HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-07-08 - AGENDA REPORTS - INTEGRATED REGIONAL WATER PLAN (2)Agenda Item:
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDAREPORT
NEW BUSINESS City Manager Approval:
Item to be presented by:
DATE: July 8, 2008
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION FOR INTEGRATED REGIONAL WATER
MANAGEMENT PLAN (IRWMP)
DEPARTMENT: Public Works
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council adopt a resolution to approve the final IRWMP as approved at the July 1, 2008,
Upper Santa Clara River Integrated Regional Water Management Group (USCR IRWMG) public
meeting.
BACKGROUND
Since late 2006, the City of Santa Clarita has been working with Castaic Lake Water Agency
(CLWA), Los Angeles County Flood Control District, San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles
Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, Newhall County Water District, Santa Clarita Valley
Sanitation District of Los Angeles County, Santa Clarita Water Division of CLWA, and Valencia
Water Company to develop an Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (IRWMP) for the
Upper Santa Clara River Watershed. This group of agencies is the Upper Santa Clara River
Integrated Regional Water Management Group (USCR IRWMG). The IRWMP is meant to help
address water supply, quality, and resource stewardship issues in this region.
In 2006, voters approved Proposition 84, a water bond which made $1 billion available in grants
for projects that assist local public agencies in meeting the long-term water needs of the state.
Projects include the protection of water quality and the environment and the delivery of safe
drinking water. The Los Angeles and Ventura County region is eligible for $215 million under
this section of Proposition 84 grants. Eligible projects must implement IRWMPs. The IRWMPs
must identify and address the major water -related objectives and conflicts within the region,
consider all of the resource management strategies identified in the California Water Plan, and
use an integrated multi -benefit approach to project selection and design. Three or more local
public agencies must approve the IRWMP. At least two of these agencies must have statutory
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authority over water management. Ventura County, the greater Los Angeles County IRWMP
group, and the Upper Santa Clara River RWMG are discussing options for dividing the funds
between regions equitably.
The USCR IRWMG signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2007. Each signing entity
contributed the equivalent of $45,000 towards hiring a consultant to develop the IRWMP,
facilitate public meetings, and collect data. The USCR IRWMG members met regularly to
discuss priorities and issues and write the IRWMP sections. The IRWMP process also included
nine stakeholder meetings to present information and ask for input on priorities. Attached is the
list of regularly participating stakeholders. City staff circulated memorandums summarizing
each of the meetings to the City Council. The higher priority projects concerning the IRWMP
include water pre -softening, large landscape water efficiency, arundo and invasive plant removal,
Discovery Park, recharge projects, acquisition of riparian and floodplain habitat, and efforts to
increase use of recycled water. The projects that USCR IRWMG would include in a grant
application will depend on the grant criteria set by the Department of Water Resources and the
readiness of the project.
After a lengthy planning and stakeholder process, the USCR IRWMG prepared the draft
IRWMP, and made it available for public review. On May 1, 2008, the group held a publicly
noticed workshop at Hart Hall to take comments on the draft. This workshop had poor
attendance in contrast to previous stakeholder meetings. The public comment period did not
produce a significant amount of comments. All USCR IRWMG members will request that their
boards and councils approve the IRWMP. The USCR IRWMG authorized the final version on
July 1, 2008. Upon USCR IRWMG obtaining approval from their respective board members and
council members, an official adoption of the IRWMP will take place at a meeting to be set in
July 2008. The IRWMP public review draft is posted at www.scrwaterplan.org under the
"Documents" tab at the top of their webpage.
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) does not consider the IRWMP a project since
the IRWMP is a planning tool and not likely to cause any significant physical change to the
environment. The IRWMP is exempt from CEQA review pursuant under Section �15262 because
it involves a conceptual plan associated with feasibility and planning studies for possible future
actions. In addition, Section 15306 exempts it because it involves basic data collection and
resource evaluation activities, which do not result in a serious or major disturbance to an
environmental resource.
The IRWMP also expands the successor USCR IRWMG to extend membership to those
considered stakeholders at this point. The successor USCR IRWMG for IRWMP governance
will expand from the current seven seats and one ex -officio member (San Gabriel and Lower Los
Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy) to eleven members. The criteria for the successor
USCR IRWMG is detailed in Section 5 on pages 16 - 18 and largely encompasses statutory
authority over water supply, water quality, or resource stewardship issues. Also envisioned is a
new Memorandum of Understanding in the document. The IRWMP is intended to be a living
document. It will require revisions, particularly as funded projects are completed, as new water
management needs arise, and information and/or studies require future modification.
The attached resolution approves the final IRWMP for the region. This final IRWMP is online at
the www.serwaterplan.org website. In addition, future efforts could expand the USCR IRWMG
to include additional members (up to eleven). All the members of the USCR IRWMG are
requesting this approval from their board members and council members.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Other action as determined by the City Council.
SCALIMPACT
There is no fiscal impact by this action.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution
Regularly Participating Stakeholders List
July 1, 2008 - IRWMP Public Notice
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RESOLUTION 08 -
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING
THE INTEGRATED REGIONAL WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (IRWMP)
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Clarita has the responsibility for water quality under the
Clean Water Act through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit, Total
Maximum Daily Loads; and
WHEREAS, in 2002, the California legislature enacted Division 6, Part 2.2, of the
California Water Code, known as the Integrated Regional Water Management Planning Act of
2002 ("Act") for, among other things, the purpose of encouraging local agencies to work together
to manage their available water supplies and to improve the quality, quantity, and availability of
those supplies; and
WHEREAS, the Act encourages local agencies of different types to join together to form
a Regional Water Management Group (RWMG) to address water supply, quantity, and quality
issues in their areas; and
WHEREAS, on or about March 2007, Castaic Lake Water Agency (CLWA), Newhall
County Water District, Santa Clarita Valley Sanitation District of Los Angeles County, City of
Santa Clarita, Los Angeles County Flood Control District, Santa Clarita Water Division (SCWD)
of the Castaic Lake Water Agency, and the Valencia Water Company formed a Regional Water
Management Group pursuant to a Memorandum of Understanding, entered into by said parties,
to address the resource stewardship, water supply, quality, and quantity issues in their region; and
WHEREAS, the Upper Santa Clara River Integrated Regional Water Management
Group, of which the City of Santa Clarita is a member, has developed a proposed Integrated
Regional Water Management Plan for the Upper Santa Clara River, and pursuant thereto,
published notice of the group's intention to adopt such a plan in accordance with the
requirements of the Act; and
WHEREAS, the proposed Upper Santa Clara River Integrated Regional Water
Management Plan was developed through a comprehensive stakeholder process; and
WHEREAS, the Upper Santa Clara River Integrated Regional Water Management Plan is
not "project" within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because
the plan is not likely to cause any significant physical change to the environment, given that it is
simply a planning tool. But even if the plan is a project subject to CEQA review, it is exempt
from CEQA review pursuant to, inter alia, Section 15262 and Section 15306 of the State CEQA
Guidelines. It is exempt under Section 15262 because it involves a conceptual plan associated
with feasibility and planning studies for possible future actions. Further, it is exempt under
Section 15306 because it involves basic data collection, and resource evaluation activities, which
do not result in a serious or major disturbance to an environmental resource.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Santa Clarita does hereby resolve,
determine, and order as follows:
SECTION 1. The City Council approve the Integrated Regional Water Management Plan
on behalf of the City of Santa Clarita.
SECTION 2. The City Manager or his designee are hereby authorized to take any and all
actions necessary to apply, either separately or collectively with other members of the Upper
Santa Clara River Integrated Regional Water Management Group, for grants under Proposition
84 to compensate the members of the Upper Santa Clara River Integrated Regional Water
Management Group for the costs and expenses incurred in preparation of the Integrated Regional
Water Management Plan, its update, or for the funding of the implementation of the programs
under the Integrated Regional Water Management Plan.
SECTION 3. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this day of 2008.
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
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MAYOR
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss.
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA )
I, Sharon L. Dawson, CMC, City Clerk of the City of Santa Clarita, do hereby certify that
the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted by the City Council of the City of Santa Clarita at a
regular meeting thereof, held on the day of , 2008, by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS:
CITY CLERK
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss.
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA )
CERTIFICATION OF
CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION
I, Sharon L. Dawson, City Clerk of the City of Santa Clarita, do hereby certify that this is a true
and correct copy of the original Resolution 08 - , adopted by the City Council of the City of
Santa Clarita, California on , 2008, which is now on file in my office.
Witness my hand and seal of the City of Santa Clarita, California, this day of
32008.
Sharon L. Dawson, CMC
City Clerk
By
Susan Caputo
Deputy City Clerk
M
IRWMP Regularly Participating Stakeholders
• Agua Dulce Town Council
• Agua Dulce/Acton Country Journal
• Association of Water Agencies of Ventura County
• Atkins Environmental
• Building Industry Association
• California Department of Fish and Game
• California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)
• California Department of Water Resources
• Castaic Area Town Council
• Castaic Lake Water Agency
• City of Santa Clarita
• County of Ventura
• Lake Elizabeth Mutual Water Company
• Los Angeles County -Department of Parks and Recreation
• Los Angeles County Department of Public Works
• Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning
• Los Angeles County Flood Control District
• Los Angeles County Supervisor's Office
• Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board
• Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority
• United States Natural Resources Conservation Service
• The Nature Conservancy
• Newhall County Water District
• Newhall Land ,and Farming Company
• Rivers and Mountains Conservancy Water and Environment
• Santa Clarita Organization for Planning the Environment
• Santa Clarita Valley Environmental Coalition
• Santa Clarita Valley Sanitation District
• Santa Clarita Valley Well Owners Association
• Santa Clarita Water Division
• Sierra Pelona Mutual Water Company
• Town Council of Acton
• Town Council of West Ranch
• United States Army Corps of Engineers
• United States Fish and Wildlife Service
• United States Forest Service - Angeles National Forest
• University of California Cooperative Extension
• Valencia Water Company
• Valley Crest Tree Company
• Ventura County Resource Conservation District
NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT THE UPPER SANTA CLARA RIVER
INTEGRATED REGIONAL WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (IRWMP)
All interested persons are invited to attend and be heard at a public hearing to be
held by the Upper Santa Clara River Regional Water Management Group (USCR
RWMG), on Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at 5:00p.m. at Hart Hall, 24151 North San Fernando
Road, Newhall, California. At the public hearing, the RWMG will consider whether,or not
to adopt the Upper Santa Clara River Integrated Regional Water Management Plan
(IRWMP), as discussed below:
PROJECT INFORMATION: The USCR RWMG was formed consistent with Water
Code Section 10537 as a coalition of agencies, and consists of more than three public
agencies, at least two of which have statutory authority over water supply. For the
USCR RWMG the two agencies with statutory authority over water supply are the
Castaic Lake Water Agency (CLWA) and the Newhall County Water District. The other
agencies in the USCR RWMG are the City of Santa Clarita, the Santa Clarita Valley
Sanitation District, the Los Angeles County Flood Control District, the Valencia Water
Company, and the Santa Clarita Water Division of the CLWA. One additional agency,
the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, is an ex -
officio member of the USCR RWMG.
The USCR RWMG directed the publication of a notice of intention to prepare an
IRWMP 'on April 17, 2007 [per Water Code Section 10541(a)], held a public hearing
making a determination to prepare an IRWMP on May 15, 2007 [per Water Code
Section 10541(b)], and is hereby publishing a notice of intent to adopt the IRWMP [per
Water Code Section 10541(c)]. As noted above, the USCR RWMG will hold a public
hearing on July 1, 2008 to consider whether or not to adopt the USCR IRWMP [per
Water Code Section 10541(d)]. If three or more participants in the group determine to
adopt the USCR IRWMP, including at least two of which that have statutory authority
over water supply, the group shall adopt the plan not later than 30 days after the date of
the hearing [per Water Code Section 10541(d)].
The public comment period on the Public Review Draft of the IRWMP has closed,
and the Final Draft IRWMP is now complete and available on the Upper Santa Clara
River IRWMP website (scrwaterplan.org).
For more information please contact:
Jeff Ford, Water Resources Planner
Castaic Lake Water Agency
27234 Bouquet Canyon Road
Santa Clarita, CA 91350
(661) 297-1600
e-mail at jford@clwa.org