Vote: adopted

Item Text

F-2. IGA WITH NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE FOR REHAB PLAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Approve Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) FCD 2008A011, Watershed Agreement for the Rehabilitation Plan for the White Tanks No. 4 Flood Retarding Structure Project (project) among the US Department of Agriculture, through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the Flood Control District of Maricopa County (District), the Agua Fria – New River Natural Resource Conservation District (NRCD), and the Buckeye Valley Natural Resource Conservation District. The term of this agreement covers the works of rehabilitation with consideration of a planned life of 100 years. On June 18, 2008 the District Board of Directors adopted Resolution FCD 2008R005 (C-69- 08-065-6-00) authorizing the District to negotiate project IGAs with NRCS. A Watershed Agreement is required by the NRCS project authorization process at the end of the planning phase of dam rehabilitation projects. The White Tanks FRS No. 4 Watershed Agreement is an agreement between NRCS and the District for the specific dam rehabilitation alternative that has been selected to move forward to final design and construction. The Rehabilitation Plan/Environmental Assessment Report describes the selected alternative as well as alternatives analysis planning work and the environmental assessment performed for the project. In addition, the Watershed Agreement outlines the intended project cost share participation by NRCS and the District, authorizes NRCS to seek federal funding for the project and provides formal notification that the District is ready, willing and able to proceed with the project. The Watershed Agreement is not, however, a cost share agreement. The NRCS process requires that the project construction contract be awarded within 90 days of federal signature of the project cost share IGA. In addition, NRCS requires a near final project cost estimate in the IGA. Therefore, the IGA cost share agreement will be negotiated and presented to the Board for approval upon completion of final project design. The District has coordinated with and obtained input on this project from: the Town of Buckeye , other local stakeholders and the public. The total project cost under this agreement is estimated to be $ 14.3 million, and the federal cost share is estimated to be $ 9.3 million. Of their $14.3 million, $12,722,800 remains to be expended for construction, engineering, and land costs. Planning and project administration costs have been previously expended. This agenda item impacts Supervisor District 4. (C-69-09-030-3-00)