HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.b. Receive update on the most recent meeting of the Bay Area Clean Water Agencies (BACWA)Page 1 of 2
Item 4.b.
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November 19, 2024
TO: REAL ESTATE, ENVIRONMENTAL AND PLANNING COMMITTEE
FROM: LORI SCHECTEL, ENVIRONMENTAL & REGULATORY COMPLIANCE
DIVISION MANAGER
REVIEWED BY: GREG NORBY, DEPUTY GM - ENGINEERING & OPERATIONS
ROGER S. BAILEY, GENERAL MANAGER
SUBJECT: RECEIVE UPDATE ON THE MOST RECENT MEETING OF THE BAYAREA
CLEAN WATER AGENCIES (BACWA)
Last BACWA Board Meeting
October 18, 2024
• Next BACWA Board Meeting
December 6, 2024
Regional Monitoring Program (RMP) Update:
The BACWA Board received an update from San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) staff on the RMP.
They are hosting their multi -year planning workshop to develop priorities to determine study focus areas for
2026. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Program Office grants will increase the RMP budget
to $8 million annually, double what they currently have to work with each year; BACWA agencies contribute
46 percent of current funding. The RMP will receive its first allocation of the EPA grant money in
December/January and will receive additional allotments over a five-year period. The grant is for water
quality science to inform management, more specifically program management and governance, QA and
data management, and other related tasks. They also will be working on an RMP dashboard in the future.
For 2025, there is a big focus on special studies related to stormwater monitoring.
Nutrients:
BACWA published a request for proposals (RFP) on October 9 for nutrient annual reports and regional
planning efforts under the 3rd Nutrient Watershed Permit. Proposals are due November 6. Interviews will
begin on November 18, and a contract will be presented to the BACWA Board at the December 6
meeting.
BACWA is working to create a non-competitive grant rationale for EPA Program Office funding so that
BACWA can get funding for the studies required under the 3rd Nutrient Watershed Permit. BACWA is
also working on how money could be granted to individual permittees through a selection process.
The Regional Nutrient Management Science Program is convening a few Planning Sub -committee
meetings over the next several months and is including regional steering committee members in these
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meetings, as the program seeks to determine the key science questions to be answered over the course
of the five-year Nutrient Permit term. The priority studies determined will help inform any future
management actions.
Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD):
At the next senior collaborative meeting with BAAQMD, BACWA will be agendizing future emissions from
nutrient reduction efforts. There will likely be a need for certain projects to get air permits, and BACWA
staff want to ensure timeliness and understanding of nutrient reduction requirements. Regional Water
Board staff may be invited to attend this meeting as well.
Other:
BACWA will have a joint meeting with Regional Water Board staff on November 22. Topics for discussion
purposes may include collaborative regulatory strategy, Nutrient Watershed Permit implementation and
compliance schedule policy, a nutrients science update from SFEI, and a discussion of nature -based
solutions study and future opportunities.
Additional Information/Monthly Bulletins: https:Hbacwa.org/bacwa-bulletins/
Strategic Plan re -In
GOAL TWO: Environmental Stewardship
Strategy 1 - Achieve compliance in all regulations, Strategy 3 - Be a partner in regional development of local water
supply
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