To: Board of Supervisors
From: Supervisor Steve Madrone
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
Comment Letter on Draft Potential Updates to the Water Quality Control Plan for the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Watershed (Bay-Delta Plan)
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Authorize the Chair of the Board to sign the attached comment letter (Attachment 1) for submittal by Public Works to the State Water Resources Control Board.
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STRATEGIC PLAN:
This action supports the following areas of your Board’s Strategic Plan.
Area of Focus: Core Services/Other
Strategic Plan Category: 9999 - Core Services/Other
DISCUSSION:
The State Water Resources Control Board is considering potential updates to the Water Quality Control Plan for the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Watershed (Bay-Delta Plan). A notice of opportunity for public comment and background information on the draft potential updates has been released (Attachment 2).
The Bay-Delta watershed encompasses the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers, numerous tributaries, and the estuary interface with San Francisco Bay. Humboldt County’s interest in the Bay-Delta Plan involves the concern that measures to protect beneficial uses and achieve water quality objectives within the Bay-Delta watershed could come at the expense of increasing water imports from the Trinity River, which flows through Humboldt County for approximately 31 river miles. The Bureau of Reclamation diverts nearly half the stored water in Trinity Reservoir to the Sacramento River. Humboldt County has a 1959 contract for releases of water from Trinity Reservoir into the Trinity River. Public Works recently completed a water management plan to utilize the county’s contract water to help restore natural processes and fisheries habitat and improve water quality within the Trinity River. The comment letter (Attachment 1) requests for the State Water Board to incorporate measures into the Bay-Delta Plan that would ensure protections for the Trinity River and Humboldt County’s contract water.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
N/A
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no financial impact.
STAFFING IMPACT:
N/A
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
State Water Resources Control Board, Bureau of Reclamation
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Board Discretion
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Board of Supervisors Comment Letter
2. Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment on Draft Updates of the Bay-Delta Plan
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: N/A
File No.: N/A