AgdaPkt 2002-06-03 - Laserfiche WebLink

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° Plant nuisance management ° Application and handling of herbicides / pesticides ° Litter and debris control o Communication and training ° Public education and outreach On January 30, 2002, the RWQCB granted "conditionally" approval of the standards pending the preparation of a Water Quality Monitoring Plan, following the requirements under Water Quality Order No. 2001-12-DWQ, General Permit No. CAG990003, Statewide General National Pollutant Discharqe Elimination System (NPDES) Permit for Discharqers of Aquatic Pesticides To Surface Waters Of The United States. The City must also obtain the General Permit. We are in the process of preparing the application to obtain this permit. Overall, the water quality monitoring plan, as defined by the RWQCB letter dated January 30, 2002, must include monitoring of concentrations and accumulations of sediment, herbicides, and copper. Each city will submit an annual report containing analysis of data and recommendations for improving water quality and reducing pollutant loading. The Laqoon Mana.qement Plan establishes the procedures for maintaining the lagoon water quality through mechanical harvesting and chemical spraying to treat excessive widgeon grass and algae growth; along with weekly surveying and monitoring of lagoon conditions. The existing ..L.a.qoon Manaqement Plan, last amended in 1998, will need revising to incorporate the new requirements. Staff recommends Council approve Task Order No. 4, which extends the term of the agreement to February 28, 2003. There are sufficient funds to cover the contract through this time period. In addition to the new requirements imposed by the RWQCB, other significant factors influence the expenditure of funds and the level of maintenance required. Generally, built-in design constraints and environmental and climatic conditions influence the level of maintenance service required, including but not limited to: (1) Weather conditions, nutrient loading and flushing rates dramatically affect the growth rate and proliferation of widgeon grass and algae. The warmer the weather the more growth of widgeon grass and algae is expected. (2) The more shallow lagoons, i.e. Gossamer Cove, require more regular and vigorous maintenance. Additionally, the small and / or shallow lagoon areas will see more frequent and rapid growth, and require frequent chemical treatment and hand harvesting. Initially, staff planned to initiate the competitive bid process for a new contract in September 2001, giving the City 90 days to complete the selection process before the Waterworks Industries' Task Order No. 3 expired on December 31, 2001. A new contract would have sta~ed January 1, 2002. However, staff delayed the process pending receipt of comments and / or approval by the RWQCB of the joint Lagoon Performance Standards submitted in May 2001. Staff had expected the RWQCB to provide a response to the cities that could be incorporated into the RFP documents. As stated above, the RWQCB responded on January 30, 2002 with a "conditional" approval that required additional work for the cities. The proposed extension of Waterworks Industries services under Task Order No. 4 to February 28, 2003, would give the City more time to prepare RFP documents that incorporate an updated Lagoon Management Plan containing the revised performance standards and the pesticide use reporting requirements under the Water Quality Monitoring Plan. This again is anticipating that the RWQCB will have granted the General Permit for Aquatic Pesticide Discharges and given final approvals and terms for the maintenance performance standards.