two years old: walking and talking - poised to run? urban water institute: august 25, 2011
TRANSCRIPT
Two Years Old: Walking and Talking - Poised to Run? Urban Water Institute: August 25, 2011
Overview• Who /What is SFCWA• Mission• SFCWA Programs and Activities• Future Roles?•Questions?
Who/What is SFCWA?•Formed in August 2009
•Joint Powers Authority directly or indirectly representing more than 50 entities
•Members contract for State Water Project & Central Valley Project water conveyed through the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta
•Members of SFCWA deliver water to more than 25 million people and 3 million acres of highly productive farm land
Who/What is SFCWA? JPA Member Agencies
Metropolitan Water District of Southern CaliforniaKern County Water AgencyState Water Project Contractors AuthoritySan Luis & Delta Mendota Water AuthorityWestlands Water DistrictSanta Clara Valley Water District
Board members: general managers or board directors from the member agencies
SFCWA Mission Assist SFCWA member agencies in assuring a sufficient, reliable and high-quality water supply for their customers; maximize the efficient operation of the State Water Project and federal Central Valley Project.
SFCWA Primary Program Areas
• Habitat Program – Implement restoration projects to comply with Biological Opinion requirements
• Coordinated Science Program – develop published peer-reviewed science on all ecosystem stressors of the Delta
• Delta Governance – coordinate exporter agencies on Delta Stewardship Council and the Delta Plan
SFCWA Primary Program Areas Habitat Program - Requirements
• Biological Opinion obligations:• 8,000 Acres intertidal habitat – smelt• 17-20,000 acres seasonal salmon floodplain
habitat
• Bay Delta Conservation Plan implementation –additional +- 65,000 acres
• Pursued under agreement in cooperation with DWR/USBR
Habitat Program – Projects and Elements
1. Yolo Ranch Restoration Project – EIR in prep for restoration of 800-1,100 acres in Yolo bypass• County issues – moratorium on habitat restoration
2. Tule Red/Suisun marsh – Project agreement to purchase 350 acres adjacent to DFG property
3. DWR Implementation Agreement4. Fisheries Crediting Agreement5. Finance plan to meet habitat obligations – Sept/Oct
+- $90 m for three years implementation
9
Yolo Ranch Restoration Project
10
Yolo Ranch – Current Form
Tidal Marsh RestorationLower Yolo Bypass/Westlands Property
Artist’s rendition for illustration only
Suisun Marsh
Tule Red Club
13
Grizzly Bay
Tule Red Habitat Project
Tule Red Habitat Project
• Great elevations
• Aggrading
shoreline
• Consistent w/
SMP
• Expandable
• $1.7k/ac
easement
• Reduces
speculation
• Partner w/
hunters
SFCWA Primary Program Areas Science Program
• Focus on evaluation of impact of “other stressors”
1. Nutrients
2. Predation
3. Habitat loss
4. Toxics
• Critique and evaluation of studies by others and Programs
• Engage in IEP and Delta Science Program
Science Program55 projects in process Papers near publishing:
Dr. Patricia Glibert – further work in nutrient impacts in Delta and comparison worldwide
Dr. Richard Dugdale – ammonium inhibition of pyhto plankton
Drs. Maunder and Deriso – delta smelt life cycle modelDr. BJ Miller – critique of entrainment study by
KimmererDrs. Murphy, Manly, Mongan and Miller – multivariate
analyses of delta smelt stressors
Special TopicsSalmon Recovery Group: SFCWA, San Joaquin
River Group Authority and Northern California Water Association: Mission –advance the understanding of the effects of all significant stressors that affect salmon run sustainability in the Sacramento/San Joaquin River systems and take to assist in the recovery of salmon
Hydropower Group: SFCWA, NCWA, SJRGA and power utilities – develop analytical tool to assess hydropower generation impacts of flow proposals
SFCWA Primary Program Areas
Delta Governance• Engage in Delta Stewardship Council and
Delta Plan• Track Delta Protection Commission• Assist in Development of Delta Conservancy
Delta GovernanceModel for the Delta Plan?
Regulator of local and state agencies? Or, An integrator, collaborator, grade-keeper?
Water Agency effort at alternative planActions and accountability frameworkAll stressors vs. “church of the natural hydrograph”
Delta Protection Commission – Economic Sustainability Plan
Delta Conservancy – Long Term Role
SFCWA Future RolesImplementing agency under BDCPPotential Project contracting roleConsolidated Point of use for CVP/SWPRole if Projects consolidated ?
Summary/ Questions/Comments?