DATE: December 9, 2025
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Steven E. White, Director
Department of Public Works and Planning
SUBJECT: Amendment No. I to Agreement for Consultant Services Related to Big Dry Creek Reservoir Operational Changes
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute Amendment I to Cost Share Agreement No. 23-584 for Consultant Services Related to Legislative Support for Big Dry Creek Reservoir Operational Changes, extending the term by one year from January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026, adding two optional one-year extensions, and increasing the County’s total maximum share of costs by $45,000 to a total not to exceed amount of $105,000.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will allow for the County’s participation in continued efforts of re-evaluating Big Dry Creek Dam and Reservoir’s operational efforts, in order to allow for increased water conservation storage, as proposed by the Fresno County Stream Group. This item pertains to a location within District 5.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There are no viable alternatives. Should your Board not approve the recommended action, the County would not be able to participate in the above-mentioned effort.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The County’s total share of cost is $15,000 for the existing contract year ending December 31, 2025. The County’s total share of costs for the contract year beginning January 1, 2026, and ending December 31, 2026, will be $15,000. The Amendment to the Agreement will add two optional one-year extensions with a County total share of cost of $15,000 per each optional year extensions. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the Department’s Water and Natural Resources, Org. 43600300 FY 2025-26 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION:
The Fresno County Stream Group is a multi-agency collaborative between the Cities of Fresno and Clovis, County of Fresno, Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District (FMFCD) and the Fresno Irrigation District (FID). The Big Dry Creek Dam and Reservoir, situated on Dry Creek, are existing flood control structures located in an unincorporated area of Fresno County, near the intersection of State Route 168 and North Shepherd Avenue, immediately adjacent to the city limits of the City of Clovis. The flood control structures are owned by the United States Federal government and are operated by FMFCD.
The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE) constructed the Big Dry Creek Dam and Reservoir in 1948, and must approve by permit any repairs, rehabilitation, replacement or fill of the Big Dry Creek Dam and Reservoir. To increase water storage and groundwater recharge capacity in the County, the Stream Group is seeking approval to reoperate the Fancher, Redbank and Big Dry Creek Reservoir including the completion of the required USACOE studies and evaluations.
In cooperation with the USACOE Sacramento District, FMFCD has a better understanding of the required technical studies for evaluating a reoperation of the Big Dry Creek Reservoir and Dam. Considering California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act and the need to sustainably manage groundwater resources, the Stream Group has focused on strategies to maximize usage of surface water for beneficial use. To this end, reoperation of the Big Dry Creek Dam and Reservoir can provide significant public beneficial use for water resource management, consistent with the project’s congressional authorization and engineered design construction.
In 2020, the Stream Group supported FMFCD’s initial efforts to add language to the United States Congress 2020 Water Resources Development Act to allow for the study of the reoperation of the Big Dry Creek Reservoir and to work with the USACOE to complete initial studies regarding its reoperation. The Stream Group, through the FID, contracted with Austin Ewell (Consultant), a local attorney and consultant with experience in water related matters, to gain legislative support for the reoperation effort. On October 24, 2023, the Board approved Agreement No. 23-584 to allow for the County’s participation in the reoperation effort through December 31, 2025. The recommended amendment will allow the Stream Group to continue to utilize the Consultant under the same compensation structure, terms, and conditions to continue reoperation and coordination efforts. The Cities of Fresno and Clovis, County of Fresno, and FID will continue to equally cost share Consultant fees with a total not to exceed $60,000 per year. The County is responsible for 25% ($15,000) of this amount per year.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #49, October 24, 2023
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Amendment I to Cost Share Agreement
CAO ANALYST:
Maria Valencia