DATE:
April 10, 2024
08
TO:
Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT
Title
ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO APPLY FOR AND ACCEPT GRANT FUNDS FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES COUNTY DROUGHT RESILIENCE PLANNING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND RELATED CEQA EXEMPTION (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
Senate Bill 552 (SB 552), passed and signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in September 2021, requires State and local governments to share responsibility for preparing and acting in the case of a water shortage event. These new requirements are expected to improve the ability of Californians to manage future droughts and help prevent catastrophic impacts to drinking water for communities vulnerable to climate change impacts. The bill outlines the new requirements for small water suppliers, county governments, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), and the State Water Board to implement more proactive drought planning and be better prepared for future water shortage events or dry years. Each county is required to have a standing drought task force to facilitate drought and water shortage preparedness for state small water systems (serving 5 to 14 connections), domestic wells, and other privately supplied homes within the county's jurisdiction. Each county must also develop a plan demonstrating the potential drought and water shortage risk and proposed interim and long-term solutions for state small water systems and domestic wells within the county.
Following SB 552, DWR launched the County Drought Resilience Planning Assistance Program which aimed to provide up to $125,000 in financial assistance or direct technical assistance to access one-time support to establish a standing Drought and Water Shortage Task Force and develop a County Drought Resilience Plan. As a result, the County of San Diego (County) Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) analyzed 13 parks that currently have small water systems to determine the eligibility of funding based on the grant require...
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