HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 01311989 - WC.1 TO BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FROM: Water committee Contra
Costa
DATE'. January 23 , 1989 County
SUBJECT: Water Related Issues �`�
SPECIFIC .REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATIONS
1.A. Support EBMUD efforts to obtain right-of-way access for wa-
ter reclamation projects in _the San Ramon Valley.
1 .B. Authorize Chair to sign a letter to be sent to Contra Costa
Water District and East Bay Municipal Utility District re-
questing that the Community Development Department be noti-
fied of projects with potential for water reclamation and
dual use systems.
1.C. Direct the Community Development Department to consider re-
quiring appropriate major developments to incorporate use of
reclaimed water for landscape irrigation, dual use systems,
and on-site reservoirs for capturing rainfall runoff.
Z2.A. Adopt an interim position of support for local acquisition
of the Solano Water Project and authorize the Water Commit-
tee to continue consideration of the Solano Water Project
Indebtedness Prepayment Plan for subsequent recommendation
to the Board of Supervisors.
2.B. Refer the Solano Water Project to the Fish and Wildlife
Committee for review of any issues with fish and wildlife
impacts.
3 . Authorize Chair to sign a letter to the Port of Oakland re-
questing further analysis of samples of dredge material and
assurances that no additional dumping of dredge materials in
Delta areas will occur until testing is completed.
4. Authorize Chair to sign letters to cities, Local 159, and
Plumbing Contractor Associations regarding use of lead-free
solder.
5 . Request the Cooperative Extension Service.., to _obtain.. infor-
mation from the Soil Conservation Service regarding techni-
cal assistance in the development of small water storage
reservoirs.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF .BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE - OTHER _
SIGNATURE(S): 'Su ervisor Slinne`Wright M�.PPak;Sinervisor Tom Torlakson
ACTION OF BOARD ON January 31, 1989 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X andOTHER X
ADDED Item 1.D, requesting the Water Committee to continue to follow up and request
reports from the Water Districts on progress with reclamation, dual water systems and
reservoirs; and REQUESTED that copy of this report be transmitted to Solano County.
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
CC: Orig. Dept. - Community Development Dept. ATTESTED
County Administrator PHIL BATCHEL R, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
BY (ppC DEPUTY
M382/7-83
2 .
6. Support Fish and Wildlife Committee recommendation to the
State Department of Health Services that the closure plan
and Environmental Impact Report for the IT facility consider
using all or part of the site as upland habitat after clo-
sure.
% . Refer the Coastal Conservancy funding of wetlands projects
in the Delta to the Fish and Wildlife Committee to identify
potential wetland projects and report back to the Water
Committee within 60 days.
8 .A. Direct staff to continue to monitor the Wildlife Habitat
Plan on Sherman Island.
8.B. Adopt a position opposing any relaxation in water quality
standards at Sherman Island.
8 .C. Refer the Sherman Island Wildlife Habitat Plan to the Fish
and Wildlife Committee for examination; the Fish and Wild-
life Committee should meet with all pertinent parties for
briefing.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
None.
REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION%BACKGROUND
1. Contra Costa Water District and the East Bay Municipal
Utility District are implementing water reclamation projects
and considering dual use water systems as part of their
overall water conservation program. Water reclamation in-
volves recovering wastewater, and treating it to the degree
necessary for a specific reuse. Utilization of wastewater
reduces wastewater disposal, reduces discharges of pollu-
tants into the environment, and encourages more effective,
utilization of available water supplies. Implementation is
limited due to constraints imposed in the Department of
Health Services Title 22, and the expense of installing such
a system. Current programs at the East Bay Municipal Util-
ity District target heavy water users such as golf courses
and industrial water services.
The Water Committee wishes to encourage programs utilizing
alternative water sources and conservation measures. The
Water Committee supports EBMUD' s efforts to obtain right-
of-way access for reclamation projects in the San Ramon
valley, as the difficulty of integrating new systems into
existing infrastructure is recognized.
The Water Committee asks that the Community Development De-
partment be notified regarding these projects for possible
incorporation into major developments, where appropriate.
Site storage of runoff , reclaimed water for irrigation of
large areas and industrial use, and use of reclaimed water
for dual use systems could be considered.
2. The Solano Project involves prepayment of money owed the
Department of the Interior by Solano County for Monticello
Dam and downstream facilities. Lake Berryessa would con-
tinue to be managed by the Federal Government.
The Water Committee recognizes advantages to the establish-
ment of local control over facilities and water allocation.
Currently, federal regulations preclude efficient use of
this water by prohibition of non-project water through these
distribution facilities. Local control would result in more
effective methods by allowing conjunctive or cooperative use
of this system. Local control would include protection of
agricultural uses for open space and growth management ob-
jectives.
The Water Committee recommends an interim position of sup-
port for local acquisition of the project and recommends
continued consideration of the price to be paid for these
facilities. The amount of prepayment to the government
should be further reviewed to insure a fair, appropriate
return to taxpayers consistent with the County' s policy en-
couraging no subsidies for water projects. Field hearings
on the price issue are scheduled to commence in the near
future and should provide some additional information.
Referral to the Fish and Wildlife Committee is initiated to
identify and address any potential impacts to fish and
wildlife or habitat as a result of this plan.
3 . The Port of Oakland is currently proposing to dispose of
dredge materials from the Bay onto Delta islands. Under
this plan, Twitchell Island and Lower Jones Tract would re-
ceive approximately 440, 000 cubic yards to be distributed on
the landward side of levees over a distance of approximately
eight miles. The Water Committee has indicated this project
may be feasible if environmental and health concerns were
addressed. The Water Committee also noted the importance of
obtaining results of tests on dredged sediment.
The Regional Water Quality Control Board and the Contra
Costa Water District have requested some additional testing
of the dredge material. Various pollutants within the
Bay-Delta estuary have been found to have adverse effects on
fish, and could be threats to human health. Many of these
contaminants tend to bioaccumulate, or amass over time. The
Water Committee has expressed concern that current testing
may not anticipate mass emissions of contaminants. Tests
containing mass emission information are necessary for de-
termination of mass load limits on a water system for accu-
rate evaluation of water quality factors.
It has come to the attention of the Water Commission that
dumping of dredge sediment has already occurred on Twitchell
Island. The Water Committee does not wish similar incidents
to reoccur before full permission is granted.
4. The County Building Inspection Department indicated that the
1988 Uniform Plumbing Code contains regulations which limit
the lead content of solder used when working with copper
piping. The Building Inspection Department has indicated
that, although all reputable plumbing contractors in Contra
Costa County use lead-free solder, site inspections have
revealed that solders containing lead. ,a-re:found as well.
The Water Committee wishes to send letters regarding use of
lead-free solder to cities, Local 159, and any Plumbing
Contractor Associations.
5. The Water Committee has requested that additional informa-
tion regarding small runoff water storage reservoirs be ob-
tained for the Soil Conservation Service and shared with the
Community Development Department and Public Works Depart-
ment. This is intended for use in planning for flood con-
trol, water conservation, and potential storage of runoff in
new developments.
6. . The Fish and Wildlife Committee reports that prior to use as
a hazardous waste . disposal facility, the IT site was prime
habitat for wildlife. It is near wetlands, and could pos-
sibly be reclaimed to provide good upland habitat. The need
to close the facility in a manner that will protect public
health and the environment is recognized, but it is re-
quested that post-closure use as wildlife habitat be con-
sidered.
i . Currently, the EPA has $25,000 which is to be supplemented
by Coastal Conservancy funds for wetlands projects in the
Delta. The Water Committee suggests this matter be refer-
enced to the Fish and Wildlife Committee to identify pro-
posed wetland areas, and report back to the Water Committee
in 60 days.
8. The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is proposing a
change in land use for the Sherman Island area. Conversion
4.
from agricultural use to a wildlife refuge area would pro-
vide several beneficial objectives such as flood control,
protection of highways and utilities, provision of wildlife
habitat, subsidence prevention and . recreational opportuni-
ties.
Currently, DWR is under agreement to provide a supply of
water suitable for irrigation purposes to residents of
Sherman Island. DWR planned to construct a facility to
transport water from the eastern end of Sherman Island to
the central and western areas. If the wildlife habitat plan
is approved, this system will no longer be necessary.
The Water Committee recommends continued monitoring of this
project. The wildlife plan would provide needed habitat
areas, but potential exists for adverse water quality im-
pacts. The existing plan requires that water is of suffi-
cient quality for irrigation at the eastern edge of the is-
land. The wildlife plan would have no such requirements,
possibly allowing salt water intrusion with reduced fresh
water flows, essentially moving the mixing point upstream.
The Water Committee advises adoption of a position opposing
any relaxation in water quality standards at Sherman Island.
The Water Committee also wishes to refer the Wildlife Habi-
tat Plan to the Fish and Wildlife Committee for examination
of this plan and briefing by all pertinent parties.
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