Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Utilities Department

TO:               David L. Corliss – City Manager

Casey Toomay - Assistant City Manager

                   Diane Stoddard - Assistant City Manager

FROM:           Mike Lawless – Deputy Director of Utilities

CC:               Dave Wagner – Director of Utilities

                   Jeanette Klamm – Management Analyst

                   Toni R. Wheeler – Director of the Legal Department

DATE:           July 14, 2014

RE:               Cost Share Agreement with the Kansas Water Office on the on-going Kansas River Algal Study 

Background

In late August of 2011, Milford Reservoir was closed to all contact and recreation because of high concentrations of cyanobacteria and the cyanotoxin microcystin. As the Corp of Engineers began to release water from Milford and other reservoirs, WaterOne, Topeka, and Lawrence were concerned about the fate and transport of the toxins in the water and how they might impact our water treatment processes.

Lawrence, WaterOne, Topeka, and Olathe worked with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to study the fate and transport of the toxins in the river. In the search for other partners to help fund the study, the Kansas Water Office (KWO) agreed to be the contracting authority with the USGS. The City of Lawrence has been a partner to this study since 2011 in order to be prepared for potential algal toxins in the Kansas River.

The scope of work for year 2014 continues event sampling to determine the sources, frequency of occurrence, and potential causes of the cyanobacteria and taste and odor compounds in the Kansas River, as well as routine continuous monitoring for background data and possible predictors of future events.

The KWO has provided a 2014 agreement with the potential to be renewable for up to 2 additional years. The City share of the study for 2014 is $28,171.

Project Funding

This project will be funded from the Department of Utilities Operations and Maintenance budget for the Kaw Water Treatment Plant.

Action

Staff recommends authorizing the City Manager to enter into a cost share agreement with the Kansas Water Office and approve payment to the Kansas Water Office in an amount of $28,171.