REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
February 9, 2017
FROM: THOMAS C. ESQUEDA, Director
Department of Public Utilities
THROUGH: MICHAEL CARBAJAL, Division Manager
Department of Public Utilities - Water Division
BY: GLENN A. KNAPP, PE, Professional Engineer
Department of Public Utilities - Water Division
SUBJECT
Title
RESOLUTION - Authorizing submission of an application, to the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation for a FY2017 WaterSMART: Drought Response Program; Drought Resiliency Projects for Fiscal Year 2017 for $498,000 to improve groundwater recharge at the City of Fresno’s Leaky Acres Groundwater Recharge Facility. (Council District 4).
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff Recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt Resolution authorizing an application to the Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation for a WaterSMART: Drought Response Program; Drought Resiliency Projects for Fiscal Year 2017 for $498,000 to improve groundwater recharge at the City’s Leaky Acres facility;
2. Authorize the Director of Public Utilities or designee(s) to execute all application documents on behalf of the City.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Fresno provides potable water supply service to residents, businesses, industries, and institutions within a geographic area that extends across approximately 110 square miles. Groundwater recharge, at facilities such as the City’s Leaky Acres facility, is a vital component of the City’s efforts sustain the groundwater aquifer that the City relies on to provide potable water service.
As drought conditions have continued to worsen in California, the City of Fresno has been actively engaged in water supply planning and coordination efforts to conserve water use and sustain the aquifer. For decades, the City, through an agreement with the Fresno Irrigation District, has had surface water supply delivered to Leaky Acres and other basins for recharge during the summer months. Maximizing the capture and utilization of available surface water supplies to deliver to recharge basins is needed to sustain the aquifer. The project proposes to install a product at one of the basins at Leaky acres to improve the infiltration rate thereby increasing the recharge potential at the site. The product is a series of small diameter pipes that are installed vertically below the floor of the basin with the intent of improving vertical water movement through subsurface materials that are less pervious. The total estimated cost of the projects is $498,000.
BACKGROUND
Groundwater Recharge
Located near the Fresno-Yosemite International Airport, the City of Fresno operates Leaky Acres, which is comprised of 26 groundwater recharge ponds on 200 acres. It was built in 1970 to store water for percolation into the underground aquifer and recharge the groundwater supply. Under an agreement with Fresno Irrigation District (FID), surface water is delivered to Leaky Acres for recharge. In addition to Leaky Acres, through a cooperative agreement with the Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District (District), surface water is also delivered to several District basins during the summer months when the storm water basins are not fully needed for storm water capture. Groundwater recharge within the City varies based on water availability but can be as much as 60,000 acre-feet per year.
WaterSMART Grant Application
The Department of Interior, United State Bureau of Reclamation provides 50/50 cost-share grants for projects that improve drought resiliency, including groundwater recharge projects. The Department of Public Utilities will apply for the grant directly. The total estimated cost of the water conservation projects is estimated at $498,000. The required 50% cost share of $249,000 will be provided by the product manufacturer. It the grant is not successful, or if the product manufacturer does not provide the required cost share, the City will not proceed with the grant or the project.
In 2016, the City successfully secured a $300,000 grant through this program for the Fresno Unified School District to perform similar irrigation system improvements at various school sites.
The City also recently submitted a water conservation grant under a similarly named, but different program from the Bureau of Reclamation called the WaterSMART; Water and Energy Efficiency Grant program for irrigation system improvements within City owned large irrigated turf.
Staff recommends that Council adopt the attached Resolution authorizing the City of Fresno to submit an application to the Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation for a WaterSMART: Drought Response Program; Drought Resiliency Projects for Fiscal Year 2017 in the amount of $498,000. The proceeds from the WaterSMART grant will be used to install a product at Leaky Acres with the intent of improving the infiltration rate and ultimate recharge capability at that basin.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
The submission of grant application is not a project for the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local Preference was not considered because this action does not include a bid or an award of a City construction contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
This project will not impact the General Fund or the Water Enterprise Fund as there will be no project related costs to the City. The required 50% cost share will be provided by the product manufacturer. It the grant application is not successful, or if the product manufacturer does not provide the required cost share, the City will not proceed with the grant or the project.
ATTACHMENTS
• Attachment 1 - Resolution
• Attachment 2 - Letter from Water Group LLC, distributor for Parjana