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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 12101985 - WC.1 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FROM: WATER COMMITTEE DATE: December 2, 1985 SUBJECT: WATER POLICY PRIORITIES FOR 1986 Specific Request(s) or Recommendation(s) & Bac group usti ication RECOMMENDED ACTION 1. Designate that the water policy emphasis for the Contra Costa County Water Agency in 1986 shall be in the following four areas: - Delta levee rehabilitation - Constitutional protection for areas of origin and the Delta - Water quality protection for San Francisco Bay - More efficient use of existing water supplies 2. Direct the Community Development Department to arrange and the Clerk of the Board to schedule at a Board of Supervisors meeting in February 1986 a one-hour presentation on various water issues, including a slide presentation by The Bay Institute of San Francisco. FINANCIAL IMPACT None REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION/BACKGROUND There are several areas of water policy where the County should place emphasis during 1986. This emphasis can take the form of supporting/sponsoring legislation, participation in activities of the Committee for Water Policy Consensus , and general advocacy. The Delta levees continue to deteriorate with little action occurring at the state or federal levels. It appears that there will be no support for a major Delta levee rehabili- tation program without including the issue of water transfer out of the Delta. It is important for the County to advocate a major Delta levee rehabilitation program, but also to address the immediate interim needs of Delta levees. Continued on attachment: X yes Signature: Recommendation of County Administrator Recommendation of BoardCommittee Approve Other: Signature(s): I-- k � C Action of Board on: /o ! 9 81'S Approved as Recommended ✓Other.� Supervisor. Fanden suggested inviting Dr. Michael Rosenburg .to participate in the presentation on water issues. Vote of Supervisors I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE /Unanimous AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN ✓ Unanimous (Absent ) AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE Ayes: Noes: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON DATE SHOWN. Absent: Abstain: DBOcl-wc.bo.8F..pri tl2 Attested &e, /o /S'f 5 Orig. Div.: Community Development (EC) PHIL BATCHECLERK cc: County Administrator OF THE BOARD AND COUNTY Clerk of the Board ADMINISTRATOR Committee for Water Pol . Consensus (via CDD) E �� Dr. Michael Rosenburg u�­ By , DEPUTY CLERK Protection for areas of origin and the Delta are currently included in the California Water Code. In order to further insure that these protections remain law, it is important that they be included in the State Constitution through a constitutional amendment process. There are currently legislation in the Senate and the Assembly to provide for this. The County has supported these bills. Water quality protections for the San Francisco Bay should be implemented by the State Water Resources Control Board. San Francisco Bay water quality standards are currently excluded in the water rights permits for the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project. With the reopening of these water rights permits in 1986, it is important to include San Francisco Bay water quality .protections. This can be done through legislation or directly by the State Water Resources Control Board. Efficient use of existing water supplies should be strongly advocated. A clear example of this is the water exchange project between the Imperial Irrigation District and the Metro- politan Water District. Conjunctive use and offstream storage are also methods to use existing water supplies. These projects should be advocated along with general water conservation measures. Contra Costa County has been active in advocating to other agencies the water conservation landscaping requirements recently approved by the Board of Supervi- sors. In order to emphasize these water policy priorities, it is appropriate to take time (one hour) at a Board meeting to discuss these water issues in detail . The Bay Institute of San Francisco has a slide presentation which may be appropriate to provide background information to Board members. Other participants may be invited to expand on particular issues.