Water Committee Meeting Summary - May 24, 2022
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Water Committee Meeting Summary - May 24, 2022
The Sacramento City Water Committee met on May 24, 2022, from 1:01 p.m. to 2:04 p.m. via teleconference. The committee received and filed presentations on current hydrology and conservation, a potential water transfer, the River Arc project, and voluntary agreements. A motion was passed to advance the 2022 water transfer proposal to the full City Council for consideration.
Consent Calendar
- Item 1 – Water Committee Meeting Minutes (February 8, 2022): Approved unanimously (3-0) via a single motion by Councilmember Valenzuela, seconded by Councilmember Vang.
Discussion Items
- Item 2 – Current Hydrology and Conservation Update: Brett Ewart (Supervising Engineer, Department of Utilities) presented that precipitation was below average for the water year, though Folsom Lake storage was above average—the only major California reservoir in that condition. Citywide water conservation was 6% below 2020 levels and 20-21% below 2013 levels. The City is monitoring a potential state prohibition on irrigation of non-functional turf. Over 300,000 square feet of turf had been replaced in fiscal year 2022, and 300 cubic yards of mulch were distributed at a recent community event. Committee members discussed the drought's severity and the reliance on Folsom Reservoir.
- Item 3 – 2022 Water Transfer Update: Brett Ewart described a proposed groundwater substitution transfer of approximately 16,000 acre-feet (10,000 from the City) at $800 per acre-foot, generating an estimated $4-5 million in City revenue. The water would be sold to Valley Water (Santa Clara) and State Water Contractors. City staff proposed reinvesting proceeds into groundwater well rehabilitation and the Leak-Free Sacramento program. Chair Harris expressed strong support, noting the dire need in other parts of the state and the balance struck to protect the local groundwater basin. A motion to forward the item to the City Council was made by Chair Harris, seconded by Councilmember Vang, and passed unanimously (3-0).
- Item 4 – River Arc: Brett Ewart presented a conceptual regional project to build a new water treatment plant on the Sacramento River, using an existing intake owned by Natomas Mutual Water District. The project could reduce pressure on Folsom Reservoir by diverting up to 50,000 acre-feet from the American River basin, improving cold-water pool management and fisheries. City staff noted the project could also delay or reduce the expansion of the Sacramento River Water Treatment Plant, smoothing cash flow for ratepayers. Councilmember Vang requested a future presentation on the City's water rights. Councilmember Valenzuela added a request for a presentation on the City's water policy advocacy and legislative platform. Staff agreed to both requests.
- Item 5 – Voluntary Agreement Update: Attorney Wes Milibrand provided an update on the ongoing process to develop a voluntary agreement (VA) for the Sacramento River basin (Phase II of the Water Quality Control Plan). He noted that a March 2022 Memorandum of Understanding substantially revived a 2019 planning agreement, now aiming for an 8-year term (down from 15). Key VA elements include water flows, temperature, and habitat contributions—the latter being something the state water board cannot mandate. For the American River, proposed contributions range from 30,000 acre-feet in critical-dry years to 90,000 in wet years, contingent on state funding for groundwater infrastructure. Assembly Bill 2639 would require the state board to adopt a plan by December 31, 2023, if VAs are not finalized. Chair Harris highlighted the habitat component as a potential pathway to agreement.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar: Approved minutes from February 8, 2022 (motion passed 3-0).
- Item 3 – Water Transfer: Motion to advance the 2022 Water Transfer Update to the City Council for consideration passed unanimously (3-0).
- Items 2, 4, 5: All three oral reports were received and filed by the committee.
- Future Presentations: Staff agreed to prepare presentations on City water rights and water policy advocacy for a future meeting, as requested by Councilmembers Vang and Valenzuela.
Meeting Transcript
Chair Staff is ready when you are. Thank you very much. Welcome everybody to the Tuesday, May 24th meeting of the City of Sacramento Water Committee. We'll call the meeting to order and will the clerk please call rolls to establish a quorum. Thank you. Councilmember Valenzweyla. Yeah. Councilmember Vang. Chair and Chair Harris. I am present. Councilmember Vang, will you lead us in the land acknowledgement, please? And then I'll follow with the pledge. Please rise for the open opening acknowledgement in honor of Sacramento Indigenous People, Tribal, and Lands to the original people of this land, the Nissanon people, the Southern Maidu, Valley and Plains Mewalk, Pat Wynne and Wentu Peoples and the people of Walton Rancheria, Sacramento's only federally recognized tribe. May we acknowledge and honor the Native people who came before us and still walk beside us today on these ancestral lands by choosing to gather today in the active practice of acknowledgement and appreciation for Sacramento's indigenous peoples, history, contributions, and lives. Thank you very much, CM Vang. And if you'll salute and pledge, I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. All right, for uh members of the audience, uh we have only one action item today, which is the consent calendar, and then several items that are received and file with a lot of I think very valuable information for us to move forward. So, Madam Clerk, will you call the consent item? Thank you, Chair. We have only one item on the consent, which is the water committee meeting minutes. I will oh, so I'll second. Okay, we have a motion by CM Valenzuela and second by CM Vay. Uh call the roll, please. Thank you, Chair. And for the record, no members of the public have their hand raised to make public comments. Councilmember Valenzuela. Yes. Councilmember Vang. Yes. And Chair Harris. Yes. The consent calendar. Okay, we'll move on to the discussion calendar. Okay. Uh thanks, Chair Harris and uh committee members. This is Bill Busith, the director of the Department of Utilities. Uh, we have four items for you today. Excuse me, four items for you today. Um, the first will be current hydrology and conservation update. Uh the second will be uh water transfer update. Uh the third will be a river arc update. Um, those will all three be given and presented by uh Brett Ewart. The second of those, the water transfer update. We are asking, it is receive and file, but we're also asking for uh direction to take this to council, um, which we need to do uh pretty soon. Uh so we'll be looking for that uh that direction uh on that number on number that second item. And then the fourth item is uh an update on the voluntary agreements. Uh that will be given by Wes our uh our outside attorney. Yeah, West Millbrand. Yeah, West Millburn.
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