Long Term Conveyance of Water to the Kern National Wildlife Refuge

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The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) intends to issue a Modification to the Cooperative Agreement to Buena Vista Water Storage District (BVWSD) under the authority of Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) 15.512, Central Valley Project Improvement Act (CVPIA), Public Law 102-575, Title XXXIV Section 3406 (d). In support of the objectives of the Central Valley Habitat Joint Venture and in furtherance of the purposes of this title, the Secretary shall provide, either directly or through contractual agreements with other appropriate parties, firm water supplies of suitable quality to maintain and improve wetland habitat areas on unite of the National Wildlife Refuge System in the Central Valley of California; on the Gray Lodge, Los Banos, Volte, North Grasslands, and Mendota state wildlife management areas; and on the Grasslands Resources Conservation District in the Central Valley of California. (Refer to the Notice of Intent to Award Announcement NO. BOR-MP-18-N007 for additional information) In 2003, Reclamation and the Buena Vista Water Storage District (District) entered into long-term Agreement #R10AC20683 (formerly #03-FC-20-3035) to utilize the District’s conveyance facilities for the conveyance of water supplies to the boundary of the Kern National Wildlife Refuge, due to its geographical proximity to this refuge. The Secretary of the Interior is authorized and directed to enter into agreements to provide firm water supplies of suitable quality to certain wildlife habitat areas of the Central Valley in accordance with the Level 2 and Level 4 "Dependable Water Supply Needs" table contained within the 1989 Report on Refuge Water Supply Investigations, Central Valley Hydrologic Basin, California. The District is required to meet water delivery schedules established by the refuge manager 12 months of the year. An initial schedule is developed by the refuge manager at the beginning of the contract water year, which is provided to the District. These schedules are adjusted throughout the water year to meet refuge wetlands management needs. The refuge manager may submit daily/weekly delivery requests/changes to the District staff, adjusting water volume requirements as needed for wetlands habitat management. Generally, the District must provide water deliveries within 72 hours of the delivery request. The District is required to coordinate with the refuge manager if necessary facilities maintenance/repairs or other issues will result in delayed deliveries, and identify strategies to minimize potential impacts from these delays. This modification is for the sole purpose of increasing the estimated Federal amount and adding additional funding for fiscal year 2018 due to the increased conveyance rate for the continuation of supplying suitable quality refuge water to Kern National Wildlife Refuge. A Determination by the government not to compete this proposed financial assistance based upon Department Manual 505 DM 2, paragraph 2.14(B)(2) is solely within the discretion of the Government. This notice of intent is NOT a request for competitive proposals. Questions concerning this announcement should be directed to Nicole Saulnier/Grants Management Specialist, by email at nsaulnier@usbr.gov.

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