Transcript Document
A Vision for the Future Presented to the North Bay Watershed Association by the Sonoma County Water Agency and Zone 7 Water Agency Presentation overview • Sonoma County Water Agency – Principal Environmental Specialist Bill Keene • State efforts to protect California’s water resources • Zone 7 Water Agency – Assistant General Manager Vince Wong • Efforts to develop of an Integrated Regional Water Management Plan • Beyond the IRWMP • Q&A State efforts Legislative activities • • • • Water bond propositions Prop 13, Prop 40, Prop 50, etc. Prop 50 – $3.4 billion alone Maximize the quality and quantity of water available to meet the state’s agricultural, domestic, industrial and environmental water needs Bay Area response • Northern and Coastal California Water Bond Coalition • Day in the Capitol – March 2003 (another planned for April 14, 2004) • BAWAC – Bay Area Water Agencies Coalition Vince Wong Zone 7 Water Agency – – – – Livermore-Amador Valley Water treatment and distribution Groundwater management Flood control protection Proposition 50, Chapter 8 Integrated Regional Water Management Provides grants for projects and programs to improve • • • • Water supply Water quality Flood protection Environmental enhancement The Legislature desired to improve coordination in a region • Greater efficiencies • Overall cost savings to taxpayers To qualify for a grant • An integrated regional water management plan (IRWMP) • At least three agencies LOMU – Letter of Mutual Understandings LOMU goals 1. Develop a comprehensive Integrated Regional Water Management Plan. LOMU goals, con’t. 2. Foster coordination, collaboration and communication among Bay Area agencies. LOMU goals, con’t. 3. Improve regional competitiveness for state and federal grant funding. Integrated Regional Water Management Plan Integrated Regional Water Management Plan • BAWAC – Bay Area Water Agencies Coalition • BACWA – Bay Area Clean Water Agencies (wastewater agencies) • BASMAA – Bay Area Stormwater Management Agencies Association • North Bay Watershed Association, Santa Clara Basin Watershed Management Initiative, and others Other IRWMP participants • • • • • ABAG California Bay-Delta Authority Environmental groups Business and industry Regulatory agencies • Letters of support Development of the IRWMP • Four functional area Technical Coordinating Committees (TCCs) • SF Bay TCC Development of the IRWMP Water supply Water supply • Reduce dependence on imported water • Protect against drought – Conservation – Water recycling – New supplies through desalination • Sea water • Groundwater • Other brackish waters Water quality Water quality – protect and improve through • Watershed management • Groundwater management Flood protection Flood protection • Protect public and private property • Stormwater capture, storage and treatment • Groundwater recharge • Protect and improve wildlife habitat Environmental enhancement Beaches Wetlands, open space and watershed lands Timeline • Mid to late 2004 – Functional area IRWMPs (some work already begun) • Late 2004 – Bay Area IRWMP • 2005 – State issues requests for grant proposals • 2005-2006 –Award grants Other related activities • Participating with state agencies in developing grant criteria – CWC – California Watershed Council – DWR and State Board scoping meetings – California Water Plan 5-year update – Bulletin 160 • Northern California Salinity Coalition – Preparing to qualify Bay Area projects for Prop 50, Chapter 6, and other funding Bill Keene Sonoma County Water Agency A further look into the future Proposal to designate the Bay Area as a National Water Resources Management Area Two examples . . . Chesapeake Bay Florida Everglades Value of a federal designation • Bay Area on par with other federally designated areas • Funding authorization for ecosystem protection and restoration efforts • Federal funding Specific benefits of designation • Preserve a national treasure • Protect critical Bay habitat • Increase water supply reliability, protect water quality, etc. Benefits, con’t. • Protect natural resources • Preserve, enhance, and speed economic recovery Conclusion • Bay Area agencies are working together to address the many challenges of water resources management • Developing an IRWMP • Protecting the environmental gem of the Bay and its surrounding areas • Seeking designation as a National Water Resources Management Area for funding assistance Questions or comments?