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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-05-12 - Resolution No. 16-03 RESOLUTION NO. 16-03 RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE YORBA LINDA WATER DISTRICT REGARDING LONG-TERM WATER CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT POLICY IN CALIFORNIA WHEREAS, local California water agencies have invested nearly $20 billion in the past 20 years to build and prudently manage diverse water supply portfolios to meet their customers' needs and provide reliable supplies during times of drought; and WHEREAS, these local investments in everything from water recycling to local and regional water storage to desalination of brackish groundwater and ocean water were made with the public's support and are widely credited with keeping California's economy largely intact throughout the current multiyear drought; and WHEREAS, the emergency drought regulation adopted in May 2015 and extended in February 2016 by the State Water Resources Control Board largely overlooked these investments and required local urban water suppliers to impose mandatory reductions in water use on their customers, even where hydrology and available local supply options did not warrant such stringent reductions; and WHEREAS, Californians responded heroically to the drought emergency and largely met the statewide goal of reducing urban water use by 25% through February 2016; and WHEREAS, Yorba Linda Water District Customers met an even more stringent conservation mandate of 36%; and WHEREAS, as the state's focus transitions from the emergency regulation to a potential long-term policy approach to conservation, local water agencies believe it should be the state's policy to emphasize investments in drought-resiliency and ongoing water-use efficiency and to leave discretion with local water agencies to choose appropriate management strategies; and WHEREAS, California water agencies affirmatively support a long-term policy that demands high levels of water use efficiency, promotes innovation in developing water shortage contingency plans, requires high levels of accountability at local water agencies, and preserves local control over water management decisions; Resolution No. 16-03 Regarding Long-Term Water Conservation and Management Policy 1 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Yorba Linda Water District supports a long-term policy that will result in a highly efficient and resilient water future and will allow local water agencies to continue planning for and investing in the water supply reliability actions needed to meet California's 21 st century water needs; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Yorba Linda Water District believes long-term water management policy is most appropriately developed and administered by the California Department of Water Resources, which already has the lead role in managing the state's Urban Water Management Plan /Water Shortage Contingency Plan process. PASSED AND ADOPTED this 12th day of May 2016, by the following called vote: AYES: Directors Beverage, Collett, Kiley and Melton NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: Di.irddt.or Hawkins Ric Collett, President Yorba Linda Water District ATTEST: ( Marc Marcantonio, Board Secretary Yorba Linda Water District Reviewed as to form by General Counsel: Arthur G. Kidman Ksq, ` Kidman Law LLP Resolution No. 16-03 Regarding Long-Term Water Conservation and Management Policy 2