STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD MEETING

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA

FEBRUARY 20, 1997

 

ITEM 11: SUBJECT: RESOLUTION ENDORSING THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING REGARDING EFFICIENT WATER MANAGEMENT PRACTICES BY AGRICULTURAL WATER SUPPLIERS

DISCUSSION: The Agricultural Water Suppliers Efficient Water Management Practices Act of 1990 (Act) was enacted pursuant to AB 3616. It is codified at Water Code sections 10900 through 10904. Pursuant to the Act, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) has, with the assistance of various parties and entities, developed a Memorandum of Understanding Regarding Efficient Water Management Practices by Agricultural Water Suppliers in California (MOU). The principal parties to the MOU will be agricultural and environmental entities.

The MOU enables agricultural water suppliers to voluntarily make significant progress toward efficient water management and conservation. Under the MOU, agricultural water suppliers will prepare Water Management Plans intended to advance efficient water management. The Water Management Plans will be evaluated and endorsed by the Agricultural Water Management Council, composed of parties to the MOU.

The proposed resolution would endorse the efforts of DWR in developing the MOU and would encourage the appropriate parties to sign it. Since the Water Management Plans endorsed under the MOU may be presented in regulatory proceedings before the SWRCB, the proposed resolution also provides that when such plans are timely brought to the attention of the SWRCB in connection with actions under the SWRCB's consideration, the SWRCB will consider the plans along with other evidence and information it receives in the proceeding.

POLICY ISSUE: Should the SWRCB adopt the resolution?

FISCAL IMPACT: This item is budgeted within existing resources. No additional fiscal impact will occur.

REGIONAL BOARD IMPACT: None.

STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends adoption of the proposed resolution.

STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD

RESOLUTION NO. 97-

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING REGARDING

EFFICIENT WATER MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

BY AGRICULTURAL WATER SUPPLIERS

IN CALIFORNIA

WHEREAS:

  1. Pursuant to AB 3616, Agricultural Water Suppliers Efficient Water Management Practices Act of 1990, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) has, with the assistance of the AB 3616 Advisory Committee and others, developed a Memorandum of Understanding Regarding Efficient Water Management Practices by Agricultural Water Suppliers in California (MOU) between the agricultural and environmental communities and other interested parties.
  2. The MOU establishes the Agricultural Water Management Council (Council) and provides guidance for a reporting process and a mechanism by which the signatories will evaluate and endorse Water Management Plans. The MOU provides a mechanism for planning and implementing cost-effective Efficient Water Management Practices (EWMP), and sets forth lists of EWMPs in three categories. Under the MOU, agricultural water suppliers will advance efficient water management through voluntarily planning, implementing, and evaluating certain irrigation practices.
  3. The Council's membership will consist of water suppliers, environmental interest groups, and other interested parties. The water suppliers and the environmental interest groups will have voting rights regarding decisions by the Council.
  4. Each signatory of the MOU will agree, by signing, to abide by and support each Water Management Plan endorsed by the Council and to express such support in regulatory or judicial proceedings in which the signatory participates.
  5. The Council will make its reports available to the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, DWR, and the governing bodies of all Council members.
  6. The MOU enables significant progress to be made voluntarily in the area of agricultural water management, conservation, and efficient use of water by agriculture.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

  1. That the SWRCB endorses the efforts of DWR in developing the MOU and encourages agricultural water suppliers, environmental organizations, and other interested parties to consider signing it.
  2. That, together with any other evidence or information it receives in connection with actions it is considering taking, the SWRCB will consider and take into account Water Management Plans prepared under the MOU and endorsed by the Council when such plans are timely brought to the attention of the SWRCB. In addition to other measures, the SWRCB may require water management practices set forth in a Water Management Plan.

CERTIFICATION

The undersigned, Administrative Assistant to the Board, does hereby certify that the foregoing is a full and correct copy of an order duly and regularly adopted at a meeting of the State Water Resources Control Board held on ___________________.

 

Maureen Marché

Administrative Assistant to the Board