Title
Consider staff recommendation to approve the EAHCP Nonroutine Adaptive Management Process Proposal.
Body
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Move the Implementing Committee approve the Nonroutine Adaptive Management Process proposal to modify the Voluntary Irrigation Suspension Program Option Conservation Measure (EAHCP § 5.1.2).
SUMMARY:
The purpose of this item is for the Implementing Committee to receive a report from the Stakeholder Committee through Scott Storment, EAHCP Program Manager, on the Stakeholder Committee’s position to implement the Nonroutine Adaptive Management Process to modify the Voluntary Irrigation Suspension Program Option (VISPO) Conservation Measure. This proposal seeks to change VISPO forbearance from 40,000 ac-ft/yr to 41,795 ac-ft/yr to meet the minimum flow objectives for the Comal Springs system.
Pursuant to Funding and Management Agreement § 7.6.2, modifications to Phase I and/or Phase II Conservation Measures are subject to the procedures of the Nonroutine Adaptive Management Process (AMP) to be implemented. Moreover, these modifications require the approval of the EAHCP Stakeholder, Science, and Implementing Committees.
On March 27, 2019, the EAHCP Science Committee convened to discuss the Nonroutine AMP proposal and developed a Scientific Evaluation Report describing the Science Committee’s discussion and approval of the VISPO modifications.
The Stakeholder Committee is scheduled to consider this matter immediately prior to the May 23 meeting of the Implementing Committee. This agenda item is subject to the Stakeholder Committee’s approval.
The Nonroutine AMP proposal and Scientific Evaluation Report are attached.
This action meets the obligations of the Funding and Management Agreement § 7.12.3.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The minimum fiscal impact associated with the stand-by payments between 2020-2028 is $872,370. Assuming VISPO triggers three times in that timeframe, the total fiscal impact of this item is $1,733,970.