Title
Consider recommendation from the Research & Technology Committee to approve an amendment to Contract No. 13-637-HCP with BIO-WEST, Inc., to conduct additional validation studies for the Predictive Ecological Model for the Comal and San Marcos Ecosystems Project, in an amount not to exceed $125,000.
Body
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Move the board adopt Resolution and Order No. 02-16-836 of the Edwards Aquifer Authority Board of Directors approving a second amendment to Contract No. 13-637-HCP with BIO-WEST, Inc., to conduct additional validation studies for the Predictive Ecological Model for the Comal and San Marcos Ecosystems Project, in an amount not to exceed $125,000; for a total contract amount not to exceed $1,055,350, and authorizing the General Manager to execute the amendment.
SUMMARY:
The purpose of this agenda item is for the board to consider a Research & Technology Committee recommendation to amend Contract No. 13-637-HCP with BIO-WEST, Inc., to conduct additional validation studies for the Predictive Ecological Model project (EcoModel). During the two years the Eco Model has been active, the BIO-WEST team has constructed the fountain darter mortality component of the EcoModel utilizing mortality data based on other darter species. Although this data has been the best available data to date, the acquisition and use of in situ fountain darter mortality data will allow the BIO-WEST team to further refine the model specifically to fit the fountain darter, strengthening the validation and calibration of the model.
In addition, the fountain darter data (numbers, size-classes, habitat, etc.) collected for building the model were collected at “fixed,” non-random sites. This approach has been beneficial to developing the EcoModel; however, events that take place in the systems are random. To provide a more robust validation and calibration of the EcoModel, there is the need for in situ, randomly collected sample data. This data will provide the BIO-...
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