Cities Association of Santa Clara County

Transcription

1 Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency A multicounty agency authorized to plan for and acquire supplemental water supplies, encourage water conservation and use of recycled water on a regional basis. [Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency Act, AB2058(Papan 2002)] Cities Association of Santa Clara County September 13, 2012 John Fedak Photo Album O'Shaughnessy Dam at Hetch Hetchy Reservoir Jensen 1

2 Objectives of this presentation 1. Explain the threat to water users if the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir is drained 2. Describe BAWSCA's plan to protect water users from this threat 3. Request the group's support for that plan Assume this issue will persist John Muir died after losing a battle to prevent San Francisco from building a dam in Hetch Hetchy Valley Draining the reservoir and reclaiming the Hetch Hetchy Valley is a public policy issue that has been debated for over 100 years The group Restore Hetch Hetchy has placed an initiative on November s ballot in San Francisco This issue won t go away 2

3 The San Francisco Regional Water System was built to serve these communities The 1912 Freeman Report For the Water Supply of San Francisco, California And Neighboring Cities A report to the Mayor of San Francisco and City Attorney, published by authority of the Board of Supervisors What the SF initiative would do San Francisco would be required to prepare plans to develop other supplies, drain Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and restore the Valley The plans would have to be completed before the next presidential election in 2016 In 2016 the proponents plan to place a Charter amendment before San Francisco voters to require the plan be implemented 3

4 Before the dam With the dam Four reasons this issue is important to your communities 1. Two thirds of the water San Francisco provides is used by water customers outside San Francisco 2. Two thirds of the costs of the Regional Water System are paid by customers outside San Francisco 3. Such a plan may impact the reliability, quality and cost of water to those communities 4. Voters outside San Francisco currently have no vote on this important matter 4

5 BAWSCA Represents 26 agencies that buy water from SF 1.7 million residents Over 30,000 businesses and Countless community organizations These communities depend on this water supply San Francisco 100% Southern Alameda County About half (100% in Hayward) San Mateo County 93% Northern Santa Clara County About half (100% in Palo Alto & Stanford) 5

6 Hetch Hetchy Reservoir provides water reliability for water customers The Tuolumne River supplies 85 percent of the water delivered by the System Hetch Hetchy Reservoir stores 117 billion gallons of water, or 60% of San Francisco s drinking water storage capacity Hetch Hetchy Reservoir stores water for seasonal reliability and for drought reliability Draining the reservoir could be a serious threat to those who depend on it and to the California economy Hetch Hetchy Stores Water in Wet Years Hetch Hetchy Reservoir 2009 nearly full Hetch Hetchy Reservoir 1993 spilling at end of the last drought 6

7 For Delivery to Communities in Dry Years Upstream side of O'Shaughnessy Dam Drought 1987 Hetch Hetchy Reservoir Drought 1977 BAWSCA s plan to protect water users (1 of 2) 1. Protect the health, safety and economic well being of the residents, businesses and communities 2. Alternative water storage and supplies must be in operation before draining the Reservoir 3. Alternate storage and supplies must be supported with: Legally enforceable agreements Unambiguous water rights Appropriate ownership of facilities Accountable oversight Clear operating responsibilities 7

8 BAWSCA s plan to protect water users (2 of 2) 4. BAWSCA is opposed to draining Hetch Hetchy Reservoir unless and until voters outside San Francisco who depend on the Reservoir, or their representatives, vote on a. Whether the resulting water reliability and quality are acceptable b. Whether they are willing to pay their share of any additional costs 5. Nothing must delay rebuilding the earthquake prone Regional Water System BAWSCA will act to protect the water customers outside San Francisco BAWSCA will pursue administrative or legislative action to secure a vote BAWSCA will pursue other avenues if and when appropriate 8

9 BAWSCA s history of achievements Legislation: 2002 AB 1823 (Papan) required SF to rebuild the earthquakesusceptible water system 2002 SB 1870 (Speier) created the Regional Financing Authority in case SF voters didn t approve water bonds 2002 AB 2058 (Papan) Enabled the formation of BAWSCA by its (now) 26 member agencies 2008 AB 2437 (Ruskin) Extended State oversight of SF s rebuilding of the Regional Water System to AB2167 (Hill) Would allow BAWSCA to save customers at least $20 million over the next 21 years (signed by Governor Brown Sept 7) 2009 Water Supply Agreement: Successfully negotiated a new Water Supply Agreement between San Francisco and BAWSCA s 26 member agencies What we ask of you Actively support legislation to ensure your voters or their representatives get to vote before a plan to replace and drain Hetch Hetchy Reservoir can be implemented This concept has regional support San Jose Mercury News editorial: July 10, 2012 SF Chronicle editorial: July 9,

10 Questions and Comments Hetch Hetchy Reservoir Jensen 10