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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/18/1996, C-2 - NORTH COUNTY WATER TASK FORCE MISSION STATEMENT council June 18 1996 j aGEnba PEpoRt ft�°hwbff 4 CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO FROM: John Moss, Utilities Director Prepared By: Gary W. Henderson, Water ivision Manager,:*-/H SUBJECT: North County Water Task Force Mission Statement CAO RECOINEMMNDATION Endorse the Mission Statement developed by the North County Water Task Force. DISCUSSION On September 19, 1995 County Supervisor Ovitt presented Water Management Strategies for North San Luis Obispo County to the City Council. The two page document (Attachment A) outlined proposed strategies for development of a regional water management approach for north San Luis Obispo County. Supervisor Ovitt was requesting that the City Council accept an invitation to join the recently formed North County Water Task Force, made up of municipal, district and agricultural representatives, to discuss possible solutions to our disputes over water. On October 17, 1995 a report titled "Regional Water Management Committee Participation" was presented to the City Council. The Council approved City participation on the committee and appointed Mayor Settle and Councilmember Romero as Council representatives and John Moss (Utilities Director) and Gary Henderson (Water Division Manager) as technical representatives. Monthly meetings have subsequently been held on the first Thursday of each month at 5:00 p.m. at Atascadero Mutual Water Company. The first objective of the committee was to understand the existing and future water demands of the north county and the City of San Luis Obispo. Following several meetings, the group discussed development of a "mission statement" to help guide the direction and focus of the committee. The committee members have been requested to present the statement to their governing boards or councils for endorsement. The following statement was developed and supported by all participants and was subsequently presented to and endorsed by the North County Council Executive Committee. North County Water Task Force Mission Statement ■ Support the development of the Nacimiento Pipeline Project as the primary project capable of serving the future needs of the Urban communities. ■ Support the County Resources Advisory Committee in the study of the groundwater basins,particularly the Paso Robles basin and sub-basins, of the County to better quantify available yield and demand on those basins. 6o2-1 { r ! Council Agenda Report - North County Water Task Force Mission Statement Page 2 ■ Pursue additional studies and research to identify opportunities for additional regional water development, including but not limited to, groundwater recharge, water reuse, conservation, wheeling, transfers and marketing. ■ Support the establishment of a regional organization to provide for regional water resource management. ■ Support maintaining groundwater resources in the county for irrigated cropland, agriculture and rural uses. Expanding urban development should rely on reservoir and imported water sources where available. ■ The above shall in no way adversely impact legal water rights. The City Council is requested to endorse the above guiding principles and continue to participate in the regional water planning efforts of the North County Water Task Force. FISCAL EWPACT There is no significant fiscal impact associated with the adoption of the impact statement. ALTERNATIVES Council could propo- odified language for the mission statement or could decide to not formally endorse the s=.ement. Attachments: A. Water Management Strategies for North San Luis Obispo County gAgary\docs\ncmissio.car Affachment A WATER MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR NORTH SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY It is of utmost importance that the limited water resources in North San Luis Obispo County be carefully managed for the benefit of all citizens to maximize the available water. The time has past where factions of -the water users in the City of San Luis Obispo and North SLO County can afford to separately pursue use of our precious water resources., it is now time for all water users to unite for the future welfare of all of the County. We realize that only joint cooperative efforts in the area of water storage, transmission and usage, will be successful in maximizing our resources for future generations . We are now at a crossroads . Water resources can continue to be managed in a shortsighted, fractious way, or we can -agree to journey together for the benefit of all. A regional water agency representing both the North County and San Luis Obispo representatives is believed to be the effective tool for undertaking such management. To that end, the following proposals are being recommended for consideration for the North County Council. A. WATER MANAGEMENT - A NEW REGIONAL APPROACH *Consider the creation of a regional water management group. *Group would represent municipal agencies, districts, agricultural reps and other down stream users. *Group's primary focus is to look at all water resources on a regional basis. *All water resources including but not limited to, Nacimiento Water and Salinas Basin Water resources may be considered as combined, coordinated resources for San Luis Obispo and the North County. *A coordinated approach to maximizing the use of these water sources would enhance the available water to all, and result in reduced costs to all. A� B. WATER RIGHTS - COOPERATE FOR BETTER SOLUTIONS *Salinas Dam water stored above the existing spillway elevation will be re-evaluated and an allocation strategy defined for the benefit of all. *The "Live Stream" agreement may be enhanced by considering additional waters from other sources, similar to Nacimiento. *Riparian rights will be protected. *Present water allocations and/or appropriations may be revised to reflect water sharing on a regional basis . C. SUGGESTED ACTION ELEMENTS Now is the time to combine the Salinas Dam Project, and the Nacimiento Project, along with Salinas River considerations. San Luis Obispo and the North County must be willing to work together on a compromise water allocation strategy regarding the Salinas Dam. North County and San Luis Obispo City must be willing to assume costs and liabilities for a shared water use approach. Combining the projects creates multiple opportunities for current and future water strategies and significantly multiplies our options. 1. . Immediately obtain political concurrence of this strategy to join together for mutual regional water solutions, rather than fighting over precious water resources. 2 . After political concurrence, at a committee level, have . the North County Council and SLO City begin meeting to jointly outline a strategy for joining the Salinas Dam Project and Nacimiento Project. 3 . Direct technical and elected representatives to meet and develop a listing of combined projects for consideration of the NCC and SLO. 4 . NCC and SLO jointly will prioritize the potential projects and set a course for immediate action on the alternatives while concurrently the formation of the regional agency will be pursued.