The Contra Costa Clean Water Program (CCCWP) consists of Contra Costa County, its 19 incorporated cities/towns, and the Contra Costa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (hereinafter referred to collectively as Permittees). The CCCWP was established in 1991 through a Program Agreement in response to the 1987 amendments to the federal Clean Water Act (CWA), which established a framework for regulating municipal stormwater discharges under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Program. The United States Environmental Protection Agency published final rules implementing the 1987 CWA amendments in November 1990. The rules mandate that Permittees obtain and implement stormwater permits designed to reduce and eliminate the discharge of pollutants into and from Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems they own and operate. Through the CCCWP, Permittees conduct many of the mandated activities collectively (referred to as Group Activities), such as water quality monitoring, special studies, and public education. The roles and responsibilities of the CCCWP and Permittees are outlined in the Program Agreement, which was last updated and adopted by all Permittees in June 2010.   
  
In March 2016, the Flood Control and Water Conservation District, on behalf of the CCCWP, submitted an application for a Proposition 1-Storm Water Grant Program Planning Grant. This grant will allow CCCWP to create a Storm Water Resource Plan, a document that evaluates and prioritizes watershed-based projects throughout the County that will provide multiple resource and community benefits. The benefits include water quality improvement, water supply, flood control, habitat restoration, social involvement, and community enhancement. The Plan is also a mandatory requirement in order to apply for future State stormwater grant funds.   
  
In July 2016, CCCWP was notified that its grant application was approved for funding in the amount of $499,420. A grant match of at least 50% of the total project cost is required. The match will consist of staff time from CCCWP and Permittees, Stormwater Utility Assessment fees, related work that occurred prior to grant execution (which is allowed to be counted under the grant’s rules), as well as a $1,000 project donation from the Friends of Alhambra Creek.  
  
CCCWP intends to have the Plan ready for Permittees to use for their stormwater grant applications, as well as NPDES permit-required Green Infrastructure Plans. Larry Walker Associates, Inc. (LWA) has been identified as the firm that can provide the technical work necessary to accomplish the grant tasks within the required timeframe. CCCWP staff, on behalf of the Permittees, respectfully requests approval of this Contract with LWA through March 31, 2020.   

If this Contract with Larry Walker Associates, Incorporated, is not approved, the CCCWP would not be able to fulfill the permit mandates, and municipalities could be found in non-compliance with the NPDES permits issued by the Water Boards. Fines totaling $10,000 per day and $10 per gallon of stormwater discharge could potentially be imposed.