HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 05141985 - W.1 Contra`
TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Costa
@ : County
FROM: WATER COMMITTEE
DATE: MAY 6, 1985
SUBJECT: WATER COMMITTEE REPORT ON CONSERVATION AND
CENTRAL VALLEY PROJECT OPERATIONS
Specific Requests or Recommendations & Background & Justification
RECOMMENDED ACTION
1. Approve in concept, subject to further review, water conservation measures to regulate
the amount of turf, types of plants, and method of irrigation for all new developments.
2. Adopt future water conservation measures for County-owned buildings and grounds.
3. Authorize the Chairwoman to sign a letter to be sent to Congressman George Miller
urging Congress to take action relating to the Federal Central Valley Project's responsi-
bility to meet water quality standards.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
No significant direct impact to the County.
REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION/BACKGROUND
1. On April 9, 1985, the Board approved a Water Committee report directing staff to work
with the East Bay Municipal Utility District and the Contra Costa Water District to develop
model conservation measures for the County to adopt and to encourage other jurisdictions to
do the same. Staff has presented water conservation measures to the Water Committee to
regulate water conservation in four general areas:
A. Regulate the amount of turf area in new industrial and commercial developments to
10 percent of the planted area. For institutional, residential multi-family and
planned unit developments, the turf area would be limited to 25 percent of the
planted area.
B. The types of plants suitable for landscaped areas will be regulated according to
a list established by the East Bay Municipal Utility District.
C. Irrigation systems will be required in appropriate non-turf areas. For turf
areas, an automatic irrigation system controlled by tensionmeters,
Continued on attachment: X yes Signature:
Recommendation of County Administrator Recommendation of Board Committee
Approve Other:
Signature(s):
Action of Board on: ]y, Q ,, 14 , 'lyes Approved as Recommended 4—Other
Vote of Supervisors I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
Unaninaus (Absent ) AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE
Ayes: Noes: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON DATE SHOWN.
Absent: Abstain:
DBOcl - wc.bo.conserva.t5 Attested
Orig. Div.: Community Development PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK
cc: County Administrator OF THE BOARD AND COUNTY
EBMUD (via CD) ADMINISTRATOR
CCWD (via CD)
Public Works-Bldgs.& Grnds.
Cressey Nakagawa, Water Agency Attorney By ,
DEP Y 5LERK
(a moisture-sensing device) will be required.
D. High water using industries will be encouraged to -reduce their water use through
review of plans by the County, water districts, and/or sanitary districts.
The Water Committee proposes that the attached memo to the Water Committee be sent to
interested groups, including cities and building industry representatives, to attend the
June 10, 1985 Water Committee meeting to discuss water conservation regulations. The goal
is to have a uniform water conservation program throughout the entire County to insure
uniform applicability of water conservation and to make regulations consistent for
developers.
2. During the drought years of 1976-77, the County took a wide variety of measures to
conserve water in its buildings and grounds operations. Some of the measures taken at that
time were severe and would not be appropriate to continue after the drought ended. The
most appropriate long-term conservation measures have been maintained in place. As part of
the Board's conservation efforts, it would be appropriate for the Board to reaffirm its
policy on water conservation for County-owned buildings and grounds as follows:
A. Buildings - Require reduced flow devices for showers, lavatories, urinals, and
water closets.
B. Grounds - Require use of drip irrigation where appropriate, and planting of native
and/or drought-resistant plants as a standard for newly planted areas or as
replacements.
3. The Contra Costa Water District has passed a resolution urging the Congress to enact
legislation regarding the operation of the Federal Central Valley Project to meet standards
set by the State Water Resources Control Board. The resolution is consistent with the
policies of the Contra Costa County Water Agency. It is appropriate for the Board of
Supervisors to reaffirm this position in a letter to Congressman George Miller endorsing
the action of the Contra Costa Water District and stating that the Contra Costa County
Water Agency agrees with the finding that the Congress should enact legislation to accomplish
the following:
A. Declare that one of the purposes of the Federal Central Valley Project is to
maintain water quality standards for the Bay/Delta system which are, from time to
time, established pursuant to the Federal Clean Water Act by the State Water
Resources Control Board.
B. Authorize the Secretary of the Interior on behalf of the United States to contract
with the State of California for the Coordinated Operation of the Federal Central
Valley Project and the State Water Project for the purposes, among other things,
of maintaining Bay/Delta system water quality standards, maximizing project
yields, and equitably sharing the burdens of drought and emergency.
C. Direct the Secretary of the Interior to include in all contracts for a water -
supply from the Federal Central Valley Project hereafter made or amended, an
express provision that the water supply shall be subject to the prior project
obligation of maintaining the water quality standards for the Bay/Delta system.
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