BOARD AGENDA MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT:
Title
Monthly Drought Response and Water Supply Update.
End
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Receive an update on water supply conditions in Santa Clara County and staff's drought response efforts, and provide direction to staff as necessary.
Body
SUMMARY:
On June 9, 2021, the Board declared a water shortage emergency condition pursuant to California Water Code ?350, that called for water use restrictions of 15% compared to 2019 and urged the County to proclaim a local emergency.
Reflecting critically dry conditions across the state, Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water) has received drastic reductions in imported water allocations, which comprise about half of Valley Water's typical annual water supply. Furthermore, Valley Water is impacted by the unavailability of Anderson Reservoir as a surface water storage facility for the duration of the Anderson Dam Seismic Retrofit Project, which is expected to last 10 years. The loss of Anderson, lower imported water supplies, and uncertainty over emergency water transfers could result in rapid and significant drops to our groundwater levels, resulting in the potential for subsidence in North County and dry wells throughout the county. In South County, groundwater is the only drinking water supply.
Valley Water has been conducting a wide array of efforts to respond to the drought and the resulting water shortage emergency condition. These efforts along with the latest water supply condition in the County will be described in July's Water Tracker Report and the Drought Response Report. These reports will be included as part of this item as a supplemental agenda item that will be available on July 9, 2021.
As requested at the June 9, 2021, Special Board Meeting, a comprehensive Water Conservation Program overview is included as part of this month's drought response update.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There are adequate funds in the Adopted FY 2021-22 Budget and Water Util...
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