HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-053 - California Waterfix and California Ecorestore Projectsjmf 7/11/17
RESOLUTION NO. 2017-053
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SANTA ANA IN SUPPORT OF THE CALIFORNIA
WATERFIX AND CALIFORNIA ECORESTORE PROJECTS
WHEREAS, the California 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; 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, 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, Governor Brown's California WaterFix and California EcoRestore
proposal provides 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 EcoRestore 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
Resolution No. 2017-053
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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, 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 needed; 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, its member agencies, and Orange
County; and
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.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of
Santa Ana as follows:
Section 1. The City of Santa Ana does hereby support the California
EcoRestore and California WaterFix Preferred Alternative (No.4A) as described in the
respective environmental documents with reasonable adherence to the current, public
operating criteria and cost allocation principles and assumptions.
Resolution No. 2017-053
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jmf 7/11/17
Section 2. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by
the City Council, and the Clerk of the Council shall attest to and certify the vote adopting
this Resolution.
ADOPTED this 1 st day of August, 2017.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Sonia R. Carvalho, City Attorney
By:ate. �.�,.,-A
John M. Funk
Assistant City Attorney
AYES: Councilmembers Martinez, Pulido, Sarmiento, Solorio,
Villegas (5)
NOES: Councilmembers
ABSTAIN: Councilmembers None (0)
NOT PRESENT: Councilmembers Benvides, Tinaiero (2)
Resolution No. 2017-053
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CERTIFICATE OF ATTESTATION AND ORIGINALITY
I, MARIA D. HUIZAR, Clerk of the Council, do hereby attest to and certify the attached
Resolution No. 2017-053 to be the original resolution adopted by the City Council of the
City of Santa Ana on August 1, 2017.
Date: t5/+9�, /-) y/ - % dot,. ✓
Maria D. Huizar
Clerk of the Council
City of Santa Ana
Resolution No. 2017-053
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