BOARD AGENDA MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT:
Title
Consider Water Storage Exploratory Committee's Recommendation and Associated Staff Analysis from the Committee's Meeting on January 15, 2020.
End
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
A. Receive and consider recommendation by the Water Storage Exploratory Committee to accelerate the partnerships discussion for the Pacheco Reservoir Expansion Project; and
B. Give direction to CEO regarding acceleration of partnerships discussion for the Pacheco Reservoir Expansion Project.
Body
SUMMARY:
At the Water Storage Exploratory Committee's meeting on Wednesday, January 15, 2020, the Committee took the following action:
Recommendation:
Voted unanimously that the Board consider the Committee's recommendation to the Board to:
1. Accelerate the partnerships discussion for the Pacheco Reservoir Expansion Project.
Staff Analysis:
Staff supports the Committee's recommendation to move forward with exploring Pacheco Reservoir Expansion Project partnership opportunities. Staff will inform the Board periodically on which partners are engaged in discussions on participation in the project. However, the timing of significant partnership discussions with prospective partners will depend on the progress of resolution with State and federal agencies as to the range of allowable operating rules for the reservoir. Partnership opportunities would be attractive only to the extent that reservoir operation has flexibility while still meeting Proposition 1 approved benefits. The majority of benefits to be funded by the State via the Proposition 1 grant are designated as benefits for steelhead in Pacheco Creek and for emergency water supply. The State agencies involved in the administration of public benefit are the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Department of Water Resources and the California Water Commission. The federal agencies involved are National Marine Fisheries Service, United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Reclamat...
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