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W A T E R I E N E R G Y I L I F E =- RIVERSIDE PUBLIC UTILITIES • Board Memorandum P U D L I C UTILITIES BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES DATE: May 7, 2010 ITEM NO: 7 SUBJECT: EXTENSION OF CONSULTANT CONTRACT FOR PREPARATION OF GROUNDWATER BASIN MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR THE RIVERSIDE AND ARLINGTON BASINS AND A NUMERICAL GROUNDWATER MODEL OF THE RIVERSIDE AND ARLINGTON BASINS ISSUE: Extension of a Professional Consultant Services Agreement ("Agreement") with Water Resources & Information Management Engineering, Inc. forthe preparation of individual Groundwater Basin Management Plans(GWMPs)for the Riverside and Arlington Basins and a Numerical Groundwater Model of the combined Riverside and Arlington Basins (PSA No. WR08092201.00). RECOMMENDATION: That the Board of Public Utilities approve First Amendment to Professional Consultant Services Agreement with Water Resources & Information Management Engineering, Inc., for an extension of the term through December 31, 2010. BACKGROUND: On March 9, 2007, Riverside and Western Municipal Water District(Western)executed the Riverside Basin Joint Study Agreement in order for Western to participate, both technically and financially, in study activities related to the Riverside Basin. The City Council approved a Professional Consultant Services Agreement with Water Resources & Information Management Engineering, Inc. on August 26, 2008 for preparation of GWMPs and a numerical groundwater model of the Riverside and Arlington Basins, which is being jointly funded by Riverside and Western. Delays in the project, specifically data collection and review in the preliminary stages of the project, have resulted in the need for a time extension to complete the project. The GWMPs and numerical groundwater model will be used by Riverside, Western, and other stakeholders in the basins to simulate groundwater management strategies, including increased pumping, artificial groundwater recharge, new production well locations, and water quality issues. The GWMPs provide the framework for coordinating groundwater management activities among stakeholders. Riverside has historically imported the bulk of its water supplies from the Bunker Hill groundwater basin. Riverside's growing need for water exceeds its Bunker Hill basin rights, and has increasingly relied on water pumped from the Riverside Basin to satisfy its customers' needs.As Riverside's water requirements continue to increase, the need to economically extract and treat water from the Riverside Basin will grow significantly. The GWMPs will identify the basin management goals and objectives needed to effectively manage the groundwater basin, ensuring that groundwater remains a reliable and cost-effective water supply to meet current and future municipal, industrial, and agricultural needs. The Water Committee unanimously recommended an extension of the Professional Consultant Services Agreement with Water Resources & Information Management Engineering, Inc.