REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 9, 2026
FROM
NOEL CASTILLO, Chief Flood Control Engineer, Flood Control District
SUBJECT
Title
Amendment to the Cooperative Agreement with East Valley Water District for Waterline Relocations for the Elder Creek Channel Improvement Project in the Highland Area
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Acting as the governing body of the San Bernardino County Flood Control District, approve Amendment No. 1 to Cooperative Agreement No. 23-634 with the East Valley Water District, to increase the amount of East Valley Water District’s reimbursement to the San Bernardino County Flood Control District for the relocation of East Valley Water District’s waterline facilities that conflict with the San Bernardino County Flood Control District’s Elder Creek Channel Improvement Project, by $65,045.82 from $43,442 to $108,487.82 with no change to the contract term of July 11, 2023 through December 13, 2027.
(Presenter: Noel Castillo, Chief Flood Control Engineer, 387-7906)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Promote and Fulfill the Countywide Vision.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). All costs associated with the waterline relocations will be funded by the East Valley Water District (EVWD) pursuant to the Cooperative Agreement No. 23-634 approved by the Board of Supervisors (Board) on July 11, 2023 (Item No. 53). The total amount to be reimbursed by EVWD to the San Bernardino County Flood Control District (District) is $108,487.82. Sufficient appropriation and revenue for the Elder Creek Channel Improvement Project in the Highland area (Project) are included in the District’s 2025-26 budget (1930002526 F01911).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Project includes the construction of approximately 2,100 linear feet of flood control improvements to the Elder Creek drainage system south of Old Greenspot Road and north of its confluence with Plunge Creek in the City of Highland. The Project improvements include replacing the existing earthen channel with a wider and deeper concrete channel system; replacing two existing road culverts at Abbey Way and Merris Street with larger culverts; constructing a concrete bypass channel at the downstream end of the Project to convey storm flows; and converting an existing earthen channel segment into an expanded low-flow channel that supports wildlife functions and values.
As part of the Project, EVWD waterline facilities will be impacted and must be relocated. The EVWD facilities include a 12-inch waterline affixed to the north side of the culvert box at Abbey Way, an eight-inch waterline affixed to the north side of the culvert box at Merris Street, and a 12-inch flush line that discharges water into Elder Creek Channel north of Abbey Way.
On July 11, 2023 (Item No. 53), the Board approved Cooperative Agreement No. 23-634 with EVWD to establish the terms and conditions under which the District will relocate and install EVWD’s facilities as a part of the Project, subject to reimbursement from EVWD. Because EVWD proposes to install two steel casings for future sewer lines and the 12-inch flush line needs improvements, EVWD has agreed to reimburse the District for costs associated with the design and construction of relocating the 12-inch flush line and sewer line casings. Upon completion of the EVWD facilities under the Cooperative Agreement, EVWD shall own, operate, and maintain its facilities.
On August 22, 2024, the District opened bids for the Project and identified Ames Construction (Contractor), Inc. as the lowest responsive bidder with a bid amount of $16,701,165. Following the bid opening, the District conducted a bid analysis and determined that several costs differed from the original estimates, notably the items associated with EVWD. These increases were attributed to inflation during the period between the estimate and bid, as well as variability in how contractors allocate and distribute their costs.
On September 24, 2025, the District and the Contractor discovered that the existing 12-inch flush line identified in the plans was actually a 16-inch line. The District immediately notified EVWD of the discrepancy. On October 2, 2025, the District submitted the cost impacts associated with the required change order, and EVWD provided approval on October 6, 2025.
On February 11, 2026, the Notice of Completion was recorded with the County Recorder’s Office. Retention for the Project was released on March 17, 2026.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Sophie A. Curtis, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on April 8, 2026; Purchasing (Dylan Newton, Buyer III, 387-3377) on April 16, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Dalton, Administrative Analyst, 387-5005) on May 22, 2026.