IRWD Policy Principles
Summary of IRWD’s Policy Principles
October 2009
1. Delta Policy– General
- A reliable, high quality imported water supply is vital to IRWD’s water resource portfolio.
- Support the co-equal goals of restoring and sustaining a vital Delta ecosystem and securing a reliable high quality water supply for California’s future, as established by Delta Vision Task Force.
2. Delta Policy – Specific
A. Ecosystem Restoration
- Timely completion and implementation of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP).
- Interim, short, and long term corrective actions focused on ALL Delta stressors.
- Ecosystem restoration achievements must be linked with water supply achievements.
- Voluntary Habitat Conservation Plan / Natural Communities Conservation Plan approach to aid in regulatory certainty.
B. Water Supply Infrastructure
- Dual Conveyance is vital to both maintaining critical habitat and water supply reliability.
- Diversion point upstream and/or outside the influence of significant wastewater discharges.
- Robust – to withstand flood, earthquake, other failure.
- Allow for export system interconnection.
- Low life-cycle cost.
C. Delta Physical Environment and Regional Economics
- Prioritization plan for levee restoration and repair projects
- Interim emergency response measures – materials stockpiling and Two Gates Project.
- Economic development planning for the Delta focusing on environmentally sustainable uses that maintain the economic vitality of the Delta communities.
D. Financing Components
- Financing responsibility:
- Water supply infrastructure: Conveyance and mitigation - State/Federal contractors.
- Ecosystem restoration – State.
- Flood control improvements: major – State and Federal governments.
- Flood control improvements: regional – local agencies / owners.
- Any “fees” must be clearly defined, have a clear nexus between financial responsibility and benefits realized, and be statutorily protected from “diversion” to the General Fund.
E. Governance
- Delta Stewardship Council – authority shall not supersede existing state agency authority; shall be comprised of policy-level members with consideration to state-wide interests.
- Delta Conservancy – coordination of management of conserved lands, long-term land steward.
- Delta Science Program Advisory Board - provide scientific review and consultation on projects, programs and operations associated with implementation of the co-equal goals
3. Funding Package
- A comprehensive Delta Funding Package must:
- Be consistent with the co-equal goals.
- Provide adequate financial resources for the Delta Plan and completion and implementation of the BDCP.
- Support, but not provide funding for, dual conveyance.
- Include continuous appropriation for surface and groundwater storage projects of statewide benefit.
- Provide funding for regional projects on a competitive basis.
- Be cost effective by minimizing administrative costs, utilizing public private partnerships and requiring local and regional matching funds.
- Have a clearly defined “beneficiary pays” nexus if fees are included.
4. Water Conservation and Use Efficiency
- Effective water conservation and water use efficiency is vital to meeting California’s water supply needs.
- Statewide water conservation policy should:
- Encourage local control and flexibility through incentives rather than regulations and mandates.
- Be economically viable.
- Build upon industry standards, tools, and reporting devices.
- Encourage and reward previous investment in conservation and recycled water.
- Utilize effective water conservation rate structures.
IRWD Policy Principles
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