Title
Consider EAA staff recommendation to approve water conservation grant contracts for 2017.
Body
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Move the board approve water conservation grant contracts with: Tierra Lytle, LLC ($65,000.00); Gary Boehme ($5,740.00); Scott Saathoff ($9,150.69); John Persyn ($35,229.93); Troy Zinsmeyer ($56,083.00); and Curtis Boehme and Staci Seekatz Boehme ($128,796.38), and authorize the General Manager to negotiate and execute the contracts.
SUMMARY:
The purpose of this agenda item is for the board to consider a staff recommendation to approve water conservation grant contracts with EAA groundwater withdrawal permit holders described below. These contracts will fund the installation of irrigation conservation equipment.
The EAA budgeted $200,000 in 2017 for its water conservation grant program. Additionally, the EAA was recently awarded a $100,000 grant from the Texas Water Development Board to supplement the program. To appropriate the additional funding, a budget amendment will be required and will be presented as an item at the September 2017 Finance/Administrative Committee Meeting.
The EAA received 22 applications requesting a total of about $1.7 million. EAA staff reviewed the applications and determined that the proposed projects summarized below met all requirements of the EAA Rules and would result in the conservation of Edwards groundwater. Full descriptions of the proposed projects will be presented at the August 8 board meeting.
Tierra Lytle, LLC, requested funding for the installation of pivot and linear systems that will cover a total of 370 acres with an efficiency improvement of 42%. Staff is recommending funding in an amount not to exceed $65,000, with a cost of $192.59 per acre-foot.
Gary Boehme requested funding for underground piping to effectuate the installation of a center pivot with an efficiency improvement of 69%. Staff is recommending funding in an amount not to exceed $5,740, with a cost of $444.44 per acre-foot.
Scott Saathoff requested funding for the installation of sprinkler upgrades with an efficiency improvement of 62%. Staff is recommending funding in an amount not to exceed $9,150.69, with a cost of $142.98 per acre-foot.
John Persyn requested funding for the installation of subsurface drip irrigation systems with an efficiency improvement of 47%. Staff is recommending funding in an amount not to exceed $35,229.93 with a cost of $2,020.88 per acre foot.
Troy Zinsmeyer requested funding for the installation of center pivots with an efficiency improvement of 60%. Staff is recommending funding in an amount not to exceed $56,083.00 with a cost of $775.91 per acre foot.
Curtis Boehme and Staci Seekatz Boehme requested funding for the installation of a subsurface drip irrigation system with an efficiency improvement of 47%. Staff is recommending funding in an amount not to exceed $128,796.38 with a cost of $1,807.62 per acre foot.
A draft template of the grant contract and related exhibit templates, which have been reviewed by legal counsel, are attached to this agenda item. Individual contracts based on these templates will be developed and executed following board approval.
M/WBE PARTICIPATION:
This agenda item does not involve the procurement of goods or services by the EAA and, therefore, this section is not applicable.
STRATEGIC PLAN REFERENCE:
This item is related to the EAA 2016-20 Strategic Plan: Goal B, Ensure Effective Management of the Edwards Aquifer.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funding in the amount of $200,000 is available in the 2017 operating budget, and will be supplemented by a $100,000 grant from the Texas Water Development Board. A budget amendment will be presented to the board at the September meeting to increase the total appropriation to $300,000.