WaterSMART 

Water Recycling and Desalination Planning, FY 2023 

NOFO No. R23AS00076 

Groundwater Augmentation Program (GAP) 

Project Manager: MONTECITO WATER DISTRICT 

Nick Turner 

583 San Ysidro Road 

Santa Barbara, CA 93108 

nturner@montecitowater.com 

805.969.2271 

Submitted to: 

Bureau of Reclamation 

Financial Assistance 

Operations Section 

Attn: NOFO Team 

P.O. Box 25007, MS 84-27133 

Denver, CO 80225 

FEBRUARY 2023 
 

 

 

 

Table of Contents 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

1.0 Technical Proposal & Evaluation Criteria......................................................................... 1 

1.1 Executive Summary..................................................................................................... 1 

1.2 Project Location ........................................................................................................... 2 

1.3 Technical Project Description....................................................................................... 3 

1.4 Eligibility and Applicant Category................................................................................. 4 

1.5 Evaluation Criteria........................................................................................................ 6 

2.0 Project Budget................................................................................................................21 

2.1 Funding Plan and Letters of Funding Commitment .....................................................21 

2.2 Budget Narrative.........................................................................................................22 

3.0 Environmental & Cultural Resources Compliance ..........................................................24 

4.0 Required Permits or Approvals.......................................................................................25 

5.0 Statements .....................................................................................................................26 

5.1 Overlap or Duplication of Effort Statement ..................................................................26 

5.2 Conflict of Interest Disclosure Statement ....................................................................26 

5.3 Uniform Audit Reporting Statement.............................................................................26 

6.0 References.....................................................................................................................27 

Appendix A Official Resolution ............................................................................................. 1 

Appendix B Letters of Project Support.................................................................................. 1 

Appendix C Letter of Commitment........................................................................................ 1 

Appendix D Mandatory Federal Forms ................................................................................. 1 

Appendix E Unique Entity Identifier & SAM Registration....................................................... 1 

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List of Figures 

LIST OF FIGURES 

Figure 1. GAP Advanced Water Purification Facility at MSD WWTP.............................................. 2 

Figure 2. GAP Conveyance and Injection Well Infrastructure ........................................................ 3 

LIST OF TABLES 

Table 1. Grant Tasks Schedule ...................................................................................................... 10 

Table 2. Summary of Non-Federal and Federal funding source................................................... 21 

Table 3. Total Project Budget Proposal......................................................................................... 21 

Table 3. Total Project Cost Table .................................................................................................. 22 

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Acroynms & Abbreviations 

ACROYNMS & ABBREVIATIONS 

ADWF Average Dry Weather Flow 

AWPF Advanced Water Purification Facility 

AFY Acre-Feet per Year 

CEQA California Environmental Quality Act 

CGB Carpinteria Groundwater Basin 

CVP Central Valley Project 

District Montecito Water District 

DWR Department of Water Resources 

GAP Groundwater Augmentation Project 

GSP Groundwater Sustainability Plan 

IPR Indirect Potable Reuse 

mg/L Milligrams per Liter 

MGB Montecito Groundwater Basin 

MGD Million Gallons per Day 

MSD Montecito Sanitary District 

MWD Montecito Water District 

NOFO Notice of Funding Opportunity 

NPDES National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System 

Project Groundwater Augmentation Project 

Reclamation United States Bureau of Reclamation 

ROWD Report of Waste Discharge 

SGMA Sustainable Groundwater Management Act 

SWP State Water Project 

SWRCB State Water Resources Control Board 

TDS Total Dissolved Solids 

USBR United States Bureau of Reclamation 

WWTP Wastewater Treatment Plant 

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Technical Proposal & Evaluation Criteria 

1.0 Technical Proposal & Evaluation Criteria 

This funding application for the Groundwater Augmentation Program (GAP or Project), 

prepared by the Montecito Water District (District or MWD), is submitted to the United States 

Bureau of Reclamation (USBR or Reclamation) under the Department of the Interior in response 

to the WaterSMART: Water Recycling and Desalination Planning, Fiscal Year (FY) 23, Notice of 

Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Number R23AS00076. 

Date: 02/28/2023 

Applicant: Montecito Water District 

City, County, State: Montecito, Santa Barbara County, California 

Unique Entity Identifier: RMZRPJQKV7H5 

1.1 Executive Summary 

GAP is a regional indirect potable reuse (IPR) project that will improve water supply reliability 

and resiliency to benefit the people, economy, and environment in the unincorporated 

communities of Montecito and Summerland, California, located in Santa Barbara County. The 

Project would also provide groundwater benefits to the neighboring Carpinteria Groundwater 

Basin (CGB) in Carpinteria, California. Grant funding would facilitate advancing the next phase 

of the Project, including preliminary design, environmental documentation, and USBR 

Feasibility Study. 

The mission of MWD is “to provide an adequate and reliable supply of high quality water to the 

residents of Montecito and Summerland, at the most reasonable cost”. Existing conditions and 

future projections indicate that water security is decreasing as demands increase and available 

supplies and their reliability decrease. Ongoing water supply efforts in Montecito include 

conservation, regional groundwater banking, local groundwater management, stormwater 

capture, and desalination. However, these efforts are not enough to overcome long-term 

shortages or be relied upon to sustainably meet future needs as surface water supply yield and 

reliability is expected to further decrease. The competition for existing surface water supplies 

(particularly those that depend on precipitation) in the region and across the State, is 

anticipated to increase with new regulations related to groundwater/surface water interactions 

and minimum sustainability thresholds, water quality issues, environmental flows, climate 

change, and housing directives. 

MWD has already invested in a partnership with the City of Santa Barbara for desalination. 

However, a new, drought-resistant, local water supply will be necessary to sustain the District 

long-term. This new potable water supply would reduce demand on its other sources of supply, 

including groundwater from the stressed Montecito Groundwater Basin (MGB). Water reuse is 

a long-term and resilient strategy since it leverages a renewable resource that would not be 

diminished by insufficient rainfall. Recognizing that an IPR project will take time to plan, permit, 

and construct, the District has developed a phased approach to developing GAP. 

The District is respectfully requesting $1,000,000 from Reclamation to leverage District funds 

and a potential California Sustainable Groundwater Management grant to support the 

preliminary design (30%), environmental documentation, a supply integration analysis, public 

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1.2 

Technical Proposal & Evaluation Criteria 

and stakeholder engagement process, and a USBR Feasibility Study that meets the all of the 

requirements of Reclamation’s Feasibility Directive & Standard WTR 11-01. Tasks will be 

completed within the 24-month grant eligible cost period. The proposed planning efforts are 

not for a project on a Federal facility and won’t involve Federal land, but could provide an 

indirect benefit to Federal water supplies which is detailed in response to Evaluation Criterion 5 

of this application. 

Project Location 

The Montecito Water District is located on the Central Pacific coast of California, approximately 

100 miles north of Los Angeles. The service area encompasses 15.4 square miles and lies in the 

eastern portion of the coastal plain south of the Santa Ynez Mountains. The service area 

includes a very small eastern part of the City of Santa Barbara, the unincorporated communities 

of Montecito and Summerland, Toro Canyon, and small parts of the western Carpinteria Valley. 

GAP includes an Advanced Water Purification Facility (AWPF) to produce purified recycled 

water and a pump station and pipelines to convey the water to an injection well in the CGB for 

groundwater recharge. The AWPF would be located at the MSD’s existing wastewater 

treatment plant (WWTP), as shown in Figure 1. The pipeline network would be located 

primarily within existing roadways, road shoulders, and rights-of-way and would generally 

parallel the alignment of U.S. Highway 101 between the AWPF and the injection well location in 

Carpinteria, as shown in Figure 2. Groundwater modeling will confirm the location of the 

injection well. 

Figure 1. GAP Advanced Water Purification Facility at MSD WWTP 

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1.3 

Technical Proposal & Evaluation Criteria 

Figure 2. GAP Conveyance and Injection Well Infrastructure 

Technical Project Description 

This Project phase advances the planning for GAP, which is a regional IPR project that will 

produce roughly 500 acre-feet per year (AFY) of new water supply from treated wastewater 

currently being discharged to the ocean. The Project entails an AWPF, pump station, 54,000 

feet of pipeline, and an injection well in the CGB. 

Implementing the Project will increase the District’s drought-resistant supplies and reduce 

demand on the District’s existing supplies, including surface water from State Water Project 

(SWP), the Cachuma Project and Jameson Lake as well as groundwater supply from the MGB. 

Reducing demand on groundwater supplies will help to avoid future undesirable results1 and 

achieve sustainability pursuant to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). Past 

groundwater modeling performed on the MGB as part of the Montecito Groundwater 

Sustainability Plan (GSP) (Dudek, 2023) indicates that the MGB is experiencing historically low 

conditions (i.e., low groundwater levels due to a reduction in natural recharge resulting from 

climate change and an increased reliance on groundwater by public and private entities). If 

similar hydrologic conditions continue, as experts predict, the MGB could experience 

1 SGMA defines six “undesirable results” to be avoided: 1) Chronic lowering of groundwater 

levels; 2) reduction of groundwater storage; 3) seawater intrusion; 4) degradation of water 

quality; 5) land subsidence; and 6) Groundwater-related surface water depletions. 

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Technical Proposal & Evaluation Criteria 

undesirable results in the near term and long term unless reducing groundwater use and/or 

augmenting the groundwater supply. In 2022, MWD and the Montecito Sanitary District (MSD), 

a local public sanitary agency, collaborated on an Enhanced Recycled Water Feasibility Analysis 

(Carollo Engineers, 2022). The study evaluated a range of recycled water options, including 

regional partnerships, and recommended GAP - a regional IPR project involving multiple local 

and regional public agencies and multiple groundwater basins. The Project involves advanced 

purification of MSD’s treated wastewater for injection into the neighboring CGB for eventual 

potable use by MWD. 

MWD previously conducted a Groundwater Augmentation Feasibility Analysis (GSI Water 

Solutions, 2019) for the MGB that analyzed the feasibility implementing an IPR project for 

storage within different regions of the MGB. The study concluded that injection and storage of 

recycled water within the MGB is feasible in certain limited areas but injection and recovery 

capacity is limited (35 to 75 AFY) and would be financially infeasible to implement. The GAP 

involves injection in the CGB and MWD will receive the supply benefit either through pumpback or direct exchange with Carpinteria Valley Water District. The Project provides benefits to 

the MGB from less groundwater extractions and therefore the retention of groundwater in 

storage (i.e. in-lieu recharge). 

Grant funding is requested to complete preliminary (30%) design, environmental 

documentation, supply integration analysis, public outreach, and USBR Feasibility Study. 

1.4 Eligibility and Applicant Category 

As a county water district, organized and existing under the laws of the State of California, the 

District is eligible to pursue funding through this NOFO. The District is pursuing funding under 

Funding Group I for planning, outreach, preliminary design, and environmental efforts that will 

support development of the GAP project. The District is committed to a cost share of 

$1,656,068 (62% of the total eligible project costs $2,656,068). Expenses will be covered 

directly by the District or from other non-Federal funding sources secured for the project as 

further detailed in the Project Budget section of this application. 

The final resolution authorizing the District to enter into a funding agreement with Reclamation 

should funds be awarded through this NOFO is provided as Attachment A. 

1.4.1 Goals 

IPR is a drought-resistant solution for current and projected water supply imbalances caused by 

strained supplies and increased demand driven by climate change. The grant-funded activities 

would accomplish the following goals for GAP: 

• Prepare a preliminary (30%) design report, including groundwater modeling for the 

CGB to determine injection location(s). 

• Complete an environmental review compliant with the California Environmental 

Quality Act (CEQA), including “CEQA-Plus” that facilitates future National 

Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) coverage by Reclamation. 

• Complete a supply integration analysis to characterize integration of the new supply 

from GAP into the District’s existing portfolio. 

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Technical Proposal & Evaluation Criteria 

• Develop and implement stakeholder engagement process that provides a range of 

inputs and viewpoints. 

• Prepare a feasibility study meeting Reclamation’s Feasibility Study Directive & 

Standard WTR 11-01. 

1.4.2 Approach 

The following reflects the District’s planned approach for completing the next phase of GAP. 

Task 1. Project Management 

This task involves coordination with District staff and other administrative efforts associated 

with the Project. This task also involves preparing reports that may be required by the grant, 

such as Semiannual Financial Reports, Annual Performance Reports, and Final Performance 

Report. 

Task 2. Stakeholder Engagement 

This task involves preparation of an engagement plan and periodic meetings with stakeholders 

to provide input to the project at key milestones and as required by CEQA. This task also 

includes presentations on project progress at key milestones during public meetings of the 

MWD Board of Directors. 

Task 3. Environmental Review 

This task includes the preparation of documentation required to satisfy the requirements of 

CEQA and other CEQA-related standards and technical studies, including “CEQA-Plus” that 

facilitates future NEPA coverage by Reclamation. 

Task 4. Supply Integration Analysis 

This task consists of evaluating how to best integrate the new GAP supply into MWD’s current 

supply portfolio, MWD’s receipt of water stored in CGB, and MWD’s long-term water supply 

projections. This task also includes evaluation of Project water recovery via exchange with 

Carpinteria Valley Water District and/or direct pump back from CGB, and an update of MWD’s 

water supply projections to incorporate this new supply. 

Task 5. Preliminary (30%) Design 

This task involves the creation of a Preliminary Design Report, representing a 30% design, 

including drawings for an MSD AWPF, pump station, pipelines, and injection facilities. This work 

also includes the development of several technical memorandums discussing water quality and 

treatment process goals and requirements as well as groundwater modeling. The groundwater 

modeling will be used to determine the injection location(s) within the CGB to accept, store, 

and recover the purified recycled water. 

Task 6. USBR Feasibility Study 

This task involves preparing a Title XVI compliant feasibility study meeting Reclamation’s 

Feasibility Study Directive & Standard WTR 11-01 requirements through referencing 

information in the 2023 Enhanced Recycled Water Feasibility Analysis and development of 

remaining information required to meet Reclamation requirements. 

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1.5 Evaluation Criteria 

Evaluation Criterion 1 - Project Planning and Analysis 

Subcriterion No. 1a – Water Recycling Needs and Opportunities 

1. Describe the problems and needs in the project area. 

Technical Proposal & Evaluation Criteria 

With cyclical droughts, declining groundwater levels, and the reduced availability of surface 

water supplies, it is important for MWD to effectively manage available water resources to 

protect public health and safety, maintain viable ecosystems, and avoid seawater intrusion. 

Many water supply efforts have been completed to address existing depleted water supplies, 

ongoing resiliency issues, and future needs. Multiple studies indicate the need for recycled 

water as a way to reduce demand on and augment existing surface water and groundwater 

supplies. 

The Draft 2023 MGB GSP (Dudek, 2023), prepared by the Montecito Groundwater Basin 

Groundwater Sustainability Agency indicates that the MGB is experiencing low groundwater 

levels due to a reduction in natural recharge as a result of climate change and an increased 

reliance on groundwater. If similar hydrologic conditions continue, the MGB could experience 

undesirable results2 unless there is a reduction in groundwater use and/or the groundwater 

supply is augmented with an alternative such as recycled water. GAP is a drought-resistant 

supply that could reduce reliance on the MGB and surface water supplies that are subject 

extreme drought conditions, and is part of the District’s long-term resiliency strategy. 

MWD’s 2020 Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) (Zanjero, 2021) included water supply 

and demand analysis that identified current and projected supply deficiencies and potential 

water supply strategies to address deficiencies, including 500 AFY of recycled water to meet 

future demands. (The water shortage deficiencies are described further in the response to the 

next question). To determine the best uses of recycled water, the District partnered with MSD 

in 2022 to produce the Enhanced Recycled Water Feasibility Analysis (Carollo Engineers, 2022) 

to identify the preferred method of pursuing wastewater reuse. Six alternatives and four 

different concepts were evaluated – non-potable reuse, IPR, and two types of direct potable 

reuse – with GAP being the preferred alternative based on the initial analysis. However, 

important data gaps remain to confirm Project feasibility, such as pipeline alignments, 

groundwater modeling, supply integration, and environmental impacts. 

2. Describe the current and projected water supplies and demands in the project area; 

include a discussion on supply and demand imbalances. Additional consideration will be 

given to proposals that explain how the problems and needs in the area may be 

impacted by climate change, and/or if supply and demand projections will include 

climate change information. 

2 SGMA defines six “undesirable results” to be avoided: 1) Chronic lowering of groundwater 

levels; 2) reduction of groundwater storage; 3) seawater intrusion; 4) degradation of water 

quality; 5) land subsidence; and 6) Groundwater-related surface water depletions. 

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Technical Proposal & Evaluation Criteria 

The District obtains its water supplies from multiple sources, including imported surface water 

supplies from Lake Cachuma, SWP, and supplemental purchases of water from around the 

State; and the District’s own Jameson Lake, Doulton Tunnel, and the MGB. MWD’s future 

projections indicate that water security is decreasing as demands increase and available 

supplies and their reliability decrease. According to the District’s 2020 UWMP (Zanjero, 2021), 

the District does not have sufficient supplies to meet unconstrained demands without 

implementing MWD Water Shortage Contingency Plan actions during four out of five years of 

five-year simulated drought. A Stage 1 Water Shortage Condition is necessary for the first year 

and third years of the drought, and the more serious Stage 2 water Shortage Condition would 

be invoked in the last two years of drought. The most severe shortage experienced in the final 

year of the drought would cause a 20 percent supply shortage. In the simulated droughts 

beginning in 2030 and later, the addition of recycled water supplies helps limit projected supply 

shortages to no more than 14 percent. New sources of water supply, including the Project, are 

key factors contributing to the District’s supply reliability. Implementation of the Project will 

provide critically needed supply augmentation. 

Climate change is generally forecasted to bring higher temperatures, more variability in 

precipitation, and more frequent and prolonged droughts. This will place strain on summer and 

fall water supply from the SWP and local surface water. Increased evapotranspiration would 

also accompany the intensification of hotter extreme temperatures, thereby increasing water 

demand for irrigation. Other likely future changes in the area include extreme weather events, 

droughts, flooding, fires, coastal erosion, and sea level rise, all which could potentially affect 

groundwater and surface water supplies. Local water surface water supply reliability will likely 

also be affected as rainfall captured in Jameson Lake and Lake Cachuma will be subject to 

increased variability and reduced capacity from sedimentation. Development of reliable local 

water supply is an important part of the District’s approach to addressing climate change and 

supply vulnerability. Adapting to climate change impacts is of fundamental importance to 

maintain the reliability of regional water supplies. Methods for adapting to these changes 

include recharging groundwater with alternative supplies (e.g., use of purified recycled water). 

The District’s efforts to obtain additional local, rainfall independent water supplies, like this 

Project will enhance reliable water supplies in the face of climate change. 

3. Describe how the planning activities will investigate potential uses and markets for 

recycled or desalinated water (e.g., environmental restoration, fish and wildlife, 

groundwater recharge, municipal, domestic, industrial, agricultural, power generation, 

and recreation). 

GAP is an IPR project that would recharge groundwater in the CGB for eventual potable use by 

MWD. Previous studies evaluated non-potable, indirect potable, and direct potable use of 

recycled water. Ultimately, GAP was identified as the preferred use of recycled water. The 

Project increases overall water availability, which in turn can create less demand on surface 

water and groundwater supplies. The District’s surface water supplies face increasing pressures 

from a combination of higher variability, increased evaporation, reservoir sedimentation, and 

environmental flows. GAP allows the District to mitigate for these risks and adapt to changes in 

existing supplies in the future. Environmental, fish, and wildlife benefits could be realized 

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Technical Proposal & Evaluation Criteria 

indirectly from Project since GAP would reduce MWD’s reliance on surface water and 

groundwater supplies. 

The planning activities include groundwater modeling of injection in the CGB to confirm 

injection location and understand groundwater basin response. Also, the supply integration 

analysis will investigate key components of the Project, mechanics of MWD’s receipt of water 

whether stored in CGB or by exchange, and updating the MWD’s long-term water supply plan. 

4. Describe the source water that will be considered for the project, including location, 

capacities, existing flows, treatment processes, and quantities of impaired water 

available to meet the new recycled, recycled, or desalinated water demands. 

The 2023 Enhanced Recycled Water Feasibility Analysis (Carollo Engineers, 2022) established 

the current and future anticipated flows to the MSD WWTP considering growth, conservation, 

and septic conversions. The range of flows and mass loads have a critical role in determining 

the feasibility of modifications to the existing plant including the addition of equalization basins 

and an AWPF. The existing average dry weather flow (ADWF) is 0.62 million gallons per day 

(MGD), based on data from 2017 to 2021, and future ADWF is estimated to be 0.7 MGD. The 

minimum flow requirements to keep the outfall operational and to minimize scaling was also 

investigated. Neither issue appear to be a challenge to treat all flows such that discharges from 

the AWPF are AWPF brine. After accounting for AWPF losses, GAP is expected to produce 

approximately 500 AFY. 

Subcriterion No. 1b – Evaluation of Project Alternatives 

1. Describe the objectives that all alternatives will be designed to meet. What other water 

supply alternatives and project alternatives will be investigated? 

The GAP project objectives are as follows: 

1. Reduce reliance on existing water supplies that are dependent on precipitation and 

being impacted by climate change, such as MGB and surface water supplies. For 

example, MWD’s groundwater extractions make up approximately 50 percent of total 

extractions from the MGB so GAP supply will reduce the District’s reliance on 

groundwater from the MGB. 

2. Provide a new drought-resistant water supply for the Montecito and Summerland 

communities, improving long-term water supply reliability and bolstering their ability to 

respond to future drought conditions. 

3. Support MWD’s conjunctive use program, increasing groundwater availability during 

non-drought periods and extending its availability during future droughts for all MGB 

stakeholders. 

4. Promote multi-agency and multi-basin collaboration. 

5. Improve groundwater quality in the CGB by injecting high quality purified recycled water 

and reducing the risk of seawater intrusion, which was recently detected in the CGB. 

6. Reduce MSD’s discharge to the Pacific Ocean and recapture the supply for beneficial 

reuse. 

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Technical Proposal & Evaluation Criteria 

As noted in response to Evaluation Criteria 1a.1, the MWD 2020 UWMP (Zanjero, 2021) 

included supply projections and potential new supplies and the 2023 Enhanced Recycled Water 

Feasibility Analysis (Carollo Engineers, 2022) evaluated six recycled water alternatives. 

2. Describe how the planning activities will develop project alternatives (water supply 

sources, reuse strategies, or treatment technologies) that have been or will be 

investigated. 

The District’s investigation into alternative rainfall independent water supply projects is 

ongoing. The District has already invested in desalination through a partnership with the City of 

Santa Barbara. GAP will focus on maximizing the benefit from reuse of wastewater that is 

currently being discharged to the ocean by providing IPR through groundwater recharge. The 

groundwater modeling effort will evaluate alternatives for the injection location(s) within the 

CGB to accept and store, temporarily and potentially long-term, approximately 500 AFY of 

advanced purified recycled water from MSD. The Supply Integration Analysis includes the 

evaluation of various key components associated with the Project, evaluating the mechanics of 

MWD’s receipt of water stored in CGB, and updating the MWD long-term water supply plan. 

The analysis also includes an evaluation of water exchange alternatives between the Carpinteria 

Valley Water District and MWD, and/or direct pump back from CGB to the District. 

3. Provide a general description of the selected project, including project features, benefits, 

anticipated costs, and analyses conducted. 

This Project includes planning tasks for the GAP involving IPR that, when implemented, will 

reduce demand on surface water and groundwater supplies for the MGB, helping to avoid 

future undesirable results and achieve sustainability pursuant to the SGMA. This Project 

component entails a full and complete environmental review, a USBR Title XVI compliant 

feasibility study, public outreach, and a preliminary (30%) design of an AWPF, pump station, 

pipelines, and an injection well in the CGB. GAP involves a multi-agency and groundwater basin 

collaboration that benefits the MGB, its stakeholders, and the adjacent CGB. Additional 

supportive work is necessary, including a supply integration analysis that will include water 

system modeling and assessments. This phase of GAP is anticipated to cost $2,656,068. 

The programs benefits are listed below: 

1. The Project will result in in-lieu recharge of the MGB. With MWD’s extractions making 

up approximately 50% of total extractions from the MGB under certain conditions, its 

use of this new water supply will reduce its reliance on groundwater from the MGB and 

increase stored water in the MGB by up to approximately 500 AFY. 

2. The Project will support MWD’s conjunctive use program, increasing groundwater 

availability during non-drought periods, and extending its availability during future 

droughts for all stakeholders of the MGB. 

3. The multi-basin collaboration will increase groundwater stored in the CGB. The MWD’s 

temporary use of the CGB would likely involve water being left behind in storage for the 

benefit of all CGB stakeholders, increasing the availability of groundwater in that basin 

annually. 

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Technical Proposal & Evaluation Criteria 

4. The Project will provide a new drought-resistant water supply for the Montecito and 

Summerland communities, improving long-term water supply reliability and bolstering 

their ability to respond to future drought conditions. 

5. The Project will improve groundwater quality in the CGB. With both the MGB and CGB 

adjacent to the ocean, seawater intrusion is a risk. This supply will be available to 

elevate groundwater levels to help prevent seawater intrusion in the MGB and CGB 

through in-lieu and direct recharge, respectively. 

6. The Project will reduce the MSD’s discharge to the Pacific Ocean and recapture the 

supply for beneficial reuse. 

7. The Project presents an opportunity for another local public sanitary district to 

participate in the Project, further enhancing the project benefits. 

4. Include a preliminary schedule showing major tasks, milestones, and dates for the 

planning, design, and construction activities related to the project. 

Key schedule milestones for the GAP grant-funded scope are summarized in Error! Reference 

source not found.. 

Table 1. Grant Tasks Schedule 

Tasks 2023 2024 2025 

Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 

Task 1 – Project Management 

Task 2 – Stakeholder Engagement 

Task 3 – Environmental Review 

Task 4 – Supply Integration Analysis 

Task 5 – Preliminary Design 

Task 6 – USBR Feasibility Study 

*Assumed Start Date: October 31, 2023 

Evaluation Criterion 2 – Stretching Water Supplies 

1. Describe the potential for the project to reduce, postpone, or eliminate the development 

of new or expanded non-recycled water supplies. 

Water is critical to the health and well-being of the people, economy, and environment of 

Montecito now and into the future. The District has an important role in ensuring the region’s 

water supplies are adequate in terms of quantity and resiliency, which is the ability of the water 

supply systems to respond to and accommodate change and continue meeting needs. Many 

water supply efforts have been completed or are under way to address existing depleted water 

supplies, ongoing resiliency issues, and future needs. 

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Technical Proposal & Evaluation Criteria 

MWD has already invested in desalination through a partnership with the City of Santa Barbara. 

This Project will provide a new drought-resistant water supply for use by MWD, which will 

reduce its reliance on groundwater and surface water supplies, particularly during non-drought 

periods. Reduction in MWD’s groundwater use during non-drought periods will increase the 

amount of groundwater available during normal and drought periods for MGB small water 

systems and domestic well stakeholders, providing an enhancement in the long-term reliability 

of this supply. Additionally, increased groundwater in storage will extend the viability of the 

groundwater supply for all stakeholders during future periods of drought and potentially 

reduce, postpone, or eliminate the development of new or expanded existing supplies. Finally, 

the Project will allow for additional surface water to be stored in the District’s groundwater 

bank in the Central Valley for use during future dry periods. 

2. Describe the potential for the project to alleviate pressure on existing water supplies 

and/or facilities. Please describe the existing water supplies, identify the supplies and/or 

facilities that will be impacted and explain how they will be impacted by the Project, 

including quantifications where applicable. 

The District obtains its water supplies from multiple sources, including imported surface water 

supplies from Lake Cachuma, SWP, and supplemental purchases of water from around the 

State; and the District’s own Jameson Lake, Doulton Tunnel, and the MGB. The Project would 

alleviate pressure on existing water supplies. Existing water supplies and facilities impacted by 

the Project are described in the previous section and in responses to Evaluation Criteria 1a.2. 

In addition, GAP has the potential to reduce SWP demands which, would directly benefit the 

Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Bay-Delta) system flows, habitat, and ecosystems. In the BayDelta, 300% more water is allocated to various uses than is actually available for use each year. 

There is no one ution for correcting these allocation issues; however, every effort to reduce 

demand from these systems will have a beneficial impact and reduce pressure on these 

supplies. Because implementation of the GAP has the potential to reduce imports from the BayDelta, it in turn will positively affect Federal Water Projects such as the Central Valley Project 

(CVP). Overseen by USBR, the CVP has long-term agreements to supply water to more than 250 

contractors in 29 California counties. CVP deliveries provide an average of 5 million AF of water 

for farms, 600,000 AF of water for municipal and industrial uses, and water for wildlife refuges 

and maintaining water quality in the Bay-Delta (United States Bureau of Reclamation, 2023). 

3. Describe the potential for the project to make water available to address a specific 

concern. Explain the specific concern and its severity. Also explain the role of the project 

being investigated in addressing that concern and the extent to which the project will 

address it. Specific concerns may include, but are not limited to: water supply shortages, 

water supply reliability, groundwater depletion, water quality issues, natural disasters 

that may impact water supply infrastructure, heightened competition for water supplies, 

availability of alternative supplies, and increasing cost of water supplies. 

The Project would address all of the listed specific concerns: 

• Water supply shortages: See response to Evaluation Criteria 1a.2 

• Water supply reliability: See response to Evaluation Criteria 1a.1 

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Technical Proposal & Evaluation Criteria 

• Groundwater depletion: See response to Evaluation Criteria 1a.1 

• Water quality issues: See response to Evaluation Criteria 3.1 

• Natural disasters that may impact water supply infrastructure: Besides local supplies -

groundwater and desalination, the District’s water supplies are conveyed across 

mountain ranges that are impacted by natural disasters, such as earthquakes, wildfires, 

and mudslides. For example, imported water conveyance pipelines cross multiple 

seismic faults, wildfires have cut off access to facilities and decreased surface water 

quality, and mudslides caused comprised supply pipelines a 

• Heightened competition for water supplies: Heightened competition for existing water 

supplies, particularly those that depend on precipitation, in the region and across the 

State is anticipated to increase with new regulations related to groundwater/surface 

water interactions and minimum sustainability thresholds, water quality, environmental 

flow, climate change, and housing directives. 

• Availability of alternative supplies: See response to Evaluation Criteria 1b.2 

• Increasing cost of water supplies: The District’s unit costs have been increasing as fixed 

costs remain the same while yield has decreased, as described in Evaluation Criteria 

1a.1. In addition, surface water supplies will require new investments to attempt to 

achieve historic yield, such as sediment removal from Lake Cachuma or Delta 

Conveyance Project for SWP. The District’s priority is to target new investment in more 

reliable supplies, such as GAP, rather than rainfall dependent supplies. 

A new, drought-resistant, local water supply will be necessary to sustain MWD supplies longterm. IPR is the most resilient strategy since it leverages a renewable resource that would not 

be diminished by insufficient rainfall. 

• Describe the potential for the project to help create additional flexibility to address 

drought. Will water made available by the project being investigated continue to be 

available during periods of drought? To what extent is the water made available by the 

project being investigated more drought resistant than alternative water supply options? 

Explain. 

The U.S. Drought Monitor characterized Santa Barbara County in November 2022 as Severe 

Drought and Extreme Drought. After extensive precipitation in January 2023, the county is now 

characterized as Abnormally Dry to Moderate Drought. However, groundwater basins in the 

area will require multiple above average precipitation years to recover unprecedented low 

levels, indicated by the previous characterization. 

IPR is a drought resilient strategy since it leverages a renewable resource that would not be 

diminished by insufficient rainfall or imported water shortages. Desalination is an alternative 

water supply with similar drought supply benefits and the District has already entered into a 

partnership with the City of Santa Barbara for desalination supplies. IPR does have more 

flexibility than desalination because the purified recycled water can be stored in the 

groundwater basin for use several months or years later whereas desalination must be used ondemand and cannot be stored. 

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Technical Proposal & Evaluation Criteria 

Evaluation Criterion 3 – Environmental and Water Quality 

1. Describe the potential for the project to improve the quality of surface water or 

groundwater. 

MGB and CGB groundwater quality is suitable for most uses and, in general, water quality is 

stable, with no trends toward impairment. Basin-wide chloride concentrations have remained 

relatively steady for the past several years. In the MGB, the Project would provide seawater 

intrusion prevention benefits by increasing groundwater levels through in-lieu recharge as 

MWD uses less groundwater from MGB. 

In the CGB, elevated Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), chloride and nitrate have been identified in 

localized areas and no subsurface outflow has occurred from the basin to the ocean in the last 

15 years due to depressed water levels, which presents a potential risk for seawater intrusion 

(GSI Water Solutions, 2023). 

The Project would produce purified recycled water for injection into the local groundwater 

basin. Advanced water treatment will result in higher quality groundwater within the basin, as 

it dilutes the existing levels of TDS and hardness concentrations. For example, CGB TDS levels of 

600 to 900 milligrams per liter (mg/L) are slightly above the recommended Environmental 

Protection Agency TDS secondary standard of 500 mg/L (GSI Water Solutions, 2023). TDS of the 

injected advanced treated recycled water is expected to be approximately 200 mg/L. With the 

injection of advanced treated recycled water, groundwater TDS concentrations will decrease 

over time in the Project area. Thus, after the Project implementation, the continued injection of 

purified recycled water will improve the groundwater extracted and the basin will achieve 

better quality over time. 

The CGB annual groundwater management plan reports indicate that there is a water-level 

depression in the central portion of the basin that developed during the extended drought 

period of 2012 through 2022. The center of this depression is approximately 60 feet below sea 

level with levels at the coast being around 5 feet below sea level (GSI Water Solutions, 2023). 

The Project will improve groundwater elevation in the area of the injection wells, resulting in 

higher basin levels over all and reducing the depth of the depression. The extent of 

improvements will be defined with groundwater modeling as part of the grant funded project. 

2. Describe the potential for the project to improve effluent quality beyond levels necessary 

to meet State or Federal discharge requirements. 

Purified recycled water will meet or exceed the requirements set forth by Title 22, which 

include total nitrogen limit, total organic carbon limit, primary and secondary maximum 

contaminant levels, lead and copper Action Levels, California State Water Resources Control 

Board (SWRCB) Division of Drinking Water Notification Levels, and Basin Plan Water Quality 

Objectives for the CGB. The purified recycled water is anticipated to meet all requirements. 

The MSD is subject to an existing National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) 

permit for its wastewater discharge to the Pacific Ocean. To complete the project, MSD will file 

a report of waste discharge (ROWD) to receive an amended NPDES permit to allow for a 

reduction of the secondary wastewater effluent discharge and for discharge of the AWPF brine 

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Technical Proposal & Evaluation Criteria 

to the MSD Ocean Outfall. As part of this ROWD, the MSD will complete a brine impacts 

analysis to evaluate compliance with the California Ocean Plan. 

Further, the Project will potentially help the District meet the requirements of anticipated 

future legislation that would regulate the volume of ocean discharges. For example, the 

California Ocean Protection Council included a goal in is 2020 Strategic Plan to Protect 

California’s Coast and Ocean 2020-2025 of establishing interim goals for significantly reducing 

nutrient loading and/or phasing out coastal wastewater discharges into the ocean. The Ocean 

Protection Council would like to achieve a goal of recycling 80 to 90% of coastal wastewater 

discharges for beneficial use by 2040. 

3. Describe the potential for the project to improve flow conditions in a natural stream 

channel. 

4. Describe the potential for the project to restore or enhance habitat for non-listed fish 

and wildlife species. 

GAP increases overall water availability, which in turn can create less demand on the District’s 

surface water and groundwater supplies. The District’s surface water supplies face increasing 

pressures from a combination of higher variability, increased evaporation, reservoir 

sedimentation, and environmental flows. GAP could allow the District to mitigate for these 

demands, such as natural stream flows and habitat restoration, and adapt to changes in existing 

supplies in the future. 

The CGB contains natural resources that have local, regional, and statewide significance, 

including natural and developed open space and a variety of natural physical resources. These 

resources include several environmentally sensitive habitat areas such as wetlands, butterfly 

habitat, marine mammal rookeries and hauling grounds, rocky points and intertidal areas, 

subtidal reefs, kelp beds, creeks and riparian habitat, significant native plant communities such 

as coastal sage scrub, riparian scrub, coastal bluff scrub, and native oak woodlands, and 

sensitive habitat. The California Natural Diversity Database indicates 32 species may occur 

within the Project area. Of those, 22 species have a non-listed status, most of which are 

associated with riparian and aquatic habitats. 

Reduced dependence on imported SWP water potentially improves flow conditions in the 

natural stream channels of the Bay-Delta. The Bay-Delta supports a variety of fish and wildlife 

species that could benefit from the increased flows that are the direct result of reduced 

exports. By decreasing the importation of water from these supply sources, the project 

components will increase flows within those systems and enhance the habitat for the 

associated species. 

The Bay-Delta encompasses 1,600 square miles and provides habitat for more than 500 species 

of fish and wildlife. The 2013 Bay-Delta Conservation Plan prepared by California Department of 

Water Resources (DWR) identified over 30 non-listed species potentially impacted by 

withdrawals from that system through the SWP. Impacts from withdrawals occur due to the 

change of river flow by pumping, capture within pumping equipment, and increased saltwater 

intrusion due to pumping. A decrease in water imported through the SWP could help to 

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Technical Proposal & Evaluation Criteria 

alleviate these pressures on the Delta ecosystem and could help restore habitat for non-listed 

species. 

By reducing reliance on imported water, the habitat of non-listed species is more resilient to 

changing climate patterns. Non-listed species could benefit greatly from reduced pumping of 

imported water from their habitat, as many species rely on these habitats for ecologic function 

at various life stages and require constant freshwater flow. 

5. Describe the potential for the project to provide water or habitat for federally listed 

threatened or endangered species. 

As discussed above, GAP increases overall water availability, which in turn can create less 

demand on the District’s surface water and groundwater supplies. A Biological Opinion for 

southern California steelhead is currently being developed for the Cachuma Project that has the 

potential to require increased releases from Lake Cachuma and, as a result, reduced deliveries 

to the South Coast water agencies, including the District. . Although the demands for the MWD 

do not adversely impact flow requirements for southern California steelhead and fisheries 

during average years, during dry years the demand will be higher because MWD cannot 

overdraw from the groundwater basin. Thus, the reduced dependency of MWD on the Lake 

Cachuma supplies could provide water and improved maintenance of Santa Ynez River flow for 

steelhead. 

In the Delta system, this could mean increased outflow through the San Francisco Bay helping 

to reduce salinity and improve habitat for fish and other species, which contains more than 35 

endangered species. In addition to the number of non-listed species mentioned above, there 

are 21 federally listed threatened and endangered species in the Delta that will benefit from 

the reduction in imported water for the District. These species include delta smelt, Chinook 

salmon, least Bell’s vireo, and Conservancy fairy shrimp. Several fish species, such as bonytail 

and delta smelt, live their entire lives within the Delta ecosystems, respectively. Other fish 

species, including Chinook salmon and steelhead, rely on the Delta for spawning, rearing, and 

migration during critical times of year. With more water in the Delta, these species become 

more resilient to changes in the ecosystem. 

Tidal marsh microhabitat within the Delta supports diverse species of mammals, birds, and 

plants while riparian woodlands sustained by Delta flows provide breeding habitat for several 

federally listed birds. Species’ relationships to water supply within the are extremely diverse 

and require various flow conditions during critical times of year to sustain these sensitive 

species populations. Reducing demands for imported water will increase the flows available to 

support these habitats and species. 

Evaluation Criterion 4 – Department of the Interior Priorities 

Climate Change 

1. Please provide specific details and examples on how the project will address the impacts 

of climate change and help combat the climate crisis. 

Changes in precipitation, including total quantity, length of the rainy season, and number of 

precipitation events will cause changes in the amount, intensity, timing, quality, and variability 

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Technical Proposal & Evaluation Criteria 

of water runoff and recharge. Adapting to these changes is of fundamental importance to 

maintain the reliability of regional water supplies under climate change. Methods for adapting 

to these changes include the recharge of groundwater basins with alternative supplies (e.g., 

injection of purified recycled water). IPR is a top resilient supply strategy for the region since it 

leverages a renewable resource that would not be diminished by climate change or insufficient 

rainfall. A reliable, local supply that can be stored in the groundwater basin allows MWD to be 

more flexible in use of existing supplies and adapt to the larger wet and dry extremes projected 

from climate change such that, in wet periods, surface water can be used while purified 

recycled water is stored underground and, in dry periods, the stored water can be recovered. 

The GAP can also help meet SGMA objectives for the MGB and CGB with groundwater recharge 

and ensuring a long-term, verifiable, reliable, and sustainable supply to meet current and future 

agricultural, urban, and environmental demands. 

IPR is also less energy intensive than the primary drought-resistant supply alternative – 

desalination – and of existing SWP supplies. Lower energy consumption will lower greenhouse 

gas emissions and help to combat the climate crisis. 

2. Does this proposed project strengthen water supply sustainability to increase resilience 

to climate change? Does the proposed project contribute to climate change resiliency in 

other ways not described above? 

As described in the Governor’s March 28, 2022, Executive Order (N-7-22), California is in a state 

of emergency due to extreme and expanding drought conditions. California has had many years 

of drought and has been setting records for both heat and dryness over the past year. Research 

has shown that the past two decades rank as the driest 22-year period in 1,200 years, 

surpassing the severity of megadroughts that were previously considered worst-case scenarios 

(Nature Climate Change, 2022). With rising temperatures, erratic rain patterns, and the fact 

that almost all other water supply sources are impacted by climate (e.g., surface water supplies, 

imported supplies, groundwater basins), existing supplies throughout the region have and will 

decrease accordingly. While supply availability declines, potential future scenarios indicate an 

increase in water stress and demand due to changing hydrologic behavior and projected 

regulations (e.g., enforcement of groundwater/surface water interaction regulations, increasing 

environmental flow requirements, decreasing availability and reliability of existing water 

supplies, enforcement of housing mandates, increased water quality requirements, etc.). Lack 

of water has severe impacts on communities, the environment, the economy, agriculture, etc. 

and IPR is a climate-independent water resource. 

GAP aligns with California’s Water Resilience Portfolio, finalized in July 2020, which is a 

blueprint for equipping California to cope with more extreme droughts, floods, and rising 

temperatures, while addressing long-standing challenges that include declining fish 

populations, over-reliance on groundwater and lack of safe drinking water in many 

communities. 

In addition, GAP aligns with the State of California’s goals and the Governor’s May 2019 

Executive Order to achieve water resiliency using a multi-benefit / portfolio water management 

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Technical Proposal & Evaluation Criteria 

solution – benefiting the environment, strengthening partnerships and utilizing the best 

technology for improved climate-resiliency. 

Disadvantaged or Underserved Communities 

1. Will the proposed project serve or benefit a disadvantaged or historically underserved 

community? 

2. Please describe in detail how the community is disadvantaged. 

3. If the proposed project is providing benefits to an underserved community, provide 

information to demonstrate that the community meets the definition in E.O. 13985. 

Currently MWD has no underrepresented communities, tribes, or severely disadvantaged 

communities. The CGB boundary encompasses Disadvantaged Community Census Tracks 

between Sandyland Cove and US Highway 101, and east of the Santa Barbara/Ventura County 

line. To the extent that these areas are supplied by groundwater from the CGB via the 

Carpinteria Valley Water District and the Project results in an increase in stored groundwater in 

the CGB and decreases the potential for undesirable results, the Project benefits those 

disadvantaged communities. 

The Project will have a positive impact on small water systems and domestic well stakeholders 

by protecting them from, and providing projects and management actions to address, 

undesirable results that are applicable to the MGB, including seawater intrusion, groundwater 

elevation decline, loss of groundwater in storage, and degradation of groundwater quality. The 

Montecito Groundwater Sustainability Agency, led by MWD, has estimated that there are at 

least 46 domestic groundwater wells within the MGB serving more than 100 parcels that do not 

receive water from the MWD. The Project will provide a new drought-resistant water supply for 

use by the MWD, which will reduce its reliance on groundwater, particularly during nondrought periods. This reduction in MWD’s groundwater use during non-drought periods will 

increase the amount of groundwater available for small water systems and domestic well 

stakeholders, providing an enhancement in the long-term reliability of this supply. Additionally, 

increased groundwater in storage will extend the viability of the groundwater supply for all 

stakeholders during future periods of drought. 

The Project will support the Human Right to Water Act and established policy of the state that 

every human being has the right to safe, clean, affordable, and accessible water adequate for 

human consumption, cooking, and sanitary purposes by providing for continued and increased 

collection and analysis of data. 

Tribal Benefits 

1. Does the proposed project directly serve and/or benefit a Tribe? Will the project improve 

water management for an Indian Tribe? 

2. Does the proposed project support Tribal resilience to climate change and drought 

impacts or provide other Tribal benefits such as improved public health and safety by 

addressing water quality, new water supplies, or economic growth opportunities? 

The Project will not directly benefit a Tribe as MWD does not have any tribal lands; however, 

the project has the potential to provide indirect benefits to Tribes. California Native American 

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Tribes are all Indigenous Communities of California, which are on the contact list maintained by 

the Native American Heritage Commission, including those that are federally non-recognized 

and federally recognized, and those with allotment lands, regardless of whether they own 

those lands. Native American Tribes are sovereign nations and the District will coordinate with 

Tribes on a government-to-government basis. The District maintains an open policy to 

continually invite and encourage collaboration with Tribes. Letters to local Native American 

Tribes will be sent to invite them to engage during GAP implementation and encourage their 

participation. Local Native American Tribes and any tribes in surrounding counties that have 

members living in Santa Barbara County will be contacted via mail, email, and telephone. In 

addition, all planned infrastructure sites will be vetted for potential impacts to locations that 

are culturally sensitive and ongoing communication with Tribes will occur as part of CEQA AB 52 

Consultation. 

A benefit of advancing the Project is that dependence on imported surface water supplies may 

be reduced. Two-thirds of California’s water originates in the Sierra Nevada mountains, 

eventually flowing through the Delta, where it is delivered to more than 27 million Californians 

and about 750,000 acres of farmland (California Department of Water Resources, 2023). A 

reduction in imported water has the potential to reduce impacts to Tribes that rely on their 

local surface water supplies used to provide State Water Project (SWP) water as well as SWP 

water used by Tribes which are strained by climate change, natural disasters, environmental 

regulations, and increasing demands. 

Evaluation Criterion 5 – Watershed Perspective and Stakeholder Involvement 

1. Will the proposed project implement a regional or state water plan or an integrated 

resource management plan? Explain. 

The Santa Barbara County 2019 Integrated Regional Water Management Plan Update identifies 

recycled water as a resource management strategy and identifies recharging groundwater 

basins with recycled water as a method to address climate change through adaptation and 

mitigation. The Project will be included in the next plan update. 

The Project aligns with California’s Water Resilience Portfolio, finalized in July 2020, which is a 

blueprint for equipping California to cope with more extreme droughts, floods, and rising 

temperatures, while addressing long-standing challenges that include declining fish 

populations, over-reliance on groundwater and lack of safe drinking water in many 

communities. 

The Project also aligns with the California Water Code Section 85021 - a statewide policy to 

reduce reliance on the Bay-Delta to meet California’s future water supply needs through a 

statewide strategy of investing in improved regional supplies, conservation, and water use 

efficiency. Each region that depends on water from the Bay-Delta watershed shall improve its 

regional self-reliance for water through investment in water use efficiency, water recycling, 

advanced water technologies, local and regional water supply projects, and improved regional 

coordination of local and regional water supply efforts. 

In addition, the Project aligns with the State of California’s goals and the Governor’s May 2019 

Executive Order to achieve water resiliency using a multi-benefit / portfolio water management 

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Technical Proposal & Evaluation Criteria 

solution – benefiting the environment, strengthening partnerships and utilizing the best 

technology for improved climate-resiliency. 

2. Will the proposed project help meet the water supply needs of a large geographic area, 

region, or watershed? Explain. 

As a water supplier for the south coast of Santa Barbara County, the Project will provide a 

reliable source of water for MWD. Although this Project directly supports MWD’s local supply, 

the benefits of the project are not limited to MWD’s service area. Local water production 

offsets the need for imported water purchases from the SWP and the Cachuma Project. This 

could allow for increased natural flows in the Delta to benefit diverse ecosystems and listed 

species such as the delta smelt. This leaves water available in the river for other users or for 

habitat. 

The District’s current primary water sources, including groundwater from MGB, Cachuma 

Project, SWP supplies, and desalination are shared with private pumpers, Carpinteria Valley 

Water District, the City of Santa Barbara, Goleta Water District, and the Santa Ynez River Water 

Conservation District Improvement District No. 1. As demand rises it is critical to create a 

sustainable supply to meet the area’s needs. The Project will reduce the MWD’s dependence of 

its current sources and has potential to allow more water to be allocated to other regions. 

The Project will help MWD and the Montecito Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) 

manage the groundwater basin. Proper management of the groundwater basin will reduce 

over-pumping and declining water levels, which could result in increased seawater intrusion 

and other undesirable results. 

3. Will the proposed project promote collaborative partnerships to address water-related 

issues? Explain. Describe stakeholder involvement in the project planning process. 

The District has pursued early engagement with other agencies to ensure a comprehensive 

understanding of existing infrastructure deficiencies and opportunities from the outset, 

informing the widest range of conceptual alternatives for consideration. 

MWD has a history of collaborating with their neighboring agencies and local communities to 

achieve working solutions. The Project is a result of multi-year collaboration between MWD, 

MSD, CVWD, Montecito GSA, Carpinteria GSA, and the SWRCB. In 2019, MWD and MSD 

completed a Recycled Water Facilities Plan (Woodard & Curran, 2019), which was partially 

funded by the SWRCB. The plan provided initial regional planning for recycled water 

development, including the Project, to help reliably and cost effectively meet the area’s water 

supply needs. In 2022, the Enhanced Recycled Water Feasibility Analysis (Carollo Engineers, 

2022) provided a deeper understanding of the alternatives available and recommended further 

investigation of GAP to confirm feasibility. Also, the proposed supply integration analysis will 

continue this dialogue between MWD and Carpinteria Valley Water District to ensure the best 

use of limited resources. 

Letters of support from project partners and supporters are included in Appendix B. 

4. Will the proposed project include public outreach and opportunities for the public to 

learn about the project? Explain. 

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Technical Proposal & Evaluation Criteria 

Public outreach was conducted during the initial phases of GAP through public Board meetings 

of MWD, MSD, and Montecito GSA, regional partner meetings, and through media channels, 

including social media, local newspapers, and MWD and MSD websites. Throughout 

development of GAP, local stakeholder engagement and public involvement is anticipated to be 

facilitated by public meetings of the MWD Board of Directors, social media, and the District’s 

website, where regular updates and opportunities for input will be provided. Also, meetings 

with Project partners, such as MSD, Carpinteria GSA, and Carpinteria Valley Water District, are 

anticipated. In addition, public outreach is an essential part of the CEQA process. 

Public and stakeholder involvement will be integrated into the decision-making process in a 

manner that ensures education, awareness, balanced opportunity to participate, and clear 

communication conduits. Apart from building relationships and capacity, public and 

stakeholder involvement facilitates a more water-aware culture that moves beyond traditional 

alliances to a more comprehensive vision. The District is fully committed to public engagement 

throughout the planning phase to ensure transparency and keep community members 

informed and public outreach will continue to be an important component as the development 

of the GAP advances. 

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Project Budget 

2.0 Project Budget 

2.1 Funding Plan and Letters of Funding Commitment 

The non-Federal funds for the Project are from MWD and potentially from a DWR grant. The 

Montecito GSA, in partnership with MWD, submitted a grant request to the DWR Sustainable 

Groundwater Management (SGM) program in December 2022 to partially fund Project 

preliminary design, environmental documentation, and public outreach. DWR anticipates grant 

award announcements in May 2023. The funds would be available after an agreement between 

the GSA and DWR is executed. The GSA has provided a letter of commitment (see Appendix C) 

to provide the funds for the Project. If the grant is awarded by DWR, the DWR grant funds 

would reduce MWD’s contribution and be used to provide match funding to the Federal cost 

share. If the grant is not awarded, MWD funds will be used to meet all of the non-Federal cost 

share. Table 2, Table 4, and Table 4 present required budget tables. 

Table 2. Summary of Non-Federal and Federal funding source 

Funding Sources Amount 

Non- Federal Entities 

1. Montecito Water District(1) $1,656,058 

Non- Federal Subtotal $1,656,058 

REQUESTED Reclamation Funding $1,000,000 

Note 1: MWD submitted a SGM program grant application to DWR in December 2022 to fund 

this amount. If awarded, the DWR grant would reduce MWD’s contribution. 

Table 3. Total Project Budget Proposal 

Budget Item Description $/Unit Quantity Quantity Type Total Cost 

Personnel 

AGM/Engineering Manager $98 832 Hours $81,536 

Engineering Assistant $44 1284 Hours $56,496 

Public Information Officer $44 208 Hours $9,152 

1 Fringe Benefits 

AGM/Engineering Manager $39.20 832 Hours $32,614 

Engineering Assistant $17.60 1284 Hours $22,598 

Public Information Officer $17.60 208 Hours $3,661 

Contractual 

Carollo(1) $2,400,000 1 Lump Sum $2,400,000 

WSC $50,000 1 Lump Sum $50,000 

Total Estimated Project Costs $2,656,058 

Note 1: Based on detailed cost estimate of labor hours and rates for over 20 staff. 

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2.2 

Project Budget 

Table 4. Total Project Cost Table 

Source Amount 

Cost to be reimbursed with the requested Federal funding $1,000,000 

Cost to be paid by the applicant(1) $1,656,058 

Value of third-party contributions --

TOTAL project cost $2,656,058 

Note 1: MWD submitted a SGM program grant application to DWR in December 2022 to fund 

this amount. If awarded, the DWR grant would reduce MWD’s contribution. 

Budget Narrative 

Personnel 

Compensation and wages are shown in Table 3. The primary project manager is Adam Kanold, 

Assistant General Manager/ Engineering Manager. The project manager responsibilities include 

preparing subcontracts, managing subcontractors, stakeholder coordination, completing 

reports, and deliverables. The District estimates 832 hours of project management for the GAP 

over the length of the Project at a rate of $98/hour or $137/hour with fringe benefits. 

The District’s Engineering Assistant is responsible for supporting the project manager. It is 

estimated that the Engineering Assistant will spend approximately 1284 hours supporting GAP 

over the length of the Project at a rate of $44/hour or $62/hour with fringe benefits. 

The District’s Public Information Officer (PIO) will lead stakeholder engagement. It is estimated 

that the PIO will spend approximately 208 hours supporting the GAP over the length of the 

Project at a rate of $44/hour or 62/hour with fringe benefits. 

Fringe Benefits 

Fringe benefits include health insurance which includes dental and vision, life insurance, 

retirement contributions which include social security and Medicare, and other benefits like 

workers’ compensation, state unemployment insurance, employee assistance program, and 

deferred contributions. Rates and calculations are provided in the budget proposal. 

Travel 

Expenses for traveling for project supervision are not included. 

Equipment 

No equipment costs are anticipated for the Project. 

Supplies 

No supply costs are anticipated for the Project. 

Contractual 

Contract expenses include planning, feasibility study, public outreach, preliminary design, and 

environmental documentation. Costs estimates totaling $2,450,000 were acquired from 

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Montecito Water District | 22 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Project Budget 

consultants selected through a competitive Request for Proposal process. The costs are based 

on experience with similar projects, recent bids, current and foreseeable regulatory 

requirements, and an understanding of the necessary project components. As the project 

progresses, the costs could vary from the estimates provided herein. 

Construction 

No construction costs are required for the project. 

Other 

No “other” expenses are anticipated. 

Indirect Costs 

Indirect cost rate has not been negotiated for the Project, and therefore not included in the 

Project budget. 

Total Costs 

The total eligible cost of the Project under this NOFO is $2,656,058. Of this, MWD is committed 

to a cost share of $1,656,058. Expenses will be covered directly by MWD and/or from other 

non-federal funding sources secured for the project. 

We respectfully request $1,000,000 from USBR under this NOFO. This represents 38% of the 

eligible Federal cost share. 

Groundwater Augmentation Program (GAP) 

Montecito Water District | 23 
3.0 Environmental & Cultural Resources Compliance 

Environmental and cultural resources compliance is not required for the pre-construction 

activities proposed for the grant. The Project will complete CEQA-plus environmental 

documentation as part of the grant funded work. NEPA compliance will occur upon grant 

approval. The EIR will be prepared as a “CEQA-Plus” document to satisfy NEPA requirements to 

be considered for federal funding. Because the EIR will be prepared to include sections required 

under NEPA, federal agencies could use this EIR and other NEPA-required supporting 

documents as a basis for decision making for the proposed action. 

 

 

Statements 

Groundwater Augmentation Program (GAP) 

Montecito Water District | 24 
 

 

Statements 

4.0 Required Permits or Approvals 

No permits or approvals are required for the pre-construction activities proposed for the grant. 

The Project will require permits and approvals that will be identified during the grant funded 

work. 

Groundwater Augmentation Program (GAP) 

Montecito Water District | 25 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statements 

5.0 Statements 

5.1 Overlap or Duplication of Effort Statement 

The proposal submitted for consideration under this program does not in any way duplicate any 

proposal or project that has been or will be submitted for funding consideration to any other 

potential funding source—whether it be Federal or non-Federal. 

5.2 Conflict of Interest Disclosure Statement 

In accordance with 2 CFR §1402.112, the District is providing a statement that no actual or 

potential conflict of interest is known to exist at the time of this application submission. 

5.3 Uniform Audit Reporting Statement 

The District was not required to submit a Single Audit report for the most recently closed fiscal 

year. 

Groundwater Augmentation Program (GAP) 

Montecito Water District | 26 
6.0 References 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References 

California Department of Water Resources. (2023, February 6). Delta Conveyance. Retrieved 

from https://water.ca.gov/deltaconveyance 

Carollo Engineers. (2022). Montecito Enhanced Recycled Water Feasiblity Analysis. 

Dudek. (2023). DRAFT Montecito Groundwater Sustainability Plan. 

GSI Water Solutions. (2019). Montecito Groundwater Basin, Groundwater Augmentation 

Feasibility Analysis. 

GSI Water Solutions. (2023). DRAFT Carpinteria Groundwter Sustainability Plan. 

Nature Climate Change. (2022, March). Rapid intensification of the emerging southwestern 

North American megadrougt in 2020-2021. Retrieved from 

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-022-01290-z.epdf 

United States Bureau of Reclamation. (2023, February 8). Central Valley Project. Retrieved from 

USBR.gov: https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index/php?id=506 

Woodard & Curran. (2019). Montecito Recycled Water Facilities Plan. 

Zanjero. (2021). Montecito Water District 2020 Urban Water Management Plan. 

Groundwater Augmentation Program (GAP) 

Montecito Water District | 27 
 

 

 

Official Resolution 

Appendix A Official Resolution 

Groundwater Augmentation Program (GAP) 

Montecito Water District | A 
RESOLUTION NO. 2248 

A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

OF THE MONTECITO WATER DISTRICT 

DESIGNATING AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE AND AUTHORIZING THE 

SUBMITTAL OF AN APPLICATION AND EXECUTION OF A GRANT AGREEMENT 

WITH THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BUREAU OF 

RECLAMATION FOR A WATERSMART: WATER RECYCLING AND 

DESALINATION PLANNING GRANT FOR GROUNDWATER AUGMENTATION 

PROJECT 

WHEREAS, the Montecito Water District ("District") is a County Water District 

organized and existing under the laws of the State of California, situated and serving an area 

entirely within the County of Santa Barbara; and 

WHEREAS, in December 2022, the District, in collaboration with the Montecito Sanitary 

District, completed an Enhanced Recycled Water Feasibility Analysis which evaluated various 

potential potable and non-potable reuse projects, including potential regional partnerships, and 

recommended a regional indirect potable reuse project involving multiple local and regional public 

agencies and multiple groundwater basins.; and 

WHEREAS, the next phase of project development involves preliminary design and 

environmental review; and 

WHEREAS, the United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) is soliciting applications 

for authorized projects for the "WaterSMART: Water Recycling and Desalination Planning" grant 

Program, USBR Funding Opportunity Number R23AS00076; and 

WHEREAS, pursuant to this grant program, USBR makes funds available for water 

recycling planning projects including Title XVI compliant feasibility studies, preliminary design 

and environmental compliance; and 

WHEREAS, the District wishes to submit an application for financial assistance from the 

USBR WaterSMART: Water Recycling and Desalination Planning Grant Program to cover a 

portion ofthe cost ofthe project by the February 28, 2023 application deadline; and 

WHEREAS, an agreement for federal financial assistance will impose certain obligations 

upon the Montecito Water District ("District") and will require the District to provide the local 

share ofthe project cost (50%); and 

WHEREAS, USBR requires the applicant include in its application an official resolution 

adopted by the Board of Directors verifying 1) the identity of the official with legal authority to 

enter into an agreement, 2) that the Board of Directors has reviewed and supports the application 

submitted, 3) that the District will work with USBR to meet established deadlines for entering into 

a grant or cooperative agreement. 

Resolution No. 2248- USBR WaterSmart Grant App Page 1 of2 
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Directors of the Montecito 

Water District as follows: 

l. The District General Manager is authorized to submit an application to the USBR for 

a WateTSMART: Water Recycling and Desalination Planning grant per USBR Funding 

Opportunity Number R23AS00076; and 

2. The District General Manager is authorized to enter into an agreement with USBR, 

subject to final approval by the District Board of Directors, if awarded federal financial 

assistance through the program; and 

3. The District Board of Directors supports the application and authorizes the General 

Manager to receive and review the application that will be submitted on the 28th day 

of February 2023; and 

4. The District has adequate capacity for the local funding required by the grant program. 

5. The District will work with the USBR to meet established deadlines required for 

entering into a cooperative agreement to obtain the aforementioned grant funding. 

PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of Directors of the Montecito Water District this 28th 

day of February 2023, by the following roll call vote: 

AYES: Coates, Goebel, Hayman, Plough, Wicks 

NOES: none 

ABSENT: none 

ABSTAIN: none 

APPROVED: ATTEST: 

Plough, Nicholas Turner, Secretary 

Resolution No. 2248 - USBR WaterSmart Grant App Page2 of2 
 

 

 

 

Letters of Commitment 

Appendix B Letters of Project Support 

No. Letters of Support 

1 Carpinteria Valley Water District 

2 Montecito Sanitary District 

3 Montecito Groundwater Sustainability Agency 

4 County of Santa Barbara 

Groundwater Augmentation Program (GAP) 

Montecito Water District | B 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 24, 2023 

The Honorable Camille Touton 

Commissioner 

Bureau of Reclamation 

1849 C Street, NW 

Washington, DC 20240-0001 

SUBJECT: WaterSMART Water Recycling and Desalination Planning Grant Endorsement, 

Montecito Water District, Groundwater Augmentation Program 

Dear Commissioner Touton, 

I write this letter in strong support of the application by the Montecito Water District (MWD) for 

Federal funding from the WaterSMART program for Water Recycling and Desalination Planning, 

administered through the United States Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Department of the Interior. 

The MWD is requesting funding to support the planning, outreach, and preliminary design efforts 

that will support development of the Groundwater Augmentation Program (GAP). 

The GAP consists of multiple components including a Title XVI compliant feasibility study, 

environmental review and preliminary design of an advanced water purification facility and 

associated distributive infrastructure necessary to support an Indirect Potable Reuse (IPR) 

program. The key benefit of the GAP is the augmentation of the groundwater supply with a new 

drought resistant source. 

Funding the GAP will build upon a multi-year collaboration between MWD and Montecito 

Sanitary District (MSD), with the involvement of other potential regional partners to identify the 

project that maximizes the beneficial reuse of MSD’s treated wastewater. This collaboration 

analyzed various potable and non-potable reuse options including regional partnerships and 

recommended a regional IPR project involving multiple local and regional public agencies and 

multiple groundwater basins. This project will provide MWD with a new local drought resistant 

water source, reducing its reliance on groundwater and increasing groundwater available in 

storage. Additionally, the project will extend the viability of the groundwater supply for all 

stakeholders during future drought periods. The advancement of this project is critical for 

bolstering the reliability of water supplies for Montecito and Summerland, and will lessen the 

impact future droughts will have on the region. 
I support the efforts being undertaken by the MWD to advance the GAP and improve water 

sustainability for the region. 

Sincerely, 

Bob McDonald, P.E. MPA 

General Manager 

Carpinteria Valley Water District 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1042 Monte Cristo Lane 

Santa Barbara, CA 

Montecito Sanitary District 

A Public Service Agency PHONE: (805) 969-4200 

93108 www.montsan.org 

General Manager: John F. Weigold IV EMAIL: jweigold@montsan.org 

February 24, 2023 

The Honorable Camille Touton 

Commissioner 

Bureau of Reclamation 

1849 C Street, NW 

Washington, DC 20240-0001 

SUBJECT: WaterSMART Water Recycling and Desalination Planning Grant Endorsement, 

Montecito Water District, Groundwater Augmentation Program 

Dear Commissioner Touton, 

I write this letter in strong support of the application by the Montecito Water District (MWD) for 

Federal funding from the WaterSMART program for Water Recycling and Desalination Planning, 

administered through the United States Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Department of the Interior. 

The MWD is requesting funding to support the planning, outreach, and preliminary design efforts 

that will support development of the Groundwater Augmentation Program (GAP). 

The GAP consists of multiple components including a Title XVI compliant feasibility study, 

environmental review and preliminary design of an advanced water purification facility and 

associated distributive infrastructure necessary to support an Indirect Potable Reuse (IPR) 

program. The key benefit of the GAP is the augmentation of the groundwater supply with a new 

drought resistant source. 

Funding the GAP will build upon a multi-year collaboration between MWD and Montecito 

Sanitary District (MSD), with the involvement of other potential regional partners to identify the 

project that maximizes the beneficial reuse of MSD’s treated wastewater. This collaboration

analyzed various potable and non-potable reuse options including regional partnerships and 

recommended a regional IPR project involving multiple local and regional public agencies and 

multiple groundwater basins. This project will provide MWD with a new local drought resistant 

water source, reducing its reliance on groundwater and increasing groundwater available in 

storage. Additionally, the project will extend the viability of the groundwater supply for all 

stakeholders during future drought periods. The advancement of this project is critical for 

bolstering the reliability of water supplies for Montecito and Summerland communities and will 

lessen the impact future droughts will have on the region. 
 

 

I most highly support the efforts being undertaken by the MWD to advance the GAP and improve 

water sustainability for the region. 

Sincerely, 

John F. Weigold, IV 

General Manager 
BOARD OF DIRECTORS: 

Montecito Groundwater Basin 

Groundwater 

Sustainability 

Agency 

Brian Goebel, President 

Ken Coates, Vice President

Cori Hayman, Director 

Floyd Wi,ks, Director

Tobe Plough, Director 

Gen..-al Mana91tr 

and Board Secretary: 

February 27, 2023 Nick Turner 

The Honorable Camille Touton 

Commissioner 

Bureau of Reclamation 

1849 C Street, NW 

Washington, DC 20240-0001 

Subject: WaterSMART Water Recycling and Desalination Planning Grant Endorsement, 

Montecito Water District, Groundwater Augmentation Program 

To Whom It May Concern, 

I am writing on behalf of the Montecito Groundwater Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency 

("Montecito GSA") in support of the Grant Application submitted by the Montecito Water District 

("MWD")• for Federal funding from the WaterSMART program for Water Recycling and Desalination 

Planning, administered through the United States Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Department of the Interior. 

MWD is requesting funding to support the planning, outreach, and preliminary design efforts that will 

support development of a Groundwater Augmentation Program ("GAP"). 

Montecito GSA is a single-agency GSA formed in 2018 with the requirement of developing and 

implementing a Groundwater Sustainability Plan for the Montecito Ground':"fater Basin pursuant to the 

Sustainable Groundwater Management Act ("SGMA"). MWD is the primary urban water purveyor 

residing over the Montecito Groundwater Basin, servicing the areas of Montecito and Summerland. MWD 

and Montecito GSA are working closely together on the GAP because there are benefits to both agencies. 

The proposed GAP consists of preliminary design and environmental review for an Indirect Potable Reuse 

project involving regional partners and multiple groundwater basins. Key benefits of the GAP include 

direct and in-lieu recharge of the Carpinteria and Montecito groundwater basins, respectively with a new 

drought-resistant source. When completed, this new source of supply will reduce MWD's reliance on 

groundwater during normal hydrologic periods, thereby increasing availability during future droughts. 

Additionally, elevated groundwater levels in each groundwater basin will reduce the risk of undesirable 

results occurring, such as seawater intrusion. 

This grant would provide critical funding for the advancement of the MWD's GAP, which is critical to 

achieving both MWD's strategic plan for long-term water supply reliability for Montecito and 

Summerland, and Montecito GSA's efforts to ensure a reliable and sustainable groundwater supply 

through effective basin management. 

Sincerely, 

Brian Goebel, Board President 

Montecito GSA 

583 San Ysidro Road, Montecito, CA 93108-2124 • 805-969-2271 •website: www.montecitogsa.com • email: info@montecitogsa.com 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 27, 2023 

The Honorable Camille Touton 

Commissioner 

Bureau of Reclamation 

1849 C Street, NW 

Washington, DC 20240-0001 

SUBJECT: WaterSMART Water Recycling and Desalination Planning Grant Endorsement, Montecito Water District, 

Groundwater Augmentation Program 

Dear Commissioner Touton, 

I write this letter in strong support of the application by the Montecito Water District (MWD) for Federal funding from the 

WaterSMART program for Water Recycling and Desalination Planning, administered through the United States Bureau of 

Reclamation, U.S. Department of the Interior. The MWD is requesting funding to support the planning, outreach, and 

preliminary design efforts that will support development of the Groundwater Augmentation Program (GAP). 

The GAP consists of multiple components including a Title XVI compliant feasibility study, environmental review and 

preliminary design of an advanced water purification facility and associated distributive infrastructure necessary to support 

an Indirect Potable Reuse (IPR) program. The key benefit of the GAP is the augmentation of the groundwater supply with a 

new drought resistant source. 

Funding the GAP will build upon a multi-year collaboration between MWD and Montecito Sanitary District (MSD), with the 

involvement of other potential regional partners to identify the project that maximizes the beneficial reuse of MSD’s treated

wastewater. This collaboration analyzed various potable and non-potable reuse options including regional partnerships and 

recommended a regional IPR project involving multiple local and regional public agencies and multiple groundwater basins. 

This project will provide MWD with a new local drought resistant water source, reducing its reliance on groundwater and 

increasing groundwater available in storage. Additionally, the project will extend the viability of the groundwater supply for 

all stakeholders during future drought periods. The advancement of this project is critical for bolstering the reliability of water 

supplies for Montecito and Summerland, and will lessen the impact future droughts will have on the region. 

As the County Supervisor who represents Montecito on the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, I have been 

advocating for the development of an Indirect Potable Reuse (IPR) program since I was the Assemblymember for the region. 

I am very grateful for the progress that has been made and strongly urge support of this request so this project can finally 

come to fruition to the great benefit of our region. 

Sincerely, 

Das Williams 

First District Supervisor 

Santa Barbara County 
 

 

 

 

Letters of Commitment 

Appendix C Letter of Commitment 

Groundwater Augmentation Program (GAP) 

Montecito Water District | C 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Honorable Camille Touton 

Commissioner 

Bureau of Reclamation 

1849 C Street, NW 

Washington, DC 20240-0001 

February 27, 2023 

Subject: WaterSMART Water Recycling and Desalination Planning Grant 

Montecito Water District, Groundwater Augmentation Program 

Letter of Funding Commitment 

Dear Commissioner Touton, 

The Montecito Water District (MWD) is pursuing funding through the United States Bureau of 

Reclamation WaterSMART Recycling and Desalination Planning Grant program for the 

development of a Groundwater Augmentation Program (GAP). The GAP comprises an Indirect 

Potable Reuse (IPR) project involving multiple local and regional public agencies and several 

groundwater basins. The IPR project will provide advanced purification of the Montecito Sanitary 

District’s treated wastewater for injection into the neighboring Carpinteria Groundwater Basin for 

eventual potable use. Primary benefits of the GAP include a new local drought-resistant water 

supply for the MWD, and direct and indirect groundwater recharge of both the Carpinteria and 

Montecito Groundwater Basins. 

The Montecito Groundwater Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (Montecito GSA), in 

cooperation with MWD applied to the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) 

Sustainable Groundwater Management (SGM) Round 2 grant program in December 2022 to 

partially fund preliminary design, environmental review, and public outreach for the GAP. DWR 

anticipates grant award announcements in May 2023. If awarded, the funds would be available 

after an agreement between the Montecito GSA and DWR is executed. Due to significant 

statewide interest in the DWR SGM Round 2 grant funds, award of the full grant request is 

uncertain. Therefore, MWD is pursuing other funding opportunities, including a WaterSMART 

grant. 

If the DWR SGM Round 2 grant is awarded to the Montecito GSA for the GAP, these funds will 

be used to provide a portion of, or the entire non-Federal funding for, the WaterSMART grant. If 

the DWR SGM Round 2 grant is not awarded, or the award is insufficient to cover the entire nonFederal cost share, MWD will use its unrestricted reserve funds to meet the non-Federal cost share. 
MWD’s use of unrestricted reserves would occur as part of its normal budget process and require 

MWD Board of Director approval. 

Nick Turner 

General Manager 

Sincerely, 

Cc/: 

Tobe Plough, MWD Board President 

Brian Goebel, Montecito GSA 

Walt Wendelstein, MWD General Counsel 

Page 2 of 2 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mandatory Federal Forms 

Appendix D Mandatory Federal Forms 

The following mandatory Federal forms have been submitted separately via grants.gov. 

1. SF-424: Application for Federal Assistance 

2. SF-424A: Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs 

3. SF-424B: Assurances for Non-Construction Programs 

4. GG_LobbyingForm: Certification Regarding Lobbying 

Groundwater Augmentation Program (GAP) 

Montecito Water District | D 
 

 

 

 

Unique Entity Identifier & SAM Registration 

Appendix E Unique Entity Identifier & SAM 

Registration 

The Montecito Water District is registered with SAM. The Unique Entity Identifier is

RMZRPJQKV7H5.

Groundwater Augmentation Program (GAP) 

Montecito Water District | E 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unique Entity Identifier & SAM Registration 

1.0 Project Budget 

1.1 Funding Plan and Letters of Funding Commitment 

The non-Federal funds for the Project are from MWD and potentially from a DWR grant. The 

Montecito GSA, in partnership with MWD, submitted a grant request to the DWR Sustainable 

Groundwater Management (SGM) program in December 2022 to partially fund Project 

preliminary design, environmental documentation, and public outreach. DWR anticipates grant 

award announcements in May 2023. The funds would be available after an agreement between 

the GSA and DWR is executed. The GSA has provided a letter of commitment (see Appendix C in 

project narrative) to provide the funds for the Project. If the grant is awarded by DWR, the DWR 

grant funds would reduce MWD’s contribution and be used to provide match funding to the 

Federal cost share. If the grant is not awarded, MWD funds will be used to meet all of the nonFederal cost share. Table 1, Table 3, and Table 4 present required budget tables. 

Table 1. Summary of Non-Federal and Federal funding source 

Funding Sources Amount 

Non- Federal Entities 

1. Montecito Water District(1) $1,656,058 

Non- Federal Subtotal $1,656,058 

REQUESTED Reclamation Funding $1,000,000 

Note 1: MWD submitted a SGM program grant application to DWR in December 2022 to fund 

this amount. If awarded, the DWR grant would reduce MWD’s contribution.

Table 2. Total Project Budget Proposal 

Budget Item Description $/Unit Quantity Quantity Type Total Cost 

Personnel 

AGM/Engineering Manager $98 832 Hours $81,536 

Engineering Assistant $44 1284 Hours $56,496 

Public Information Officer $44 208 Hours $9,152 

Fringe Benefits 1 

AGM/Engineering Manager $39.20 832 Hours $32,614 

Engineering Assistant $17.60 1284 Hours $22,598 

Public Information Officer $17.60 208 Hours $3,661 

Contractual 

Carollo(1) $2,400,000 1 Lump Sum $2,400,000 

WSC $50,000 1 Lump Sum $50,000 

Total Estimated Project Costs $2,656,058 

Groundwater Augmentation Program (GAP) 

Montecito Water District | E 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.2 

Unique Entity Identifier & SAM Registration 

Note 1: Based on detailed cost estimate of labor hours and rates for over 20 staff. 

Table 3. Total Project Cost Table 

Source Amount 

Cost to be reimbursed with the requested Federal funding $1,000,000 

Cost to be paid by the applicant(1) $1,656,058 

Value of third-party contributions --

TOTAL project cost $2,656,058 

Note 1: MWD submitted a SGM program grant application to DWR in December 2022 to fund 

this amount. If awarded, the DWR grant would reduce MWD’s contribution.

Budget Narrative 

Personnel 

Compensation and wages are shown in Table 3. The primary project manager is Adam Kanold, 

Assistant General Manager/ Engineering Manager. The project manager responsibilities include 

preparing subcontracts, managing subcontractors, stakeholder coordination, completing 

reports, and deliverables. The District estimates 832 hours of project management for the GAP 

over the length of the Project at a rate of $98/hour or $137/hour with fringe benefits. 

The District’s Engineering Assistant is responsible for supporting the project manager. It is 

estimated that the Engineering Assistant will spend approximately 1284 hours supporting GAP 

over the length of the Project at a rate of $44/hour or $62/hour with fringe benefits. 

The District’s Public Information Officer (PIO) will lead stakeholder engagement. It is estimated 

that the PIO will spend approximately 208 hours supporting the GAP over the length of the 

Project at a rate of $44/hour or 62/hour with fringe benefits. 

Fringe Benefits 

Fringe benefits include health insurance which includes dental and vision, life insurance, 

retirement contributions which include social security and Medicare, and other benefits like 

workers’ compensation, state unemployment insurance, employee assistance program, and

deferred contributions. Rates and calculations are provided in the budget proposal. 

Travel 

Expenses for traveling for project supervision are not included. 

Equipment 

No equipment costs are anticipated for the Project. 

Supplies 

No supply costs are anticipated for the Project. 

Groundwater Augmentation Program (GAP) 

Montecito Water District | E 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unique Entity Identifier & SAM Registration 

Contractual 

Contract expenses include planning, feasibility study, public outreach, preliminary design, and 

environmental documentation. Costs estimates totaling $2,450,000 were acquired from 

consultants selected through a competitive Request for Proposal process. The costs are based 

on experience with similar projects, recent bids, current and foreseeable regulatory 

requirements, and an understanding of the necessary project components. As the project 

progresses, the costs could vary from the estimates provided herein. 

Construction 

No construction costs are required for the project. 

Other 

No “other” expenses are anticipated. 

Indirect Costs 

Indirect cost rate has not been negotiated for the Project, and therefore not included in the 

Project budget. 

Total Costs 

The total eligible cost of the Project under this NOFO is $2,656,058. Of this, MWD is committed 

to a cost share of $1,656,058. Expenses will be covered directly by MWD and/or from other 

non-federal funding sources secured for the project. 

We respectfully request $1,000,000 from USBR under this NOFO. This represents 38% of the 

eligible Federal cost share. 

Groundwater Augmentation Program (GAP) 

Montecito Water District | E