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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 416-06City of Palo Alto City Manager’s Report 7 TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: UTILITIES DATE:NOVEMBER 20, 2006 CMR:416:06 SUBJECT:RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA INTEGRATED REGIONAL WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the Council approve a resolution adopting the San Francisco Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan. BACKGROUND On September 12, 2005, Council approved and authorized the mayor to sign the Letter of Mutual Understandings @OMU) for the development of a San Francisco Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (IRWMP) [CMR:359:05]. The LOMU identified the. goals of the IRWMP and outlined the working relationship to develop the IRWMP. Development of the Bay Area IRWMP involved a diverse group of water supply, water quality, wastewater, storm water, flood management, watershed and habitat agencies; local governments; environmental groups; business groups; and other interested parties. The LOMU partners include: Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, Alameda County Water District, Association of Bay Area Governments, Bay Area Clean Water Agencies Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency, City of Napa, City of Palo Alto, Contra Costa Water District, Contra Costa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, East Bay Municipal Utility District, Marin Municipal Water District, North Bay Watershed Association, San Francisco Estuary Project, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, Santa Clara Basin Watershed Management Initiative, Santa Clara Valley Water District, Solano County Water Agency, Sonoma County Water Agency, State Coastal Conservancy, and Zone 7 Water Agency. The goals of the IRWMP are to: Foster coordination, collaboration and communication among Bay Area agencies responsible for water and habitat-related issues; CMR:416:06 Page 1 of 5 2.Achieve greater efficiencies and build public support for vital projects; and 3.Improve regional competitiveness for project funding. The development of the IRWMP was a multi-stakeholder, nine-county effort to coordinate a strategic approach to regional water resources management. The timeline for completing the IRWMP was extremely tight as work began on January 1, 2006 and the plan was finalized on November 1, 2006. LOMU signatories and other interested supporters have until the end of 2006 to adopt the plan. The Bay Area IRWMP document can be viewed on the Bay Area IRWMP web site: http://www.bayareairwmp.net/. Since the document is so lengthy (615 pages plus 1,280 pages of appendices), the document is not attached to this report. Attachment 2 is the plan’s Executive Summary. Copies of the entire report are also available at Palo Alto’s Main and Mitchell Park libraries, the City Clerk’s office, and on the 3rd floor of City Hall in the Utilities Department. Descriptions of the IRWMP and the process used to develop it are contained on the same web site and are reproduced in Attachment 2 of this report. DISCUSSION The development of the Bay Area IRWMP is responsive to the state’s requirement that grant funds are only provided for projects included in an adopted integrated water management plan. The Bay Area IRWMP is a landmark effort to coordinate a strategic approach to regional water resources management in the nine-county Bay Area region. To complete the IRWMP, the State Water Resources Control Board awarded grants totaling $838,000 to the California State Coastal Conservancy and Zone 7 Water Agency, which are administering the grants. The planning grant funds were used by the LOMU signatories to hire consultants to complete the IRWMR As outlined in the LOMU, a Technical Coordinating Committee directed the work of the consultants. The grant funds are available through Proposition 50, the statewide bond initiative passed by voters in 2002. Proposition 50 set aside $380 million for all IRWMP related grants. For the first funding cycle of $160 million, $12 million was designated for planning and $148 million for implementation. Cycle 1 is currently underway. Cycle 2 funding totals $220 million and is scheduled to be allocated in 2008. A consolidated Bay Area proposal for $25 million of Proposition 50 implementation grant funding was submitted in Cycle 1 to the state in June 2006. The state is expected to make a funding decision on this proposal in late 2006 or early 2007. Projects that were included in this proposal were those that were deemed "ready to proceed" and included: 1. Region-wide conservation programs for high efficiency toilets, water use efficient product testing and labeling program ("WaterStar"), and a pilot program for a new business development guidebook; 2.Recycling projects in San Jose, Mountain View, Redwood City, East Bay Municipal Utility District, Pacifica, and North Marin Water District; CMR:416:06 Page 2 of 5 3. Ecosystem restoration projects in Sonoma and Alameda Counties; 4. Desalination, groundwater demineralization, and groundwater monitoring projects in Zone 7 Water Agency, Matin Municipal Water District, and Montara Water and Sanitary District; and 5.A regional intertie between Contra Costa Water District and East Bay Municipal Utility District. Projects identified in the Bay Area IRWMP will become part of an implementation grant proposal for Proposition 50 Cycle 2 funding. If a project is not included in the IRWMP, it is unlikely to get state funding. In order to receive grant money from the state for a proj ect in the IRWMP, an agency must adopt the IRWMP. The Bay Area IRWMP contains the following 3 projects that would benefit the City of Palo Alto: o Project #55 - Mountain View / Moffett Area Water Recycling Project, sponsored by City of Palo Alto and City of Mountain View. This is the project to construct a recycled water trunk line from the Palo Alto Regional Water Quality Control Plant (RWQCP) south to Mountain View to serve approximately 120 customers within the Mountain View and Moffett Field Area. Project #64 -Palo Alto Recycling Project, sponsored by the City of Palo Alto. This project will serve recycled water produced at the RWQCP to the City of Palo Alto, focusing on customers located within a centralized area known as the Stanford Research Park area. Project #65 - Palo Alto Regional Water Quality Control Plant Water Recycling Program - Phase 3 Expansion, sponsored by the City of Palo Alto. This project is an outcome of the long-term goals study, which is the RWQCP’s sustainability road map. The project is a multi-purpose project designed to address the RWQCP’s recycled water quality and salinity management quality issue, the effluent receiving water quality issues, and to expand the recycled water production, distribution~ and use. The three components of the Project are: (1) replace existing chlorine disinfection with ultraviolet light, (2) install a desalter for advanced treatment of the recycled water; and (3) expand the recycled water distribution system in Palo Alto. RESOURCE IMPACT Adoption of the plan requires no financial commitment. Any project that the City of Palo Alto may participate in would require Council consideration, at which time the resources for such a commitment would be identified. The IRWMP is a "living document" involving continued regional collaboration and coordination, and the yet unknown level of interest and commitment of the implementing agencies in light of funding uncertainties. So long as state grant funding exists as enticement, participating agencies and entities in the Bay Area IRWMP may expend some level of effort to maintain the IRWMP and planning process as prerequisites to future grants. As a participant in the IRWMP, and depending upon the status of the City’s projects in the IRWMP or in any construction grant application, the City will continue a low level staff involvement in monitoring the IRWMP implementation activities. Future updates of the IRWMP as well as the level of CMR:416:06 Page 3 of 5 effort involved in plan and projects implementation are contingent upon availability of dedicated resources from all the participating agencies and additional grant funds. POLICY IMPLICATIONS Adopting the Bay Area IRWMP is consistent with Council policy. The Council has supported this goal by its approval of the Water Integrated Resources Plan (WIRP) Guidelines in December 2003 [CMR:547:03], specifically, WIRP Guideline #3: Actively participate in development of cost-effective regional recycled water plans. The City’s Comprehensive Plan’s vision for the Natural Environment also supports the goals of the IRWMP in its statement that "Palo Alto will meet today’s needs without compromising the needs of future generations. Palo Alto will respect and manage natural resources in a way that sustains the natural environment... The city will...change in a way that minimizes exposure to hazards like fire, flood, and earthquakes." ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW The Bay Area IRWMP is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to CEQA Guidelines §15262 and § 15306 because the IRWMP consists of basic data collection that would not result in the disturbance of any environmental resource and involves planning studies for possible actions that the participating agencies have not yet approved. Furthermore, adoption of the Bay Area IRWMP does not entail a direct commitment of resources and implementation of each project will be the responsibility of the project proponent and any applicable project partners and there is no joint commitment or responsibility by the Bay Area IRWMP participants to implement any or all of the projects. Any project that is identified in the plan that the City of Palo Alto may participate in may require environmental review. At the time that such a project is being developed, environmental review will be conducted. NEXT STEPS Projects in the Bay Area IRWMP may be selected to compete for state construction grant funding. Staff will assist in the preparation of these grant applications for any projects that involve Palo Alto. Grant application timing may depend upon availability of state funds and any rules or requirements that are tied to the potential funding. ATTACHMENTS 1. Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Adopting the San Francisco Integrated Regional Water Management Plan. 2.Executive Summary of the San Francisco Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan. CMR:416:06 Page 4 of 5 PREPARED BY: ior Resource Planner DEPARTMENT HEAD: CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: Director of’Utilities Assist-ant City Manager - CMR:416:06 Page 5 of 5 YET APPROVED****ATTACHMENT 1 RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO ADOPTING THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA INTEGRATED REGIONAL WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN WHEREAS, the State electorate approved multiple statewide bond measures since 2000 to fund water and natural resource projects and programs, including $3.44 billion under Proposition 50, of which $500 million is directed to Integrated Regional Water Management (~IRWM") ; and WHEREAS, the State electorate approved Proposition 84 on November 7, 2006, which contains a total of $5.39 billion for water and natural resource projects and programs, including $i billion for IRWM.with $138 million of that amount allocated to the San Francisco Bay Area; and WHEREAS, the benefits of integrated planning for water management activities include increased efficiency and effectiveness, enhanced collaboration across agencies and stakeholders, and improved responsiveness to regional needs and prior±ties; and WHEREAS, state statutes and guidelines require that an IRWM plan (~Plan") must be adopted by the governing boards of participating agencies before IRWM grant funds will be provided for water management projects that are part of the Plan; and WHEREAS, several of the participating agencies in the Bay Area have jointly submitted an IRWM grant application for state consideration where one condition for funding requires the Bay Area IRWM Plan to be adopted by January I, 2007; and WHEREAS, a series of four public workshops were held on the Bay Area IRWM Plan during 2006 to provide the genera! public and stakeholders an opportunity to ask questions, provide comments and make recommendations during development of the IRWM Plan; and WHEREAS, public outreach meetings to local government representatives from each Bay Area county were held on the Bay Area IRWM Plan to provide elected officials, staff and the public additional opportunities to ask questions, provide comments and make recommendations; and 061102 cjs 0072790 1 YET APPROVED**** WHEREAS, the Draft Bay Area IRWM Plan was posted on the internet and made available for public comment on September 27, 2006 through October 24, 2006; and WHEREAS, the Bay Area IRWM Plan before the Board for consideration incorporates comments received during the public review period in the areas of environmental justice, and technical project data; and WHEREAS,the Bay Area IRWM Plan provides an implementation framework that calls for tracking accomplishments,developing lists of prioritized projects and periodically updating the Bay Area IRWM Plan as conditions warrant, provided funding and resources are available to carry out these activities; and WHEREAS, adoption of the Bay Area IRWM Plan does not entai! a direct commitment of resources, and implementation of each project will be the responsibility of the project proponent and any applicable project partners, and there is no joint commitment or responsibility by the Bay Area IRWM Plan participants to implement any or al! of the projects; and WHEREAS, the Plan is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to CEQA Guidelines §15262 and §15306, because the IRWM Plan consists of basic data collection that would not result in the disturbance of any environmental resource and involves planning studies for possible actions that the participating agencies have not yet approved; and WHEREAS, the Plan is intended to be complementary to participating agencies’ individual plans and programs and does not supersede such plans and programs, and adoption of the IRWM does not prohibit nor affect in any way a participating agencies’ planning efforts separate from the IRWM Plan; NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto does hereby RESOLVE as follows: SECTION i. The C~uncil hereby adopts the Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan. SECTION 2. The Council finds that the adoption of this resolution does not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act and the CEQA Guidelines and, therefore, no environment assessment is required. 2 061102 cjs 0072790 INTRODUCED AND PASSED : AYES : NOES : AB SENT : ABSTENTIONS : ATTEST :APPROVED : City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: Mayor Senior Asst. City Attorney City Manager Director of Utilities Director of Administrative Services 061102 cjs 0072790 ATTACHMENT 2 Noven EXECUTIVE SUMMARY San Francisco Bay Area water, wastewater, flood protection and stormwater management agencies; cities and counties represented by the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG); and watershed management interests represented by the California Coastal Conservancy (CCC) and non-governmental environmental organizations signed a Letter of Mutual Understandings (LOMU) to develop an Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (IRWMP) for the San Francisco Bay Area. The Bay Area IRWMP represents a significant accomplishment in regional water resources planning. It outlines the region’s water resources management needs and objectives, and presents innovative strategies and a detailed implementation plan to achieve these objectives, contributing to sustainable water resources management in the Bay Area. The overall objectives of the Bay Area IRWMP are to: 1)Foster coordination, collaboration and communication among Bay Area agencies responsible for water and habitat-related issues. 2) Achieve greater efficiencies and build public support for vital projects. 3) Improve regional competitiveness for project funding. The IRWMP, and this Executive Summary, follow the Integrated Regional Management Grant Program Guidelines (Guidelines) jointly issued by the State Water Resources Control Board and Department of Water Resources on November ! 8, 2004. The sections included in the IRWMP, and summarized in this Executive Summary, are as follows: Section A: Regional Water Management Group. This section describes the Bay Area regional water management group, including member agencies and organizations and their management responsibilities related to water. Section B: Region Description. This section explains why the Bay Area is an appropriate area for integrated regional water management, and describes: internal boundaries within the region, major water-related infrastructure, and major land-use divisions; the quality and quantity of water resources within the region, including surface water, groundwater, reclaimed water, imported water, and desalted water; water supplies and demand for a 20-year planning horizon; important ecological processes and environmental resources; the social and cultural makeup of the regional community; important cultural or social values; and economic conditions and important economic trends. Section C: Objectives. This section identifies the water resources management challenges facing the region, the common interests that are shared by all Bay Area water resources management entities, and the specific goals and objectives of the IRWMP. Section D: Water Management Strategies. This section documents the range of water management strategies considered to meet the region’s objectives. Section E: Integration. This section presents the mix of water management strategies selected for inclusion in the Plan and discusses the added value and benefits associated with integrating these strategies. Section F: Regional Priorities. This section presents short-term and long-term priorities for implementation of the Plan and discusses the process for modifying priorities in response to regional changes. Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan Executive Summary ES-1 November 2006 Section G: Implementation. This section discusses the institutional structure responsible for plan implementation and presents specific actions, projects and studies, ongoing or planned, by which the Plan will be implemented, and identifies the agencies res.ponsible for project implementation. Section H: Impacts and Benefits. This section presents a screening-level discussion of the impacts and benefits from Plan implementation. Section I: Technical Analysis and Plan Performance. This section presents the data, technical methods and analysis used in development of the Plan, and discusses performance measures and monitoring systems that will be used to gather performance data and the adaptive management process that will be used to make adjustments based on the performance. Section J: Data Management. This section presents mechanisms by which data will be managed and disseminated to stakeholders and the public and discusses how data collection will support statewide data needs. Section K: Financing. This section identifies beneficiaries of Plan implementation, and identifies the capital and operation and maintenance costs and potential funding sources for each of the projects included in the Plan. Section L: Statewide Priorities. This section identifies the statewide priorities that will be met or contributed to by implementation of the Plan and specific projects. Section M: Relation to Local Planning. This section discusses how the IRWM Plan relates to planning documents and programs established by local agencies, and demonstrates coordination with local land-use planning decision-makers. Section N: Sta keholder Involvement. This section identifies stakeholders included in developing the Plan, the manner in which stakeholders were identified, how they participate in planning and implementation efforts, and how they can influence water management decisions. Section O: Coordination with State and Federal Agencies. This section discusses State and federal agencies involved with strategies, actions, and projects, and identifies areas where State or other agencies may be able to assist in communication, cooperation, or implementation of Plan components or processes. Each section of the IRWMP begins with a blue callout box highlighting the Guidelines for that section. These callout boxes are intended to focus the reader’s attention on the main points of each section. In this Executive Summary, blue boxes are provided to highlight the l~ey messages presented in each section. Together, these sections establish an effective framework for ongoing water resources management in the Bay Area. This Bay Area IRWMP is dynamic, and continues to change and grow with time. The IRWMP is not intended to serve as a static plan, but as a process for ongoing regional planning. Regional goals, objectives, and priorities will evolve over time, and this Bay Area IRWMP, similarly, will adapt to meet the changing needs of the region. The Bay Area IRWMP, and its continued evolution, are illustrative of the San Francisco Bay Area’s commitment to ongoing integrated regional water resources planning. Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan ES-2Exectttive SttllllltaFtj November 2006 A Regional Water Management Group Developing an Integrated Regional Water Management Plan that covers all aspects of water resources management across a geographic region as large as the Bay Area poses many institutional challenges. By signing a Letter of Mutual Understandings to develop the Bay Area IRWMP, LOMU signatories, in coordination with other interested stakeholders (see Figure ES-1), have overcome these challenges and achieved their stated goals: []Facilitate regional cooperation in areas of water supply reliability, water recycling, desalination, water conservation, water quality improvements, stormwater capture and management, flood management, recreation and access, wetlands enhancement and creation, and environmental habitat protection and improvement; and [] Foster coordination, collaboration and communication amongst participating agencies to achieve greater efficiencies, enhance public services and build public support for vital plans and projects. [] To improve regional competitiveness for State and federal grant funding. LEGEND LOMU $ign~totie~~Stakeholder~ Figure ES-I: Bay Area IRWMP Organizational Chart Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan ES-3Exectttive Stmmtary November 2006 B Region Description About the Region: The San Francisco Bay Area IRWMP Region is united by its distinctive identity, hydrologic and ecologic connections, national and international renown, and: long history of regional planning.. . For purposes of this IRWMP, the Bay Area region is defined by the jurisdiction of the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board (Region 2). Although the geographic scope of this region presents inherent complexities, several features make it an appropriate area for integrated regional water management: Distinctive Identity. Although parts of the Bay Area differ greatly from one another, they are tied together by their connections to the Bay, their interdependent economies, their shared natural resources, and their common cultural experiences. As a result, the Bay Area is an appropriate area for integrated regional water management. Hydrologic and Ecologic Connection. The Region 2 boundary is a physically based watershed boundary that includes lands that drain to common receiving waters (the Bay and the Ocean). Additionally, the Bay estuary and its supporting local watersheds host a distinct Bay Area natural environment and ecology that includes many important habitats for species of regional, as well as international, significance. Figure ES-2: Bay Area Region National and International Renown. In addition to being the 5t~ largest metropolitan area in the United States, The Bay Area is recognized as a global center for innovation and technology. History of Regional Planning. Water management agencies throughout the Bay Area have a long history of regional cooperation and planning, including but Bay Area Fast Facts: o Includes 9 counties and 100 cities o 5t" largest metropolitan area in the United States o Home to 7.1 million people- of which 44% are minorities o 24th largest economy in the world with 3.5 million jobs Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan ES-4Exeattive Summa77 November not limited to the Bay Area Water Agencies Coalition, Bay Area Clean Water Agencies, and Bay Area Stormwater Management Association. Bay Area water agencies manage a diverse portfolio of water supplies to meet the needs of the region: Local Supplies: Local groundwater and surface water supplies Sierra Nevada Supplies: Tuolumne and Mokelumne River supplies Delta Supplies: State Water Project (SWP), Central Valley Project (CVP), other delta supplies Other: Desalination, recycled water, water transfers, and other supplies Local Supplies (SW+GW) 31% Me 19% Other 3% SWP 13% CVP 15% umne 19% Figure ES-3: Bay Area Water Use by Supply Source The quality of water supplies used within the Bay Area region varies greatly by source. Mokelumne River and Tuolumne River surface water supplies are of very good quality, with low concentrations of total dissolved solids (TDS), total organic carbon (TOC), chloride, bromide, microbial contaminants, and other water quality parameters. These supplies generally do not exhibit the dramatic seasonal variability observed in Delta supplies. Delta supplies, conversely, exhibit elevated concentrations several water quality parameters including TDS, chloride, bromide, and TOC. Further, Delta supplies exhibit significant variability by location, season, and hydrologic year type. This variability can at times be so severe that some treatment plants must shut down, switch to other supplies sources, or blend with other supplies in order to address the poor water quality. TDS and hardness of groundwater supplies, similarly, vary significantly by basin. Bay Area water agencies are continually striving to address drinking water contaminants of concern (e.g., TDS, TOC, disinfection byproducts, emerging pollutants) through source water protection and advanced treatment strategies. Supply &Demand: resources to fully implement necessary actions. Historically, conservation measures have proven to be effective at controlling Bay Area water use. As shown in Figure ES-4, overall water use has only increased 1% since 1986 - despite a 23% increase in population. Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan ES-5 Executive Sunnnanj November 2006 ..... ~ However, Bay Area water agencies face a variety of challenges that threaten their ability to provide adequate supplies to meet the needs of their customers in the future: Threats to Baseline Supplies. The reliability of existing Bay Area Supplies is threatened by several different factors. Delta supplies are threatened by degrading water quality, risk of catastrophic failure, regulatory constraints on exports and local facilities operations. Surface water supplies are threatened by reductions in local yield and/or carryover storage due to seismic concerns and sedimentation and 1,600 1,400 1,200 supply of water to meet regulatory requirements.Figure ES-4: Historical Population and Water Use Trends Groundwater supplies are threatened by potential pollution and overdraft. Increasing Demands. The Bay Area continues to be a popular place to live and work. ABAG predicts the population will increase to 8.2 million by 2020. Hydrologic Variations. Many supplies are constrained in drought years. The severity and timing of dry year shortfalls differ greatly among the Bay Area water agencies due to the wide variation in supply sources, the types of use (residential, industrial, etc), and climate variations within the region. Projected Bay Area supply reductions for future droughts: 0 60% reduction in SWP supplies o 25% reduction in CVP supplies o 30% reduction in Tuolumne supplies o 40% reduction in Mokelumne supplies o 50% +/- reduction in local supplies Infrastructure Vulnerability. Water infrastructure in the Bay Area is vulnerabl,e to effects from seismic activity, levee failures, sedimentation and system security breaches. The Bay Area includes flat and highly developed valleys and bayside alluvial plains surrounded by rainfall-collecting steep terrain. This geography is conducive to sudden flooding (see Figure ES-5). Furthermore, the semi-arid climate, where the total annual rainfall is typically concentrated in a few short storms during the winter months, makes flood prediction Uncertain. Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan ES-6Exeottive 5tnln/tanj November 2006 Because of the topography of alluvial plains, floodwaters escaping some stream channels may flow away from the flooding stream, crossing open areas or flowing through city streets until reaching an adjacent watercourse. This type of flooding compounds and exacerbates local flooding that occurs when storm drains and small channels become blocked or surcharged during storms. The Bay Area’s 14 largest local tributary watersheds encompass 2,477 square miles. Approximately 73 square miles (or 3% of the local watershed lands) are subject to flooding. Flood protection agencies are faced with several challenges in their efforts to minimize these flood risks: []Continued development in upland areas and near stream corridors []Lack of clear jurisdictional responsibility for stream maintenance in many areas []A costly and time-consuming permitting process for flood protection projects []Control of invasive species -Management of floodplains, riparian areas, and areas prone to tidal flooding in a region with very high land values and development pressures [] Need for more effective coordination among jurisdictions that share watershed resources Legend Figure ES-5: Bay Area Locations v4thin the 1% Flood Plain Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan ES-7Executive Summary November 2006 Environmental Resources: Bay Area watersheds provide water supply, flood attenuation, groundwater recharge, water quality improvement, wildlife and aquatic habitats, erosion control, and recreation opportunities., i . Bay Area watershed habitats include rivers and streams, Montane and Valley foothill riparian areas, lakes and ponds, freshwater and tidal wetlands, and associated uplands habitats. Local watersheds and their associated habitats provide a myriad of water resource and ecological benefits to both humans and wildlife. Headwater tributaries and stream corridors provide and convey freshwater sources for humans and wildlife. Healthy floodplains detain stormflow volumes and reduce flow velocities, as well as provide diverse seasonal wetlands habitats. Wetlands vegetation protects and enhances water quality by removing toxins from influent water, and increases residence time which allows water to seep into the soil and enter underlying aquifers. Bay Area watersheds are home to 105 wildlife species that have been designated by state and federal agencies as threatened or endangered. Bay Area habitats support special status species including, but not limited to: California red-legged frog, Giant garter snake, Chinook salmon, Coho salmon, Steelhead trout, Bald eagle, Sainson’s hawk, San Joaquin kit fox, California tiger salamander, Western Pond Turtle, California freshwater shrimp, California clapper rail, Western snowy plover, California least tern, Salt-marsh common yellowthroat, Salt Marsh harvest mouse, Alameda Whipsnake and San Francisco Garter Snake.. Two-thirds of the State’s salmon population pass through the Bay and Delta each year. Bay Area agencies and organizations pursue a variety of different water resources management mandates: balancing the water needs of sensitive habitats with customer water demands, restoring watershed habitats and natural hydrologic functions, taking advantage of streams as urban and suburban amenities, and ensuring that natural resources and habitats are shielded from potential adverse impacts associated with land and water management. Specific challenges include: Environmental Water Demands. Environmental water demands encompass the demands on quantity, timing, duration and frequency of flows required by plants, wildlife and fisheries. Diversions of water from streams for other demands can limit survival rates for aquatic and riparian species. Barriers to Recovery of Special Status Fish. Several special status fish, including steelhead, coho salmon and Chinook salmon, were historically abundant in Bay Area streams. However, land use changes, channel alterations, and the construction of dams, dikes and weirs have severely limited modern fish populations. Control of Invasive Species. Bay Area riparian habitats are heavily impacted by invasion and spread of some non-native species of plants and animals. Invasive species can reduce soil retention, consume stream flows, reduce surface storage capacity, restrict flow capacity in creeks, and eliminate biodiversity. Development in Flood Plains and Riparian Areas. High land values and ongoing pressure for urban expansion tends to encourage development in flood plains, riparian areas, and tidal areas. This development generally results in loss of biological resources due to habitat fragmentation. Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan ES-8Executive Summary November 2006 High land costs are a disincentive to retaining riparian setbacks where natural geomorphic and ecologic processes such as flooding and minor erosion could occur without affecting structures. High land costs also limit the potential to purchase title or easements that would preserve these areas for flooding and other natural stream functions. Additionally, downstream impacts of development in middle and upper watersheds include increased stream discharge, scour and deposition, head-cutting, and downstream flooding, with resulting loss of habitat, threats to public health and safety, and increased costs of flood management. -over 160 water bodies within the region are considered to be impaired. The Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) has found that the San Francisco Bay and many of its tributaries are impaired, and is currently developing 20 TMDLs (Total Maximum Daily Loads) to address the 160+ impaired water bodies included on the Clean Water Act 303(d) list for the San Francisco Bay region (Table ES-1). Table ES-I: Bay Area TMDLs1 Guadalupe River Lagunitas Creek Napa River Pescadero/Butano Creeks San Francisco Bay San Francisquito Creek Sonoma Creek Tomales Bay Urban Creeks Walker Creek Mercur~ Sediment, Pathogens2 Sediment, Nutrients, Pathogens2 Sediment Copper, Mercury, Nickel, PCBs, Exotic Species Sediment Sediment, Nutrients, Pathogens2 Pathogens Diazinon Mercury, Sediment~ TMDLs account for all pollutant sources, including discharges from wastewater treatment facilities; runoff from homes, agriculture, and streets or highways; "toxic hot spots"; and deposits from the air. The specific urban runoff BMPs and level of implementation that will be required in TMDLs will be determined through TMDL development. The scale of loading reductions anticipated suggests TMDLs will require significant increases in resources applied to urban runoff control and significant changes in scope and approach to urban runoff control programs. Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLS) Existing or Currently Being Developed, March 2003. http://ww~v.waterboards.ca.gov/funding/docs/tmdllist.doc. Accessed: August 25, 2006. San Francisco Bay RWQCB. Water Management Initiative Integrated Plan Chapter. October 2004. Page 1-6. Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan ES-9 Executive Summary November 2006 Demographics Water resources management projects in disadvantaged and environmental justice communities can improve water quality, relieve flooding, and provide open space for local residents. With a population of 7.09 million, the San Francisco Bay metropolitan region is the second largest in California and the fifth largest in the nation. The San Francisco Bay region’s population is made up of approximately 2.58 million households. The annual median household income (MHI) across census tracts in the region averages $83,400. An understanding of the location of disadvantaged and environmental justice communities can help the region to identify water resources management projects that improve water quality, open space and recreation opportunities, and flooding conditions within these neighborhoods. "Disadvantaged communities" are defined by the IRWMP Grant Program Guidelines as communities with an annual MHI less than 80% of the State MHI. Environmental justice communities are defined as low-income communities and communities of color that have been disproportionately impacted by programs, policies, or activities that have resulted in adverse health or environmental impacts. Figure ES-6 shows census tracts defined as disadvantaged communities (less than 80% MHI) and census tracts with concentrations of 30% or greater minority populations (Asian, black or African American, or Hispanic origin). To begin to understand the environmental burden these communities may endure, the locations ofwastewater treatment facilities and flood-prone areas are also presented in Figure ES-6. Water resources management projects in these neighborhoods should consider potential adverse impacts to these communities. Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan ES-IOExecttb’ve Sttmlnary November 2006 Legend Disadvantaged Commt~nitles by Median Household Income (MHI) Figure ES-6: Disadvantaged Communities in the Bay Area In addition to the specific water resources challenges described herein, Bay Area water resources management entities face other challenges relating to regulatory compliance, financing/funding, and interagency coordination: ¯Regulations are becoming increasingly stringent in all areas of water management ¯The permitting process is being delayed by severe funding and staffing limitations at resource protection agencies Competing costs and general lack of local funding impede agencies abilities to implement projects [] Water resources management issues do not usually follow jurisdictional boundaries Bay Area integrated Regional Water Management Plan ES-11Executive Summary Nove C Objectives The Bay Area IRWMP objectives are born out of the common water resource mana gement interests and challenges faced by the region. Collectively, these objectives work towards achieving the Plan s V sion: Given the large geographic scope of the Bay Area region, the process for developing this IRWMP began with the development of baseline Functional Area Documents (FADs) that focused on the following water resources management areas: ¯Water Supply and Water Quality (WS-WQ) ¯Wastewater and Recycled Water (WW-RW) []Flood Protection and Stormwater Management (FP-SM) []Watershed Management, Habitat Protection and Restoration (WM-HP&R) The process of identifying and developing regional goals and objectives that transcend these functional areas involved (1) compiling the issues, conflicts and challenges from each of the FADs and defining the common water resource management interests; (2) compiling the various goals and objectives identified in each of the FADs to address water management challenges and identifying overarching goals that transcend all function areas Common Bay Area Water Resources Management Interests: "Protecting the Bay - Delta Watershed []Managing Impacts from an Increasing Population. =Addressing Aging Infrastructure Needs =Maintaining a Vital Economy []Protecting Health, Safety and Property []Increasing Efficiencies and Value Added through Coordination and Collaboration of water resource management and (3) revising overarching goals and objectives based on stakeholder input and feedback and developing a vision to guide implementation of the IRWMP. The overarching goals and objectives that address Bay Area water management challenges and reflect common interests are presented in Table ES-2, Table ES-2: Bay Area Regional Goals and Objectives A. Contribute to Contribute to: the promotion of ¯ Avoiding, minimizing, and mitigating net impacts to environment economic, social,-U~-i-~-i~]~i~-a-~~-~ii~~-~-~-r~i~-~-~-~~ironmental su~i~iii~t~;~-~o~~~a~-~-~and environmental management practices sustainability [] Maximizing external support and partnerships []Maximizing ability to get outside funding []Maximizing economies of scale and governmental efficiencies []Providing trails and recreation opportunities ¯Protecting cultural resources []Increasing community outreach and education for watershed health ¯Maximizing community involvement and stewardship []Reducing energy use and/or use renewable resources where appropriate Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan ES-12Executive ~qttltttllartJ November 2006 ¯Minimizing solid waste generation/maximize reuse ¯Engaging public agencies, businesses, and the public in stormwater pollution prevention and watershed management, including decision -making ¯Achieving community awareness of local fio~)d risks, including potential risks in areas protected by existing projects ¯Considering and addressing disproportionate community impacts ¯Balancing needs for all beneficial uses of water ¯Securing funds to implement solutions B. Contribute to Contribute to: ....¯ ; "¯ Providing for groundwater recharge while maintaining groundwater resources "" ,= increasing opportunities for recycled water use consistent with health and safety " ~= = :" ¯ SecUdng funds to implement solutions ::- C. Contribute to Contribute to: the protection ¯ Protecting, restoring, and rehabilitating natural watershed processes and improvement of hydrologic ,, Controlling excessive erosion and managing sedimentation function ¯ Maintaining or improving in-stream flow conditions ¯Improving floodplain connectivity ¯Preserving land perviousness and infiltration capacity ¯Securing funds to implement solutions ¯ Maintain ng health of whole watershed upland vegetation and and Cover to reduce runoff quantity and :": improve runoff quality : : Anticipating emerging contaminants i : ¯ El m nating non-stormwater po utant d scharges to storm dra ns ¯Reduc ng po utants n runoff to the max mum extent pract cab e ¯Periodically evaluating beneficial uses Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan ES-13Executive Summary November 2006 I " Continuously improvingstormwater pollution prevention methods =: ~ ...........:_.. ........ ...... Contribute to: ¯Providing clean, safe, reliable drinking water ¯Minimizing variability for treatment ¯Advancing technology through feasibility studies/demonstrations ¯Meeting promulgated and expected drinking water quality standards ¯Managing floodplains to reduce flood damages to homes, businesses, schools, and transportation ¯Minimizing health impacts associated with polluted waterways ¯Achieving effective floodplain management by encouraging wise use and management of flood-prone areas ¯Maintaining performance of flood protection and stormwater facilities ,, Partnering with municipalities to prepare mitigation action plans that reduce flood risks to the community [] Coordinating resources and mutual aid between agencies to enhance agency effectiveness ¯Securing funds to implement solutions F. Contribute to Contribute to: " : ..... the creation, protection,- Conserving and restoring habitat for speCieS protectionenhancement, ’ = ,Acquiring, protecting and/or restOring Wetlands, streams, and riparian areas and maintenance- EnhanC ng wildlife populations and biodiversity (species richness)~ , Prov d ng fecycle support (shelter, reproduction feeding) ,,, Protecting and recovering fisheries (natural habitat and harvesting) ¯Managing pests and invasive species " ¯Recovering at-risk native and special statusspecies ¯_lm_prov ngs![uctura comp ex ty (riparian and channe ) ¯ Des gn ng and construct ng natura flood protect on and stormwater fac lities ¯ Secur ng funds to implement solutions D Water Management Strategies and beyond those presented:in Proposition 50 Guidelines - to meet the goals and objectives of this Plan, E. Contribute to the protection of public health, safety, and property As shown in Table ES-3, several water resources management strategies contribute to the goals of the Bay Area IRWMP. Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan ES-14Executive 5ummanj Novem Table ES-3: Regional Goals AddresSed by Water Management Strategies Ecos),stem Restoration ~" Env. and Habitat Protection and Improvement Water Suppl), Reliability ~" Flood Management Groundwater Management Recreation and Public Access Storm Water Capture and Management Water Conservation ~" Water Quality Protection and Improvement Water Rec),cling Wetlands Enhancement and Creation v" Interties Infrastructure Reliability Regional Cooperation Education and Outreach Monitoring and Modeling Groundwater Banking Bay Area integrated Regional Water Management Plan ES-15Executive Summary E Integration While implementation of a single water management strategy can assist in achieving the region’s water resources management goals, integrating multiple strategies may increase coordination and collaboration within a single agency and among different agencies, yielding benefits and efficiencies greater than those achieved through implementation of a single strategy alone. Specific examples of the value added by integrating water management strategies include: Organizational Benefits. Combining water management strategies can provide significant benefits, both within an individua! organization and among multiple organizations collaborating on a given project or program. Increased support can be generated as proponents of different projects and aspects of water management are galvanized to accomplish a common goal. Further, bringing together multiple organizations to implement a common project encourages a broad-based support for project implementation that is difficult to achieve at a local level. Collaboration between agencies also eliminates redundancy and allows projects to be completed more quickly and effectively. Geographic Benefits. Multiple water management benefits can be achieved by grouping projects and programs with similar geographic and spatial considerations. Further, coordinated implementation of projects upstream and downstream within a watershed can provide economies of scale in project planning, by reducing redundancies. This can result in reduced project costs, while building cumulative benefits into the projects. Synergistic Benefits. Combining water management strategies can also result in synergistic benefits (i.e., benefits provided are greater than the sum of the parts). By combining multiple water management strategies within a single project, greater benefits can be achieved, often at less expense, than by implementing individual water management strategies independently. Marsh restoration projects are great examples of integrating multiple strategies (e.g, water quality improvement, wetlands enhancement, habitat protection, water recycling, and regional cooperation). Financial Efficiencies. Integration of water management strategies across geographies, within project implementation, and through partnerships between agencies can result in significant financial efficiencies. Multi-benefit, collaborative projects can be widely supported, far reaching, and implemented better, faster, and cheaper than could be accomplished by a single agency focused on a single area of water management. Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan ES-16Execntive Summary F Regional Priorities Figure ES-7 presents the general locations of the priority projects identified for the Bay Area IRWMP. It is important to note that the entities that participated in the development of this Plan are themselves committed to a h6st of short-term and long-term priorities that follow the mandate of their organization. These priorities presented herein represent a regional focus, and are not necessarily the same as individual agency priorities. The few projects that are physically located outside of the region’s boundaries have been included within this Plan because the primary beneficiaries of these projects are located within the Bay Area. Figure ES-7: Bay Area IRWMP Priority Projects3 For full project titles, please refer to Table ES-5. Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan ES-17 Exectttive Smlmtary The process for identifying Bay Area IRWMP priorities involved the following: o Screen Projects for Inclusion in the IRWMP. This process involved screening projects included within the four FADs, as well as additional projects identified during the development of this Plan, to determine which projects should be advanced to the IRWMP. Screening criteria varied by FAD, but in general projects were advanced to the Plan if they: ¯Involve multiple agencies ¯Achieve stated water management goals and objectives ¯Provide multiple benefits ¯Are readyto proceed Assemble Projects into Cohorts. Projects advanced to the IRWMP were divided into two cohorts: Cohort 1 projects are scheduled to have all applicable environmental documentation and permitting complete by 2010; Cohort 2 projects will have these activities completed by 2014. Establish Assessment Criteria and Evaluate Projects. The assessment criteria and project evaluation results for the Bay Area IRWMP are summarized in Table ES-4 and Table ES-5, respectively. Table ES-4: Project Assessment Methodology Sustainability Supply Reliability Hydrologic Function Water Quality- Drinking Water Water Quality - Receiving Water Environmental Resources Protect Public Health, Safety, Property Full circle. If the project fully addresses a regional goal (i.e., the regional goal coincides with the primary objective of the project) the project received a full circle for that goal. No project could receive more than one full circle in the regional goals portion of the assessment. Half circle. If a project addresses multiple regional goals, the project received a full circle for the goal corresponding to its pdmary objective, and received half circles for the additional goals addressed as secondary objectives. Empty circle. If a project indirectly addresses a regional goal (e.g,, it allows another project to proceed which does address a regional goal), then the project received an empty circle for that goal. Blank. If a project does not address a regional goal at all, the project received no symbol for that goal. : Full circle: If aten percent (or higher) funding match is available for the project -... [ the project received a full circie.; ::~-una ng ~atcn: " I Blank. If a ten percent (or higher) funding match is not available for the project i the project rece veda bank Full circle. If the project benefits at east’ (1) half the geographic area of theI : [ region, (2) two major quadrants of the region, (3) two Bay Area counbes, or (4) two I major Bay Area watersheds, it received a full circle for regionalism : : I Half circle. If the project benefits up to!(1)half:the geographic area of the region,I (2)two major quacirants of the region, (3) t~o Bay Area counties, or (4) two majorKeg onal sm ........I Bay Area watersheds, it received a half circle for regionalism. Empty circle, f the project benefits one ful county or major watershed, it received an empty full circle for regionalism. .Blank fthe project benefits ess than one fu county or ess than one major watershed, the project received no symbol for regionalism. Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan ES-18Exectttive S~tlltlllart.] November 2006 Full circle. If project involves three or more partners and the partners include: : ’both governmental and non-governmental organizations the project rece Veda full :circle for partnerships.~’ .... ’’ Half circle If project invo ves three or more partners the project received a half Partnerships circle for partnerships.:: .....; Empty circle, f project nvolves two partneiS the project received an empty circe for partnerships~ Blank. Ifonyoneentty s spons0rngthe project the project received no symbol for partnerships. . , .. ~ i~ Full circle, f the project meets object veS of mu tiple FADs, t rece veda full Meets Objectives of circle~ ’. . :, Multiple FADs I Blank : f the project does not meet objectives of multiple FADs it received a blank : ’ Full circle. If the project utilizes multiple water management strategies across three or four Functional Areas (FAs), it received a full circle for integration. Half circle. If the project utilizes multiple water management strategies across two Functional Areas (FAs), it received a half circle for integration.Integration Empty circle. If the project utilizes multiple water management strategies within one FA, it received an empty circle for integration. Blank. If the project utilizes a single water management strategy within one FA, it received a blank for integration. Full circle. If the project fully addresses the Prop 50 program preference (i.e., the Supply Reliability program preference coincides with the primary objective of the project) received a full circle for that goal. Half circle. If a project addresses multiple Prop 50 program preferences, the Water Quality project received a full circle for the Prop 50 program preference corresponding to its primary objective, and received half circles for the additional Prop 50 program preference addressed as secondary objectives. Empty circle. If a project addresses the Prop 50 program preference as an Pollution/Habitat incidental benefit (e.g., the program preference is not a goal of the project, though it may incidentally be addressed by the project, or the project allows another project which addresses the program preference to proceed), then the project received an empty circle for that program preference. DAC Benefits Blank. If a project does not address the Prop 50 program preference at all, the project received a blank for that Prop 50 program preference. Reduce Confhct e t e.,! I , i:Full circle. If th~ project fully addresse~the Prop 50 statewide priodty (.!., h :: TMDL statewide prior ty coincides with the pdmary object ve of the project) it received a, ~^~A~I fu ! circle for that g°al. ~ Half c rcle. f a project addresses mu t p e Prop 50 statew de pdor t es, it received NPS Pollution a full circle for th~ ~’op 50 Statewide pri~)rity Corresponding to its pdma~ object ve, Control I and it received half circles for the additionalProp 5~) siatewide priority a~ldr~ssed Delta Water Quality as secondary objectives,i " :~: -, ~I Empty circle, f a project ind rect y addresses a Prop 50 statewide priodty (e.g.,~asl~il-orces allo~,s another project to proceed ~vhich does address a regional goal), then the L Environmental project received an empty circle for that statewide pdority .... Justice Blank: f a project does not address any Prop 50 statewide pr odties at all the :: project received a blank for that Prop 50 statewide priority: i Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan ES-19Executive Slt~l~lary G Implementation November 2006 The Bay Area IRWMP will be implemented through continued coordination and contribution towards regional goals through (1) implementation of agencies’ programs and projects implementation, (2) implementation of the 116 high priority projects identified in this Plan to the extent that resources are available; and (3) on-going review by the successor to the Bay Area Technical Coordinating Committee (TCC). The LOMU signatories are planning to adopt the Bay Area IRWMP by January 1, 2007. Following adoption, the Bay Area IRWMP will be implemented through execution of priority projects identified in this Plan by respective project proponents. Progress toward attaining the regional goals and objectives will be reviewed periodically. As a living document, information in the IRWMP will be updated as needed through an adaptive management framework. The steps for IRWMP implementation are described in further detail below. The level of effort in each area will depend on the amount of funding and resources available. In developing this IRWMP, the Bay Area TCC (shown in Figure ES-1) demonstrated the ability to: work together and reach consensus on key decision points, despite the large geographic scope of the region, the diverse water resource management interests represented, and the short timeframe for plan development; foster coordination, collaboration and communication across a diverse array of water resources management entities throughout the region; provide a forum for involvement by resource agencies, environmental justice groups and other interested parties though targeted outreact~ efforts and public workshops throughout development of the Plan; develop and prom0te a unifying vision that reflects the water resources needs for the Bay Area region, and guide the development of goals and objectives, integrated water management strategies, and priorities for the Bay Area region; manage the entirety of the Plan development process including: contract compliance for the planning grant; management and oversight of a consultant team; development of a web-portal project collaboration tool; and the writing, editing, and production of the IRWMP. Based on these accomplishments, the TCC will continue to serve as the decision making body until an improved institutional structure is developed and agreed to. The approach to implementing the IRWMP after the January 1, 2007 adoption includes the following: 1.Continue to follow the LOMU for coordination and collaboration on implementation issues for the Bay Area IRWMP - with the routine inclusion of resource and regulatory agencies and non- governmental organizations (NGO s) in deliberations - in addition to completion of future work. 2.Reconstitute the TCC as the San Francisco Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan Coordinating Committee (CC) as early as January 2007 after the IRWMP is adopted. 3. The CC will be comprised of two or three representatives appointed by each of the service function technical coordinating committees shown in Figure ES- 1. 4. Non-public agency participants in the IRWMP will serve in an advisory role to the CC. Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan ES-26Executive Summanj November 2006 5.CC members will actively solicit input from interested stakeholders and the public. Resource and regulatory agencies, NGOs and other interested stakeholders will be invited to participate in monthly meetings with the CC. 6. The CC will define the process of implementation where coordination and collaboration are needed, including IRWMP performance tracking, monitoring and updating, and other mutually agreeable implementation activities. The CC will not be responsible for carrying out individual projects or programs in the IRWMP, Each service function technical coordinating committee will update goals, objectives, and/or information on projects within its functional area as described in the IRWMP, as needed and ¯ subject to available funding. The CC will, in consultation with resource and regulatory agencies and NGOs, compile the implementation priorities submitted by each functional area, develop and update overall regional implementation criteria and prioritized project lists that will be most eligible and competitive for federal and state grant funding. The CC will, in consultation with resource and regulatory agencies and non-governmental organizations, periodically review the ongoing institutional structure and discuss whether improvements are needed and propose options for improvements to best serve IRWMP implementation needs effectively and meet the needs of the participating organizations. The first review will be conducted not later than March 31, 2007.. Potential near- and long-term institutional structure functions that will be undertaken by the existing IRWMP TCC and the formal CC entity during implementation of this Plan are described in Table ES-6. Table ES-6: Potential Institutional Structure Functions During IRWMP Implementation a 3ay Area IRWMP [] 3Cb ¯ -unctional Area TCC =roject Proponents Provide decision-making authority for further development and/or implementation of the Plan~ Foster partnerships and facilitate participation by a broad range of water resource management stakeholders, including environmental justice groups, resource agencies, public agencies, environmental groups, and the general public. Provide a regional forum for cross-jurisdictional coordination. Oversee continued outreach and data dissemination to stakeholders. Oversee plan implementation and evaluate cumulative Plan contributions toward achievement of regional goals. Periodically review and propose adjustments to regional goals and priorities. Propose alterations to project sequencing and Plan implementation based on performance data collected. Seek funding to support activities. Periodically review effectiveness of on-going organization Collect and compile project status and performance information on an annual basis Assess functional area performance in meeting goals and objectives Prepare annual reports on progress and submit to Bay Area TCC Adjust functional area priorities as needed Ensure implementation of projects and compliance with regulatory and statutory requirements Prepare quarterly reports on project performance and submit to Functional Area TCC. Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan ES-27Executive Stmmtary November 2006 Formal Entityc Project Proponents a. b. C. ¯Address decision-making authority for further development and/or implementation of the Plan. []Foster partnerships and facilitate participation by a broad range of water resource management stakeholders, including environmental justice groups, resource agencies, public agencies, environmental groups, and the general public. ¯Provide a regional forum for cross-jurisdictional coordination. ¯Oversee continued outreach and data dissemination to stakeholders. ¯Oversee plan implementation and evaluate cumulative Plan contributions toward achievement of regional goals. ¯Periodically review and propose adjustments to regional goals and priorities. ¯Propose alterations to project sequencing and Plan implementation based on performance data collected. ¯Act on and/or adopt any proposed IRWMP changes or adjustments. ¯Act on and/or adopt proposed adjustments to project sequencing and Plan implementation based on performance data collected. ¯ Manage preparation of the Bay Area Proposition 50 Chapter 8 implementation grant applications. ¯ Administer distribution of State funding to regional projects. ¯Ensure implementation of projects and compliance with regulatory and statutory requirements ¯Prepare quarterly reports on project performance and submit to Functional Area TCC. Functions assume adequate funding and resources are available. In consultation with stakeholders including resource and regulatory agencies and NGOs. Same as above. To the extent allowable under State IRWM guidelines and criteria, a new project submitted after adoption of the Plan will be considered by the appropriate functional area(s) to evaluate whether that project should be forwarded to the IRWMP CC as a high priority project to consider when the next available funding proposal is developed. The schedule and process for each functional area may vary. Recognizing that goals, objectives, and regional priorities evolve over time, the TCC will review this IRWMP periodically, depending on changing conditions and availability of funds to update information presented in the Plan, and will make adjustments as necessary to respond to changes throughout the region. This process of continual review and update, as illustrated in Figure ES-8, will optimize the effectiveness oflRWMP implementation. Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan Executive Summary ES-28 November 2006 D÷velop/Revtse Plan Secure funds (grants, Io~al)| Obtain permits |(~omplete environmental document,/ Figure ES-8: Bay Area IRWMP Implementation and Performance Assessment H Impacts and Benefits This IRWMP consists of a planning study and basic data compilation that would not result in the disturbance of any environmental resource. These activities are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines § 15262 and § 15306. As such, programmatic environmental analysis under CEQA is not required. Furthermore, implementation of each short term priority project included in the IRWMP will be the responsibility of the project proponent and any applicable project partners. If implementing a project, project proponents bear responsibility for ensuring all regulatory requirements for the project are met. Table ES-7 presents a screening level assessment of benefits and impacts that are typically associated with the various water management strategies included in this IRWMP. Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan Executive Summary ES-29 November 2006 Table ES-7: Typical Benefits and Impacts by Water Management Strategy Ecosystem Restoration Env. and Habitat Protection and Improvement Water Supply Reliability Flood Management Groundwater Management Recreation and Public Access Storm Water Capture and Management Water Conservation Water Quality Protection and Improvement Water Recycling -Protection and enhancement of physical and biological processes -Increased critical habitat -Reduced flooding -Improved Water Quality -Restoration of hydrologic and geomorphic function -Addition of cover, nesting and forage areas -Improved access to steelhead spawning and rearing habitats and improved mobility. -Improved Water Quality -Reliable municipal and domestic water supplies -Reliable industrial supplies -Protection of watershed headlands -Protection of public safety and property -Habitat and groundwater recharge benefits -Supply reliability -Protection against overdraft -Potential for new habitat areas -Recreation opportunities -Education opportunities -Reduction of downstream flooding impacts -Water supply, water quality, ecosystem restoration, recreation and public health benefits -Supply reliability without construction-related impacts -Reduced demands on imported water supplies -Reduced pollutant loading -Improved drinking water quality -Improved well-being of terrestrial and aquatic species -Reduced public health hazard -Improved water supply reliability -Drought-proof.supply -Preservation of potable supplies for drinking water -Reduced dependence on imported supplies -Temporary construction impacts -Changes in local species composition and diversity -Temporary construction impacts -Changes in or loss of sensitive habitat areas -Changes to the hydrologic makeup of site -Effects on land use planning and land values -Temporary construction impacts -Changes to visual quality adjacent to above- ground infrastructure -Loss or disturbance of biological resources -Potential growth-inducing effects -Temporary construction impacts -Changes in the frequency, duration and magnitude of storm flows and flooding -Water quality and hydrology impacts -Temporary construction impacts -Inundation of potential habitat areas -Temporary construction impacts -Potential impacts to water quality and natural resources -Temporary construction impacts -Groundwater contamination - Growth-inducing effects -Temporary construction impacts -Brine disposal impacts from treatment processes -Disturbance of sensitive species during restoration -Temporary construction impacts -Water quality impacts from nutrient and salinity loading and emerging contaminants -Increased energy usage and costs from treatment, -Potential growth-inducing impacts Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan ES-30Executive Summary November 2006 Wetlands Enhancement and Creation Conjunctive Use -Improved nesting, foraging and breeding grounds for waterfowl, fisheries and small mammals -Preservation of rare and endangered species and environmental habitat Desalination - Imported Water - Land Use Planning - NPS Pollution - Control Surface Storage - Watershed - Planning . Water and - Wastewater _ Treatment _ Water Transfers - Interties - Improved water supply reliability Increased flexibility Protection against overdraft and seawater intrusion Reduced dependence on imported supplies during dry pedods New potable water supply High quality, drought proof supply Reduced dependence on imported supplies. Improved water supply reliability Improved water quality Reduced treatment costs and public health dsks from disinfection byproducts Improved coordination and collaboration Protection of sensitive habitats Improved health of water bodies and wildlife dependant upon those water bodies Improved coordination and collaboration Improved water supply reliability Hydro-electric benefits Flood plain management benefits Protection against global warming impacts Recreation and education opportunities Improved coordination and collaboration Protection of sensitive habitats Reduced pollutant loading Improved fish passage Protection of human health Protection of the quality of receiving water bodies Protection of the health of aquatic and riparian species Improved supply reliability Improved water supply reliability Operational flexibility Beneficial use of surplus irrigation supplies Improved water supply reliability dudng emergencies (earthquakes, electrical outages, sabotage). -Temporary construction impacts -Changes in species distribution -Temporary construction impacts -Increased energy usage and costs from pumping -Potential growth-inducing impacts -Temporary construction impacts -Water quality impacts from brine disposal -Increased energy usage and costs from treatment, -Potential growth-inducing impacts -Temporary construction impacts -Potential impacts to natural stream flows and habitat associated with construction of conveyance facilities - Temporary construction impacts -Temporary construction impacts -Reduction in developable land -Temporary construction impacts -Impacts to local habitat around the storage structure -Impacts to water quality from sedimentation and temperature stratification -Potential growth-inducing impacts -Temporary construction impacts -Temporary construction impacts -Visual impacts from above-ground facilities -Water quality impacts from process waste streams -Noise, vibration and air quality impacts from operation of power generators -Potential growth-inducing impacts -Third Party Impacts -Temporary construction impacts -Impacts to land use and habitat in areas of facility construction Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan ES-31Executive Summary Now Infrastructure Reliability Regional Cooperation Education and Outreach Monitoring and Modeling Groundwater Banking -Improved water supply reliability -Reduced worker and public safety risk -Improved operation and efficiency -Reduced risk of damage and/or outage during catastrophic events -Improved likelihood of realizing benefits of other water management strategies -Lessons learned and efficiencies from integrated plannin~ process -Increased volunteerism -Increased stakeholder support -Better understanding of watershed and water quality conditions, hydrograph and flow patters, water supply reliability and wildlife populations and movement. -Improved water supply reliability -Operational flexibility -Temporary construction impacts -Impacts to land use and habitat in areas of facility construction None None None - Potential growth-inducing impacts I Technical Analysis and Plan Performance The Bay Area IRWMP builds upon the data and technical analysis completed as part of other planning efforts, and serves asa planning baseline to measure progress towards achieving the goals and objectives outlined in this Plan.. Development of the Bay Area IRWMP is founded upon the analysis of data provided in the four Functional Area Documents, which in turn were founded upon the analysis of data and information provided in local planning documents, including but not limited to: General Plans, Urban Water Management Plans, Water, Wastewater, and Recycled Water Master Plans, Flood Protection and Stormwater Plans; and Watershed Management and Restoration Plans. Based on the technical analysis completed during development of the Bay Area IRWMP, regional goals and objectives have been established and 116 near-term priority projects have been identified. As part of the Plan implementation process, additional analysis is needed to monitor progress towards achieving the stated goals and objectives of this Plan. As such, performance metrics and monitoring strategies have been identified for each of the priority projects, and functional area assessment and Plan-level assessment responsibilities have been identified (see Table ES-8). This table identifies the types of activities that will be undertaken as part oflRWMP implementation. The level of effort for each activity may vary depending on its need and upon the amount of funding and resources available. Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan ES-32Exec~ttive S~umJtary Noverr Table ES-8: IRWMP Assessment Responsibilities" Project Proponents WS-WQ Functional Area TCC WW-RW Functional Area TCC FP-SM Functional Area TCC HP-WM&R Functional Area TCC IRWMP CC .If funded, project proponents will be required to monitor and report on project status and progress towards achieving stated goals .If not funded, project proponents would be encouraged to monitor and report on project progress .Collect project performance information collected by proponents of WS- WQ projects ¯Collect regional water use and population information ¯Assess functional area performance in meeting goals and objectives ¯Adjust functional area priorities as needed ,,Collect project performance information collected by proponents of WW- RW projects ¯Collect information on recycled water use throughout the region ¯Assess functional area performance in meeting goals and objectives ¯Adjust functional area priorities as needed ¯Collect project performance information collected by proponents of FP- SM projects ¯Collect information on number of acres within FEMA flood zone and number of floods and reported damages throughout region ¯Assess functional area performance in meeting goals and objectives ¯Adjust functional area priorities as needed ¯Collect and compile project performance information collected by proponents of HP-WM&R projects ¯Assess functional area performance in meeting goals and objectives ¯Adjust functional area priorities as needed ¯Collect information gathered by Functional Areas ¯Assess IRWMP performance in contributing to regional goals, objectives, and IRWMP vision []Adjust IRWMP as needed Tasks, frequency, and responsible parties a,ssume adequate funding and resources are available. ¯ Quarterly Basis ¯ Annual Basis ¯ Annual Basis ¯ Annual Basis ¯ Annual Basis []Periodically, pending. availability of funding It is important to note that this ass essment is not intended to supercede project as sessment and tracking efforts being conducted at the individual agency level. Several LOMU signatories have already established individual goals for various aspects of water resources management within their organization. By collecting and assessing this information at a regional scale, the IRWMP seeks to determine the contribution oflRWMP project implementation toward achievement of the overall goals of the IRWMP, as well as the regional vision of working together to enhance sustainable water resources management to support a high quality of life in the Bay Area. It is envisioned that this IRWMP will establish a planning baseline for assessing the Bay Area’s regional water resource management efforts, and that overall performance towards meeting the goals and objectives outlined in this IRWMP will be evaluated against this baseline as future work is completed, pending availability of funding and resources. Quantifiable information on project and plan performance, to the extent it exists, will be used in the evaluation. Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan Execlttive Stmmtary ES-33 J Data Management Data generated through project implementation and data collected as part of region-wide monitoring programs Will be compiled to support IRWMP assessment. As part of Bay Area IRWMP implementation, data will be collected and compiled at three levels: the project level, the functional area level, and the Plan level. At each of these levels, effective data management and dissemination is critical to successful IRWMP. Project Level Data Management. At the Project level, project proponents will be responsible for collecting information on project implementation status, as well as evaluating project performance with respect to the specific performance measures established for their project. This information will be disseminated to the Functional Area TCC and other appropriate agencies on a quarterly basis. Functional Area Data Management. At the Functional Area level, information from the project proponents will be compiled, along with information from other monitoring programs, to assess progress toward achieving functional area objectives. This information will be disseminated to the Bay area IRWMP CC on an annual basis to support the Plan assessment and periodic updates to information in the Plan as needed. Plan Level Data Management. The Bay Area IRWMP CC will collect the information gathered by the Functional Area TCCs to assess IRWMP performance in contributing to regional goals, objectives, and IRWMP vision. The IRWMP CC will compile and manage this information, and will ultimately disseminate the data to the public. The data collected will be maintained in a data library that will be publicly accessible from the IRWMP web portal. While every effort will be made to ensure open, public access to data used in the Plan performance assessment, confidentiality agreements may be required to obtain a portion of the data used to support Plan assessment. In these cases, data availability will be managed in a manner consistent with the terms of the individual confidentiality agreements. The data collected during the implementation of the Bay Area IRWMP can also support several Statewide data needs. For example, DWR may use information developed through the IRWMP information updates to support updates to the California Water Plan, and the San Francisco Bay RWQCB may use the data as part of the new data standardization and data provision requirements that are being considered for 401- certification permits Data collected as part oflRWMP project implementation will be required to be comparable with applicable statewide data collection programs such as the Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP) and the Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment (GAMA) programs. Upon completion of the IRWMP performance assessment, the project-specific data collected, along with its associated quality assurance/quality control information, would be provided to the state in a format which could be easily integrated into statewide data collection and tracking programs. As appropriate, the TCC will also encourage project proponents to contribute data to the following statewide data programs: California Environmental Resources Evaluation System (CERES), an information system developed by the California Resources Agency to facilitate access to natural resource data []California Environmental Data Exchange Network (CEDEN), a website developed by the State for coordinated data sharing Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan ES-34 Executive Summary November 2006 K Financing Successful implementation of this $2.1 Billion IRWMP requires ongoing financing to support operations and maintenance of projects upon implementation: ~ By contributing to water supply reliability, improved water quality, restoration of ecosystems and other water resources management objectives, implementation of the Bay Area IRWMP will benefit a wide variety of stakeholders within the Bay Area and throughout California The 116 near-term priority projects identified in this Plan have a total capital cost of approximately $2.1 Billion. Successful IRWMP implementation will require ongoing financing to support operations and maintenance of projects upon implementation. In addition to local funds, project proponents have identified several outside funding needs from State and Federal agencies to make these projects a reality. L Statewide Priorities The Proposition 50 Guidelines4 identify the following Statewide Priorities: Reduce conflict between water rights users or resolve water rights disputes, including inter- regional water rights issues .Implementation of TMDLs that are established or under development ¯Implementation of RWQCB Watershed Management Initiatives, chapters and policies ¯Implementation of SWRCB’s Nonpoint Source (NPS) Pollution Plan ¯Assist in meeting Delta Water Quality Objectives ¯Implementation of recommendations of the floodplain management task force, desalination task force, recycling task force, or state species recovery plan [] Address enviro ,nmentaljusticeconcerns Assist in achieving one or more goals of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program All of the Bay Area IRWMP near-term priorities address one or more of Statewide priorities - and all of the Statewide Priorities are addressed by the Plan. The breadth and magnitude to which each project meets each Statewide Priority varies based on the nature of the project. 4 State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) and Department of Water Resources (DWR). 20~4. Integrated Regional Water Management Grant Program Guidelines--Proposition 50. Chapter 8. November. Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan ES-35Executive Sttl~mlalqj November 2006 O lO 20 ]0 48 SO 60 70 80 90 100 Reduce Conflict BetweenWaterUser~ TMDLs Watershed Management Initiatives SWRCB NPS Pollution Plan Delta Water Quality Obj~tives Task Force Recommendations £nvironmenlal Justice CALFED Bay-DeltaProgram Goals Figure ES-9: Number of Bay Area IRWMP near-term priority projects addressing Statewide Priorities M Relation to Local Planning As shown in Figure ES-10, development of the Bay Area IRWMP is founded upon the four Functional Area Documents, which in turn were founded upon several local planning documents and information available throughout the region. Figure ES-10: Relationship between IRWMP and Local Planning Documents Local Planning documents used in the development of this plan include the following: Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan ES-36Executive Summa~7 November 2006 General Plans Specific Plans Water Supply Assessments Conditional Use Permits Municipal Service Reviews Urban Water Management Plans Water, Wastewater, and Recycled Water Master Plans Flood Protection and Stormwater Plans Watershed Management and Restoration Plans During development of this IRWMP, a series of targeted outreach meetings to local governments were conducted to engage local land-use decision makers in the regional planning process. The outreach series consisted of seven local government briefings, which were specifically geared toward municipal planning and public works departments. At each meeting, a presentation was delivered which detailed the IRWMP development process, provided background on Proposition 50, and described the planning grant and implementation grant funding mechanisms. Meeting attendees received "fact sheets" summarizing completed draft IRWMP sections, and encouraging them to get involved. The presentations were followed by question and answer sessions during which attendees were encouraged to ask questions pertaining to IRWMP development, project development and submission, and ways to become more engaged and involved in the process. N Stakeholder Involvement Development of the Bay Area IRWMP involved a diverse group of water supply, water quality, wastewater, stormwater, flood control, watershed, municipal, environmental, and regulatory groups whose input played a key role in defining sustainable water resources management goals and objectives and the selection of priority projects to help meet those goals and objectives. The Bay Area IRWMP stakeholders--identified through local planning efforts, development of the FADs and development of the Plan itself--include elected officials, regulatory agencies, water agencies, wastewater agencies, flood control agencies, counties, cities, land use entities, environmental groups, watershed groups, community-based groups and many more. To ensure that the Bay Area IRWMP reflects the needs and priorities of the diverse array of water management interests within the region, targeted stakeholder outreach activities were conducted throughout the Plan’s development. These outreach activities sought to inform, educate, and engage constituents, stakeholders, and interested parties throughout the nine-county Bay Area. Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan ES-37 Executive Sumntary November 2006 Stakeholder Workshops Four stakeholder workshops were held to solicit input on the Bay Area IRWMP process: Workshop #1 was held on February 27, 2006 in San Francisco to discuss the proposed approach to development of the Bay Area . IRWMP, as well as to define the region and regional planning objectives. Workshop #2 was held on April 24, 2006 in Millbrae to discuss the proposed water management strategies considered in the Bay Area IRWMP, and how various management strategies are being integrated within proposed projects and programs. =Workshop #3 was held on June 26, 2006 in Oakland, and was webcast to facilitate the involvement of those who could not attend in person. The third workshop included an Open House presentation of proposed Bay Area IRWMP projects. A proposed prioritization process was demonstrated through analysis of two projects after which meeting participants were invited to review and recommend refinements to the prioritization process. Workshop #4 was held October 23, 2006 in Oakland. The topic of this last workshop was a review and discussion of the entire Public Draft Bay Area IRWMP, including the Plan implementation approach. An Open House at Workshop #3 allowed participants to review IRWMP projects and assessment results. Targeted Local Government Outreach In addition to the four stakeholder workshops, a series of seven local government outreach briefings were held. These local government briefings were intended to inform local governments about the Bay Area IRWMP, ensure local needs are addressed in the Bay Area IRWMP, and provide an opportunity for local governments to give feedback on the Bay Area IRWMP development.. Bay Area Water Forum Presentations Additional updates regarding the progress of the Plan development were provided at the Bay Area Water Forum meetings, which typically occurred every 4th Monday of the month. Web Portal--www.BayArealRWMP.net A comprehensive website established specifically for the Bay Area IRWMP provided another forum for stakeholder identification and participation, as well as draft document review and internal communications for the project team and TCC. Draft documents, public announcements, meeting handouts, and other deliverables were posted to the web site for public review. The web site included an e-mail address (info@bayareairwmp.net) to facilitate the public’s submission of comments, questions, requests for information, etc. Regional Planning Committee (RPC) Updates Bay Area IRWMP information was presented at the April 5, 2006 and October 4, 2006 ABAG RPC meetings. The RPC hears a broad suite of regional issues covering all planning areas, and makes recommendations on programs and activities to be undertaken by the ABAG executive board. Bay Area integrated Regional Water Management Plan ES-38Executive Summand Novem[ General Public Outreach Various means were employed to extend the scope of outreach to stakeholders, including a comprehensive project e-mail database was developed for notification of available documents, workshops, and other announcements. A distribution list of a wide range of media outlets, including print, radio, and television, was maintained as part of this database; five non-technical fact sheets were developed to communicate about the IRWMP process and approach. Fact sheets were posted to the IRWMP web site and distributed at public meetings; TCC members made presentations and distributed informational materials via established newsletters and web sites; interested agencies and organizations were encouraged to sponsor forums to discuss the Bay Area IRWMP, distribute information, provide input, and to help build support for the Plan. Other Targeted Outreach ...... The State Coastal Conservancy also led targeted outreach to encourage participation by resource and regulatory agencies, as well as watershed management interests and environmental and non-governmental organizations to ensure meaningful participation. During the Plan implementation phase, the IRWMP CC will continue to actively solicit input from interested stakeholders and the public. Resource and regulatory agencies, NGOs and other interested stakeholders will be invited to participate in monthly meetings with the CC. 0 Coordination Several State and Federal agencies were involved in the development of this Plan, including: n n n n [] Bay Area CALFED California California California California California California California California Air Quality Management District Dept ofFish and Game Dept of Forestry and Fire Protection Dept of Health Services Farm Bureau Resources Agency State Lands Commission State Parks State Coastal Conservancy []Caltrans []Corps of Engineers -California Dept of Water Resources []Metropolitan Transportation Commission -National Park Service ,NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service -Regional Water Quality Control Board ¯State Water Resources Control Board []US Fish and Wildlife Service "US EPA State and Federal agencies are intimately involved with implementation of the region’s priority projects. Many proposed IRWMP projects require permits from resource and regulatory agencies. Table ES-9 describes the discretionary actions that each resource and regulatory agency might have over various Bay Area IRWMP priority projects. These discretionary actions will directly impact the region’s ability to effectively manage local water resources during the Plan implementation phase. Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan ES-39 Executive Summary November 2006 Table ES-9: Summary of Local, State and Federal Discretionary Actions Coastal Commission Coastal Development Permits SWRCB Petition for Water Rights Transfer San Francisco Bay RWOCB General construction stormwater discharge permit Permit under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act Bay Conservation and San Francisco Bay permit Development Commission (BCDC)Suisun Marsh development permit California Department of Fish and Streambed Alteration Agreement under Fish and Game Code Section 1602 Game California Department of Health Treatment plant operating permit Services Caltrans Encroachment Permit, if required Army Corps of Engineers (Corps)Permit under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, if jurisdictional waters or wetlands affected Permit under Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act, if jurisdictional waters affected United States Fish and Wildlife Approval of incidental take permit under Section 10 of the federal Endangered Species Act Service (USFWS)(ESA), if potential for effect on listed wildlife species Consultation under Section 7 of the federal ESA, if Corps permit required and potential for effect on listed species National Marine Fisheries Service Approval of incidental take permit under Section 10 (a)(1)(B) of the ESA, if potential for (NMFS)effect on listed marine life species State Historic Preservation Office Possible compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, if Corps (SHPO)permit required and potential for effect on cultural resources Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan ES-40