TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Brian D. Bordona - Director of Planning, Building and Environmental Services
REPORT BY: Jamison Crosby - Natural Resources Conservation Manager
SUBJECT: Adopt the Napa County Drought Resilience Plan (DRP) and a Resolution Revising the Bylaws of the Drought and Water Shortage Task Force
RECOMMENDATION
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Adopt the Napa County Drought Resilience Plan (DRP) for domestic wells and state small water systems; and adopt a Resolution revising the bylaws of the Napa County Drought and Water Shortage Task Force (DWSTF). (No Fiscal Impact; Mandatory)
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BACKGROUND
Senate Bill 552 (Hertzberg), as codified in California Water Code Section 10609.50 et seq., requires all counties to establish a standing county drought and water shortage task force to facilitate drought and water shortage preparedness for state small water systems and domestic wells within the county’s jurisdiction. State small water systems serve at least five and up to 14 service connections.
On December 13, 2021 the Board of Supervisors (BOS) adopted Resolution 2021-147 forming the DWSTF and approving staff’s recommendation that the DWSTF consist of the Napa Watershed Information and Conservation Council (WICC), supplemented by six members to include state agencies, local water suppliers, and residents who rely on individual domestic wells for drinking water. The DWSTF was later expanded to include one staff person from Napa County Division of Environmental Health. Due to the large size of the task force, one of its first actions was to create Ad Hoc Subcommittee to develop the DRP on May 20, 2022.
The objective of the task force is to develop a plan that includes potential drought and water shortage risk and proposed interim and long-term solutions for state small water systems and domestic wells within the county’s jurisdiction. State law requires the plan to consider all of the following:
a. Consolidations for existing water systems and domestic wells.
b. Domestic well drinking water mitigation programs.
c. Provision of emergency and interim drinking water solutions.
d. An analysis of the steps necessary to implement the plan.
e. An analysis of local, state, and federal funding sources available to implement the plan.
The DWSTF met regularly between April 28, 2022 and December 12, 2024 to discuss plan specifics, review materials and consider the County’s options to provide short- and long-term mitigation actions for drought-induced dry domestic wells and state small water systems.
Separately and concurrently, County staff were asked to participate in a California Department of Water Resources (DWR) committee comprised of county staff from around the state to better understand county issues and constraints to develop guidance for counties to develop their DRPs and comply with the SB 552. The “County Drought Resilience Plan Guidebook: Task Force Formulation, Plan Development, and Implementation Consideration for Implementing Senate Bill 552” was released in March 2023. The DWSTF incorporated new guidance from the guidebook into its ongoing efforts.
In April 2023, DWR made financial resources available to assist counties in the development of their DRP. DWR offered the option for counties to apply for a $125,000 grant to produce a DRP through their own means or by selecting Direct Technical Assistance of $125,000. Napa County was the first county to apply for Direct Technical Assistance and DWR’s technical consultants, Stantec Consulting Services Inc. (Stantec), began supporting the Ad Hoc DWSTF in August 2023 and throughout the process of developing a DRP.
On October 24, 2024, following a review and comment period, the Ad Hoc Subcommittee voted to approve the draft DRP and recommended that the full DWSTF approve and recommend the plan for adoption by the Napa County Board of Supervisors. The full DWSTF will meet on December 12, 2024 and receive a presentation by County staff and Stantec on the Ad Hoc Subcommittee’s efforts and the DRP. The full DWSTF will be asked to vote to recommend approval of the DRP by the Board of Supervisors.
At this time, County staff also recommends revising the DWSTF bylaws to de-couple it from the WICC and reduce the number of members from 23 to 3 who will serve as a Standing Committee of the DWSTF and meet annually and as needed to oversee plan implementation. Following adoption of the Resolution to revise the bylaws, the Clerk of the Board will post a media release at https://www.countyofnapa.org/1420/Boards-Committees-Commissions to carry forth a standard 30-day recruitment for 3 members of the Standing Committee of the DWSTF.
Requested Actions:
Adopt the Napa County Drought Resilience Plan (DRP) for domestic wells and state small water systems and a Resolution revising the bylaws of the Napa County Drought and Water Shortage Task Force (DWSTF).
FISCAL & STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
No |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Mandatory |
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Future fiscal impact: |
Future fiscal impact is to be determined |
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Consequences if not approved: |
County will be out of compliance with SB 552 |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is not a project as defined by 14 California Code of Regulations 15378 (State CEQA Guidelines) and therefore CEQA is not applicable.