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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - May 26, 1998BEFORE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF SAN JOAQUIN FLOOD CONTROL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT STATE OF CALIFORNIA REas1LliII N R-98- 47 RESOLUTION PROVIDING EOR THE ADOPTION DE THE CALFED BAY/DELTA PROGRAM DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC EIS/EIR POSITION AND AUTHORIZING THE CHAIRMAN QE THE BOARD IQ PRESENT THE POSITION Al A CALFED PUBLIQ FEARING AND AE A WRITTEN COMMENT WHEREAS, this Board is concerned with the water supply and water quality needs of all of San Joaquin County; and, WHEREAS, the CALFED Bay/Delta Program has prepared a Draft Programmatic EIS/EIR; and, WHEREAS, the alternative programs discussed in the Draft EIS/EIR will have significant impacts on San Joaquin County; and, WHEREAS, this Board believes the Draft EIS/EIR is inadequate and incomplete for various reasons; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that this Board directs that a statement be presented raising the issues of concern to this Board by a member of this Board at the CALFED hearing scheduled to be held in Stockton on May 27, 1998, and that complete comments be filed on behalf of San Joaquin County, with respect to the Draft EIS/EIR prior to the deadline for those comments which is July 1, 1998. The oral and written comments should cover the following points which are of concern to this Board: 1. The Draft EIS/EIR fails to adequately explore surface water storage alternatives. It is the belief of this Board that there is not sufficient water to meet the expanding urban and agricultural water needs of the State during the planning period considered in the Draft EIS/EIR. 2. The Draft EIS/EIR fails to consider the economic impacts of the CALFED proposals. Among other things, the impacts of not meeting the needs of Eastern San Joaquin County for water, and the depravation of other areas of San Joaquin County of water that has previously been available is not considered. Nor are the Statewide economic effects of the alternative proposals adequately considered. 3. It is the belief of this Board that each hydrographic region of California should, to a much greater extent, stand on its own rather than depriving other areas, such as our own, of water that they need. As just one example, the desalinization of sea water or brackish water should be considered. 4. The historic opposition of this County to the Peripheral Canal should be reasserted. This Board is unalterably opposed to any isolated facility transporting water from the Sacramento River directly to the State and Federal export pumps. 5. The Draft EIS/EIR continues to assume the use of large quantities of stored Stanislaus River water to dilute the quality of the San Joaquin River and to meet fishery requirements. This is unacceptable to this Board and results in a violation of the Area of Origin Law. 6. A solution to the overdrafted Eastern San Joaquin County Groundwater Basin is a matter, not only of concern to this County, but to the entire State of California, in view of the agricultural productivity of the area and the significant population residing within the area. The CALFED Program should consider a specific component to address the needs of Eastern San Joaquin County. 7. While the Draft EIS/EIR mentions the existing Watershed and Delta Protection Acts and Area of Origin Laws, it fails to meaningfully consider the application of these Laws to the alternatives proposed. 8. The Draft EIS/EIR anticipates significant conversion of Delta lands to non-agricultural use. This Board is absolutely opposed to the proposed conversion. In any event, the economic impacts to the individuals involved and to the San Joaquin County economy must be evaluated. Those impacts would be very significant.