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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-06-26 - AGENDA REPORTS - BAY DELTA CONSERVATION PLAN (2)CONSENT CALENDAR DATE: SUBJECT: DEPARTMENT: Agenda Item: 3 CITY OF SANTA CLAI;UTA AGENDA REPORT City Manager Approval: Item to be presented by June 26, 2012 Casey Bingham BAY DELTA CONSERVATION PLAN SUPPORT City Manager's Office RECOMMENDED ACTION City Council adopt a "support" position for the Bay Delta Conservation Plan and transmit letters of support to Ken Salazar, Secretary, Department of the Interior, California State Governor Jerry Brown, Santa Clarita's State Legislative delegation, and the Castaic Lake Water Agency. BACKGROUND At the March 27, 2012, City Council meeting, Councilmember Marsha McLean directed City staff to create a future agenda report to support the proposed Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP). One of California's most important water supplies is located in the Sierra Mountains. Snowmelt and rainfall flow from the Sierras to the central water system for California: the Sacramento -San Joaquin Delta (Delta). The Delta is a crucial link in the state's water system, running through Contra Costa, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, and Yolo counties in northern California, at the convergence of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. About half of the water for the Santa Clarita Valley is provided by the Castaic Lake Water Agency (CLWA) from imported water sources, primarily the State Water Project (SWP) from Northern California which includes the Sacramento -San Joaquin Delta. About two-thirds of all Californians and millions of acres of irrigated farmland rely on the Delta for water from the SWP. The SWP extends for more than 600 miles from Northern California to Southern California, terminating at Castaic Lake. The Delta is in jeopardy of collapse as a result of the state's increasing population, demand for MFG) OVED water, and changing environmental conditions, including earthquakes. The Bay Area faces a 63 percent probability of a 6.7 magnitude or larger earthquake in the next 30 years according to the U.S. Geological Survey. A quake of this magnitude could destroy levees and damage the Delta, which is the core of California's water system. Currently the series of dams, aqueducts, and pumps that move water from the Delta to the rest of the state are outdated, including a 100 year-old, man-made agricultural levee system to channel water through the Delta. In order to protect California's water supply from the Delta's aging levees which are deteriorating and are unable to withstand the impacts of earthquakes, floods and rising sea levels, there are several possible solutions under review. This new plan to review these possible solutions is called the "Bay Delta Conservation Plan" (BDCP), and it is being prepared by a group of local water agencies, environmental and conservation organizations, state and federal agencies, and other interest groups, to carry out the redesign of the Delta water system. The BDCP seeks to identify an alternate water conveyance plan or a new way of routing freshwater supplies from the Sacramento River to the state and federal water facilities—whose pumps send water to water agencies throughout California, including.the CLWA. This water conveyance plan will provide for the movement of water. Conveyance infrastructure includes natural watercourses, as well as constructed facilities like canals and pipelines, including control structures such as weirs. Examples of natural watercourses include streams, rivers, and groundwater aquifers. Conveyance facilities range in size from small local end-user distribution systems to the large systems that deliver water to or drain areas as large as multiple hydrologic regions. Conveyance facilities also require associated infrastructure such as pumping plants and power supply, diversion structures, fish ladders, and fish screens. Rather than using the Delta as the primary conduit for water supplies, the BDCP is analyzing conveyance options to move water through a tunnel underneath the Delta, or by channelizing it in a canal around the Delta. The implementation of the BDCP would greatly reduce the salt levels delivered to the Santa Clarita Valley via the State Water Project. A Delta Conveyance Facility (DCF) is part of the BDCP and early design includes measures that divert water from where salt levels are low (the Sacramento River). It is expected to take 9-10 years to complete design and construction of the DCF, and it should be operational in the mid -2020s. Although the timing of this Delta fix may not coincide with the requirements in the current Chloride Total Maximum Daily Load (Salt TMDL), City staff has been informed its construction would help in TMDL compliance by delivering water with low chloride (salt) levels to the City. In the meantime, it is essential that the City, in conjunction with the Santa Clarita Valley Sanitation District, continues to look for every affordable and efficient way to address the ongoing chloride issue in the Santa Clarita Valley. The BDCP would be part of a long-term solution to comply with state regulations, while maintaining local control and protecting N residents from having to pay fines on top of project implementation costs. When complete, the BDCP will provide the basis for the updated water system along with the issuance of endangered species permits for the operation of the state and federal water projects, The plan would be implemented over the next 50 years. The best solution for an updated water system is yet to be determined for the Delta. Between now and beginning of 2013, the BDCP's plan for securing California's water supply will undergo several reviews to ensure legal and environmental requirements are met, and to determine the best approach for moving water and the best location for the new system. The Delta's current water system will also be modernized to withstand disasters, including floods, earthquake and sea level rise in the Delta. The California Department of Water Resources prepared "An Initial Assessment of Dual Delta Water Conveyance" for the Delta Vision Blue Ribbon Task Force. This report identified the range of costs for through -Delta improvements from $1.2 billion to $8.6 billion. The estimated costs for an isolated water facility ranged from $4.2 billion to $7.4 billion for an eastern or western alignment, respectively. The eastern alignment cost includes a canal, intake, fish screen, pumping plant, control structure, siphons, bridges, culverts, utility relocation, railway impacts, forebay, land, some mitigation, no operation and maintenance, and no plarming. The western alignment cost includes a canal, pipeline, pumping plant, pipeline, tunnel, forebay, no mitigation, no operation and maintenance, and no planning. A combination of an isolated facility with through -Delta improvements ranged from $5.4 billion to $17.2 billion depending on alignment and degree of levee improvements selected for the through -Delta. The more expensive through -Delta improvement alternative would include levee earthwork, setback levees, channel dredging as well as intake, siphon, and operable gate components. The cost of the water conveyance project is proposed to be covered by public water agencies that use the water through customer fees spread over many years, with no state general fund dollars being used. The federal, state, and local water agencies will need to combine their efforts to agree on project goals, plans, benefit/cost analysis, as well as financing mechanisms such as bonds and user fees. The Castaic Lake Water Agency is in support of the BDCP and stated this plan remains an "important opportunity to achieve the state's dual goals of Delta ecosystem restoration and improved water supply reliability." CLWA also declared the "BDCP is our best chance to restore water supply reliability and address the ecologic challenges facing the Delta." Over 25 California State Legislators have written letters of support for the BDCP, including Assemblymember Cameron Smyth (38th District), Senator Sharon Runner (17th District), and Senator Tony Strickland (19th District). ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS 1. Adopt an"oppose" position for the Bay Delta Conservation Plan. 2. Take no position for the Bay Delta Conservation Plan. 3. Other direction as determined by the City Council. FISCAL IMPACT No additional resources are needed to implement the recommended action. ATTACHMENTS CLWA Support BDCP CA Legislature Support BDCP F NEWS RELEASE DATE: November29,2010 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Dan Masnada, General Manager (661) 297-1600 ext. 239 Dirk Marks, Water Resources Manager (661) 297-1600 ext. 297 CASTAIC LAKE WATER AGENCY SUPPORTS ONGOING BAY DELTA CONSERVATION PLAN PROCESS The Castaic Lake Water Agency continues to believe that the Bay Delta Conservation Plan remains an important opportunity to achieve the state's dual goals of Delta ecosystem restoration and improved water supply reliability. The BDCP needs leadership commitments from federal and state agencies in order to complete an analysis of solutions that work for all of California. "While the Castaic Lake Water Agency shares in the frustrations of other agencies that the BDCP process is experiencing serious delays," stated Castaic Lake Water Agency General Manager Dan Masnada, "staying the course to complete ongoing technical work is vital to arriving at a solution for California's future. The Delta is California's Katrina disaster in waiting. Experts predict a major earthquake in the next 25 years that would cause over twenty Delta islands to collapse; the environmental impacts would be devastating and municipal water supplies could be cut off for up to six months. The BDCP is our best chance to restore water supply reliability and address the ecologic challenges facing the Delta." About half of the Santa Clarita Valley's municipal water needs are met from imported water provided by the Castaic Lake Water Agency from the State Water Project and other sources. CASTAIC L A K E BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT R. J. KELLY VICE PRESIDENT PETER KAVOLINAS E.G."JERRY'GLADBACH DEAN D. EFSTATHIOU WILLIAM C. COOPER WILLIAMPECSI THOMAS P. CAMPBELL EDWARD A. COLLEY JACQUELYN H. WMILLAN B. J. ATKINS KEITH ABERCROMBIE "A PUBLIC AGENCY PROVIDING RELIABLE, DUALITY WATER AT A REASONABLE COST TO THE SANTA CLARITA VALLEY" GENERAL MANAGER DAN MASNADA GENERAL COUNSEL McCORMICK, KIDMAN & BEHRENS, LLP SECRETARY APRILJACOBS 27234 BOUQUET CANYON ROAD - SANTA CLARiTA, CALIFORNIA 91350-2173 - 661 297-1600 FAX 661 297-1611 websTe address: www.clwa.arg CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE '1.1TT December 19, 2011 The Honorable Ken Salazar Secretary, Depai tnicrit of Interior IS49 C St reel, N.W, Washington, D.C. 20240 -1 he Honorable John Laird SLcretaiy, Natural Resouices Agency 1416 Ninth Street, Suite 1311 Sacramento, CA 95814 The Honorable Mike Connor Commissioner, B1JreaU of Reclamation Mid -Pacific Region, Bay -Delta Office 801 1 Street, Suite 140 Sacramento, CA 95814 Re: SUI)POrt for Bay Delta Conservation Plan and Amended Memorandum of Agreement Dear Secretaries Salazar, Laird, and Commissioner Connor: As California state legislators who support the co-eqUal goals to restore the Siciarnprito-San Joaquin Delta environment and to achieve a reliable water supply for the econorny, we appreciate Your ongoing efforts to find IaStioo� Solutions thrOUgh the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BUCP) process, We urge YOU to keep the process on track toward the releaso. of diah [Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) next year mid a final Record of Decision in Febf Uary, 2013. I lie historic package of Delta/water managernent legislation adopted in 2009 helped to advance a lasting water solution. The new target of reducing pLI-Caoita urban statewide water U�e by 20 percent by the year 2020, as one example, ha� led Southern California to ineet )It of its increased demands through local initiatives for the first time in niodcrn history. Also, aggrLssive water conservation efforts in California's agricultural areas are already being ramped UI) to Surpass the goals of the 2009 legislation. But solving California's water problems also requires action in the Delta, The BDCP is following the legal mandate to review a wide variety of potential conveyance improvement options in the Delia. Your efforts, and those of the Brown Adininistiation, have created what is arguably the most transparent habitat conservation planning process in the nation. To date, BDCP has held 6 Support for BDCP and Amended rvIOA (Page 2) over 300 public meetings. The recent decision to release all draft p an ning/environ men Lai review miterials, to the public ensures that the diSCUSSiOn focuses on the ments Of Various restoration/conveyance ideas as opposed to distracting debates on the process, Local public water agencies that represent more than 25 million Californiins and servo more than two million acres of productive famnland are prepared to spend nearly a quarter billion dollars to advance this planning process to the action phase. Early studies estimate the action phase of the BDCP will create almost 130,000 jobs from an invesiment of more than $12.5 billion in heavy construction funded by local public water agencies without any assistance from the state's General Fund. We support the constructive en. -agement Of all stakeholders it) a collaborative planning effort with tire local public a.-encies to move the BDCP process forward. Sincerely, I- — x - V 7 Support for 9DCP and Amendcd MOA (PigL 3) 4-1 t '7V/ j �' cc: Senator Boxer Senator Feinstein Deputy Secretary Jei ty Meral Mark Cowin, Director, DWR NO, Support for BDCP and Amended MOA (Pab-e 4) I he following California State Legislators are reflected above as signatories: Michael J. Rubio (Senator, 16"' District) ShafOn Runner (Senator, 17"' District) Ed Hernandez (Senator, 24"' District) Cameron Smyth (Assemblyrnember, 38"' District) lotly Strickland (Senator, ff" District) Jean Fuller (Senator, 18"' District) Bob Dutton (Senator, 31" District) Luis Alcjo (Assemblymember, 28"' District) David Valadacr (Assernblymernber, 30"' District) Elaine Alquist (Senator, .13"' District) Kevin Jeffries (Assembfyrnernber, 66;" District) Paul Cook lAssemblyrnernber, 65"' District) Charles Calderon (Assernblymember, 58"' Di5tiict) Gil Cedilla (Assemblymernber, 45"' District) Nora Campos (Assernblymember, 23"' District) Robert A. iAiteckowski (Assemblymember, 20t" District) Shannon Grove (Assernblymember, 32"d District) Henry Perea (AS5Qmblymernber, 31't District) AnIhony Cannella fSenator, '12"' Disit ict) Roper Hemandez (Assernblymember, S7"' District) Isadore Hall (Assernblymember, 52" District) Roderick Wright (Senaloi, 25i" District) Bob HUif (Senator, 29"' District) I