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C. 51

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	John Kopchik, Director, Conservation & Development Department
Date:	October 20, 2015

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Comments on the Bay Delta Conservation Plan/California Water Fix and Associated Partially Recirculated Draft Environmental Impact Report

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 10/20/2015

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

Ryan Hernandez, 925-674-7824

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: October 20, 2015
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

1) AUTHORIZE the Chair of the Board of Supervisors to sign a letter to the California Natural Resources Agency presenting the County’s comments on the Draft Bay Delta Conservation Plan/California Water Fix (BDCP/CWF) and associated partially Recirculated Draft Environmental Impact Report and Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (RDEIR/SDEIS); and

2) DIRECT staff to submit the letter and detailed comments on the BDCP/CWF and associated partially RDEIR/SDEIS prior to the October 30, 2015 deadline.

FISCAL IMPACT:

None to the General Fund. Cost of the review of the BDCP/CWF and preparation of the comments are funded by the Contra Costa County Water Agency.

BACKGROUND:

The Bay Delta Conservation Plan/California Water Fix (BDCP/CWF) is an effort by state and federal governments, and large water districts from the Central Valley, Southern California and Bay Area, to plan and build large twin tunnels underneath the Delta that will divert fresh water from the Sacramento River before it reaches the Delta. The proposed tunnels will send the water to the export pumps near Tracy for delivery to other parts of the state.

The County submitted comments on the Draft Bay Delta Conservation Plan and associated Environmental Impact Report and Environmental Impact Statement on July 29, 2014. The submittal in 2014 included a letter representing the County's major concerns and seven attachments that detailed the significant and unavoidable impacts the project would have on the County.

Since that time, the California Natural Resources Agency and the Department of Water Resources has modified the project.

Attached is a draft letter conveying the County's comments on the modified project described in the Draft BDCP/CWF and associated RDEIR/SDEIS. As before, additional detailed comments on the project will be included in attachments to the letter. The following items are under preparation but are proposed for attachment to the letter when complete:

A – Summary of CEQA/NEPA Comments
B – Detailed Comments on BDCP/CWF RDEIR/SDEIS
C – Detailed Analysis Of WaterFix Project Impacts based on Water Fix Modeling and Sensitivity Analysis Data
D – Recent Contra Costa County correspondence regarding BDCP/CWF

Included with this report is the County's draft comment letter identifying the major flaws with the modified project and strongly suggesting that it is time for "Plan B". The letter and all the attachments will comprise the County's comments on the proposed changes to the project and will be submitted prior to the October 30, 2015 deadline. Also note, the County's previous comments continue to be relevant and this latest letter and attachments are an addition to the County's comments submitted on July 29, 2014.

The Director of Conservation and Development recommends the Board authorize the Chair to sign the letter expressing our major concerns with the project.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

Not commenting on the Draft Bay Delta Conservation Plan/Cal Water Fix and associated Partially Recirculated Draft Environmental Impact Report and Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement limits the Board’s options on how to respond to the significant and unavoidable impacts the proposed project will have on the County.