NPDES Monitoring at Two Ocean Outfalls operated by Southern Orange County Water Authority (SOCWA)

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has authorized Six Scientific Service under Fish and Game Code Section 2081(a) to conduct environmental monitoring activities at two ocean outfalls operated by the Southern Orange County Water Authority—Aliso Creek Mouth and San Juan Creek Mouth—through December 31, 2028. The purpose of this authorization is to support compliance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit requirements by collecting data on nearshore marine species, with specific authorization to incidentally capture steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) during sampling operations using bottom trawls and hook-and-line methods. This activity is exempt from full environmental review under California Code of Regulations Title 14, Section 15306, as it qualifies as an information collection project. The work is focused on gathering biological data to assess the impact of discharges on marine ecosystems, particularly in sensitive nearshore habitats. Although the project is structured as a permit rather than a competitive procurement, the lead agency is the Marine Region of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, with Claire Waggoner serving as the Habitat Conservation Program Manager who authorized the permit on October 22, 2025, and Dylan Inskeep listed as the primary environmental science contact. No financial terms, pricing, contract type, or formal evaluation factors are specified, as this is a regulatory authorization rather than a standard federal acquisition contract, and no FAR clauses, contract administration details, or invoice procedures are applicable. The activity is ongoing, with performance limited to the specified locations in Orange County, California, and no physical deliveries or FOB terms are involved.