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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - May 2, 2007 E-10AGENDA ITEM &a% CITY OF LODI COUNCIL COMMUNICATION M AGENDA TITLE: Approve Letters to State Water Resources Control Board in Support of Mokelumne River Water Rights Applications MEETING DATE: May 2,2007 PREPARED BY: Public Works Director RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve letters to the State Water Resources Control Board in support of Mokelumne River water rights applications for North San Joaquin Water Conservation District (NSJWCD) and San Joaquin County. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The State Water Resources Control Board has recently taken a number of actions that are detrimental to long-termwater supply and groundwater basin management. Specifically, they have denied NSJWCD's request to renew their Mokelumne River permit for 20,000 acre feet and have canceled the San Joaquin County (acting as the Mokelumne River Water and PowerAuthority) application for up to 544,000 acre feet for the Mokelumne River Regional Water Storage and Conjunctive Use Project (the MORE water project). The NSJWCD water was only available in normal and wet years but was unreliable, leading many users in the Districtto switch to groundwater. Thus, the District has not utilized this full amount. The District has been making plans to utilize the water for groundwater recharge but is stymied by denial of their renewal application. The MORE water project has recently been gaining momentum, after a slow start. The County, in cooperation with other water entities, including Lodi, has been working, with active State involvement, on an Integrated Regional Water Management Plan that incorporates the MORE project. This plan is required in order to obtain various State grants for the project and needs an Environmental Impact Report, which is underway. Staff supports efforts to reverse these two decisions and, if approved, would draft letters for the Mayor's signature that would be coordinated with letters from other agencies. FISCAL IMPACT: Not applicable. FUNDING AVAILABLE: Not applicable. U& ---V4 ) Richard C. Prima, Jr. Public Works Director RCPlpmf cc: Mel Lytle, San Joaquin CountyWater Resources Coordinator Ed Steffini, Executive Director, North San Joaquin Water Conservation District APPROVED: Blair+rig`, City Manager K:\WP\WaleCMokRiverWtrRightB.doc 412512007 CITY COUNCIL BOB JOHNSON, Mayor JOANNE L. MOUNCE Mayor Pro Tempore LARRY D. HANSEN SUSAN HITCHCOCK PHIL KATZAKIAN CITY OF LODI PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT CITY HALL, 221 WEST PINE STREET P.O. BOX 3006 LODI, CALIFORNIA 95241-1910 (209)333-6706 FAX (209) 333-6710 EMAIL ppww epl lodl.gov htIp.\,www.l l.gov April 27, 2007 BLAIR KING City Manager RANDIJOHL City Clerk 0. STEVEN SCHWABAUER City Attorney RICHARD C. PRIMA, JR. Public Works Director Mel Lytle, Water Resources Coordinator Ed Steffani, General Manager San Joaquin County Water Resources North San Joaquin Water Conservation District 1810 E. Hazelton Avenue P.O.Box 3006 Stockton, CA 95201 Lodi, CA 95241-1910 SUBJECT: Approve Letters to State Water Resources Control Board in Support of Mokelumne RiverWater Rights Applications Enclosed is a copy of background information on an item on the City Council agenda of Wednesday, May 2, 2007. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chamber, Carnegie Forum, 305 West Pine Street. This item is on the consent calendar and is usually not discussed unless a Council Member requests discussion. The public is given an opportunity to address items on the consent calendar at the appropriate time. If you wish to write to the City Council, please address your letter to City Council, City of Lodi. P.O. Box 3006, Lodi, California, 95241-1910. Be sure to allow time for the mail. Or, you may hand-deliverthe letter to City Hall, 221 West Pine Street. If you wish to address the Council at the Council Meeting, be sure to fill out a speaker's card (available at the Carnegie Forum immediately prior to the start of the meeting)and give it to the City Clerk. If you have any questions about communicating with the Council, please contact Randi Johl, City Clerk, at (209) 333-6702. If you have any questions about the item itself, please call me at (209) 333-6759 �+ Richard C. Prima, Jr. -f r Public Works Director RCP/pmf Enclosure cc: City Clerk NCMOKRIVERW TRRIGHTS.00C