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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 02121985 - WC.1 We ' Contra TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Costa FROM: WATER COMMITTEE County DATE: February 12, 1985 � �`J SUBJECT: Water Committee Report Specific Requests or Recommendations & Background & Justification 'RECOMMENDATION 1. The Board of Supervisors, as Governing Board of the Contra Costa County Water Agency, take the following positions on -the legislation listed below: AB 25 - Water: Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (12/3/84) - Oppose AB 348 - Water Contamination (1/18/85) - Support SB 210 - Water Facilities (1/18/85) - Oppose SB 233 - San Luis Drain: Task Force (1/23/85) - Oppose, unless amended. 2. The Board authorized the Chairwoman to sign a letter to Senator Maddy concerning SB 233 offering suggestions for amendments on his bill proposing a San Luis Drain Task Force. BACKGROUND The Water Committee, at its February 4, 1985 meeting, considered each of the proposed legislative bills and examined the rationale that justified the above stated position for consistency with the County's established water policy. Attached is a summary of the bills and the rationale for County positions. Since the Board has taken strong positions opposing the San Luis Drain, it is appropriate that the Board offer suggestions for amendments to Senator Maddy's bill calling for a task force to study the San Luis Drain. It is important if such a task force is formed that it consider all alternatives for San, Joaquin Valley drainage management and that the task force membership be well-balanced. The Water Committee also heard updates from the East Bay Municipal Utility District and the Contra Costa Water District concerning their water conservation efforts and how the County can become involved. Specifically, the Water Committee is reviewing model water conservation ordinances, conditions of service, water conservation in County buildings, and grounds and development conditions. The Water Committee -will be further discussing water conservation at its future meetings and will make a recommendation to the Board after these deliberations are completed. Continued on attachment: yes Signature: Recommendation of County Administrator Recommendation of Board Committee Approve Other: L Signa ures : Tom Torlakson Sunne Wright McPeak Action of Board on: /�, /its Approved as Recommended Other_ Vote of Supervisors I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN X Unanimous (Absent _3Z:' ) AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE Ayes: Noes: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON DATE SHOWN. Absent: Abstain: (2)DBO:cl-wc. o�Tegis.rpt.12feT.-t-2 Attested 4 /SSS Orig. Div.: Public Works (EC) PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK cc: County Administrator OF THE BOARD AND COUNTY County Legislative Delegation (via EC) ADMINISTRATOR C. Nakagawa, Water Agency Attorney (via EC) By l l , j Contra ,�.,'-'-�'`� � ~` Board of Supervisors Water Agency - (Ex-Officio Governing Boards a CostTom Powers Sixth Floor lC.t tst District County Administration Building County Nancy C. Fanden Martinez, California 94553 2nd District (415)671-4295 Robert'1. Schroder J.Micheal Wolford 3rd District Chief Engineer Sunne Wright McPeok 4th District Tom Torlakson 5th District February 12, 1985 S-21 Senator Kenneth Maddy State Capitol, Room 5087 Sacramento, CA 95814 Dear Senator Maddy: This letter is in regards to your Senate Bill 233 (January 23, 1985 version) concerning a San Luis Drain task force. Contra Costa County has taken an historic stance opposing the San Luis Drain terminating in the Delta or San Francisco Bay area. The Board of Supervisors has reviewed SB 233 and has taken a position of opposition, unless amended. We do not oppose further study of the San Joaquin Valley Drainage issue and, in fact, would encourage it. However, SB 233 appears not to undertake a comprehensive study of all options available which would include evaporation ponds, other in- Valley solutions, and taking land out of production. We are also concerned that the makeup of the task force is very vague and does not assure that the task force will have the proper credentials or credibility to consider all alternates and options and to develop a viable solution. Contra Costa County would support SB 233 if it were amended to be a truly compre- hensive study looking at all possible alternatives and if additional language would be provided to insure that the task force would have credibility and the necessary expertise to develop a solution to this important problem. If you have any questions, please contact Dave Okita of the County Public Works Department at (415) 671-4295. Very truly yours, Nancy C. Fah n Chairwoman Board of Supervisors (2)DBO:CL wc.sb233.t2 cc: County Legislative Delegation �v We l Contra Costa Public Works Environmental Control S-21 Summary Report #1 POSITIONS OF THE CONTRA COSTA COUNTY WATER AGENCY ON SELECTED 1985-1986 WATER LEGISLATION (Approved February 12,.' 1985) AB 15 - STIRLING - WATER FACILITIES - 12/3/84 Summary This bill would direct the Department of Water Resources to construct the Delta facilities of the State Water Project, including an .isolated canal to transport water through or around the Delta. Additionally required would be studies and objectives to protect the Bay from pollution and for beneficial uses of Bay water. Recommended Position Oppose. Rationale This bill violates the County's position that State water policy should be established before "plumbing" and is in direct contradiction to the County's position of opposing an isolated canal. AB 25 - W. BROWN - WATER: SACRAMENTO-SAN JOAQUIN DELTA - 12/3/84 Summary This bill would provide for State acquisition of certain high flood risk islands in the Delta. Winter water would be stored behind levees on these islands for release as needed to maintain water quality in the Delta It is expected that this bill will be amended to include identification of which Delta islands are to be acquired. Recommended Position Oppose. Rationale State acquisition of Delta islands would adversely affect the water quality obligations attendant to riparian rights of Delta landowners. The riparian rights of Delta landowners are one of the key legal means of protecting the Delta and Delta water quality. Although this bill could be construed as being consistent with the County's position supporting offstream water storage, the concept of using Delta islands as storage reservoirs has not been proven. It is premature to support such an endeavor at this time. AB 348 - FRIZZELLE - WATER CONTAMINATION - 1/18/85 Summary This bill would require a report on the major sources of contamination in the San Joaquin River and other rivers with major contamination. Additionally, more, water quality standards would be developed as well as the identification of all unused or underused locations for surface and groundwater storage that are feasible for use. Recommended Position Support. Rationale . This bill calls for examining water contamination problems in the San - Joaquin River, presumably concerning agricultural drainage. It is consistent with the County's policies that water quality standards be 'developed for agricultural drainage. The bill also calls for identification of unused or underused surface and groundwater storage areas. This is consistent with the County's position in support of water banking. SB 210 - AYALA - WATER FACILITIES - 1/18/85 Summary With this Bill, Department of Water Resources constructs the following north and south Delta facilities: In the North, enlarging channels of the South Fork of the Mokelumne River and connecting channels to the Delta Cross Channel. Then possibly-constructing a channel connecting the Sacramento and Mokelumne river systems. In the South Delta, enlarging channels near Victoria Island and enlarging Clifton Court Forebay. The objectives of the bill include improving water quality and efficiency of water transport across the Delta for export. The project includes relocation of the intake to the Contra Costa Canal , facilities for groundwater storage and wastewater reclamation and the Mid-Valley Canal Unit. The department would enter into permanent contracts with agencies representing Delta water users and would study the interconnection between the project and counties, including Contra Costa. The bill creates the Delta Levee Maintenance Fund for reimbursement to local agencies for costs of maintaining and improving nonproject levees. Recommended Position Oppose. Rationale This bill is essentially the same as SB 1369 proposed as part of the Governor's water program in the 1983-1984 Legislative Session. The County was opposed to -SB 1369 and should also oppose SB 210. The main 'reason for opposing. SB 210 is because the bill violates the County's position that State water policy should be established before "plumbing". With certain amendments, as proposed by the County and the Committee for Water Policy Consensus , last year, SB 210 may be supportable. SB 233 - MADDY - SAN LUIS DRAIN: TASK FORCE - 1/23/85 Summary This bill creates a task force to study the "most advantageous" place for the terminus location. The task force would consist of 12 members, 4 appointed by . the Senate Rules Committee, 4 appointed by the Speaker, and 4 appointed by the Governor. -The task force study is to be completed within two years. Recommended Position Oppose, unless amended. Rationale This bill presumes that the San Luis Drain will be completed and terminate somewhere. There is no mention of possible on-site or in-Valley alternatives such as evaporation ponds or taking land out of production. The scope of the task force is too narrow. Also, the membership of the task forcedoes not call for any special expertise and its members may not be qualified to make a judgment on this issue. ' r (3) DBO:cl wa. leg.rpt1.8586