Submitted to: City of Fortuna
TECHNICAL PROPOSAL
Professional Services -
Water System Master Plan
June 1, 2026
June 1, 2026 GHD Reference No. 12695947
Mr. Brian Issa
Public Works Director
City of Fortuna
621 11th Street, Fortuna, CA 95540
Subject: Technical Proposal for City of Fortuna, Professional Services - Water System Master Plan Dear Mr. Issa and Members of the Selection Committee:
GHD is pleased to submit this proposal in response to the City of Fortuna’s (City) Request for Proposals to prepare a Water System Master Plan. We understand the City requires an updated, practical planning framework to support nearterm capital decisions while addressing long-term system needs, including aging infrastructure, system performance, and future growth.
GHD’s approach is centered on delivering a Master Plan that functions as an active decision support tool. Building on the City’s strong GIS foundation and our prior involvement with the 2005 water system study, we bring an existing understanding of system configuration, historical assumptions, and operational characteristics that allows us to focus effort efficiently. We will develop a new hydraulic model and use it to evaluate system performance under existing and future conditions. Results will be directly translated into clearly defined capital improvement projects and a transparent, repeatable prioritization framework that supports annual budgeting and capital planning.
Our team brings extensive experience developing water master plans for California agencies facing similar challenges, including multi-pressure zone systems and distributed storage. This experience enables us to efficiently move from system evaluation through a model → projects → prioritization → capital improvement program workflow. The result is implementation-ready outputs that City staff can directly use and update over time for planning, budgeting, and transitioning into design.
GHD’s delivery team combines subject matter expertise with local knowledge and long-standing familiarity with the City’s infrastructure and planning processes. Nathan Stevens, PE, will serve as Project Manager & Engineer of Record, supported by Brett Vivyan, PE, QSD/P, as Project Director. Together with our broader team, we are well positioned to provide a focused, efficient, and practical planning effort aligned Wwith the City’s needs.
The GHD team is prepared to begin work immediately upon authorization. We appreciate the opportunity to continue our partnership with the City and look forward to supporting this important planning effort.
STATEMENTS:
– Brett Vivyan is a principal of GHD, and is authorized to negotiate and contractually bind the company. – Nathan Stevens is your primary point-of-contact.
– This proposal is valid for 90 days from the submission date. – We acknowledge receipt of Responses to Submitted Questions dated 4/30/2026 and 5/4/2026, respectively.
Regards,
GHD Inc.
718 Third Street
Eureka, CA 95501
(707) 443-8326
www.ghd.com
Brett Vivyan, PE, QSD/P
Business Group Leader
(707) 267-2275
[email protected]
Nathan Stevens, PE
Project Manager & Engineer of Record
(707) 267-2204
[email protected]
| 2
Contents
1. Cover Letter 02
2. Project Understanding & Approach 05
3. Team & Organization 12
4. Relevant Experience 17
5. Schedule 24
6. Cost Proposal N/A
Per RFP instructions, submitted under separate cover
7. Administrative 26
Total Pages Utilized = 19
© GHD 2026: This document is and shall remain the property of GHD. The document may only be used for the purpose for which it was commissioned and in accordance with the Terms of Engagement for the commission. Unauthorized use of this document in any form whatsoever is prohibited.
GHD | Proposal | City of Fortuna, Water System Master Plan | 3 → Project Understanding &
Approach
02 Project Understanding &
Approach
Project Understanding
The City of Fortuna (City) is at a point where near-term capital improvement decisions must be made in parallel with longer-term planning considerations, including anticipated growth, aging infrastructure, and evolving operational needs.
With a General Plan update currently underway and a system that relies on multiple pressure zones, storage facilities, and well-based supply, the City requires a practical decision support tool in the form of a Water Master Plan and associated deliverables that can be used to guide annual budgeting, capital planning, and development coordination.
The most effective outcome will be tools that can be actively used and updated by the City each year, rather than a static report.
The City's system has several defining components and considerations that shape this effort:
– A multi-pressure zone system influenced by distributed storage, PRVs, and booster stations – A well-based supply system with evolving questions around long-term capacity and expansion triggers – A legacy hydraulic model developed in 2005 that is not reflective of current conditions – A strong GIS foundation
– A planning horizon aligned with the General Plan update, further emphasizing the need for a robust, forward-looking planning framework
In addition, the City has identified focused planning needs at key facilities:
– Vancil Reservoir: which is currently operated at reduced capacity due to leakage and water quality considerations – Drake Hill Hydropneumatic Station: where long-term configuration/replacement alternatives are being considered Table 1. Understanding key challenges and GHD’s approach Key Challenge GHD Approach
Develop a calibrated model that is both
accurate and practical to maintain
Develop a steady-state model calibrated using operational data and targeted validation, structured to represent actual system behavior and provide reliable inputs for planning and decision-making without unnecessary complexity.
Establish a transparent prioritization
framework usable by City staff
Provide a transparent prioritization framework that translates City staff input and modeling results into defined capital projects and links Excel-based evaluation with GIS/Diamond Maps visualization.
Deliver a CIP that is actionable for
annual updates and long-range planning
Provide implementation-ready CIP outputs developed from defined system needs and performance requirements, translating identified constraints into prioritized projects and sequencing strategies that support both near-term decisions and long-range planning.
Resolve key facility decisions, including
Vancil Reservoir and Drake Hill
Apply focused evaluations that define the role of key facilities within the overall system and compare alternatives based on system needs, operational performance, implementation constraints, and planning-level costs to support clear recommendations.
Maintain the usefulness of the Master
Plan as system conditions evolve
Structure deliverables around a system-driven workflow (model --> projects --> prioritization --> GIS/Diamond Maps) that allows the City to update inputs, reflect changing conditions, and maintain planning outputs without requiring full re-engagement.
02 GHD | Proposal | City of Fortuna, Water System Master Plan | 5 GHD’s approach builds on our long-standing familiarity
with the City’s staff, infrastructure, and capital planning processes. It is centered on addressing the City’s needs by delivering a Master Plan that is not only technically sound, but actively used by the City each year. GHD will provide an understanding of system performance under various
conditions, a transparent prioritization framework, and clearly defined capital improvement projects.
Data Assembly and System Baseline
GHD will establish a system baseline using the City’s
existing data resources, focusing on efficiently leveraging information that is already available rather than performing unnecessary reconstruction of the system.
The City’s water system GIS was developed with
assistance from GHD and constitutes a reasonably
complete and accurate representation of the water
system. GHD’s direct involvement in developing
and regularly using this dataset provides a strong
understanding of current system configuration, including areas where recent development updates may need to be
incorporated. This dataset, combined with staff knowledge and available record drawings for recent developments,
will form the basis of the system inventory. In addition to system inventory data, GHD will work with City staff to confirm system operations, including pressure zone
boundaries, storage influences, and key system controls (e.g., PRV settings, pump operations). Where uncertainty exists, GHD will apply targeted validation through
coordination with City staff, review of record drawings, and focused verification where needed to resolve decisioncritical gaps. This includes leveraging existing condition information and correlating it with readily available system attributes (e.g., pipe material and age) to support planninglevel evaluation.
Existing operational data will serve as a key input to both demand development and model calibration. The data that may be considered includes:
– Known system deficiencies and concerns
– Continuous SCADA monitoring of storage levels
– Daily pump runtime records
– Available production data
– Meter data
GHD will prepare a brief memorandum to summarize the
data gathered in this process.
Hydraulic Modeling and Calibration
GHD will develop a new hydraulic model of the
City’s water system using WaterGEMS, leveraging our
experience developing and calibrating practical planninglevel models that are efficient to build, reliable for decision-making, and structured for effective handoff to City staff and future consultants. This platform supports efficient model development and provides clear, graphical outputs that enhance interpretation of results and support communication of system performance to City staff and
decision-makers.
GHD also prepared the original 2005 water system study
and developed the associated model. We have applied
the existing EPANET model to support development
evaluations and reviews, including the Mill District Specific Plan. This work provides a clear understanding of how the system has evolved, how it performs under future growth conditions, and where previous assumptions may no
longer reflect current conditions.
While the existing model has been useful at a high level, it was last used extensively at a master plan level in 2005 and is not sufficient to support current planning needs.
Rather than attempting to build onto and re-calibrate the existing model, GHD will use our understanding of the
City's GIS system and experience with the 2005 water
system study to efficiently build a useful, new hydraulic model.
The proposed model will:
– Represent the water distribution system for the master planning level study
Staff Input | GIS Data | Operational Data | Record Drawings | Prior Studies Understand
Existing System
Baseline system conditions
using GIS, records,
and available data
› Develop
Hydraulic Model
Develop and calibrate a
practical, City-usable system
model
›
Evaluate
System
Performance &
Identify Constraints
Assess system capacity and
identify constraints under
existing and future conditions
›
Develop
Prioritization
Framework and
Decision Support
Tool
Prepare an Excel-based
prioritization tool that can
export candidate projects to
GIS
›
Develop and
Package Phased
CIP
5-year and 20-year plans,
phasing, project sheets, and
costs
›
Prepare Water
Master Plan
Document
Deliver an actionable Master
Plan document that
summarizes findings,
priorities, and
recommendations
Hydraulic Model | GIS Data Package | System Schematics | Prioritization Tool | Technical Memoranda Inputs:
Deliverables:
Phased CIP (Maps & Project Sheets) | Water Master Plan Document | Council Presentations Project Approach
Figure 1. Project approach flowchart and deliverables
GHD | Proposal | City of Fortuna, Water System Master Plan | 6 – Simulate existing and future conditions, including
alternative operating conditions
– Support evaluation of system performance, capital
improvements, and development impacts
– Be structured for long-term usability and exported to EPANET for accessibility
Model Development
The model will be constructed using:
– GIS-based network geometry
– The latest USGS LiDAR data and City photogrammetry
with record drawing verification of critical operation
infrastructure such as tank elevations and water surface elevations
– System controls and operational data (tanks, pumps,
PRVs)
– Demand allocations based on SCADA, production data,
and system characteristics
Representative demand conditions (average daily demand, maximum daily demand, peak hourly demand) will be
developed using current trends and available data, along with projected future demands based on General Plan
growth.
Model Calibration
Calibration will be performed at a level appropriate for master planning and development reviews, providing
a reliable foundation for decision-making without
overextending into design-level analysis.
The calibration process will include:
– Establishing boundary conditions using SCADA data
(tank levels, pump operation, system controls)
– Verifying model geometry and connectivity at a high
level
– Developing demand distributions and applying
appropriate scaling factors
– Calibrating both facility-level behavior and
representative distribution pressures
– Using representative system data, supplemented by a
limited set of hydrant-based pressure measurements
and/or other targeted field verification as needed
to support calibration. Calibration efforts may be
coordinated with planned or ongoing testing activities
(such as pitot testing) to efficiently support multiple City objectives.
– Iteratively refining friction factors, demands, and system settings
– Confirming that model results are consistent with
observed system behavior and physically realistic
parameters
Calibration targets will be appropriate for planning
decisions, providing confidence in identifying system
constraints, and evaluating improvement alternatives.
Model Application
The calibrated model will be used to evaluate:
– Existing system performance
– Projected future conditions
– Fire flow and pressure performance
– Alternative operating scenarios (e.g., outages,
maintenance conditions)
These analyses will support identification of system
constraints and associated capital improvement projects, with WaterGEMS outputs used to clearly visualize
deficiencies and define corresponding improvements.
Evaluation of System Performance and
Constraints
The evaluation process will begin with input from City staff to identify known system issues, operational challenges, and areas of concern (e.g., the 2-inch cast iron water
mains in the area generally bound by 9th, 12th, I, and
L streets). This initial step makes it so that the analysis reflects both modeled results and real-world system
knowledge and experience. GHD will evaluate the system
under typical and alternative operating conditions to
identify constraints and inform improvement strategies.
This evaluation includes both distribution system
performance and overall system capacity considerations.
GHD understands that several key storage facilities
have been recently rehabilitated or constructed and are currently performing well. The evaluation will therefore focus effort on identifying systems, components, and
facilities where condition, performance, or operational constraints may influence future planning decisions.
This evaluation will include:
– Pressure and fire-flow performance across pressure
zones
– Storage adequacy and operational flexibility
– Identification of bottlenecks and redundancy gaps
– Assessment of system performance during alternative
operations
GHD | Proposal | City of Fortuna, Water System Master Plan | 7 – Evaluation of system demand relative to available
source capacity to identify potential triggers for supply expansion
Alternative operating conditions will be evaluated at a planning level to identify:
– How the system behaves under disrupted conditions
– What operational adjustments may be required
– Which improvements most effectively reduce risk
GHD will prepare schematics to document operating
conditions, and the City's GIS will be updated to represent normal operating conditions.
Source Capacity (Demand vs. Supply)
Projected system demands will be evaluated alongside
available system production to evaluate source capacity and identify thresholds that may trigger future supply
expansion. This assessment will be based on existing
operational data (including SCADA records, pump
runtimes, and system production data) to evaluate how
current and projected demands compare to available
capacity.
The analysis will begin by comparing projected system
demands to existing production capabilities. If initial results indicate potential constraints or the need for
further refinement, the evaluation can be focused on well system performance to better define capacity and inform future improvements.
The assessment will focus on defining the relationship
between demand and production with a focus on
planning-level evaluation rather than detailed site-specific analysis. This approach provides a practical basis for
long-term planning while avoiding unnecessary analytical complexity. The evaluation will also frame relevant
regulatory considerations to inform discussions of future source expansion, including addressing high manganese
in the lower aquifer, while remaining consistent with the planning-level scope of this Master Plan.
GHD will incorporate regional understanding of
groundwater conditions developed through preparation
of the Eel River Valley Groundwater Sustainability Plan, including groundwater modeling of the basin in which
the City’s wells are located. This provides additional
context for evaluating long-term supply considerations
and identifying whether more detailed analysis may be
warranted in the future.
Drake Hill Hydropneumatic Station
Evaluation
The Drake Hill Hydropneumatic Station serves Pressure
Zone 7, which currently operates without dedicated
storage. As a result, system pressures are maintained
through hydropneumatic operation rather than gravity
storage, limiting operational flexibility and system
redundancy.
GHD has previously completed preliminary evaluation
of storage siting in this area as part of the 2005
study, providing a useful foundation for the current
evaluation. Building on this prior effort, GHD will evaluate alternatives for the Drake Hill system at a planning level, with a focus on developing a storage-based configuration to improve system performance and operational flexibility.
This evaluation will include:
– Evaluating pressure zone 7 for future development
potential
– Evaluating potential storage siting and hydraulic grade line considerations
– Assessing associated infrastructure needs, including
pumping, system controls, and pipeline improvements
– Identifying parcels and corridors required for locating facilities
– Understanding interactions between pressure zones
and opportunities to assess storage needs and improve
system-wide performance
The evaluation will also consider opportunities to
enhance system-wide storage utilization, operational
flexibility, and system resilience through pressure zone connectivity (e.g., potentially connecting zone 7 with
zone 6 via pressure reducing valve) and integration with existing infrastructure, where appropriate. The evaluation will provide a clear, decision-oriented recommendation
supported by planning-level cost considerations and
operational implications, allowing the City to select an approach aligned with long-term system performance and
CIP development. GHD will prepare a memorandum to
summarize the results of the evaluation.
Vancil Reservoir Evaluation
The Vancil Reservoir evaluation will focus on identifying cost-effective and operationally appropriate long-term
solution for the City, in the context of both existing
constraints and overall system needs. The reservoir is
currently operated at approximately half capacity due
to leakage at higher operating levels and challenges
maintaining chlorine residual at full storage volume,
indicating that its effective role in the system may differ from its nominal 5-MG capacity.
GHD’s approach will begin with evaluating the role of
the reservoir within the broader system by assessing
how storage currently supports peak demands, fire flow
requirements, and operational flexibility, and how these needs are distributed across pressure zones. This will
include consideration of how storage capacity at Vancil interacts with other system facilities and whether existing system redundancy or pressure zone connectivity can
influence the level of storage required at this location.
Based on this system-level understanding, GHD will
conduct a targeted site visit and planning-level structural and geotechnical review, informed by available records, to confirm facility condition and key constraints influencing rehabilitation or replacement, including consideration
GHD | Proposal | City of Fortuna, Water System Master Plan | 8 of applicable potable water storage standards, building code standards, and safety and security requirements.
Alternatives will then be developed and compared,
including rehabilitation of the existing facility (e.g., liner or structural/roof improvements) or replacement with a
new storage facility. This evaluation will consider whether a replacement facility of equal capacity is warranted or whether a smaller facility could meet system requirements.
The evaluation will also consider implementation
constraints, including site limitations and the operational implications of taking the reservoir offline during
construction. Alternatives will be evaluated with respect to constructability, ability to maintain system service levels during implementation, and long-term operational flexibility.
Each alternative will be assessed at a planning level with respect to cost, lifecycle considerations, operational
performance, and system integration, resulting in a clear, decision-oriented recommendation that supports the
City’s capital planning objectives and long-term system reliability. GHD will prepare a memorandum to summarize the results of the evaluation.
The selected alternative will be integrated into the overall capital improvement program, with implications for
project prioritization, sequencing, and long-term system investment.
Capital Improvement Identification
and Prioritization
The results of the system evaluation will directly inform identification of capital improvement projects and
development of the City’s prioritization framework. The core outcome of the Master Plan effort will be a clear, practical, and implementable CIP that builds on the City’s current capital improvement program and reflects both
existing priorities and future system needs. Identified capital projects will also be highlighted visually so that future developments do not preclude future transmission mains, system looping, or other backbone infrastructure enhancements. Recommended projects will reflect both
system deficiencies and capacity needs identified through the evaluation process.
System deficiencies and long-term capacity needs will be translated into candidate projects, potentially including:
– Pipe replacements and upgrades
– Storage improvements
– Pressure management improvements
– Well and supply system improvements
– Future source capacity projects triggered by
demand thresholds identified through system
evaluation
– Operational and resilience-related projects
Projects will be categorized to distinguish between
maintenance/state-of-good-repair and capacity/growthrelated improvements. This will provide the City with the ability to allocate costs between ratepayers and
development.
Prioritization Framework
GHD will work collaboratively with the City to develop a prioritization framework based on criteria such as:
– Likelihood of failure
– Consequence of failure
– Service, operational, redundancy, and resilience
benefits (e.g., looping, redundant pipelines, security) – Fire flow and pressure deficiencies
– Cost
This framework will provide a project implementation
schedule and be structured so that it can be updated over time as priorities evolve.
Project Name CIP Description Total Cost Likelihood
of failure
Consequence
of failure
Level of service
benefit/
redundancy &
resilience
Cost Constructability Total
Weighted Avg
5 9 9 10 5
Pleasant Hill
Loop
Pleasant Hill Road water system connection loop from
Pleasant Hill Tanks at Lynch Road to the intersection
at Pleasant Hill road at Mitchell Cr.
$ 952,780 0.5 1 1 0.5 0.25 26.75
Seismic
Retrofit Study
for Existing
Water Tanks
Design for seismic retrofit and construction project for First Street Tank and Pleasant Hill Tanks. $ 141,750 0.25 0.25 0.5 1 1 23 Structural
Assessment of
Existing Water
Tanks
Study of structural assessment of First Street Tank
and Pleasant Hill Tanks. $ 126,000 0.25 0.25 0.5 1 1 23 Well 4
Replacement
Replacement of the City's municipal Well #4 that has
passed its lifespan and is required to be replaced. $ 3,352,000 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.25 0.5 22.25 Valley View
Drive Water
Service
Connection
Replacement
Replace approximately 94 service connections using
approximately 20 feet ,3/4 inch diameter HDPE pipe
along Valley View Drive .
$ 682,870 1 0.25 0.25 0.5 0.75 18.25
Projects Weighting
Figure 2: Subset of recommended capital projects in
prioritization tool from City of Sebastopol Water
Master Plan prepared by GHD
GHD | Proposal | City of Fortuna, Water System Master Plan | 9 The prioritization outputs will also support development of a preventative maintenance schedule for critical
system components, including pressure reducing valves
and other assets with a high consequence of failure.
Existing maintenance practices will be reviewed relative to manufacturer-recommended maintenance intervals to
identify gaps and inform prioritization of maintenancerelated improvements.
Workflow-Based Prioritization Process
The prioritization process will follow a simple, repeatable workflow, beginning with input from City staff to identify known system issues, operational challenges, and areas of concern:
1. Identify system deficiencies
2. Define improvement projects
3. Evaluate projects against established criteria
4. Generate ranked CIP lists
5. Export and visualize results
The prioritization tool will be developed in Excel for
transparency and accessibility, and integrated with GIS and Diamond Maps for visualization.
Candidate projects identified through modeling results
will be compiled and exported to Excel to support
prioritization and ongoing updates. These projects and
associated attributes will then be linked to GIS and
visualized in Diamond Maps, the City’s preferred webbased GIS platform.
City staff will be able to update inputs directly within Excel, with built-in formulas automatically recalculating project rankings and priorities based on updated inputs.
This will allow prioritization to be re-run and updated outputs to be propagated through the workflow without
requiring specialized software.
Cost Estimation and Funding Strategy
GHD will use our in-house construction cost estimating
team to promote accuracy in developing planninglevel cost estimates. These cost estimates will include construction, soft costs, and contingency, and will be
developed for recommended projects to support:
– CIP budgeting
– Evaluation of project feasibility
– Future funding pursuits
For each project, we will indicate cost allocation between maintenance and capacity/growth. GHD will also consider and identify potential funding opportunities when
developing and packaging capital projects, recognizing
that project definition, timing, and scope can influence eligibility for external funding sources and support
implementation of the City’s capital program.
CIP Packaging and Implementation
Outputs
To support immediate usability, GHD will prepare:
– 5-year and 20-year CIP tables and phasing plans
– Project sheets for high-priority projects, including:
– Location and limits
– Purpose and justification
– Planning-level cost estimates
– Implementation considerations
– GIS deliverables structured for direct integration into City systems
These outputs are designed to support:
– Annual budgeting cycles
– Capital planning
– Communication with City Council and stakeholders
CIP development will also consider opportunities to:
– Coordinate water, sewer, and roadway improvements
– GHD will build on our prior preparation of the City’s Sewer Master Plan to align water and wastewater
planning assumptions, including relationships
between water demand, wastewater generation,
and future growth. This coordination supports more
efficient project packaging, design, and construction.
– Group projects geographically to reduce construction
costs, minimize disruption, and improve overall
implementation efficiency
Considerations will also be made to balance system
needs with cost-effectiveness and minimize impacts to
ratepayers. This includes recognizing that both premature replacement and deferred investment can result in
increased long-term costs.
Implementation and Project Handoff
GHD will structure the Water Master Plan deliverables
to support immediate implementation and long-term
use beyond plan adoption by both City staff and future
consultants.
GHD will provide focused training sessions to support
City staff, recognizing that while the model may be used primarily by future consultants, it should remain accessible and understandable for internal use.
While the deliverables are intended to be independently usable, GHD remains available to provide targeted
support, including model updates or prioritization
refinements, as needed to respond to changing system
conditions or planning priorities.
GHD | Proposal | City of Fortuna, Water System Master Plan | 10 → Team & Organization
03 PROJECT ENGINEER
Malia Duin, EIT
HYDRAULIC MODELING LEAD
Farzane Ashouri
GIS ANALYST
Julia Clark, GISP
STRUCTURAL
Cody Cruz, PE, SE, CDT
GEOTECHNICAL
Chris Trumbull, PE
(Crawford)
Organizational Chart
The organizational chart illustrates our team’s leadership, with Nathan Stevens, PE serving as Project Manager and Engineer of Record, Brett Vivyan, PE, QSD/P as Project Director, and Steve McHaney, PE and Matt Kennedy, PE, TE, ENV SP acting as QA/QC Managers. Steve will provide QA/QC services from a local perspective, bringing familiarity with regional standards, agency expectations, and site-specific considerations to confirm deliverables are practical and aligned with the City’s needs. Complementing this, Matt offers a strong historical perspective based on his direct experience with the previous City of Fortuna Water Master Plan. His understanding of prior assumptions, data sources, system challenges, and decision-making context will help maintain continuity, avoid redundancy, and verify that updates to the Master Plan reflect current priorities.
Choosing GHD offers the City the advantage of working with a team that has a strong local presence, extensive experience, and a proven track record of delivering high-quality, responsive, and cost-effective services. Their collaborative approach and commitment to quality and client satisfaction makes them a reliable and valuable partner for your project. Our project team members have been identified for each of the required service categories. Key team members are actively available to support the project and have been allocated to meet the City’s schedule.
TECHNICAL SUPPORT
→
12,000+ Global | 5,000+ North America | 450+ California
GHD GLOBAL RESOURCES
→→
City of Fortuna
PROJECT MANAGER &
ENGINEER OF RECORD
Nathan Stevens, PE
PROJECT DIRECTOR
Brett Vivyan, PE, QSD/P
QA/QC
Steve McHaney, PE
Matt Kennedy, PE, TE, ENV SP
03 Team & Organization
GHD | Proposal | City of Fortuna, Water System Master Plan | 12 Project Team Bios
Nathan Stevens, PE | Project Manager & Engineer of Record | 13 years
Nathan is a project manager with 13 years of experience in water and wastewater infrastructure planning, design, and funding. His work includes hydraulic modeling, alternatives analysis, preparation of technical reports and development of capital improvement projects.
Nathan has supported utility master planning efforts for McKinleyville Community Services District, including system evaluation, modeling verification, and development of capital improvement recommendations. He also has extensive experience preparing and securing funding for municipal infrastructure projects and managing projects through design and construction. As Project Manager, Nathan is responsible for overall project delivery, including budget and schedule management and coordination across technical disciplines.
Availability: 30%
Brett Vivyan, PE, QSD/P | Project Director | 15 years
Brett is a civil engineer with 15 years of experience leading multidisciplinary water, wastewater, and resilience projects throughout California. He has supported clients from planning through design and construction, including hydraulic modeling, permitting, and funding assistance.
Brett has extensive experience working with the City of Fortuna across multiple infrastructure projects and served as Project Manager for the City’s Sewer Master Plan, providing him with detailed knowledge of the City’s collection system, GIS, and capital improvement priorities.
His prior work with the City provides direct familiarity with system constraints, planning assumptions, and capital improvement decision drivers that will inform this effort. He has led complex, multi-benefit projects involving stormwater, wastewater, and climate resilience planning and implementation.
Availability: 10%
Steve McHaney, PE | QA/QC Manager | 39 years
Steve is a senior civil engineer with over 39 years of experience in municipal infrastructure planning, evaluation, and design. His work includes extensive water, wastewater, and stormwater master planning, hydraulic modeling, and development of capital improvement programs for communities throughout California. Steve has served as City or District Engineer for multiple agencies in Humboldt County, providing long-range planning, infrastructure evaluation, and funding support. His experience developing system-wide plans and implementing improvements provides valuable senior technical oversight and quality review for this project. He will focus on independent review of key assumptions, evaluation methodologies, and capital improvement prioritization to support development of practical, implementable recommendations.
Availability: 10%
GHD | Proposal | City of Fortuna, Water System Master Plan | 13 Project Team Bios (cont.)
Matt Kennedy, PE, TE, ENV SP | QA/QC Manager | 21 years Matt is a principal engineer with more than 21 years of experience delivering complex water, wastewater, and infrastructure planning and design projects. His experience includes utility master planning, hydraulic and hydrologic modeling, and development of capital improvement strategies for municipal systems. He served as project lead for the City of Fortuna’s 2005 Water Master Plan, providing foundational system evaluation and planning that continues to inform current infrastructure decision-making. Matt has led multidisciplinary teams through planning, environmental compliance, design, and construction for large-scale infrastructure programs, providing senior-level guidance on system evaluation, modeling, and implementation strategies.
Availability: 10%
Malia Duin, EIT | Project Engineer | 7 years
Malia is a project engineer with 7 years of experience in water and wastewater infrastructure, including hydraulic modeling and analysis, civil site and utility design, and preparation of construction drawings, specifications, cost estimates, and technical reports. She served as staff engineer for the McKinleyville Community Services District water and sewer master plans, supporting system evaluation and development of capital improvement recommendations. Malia has provided municipal clients throughout Humboldt County with construction management services, including construction inspection, field documentation, review of contractor pay requests, and preparation of change orders.
Availability: 30%
Farzane Ashouri | Hydraulic Modeling Lead | 17 years
Farzane has extensive experience in the modeling and design of water supply and distribution systems. Her experience spans a wide range of infrastructure, including pumping stations, reservoirs, distribution networks, and complex hydraulic structures such as canals, culverts, inverted siphons, and spillways. She specializes in hydraulic modeling for both open-channel and pressurized systems, combining technical precision with practical, real-world solutions.
Farzane is highly proficient in industry-standard modeling tools, including Bentley WaterGEMS for system optimization and Bentley HAMMER for transient analysis of pumping systems. She also utilizes Visual Hydraulics and AutoCAD Civil 3D to develop detailed plans, profiles, and technical drawings. Her work is supported by strong capabilities in preparing technical reports and design documentation, confirming projects are technically sound. Her modeling work directly supports identification of system constraints, evaluation of improvement alternatives, and prioritization of capital improvement projects for implementation.
Availability: 35%
GHD | Proposal | City of Fortuna, Water System Master Plan | 14 Project Team Bios (cont.)
Julia Clark, GISP | GIS Analyst | 11 years
Julia is a GIS professional with experience supporting infrastructure planning, asset management, and capital improvement programs through advanced geospatial analysis and data management. She has supported municipal clients by integrating geospatial systems to document infrastructure condition, prioritize improvement areas, and enable modeling efforts.
Julia has previously worked closely with the City of Fortuna to manage their GIS data systems, and more recently assisted with GIS-based mobile data collection for the City's stormwater systems. She provides familiarity with the City’s GIS data structure and history.
Availability: 20%
Cody Cruz, PE, SE, CDT | Structural | 18 years
Cody Cruz is a senior structural engineer with 18 years of experience designing and evaluating water and wastewater infrastructure, including tanks, pump stations, and other water-retaining structures. His experience includes structural design and rehabilitation of reinforced concrete and steel facilities in corrosive environments, as well as construction support. Cody has worked on numerous projects involving tanks and associated facilities and will support the Vancil Reservoir evaluation and design components of this project.
Availability: 25%
Chris Trumbull, PE, GE, D.GE | Geotechnical | 38 years (Crawford) Chris delivers complex infrastructure projects across Northern California. He brings significant value to water master planning efforts through his experience in subsurface conditions, drainage design, and infrastructure resilience. His deep understanding of soil behavior, groundwater, and slope stability informs practical, risk-aware recommendations for water system improvements. Chris has supported several tank projects throughout Humboldt County, providing geotechnical investigation, design recommendations, and construction support.
Availability: 15%
GHD | Proposal | City of Fortuna, Water System Master Plan | 15 → Relevant Experience
04 Relevant Experience
GHD brings extensive experience delivering master plans that translate hydraulic modeling and system assessment into practical, implementable capital improvement programs. The projects summarized below reflect work for agencies facing challenges similar to the City—aging infrastructure, evolving demands, and the need to prioritize capital projects within constrained budgets.
The Project Matrix below highlights key elements of GHD projects that are similar in scope to the City’s Water Master Plan.
After that are brief project descriptions for five key projects that provide additional context on our approach and outcomes.
Together, these examples demonstrate our ability to develop calibrated models, identify system deficiencies, and prioritize improvements that support both near-term decision-making and long-term system planning. 04 Project Hydraulic
Modeling
Existing + Future
Conditions
Capacity /
Deficiency
Analysis
Prioritization
Framework
CIP
Development
Phasing
Strategy
GIS/Data
Integration Pump Stations System-Wide Planning
City of Fortuna – Sewer Master Plan ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼
McKinleyville CSD – Water and Sewer Master Plans ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ City of Sebastopol – Water System Master Plan and CIP
Development ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼
City of Sonoma – Water Master Plan ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼
City of American Canyon – Water/Recycled Water/Sewer
Master Plans ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼
City of Crescent City – Stormwater Master Plan ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ County of Del Norte – Stormwater Master Plan ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ City of Fortuna – 2005 Water Master Plan ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼
City of Spokane – 2045 Water, Wastewater, Sewer, and
Stormwater Multi-Objective Decision Analysis ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory – Water System
Hydraulic Model ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼
Long Beach Utilities Department – Sewer Master Plan Update ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ City of Berkeley – Sanitary Sewer Master Plan ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ Napa Sanitation District – Collection System Master Plan ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ City of Cloverdale – South Cloverdale Infrastructure
Assessment and Plan ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼
Town of Corte Madera – Sanitary Sewer Master Plan ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ University of California, Irvine – Medical Center Master Plan ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ GHD | Proposal | City of Fortuna, Water System Master Plan | 17 #
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
11 12
10 8B
14C
9C
8C
15B
15A
13 9B
7A
6C
5A
14B
6B
7B
5C
14A
9A
CCC
WWTP
Run Dell
David Way
North Main
Laurelwood
Rohnerville
Strong's Creek
Xavier Ct (Astor)
Rancho Buena Vista
FIGURE ES-4
0 500 1,000 1,500
Feet
Project No.
Revision No. 0
12559529
Date 12/15/2023
City of Fortuna
Sewer Master Plan
Map Projection: Lambert Conformal Conic
Horizontal Datum: North American 1983
Grid: NAD83 California zone 1 ftUS
Paper Size ANSI A
o
Data source: S ources: Esri, HERE, Garmin, USGS , Intermap, INCRE MENT P, NRCan, Esri Japan, ME TI, Esri China (Hong K ong), Esri Korea, Esri (Thailand), NGCC, (c) OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS User Community. Created by: afisher2
US\Eureka\Projects\561\12559529\GIS \Maps\Deliverables\SMP 529_ES -4_Gravity CIP Plan.mxd
Dec 2023 - 17:03
Gravity Sewer CIP Project
Implementation Plan
Owner
City of Fortuna
Year Completed
2024
Role
Prime Consultant
Fee
$325,000
Contact
Brian Issa
Public Works Director
(707) 725-1469
[email protected]
Lessons Learned
Reconciling GIS, record drawings,
and observed system behavior
early in the process is critical to
developing a credible hydraulic
model.
Incorporating flow monitoring
and operational data into model
calibration verified the model
reflected actual conditions.
Using realistic operating conditions
and growth assumptions leads
to more practical and defensible
infrastructure sizing and phasing
recommendations.
GHD prepared a comprehensive Sewer Master Plan for the City of Fortuna to support long-term system planning, capacity evaluation, and capital improvement prioritization. The effort began with development of a systemwide hydraulic model—integrating available GIS, as-built drawings, record information, and flow monitoring data to establish a reliable baseline representation of existing system conditions.
Targeted data review and quality control were performed to reconcile discrepancies between mapping, record drawings, and observed system behavior. Available flow monitoring and operational data were incorporated to improve model confidence. The model was then calibrated to reflect observed operating conditions and used as the primary analytical tool for evaluating system performance.
Using the calibrated model, GHD assessed system capacity under existing conditions and projected future loading scenarios, including anticipated growth, land use changes, and potential shifts in flow patterns. This analysis identified key capacity constraints, hydraulic bottlenecks, and areas of elevated risk associated with aging or undersized infrastructure, with results presented through system mapping and capacity-based evaluation metrics.
Findings from the model informed development of a prioritized capital improvement program focused on addressing identified deficiencies and improving overall system reliability. Improvement alternatives were evaluated at a planning level. GHD prepared cost estimates and provided recommendations structured to balance near-term needs, long-term system resilience, and to support a program that identifies sustainable funding sources for a long-term planning horizon.
The final Sewer Master Plan provides the City with a clear, technically defensible roadmap for phased infrastructure investment, supporting regulatory compliance, risk reduction, and planned community growth.
City of Fortuna | Sewer Master Plan
Fortuna, CA
GHD | Proposal | City of Fortuna, Water System Master Plan | 18 Owner
McKinleyville Community Services
District
Year Completed
2022
Role
Prime Consultant
Fee
$250,000
Contact
Pat Kaspari
General Manager
(707) 839-3251
[email protected]
Lessons Learned
Integrating planning‑level
replacement modeling with targeted
physical condition assessment
significantly improves the
credibility and defensibility of CIP
prioritization.
Risk and consequence‑of‑failure
criteria produce more
implementable capital programs
than age‑based rankings alone.
Early coordination between master
planning and funding strategies
(e.g., rate studies, identification
of potential grants) increases the
likelihood that master plans are
actively implemented.
GHD provided comprehensive, multi‑phase master planning services for the McKinleyville Community Services District (MCSD), delivering integrated water distribution and sanitary sewer master plans that progressed from system‑wide assessment through staff‑implemented capital improvement programming. The work was structured to directly support CIP implementation, rate‑supported funding decisions, and ongoing use of planning models by MCSD staff.
Phase 1 established a defensible baseline through review of GIS data, hydraulic models, operational records, and prior studies. GHD developed long‑range replacement scenarios and lifecycle cost analyses to quantify overall system needs and inform near‑term and long‑term capital planning.
Phase 2 advanced the program into a detailed, pipe‑by‑pipe capital improvement framework. GHD developed a risk‑based prioritization methodology that evaluated asset age, material, consequence of failure, constructability, and cost to define rehabilitation/replacement strategies. GHD prepared cost estimates for both systems and coordinated with rate studies, resulting in Board‑adopted, rate‑supported capital programs that continue to guide annual budgeting and project delivery.
To validate and refine planning assumptions, Phase 3 incorporated targeted physical condition assessment of critical assets. This work included soil corrosivity analysis, destructive and non‑destructive testing of asbestos‑cement and ductile iron pipe, ultrasonic thickness testing, and CCTV inspections. Results were used to confirm staff‑adopted prioritization rankings, distinguish risk categories by pipe diameter and material, and refine replacement timing based on consequence of failure rather than age alone.
Throughout the program, GHD transitioned GIS datasets, capital prioritization tools, and hydraulic models to MCSD staff, who continue to use them for ongoing CIP updates, development review coordination, and grant applications. The final master plans serve as active management tools.
McKinleyville CSD | Water and Sewer Master Plans
McKinleyville, CA
GHD | Proposal | City of Fortuna, Water System Master Plan | 19 Owner
City of Sebastopol
Year Completed
2026
Role
Prime Consultant
Fee
$115,000
Contact
Oriana Hart
Public Works Director
(707) 823-5331
[email protected]
Lessons Learned
Pairing master planning with
project‑sheet development for
priority improvements accelerates
the progression from planning to
funding, design, and construction.
Using current operational data and
field hydrant testing to support
modeling improves confidence in
identifying and prioritizing pressure
and fire‑flow deficiencies and
aligning CIP actions to measurable
system performance needs.
Early engagement with City staff
helped identify priority projects
based on observed system risks and
maintenance history.
Presenting priorities through
clear documentation will promote
long‑term usability for staff as
projects advance.
GHD prepared the City of Sebastopol’s Water Master Plan Update to evaluate system performance and develop a prioritized, implementation‑ready CIP.
The plan assessed the City’s water supply sources, storage facilities, water quality considerations, and distribution system, and evaluated pressure and fire‑flow performance to identify infrastructure deficiencies and operational vulnerabilities.
This planning effort informed a set of recommended capital improvements addressing aging pipelines, wells, tanks, pressure‑reducing valves, treatment systems, and operational controls, providing the City with a basis for near‑ and mid‑term capital planning.
As part of the Water Master Plan Update, GHD developed a hydraulic model to evaluate existing and projected system conditions, including pressure and fire‑flow performance. Model results were used to identify localized deficiencies and to support the development and prioritization of recommended infrastructure improvements documented in the Master Plan.
Projects were prioritized using a combination of asset condition, operational history, hydraulic performance, likelihood of failure, and consequence of failure. Emphasis was placed on improvements addressing aging or failure‑prone assets, facilities serving critical system functions, locations with recurring maintenance issues, and infrastructure directly affecting pressure and fire‑flow performance.
The Water Master Plan Update resulted in 14 recommended water system projects. Planning‑level cost estimates were developed for multiple projects, including construction and soft costs. For high‑priority projects, GHD advanced recommendations beyond list‑level planning and prepared individual project sheets defining project location and limits, justification and system need, planning‑level quantities, and an engineer’s opinion of probable construction and soft costs. This level of definition supports direct use in CIP budgeting, funding applications, and transition into design.
City of Sebastopol | Water System Master Planning and
Capital Improvement (CIP) Development
Sebastopol, CA
GHD | Proposal | City of Fortuna, Water System Master Plan | 20 2235 Mercury Way Suite 150 Santa Rosa CA 95407 USA T 707 523 1010 F 707 527 8679 E [email protected] W www.ghd.com A@
A@
A@
A@
A@
A@
A@
Ú[
Ú[
TU
TU
TU
A@
EAST NAPA ST
BROADWAY
SEVENTH ST EAST
FIFTH ST WEST
DENMARK ST
EIGTH ST EAST
FIRST ST WEST
LOVALL VALLEY RD
EAST MACARTHUR ST
CASTLE RD
SECOND ST EAST
WEST NAPA ST
ANDRIEUX ST
LEVERONI RD
THORNSBERRY RD
CHASE ST
THIRD ST WEST
PATTEN ST
FRANCE ST
OLD WINERY RD
RIVERSIDE DR
FIRST ST EAST
GEHRICKE RD
WOOD VALLEY RD
SECOND ST WEST
CLAY ST
OREGON ST
MANOR DR
FOURTH ST WEST
OAK ST
PETALUMA AVE
SMITH ST
LINDA DR
HARRINGTON DR
FIFTH ST EAST
PUEBLO AVE
BROCKMAN LN
CHURCH ST
PALMER AVE
RRY HILL
RAMON ST
DEL RIO PASEO
HAYES ST
JUNIPERO SERRA DR
ARKAY CT
HALF
BIRCH RD
NORTH CASTLE RD
LOVALL VALLEY CT
BRAGG ST
DAVILA CT
BUENA VISTA DR
EL NIDO CT
LOVALL VALLEY RD
FIFTH ST EAST
Arroyo Seco
Nathanson Creek
Sonoma Creek
Haraszthy Creek
Dowdall Creek
Carriger Creek
Felder Creek
Schell Creek
Dowdall Creek
\ghdnet\ghd\US\Santa Rosa\Projects\111\11140097 Sonoma Water Master Plan Update\08-GIS\Maps\Deliverables\FINAL\1-1 City of Sonoma Service Area.mxd © 2012. Whilst every care has been taken to prepare this map, GHD (and DATA CUSTODIAN) make no representations or warranties about its accuracy, reliability, completeness or suitability for any particular purpose and cannot accept liability and responsibility of any kind whether in contract, tort or otherwise) for any expenses, losses, damages and/or costs (including indirect or consequential damage) which are or may be incurred by any party as a result of the map being inaccurate, incomplete or unsuitable in any way and for any reason. 0 500 1,000 1,500
Feet
Map Projection: Lambert Conformal Conic
Horizontal Datum: North American 1983
Grid: NAD 1983 StatePlane California II FIPS 0402 Feet
City of Sonoma
Water Master Plan Update
Figure 1-1
Job Number
Revision 1
11140097
24 Jan 2018
City of Sonoma o Service Area
Date
Data source: Sonoma Veg Mapping, Imagery, 2013; City of Sonoma GIS, Water Utility, Roads and Streams, 2010; GHD, Water Demands, 2017. Created by:lphilbert Paper Size ANSI B
Thornsberry Tank
Well No. 2
Well No. 3
Well No. 6 Well No. 5
Well No. 1
Napa St. Tank
Sonoma Tank 1
Napa St. Pump Station
Well No. 7
Well No. 8
TU Tank
Ú[ Pump Station
A@ Production Well
A@ Non-Production Well
Mains
Creeks
Pressure Zones
City Limits
Outside Service Area
Thornsberry A.D.
Service Area
Zone 1
Zone 2
Note:
The City of Sonoma serves
water to all the Service
Areas listed.
Owner
City of Sonoma
Year Completed
Ongoing
Role
Prime Consultant
Fee
$117,839
Contact
Mike Berger
Public Works Director
(707) 938-3332
[email protected]
Lessons Learned
Calibrated hydraulic models
anchored to field data provide a
defensible basis for identifying
deficiencies and prioritizing capital
improvements, supporting both
technical decision-making and
funding justification.
Managing aging infrastructure
effectively requires a long-term,
programmatic renewal strategy
tied to asset age, condition, and
coordination with other capital
projects—not isolated reactive
replacements.
Structuring capital improvements
around clearly defined system
objectives strengthens the
transparency, defensibility, and
fundability of recommended
projects.
The City of Sonoma’s potable water system is critical infrastructure that provides high quality, dependable water for a variety of community needs, including consumption, irrigation, and fire protection. The Water Master Plan (WMP) report included an evaluation of City water distribution system infrastructure based on available data and planning information for current and future conditions. The WMP Update provided the City with a roadmap for the management of its potable water system. The water system serves approximately 4,400 customers and is comprised of 55-miles of 4- to 14-inch pipes, three storage tanks, and eight wells.
The City retained GHD to update their existing 2011 Water Master Plan (WMP) by incorporating water system projects that the City has completed since 2011, revising water supply and demand data, and identifying proposed water system improvement projects for inclusion in the City’s CIP. The proposed water system improvement projects identified in this WMP Update were tailored to achieve the following objectives:
– Supply Reliability: Strengthen the City’s ability to reliably supply potable water based on current and planned demand
– City Well Resilience: Protect the City’s potable water supply against emergencies, drought, or natural disaster by bolstering potable water supply from City wells
– Public Safety: Promote public safety by addressing system pressure and fire flow deficiencies
– Cost-Effective Renewal and Replacement: Minimize life-cycle costs by planning for the cost-effective renewal and replacement of aging water system components.
Recommended CIP projects included enhancement of data resources, condition assessment and risk assessment for aging infrastructure, meter system upgrades to Advanced Metering Infrastructure, development of new well supply, renewal and replacement of aging infrastructure, and addressing fire flow deficiencies. With the development of more robust data resources and condition data, the WMP Update recommended data-driven decisions for the City’s CIP. This approach included strategy for determining renewal and replacement for infrastructure in collaboration with other utility purveyors.
City of Sonoma | Water Master Plan
Sonoma, CA
GHD | Proposal | City of Fortuna, Water System Master Plan | 21 Owner
City of American Canyon
Year Completed
Ongoing
Role
Prime Consultant
Fee
$400,000
Contact
Jason Holley
City Manager
(707) 647-4351
[email protected]
Lessons Learned
Clear separation of deficiency vs.
growth projects improves both
prioritization and defensibility of
capital improvements.
Storage solutions are governed
as much by siting, environmental
clearance, and land availability as by
model results.
Model results are highly sensitive
to development timing and demand
assumptions; plans must remain
adaptable.
The City of American Canyon initiated this project to update its potable water, recycled water, and sewer master plans and bring them current on unit flows/demands and to reflect planned growth within the various service areas. GIS-based hydraulic models (WaterCAD and SewerCAD) of the three utilities were developed to evaluate existing performance and identify priority CIP improvements for the next 10 years, and also to evaluate system improvements to accommodate build-out conditions in a long-term CIP.
GHD utilized historical water billing records and sewer flow monitoring data as the basis to establish existing potable water demands and sewer flows by land use category, and then to project future demands, including for recycled water, under buildout conditions. The water demands and sewer flows were correlated with each other and with other City planning documents, including their 2015 Urban Water Management Plan. This provided the City with a consistent means with which to evaluate proposed development projects that was based on actual conditions observed by the City. It is also important that the City track availability of recycled water to meet growing demands and also to track conversion of potable water demands to recycled water.
Sewer system improvements were prioritized to address immediate risks and were focused on I&I reductions as a means to manage peak flows and minimize capacity requirements in the trunk conveyance system and pump stations.
Replacement of pump stations nearing the end of their useful service life were being completely renewed or replaced as development occurred.
The sewer CIP totals $51 million. The potable water CIP is higher than the others because it includes renewal and replacement of multiple lines smaller than 6-inch, leaking mains, and non-PVC mains. Although this program was listed in the near-term CIP, it would actually be implemented over the next 40+ years. The total CIP for potable water is $142 million. The recycled water near-term CIP consisted of converting existing irrigation and process water demands that were within 100-feet of an existing main, and extending lines to serve new development projects. Long-term CIP projects consisted of serving future development and upgrading pumping capacity to meet demand as it grew. The total recycled water CIP is $22 million.
City of American Canyon | Water/Recycled Water/Sewer
Master Plans
American Canyon, CA
GHD | Proposal | City of Fortuna, Water System Master Plan | 22 → Schedule
05 Schedule
The schedule is aligned with the City’s anticipated milestones in Section 5 of the RFP. Work will begin upon Notice to Proceed (June 16, 2026)—with the draft Water System Master Plan provided within approximately 10 months, and final Water System Master Plan completed within approximately 12 months. The schedule also reflects other key project milestones, deliverables, workshops, and meetings. This schedule also reflects a proactive approach to risk management, including early coordination with City staff, targeted data validation, and iterative review checkpoints to identify and 05 address data gaps, confirm assumptions, and maintain alignment with project objectives.
Task Name Jun-26 Jul-26 Aug-26 Sep-26 Oct- 26 Nov-26 Dec-26 Jan-27 Feb-27 Mar-27 Apr-27 May-27 Jun-27 Task 1 - Project Management & Collaboration
Kickoff Meeting and Workplan / Project Management Plan Development Ongoing Coordination Meetings and Workshops
Task 2 - Data Assembly & System Baseline
Data Collection, Review, and Validation
System Baseline Definition and Memorandum
Task 3 - Hydraulic Model
Model Development (geometry, demands, controls)
Model Calibration and Validation
Scenario Development and Analysis
Task 4 - Documentation of Normal and Alternative Operating Conditions
Develop System Schematics
Evaluate and Document Alternative Operating Conditions
Task 5 - Project Identification & Prioritization Framework/Schedule Identify Deficiencies and Define Candidate Projects
Develop Prioritization Criteria and Scoring Framework
Develop Excel/GIS Prioritization Tool and Workflow Instructions Task 6 - Cost Apportionment & Funding Readiness
Develop Planning-Level Cost Estimates
Identify Funding Opportunities and Cost Allocation
Task 7 - Drake Hill Hydropneumatic Station Replacement
Evaluate Storage Alternatives and System Integration
Develop Planning-Level Costs and Recommendations
Prepare Technical Memorandum
Task 8 - Vancil Reservoir Evaluation
Site Visit and Condition Assessment
Alternatives Analysis (Rehab vs. Replacement)
Cost Comparison and Final Recommendation Memorandum
Task 9 - CIP Packaging, Visuals & Adoption Support
Develop 5-Year and 20-Year CIP
Prepare Project Sheets, GIS Deliverables, and Visualizations Draft Master Plan and Supporting Materials
City Review Period and Workshops
Final Master Plan, Model, and GIS Deliverables and Council Presentation KEY: = Deliverable Milestones = Task Duration
| 24
→ Administrative
07 Administrative
→Conflict of Interest
Statement
GHD has reviewed the requirements of the RFP and
confirms that we have no actual or potential conflicts of interest related to this work.
→Acknowledgment of
City's PSA and Insurance
Requirements
GHD confirms our ability to comply with the professional services agreement and insurance requirements,
consistent with our existing on-call contract.
07 GHD | Proposal | City of Fortuna, Water System Master Plan | 26