ITEM:		ACTION ITEM
18.	DISCUSS AND PROVIDE DIRECTION ON ACTION RELATED TO THE FUTURE OF LOS PADRES DAM
Meeting Date:			February 18, 2015	Budgeted:	N/A
From:			David J. Stoldt	Program/	Other Water Projects
			General Manager	Line Item No.:	1-8-1
Prepared By:			David J. Stoldt	Cost Estimate:
General Counsel Approval: N/A
Committee Recommendation: At its February 10, 2015 meeting the Water Supply Planning Committee recommended moving this forward to full Board consideration by a vote of 3 to 0
CEQA Compliance: N/A

SUMMARY: In June of Last year the Board received a “Los Padres Dam and Reservoir Long-Term Strategic and Short-Term Tactical Plan.” Subsequently, the District has budgeted funds for three study areas related to the long-term fate of Los Padres Dam (LPD): (a) Carmel River Instream Flow Study to support modifications to the District’s 20808 water rights, disposition of LPD, and changes to the Mitigation Program; (b) Coupled Groundwater-Surface Water Flow Model to determine water availability and impacts under various operating scenarios; and (c) LPD Long-Term Plan under the 2015-17 General Rate Case, including improved steelhead passage, modeling the outcomes with and without LPD, and options to maintain or enhance storage.

Given the lengthy horizon until a desalination plant is online – currently May 2019 – The Water Supply Planning Committee would like the Board to consider identifying near term approaches to increasing storage at LPD. Further, given the potential 1,000 acre-foot reductions for missed milestones under a modified Cease and Desist Order (See Agenda item 20) the potential for additional near-term storage is valuable.

RECOMMENDATION: The Water Supply Planning Committee recommends staff be directed to develop a comprehensive action plan for intervention at Los Padres Dam with a focus on dredging, sediment management, preservation of water rights, and investigations into CEQA, liability, and project costs.

EXHIBIT

None

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