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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 07082008 - D.1 ontrc TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Costa FROM: Transportation, Water & Infrastructure Committee__ -;��a sR%�� Supervisor Gayle B. Uilkema, Chair � s'q'-��;;:� Count Supervisor Mary N. Piepho, Member i c DATE: July 8, 2008 't SUBJECT: Report on Proposed County Platform on Delta W SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS: ADOPT County Platform on Delta Water Issues, as recommended by the Transportation, Water & Infrastructure Committee. FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact.associated with the above actions. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: ® YES ❑ NO SIGNATURE RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S): Supervisor Gayle B. Uilkema, Chair Supervisor.Mary N. Piepho ACTION OF BOARD ON _�� APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AND UNANIMOUS (ABSENT ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD AYES: NOES: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. ABSENT: ABSTAIN: / ATTESTED d !�� Contact: Roberta Goulart(925-335-1226) JOHN CULLEN, CLERK OF THE cc: Department of Conservation and Development BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND Community Development Division (CDD) COQNTY ADMINISTRATOR County Administrator's Office Public Works Department— Mitch Avalon BY DEPUTI Report on Proposed County Platform on Delta Water Issues July 8,2008 Page 2 BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS: At its June 16, 2008 meeting, the Transportation, Water & Infrastructure Committee (TWIC) reviewed and discussed the draft Platform, recommending that the Platform be forwarded to the full Board for consideration prior to the Board Workshop on Water, scheduled for July 29, 2008. Among other things, the revised draft now presented to the Board has been re-ordered from the earlier version to better . highlight proposed new policies and the new policies within each category are underlined. In addition, to help in review, two versions of the Platform are attached. Attachment #1 is the full version, including the rationale and background for the positions (in italic). Attachment #2 includes the proposed positions, without the background text. The Platform has been drafted in order to provide one document that contains all of the broad range of existing policies related to the delta, and water, thus providing a way to review these policies for relevance today and to consider new policies. When adopted, the Platform would be used to transmit County positions on water issues to the array of agencies and organizations actively involved in revising policy that will affect the County at the state, and federal levels, particularly in those instances where an immediate response is necessary. After Board consideration and action, the Platform would be distributed to relevant agencies and organizations for comment, prior to the Workshop. The intent would be to receive comments from these interested parties prior to or at the workshop, and potentially revise the Platform as needed at that time. The Platform is intended to be an evolving document, continuing to be refined as the Board takes positions on the panoply of studies and processes currently underway. ADDENDUM ,July 8, 2008 Agenda Item DA On this day,the Board of Supervisors considered adopting a County Platform on Delta Water Issues, as recommended by the Transportation, Water and Infrastructure Committee (TWiC). Supervisor Uilkema, TWI.0 Chair, introduced the item. Roberta Goulart, County Water Agency, noted that the Board has a Workshop on Delta Water Issues scheduled for July 29, 2008, and subsequent to that the issue will return to the full Board again in August 2008. Supervisor Gioia suggested being careful with the platform's wording about water storage. Supervisor Uilkema suggested re-wording the language in the platform from "eliminate high water crops" to "encozu•age eliminating high-water crops." Supervisor Gioia asked, what is the authority of the Delta Protection Commission (DPC)? Ms. Goulart responded that we are required to have our General Plan in compliance with their requiremcnts, and said the DPC has the authority to remand plans back to cities or counties for revisions. Supervisor Gioia suggested adding explanatory language to the platform to explain that the proposals are supported as ways to reduce stress on the Delta. Supervisor Piepho suggested changing the language in the platform from "...scenarios that significantly degrades water quality for users..."to"significantly degrades water quality for existing users." She also suggested including, as pertains to water storage, the language"support continued consideration of Delta islands in water storage strategies." Ms. Goulart responded that it is anticipated that the platform will continue to change and evolve, particularly atter the Board's workshop on July 29. Supervisor Gioia commented that it would be useful to get the policy statements of the Contra Costa Water District, the East Bay Municipal Utilities District, and of environmental groups and agricultural advocates before the workshop, as they could all prove useful in crafting our position. Supervisor Uilkema said she thinks we need to include the establishment of an emergency management plan in the document. Ms. Goulart noted that she has asked the Sheriffs Office of Emergency to participate in the July 29 workshop. BY a unanlnlous vote ivith none absent, the Board of'Szg3ervasoi-s took the folloiving action: ADOPTED County Platform on Delta Water Issues, and DIRECTED staff to incorporate the Board's comments and revisions made this day into the Platform's next draft. / Attachment 1 Contra Costa County Draft Delta Water Platform Not in priority order All policies are listed as bullets and are in bold under the numbered subject categories. Proposed new policies are underlined. 1) Conveyance/Peripheral canal (isolated conveyance) • Support through-Delta conveyance. Support the "common Delta pool" doctrine. • Support study of other (credible) alternative conveyance strategies (other than isolated conveyance). The "common Delta pool" concept is one in which the common resource (the Delta) provides the .same quality freshwater supply to all Delta diveriers, and sharing responsibility to maintain, restore and protect the resource. Through-Delta conveyance is the method by which this is accomplished. • Peripheral Canal: Parameters that may necessitate maintaining an opposition position on a Peripheral Canal (isolated water transfer facility) include: ► A scenario that significantly degrades Delta water quality and supply for area users. ► A scenario that reduces or does not provide adequate outflow to the Bay. ► An agreement that does not include (among other thins) reduced export scenarios and provisions for a greater degree of regional self sufficiency as part of an improved water and flood management system. ► An isolated facility that is substantively planned, designed, and/or constructed prior to Delta ecosystem improvements and through-Delta conveyance improvements. ► An isolated facility or mitigation related to an isolated facility that is not paid for by the beneficiaries (but rather by the tazpavers). ► A faciIih, that does not come with protections for and improvements to the Delta ecosystem,fisheries,water quality and supply provisions, and levee protections. 6/25/08 Page 1 Currently planned isolated water transferscenarios would affect the common Delta pool, since all diverters would no longer be taking water from the same."pool, " therefore there is no incentive for exporters using a Peripheral Canal to preserve the Delta resource. Along with isolated conveyance, dual conveyance is being considered, which would allow some through-Delta and some isolated conveyance. Isolated facilities of an}, kind would degrade water quality in the Delta and compromise outflows f•om the Delta to the Bay to an as vet unkno-�,n degree. (The impact is dependent on a number of factors including amount of exports, when water is taken, etc.) Conveyance studies currently being conducted by, DYPR on a peripheral canal include an eastern alignment as well as a western alignment that runs through Contra Costa County. The current state of the Bay-Delta Estuary is negativelJ! impacted lack of water in the s•}:stem (i.e. high volume exports, especialh�during day years), and the amount of exports are at least partial1j'responsible.for the recent collapse of the Delta ecosystem.. Diversion of a significant amount of flow fi om the Sacramento River will have adverse impacts to water.quality bv, among other things, creating a saline environment in the west Delta, and b),.allol'Ving more pollutant-laden San Joaquin River water into the Delta (significanth less San .Joaquin River rater would be pumped south). Current proposals include creating a saline (tidal) ecological environment for the western Delta, or with "variable" water quality (brackish,,`saltwater with fresh _flow pulses) in place of the cu7'7,ent.fi-eshi4.,,ate7' regime. A recent Public Policy Institute Report has supported the concept of variable water qualit), as an ecosystem benefit; the premise is that variable qualify, could reduce the populations of invasive species. However, the scientific data supporting the variable floor• regime' has become the subject of debate, so results outlined in these reports are . questionable. Other studies are illustrating a conflict between water quality.for human consumption and optimal water qualit)y.for ecosystem health, which could create a conflict for western delta water users. 2) Water Storage 0 Support multi-purpose surface storage opportunities that include water supply, flood control, Eroundwater storage and ecosystem components, integrating projected climate change impacts, as part of a regional self-sufficiency strategy. 6/25/08 Page 2 Support groundwater storage/conjunctive use implementation wherever practicable, and as an option that is preferable to surface storage options. The State's existing water supply and flood control systems are inadequate and with climate change (decreased Sierra snow track, and increased rainfall,flood, and sea level rise), will become even more so. The proposed traditional, large-scale, single purpose surface storage facilities need to evolve into smaller, regional and subregional, multi- purpose,facilities. Conjunctive use is the management of groundwater and the aquifer in which it resides, through recharge with surplus surface water. Groundwater is then ripicalli, used during dry periods, when surface water supplies are not as abundant. Conjunctive use has fewer environmental impacts than surface storage options. 3) Protect and Restore the Delta Ecosystem • Support ecosystem-based scientific research to determine what is necessary to protect and restore the Delta and Support implementation of recommended actions resulting from these studies. • Support acquisition of prioritv habitat areas (aquatic and terrestrial). • Support habitat,improvement projects (including Dutch Slou�(Th. Suisun Marsh) • Support and advocate for specific short-term actions for immediate implementation to improve ecosystem, water quality, and the fishery (including water quality and fishery improvements at Franks Tract, additional and improved fish screens at pumps, habitat improvement projects). 4) Water Conservation • Support and encourage water conserving landscapes. • Maximize reuse of reclaimed wastewater. • Support acceleration of water meter requirements. • Support and advocate for improved agricultural water conservation practices. 6/25/08 Paae 3 ► Eliminate high water use crops such as cotton, alfalfa, and rice (with exceptions where there are benefits to habitat). ► Create significant water savings through improved agricultural conservation practices. The County has historically supported conservation through development of a water conservation landscape ordinance, a dual plumbing ordinance to maximise use of recycled water v,here feasible, and an ordinance to use recycled eater for dust control and compaction during drought. .The recycled eater ordinances are dependent upon the level of commitment of the respective water districts and., to some extent, the wastewaler agencies. It is anticipated that additional state conservation requirements will be,forthcoming as a result of the Governor's declaration of a comprehensive eater plan (20% reduction in eater use by 2020). The Count), could also consider- expansion of greyrvater- use i4,here practicable. A regional self-sufficiency policy N,ould dictate that conservation, regional groundN)ater storage, reuse of reclaimed wastewater and desalination should be required in areas dependant upon exports from the Delta. 5) Governance • Support and strongly advocate for local government representation in any new governance structure(s) contemplated for the Delta. • Support continuance of land use authority in the Delta through the 1992 Delta Protection Act (establishing the Delta Protection Commission, a state azeney with local representation). The Governor, his Delta Vision Blue Ribbon Task Force, and the Legislature are considering alternate structures for governance of the Delta in the areas of Water Supply and Ecosystem, Land Use and a Delta Conservancy. There is a great deal of concern over development of the Delta floodplain and adjacent areas; as a result, consideration of alternative land use authorities and nem, legislation is currently being contemplated. 6) Levee Restoration • Advocate for significant funding for western and central Delta (infrastructure protection) levees, individually and in collaboration with others (beneficiaries also pay). • Support immediate rehabilitation of priority levees on the western 6/2 /08 Page 4 and central Delta islands. • Support funding assistance for communities protected by non- project levees to attain 200-year levee standards (Bethel Island and Hotchkiss Tract) • Support PL-84-99 minimum design standards for levees. • Support stockpiling rock in the Delta (and specifically in the western Delta) for levee rehabilitation. • Support a multi-year funding commitment to restore non-project levees and levees outside the state plan of flood control. • Support and advocate for the Delta Long Term Management Strategy (LTMS) and the beneficial reuse of dredged materials for levee rehabilitation. The Counts, has long supported the ongoing maintenance and structural restoration of Delta levees, and has actively advocated,for,funding toward this end, establishing the Delta Levee Coalition. The eight western Delta islands (six of which are within the County) are critically important, not only to residents, but also to the protection of Nater quality and supply to 25 million Californians, by preventing saltwater• intrusion into the Delta. The water exporters and the State Department of Tater Resources (DYT'R) have reevaluated the importance of these western delta levees and are reluctant to commit signlfrcaul funding ("funding that could (To to a canal instead), due to several factors. First, DWR has placed rock.for "emergence Purxroses" in several areas of the Delta to block the channels (preventing saltwater i1117•usion for exporters) in the event of a multiple levee break. Second, the western levees are thought to be at higher seismic risk, due to nearby.faults, and as a result, will be more expensive to fix than levees in the larger Delta. The levees protect many areas which are belol4- sea level due to subsidence, rendering the levees less stable. Climate change impacts of rising sea level and higher flOW regimes (due to greater rainfall, less .snow) will exacerbate the situation. Recent work by local Delta engineering firms have established that levee repair cysts for western Delta levees are not as high as anticipated by DYTrR's studies, and there are additional options to reduce seismic risk. Levees also protect critical infrastructure including EBMUD's aqueducts, highways, railroads, gas wells, electric lines etc. Smaller communities behind levees, such as Bethel Island and Hotchkiss Tract should benefit from the same level of pr•olection as larger "urban" communities. Urban communities (over 10,000 population) as defined in recent legislation will be required to have a higher standard of levee protection (from a 100 year to a 200-Year standard). Funding support for levee strengthening should also be readill) available for small communities protected ky levees. 6/25/08 Paae PL-84-99 levee design standards are used by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) for levees over which the Corps has jurisdiction in the Delta. These standards are slightly higher than Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) standards currently in use, and are recommended as a minimum standard.for Delta islands remaining in agricultural and other non-urban uses. YT'ith climate change, it is anticipated that more stringent standards would be required over time. Because of large-scale changes currently being contemplated.for the Delta, a number of Delta islands -gill be converted to other uses, such as habitat (aquatic and terrestrial) and floodplain. As a result, levees on these islands would not be subject to the above-mentioned minimum standards, reducing costs of levee maintenance to some degree. 7) Water Quality, Water Quantity and Delta Outflow • Support efforts to protect and improve water quality, water quantity and Delta outflow. • Proposed changes to water quality, particulariv efforts to increase salinity in the western delta, must be beased upon proven science which illustrates substantial benefit to habitat and must address impacts to water users. The current.state of the Bay-Delta Estuary,, is negativelt,impacted by lack of water in the system (i.e. high volume exports, especially during dry hears). and the amount of exports are at least partially responsible for the recent ecosystem collapse. San Joaquin River flows have higher levels of salinity and selenium than Sacramento River water. As a result, an isolated transfer facility taking significant amounts of Sacramento River water- out of the system will decrease water qualini in the Delta by allowing much more San Joaquin River water into the Delta system. Currently,pumps in the south Delta take some San Joaquin River-water south. Reduced outflows will result in the migration of the salt water f esh water interface (1'2 zone) eastward from its current location near Antioch, impacting municipal and industrial Nater intakes and habitat. Pollutant loading in Delta waters in and around the county can be increased either by reducing the Delta outflow or by modifi�ing current water management practices (such as installing an isolated transfer facility). Increased pollutant loads in the Delta will result in modification of water quality standards in County NPDES and TMDL permits for County creeks and streams that discharge into the Delta. This will signi icantlj, increase the cost for permit compliance. (See additional discussion under the Peripheral Canal section, above). 6/25/08 Page 6 8) Flood Protection/Floodplain Management • Support preparation of a comprehensive Flood Management Plan for the Delta. • Support floodplain management within the watershed to help reduce flood damage within the Delta. • Support identification, acq uisition and construction of appropriate flood bypasses in and around the Delta. • Support funding assistance for Flood Control District(s) to bring facilities up to a 200-year level of protection. • Support development of a watershed management plan that would attenuate flood flows naturally by increasing the resident time of stormwater within the entire watershed. • Support efforts to change existing revenue generation requirements for flood control districts and counties that would provide parity with wastewater districts and water districts in setting rates to provide basic infrastructure services. Flood protection standards are changing to a 200 year standard. Flood Control Districts are having a hard time funding new.facilitie.s or modif��ing existing facilities 1.0 meet the old standard of 100 Years, let alone upgrade to a 200 year standard. There needs to be a./unding mechanism in place that allows.flood control districts and counties to raise revenue similar to a wastewater district or a water district. In an undeveloped watershed, stormwater remains within the watershed a long time (resident time). As a Watershed develops, resident time is reduced and,flood flows increase as stor nawaler quickly runs off paved sur faces . A watershed management plan is a useful tool to develop strategies to increase resident time and help reduce flood.lows in a more natural manner. 9) Water Rights and Legislative Protections • Support and preserve existing water rights and legislative protections established for the Delta and its environs. The system of water rights in California is governed by 'use', or more specifr.cally, 'beneficial use '. Riparian rights (ownership of land adjacent to a sur face water source) are senior water rights over most 'appropriative' water rights (which have required a permit since 1914). Most water users in the Delta use water pursuant to riparian and pre-1914 water rights, which are among the most senior water rights in the state. The 6/2 /08 Page 7 State Water Project and Central Valley Project are based on junior appropriative water rights. The' Watershed Protection Act and the Delta Protection Act (county-of-origin .and watershed-of-origin laws) were an integral part of the political and legal negotiations to build and export water from the Delta for the Central Palley Project and the State YT"ater Project. These la-A's protect future reasonable and beneficial water uses_for the areas Providing the water- so these areas would not be deprived when additional water became necessary. The Delta Vision Task Force has reviewed this issue and questions the need for continuance of these laws. These Acts also include the Della common pool doctrine. 10) Regional Self-Sufficiency • All regions should be required to implement a variety of local water supply options and institute conservation and reuse programs to reduce reliance on exports from the Delta. Regional groundwater and surface water storage, reuse of reclaimed wast6l,ater, and desalination should be considered as strategies to enhance water supply in areas dependent on exports. 11) Emergency Response • Support collaborative efforts to improve emergency response among the Delta counties and the Delta Protection Commission to help protect life, diminish suffering, protect property, protect the environment, and speed recovery. 12) San Luis Drain/Grasslands Bypass • Oppose a San Luis Drain (through the County into the Delta) and continue to support in-valley, environmentally-responsible resolution of the drainage problem. • Continue to urge reduction in the discharge of agricultural drainage to the San Joaquin River and its tributaries through implementation of the Grasslands Bypass project, including crop fallowing and/or acquisition of problem areas. 6/2 /08 Page 8 The U. S. Bureau of-Reclamation is under a court.injunction to evaluate and implement options for providing drainage services for the west side of the San Joaquin Valley, which contains toxic concentrations of selenium and other hazaldOUS .substances. The San Luis Drain, one option studied, would pass through Contra Costa County to discharge in the Delta. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has determined to address the problem without building the Drain but Congress would need to appropriate the funds before this alternative could be implemented and the injunction requiring provision of drainage service still looms. The County will continue to oppose the San Luis Drain option and support instead drainage solutions in the valley, such as reducing the volume of problem water drainage; managing reusing drainage waters within the affecled ZI'1"lgalion districts; retiring lands wish severe drainage impairment (purchased fi onl willing sellers);.and reclaiming;remmving solid salts th7.021g17 tr'e'atment, bila .safe/bird free solar ponds and farm-based methods. Since 1996, the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation has authorized farmers in the Grasslands area of the San Luis-Delta Mendota mater Authority to discharge drainage through an existing portion of the San Luis Drain to a tributar_l' of the San Joaquin in order to bypass wildlife r•efu es that werepreviously downstream of the agricultural drainage. The San Joaquin River is the ultimate destination for the drainage with or without the b.pass prgject, known as the Grasslands Bypass Project. In addition to avoiding the sensitive wellands in the refuges, the Grassland Bypass Projecl requires a number of measures to reduce the downstream impacts of the drainage, including creation of a drainage authority to assume responsibility.for the farmers' collective obhgalions, monit07'i77g of discha7'()es and Zmpacls, llmrlatlOnS 077 the load of selenium and salt in the drainage and variOZ1S e17f07'cenient measures including provisions to lerminate the Pr(ye.ct ff discharge limits are exceeded. In thefir,cl eight years of implementation results hai�e been good and discharges have been steadily declining. The County will support continuing reduction in agricultural drainage through the Project such that agricultural drainage discharges to the River will decline to Zero 170 later than 2019. YPhen consistent with this platform and as appropriate, the County will express support for the Project and its resulting drainage reductions. 13) Climate Change • Climate chance poses a significant threat to the Delta and must be addressed in any proposed studies and strategies, or in planning, engineering and constructing projects envisioned for the Delta. Climate change in the Delta will have wide-ranging impacts, due to decreased Sierra snow pack, and increased rainfall.flood, and sea level rise. 6/25/08 Paue 9 Attachment 7 Contra Costa County Draft Delta Water Platform Not in priority order All policies are listed as bullets and are in bold under the numbered subject categories. Proposed new policies are underlined. 1) Conveyance/Peripheral canal (isolated conveyance) • Support through-Delta conveyance. • Support the "common Delta pool" doctrine. • Support study of other (credible) alternative convevance strategies (other than isolated conveyance). • Peripheral Canal: Parameters that may necessitate maintaining an opposition position on a Peripheral Canal (isolated water transfer facility) include: ► A scenario that significantly degrades Delta watergualihT and supple for area users. ► A scenario that reduces or does not provide adequate outflow to the Bay. ► An agreement that does not include (among other things) reduced export scenarios and provisions for a greater degree of regional self sufficienev as part of an improved water and flood management system. ► An isolated facilih- that is substantively planned,designed, and/or constructed prior to Delta ecosystem improvements and through-Delta conveyance improvements. ► An isolated facilih, or mitigation related to an isolated facility that is not paid for by the beneficiaries (but rather by the taxpavers). ► A facility that does not come with protections for and improvements to the Deltaecosystem,fisheries,water quality and suppiv provisions. and levee protections. 2) Water Storage • Support multi-purpose surface storage opportunities that include water supply, flood control, groundwater storage and ecosystem components, integrating projected climate change impacts, as part of a regional self-sufficiency strategy. • Support groundwater storage/conjunctive use implementation wherever practicable, and as an . option that is preferable to surface storage options. 3) Protect and Restore the Delta Ecosystem • Support ecosystem-based scientific research to determine what is necessary to protect and restore the Delta and Support implementation of recommended actions resulting from these studies. • Support acquisition of priority habitat areas (aquatic and terrestrial). • Support habitat improvement projects (including Dutch Slough, Suisun Marsh) • Support. and advocate for specific short-term actions for immediate implementation to improve ecosystem, water quality, and the fishery (including water quality and fishery improvements at Franks Tract, additional and improved fish screens at pumps, habitat improvement proj ects). 4) Water Conservation • Support and encourage water conserving landscapes. • Maximize reuse of reclaimed wastewater. • Support acceleration of water meter requirements. • Support and advocate for improved agricultural water conservation practices. ► Eliminate high water use crops such as cotton, alfalfa, and rice (with exceptions where there are benefits to habitat). ► Create significant water savings through improved agricultural conservation practices. 5) Governance • Support and strongly advocate for local government representation in any new governance structure(s) contemplated for the Delta. 6/25/08 Page 2 • Support continuance of land use authority in the Delta through the 1992 Delta Protection Act (establishing the Delta Protection Commission, a state agency with local representation). 6) Levee Restoration • Advocate for significant funding for western and central Delta (infrastructure protection) levees, individually and in collaboration with others (beneficiaries also pay). • Support immediate rehabilitation of priority levees on the western and central Delta islands. • Support funding assistance for communities protected by non- project levees to attain 200-year levee standards (Bethel Island and Hotchkiss Tract) • Support PL-84-99 minimum design standards for levees. • Support stockpiling rock in the Delta (and specifically in the western Delta) for levee rehabilitation. • Support a multi-year funding commitment to restore non-project levees and levees outside the state plan of flood control. • Support and advocate for the Delta Long Term Management Strategy (LTMS) and the beneficial reuse of dredged materials for levee rehabilitation. 7) Water Quality, Water Quantity and Delta Outflow • Support efforts to protect and improve water quality, water quantity and Delta outflow. • Proposed changes to water quality, particularly efforts to increase salinity in the western delta, must be beased upon proven science which illustrates substantial benefit to habitat and must address impacts to water users. 8) Flood Protection/Floodplain Management • Support preparation of a comprehensive Flood Management Plan . for the Delta. • Support floodplain management within the watershed to help reduce flood damage within the Delta. 6/25/08 Page 3 • Support identification, acq uisition and construction of appropriate flood bypasses in and around the Delta. • Support funding assistance for Flood Control District(s) to bring facilities up to a 200-vear level of protection. • Support development of a watershed management plan that would attenuate flood flows naturally by increasing the resident time of stormwater within the entire watershed. • Support efforts to change existing revenue generation requirements for flood control districts and counties that would provide parity with wastewater districts and water districts in setting rates to provide basic infrastructure services. 9) Water Rights and Legislative Protections Support and- preserve existing water rights and legislative protections established for the Delta and its environs. 10) Regional Self-Sufficiency All regions should be required to implement a variety of local water supply options and institute 1 conservation and reuse programs to reduce reliance on exports from the Delta. 11) Emergency Response • Support collaborative efforts to improve emergency response among the Delta counties and the Delta Protection Commission to help protect life, diminish suffering, protect property, protect the environment, and speed recovery. 12) San Luis Drain/Grasslands Bypass • Oppose a San Luis Drain(through the County into the Delta) and continue to; support in-valley, environmentally-responsible resolution of the drainage problem. • Continue to urge reduction in the discharge of agricultural drainage to the San Joaquin River and its tributaries through implementation of the Grasslands Bypass project, including crop fallowing and/or acquisition of problem areas. 6/25/08 Pave 4 13) Climate Change • Climate change poses a significant threat to the Delta and must be addressed in any proposed studies and strategies, or in planning, engineering and constructing projects envisioned for the Delta. 6/25108 Pa-e REQUEST TO SPEAK I+OIM (3 Minute Limit) I wish to speak on Agenda Item #: A/ Complete this,forin and place it iii the upright box near the pate: speaker's podium, and wait to be called by the Chair. My comments will be: ❑ General Personal irtfvrmalion is optional. T Itis speaker's card ti+,ill be incorporated into the public record of this meeting. CKhor Nance(PRINT): 11A.1�'I G1ay /JPS _ ❑ Against 7o ensureyam•name is announced correctly,you may want to include its phonetic speflittg ❑ I wish to speak on the subject of- Address: doS w/m, WaAel city: �m lr� y �9J'LtI Phone: j� "•Z`/�= /�� I ani speaking for: ❑ Myself - ❑ I do not want to speak but would like to El Organization: �iyl �<, Zj{Z� leave coimnents for the.Board to consider �� Cal (Use the back of this forth)