Kern River Snow Surveys- East Side and SEKI
2025/2026 – 2029/2030
Intent: It is the intent of Sierra Snow Surveys to provide the personnel and equipment (1) to perform snow surveys at the following Snow Courses:
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ast Side Courses
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amshaw Meadow- 259-RMM- 8,700’- Lat 36.352 Long -118.265 • Little Whitney Meadow- 260- LWM- 8,500’- Lat 36.378 Long -118.347 • Big Whitney Meadow- 257- BWH- 9,750’- Lat 36.440 Long -118.255 • Tunnel Guard snow sensor- TUN- 8,900’- Lat 36.367 Long -118.288 • Cottonwood Pass- 251- CWP- 11,050’- Lat 36.450 Long -118.217 • Siberian Pass- 252- SIB- 10,900’- Lat 36.473 Long -118.267 • Rock Creek- 256- RCR- 9,600’- Lat 36.497 Long -118.333 • Guyot Flat- 254- GYF- 10,650’- Lat 36.523 Long -118.348 • Crabtree Meadow- 253- CBT- 10,7000’- Lat 36.564 Long -118.348 • Sandy Meadows- 275- SDM- 10,650’- Lat 36.572 Long -118.367 • Bighorn Plateau- 250-BGH- 11,350’- Lat 36.615 Long -118.377 • Tyndall Creek-255- TND- 10,650’- Lat 36.632 Long -118.392 • Upper Tyndall snow sensor- UTY- 11,400’- Lat 36.650 Long -118.397 Th
e East Side Courses will be performed during the California Department of Water Resources Snow Survey Window for monthly measurements. These measurements will commence with the February1 Snow Survey through the April 1 Snow Survey. Should a hydrologic event occur, conditional circumstances may require Sn ow Surveys from May 1 to July 1.
T
ypically, three snow surveyors w ill be required to perform the job duties safely and efficiently. This also allows for , on the job, training for new Snow Surveyors due to the possibility of attrition. Based on the historical average, the courses take approximately twelve days to fifteen days to complete. This can vary due to hydrological circumstances and weather conditions.
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EKI Courses
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uinn Ranger Station- Elevation 8,350’ – Lat. 36°19’40.8/Long.-118°34’22.8 • Hockett Meadow- Elevation 8,647’- Lat. 36° 22.246’/Long. 118°39.124’ • Wet Meadow- Elevation 9,039’- Lat. 36° 20.978’/Long. 118° 34.300’
MONTH FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL
Type Scheduled Scheduled Scheduled Conditional Conditional Conditional Labor Days 45 45 45 45 45 45
Exhibit A
The SEKI C ourses will be performed during the California Department of Water Resources Window for monthly measurements. It is anticipated that these measurements will commence with the March 1 Snow Survey and continue through the May 1 Snow Survey. The historical survey team members, whom have exposure to the above noted courses, are based in Bishop, CA. Survey duration is composed of one- day travel to Atwell/Mineral King Area from Bishop, six to eight days obtaining the courses, and one-day travel back to Bishop, CA.
Typically, three snow surveyors would be required to perform the job duties safely and efficiently. Attrition of personnel requires , on the job, training for new Snow Surveyors requiring three person teams. Based on the historical average, the courses take approximately eight to ten days to complete. This can vary due to hydrological circumstances and weather conditions.
Field Employees: At least one team member will have completed the course previously to ensure continuity and experience during an active survey. Each employee will have taken both Avalanche and Wilderness First Aid training (or equivalent). Each employee will abide by all safety regulations and all policies. Sierra Snow Survey s Safety regulations and policies are attached at the end of this document. Each field surveyor will be responsible for their equipment and ensure it is in good working order. Each field surveyor will have gone over a pre- determined route and daily expectations. Weather, hydrologic conditions, avalanche conditions, route conditions, and physical conditions of each field employee will be discussed along with any other pertinent issues. The route and expectation will be relayed to the Safety Coordinator in written format along with conditions/pertinent issues noted prior . The Snow Surveyor will conduct the snow survey to the best that conditions allow. The Snow Surveyors will properly fill out the Snow Survey notes and double check the math. After the completion of the course, the data will be relayed to the Safety Coordinator via Satellite Phone/ In Reach Device.
Employees will respect any policies deemed by the USFS/NPS while residing in their cabins.
Safety Coordinator: The Safety Coordinator should be familiar with typical circumstances of snow surveys and preferably have experienced the route. Safety Coordinator will be in the loop in relation to the route and expectations of the survey team. This will be in written format prior to departure. The Safety Coordinator will always be available via phone during field activities. Please review Safety regulations and policies for procedures. Backup Safety Coordinator will be Sierra Snow Survey Management.
Sierra Snow Surveys: Sierra Snow Surveys will ensure employees will be covered by Workman’s Compensation Insurance. Sierra Snow Surveys will provide a Satellite Phone/In Reach Device, aux battery, and a camera to document survey anomalies or cabin damage.
MONTH MAR APR MAY JUN JUL
Type Scheduled Scheduled Scheduled Conditional Conditional Labor Days 30 30 30 30 30
Cost: Cost was broken down into labor days with shared cost of the Safety Coordinator (Kings/Kern/SEKI will report to the same Safety Coordinator on Call) built into the rate.
What is also built into the rate is the Avalanche Training, Medical Ex aminations, administration, equipment provided by Sierra Snow Surveys and labor associated with the extracurricular activities. This extra cost would be spread from the Feb- April Snow Surveys as they are scheduled for the Kern Surveys and Mar -May for the SEKI Surveys. Daily rates would fall for conditional months as the extra cost would already be funded by the third survey.
Should the City of Bakersfield desire to enter a multi-year contract for Kern/SEKI, the contract pricing would be as follows:
2025/2026 - $557.00 per Surveyor per Day – Feb-April/Kern – Mar-May/SEKI - $448.00 per Surveyor per Day – May-Jul/Kern – Jun-Jul/SEKI
2026/2027 - $580.00 per Surveyor per Day – Feb-April/Kern – Mar-May/SEKI - $466.00 per Surveyor per Day – May-Jul/Kern – Jun-Jul/SEKI
2027/2028 - $603.00 per Surveyor per Day – Feb-April/Kern – Mar-May/SEKI - $485.00 per Surveyor per Day – May-Jul/Kern – Jun-Jul/SEKI
2028/2029 - $627.00 per Surveyor per Day – Feb-April/Kern – Mar-May/SEKI - $504.00 per Surveyor per Day – May-Jul/Kern – Jun-Jul/SEKI
2029/2030 - $652.00 per Surveyor per Day – Feb-April/Kern – Mar-May/SEKI - $524.00 per Surveyor per Day – May-Jul/Kern – Jun-Jul/SEKI
Pricing for 5 year contract anticipating WORSE CASE and THREE Snow Surveyors per Survey:
2025/2026 - FEB – KERN SURVEY ONLY – 45 LABOR DAYS = $25,065 - MAR – KERN/SEKI SURVEY – 75 LABOR DAYS = $41,775
- APR – KERN/SEKI SURVEY – 75 LABOR DAYS = $41,775
- MAY – SEKI SURVEY ONLY – 30 LABOR DAYS = $16,710
TOTAL FOR 2025/2026 SEASON NO CONDITIONAL $125,325
CONDITIONAL SURVEYS:
MAY-JUL KERN SURVEY ONLY – 45 LABOR DAYS = $20,160 PER SURVEY JUN-JUL SEKI SURVEY ONLY – 30 LABOR DAYS = $13,440 PER SURVEY
2026/2027 - FEB – KERN SURVEY ONLY – 45 LABOR DAYS = $26,100 - MAR – KERN/SEKI SURVEY – 75 LABOR DAYS = $43,500
- APR – KERN/SEKI SURVEY – 75 LABOR DAYS = $43,500
- MAY – SEKI SURVEY ONLY – 30 LABOR DAYS = $17,400
TOTAL FOR 2026/2027 SEASON NO CONDITIONAL $130,500
CONDITIONAL SURVEYS:
MAY-JUL KERN SURVEY ONLY – 45 LABOR DAYS = $20,970 PER SURVEY JUN-JUL SEKI SURVEY ONLY – 30 LABOR DAYS = $13,980 PER SURVEY
2027/2028 - FEB – KERN SURVEY ONLY – 45 LABOR DAYS = $27,135 - MAR – KERN/SEKI SURVEY – 75 LABOR DAYS = $45,225
- APR – KERN/SEKI SURVEY – 75 LABOR DAYS = $45,225
- MAY – SEKI SURVEY ONLY – 30 LABOR DAYS = $18,090
TOTAL FOR 2027/2028 SEASON NO CONDITIONAL $135,675
CONDITIONAL SURVEYS:
MAY-JUL KERN SURVEY ONLY – 45 LABOR DAYS = $21,825 PER SURVEY JUN-JUL SEKI SURVEY ONLY – 30 LABOR DAYS = $14,550 PER SURVEY
2028/2029 - FEB – KERN SURVEY ONLY – 45 LABOR DAYS = $28,215 - MAR – KERN/SEKI SURVEY – 75 LABOR DAYS = $47,025
- APR – KERN/SEKI SURVEY – 75 LABOR DAYS = $47,025
- MAY – SEKI SURVEY ONLY – 30 LABOR DAYS = $18,810
TOTAL FOR 2028/2029 SEASON NO CONDITIONAL $141,075
CONDITIONAL SURVEYS:
MAY-JUL KERN SURVEY ONLY – 45 LABOR DAYS = $22,680 PER SURVEY JUN-JUL SEKI SURVEY ONLY – 30 LABOR DAYS = $15,120 PER SURVEY
2029/2030 - FEB – KERN SURVEY ONLY – 45 LABOR DAYS = $29,340 - MAR – KERN/SEKI SURVEY – 75 LABOR DAYS = $48,900
- APR – KERN/SEKI SURVEY – 75 LABOR DAYS = $48,900
- MAY – SEKI SURVEY ONLY – 30 LABOR DAYS = $19,560
TOTAL FOR 2029/2030 SEASON NO CONDITIONAL $146,700
CONDITIONAL SURVEYS:
MAY-JUL KERN SURVEY ONLY – 45 LABOR DAYS = $23,580 PER SURVEY JUN-JUL SEKI SURVEY ONLY – 30 LABOR DAYS = $15,720 PER SURVEY
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(1)- Snow Survey tubes and associated equipment is provided by CA DWR.