2017-053 - California Waterfix and California Ecorestore Projects

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WHEREAS, the California WaterFix includes construction of three intakes north of the Delta, two 35 -mile tunnels up to 150 feet below the Delta, and Clifton Court forebay modifications, all of which will provide operational pumping flexibility and protect against water supply disruption due to sea -level rise, earthquakes, and flood events; and WHEREAS, improving the SWP system can increase regional storage reserve levels. These storage reserves are used to protect the region from devastating effects of drought and other emergencies. The California WaterFix will help ensure that Orange County will have sufficient supplies at critical times when needed; and WHEREAS, the 2016 Orange County Water Reliability Study revealed a number of important findings with implications for the county's water reliability, including that projected water shortages would be too frequent and overall reliability would not be sustainable by as early as 2030 without new supply and system investments by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, its member agencies, and Orange County; and WHEREAS, Orange County should strongly advocate for the implementation of the California WaterFix and EcoRestore, as it represents the most cost-effective large- scale reliability solution to improve regional water supply reliability for all of Southern California. The Orange County water reliability supply analyses assumes the California WaterFix results in "recovery" of historical supplies in the amount of approximately 440,000 acre-feet per year on average and notes that adjustments to the project costs or supply development could result in changes to this recommendation; and WHEREAS, Orange County ratepayers have invested millions of dollars to build and maintain the SWP as well as portions of Metropolitan's regional storage, distribution, and treatment systems that take delivery of SWP supplies. Modernizing the system through the California WaterFix will protect this investment for decades to come; and WHEREAS, moving forward with the California WaterFix will not be an inexpensive endeavor; however, it is the most cost-effective investment of the ratepayers' dollars to maintain and continue our economic vitality for the region. Furthermore, all of the costs for California WaterFix will be paid for exclusively by water agencies benefiting from the project. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Santa Ana as follows: Section 1. The City of Santa Ana does hereby support the California EcoRestore and California WaterFix Preferred Alternative (No.4A) as described in the respective environmental documents with reasonable adherence to the current, public operating criteria and cost allocation principles and assumptions. Resolution No. 2017-053 Page 2 of 4