City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: September 24, 2024
Agenda Item: 5.F
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Rick Valte, Public Works Director, Public Works, Water Resources Subject: Adoption of a Resolution to Support the Los Angeles County Water Plan Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of statutory exemption pursuant to Section 10652 of the California Water Code; and
2. Adopt a Resolution to support the Los Angeles County Water Plan.
Summary
As climate change in the region has resulted in more frequent and intense droughts as well as less frequency and more torrential rains, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works recently completed the first edition of the Los Angeles County Water Plan (https://lacountywaterplan.org/) to provide an actionable blueprint for improving water resilience in the region. The Los Angeles County Water Plan focuses on achieving regional water resilience through collaborative strategies by building upon and complementing many existing local and regional water planning efforts that are in progress or have been completed. The City of Santa Monica was one of several stakeholders in the region that collaborated and provided input on the Los Angeles County Water Plan. The City of Santa Monica has been a leader in developing innovative strategies to provide a climate resilient water supply for the local community and will support the Los Angeles County Water Plan by implementing the Sustainable Water Master Plan adopted by City Council in 2018. Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the resolution (Attachment A) in support of the Los Angeles County Water Plan which ensures resilient, sustainable, and equitable water resources for the region. 2 of 4
Discussion
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works completed its first edition of the Los Angeles County Water Plan in 2023 in an effort to secure the region’s water future and achieve a collective vision of equitable and sustainable water resources for everyone. The County Water Plan represents the efforts of over 200 agencies in Los Angeles County that manage a complex network of water systems to meet the needs of our communities and the environment. The Los Angeles Country Water Plan builds and complements on many existing local and regional water planning efforts, including the City’s 2018 Sustainable Water Master Plan, to optimize and align programs while also identifying gaps that needs to be filled at the regional level. The Los Angeles County Water Plan consists of four key focal areas listed below. • Regional water supply reliability – improving regional water supply reliability by better leveraging our collective local and imported water resources and infrastructure.
• Groundwater management and quality – realizing our shared groundwater management opportunities by sharing expertise and resources to overcome challenges.
• Small at-risk system resilience and drinking water quality – ensuring a consistently high standard of water service for everyone in Los Angels County by providing regional support for small systems, with focused attention to underresourced communities. • Watershed sediment management – mitigating the impacts of wildfire on our water supplies through coordinated efforts between land and water managers.
To support the four focal areas, the Los Angeles County Water Plan is organized into fourteen strategies, each supported by specific actions and targets to collectively progress towards achieving regional water resiliency by 2045. The fourteen strategies outlined in the Los Angeles County Water Plan includes:
• Strategy 1 – Achieving the most efficient water use possible countywide • Strategy 2 – Collaborating on consistent drought preparedness and response messaging
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• Strategy 3 – Coupling local supply development with regional conveyance • Strategy 4 – Managing salt and concentrate regionally • Strategy 5 – Leveraging regional groundwater storage potential • Strategy 6 – Collaborating on water quality needs and treatment technologies • Strategy 7 – Enhancing cost-effectiveness of pumping and treating impaired groundwater
• Strategy 8 – Protecting coastal groundwater basins from seawater intrusion • Strategy 9 – Facilitating regional groundwater recharge understanding and initiatives
• Strategy 10 – Facilitating natural infiltration of precipitation • Strategy 11 – Providing regional support for small, at-risk water systems • Strategy 12 – Mitigating wildfire effects on water supply and quality • Strategy 13 – Managing invasive species in riparian areas • Strategy 14 – Facilitating sediment management and debris removal from flood control facilities
As a recognized leader in sustainable water supply management, the City completed its first edition of the Sustainable Water Master Plan in 2014 and updated it in 2018 to reduce its reliance on imported water supplies and provide a climate resilient water supply for the local community. The City is in support of the key focal areas and strategies in the Los Angeles County Water Plan as the City’s own 2018 Sustainable Water Master Plan already implemented majority of the strategies outlined in the Los Angeles County Water Plan. As the City is nearing completion of the various climate resilient water supply projects and first of its kind innovations outlined in the 2018 Sustainable Water Master Plan, the City will be one of the first agencies in Los Angeles County to contribute to the measurable targets in the Los Angeles County Water Plan.
Environmental Review
Adoption of the resolution to support the Los Angeles County Water Plan is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 10652 of the California Water Code, which states that CEQA does not apply to the preparation and adoption of plans or to the implementation of actions taken pursuant to Section 10632 of the California Water Code. This includes 4 of 4
adopting the resolution to support the County Water Plan to ensure a sustainable and resilient water supply countywide.
Past Council Actions
Meeting Date Description
11/27/18 (Attachment B) Sustainable Water Master Plan Update and Pathway to Water Self-Sufficiency
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
There is no immediate financial impact or budget action necessary as a result of recommended action. Staff will return to Council if specific budget actions are required in the future.
Prepared By: Sunny Wang, Water Resources Manager
Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. LACWP Resolution
B. 2018 Sustainable Water Master Plan (Web Link)