RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL
Staff recommends that City Council adopt a resolution to provide approval for the City Manager to sign the first amendment to the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for the American River Basin Study to adjust the Bureau of Reclamation’s costs share from $830,000 to $1,199,600.
| BACKGROUND
The Reclamation WaterSMART Basin Studies Program focuses on basins and subbasins in the 17 western states, including California. There are four foundational elements in any Basin Study:
• Projections of water supply and demand, including the impacts of climate change.
• Analysis of how existing water and power infrastructure will perform in response to changing water realities.
• Development of adaptation and mitigation strategies to improve operations and infrastructure in order to supply adequate water in the future.
• Trade-off analysis of the adaptation and mitigation strategies identified.
The resulting Basin Study recommendations do not constitute Federal decisions or project authorization; however, further feasibility studies for such purposes are permitted under the authorizing legislation.
Reclamation completed the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers Basin Study (SSJRBS) in March 2016, which forecasted the potential impacts of climate change on water supply, water quality, and critical habitat within California’s Central Valley, and presents portfolios of broad adaptive strategies for consideration by water agencies and other interests.
In June 2016, a partnership of six local agencies (Placer County Water Agency, City of Roseville, City of Sacramento, El Dorado County Water Agency, City of Folsom, and Regional Water Authority – collectively known as the “non-Federal Partners”) submitted a Letter Proposal to Reclamation for the American River Basin Study (ARBS).
In September 2016, Reclamation announced the award of the ARBS and began the initial study process with the non-federal partners, which includes the City of Roseville.
The Roseville City Council approved Roseville’s formal participation in the ARBS on January 18, 2017 by authorizing the City Manager to sign the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) provided by Reclamation.
The ARBS is an update study of the SSJRBS to refine data, tools, mitigation actions and adaptation strategies that are specific for the American River Basin under a changing climate.
With evolving statewide water management priorities and changing regulations, the future of regional water supplies will be closely tied to Reclamation’s operation of Folsom Dam, requiring an aligned vision.
The ARBS, once completed, will:
• Further refine an assessment of water supplies and demands for the American River Basin over the data developed for the SSJRBS.
• Address regional demand-supply imbalance and infrastructure deficiencies under the threat of climate change. This effort will include development of:
- Climate change information (e.g., temperature and hydrology) with sufficient resolution for the entire American River Basin for future mitigation and adaptation planning purposes.
- A standard tool for the American River Basin facilities with commonly agreed assumptions and operations that incorporates the updates and refinements of upper watershed operations, facilitates direct linkage to regional groundwater models, and is connected to the Central Valley Project and State Water Project (CVP-SWP) system operation for integrated analyses.
- Data and information to assist further detailed regional plan development (e.g., RWA’s Regional Water Reliability Study), and project-specific development and implementation (e.g., Alder Creek Dam and Reservoir project, and the RiverArc Project).
• Improve regional self-reliance and collaboration for sustainable water resources management and quality of life.
• Integrate regional water supply reliability with operational flexibility for Reclamation’s Folsom Dam and Reservoir to help meet all authorized purposes of the CVP.
• Align regional water management actions and planning efforts with those of Reclamation to balance long-term water supply needs under climate change conditions and statewide water management. Examples of water management strategies include a Federally-recognized water bank, upstream reservoir, and operational changes.
The ARBS is estimated to be completed by Reclamation and the non-federal partners by November 2019.
The proposed first amendment to the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for the American River Basin Study adjusts the Bureau of Reclamation’s costs share from $830,000 to $1,199,600. The non-federal partner cost share, of which Roseville is obligated and is approved through a past City Council action on January 18, 2017, is unchanged.
| FISCAL IMPACT
The proposed first amendment to the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for the American River Basin Study adjusts the Bureau of Reclamation’s cost share from $830,000 to $1,199,600. The non-federal partner cost share, of which Roseville is obligated and is approved through a past City Council action on January 18, 2017, is unchanged. Therefore, there is no fiscal impact to the City of Roseville if City Council approves this agenda item.
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT / JOBS CREATED
Not applicable.
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ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This proposed MOA for the ARBS is not a “project” as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (CEQA Guideline Section 15378). The ARBS will not result in approval or authorization of any physical projects. Consequently, no CEQA action is required.
| Respectfully Submitted,
Sean Bigley, Acting Water Utility Manager
Richard Plecker, Environmental Utilities Director | | | 
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Dominick Casey, City Manager
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