the need for formal participation via a joint powers agreement or other means should be discussed as part of the next phase. 2. In response to Board requests of March 19, and October 1, 1991 - the Health Services-Environmental Health Department has completed a number of directives to address the issue of sewage dumping in the Delta (see Env. Health Dept. reports of September 13, and November 4, 1991) . As part of this effort, public information pamphlets and warning-notices, with "hot line" phone numbers and a list of pump-out facilities has been prepared. The Water Committee recommends distribution of pamphlets and notices to marinas and boat owners at this time, and continues to consider other options to curtail boat sewage dumping in the Delta. 3 . On August 6, 1991 the Board directed CDD to release a Request for Proposal (RFP) , for consultant evaluation of designated wetland areas within the County. Five proposals were received, three of which were recommended by CDD staff and the Fish and Wildlife Committee to the Water Committee for further consideration. The remaining two proposals did not reflect the needs of the County as identified in the RFP. The recommended proposals all address the phased approach advocated by the County, combining review of existing information and aerial photographs, with site evaluation, site ranking and mapping. Wetlands would be evaluated for feasibility of acquisition, and restoration. Due to the wide range ($12 , 000-$94, 000 for 3 proposals) of costs cited for the assessment, the Water Committee recommended that CDD discuss a refined scope of project with recommended consultants prior to final selection for this project. The Water Committee has recommended that costs for this project not exceed $50, 000. Brentwood/Discovery Bay Area Groundwater Study; Boat Sewage; Wetlands Assessment Continued - Page Three Results of the assessment may provide considerable aid to scope and content of the proposed wetlands protection ordinance, therefore the Water Committee recommends cessation of work on the ordinance until such time as results of this study are available. r. RG:se waLAbo%1191 WCl.ho