REPORT TO SHASTA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

BOARD MEETING DATE:  June  15, 2021
CATEGORY:  Scheduled Hearings - Public Works-3.

SUBJECT:

Drought – Emergency Declaration & Water Use Restrictions

Supervisorial District No. :  All

DEPARTMENT CONTACT:  Pat Minturn, Public Works Director, (530) 225-5661

STAFF REPORT APPROVED BY:  Pat Minturn, Public Works Director

RECOMMENDATION

Take the following actions: (1) Conduct a public hearing; (2) close the public hearing; (3) adopt a resolution which declares a Countywide drought emergency; and (4) introduce, waive the reading of, and enact An Urgency Ordinance of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Shasta Declaring a Water Shortage Emergency and a Necessity for a Water Conservation Program, Adopting a Water Conservation Program, and Finding that the Actions are Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in County Service Area No. 2 – Sugarloaf Water, County Service Area No. 3 – Castella Water, County Service Area No. 6 – Jones Valley Water, County Service Area No. 8 – Palo Cedro Water, County Service Area No. 11 – French Gulch Water, County Service Area No. 13 – Alpine Meadows Water, and County Service Area No. 23 – Crag View Water for the reasons stated in the Ordinance.

DISCUSSION

California finds itself in the second year of a worsening drought.  In the 2019-20 water year, precipitation was below-average.  Last fall, precipitation was below-average but cold enough to create a tentative snowpack.  This spring, the weather turned exceptionally warm and dry.  Today, snowpack is largely gone, the ground is dry and reservoirs are low.  Total precipitation, snowpack and runoff in the Sacramento River Watershed are less than half of normal.  Surface water supplies will be very scarce.  Our local groundwater basins have not been impacted.

On February 23, 2021, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Bureau) released its initial water supply projection.  The Water Agency was projected to receive 55% of historic use with a 90% confidence interval. On April 1, 2021, the Board contracted for 130 acre-feet of supplemental water from the McConnell Foundation.  On April 29, 2021, the Delta went into deficit and the State Water Resources Control Board invoked Term 91, requiring certain permitees and licenses to temporarily cease diverting water.  On May 26, 2021 the Bureau reduced our allocation to 25% of historical use. On May 10, 2021, the Governor expanded his drought emergency declaration to include Shasta County.

Droughts are managed with conservation, transfers and conjunctive use (i.e., groundwater).  Local water districts are proceeding along these lines.  The Redding Basin Water Resources Management Plan recommended voluntary conservation and tiered pricing to meet 10% of needs in critically dry years.  Prior Governors have called for specific conservation measures and goals during droughts.  For the CSAs and other users in the unincorporated areas, staff cites Governor Brown’s Executive Order B-37-16.  The Order prohibits practices that waste potable water including: hosing off sidewalks, driveways and other hardscapes; washing automobiles with hoses not equipped with a shut-off nozzle; using non-recirculated water in a fountain or other decorative water feature; watering lawns in a manner that causes runoff, or within 48 hours after measurable precipitation; and irrigating ornamental turf on public street medians.  Further measures may be mandated by the state in the coming months as the crisis unfolds.

ALTERNATIVES

The Board may decline to adopt the drought finding and/or irrigation restrictions.

OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT

County Counsel has approved the resolution and ordinance as to form. The Recommendation has been reviewed by the County Administrative Office.

FISCAL IMPACT

Adequate funds to manage the drought are included in the Proposed Fiscal Year 2021-22 budgets for the various CSAs and the Water Agency.