To: Board of Supervisors
From: John Kopchik, Director, Conservation and Development
Report Title: Contract Amendment with Exponent for Services of Dr. Susan Paulsen, Water Resources Consultant
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Conservation and Development Director, or designee, to execute on behalf of the County and the Contra Costa County Water Agency, both a contract amendment with Exponent, Inc., to extend the termination date from June 30, 2026, to December 31, 2027, and increase the payment limit by $50,000, to a new payment limit of $200,000, and an amendment to a reimbursement agreement with Solano County to increase Solano’s share of Exponent’s costs by $25,000, to a new reimbursement limit of $100,000, for continued water resources consulting connected with the State of California’s Delta Conveyance Project. (100% Water Agency funds)
FISCAL IMPACT:
The $50,000 increase in cost will be funded by the Contra Costa County Water Agency. Pursuant to the amendment to the executed Reimbursement Agreement between Contra Costa and Solano Counties, Solano will reimburse one half of Exponent’s charges, up to $100,000.
BACKGROUND:
The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) is in the process of holding a public hearing about the Delta Conveyance Project (DCP) to consider the water right change petitions filed by the Department of Water Resources (DWR) which propose to add two new points of diversion and rediversion to water right Permits held by the State Water Project (SWP). The County and Water Agency intend to utilize the existing contract with Exponent Inc. for the services of Susan Paulsen, Ph.D., PE, who has provided expert scientific review on the draft environmental impact report for the DCP in the State Water Board hearing. Dr. Paulsen prepared “Technical Comments on the Delta Conveyance Project and Associated Draft Environmental Impact Report, Exhibit C” that was submitted to the State prior to the public comment deadline. These comments were submitted on behalf of Contra Costa County, the Water Agency, and Solano County.
Contra Costa and Solano have shared interests, and they share in the cost of Dr. Paulsen’s work under a separate reimbursement agreement. Under that reimbursement agreement, Contra Costa is responsible for administering this contract. If the contract is not extended, both counties will be left without expertise in these areas at a critical time when the water rights hearing before the State Water Board is in process.
Staff recommends the County and Water Agency continue to utilize Dr. Paulsen’s extensive knowledge of California water supply issues, including expertise in hydraulics, water quality, and water quality modeling specific to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta for this next phase of public review on the DCP as it will serve the County’s interests in protecting water quality in the west Delta. The payment limit for Dr. Paulsen’s services will be increased to $200,000. Solano will continue to share in the cost of those services, and will reimburse the Water Agency for one half of the cost, not to exceed $100,000.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Failure to approve the contract amendments would leave the County and Water Agency (and Solano County) without critical expertise in water resources during the next phase of review of the Delta Conveyance Project.