Item 26 - Grant Application for Solar Power Project

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Generation of Solar Power at Garthe and West Pump Station Facilities Project a l:I Bureau of Reclamation Water Energy and Efficiency Grant FY2022 by: • Generating 1,316,942 kWh annually that will reduce the release of 933 tons of carbon dioxide per year • Saving of over 101.4 AFY of water annually, making these additional water supplies available to other users such as various ecosystems throughout the western United States. Above alterations will result in benefits to the environment, agriculture, wildlife, forestry and air and water quality, thereby improving ecological resilience. • Will water remain in the system for longer periods of time? If so, provide details on current/future durations and any expected resulting benefits (e.g., maintaining water temperatures or water levels). Currently the City acquires approximately 25-30% of its water supply from Metropolitan Water District of Southern California's (MWD) imported water connections that receive water from the Colorado River and the State Water Project (SWP) from San Francisco Bay -Delta (the Delta), which are directly influenced by climate conditions the Colorado River Basin and in northern California, respectively. Both regions have been suffering from multi -year drought conditions, which directly impact water supplies to southern California. The City's ability to reduce water intake from SWP and Colorado River, will allow an equivalent amount of water to remain at these sources, which will help prevent potential increase in salinity and algal production, reduced oxygen levels, and higher temperatures that are detrimental to wildlife production. • Will the project benefit species (e.g., federally threatened or endangered, a federally recognized candidate species, a state listed species, or a species of particular recreational, or economic importance)? Please describe the relationship of the species to the water supply, and whether the species is adversely affected by a Reclamation project or is subject to a recovery plan or conservation plan under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Greenhouse gas emissions and their effect on global warming are directly responsible for abnormal changes in wildlife habitat. Biologists are becoming more and more concerned that global climate change will drastically reduce biodiversity. Some biologists estimate that 35% of animals and plants could become extinct in the wild by 2050 due to global climate change. According to the National Parks Service: "If we can sufficiently reduce greenhouse gas emissions, many of them will still have a chance to survive and recover". Increased GHG emissions are directly responsible for the increase in drought conditions observed in California. The impact of the recent drought conditions on the wildlife 10 PREVIEW Date: Nov 03, 2021 Workspace ID: WS00800354 Funding Opportunity Number: R22AS00023