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Costa
TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FROM: WATER COMMITTEE. County
DATE: April 10, 1984
SUBJECT: Water Committee Report on Proposed Legislation
Specific Requests or Recommendations & Background & Justification
RECOMMENDATION
The Board of Supervisors, as Governing Board of the Contra Costa County Water Agency,
take the following positions on the legislation listed below:
'AB 1732 - Water Pollution: State Bonds (2/17/84) - Support, noting that local government
must prioritize programs to be funded by General Obligation Bonds.
AB 2183 - Safe Drinking Water Bonds (2/8/84) - Support, noting that local government must
prioritize programs to be funded by General Obligation Bonds.
AB 3271 - Instream Preservation of Water (2/16/84) - Support
AB 3524 - Groundwater Protection Plans (2/17/84) - Support
AB 3641 - Water: Beneficial Uses (2/17/84) - Support
AB 3718 - Delta Levee Improvements (2/17/84) - Support, if amended to insure that interim
State expenditures are credited to the local share of a future Federal Levee Program.
AB 3788 - State Water Project: Finances (2/17/84) - Support, if amended to include a local
government representative.
AB 3790 - Water Resources (2/17/84) - Support
AB 3792 - Water: Los Banos Grandes Reservoir (2/17/84) - Support
ACR 126 - Tulare Lake Flood Waters (2/16/84) - Support
ACR 138 - Boating Safety: Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta (2/28/84) - Support
If
BACKGROUND
The Water Committee, at its meeting of April 2, 1984, 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. Further recommendations will
be submitted after Committee review.
The attached report summarizes the position of the Water Agency on the specific bills
in more detail.
Continued on attachment: X yes Signature:
Recommendation of County Administrator X Recommendation of Board Committee
Approve Other: -------
Signature(s):
Signature(s): Sunne Wright McPeak Tom Torlakson
Action of Board on: �' ��� /D , 19 S 5� 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 ) AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE
Ayes: Noes: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON DATE SHOWN.
Absent: Abstain:.
Attested `1
Orig. Div. : Public Works (EC) J.R.' OL.SSON, COUNTY CLERK AND
cc: County Administrator EX OFFICIO CLERK OF THE BOARD
County Legis. Delegation(via EC) 000 , 69
wc.bo.legis.rpt.10apr.t4
By A ,cAel DEPUTY
S-21
Summary Report #5
POSITIONS OF THE CONTRA COSTA COUNTY WATER AGENCY
ON SELECTED 1983-1984 WATER LEGISLATION
Approved April 10, 1984
AB 1732 - COSTA - WATER POLLUTION: STATE BONDS - 2/17/84
Summary
This bill would enact the Clean Water Bond Law of 1984, which would provide,
condition upon approval of the State electorate, for the issuance of $450
million of State Bonds for purposes of providing grants and loans to munici-
palities to construct sewage treatment works and for water conservation
programs,- and loans to municipalities for water reclamation projects, and
for certain related purposes.
Recommended Position
Support, noting that local government must prioritize programs to be funded
by General Obligation Bonds.
Rationale
This bill is consistent with the CCCWA's policy on improving water quality
and encouraging water conservation and water reclamation. This bill could
improve the water quality incrementally in the Bay/Delta system and allow
less dependency on imported water in areas where water conservation and
reclamation are practiced.
AB 2183 - O'CONNELL - SAFE DRINKING WATER BONDS - 2/8/84
Summary
This bill, if approved by the State electorate, would authorize the issuance
of $250,000,000 of State bonds for loans and grants to local governmental
entities to construct, improve, and maintain domestic systems. It is similar
to the Safe Drinking Water Bond Law of 1976.
Recommended Position
Support, noting that local government must priortize programs to be funded
by General Obligation Bonds.
Rationale
Passage of this Bond Law will provide needed funding to improve domestic
water systems.
000-170
AB 2807 - CAMPBELL - WATER HYACINTH CONTROL - 2/9/84
Summary
This bill would require an unspecified percentage of monies available to
the Department of Boating and Waterways for hyacinth control to be used
for alternative methods of control other than spraying. The percentage
is not specified.
Recommended Position
No position at this time.
Rationale
This bill is expected to be amended to specify the percentage for alterna-
tive methods and to possibly identify the alternative methods. A position
can be taken when those amendments have been made.
AB 3271 - CAMPBELL - INSTREAM PRESERVATION OF WATER - 2/16/84
Summary
This bill authorizes the Department of Fish and Game to apply to the State
Water Resources Control Board to reserve unappropriated water for the pre-
servation, restoration, or enhancement of fish and wildlife resources.
This bill is very similar to AB 387 concerning the same subject matter
which was unsuccessful in passing the Assembly.
Recommended Position
Support
Rationale
The CCCWA supported AB 387. This bill provides for essentially the same
concept. This bill is consistent with the CCCWA's policy on in-stream
uses.
AB 3524 - COSTA - GROUNDWATER PROTECTION PLANS - 2/17/84
Summary
This bill would require the State Water Resources Control Board to develop
state-wide guidelines for the development and approval of groundwater pro-
tection plans.
Recommended Position
Support
Rationale
Groundwater contamination is increasingly becoming a problem in California.
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This bill would help to insure that the State's groundwater resources are
protected. -
AB 3542 - KATZ —WATER: PROJECT IMPACTS - 2/17/84.
Summary
This bill would declare legislative intent that certain tideland funds
are to be expended to mitigate impacts in the Delta caused by diverters
other than the State Water Project or the Federal Central Valley Project.
Recommended Position
No position at this time.
Rationale
This bill recognizes that the State Water Project and the Central Valley
Project are not the only diverters of water from the Delta, therefore,
they should not necessarily be required to mitigate all impacts in the
Delta from water diversions. This bill could insure that a fair distri-
bution of mitigation costs occurs. We assume that this bill would be amended
to quantify the amount of funds to be expended.
AB 3641 - GOGGIN - WATER: BENEFICIAL USES - 2/17/84
Summary
This bill would include the preservation, restoration, and enhancement
of wetlands as a beneficial use of water.
Recommended Position
Support
Rationale
Wetlands are an important part of the State's ecosystem. There are presently
laws identifying use of water for recreation, and fish and wildlife resources,
as a beneficial use of water. It naturally follows that the preservation,
restoration, and enhancement of wetlands also be a beneficial use.
AB 3718 - JOHNSTON - DELTA LEVEE IMPROVEMENTS 2/17/84
Summary
This bill would require that the plan for. the improvement of .Delta levees
be compatible with the recommendations contained in the report of the Emergency
Delta Task Force. This bill also requires that the program to be funded
80 percent by the State and 20 percent by local (Delta) agencies . The
bill appropriates $10 million from the Energy and Resources Fund, and $10
million from the California Water Fund, for these improvements.
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Recommended Position
Support, if amended to insure that interim State expenditures are credited
to the future comprehensive Federal Levee Program.
Rationale
This bill provides for an interim levee rehabilitation program that would
presumably be implemented while the comprehensive Federal levee program
is developed. The CCCWA supports the Emergency Delta Task Force recommenda-
tions, including the finding that most islands- could pay 15-20 percent
of anticipated costs. The $20 million appropriated by the bill is only
a small fraction of the cost of a comprehensive levee program. This bill
needs to be amended to address a long-term comprehensive levee program
and its resultant non-Federal costs.
AB 3788 - BATES - STATE WATER PROJECT: FINANCES - 2/17/84
Summary
This bill creates a task force cobsisting of specified members to review
and report on all aspects of the finances of the State Water Resources
Development System.
Recommended Position
Support, if amended to include a representative of local government.
Rationale
The CCCWA has always expressed concern about the financing of the State
Water Resources Development System. A task force such as the one proposed
in the bill would provide for a thorough review of the system's financing
and may lead to improvements to insure that water sold by the System is
priced to recover the full cost of supplying the water, including envi-
ronmental mitigation.
AB 3790 - ISENBERG - WATER RESOURCES - 2/17/84
Summer
This bill would declare legislative intent to establish the public policy
objectives and protections for California's water resources prior to con-
sideration of engineering solutions to the State's various water problems.
Recommended Position
Support
Rationale
The wording in this bill is identical to ACR 108, also authored by Assem-
blyman Isenberg, which declares that there should be "policy before plumbing".
The CCCWA strongly endorsed ACR 108.
00-173
AB 3792 - ISENBERG - WATER: LOS BANOS GRANDES RESERVOIR - 2/1.7/84
Summary
This bill authorized as part of the State Water' Resources Development System,
the Los Banos Grandes Reservoir to be located south of the Delta.
Recommended Position
Stipport
Rationale
The Los Banos Grandes Reservoir will serve as an off-stream storage reservoir
which can be operated to provide extra storage for dry years, and increased
flexibility in pumping water from the Delta. The CCCWA supports the development
of off-stream storage south of the Delta.
AB 4010 - CAMPBELL - WATER RESOURCES: SACRAMENTO-SAN JOAQUIN DELTA: HERBICIDES
A1QD_!3t5TICIDE5 2/21/84
Summary
This bill would specifically prohibit any person from directly applying
any herbicides or pesticides to waters of the Delta unless the Secretary
of the Resources Agency has authorized its application.
Recommended Position
No position at this time.
Rationale
There is some resistance in the Resources Agency concerning this bill.
It is anticipated that amendments will be made. The CCCWA should review
the bill again when it is amended.
ACR 126 - SHER - TULARE LAKE FLOOD WATERS - 2/16/84
Summar
This resolution requests that the Department of Water Resources evaluate
the use by the State Water Project of the excess flood waters of Tulare
Lake.
Recommended Position
Support
Rationale
The CCCWA has expressed to the Legislature the need to evaluate the possi-
bility of using excess flood waters from Tulare Lake for additional yield
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to the State Water Project. The resolution implements that request.'
ACR 138 - ISENBERG - BOATING SAFETY: SACRAMENTO-SAN JOAQUIN DELTA - 2/28/84
Summary.
This resolution would request the Department of Boating and Waterways to
conduct a comprehensive study of boating safety in the Delta.
Recommended Position
Support
Rationale
The proposed study would benefit Contra Costa County by increasing boating
safety in the Delta, which is heavily used by Contra Costa County residents.
SB 1979 - KEENE - FISH AND WILDLIFE HABITAT - 2/16/84
This. bill would require the Delta water transfer facility, if authorized
and constructed, to be designed and operated to restore and maintain fish
and wildlife to historical levels in the Delta.
Recommended Position
No position at this time.
Rationale '
The CCCWA is committed to restoring fish and wildlife to historic levels.
This bill requires the Delta Facility to restore fish and wildlife to historic
levels only in the Delta, not necessarily the Bay and tributary waters.
A more comprehensive fish and wildlife restoration bill would be preferable.
DBO:cl - 4/5/84
dbo.cccwa.sum5.t12
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