The FC District has been participating in the East Contra Costa County (ECCC) Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Group, which was formed in response to the Proposition 50 (Prop 50) requirements. Prop 50 required that a project needed to be included in an Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (IRWMP) to be eligible for Prop 50 funding. The East County Water Management Association developed a "functional equivalent" IRWMP and used it to successfully apply for Prop 50 funding for several projects in East County. The FC District’s Upper Sand Creek Basin project is in the ECCC IRWMP.
In the latter months of 2010 through January 2011, the ECCC IRWM Group has, through Contra Costa Water District, hired a consultant to successfully prepare and submit an implementation grant application for Prop 84. Contra Costa County, through the Contra Costa Water Agency, has entered into an agreement to share the costs of developing the grant application. The grant application preparation costs are being shared in proportion to the requested amount.
The FC District is requesting a grant amount of $2,000,000 for its Upper Sand Creek Basin project, which is one of seven (7) projects in the total grant request of $12,660,000. The FC District’s proportionate share of the $167,500 professional services cost is 16%, or $26,461. The funds are to be paid directly to the Contra Costa Water District under the authority of an agreement executed by a representative of the Contra Costa Water Agency.
The FC District will not have the authorization to pay its share of the grant proposal costs to the Contra Costa Water District. This could delay payment to the consultant who prepared the grant proposal in good faith. The FC District may not be eligible to receive $2,000,000 in Prop 84 grant funds and the FC District would need to seek other funding sources to construct the Upper Sand Creek Basin project.