To: Board of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency
Staff Name and Phone Number: Jay Jasperse, 547-1959
Vote Requirement: Informational Only
Supervisorial District(s): All
Title:
Title
Water Supply Workshop
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Receive an Update on Strategic Water Supply Initiatives. (Informational Only)
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Executive Summary:
The Water Supply Workshop will be an opportunity for Sonoma County Water Agency’s Board of Directors to receive an update on strategic water supply initiatives. The workshop will begin with an overview of the 2018 Water Supply Strategies Action Plan and follow with additional information being provided on key water supply resiliency initiatives.
The 2018 Water Supply Strategies Action Plan (Action Plan) is a key planning document for Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water). The Action Plan is an update of a 2013 plan originally developed in 2010 in cooperation with Sonoma Water contractors that addresses immediate and long-term challenges in providing a reliable regional water supply, including aging infrastructure vulnerable to natural hazards, and water supply uncertainties due to regulatory issues, drought, and climate change. The Action Plan focuses on water supply projects and programs.
Following the Action Plan update, Sonoma Water will provide additional information on key water supply resiliency programs currently underway. Although each of these key programs are included in the Action Plan, the workshop will provide additional details to allow the Board of Directors (Board) to provide input and increase their understanding of current water supply programs.
Discussion:
The informational Water Supply Workshop will present many projects and programs that are key to Sonoma Water’s success in effectively managing the water resources for the benefit of people and the environment through resource and environmental stewardship, technical innovation, and responsible fiscal management.
2018 Water Supply Strategies Action Plan: In April 2009, the Board held a workshop to discuss the challenges Sonoma Water faces in providing a reliable regional water supply, including the economy, aging infrastructure, regulatory concerns, drought, and climate change. The Board directed staff to seek input from the Water Contractors and the community. Staff completed this outreach and reported to the Board in September 2009. The Board directed staff, with input from the Water Contractors and other interested parties, “to commence and continue the development of new water supply projects, plans, and strategies to meet the reasonable expected future water demands of Sonoma Water’s Water Contractors, taking into account the National Marine Fisheries Service Russian River Biological Opinion constraints and reduced Potter Valley Project flows, and incorporating the water supply strategies, climate change analysis, maximum levels of water conservation and efficiency measures, recycled water, conjunctive use and low impact development strategies.”
In response to this Board direction, staff developed a draft action plan, conducted additional public outreach, received comments, and refined the draft action plan. On September 21, 2010, the Board approved the strategies and directed Sonoma Water’s General Manager to finalize the action plan. The 2010 Action Plan described how each of the nine strategies was being carried out through specific activities and projects, identified involved parties, provided the status of each item, included a prioritization (Immediate, Near or Long term), and provided funding information.
The plan was updated in 2011 and 2013. The 2018 Action Plan describes accomplishments, progress made, and actions reprioritized from the 2013 plan. New activities initiated since 2018 have also been added. The original nine strategies have been updated to seven strategies which directly align with Sonoma Water’s 2017 Strategic Plan.
The updated Action Plan contains: (1) an executive summary; (2) a list of acronyms; (3) descriptions of the seven strategies with prioritized actions, projects and activities; (4) a summary of changes to the updated plan relative to the 2013 plan; (5) FY18-19 Long Range Financial Plan Project List; and (6) a summary of Water Contractor’s water supply and reliability projects projected for the next 10 years.
The 2018 Action Plan describes in detail, important projects and activities which were completed since 2013, including Dry Creek Habitat Enhancement Demonstration Project Mile 1 and tributary restoration, as required by the Biological Opinion, hazard mitigation projects to mitigate damage from liquefaction and earthquakes, and launching Community Choice Aggregation in partnership with Sonoma Clean Power.
In addition, significant progress has been achieved on critical programs and projects, including formation of Groundwater Sustainability Agencies, development of Storm Water Resource Plans, and Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations.
Looking forward, several projects have been reprioritized or added to the Action Plan. Dry Creek Habitat Enhancement Demonstration Project Miles 4, 5 and 6 has moved to an immediate activity; increased coordination with upper Russian River Water Managers has been added. Other new actions include the grant funded Advanced Quantitative Precipitation Information Project, implementation of Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, fire response activities, and development of a comprehensive climate adaptation plan.
Important considerations of the Action Plan are, that: (1) coordination and partnerships are essential to achieving reliable, efficient and sustainable water resource management; (2) the strategies are interconnected; (3) the Action Plan is a living document and should be updated as progress is made and conditions change; and (4) transparency is critical to success.
This Action Plan continues Sonoma Water's commitment to an open, transparent, and inclusive water supply planning process. Staff continues to coordinate with the Water Contractors’ Technical Advisory Committee to develop the updated Action Plan. The draft Action Plan was presented at the January 7, 2019 Technical Advisory Committee meeting. Comments were received and the Action Plan was revised.
Water Resiliency Programs Update: Water Resiliency Programs that are key to the success of Sonoma Water being in a solid position for complying with regulatory requirements and addressing challenges will be presented during the water supply workshop. The primary topics will be on Regional Water Supply Resiliency, Integrated Water Management Programs, Climate Risks Resiliency Programs, Seismic Hazards Resiliency Programs and Asset Management.
The Action Plan, which includes the Water Resiliency Programs, is a tracking mechanism for the various projects underway and planned for the region. The Action Plan will continue to be updated and used for directing future water supply initiatives.
Prior Board Actions:
06/04/13: Adopted 2013 Action Plan.
12/13/11: Reviewed 2011 Action Plan.
09/21/10: Adopted 2010 Action Plan.
09/15/09: Adopted Resolution 09-0871, Water Project Redirection and New Water Supply Strategies.
04/13/09: Water Supply and Planning Workshop.
04/24/07: Adopted Sonoma Water’s strategic priorities and policy statement.
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Attachments:
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Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
2018 Water Supply Strategies Action Plan