Imported water pipeline design, environmental surveys and funding updates; board approves time‑sensitive botanical survey

Staff and consultants updated the board on progress toward the imported water pipeline and related projects, including environmental surveys, right‑of‑way work, shallow‑well consolidation efforts, and grant funding.

Bianca (Stetson) explained that Southern California Edison proposed a new power line alignment for pump stations that would require additional environmental surveys. Because botanical surveys must be conducted in spring when plants are identifiable, Provost & Pritchard provided a time‑sensitive change order to conduct a rare plant survey late March–early 2025. The board approved a $20,000 change order to Provost & Pritchard; staff said that if the survey is not completed in the upcoming spring window it would need to wait a year, delaying environmental review. Staff reported the environmental contract will be updated to a not‑to‑exceed amount of $1,526,114 after the change order. During discussion Director Peters and others requested that the consultant appear at future meetings for significant change orders and staff noted that prior large change orders were driven by BLM timing and species‑specific survey windows.

Bianca also presented Amendment No. 1 to a reimbursement agreement with Antelope Valley East Kern (AVEC). AVEC had requested additional hydraulic modeling and CEQA scoping for a potential future phase (Mojave tank alignment) and requested additional deposit funds. The board approved extending the agreement term by 24 months and providing an additional $75,000 deposit; per the amendment, AVEC will refund any unused funds and provide a detailed accounting of costs charged to the deposit.

Water Resources Manager Steve Johnson (Stetson) briefed the board on grant invoicing and project milestones. Staff reported invoice No. 9 (covering July–September 2024) for the implementation grant was nearly $1.2 million and has been paid; invoice No. 10 (October–December) for roughly $505,000 has been submitted to DWR and staff is awaiting approval. Staff said the Urban Community Drought Relief consolidation grant provides roughly $3.35 million for shallow‑well projects and that a Rademacher consolidation pipeline is in design with materials onsite, but tie‑in work and reliability checks remain with the water district; construction activity was expected to begin in April if scheduling and tie‑in preparations proceed.

On project design timelines staff reported the project is at approximately 60% design; they expect to receive 90% design plans by June and complete 100% design by the end of 2025. Staff said they are finalizing right‑of‑way acquisition planning and expect a final plan by late 2025 with appraisals completed by year end. Staff also said the authority received an extension on a $7.6 million grant and that the authority has been notified it will receive an EPA grant that staff expects will help cover project costs; staff said they are awaiting details from the EPA grant manager.

The board approved the Provost & Pritchard change order and the AVEC amendment; members asked staff for additional transparency on large change orders and for consultants to appear in person when substantial contract changes are proposed.