BOARD AGENDA MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT:
Title
Issues Facing the District's Imported Water Supply and the Delta Ecosystem.
End
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Receive and discuss information on the issues facing the District's imported water supply and the Delta ecosystem.
Body
SUMMARY:
This agenda item provides an opportunity for the Board and the public to receive information on the status of the Delta ecosystem and the factors impacting imported water supplies. It also describes potential consequences of maintaining the status quo by taking no action to address the risks to the Delta and the sustainability of water supplies derived from it.
The Delta ecosystem is impacted by several factors including loss of native habitat, proliferation of invasive species, and the operation of upstream reservoirs to protect against flooding and provide water supply. Diversion of water upstream of the Delta and within the Delta, as well as exports from the Delta, contribute to unnatural flow patterns, reduced outflow, changes to water quality, and trapping of fish in pumping facilities.
Delta water quality is also impacted by wastewater discharges, urban and agricultural runoff, and legacy contaminants. The combination of these factors has resulted in population declines of several native fish species and a history of increasing regulatory restrictions that have decreased Santa Clara County's State Water Project (SWP) and federal Central Valley Project (CVP) water supplies (collectively, SWP/CVP water supplies) over the past several decades to protect fish and water quality. SWP/CVP water supplies are also at risk from increased salinity intrusion due to climate change, including sea level rise, and seismic threats to its fragile levee system.
Overview of Agenda Memo
A. Importance of Imported Water Supplies to Santa Clara County
B. Factors Affecting the Delta Ecosystem and SWP/CVP Water Supplies
B.1 Levee stability
B.2 Climate change and subsequent sea leve...
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