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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 04151986 - WC.3 I .. TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FROM: WATER COMMITTEE DATE: APRIL 14, 1986 SUBJECT: WATER COMMITTEE REPORT - LEGISLATION Specific Requests or Recommendations E Background b Justification RECOMMENDED ACTION Take the following positions, as Governing Board of the Contra Costa County Water Agency, on the legislation listed below: AB 459- Water Resources Development: Delta Plan (3/18/86) - Watch AB 3906- Water Conservation Program (2/21/86) - Support ACR 121- Aquatic Habitat Institute (2/21/86) - Support SB 2612- Water Facilities (3/17/86) - Oppose FINANCIAL IMPACT None REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION/BACKGROUND The Water Committee, at its March 14 , 1986 meeti.ng, considered each of the proposed legis- lative bills and examined the rationale that justified the above-stated positions for consistency with the County' s established water policy. A summary of the bills and rationale for County positions has been provided to Board Members and is on file with the Clerk of the Board and the Community Development Department. Continued on attachment: yes Signature: Recommendation of County dmin stratoreco n o Boar Committee Approve Other: Signature(s): .�-�7�" G/ � Supervisor 2unne McPeak Supervisor Ro t Schroder Action of Board on: /S, l�,9b Approved as Rec ended Other I Vote of Supervisors I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE 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: we.bo.1eg,t4rl Attested244�z /if 9 Orig. Div.: Community Development (EC) p ,' K cc: County Administrator OF THE BOARD AND COUNTY County Legislative Delegation-via CDD ADMINISTRATOR Cressey Nakagawa-Water Agency Attorney-via CDD By , DEPUTY TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FROM: FISH b WILDLIFE STUDY COMMITTEE (VIA WATER C0*1ITTEE) DATE: APRIL 3, 1986 SUBJECT: PROPOSAL TO LIST SALMON AS A THREATENED SPECIES Specific Request(s) or ecommendat ons a Background S Justification RECOMMENDED ACTION AUTHORIZE the Chair to sign a letter to the National Marine Fisheries Service supporting the concept of listing winter run Chinook salmon in the Sacramento River as a threatened species and encouraging government agencies to take measures to increase the population so that the listing is not necessary. FINANCIAL IMPACT None REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION/BACKGROUND On March 25,1?86, the Board referred to the Fish b Wildlife Study Committee a letter from the National Marine Fisheries Services seeking comments on the proposal to list winter run chinook salmon in the Sacramento River as a federally-identified threatened species. The American Fisheries Society has accumulated data showing the decline of winter run chinook in the Sacramento River. This documentation has been presented to the National Marine Fisheries Services in support of a petition to list the salmon as a threatened species. The National Marine Fisheries Services has determined that the request presents "substantial scientific information indicating that the petition action may be warranted". The request was published in the Federal Register and comments are sought to provide additional infor- mation and data on the salmon run. The National Marine Fisheries Services will evaluate all the data presented and will make a determination within 12 months. Salmon make several runs up the Sacramento River in a given year. The success of spawning for each run varies depending on climatologicalI conditions, outflow from upstream reservoirs and hatchery operations. The winter run salmon has suffered a major decline and is in serious danger. This action would not have a direct impact on other spawning runs of Continued on attachment: X yes Signature: Recommendation of County nistratorZK rd omm ttee Approve Other: �? Si ature s "L, "� Supervisor Sunne McPeak VSupervisor Robert Schroder Action of Board on: 1,S 9 t, Approved as Recomnended_X_ Other_ Vote of Supervisors I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS 1S A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN Unanimous (Absent ) AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE Ayes: NoeiT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON DATE SHOWN. . Absent: Abstain: wa .ho.salmon.tT— Attested Orig. Div.: Community Development K cc: County Administrator OF THE BOARD AND COUNTY Fish b Wildlife Study Committee via CDD ADMINISTRATOR Com.for Water Policy Consensus via CDD By DEPUT CLERK PROPOSAL TO LIST SALMON AS A THREATENED SPECIES April 3, 1986 Page 7 salmon or other species such as striped bass. However, any regulations which would protect the winter run salmon would have a beneficial effect on other users of the Sacramento River. One potential problem is that if the winter run salmon are listed as a threatened species , other salmon which cannot be differentiated from other salmon in the ocean, may also be "protected" and may affect rights of commercial fishermen, and sports fishermen, to take salmon. This latter concern is not likely to occur, according to those who have studied this issue. At the April 3, 1986 meeting of the Fish & Wildlife Study Committee, the Committee reviewed their proposal . The Committee felt that the attention that may be caused by the potential listing of salmon as a threatened species may be beneficial to the salmon and other fish in the Sacramento River. Governmental agencies, particularly those involved in water projects, may be more likely to implement projects and management options which would protect the winter run salmon rather than face the threat of listing the salmon as a threatened species and being forced to modify their operations substantially. Measures such as modification of existing dams , operations of existing dams and diversion facilities, and restrictions on pumping during certain critical time periods could be implemented on a rapid basis by many governmental agencies. The Fish b Wildlife Committee recommends that the Board support the concept of listing the salmon as a threatened species and using this mechanism as a means to bring attention to the modifications necessary to protect the salmon and other species, as well as general water quality in the estuary.