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REQUEST FOR <br />COUNCIL ACTION <br />CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: <br />CLERK OF COUNCIL USE ONLY: <br />APRIL 3, 2018 <br />TITLE: <br />APPROVED <br />DISCUSSION AND REVIEW OF THE <br />❑ As Recommended <br />CALIFORNIA WATERFIX PROJECT <br />E] E] <br />E]OOrrdinance on 1n Reading <br />UPDATE <br />❑ Ordinance on 2nd Reading <br />(STRATEGIC PLAN NO. 6,1H) <br />❑ Implementing Resolution <br />❑ Set Public Hearing For <br />CONTINUED TO <br />r-- <br />FILE NUMBER <br />C111 PANAGER <br />RECOMMENDED ACTION <br />Discuss and review of the California WaterFix project update and consideration of the City <br />Council's position on the matter. <br />DISCUSSION <br />For over a decade, the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) and other State Water contractors have <br />been working with State and Federal agencies to modernize the Bay -Delta water conveyance <br />system through the construction of twin tunnels which would address Southern California water <br />needs as well as enhance the Bay -Delta ecosystem and habitat restoration. The environmental <br />restrictions through the years have reduced pumping operations in the Delta which severely <br />impacts expected water exports to Southern California. The proposed project known as the <br />California WaterFix (WaterFix) seeks to take water north of the Delta through two 40 -foot diameter <br />tunnels to south of the Delta. The bypass would reduce reverse flows which impact sensitive <br />habitats and fish, and which have led to reduction of Delta water exports. The California State <br />Department of Water Resources (DWR) approved the WaterFix in July of 2017. <br />In the fall of 2017, State Water Project (SWP) and Central Valley Project (CVP) Contractors were <br />asked by DWR for their participation and financial commitment to the project. Mostly all of the <br />SWP Contractors agreed to fully participate, including MWD [1]. However, due to certain <br />institutional and financial structures, some of the largest CVP Contractors chose not to fully <br />participate, in particular Westlands Water District, resulting in 1/3 of the Full Project being <br />unsubscribed. <br />Staged Approach <br />To align committed agencies, Governor Brown announced a new "Staged Approach" where the <br />Full project would be broken into two stages [2]: <br />65A-1 <br />