TRANSPORTATION, WATER & INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE
Meeting Date: October 14, 2024
Subject: RECEIVE Presentation on progress of drought resilience planning for state small water systems & domestic well communities as required under Senate Bill 552 and DIRECT staff as appropriate
Submitted For: TRANSPORTATION, WATER, & INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE
Department: DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION & DEVELOPMENT
Referral No: 1, 5, 6
Referral Name: 1|| Review legislative matters on transportation, water, and infrastructure; 5|| Review projects, plans and legislative matters that may affect the health of the San Francisco Bay and Delta, including but not limited to conveyance, flood control, dredging, climate change, habitat conservation, governance, water storage, development of an ordinance regarding polystyrene foam food containers, monitor waste diversion initiatives, and water quality, supply and reliability, consistent with the Board of Supervisors adopted Delta Water Platform; 6|| Review and monitor the establishment of Groundwater Sustainability Agencies and Groundwater Sustainability Plans for the three medium priority groundwater basins within Contra Costa County as required by the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.
Presenter: Ryan Hernandez || DCD || Water Agency - Principal Planner
Contact: Ryan Hernandez || (925) 655-2919
Referral History:
Senate Bill (SB) 552 was signed by the Governor in September 2021. The law includes new responsibilities and requirements for local agencies, counties, and state agencies to address gaps in local and state water management for drought resiliency and water shortage preparedness.
Under SB 552, counties are required to establish a standing county drought and water shortage task force (Task Force) and develop a Drought and Water Shortage Risk Mitigation Plan (Drought Resilience Plan). The Drought Resilience Plan must include potential drought and water shortage risks, as well as proposed interim and long-term solutions. Mitigation strategies in the plan must consider consolidation for existing water systems and domestic wells, drinking water mitigation programs, provision of emergency and interim drinking water solutions, implementation steps, and implementation funding sources. There is no mandated timeline for the Drought Resilience Plan. County responsibilities under SB 552 are required to cover state small water systems (state smalls), which serve five to fourteen service connections, and domestic wells, which have no more than four service connections.
TWIC received a presentation on March 11, 2024, as an internal working group of County staff from the departments of Conservation and Development, Agriculture, Health, Public Works, and the Office of Emergency Services began the drought resilience planning process as required under SB 552 and applied for direct technical assistance under the County Drought Resilience Planning Assistance Program, administered by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR).
Referral Update:
The County has received $125,000 in staff time from Stantec, DWR’s technical assistance provider, to provide logistic support for the Task Force and support developing the Drought Resilience Plan. The internal working group of County staff has begun working with Stantec to coordinate the Task Force and begin developing the draft risk assessment for the Drought Resilience Plan. The first Task Force meeting was held on September 27, 2024, with participation from the County, groundwater sustainability agencies, water providers, and state agencies.
The Task Force will provide input and data to inform the Drought Resilience Plan and review the Drought Resilience Plan as it is developed. The Drought Resilience Plan is expected to be complete in spring or early summer 2025.
Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):
RECEIVE presentation on progress of drought resilience planning for state small water systems and domestic well communities as required under Senate Bill 552 and DIRECT staff as appropriate.
Fiscal Impact (if any):
No fiscal impact to receiving the technical assistance. The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) is offering direct technical assistance - $125,000 of Stantec staff time, DWR’s technical service provider - to help counties in their efforts to comply with Senate Bill 552 requirements. Staff is assessing the level of effort necessary to ensure compliance with the drought resilience planning law.