HomeMy WebLinkAbout05 RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF CALIFORNIA WATERFIX & ECORESTOREnda
AGENDA REPORT Reeeweldm 5
City Manager
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Finance Director
MEETING DATE: JULY 5, 2017
TO: JEFFREY C. PARKER, CITY MANAGER
FROM: DOUGLAS S. STACK, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS/CITY ENGINEER
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF CALIFORNIA WATERFIX AND ECORESTORE
SUMMARY
As a critical source of water supply, the California Bay Delta provides approximately 30 percent of
Southern California's water supply annually. In partnership with the Municipal Water District of
Orange County (MWDOC), the City of Tustin participated in the recent Orange County Water
Reliability Study (Study) evaluating scenarios and projects that enhance or sustain water supplies
to the region. Modeling shows the California WaterFix, as currently proposed, represents the most
cost-effective, large-scale reliability solution to improving Orange County's water supply reliability
over the next 25 years.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt Resolution 17-36 supporting the California WaterFix
and California EcoRestore.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this item.
CORRELATION TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN
This item contributes to the fulfillment of the City's Strategic Plan Goal D: Strong Community and
Regional Relationships. Specifically, by implementing Strategy 2, which is to work collaboratively
with agencies within and outside of Tustin on issues of mutual interest and concern.
DISCUSSION
As a critical source of water supply, the California Bay Delta provides approximately 30 percent of
Southern California's water supply annually. In partnership with the Municipal Water District of
Orange County (MWDOC), the City of Tustin participated in the recent Orange County Water
Reliability Study (Study) evaluating scenarios and projects that enhance or sustain water supplies
to the region. Modeling shows the California WaterFix, as currently proposed, represents the most
cost-effective, large-scale reliability solution to improving Orange County's water supply reliability
over the next 25 years.
The supply analyses in the Study assumed that the California WaterFix results in "recovery" (i.e.,
prevents the future loss) of historical supplies in the amount of 440,000 acre-feet per year on
average.
MWDOC Directors in December passed a resolution of support for the California WaterFix, which
is approaching the final stages for its permits and environmental documents (EIR/EIS and Record
of Decision). The profile and level of support for these two programs needs to be raised. More
California WaterFix Support
July 5, 2017
Page 2
than 100 alternatives were considered during a 10 -year study period that drew 30,000 public
comments before Plan 4a, the WaterFix, was recommended.
The California WaterFix involves construction and design of the three new water intakes north of
the Delta and the two, 32 -mile, 9,000 cfs underground tunnels that will provide operational
pumping flexibility and protect against water supply disruption. However, much remains to be
determined, especially with respect to the financing, regulatory certainty and operating criteria for
the project.
In addition to water management and quality benefits, a large and growing consensus understands
that the Delta is in an unsustainable position and needs to be "fixed" to accommodate the many
competing interests for the future, especially with regard to ensuring the area is a sustainable
ecosystem. The status quo is yielding a continuing degradation of the Delta systems, levee
integrity and water supply reliability. The companion initiative to the California WaterFix is the
EcoRestore, which seeks to achieve the State's co -equal goal of habitat restoration and reliability
of supplies. EcoRestore is initially charged with 30,000 acres of restoration efforts under an
accelerated effort by 2020 to improved habitat conditions for fisheries migration, restore tidal and
non -tidal wetland habitat for native wildlife, and improve connectivity among existing grassland and
other natural habitats.
Success in the Delta continues to rely on the implementation of the California WaterFix and
EcoRestore to achieve the co -equal goals. The ecological health of the Delta and fish species are
fundamentally linked to the reasonable use and export of water supplies. Although total restoration
of the Delta to the historical past is not possible, there can be significant improvements in how best
to approach the management of the Delta's combined water and land resources in a manner that
will realistically achieve improvements in both water supply reliability and ecosystem protection of
the Delta's endangered or threatened aquatic species.
Based on these proposed improvements in system conveyance and habitat restoration, staff
recommends the City Council adopt a support position for the California WaterFix and California
EcoRestore.
Stack, P. E.
Public Works/City Engineer
Attachment: Resolution 17-36
S:\City Council Items\2017 Council Items\07-05-2017\CA Water Fix SupporMgenda Report.docx
RESOLUTION NO. 17-36
SUPPORT FOR THE CALIFORNIA WATERFIX AND
CALIFORNIA ECORESTORE
WHEREAS, the Delta, formed by the confluence of the Sacramento and San
Joaquin Rivers as they come together and flow into San Francisco Bay, is a major water
hub for California's water supply system for the majority of the State, including 30 percent of
the supplies for Southern California, and therefore underpins the overall economy of
California, which stands equivalent to the 6th largest country in the world; and,
WHEREAS, the Delta historically was a complex and dynamic natural system driven
by tidal fluctuations and natural marsh flooding that has been highly altered over the last
100 years, with many of the levees and islands reclaimed from former marshlands for
development or farming. The Delta was never intended to be a water conveyance facility.
The scientific consensus is that the Delta is not sustainable as it exists today and that
changes must be made to stabilize conditions; and,
WHEREAS, from a fisheries, farming and water -management perspective, the Delta
will continue to decline, at an increasing rate as sea levels rise and continuing subsidence
caused by farming result in salinity intrusion, artesian conditions and levee failures, which
will become more frequent and more expensive to mitigate or repair as time passes; and,
WHEREAS, 25 million residents rely on water from the Delta, and local conservation
cannot replace the water the Delta has historically supplied to Southern California even
though that amount is only 4 percent of the annual average Delta flows; and,
WHERAS, no practicable and economically efficient way exits to improve existing
levees to keep pace with sea level rise or prevent levee collapse during a large earthquake.
The consequences to the Bay Delta ecosystem, the water supply and the California
economy would be immediate, severe and negative when these events occur; and,
w WHEREAS,, Voters approved the State Water Project (SWP) about 55 years ago,
yet it was never completed as, envisioned to include an independent conveyance facility that
would allow increased capture and storage of water during periods of high flows and would
also minimize conflicts with fisheries; and,
WHEREAS, as the result of federal court decisions, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and
National Marine Fisheries Service Biological Opinions, as well as other regulatory
constraints to protect native species in the Delta, the SWP has not been able to collect,
store, and deliver an estimated volume of 3.6 million acre-feet of water since 2008; and,
WHEREAS, although restoration of the Delta to the conditions of the historical past
is not possible, much has been learned through science studies about what is needed to
improve the management and utilization of the Delta that can enhance fish, wildlife and
water management for the future; and,
WHEREAS, Governor Brown's California WaterFix and California EcoRestore
proposal provide a framework of how best to approach managing the Delta's combined
water and land resources in a manner that will realistically achieve improvements in both
water supply reliability and ecosystem protection for the Delta as an evolving place by
balancing the many competing demands; and,
WHEREAS, the California WaterFix and Eco -Restore proposal will help with water
supply reliability by improving essential ecosystem functions so that populations of
endangered or threatened aquatic species will be strengthened; and,
WHEREAS, the California EcoRestore will pursue more than 30,000 acres of critical
Delta restoration over the next five years, including the improvements of habitat conditions
for fisheries migration, restoring tidal and non -tidal wetland habitat for native wildlife, and
improving connectivity among existing grassland and other natural habitats; and,
WHEREAS, the California WaterFix includes construction of three intakes north of
the Delta, two 35 -mile tunnels up to 150 feet below the Delta and Clifton Court forebay
modifications, all of which will provide operational pumping flexibility and protect against
water supply disruption due to sea -level rise, earthquakes and flood events; and,
WHEREAS, the three new intakes north of the Delta will improve environmental
conditions in the Delta by reducing reverse -flow conditions, minimizing the trapping of
migrating fish and reducing diversions during critical fish -migration periods, which will allow
more operational flexibility to enhance water deliveries, especially during wet periods; and,
WHEREAS, improving the SWP system can increase regional storage reserve
levels. These storage reserves are used to protect the region from devastating effects of
drought and other emergencies. The California WaterFix will help ensure that Orange
County will have sufficient supplies at critical times when we need them; and,
WHEREAS, the 2016 Orange County Water Reliability Study revealed a number of
important findings with implications for the county's water reliability, including that projected
water shortages would be too frequent and overall reliability would not be sustainable by as
early as 2030 without new supply and system investments by the Metropolitan Water
District of Southern California (MET), its member agencies and Orange County;
WHEREAS, Orange County should strongly advocate for the implementation of the
California WaterFix and EcoRestore, as it represents the most cost-effective large-scale
reliability solution to improve regional water supply reliability for all of Southern California.
The Orange County water reliability supply analyses assumes the California WaterFix
results in "recovery" of historical supplies in the amount of approximately 440,000 acre-feet
per year on average and notes that adjustments to the project costs or supply development
could result in changes to this recommendation; and,
WHEREAS, Orange County ratepayers have invested millions of dollars to build and
maintain the SWP as well as portions of Metropolitan's regional storage, distribution, and
treatment systems that take delivery of SWP supplies. Modernizing the system through the
California WaterFix will protect this investment for decades to come; and,
WHEREAS, moving forward with the California WaterFix will not be an inexpensive
endeavor; however, it is the most cost-effective investment of the ratepayers' dollars to
maintain and continue our economic vitality for the region. Furthermore, all of the costs for
California WaterFix will be paid for exclusively by water agencies benefiting from the
project; and,
WHEREAS, to do nothing in the Delta is far costlier to the businesses, residents,
and economy in the State of California and Orange County than investing in the California
WaterFix and California EcoRestore; and
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the City Council of the City of Tustin does
hereby support the California EcoRestore and California WaterFix Preferred Alternative
(No.4A) as described in the environmental documents with reasonable adherence to the
current, public operating criteria and cost allocation principles and assumptions.
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Tustin held
on the 5th day of July 2017.
Dr. Allan Bernstein
Mayor
ATTEST:
ERICA N. RABE
City Clerk
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) SS
CITY OF TUSTIN )
I, ERICA N. RABE, City Clerk and ex -officio Clerk of.the City Council of the City of
Tustin, California, do hereby certify that the whole number of the members of the City
Council is five; that the above and foregoing Resolution No. 17 -XX was duly and
regularly passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council held on the 5th
day of July, 2017 by the following vote:
COUNCILMEMBER AYES:
COUNCILMEMBER NOES:
COUNCILMEMBER ABSTAINED:
COUNCILMEMBER ABSENT:
ERICA N. RABE,
City Clerk