Oregon Water Resources Department Grant: 2015-2019 OWRD Pilot Water Bank

Groundwater has been increasingly relied upon as a supplemental water supply in the Klamath Basin. Prior to 2001, groundwater conditions (water levels) were generally in equilibrium with climate; that is, water levels fluctuated over the decades with changes in climate-driven recharge. Starting in 2001, demand on groundwater resources significantly increased to make up for drought conditions that reduced primary surface water supplies to the Klamath Project. The increased groundwater pumping resulted in noteworthy declines in water levels in and around the Klamath Project where groundwater pumping was concentrated.

The purpose of this project is for Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) to monitor and provide technical assistance to Klamath Water and Power Authority (KWAPA) and Reclamation on the administration of the Klamath Pilot Water Bank Program. It is critical to the success of the program that impacts due to groundwater pumping be monitored so that surface water supplies (water that the water bank is intended to reserve for lake-level and in-stream uses) are not compromised, and that senior groundwater users have a continued water supply.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

OWRD shall be responsible for the following:
1. Groundwater level and use monitoring
1.1. Monitor groundwater levels and use in the Klamath Project area relative to the Klamath Pilot Water Bank Program.
2. Provide technical assistance to KWAPA and Reclamation
2.1. OWRD will provide technical assistance to KWAPA and Reclamation for the administration of the Klamath Pilot Water Bank Program to minimize impacts to groundwater resources in the Klamath Project area.
3. Provide updates to Reclamation
3.1. OWRD will provide updates in Klamath Falls, OR with a presentation at the beginning of the grant and at the end of the grant period.

RECLAMATION INVOLVEMENT

Reclamation’s involvement on the grant will be to provide funding and implement oversight of federal stewardship responsibilities, including monitoring of project performance and financial accountability and reporting in accordance with the terms of the grant agreement.

No substantial involvement on the part of Reclamation is anticipated for the successful completion of the objectives to be funded by this award. It is anticipated that Reclamation’s involvement will consist of standard federal stewardship responsibilities such as monitoring project performance, technical assistance at the request of the recipient, etc.

SINGLE-SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
SINGLE SOURCE POLICY REQUIREMENTS

Department of the Interior Policy (505 DM 2) requires a written justification which explains why competition is not practicable for each single-source award. The justification must address one or more of the following criteria as well as discussion of the program legislative history, unique capabilities of the proposed recipient, and cost-sharing contribution offered by the proposed recipient, as applicable.

In order for an assistance award to be made without competition, the award must satisfy one or more of the following criteria:

(1) Unsolicited Proposal – The proposed award is the result of an unsolicited assistance application which represents a unique or innovative idea, method, or approach which is not the subject of a current or planned contract or assistance award, but which is deemed advantageous to the program objectives;

(2) Continuation – The activity to be funded is necessary to the satisfactory completion of, or is a continuation of an activity presently being funded, and for which competition would have a significant adverse effect on the continuity or completion of the activity;

(3) Legislative intent – The language in the applicable authorizing legislation or legislative history clearly indicates Congress’ intent to restrict the award to a particular recipient of purpose;

(4) Unique Qualifications – The applicant is uniquely qualified to perform the activity based upon a variety of demonstrable factors such as location, property ownership, voluntary support capacity, cost-sharing ability if applicable, technical expertise, or other such unique qualifications;

(5) Emergencies – Program/award where there is insufficient time available (due to a compelling and unusual urgency, or substantial danger to health or safety) for adequate competitive procedures to be followed.

Reclamation did not solicit full and open competition for this award based the following criteria:

(2) CONTINUATION

Single Source Justification Description:

The activity to be funded is necessary to the continuation of an activity presently being funded. Grant opportunity R10AC20099 ended on 9/30/2014. This grant will be a continuation of the work that was performed in the previous grant. OWRD collects data from the OWRD wells sites and are the only ones that have legal access to the wells. No other recipient would be able to perform these services without access to the wells. The continuation of these services is necessary because OWRD measures how much water has been drawn from the wells for irrigation and how the aquifer is decreasing with the amount of water being removed. They also have a working relationship with KWAPA that would take time to build if a different recipient should perform these services.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

Public Law 85-624, (2) 16 U.S.C. 661 et seq.
For the purpose of recognizing the vital contribution of our wildlife resources to the Nation, the increasing public interest and significance thereof due to expansion of our national economy and other factors, and to provide that wildlife conservation shall receive equal consideration and be coordinated with other features of water-resource development programs through the effectual and harmonious planning, development, maintenance, and coordination of wildlife conservation and rehabilitation for the purposes of sections 661 to 666c of this title in the United States, its Territories and possessions, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized (1) to provide assistance to, and cooperate with, Federal, State, and public or private agencies and organizations in the development, protection, rearing, and stocking of all species of wildlife, resources thereof, and their habitat, in controlling losses of the same from disease or other causes, in minimizing damages from overabundant species, in providing public shooting and fishing areas, including easements across public lands for access thereto, and in carrying out other measures necessary to effectuate the purposes of said sections; (2) to make surveys and investigations of the wildlife of the public domain, including lands and waters or interests therein acquired or controlled by any agency of the United States; and (3) to accept donations of land and contributions of funds in furtherance of the purposes of said sections.