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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Res 6758 2017-08-14RESOLUTION NUMBER 6758 A RESOLUTION OF THE SEAL BEACH CITY COUNCIL SUPPORTING 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 6"' 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, ' WHEREAS, 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, 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, Resolution Number 6758 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 Califomia 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; 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; 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. NOW, THEREFORE, THE SEAL BEACH CITY COUNCIL DOES HEREBY FIND AND RESOLVE: Section 1. The City of Seal Beach 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. I Resolution Number 6758 Section 2. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this resolution. PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED by the Seal Beach City Council at a regular meeting held on the 14'" day of August , 2017 by the following vote: AYES: Council Members: Massa - Lavitt, Deaton, Sustarsic, Moore NOES: Council Members: None ABSENT: Council Members: Varipapa ABSTAIN: Council Members: None STATE OF CALIFORNIA } COUNTY OF ORANGE } SS CITY OF SEAL BEACH } I, Robin L. Roberts, City Clerk of the City of Seal Beach, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is the original copy of Resolution Number 6758 on file in the office of the City Clerk, passed, approved, and adopted by the Seal Beach City Council at a regular meeting held on the 1 fday of August , 2017. 2%-tin L. Roberts, City Clerk