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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 11081983 - C.1 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Adopted this Order on November 8, 1983 by the following vote: AYES: Supervisors Powers, McPeak, Torlakson, Schroder NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: Supervisor Fanden SUBJECT: Water Committee Report - Endorsement of Committee for Water Policy Consensus Policy Statements On January 25, 1983, the Board of Supervisors, as governing board of the Contra Costa County Water Agency, approved a consulting services agreement with Solem and Associates to manage a project to seek a consensus within the Bay/Delta, area regarding water policies. A Committee for Water Policy Consensus was established. Committee members represent elected officials, labor, environmental groups, agricultural interests, business, farm bureaus, water districts, and other organizations and individuals with expertise and interest in the complex issues of water policy. The Committee, chaired by Supervisor McPeak, discussed water policy issues in detail for many months . The Committee for Water Policy Consensus has approved the following policy statements: BAY/DELTA PROTECTION POLICIES 1. Support of Sam Francisco Bay-Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta estuarine system water quality standards, with standards guaranteed in the .state constitution and in the federal-state (CVP-SWP) Coordinated Operating Agreement and in a reauthorization of the Central Valley Project. Numerical standards should be established as a floor for protection of the Bay-Delta estuarine system. These numerical standards should be arrived at through consultations with all interested parties. 2. Assess responsibility for decline of fish and wildlife in the San Francisco/ Delta estuary by the State Water Project, the Central Valley Project and by others, and require the projects to mitigate the damages they have caused. No additions to the projects for the purpose of increasing export capability, e.g. , additional pumps, may .be installed and operated unless these commitments are made and carried out. 3. Support of fish screening improvements, including improvements at Clifton Court Forebay. 4. Support of further study of the gated barrier concept westerly of Suisun Bay. 5. Support of agricultural drainage which uses such methods as evaporation ponds or ocean disposal but no drainage discharge into the Bay/Delta estuary which has an adverse impact on the receiving waters. Research and development of alternative methods of disposing of drainage effluent, such as solar ponds, marsh habitat and desalination, should be encouraged. 6. Strengthen area of origin protection by requiring adequate and enforceable reservation of water within the basin necessary to meet future in-basin needs. 7. Support implementation of an integrated program of rehabilitation and main- tenance of Delta levees, involving federal , state, local and user interests, with the costs and responsibilities to be fairly allocated among the bene- fici`aries of such a program. 249 8. Any modification of the Delta transfer mechanism, or additional exports from the Delta, must be preceded by the implementation of protections, water policy reforms and gua'raiteed standards for the San Francisco 'Bay/ Delta estuarine system as outlined in the policy statements in this docu- ment. Continue opposition to the Peripheral Canal or any other form of closed, isolated water transfer and support continued through-Delta, non-isolated transfer. However, deterioration of the San Francisco Bay/ Delta estuarine system must be stopped. To accomplish this, support of environmentally sound measures where feasible, exclusive of new export pumps and new channels, to improve water circulation within the Delta for the primary purpose of reducing the damage to fisheries and to Delta water quality which is now caused by the operations of water projects. DEVELOPMENT NEEDS POLICIES 1. Support of the concept that there is enough water available in California to meet needs if the water is properly managed. 2. Support of development of water supply to meet present and future needs. Development includes physical facilities as well as non-structural means that can create an increased water supply. Emphasis shall be placed on developing an increased water supply through means such as: a. Water conservation and efficiency measures, such as lining canals where water is .otherwise lost through seepage so that it is no longer economically and physically available for use. b. Removal of institutional barriers that impede more efficient use of water, such as inequitable limitations on the use of major aqueduct facilities. C. Cost-effective off-stream storage should be provided south of the Delta, both surface and subsurface, for storage of water that is first determined to be surplus to the needs of the Bay/Delta estuary and areas of origin of that water. This storage will serve export needs while permitting increased flexibility for reduction of export pumping rates from the Delta when necessary to protect Delta water supplies, and during critical fishery periods. d. Underground storage, both in Southern California and in the San Joaquin Valley subject to the development of the necessary management controls. 3. Pricing and repayment policies for all future contracts and all future projects shall ensure that beneficiaries pay their full share of costs associated with development and operation of those facilities in order to reduce unwarranted subsidies; ,tzo,.,p ermit con s�ruction only .if cost-effective projects, and to promote efficient use of water resources. Accurate prices .for project benefits , should be agreed upon prior to initiation of project development to the maximum extent feasible. If subsidies are to be provided, they and intended beneficiaries should be explicitly identified and should be permitted only to the extent consistent with applicable state and federal laws. 4. Support new water yield development projects which meet needs that could not otherwise be met which are consistent with these policies and which mitigate environmental damages. 5. The designated Wild and Scenic Rivers should be fully protected and not developed for additional water supply. 6. Support for communication and cooperation among water policy groups in all regions of the state, with an emphasis on finding areas of statewide consensus. GROUND AND SURFACE WATER MANAGEMENT POLICIES 1. All groundwater basins should have locally determined management plans, where needed, to protect the long-term viability of the groundwater basins. 2. Support and encourage locally developed water and energy conservation programs and water reuse programs that lead to improved basin-wide and energy use efficiently. 3. Ensure the safety of groundwater supplies by preventing contamination. 2jo 4. Support of adequate federal resOarch funding to determine viable limits of public health standards for water use. Support for the California Department of Health setting uniform definitions and public health standards for the reuse of water. . 5. Support of drilling and sealing ordinances designed for the protection of aquifers and the public health and welfare. 6. Support coordination of basin-wide groundwater and surface water use (con- junctive use). 7. Protect the long-term viability of rivers and streams for in-stream uses, such as fishing, recreation and aesthetics. 8. Proposals for additional water supply facilities should give adequate consid- eration to water quality and public health aspects of the water supply, bearing in mind the cost-effectiveness of developing water treatment facilities in importing areas. The Water Committee finds that the Consensus Statements are consistent with Contra Costa County Water Agency Policy and recommends that the Board of Supervisors, in all its capacities, endorse the Water Policy Statement of the Committee for Water Policy Consensus and encourage other agencies and individuals to so endorse the Policy Statements. M4� Sunne Wright McPeak Tom Torlakson Supervisor, District IV Supervisor, District V IT I.S B), THE BOARD ORDERED that the recommendation of the Water Committee is APPROVED. 1 teer�tt; cc73ty tlsat thls!s a true and correct copy of �� af„ catered o i tteo t lle9aetes of flee E c,'E;L; 3/sova or;t ac/c`ate shown. A C 1_7 L L vG'•i''d! e ad eu ©fflc-s ;Cler'Ls et thO Board By r , Deputy DB0:BD.WaterState.1.t11 Orig. Dept. : Public Works - EC cc: County Administrator Solem and Associates (via EC) 251