Meeting of the California Water Commission - December 16, 2020

Start:

1. Call to Order

2. Roll Call

3. Closed Session

The Commission may hold a closed session, as authorized by Government Code §11126(e), to confer with and receive advice from its legal counsel regarding potential litigation, and as authorized by Government Code §11126(a).

4. Approval of November 18, 2020 Meeting Minutes

5. Executive Officer's Report

The Executive Officer will report on various matters addressed since the previous Commission meeting.

6. Commission Member Reports

This is an opportunity for members to disclose any meetings or conversations related to Commission business since the previous Commission meeting.

7. Public Testimony

Although no formal Commission action will be taken, the Commission offers an opportunity to the public to address the Commission on items of interest that are within the Commission’s jurisdiction, but that do not specifically appear on the agenda.

8. Water Storage Investment Program: Options for Available Funding (Action Item)

Commission staff will review options discussed at the November Commission meeting for the use of newly available Water Storage Investment Program (WSIP) funds and request Commission direction and decisions. Staff will recommend  the Commission adjust the Maximum Conditional Eligibility Determinations (MCEDs) amounts of the Willow Springs Water Bank Conjunctive Use Project and the Kern Fan Groundwater Storage Project to the amount originally requested by the project applicants; adjust the MCEDs for existing WSIP projects to account for some inflation; and begin a screening process for potential new project proposals. The Commission may follow the staff recommendation, modify the recommendation, or defer its decisions to a later meeting.

Correspondence Received:

9. Public Benefits of Conveyance Projects Panel Discussion

As part of the Commission’s work on assessing a state role in financing resilient conveyance projects, a panel of experts will discuss public benefits associated with conveyance projects, prioritizing public benefits, and methods to value benefits.

10. State Water Project Briefing: Incidental Take Permit

Department of Water Resources staff will brief the Commission on the Incidental Take Permit (ITP) covering Delta smelt, longfin smelt, winter-run Chinook salmon, and spring-run Chinook salmon governing the long-term operations of the State Water Project and how it is being implemented.

11. Consideration of Items for Next California Water Commission Meeting

12. Adjourn

*The Commission may break for lunch as needed.*

Written comments regarding specific items on this agenda will be provided to the Commissioners as part of their meeting packets if they are received by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, December 14. Staff will make every effort to provide comments received after this deadline electronically, but we cannot make any guarantees.