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Amy Chen, Director of MWD Program Debbie Espe, Senior Water Resources Specialist Imported Water Committee July 23, 2015

Bay-Delta Activities Update

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Amy Chen, Director of MWD ProgramDebbie Espe, Senior Water Resources Specialist

Imported Water CommitteeJuly 23, 2015

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CalFed formed to resolve issue of transporting SWP water through the Delta

Bay-Delta Accord initiated long-term planning process to improve the Delta

CalFed published plan to fix Delta and address challenges over next 50 years

State created California Bay Delta Authority to oversee implementation of CalFed’s plan

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1994

1994

2000

2003

2005

2006

2007

2009

2013

Little Hoover Commission found CalFed to be “costly, underperforming, unfocused and unaccountable.”

Legislature dissolve CBDA and California Natural Resources absorbed its functions

Bay Delta Conservation Plan process initiated

Delta Reform Act creates DeltaStewardship Council (Delta Plan) to achieve state mandated coequal goals

Administrative Drafts of BDCP released

BDCP Public Comments Received2014

16 Board meetings since January 2013◦ Bay Delta issues and alternatives◦ Scope of alternatives for staff review◦ Demand assumptions, export yields◦ Economic study, cost and funding◦ BDCP process and timeline, CEQA/NEPA process,

baselines ◦ Water supply/demand/yield analysis◦ Physical facilities, supply/demand risk assessment◦ Financing risk assessment, MWD costs◦ Engineering risk assessment, BDCP governance◦ Economic and financial risk to Water Authority

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Draft BDCP & EIR/EIS

Conceptual Engineering

Report

Implementing Agreement

Governance

Implementation

Funding

Economic Benefits

Environmental Analysis

Environmental Baseline

Decision Tree

Federal Agency Section 7 Coordination

Regulatory Assurances

Future BDCP Modifications

Schedule

Cost Estimate Accuracy

Project Risks5

Released July 10, 2015 Primary purpose is to make the physical and operational

improvements to the state’s main delivery system in the Delta

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Lead agencies◦ Department of Water Resources (CEQA)◦ Bureau of Reclamation (NEPA)◦ Cooperating Agencies: National Marine Fisheries Services and

US Fish and Wildlife Service (Section 7)

CA Fish and Wildlife (Permit after EIR/EIS Approval)

BDCP’s initial strategy (Alternative 4) proposed as a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) ◦ Sought 50-year permit through ESA Section 10

and Natural Community Conservation Plan◦ Provided broad scale regional habitat restoration

and new Delta water delivery infrastructure

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California WaterFix (Alternative 4A)◦ Proposes Section 7 consultation and CESA Section 2081(b)

permit process◦ Includes new Delta water delivery infrastructure, without HCP◦ Allows for others to address habitat conservation efforts

Introduction of three new sub-alternatives

Design Modification to Alternative 4 (BDCP Preferred Alternative)

Updated environmental analysis◦ Fish and Aquatic Habitat◦ Water Quality◦ Effects Downstream of the Delta◦ Air Quality Health Risk Assessment, Traffic and Noise◦ Geotechnical Investigations◦ Inclusion of Additional NEPA Determinations

The cost is estimated at $14.9 billion (2014$)

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July – October Staff to review and assess recirculated documents

August 27 State representative to address Imported Water Committee on new approach

September 24 Report on staff assessment

October 30 Public Comment Deadline