To: Board of Supervisors
From: Sheriff
Agenda Section: Time Certain Matter
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
Drought Task Force Update and Progress Towards SB 552 Compliance
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Receive a verbal report from the Humboldt County Drought Task Force regarding the current status of drought impacts in Humboldt County and progress towards compliance with California Senate Bill 552; and
2. Dissolve 2021 Drought Task Force and authorize the Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services to convene a Steering Committee for a standing Drought Task Force to meet the intent of SB 552, and to develop a Charter establishing the governing structure of the new Drought Task Force.
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SOURCE OF FUNDING:
General Fund (1100), Public Health Fund (1175)
DISCUSSION:
The Humboldt County Drought Task Force was established on May 25, 2021, by the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors. The task force has been directed to explore and develop potential short, medium, and long-term actions for a coordinated, county-wide response as well as track local impacts resulting from drought.
Since its creation, the Drought Task Force has met to discuss local impacts and response and mitigation strategies, providing updates to the Board of Supervisors and the community via formal reports and social and conventional media.
Though the drought in California has subsided, and significant amounts of rainfall have reduced Humboldt County’s short-term risk of drought-related impacts, Senate Bill 552 (SB 552) was passed in September 2021 requiring counties to maintain a standing drought task force to facilitate drought and water shortage preparedness for state small water systems (serving 5 to 14 connections), domestic wells, and other privately supplied homes within the county’s jurisdiction. Additionally, each county must also develop a plan demonstrating the potential drought and water shortage risk and proposed interim and long-term solutions for state small water systems and domestic wells within the county.
To achieve the goal of SB 552 compliance, members of the original Humboldt County Drought Task Force, with the assistance of staff within task force member departments, have been working with Stantec, a consultant with the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) to discuss how they can provide direct assistance to satisfy SB 552 requirements with the development of a Drought Resilience Plan for domestic well users and state small water systems. In addition to the planning effort, efforts are being made to identify collaborators to represent community, government and non-government organizations to act as, or contribute to, the mandated standing Drought Task Force.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is minimal financial impact to receiving this report, and while staff costs for the Drought Task Force were not included in the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 budget, participating departments have so far been able to carry out your Board’s direction related to the task force without additional funding.
STAFFING IMPACT:
N/A
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports the following areas of your Board’s Strategic Framework.
Core Roles: Strengthen climate change resiliency
New Initiatives: Facilitate public/private partnerships to solve problems
Strategic Plan: 4.1 - Identify synergies between all county departments and cities to increase efficiency and effectiveness
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
N/A
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Board discretion
ATTACHMENTS:
1. 23MAR2021 US Drought Monitor
2. 22MAR2022 US Drought Monitor
3. 31JAN2023 US Drought Monitor
4. 30JAN2024 US Drought Monitor
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: N/A
Meeting of: N/A
File No.: N/A