July 27, 2026
From: Planning and Watershed Resilience Staff, San Bernardino Valley
To: Directors and General Managers, SNMP Cost Share Participating Agencies
Re: Cost Sharing Letter Agreement for the San Bernardino Basin Area (SBBA) Salt and Nutrient Management Planning Phase 3A
Salt and nutrient management planning (SNMP) is an important management activity to protect the long- term sustainability of groundwater supplies . For the San Bernardino Basin Area, Basin stakeholders have been conducting SNMP technical studies on salinity management since 2021. The Phase 1 and 2 work, completed in 2023, included an assessment of total dissolved solids (TDS) and nitrate as well as gr oundwater modeling to estimate future TDS and nitrate concentrations in the Basin. The results quantified the impact of proposed recycled water projects and the benefits of recharging lower -TDS stormwater and imported water in the Basin.
SNMP is a regulatory framework to permit and implement various water resource management projects in the Basin through the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board. It assesses any impacts with potential long- term basin -wide effects on groundwater quality that result from activities such as projects involving surface water, groundwater, imported water, and/or recycled water, as well as other salt/nutrient contributing activities, through regional groundwater monitoring. SNMP benefits the region by facilitating and incentivizing stormwater capture and water reuse projects that increase water supply while ensuring that such projects are implemented in a manner that fully protects beneficial uses and mitigates any adverse effects on water quality. The proactive nature of SNMP potentially saves the region millions of dollars in water supply and water quality management costs.
Due to project-specific regulatory requirements, a separate yet parallel effort, the Salinity Management Feasibility Study, was completed in 2025. This study was completed by a smaller coalition of water agencies called the Bunker Hill -B (BH-B) Coalition, comprised of East Valley Water District, City of Redlands, San Bernardino Municipal Water Department, and San Bernardino Valley, and was focused on the east side of the Basin also known as the BH-B Management Zone. The Feasibility Study identified that a regional desalter would be needed at some point in the future to effectively manage TDS in the BH-B Management Zone and recommended a salinity management framework that emphasized a need for incorporating additional data and updating the groundwater model analyses to inform long- term strategies and triggers for implementation of various strategies.
Phase 3A of the SNMP leverages SNMP Phase 1 and 2, implements the Feasibility Study’s recommendations, and combines the efforts of the SNMP Work Group and BH - B Coalition into one comprehensive effort and technical study. San Bernardino Valley and the Cost Sharing Participating Agencies have jointly prepared and agreed to a Scope of Work and Fees with Water Systems Consulting, Inc. (“WSC” or “Consultant”) to conduct Phase 3A (the “Work”). WSC was selected to complete Phases 1 & 2 in 2021 through a competitive process and the contract had the option to complete a future Phase 3. On February 17, 2026 , the San Bernardino Valley Board of Directors approved an amendment to the contract with WSC for Phase 3A and the cost share agreed to by the Parties whereby Bunker Hill-B Coalition members will pay 50% of the Phase 3A costs, with the remaining 50% equally split among the other six (6) cost sharing Participants.
Project Budget
Cost Sharing Agencies Cost Share
Bunker Hill-B Coalition Members (50%)
1. City of Redlands
2. East Valley Water District
3. San Bernardino Municipal Water Department
4. San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District
$44,107
$44,107
$44,107
$44,107
Additional SNMP Work Group Participants (50%)
1. City of Colton $29,405
2. City of Rialto $29,405
3. City of Riverside Public Utilities $29,405
4. San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation
District
$29,405
5. San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency $29,405
6. Western Municipal Water District $29,405
TOTAL $352,859
Agreement
1. Effective Date and Term
This Agreement shall be effective on February 17, 2026. The term of this Agreement shall be from February 17, 2026, to December 31, 2028.
2. Engagement of Consultant and Administration of Consulting Services Agreement
2.1 San Bernardino Valley and its staff will administer the contract with WSC and the cost sharing provisions of this Agreement. San Bernardino Valley shall coordinate
all aspects of the proposed work with the Consultant and communicate with each Participating Agency, regularly and upon the request of the Participating Agency, regarding the status and substance of the Work . Participating Agency shall be permitted to review and comment upon any report or work product generated by the Consultant before it is accepted as final, or is otherwise made publicly available. The scope of work shall consist of that work referenced in the attached WSC Scope of Work.
2.2 Participating Agency shall provide all non -privileged existing documents, data, information, and assistance within its possession or control reasonably requested by San Bernardino Valley and Consultant during the performance of the Consulting Services Agreement . Participating Agency shall not be required to generate, create, or draft any new documents, mapping, or other materials as a result of any such request, without the Participating Agency’s prior written consent.
3. General Provisions
(a) Cost Sharing
The SNMP Work Group Cost Share Participating Agencies hereby agrees to pay $29,405 each towards the completion of Phase 3A. San Bernardino Valley shall collect from each Participating Agency the full amount of the total cost share of each Participating Agency as provided in Section 3(f) below unless otherwise communicated in writing.
(b) Warranty and Indemnification
Each Party ("Indemnitors") hereby agrees to defend, indemnify, and hold free and harmless the other Parties ("Indemnitees") from and against any and all liability, expense, including defense costs and legal fees, and claims for damages of any nature whatsoever, arising from or connected with Indemnitors' activities under this Agreement. In the event San Bernardino Valley, its directors, officers, employees and agents are made a party to any action or proceeding filed in connection with a challenge to any work prepared pursuant to this Agreement, the Participating Agency shall provide a complete defense to San Bernardino Valley, its directors, officers, employees, and agents and shall reimburse San Bernardino Valley for all costs and expenses incurred as a result of the action or proceeding, including reasonable attorney’s fees.
(c) Notices
Correspondence to be given to any Party may be sent by email or first-class mail, addressed, and delivered as set forth below in the address blocks for each Party.
(d) Representation of Authority
Each Party represents to the other that it has the authority to enter into this Agreement and that the individual signing this Agreement on behalf of their respective Parties has the authority to execute this Agreement and to bind their respective Parties to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
(e) Counterparts
This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, all or any of which shall be regarded for all purposes as one original and shall constitute and be but one and the same instrument.
(f) Invoicing
San Bernardino Valley will administer the contract with the Consultant and invoice the Participating Agency its full cost share on or before June 30, 2026.
Alternatively, a Participating Agency may request an alternative invoicing arrangement aligned with the fiscal years covered by the agreement . San Bernardino Valley will prepare a final disposition of consultant invoices for Participating Agencies and return unspent funds no later than 90 days after the end of the Agreement term.
(g) Coordination and Cooperation
The Parties acknowledge that they are entering into an Agreement in which the cooperation of all Parties will be required, including the need to periodically meet, confer, coordinate, and collaborate with the Consultant . This Agreement contemplates joint studies and planning, and by entering into this joint funding agreement, no Participating Agency approves, expresses support for, or otherwise makes any commitment, for further funding or otherwise, with respect to the subject matter or recommendations of Phase 3A, or any of the other Phases leading up to it.
BY SIGNING BELOW, THE PARTIES AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE PROVISIONS
OF THIS AGREEMENT
SAN BERNARDINO VALLEY MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT
By: _____________________________
Heather P. Dyer, CEO/General Manager
Dated: _____________________________
SAN BERNARDINO VALLEY WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
By: _____________________________
Betsy Miller, General Manager
Dated: _____________________________
Attachments:
1. WSC Scope of Work for Phase 3A
2. San Bernardino Valley Board Memo for Phase 3A