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Resolution supporting the California WaterFix and California EcoRestore projects <br />August 1, 2017 <br />Page 2 <br />The California WaterFix involves construction and design of three new water intakes north of the <br />Delta and two, 32 -mile, 9,000 cubic feet per second volume capacity underground tunnels that <br />will provide operational pumping flexibility and protect against water supply disruption. However, <br />much remains to be determined, especially with respect to the financing, regulatory certainty and <br />operating criteria for the project. <br />In addition to water management and quality benefits, a large and growing consensus <br />understands that the Delta is in an unsustainable position and needs to be "fixed" to <br />accommodate the many competing interests for the future, especially with regard to ensuring the <br />area is a sustainable ecosystem. The status quo is yielding a continuing degradation of the Delta <br />systems, levee integrity, and water supply reliability. The companion initiative to the California <br />WaterFix is EcoRestore, which seeks to achieve the State's co -equal goal of habitat restoration <br />and reliability of supplies. EcoRestore is initially charged with 30,000 acres of restoration efforts <br />under an accelerated effort by 2020 to improve habitat conditions for fisheries migration, restore <br />tidal and non -tidal wetland habitats for native wildlife, and improve connectivity among existing <br />grassland and other natural habitats. <br />Based on these proposed improvements in system conveyance and habitat restoration, staff <br />recommends the City Council adopt the attached resolution in support of the California WaterFix <br />and California EcoRestore and Preferred Alternative (No. 4A) as described in the environmental <br />documents, with reasonable adherence to the current public operating criteria and cost allocation <br />principles and assumptions. <br />STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT <br />Approval of this item supports the City's efforts to meet Goal #5 - Community Health, Livability, <br />Engagement & Sustainability, Objective #2 (expand opportunities for conservation and <br />environmental sustainability). <br />ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT <br />There is no environmental impact associated with this action. <br />FISCAL IMPACT <br />There is no fiscal impact associated with this action. <br />P,--, <br />If i A , I, <br />Freo MIOUSAbAr <br />Executive Director <br />Public Works Agency <br />FM/NS <br />Exhibits: 1. Resolution <br />2. Metropolitan Water District (MET) White Paper #1 <br />55A-2 <br />