Agenda Item Wording:
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Confirm submission of support letters requested by Tulare Irrigation District for Bureau of Reclamation grant applications the District is submitting for the Okieville and Water Dashboard Projects.
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Deadline for Action: 10/16/2023
Submitting Department: Administration
Contact Name and Phone Number: Gladys Ruiz, 559-713-4314; Leslie Caviglia, 559-713-4332
Department Recommendation:
It is recommended that the Visalia City Council confirm letters of support that the Mayor signed at the request of Tulare Irrigation District (TID) for grant application submissions to the United States Bureau of Reclamation for the Okieville and Water Dashboard Projects. This request is consistent with the City’s commitment to groundwater sustainability and since the deadline for the support letters was before this Council Meeting, the Mayor signed the letters with the provision that it would need to be confirmed by the City Council.
Background Discussion:
Tulare Irrigation District is a partner with the City of Visalia in the Mid-Kaweah Groundwater Sustainability Agency. The City and the District share a mutual goal of seeking ways to better manage water in the local region and are supportive of each other’s efforts. TID is applying for the WaterSMART Drought Resiliency Project Grant for TID’s proposed Okieville Groundwater Well and Recharge Basin Project. This project would focus on a new well and water storage facility for a local disadvantaged community. This infrastructure would assist with groundwater reliability and provide water management during wet and drought periods for the Okieville community.
Tulare Irrigation District is also applying for the WaterSMART Applied Science Grant for TID’s proposed Geographical Information System Water Dashboard-Hydrologic Data Management and Forecasting Tool Project. This essential tool would monitor, record, and manage water supplies for historical data and facilitate future strategic management decisions. The Dashboard Project would serve to bolster water reliability for the Kaweah Subbasin and be a resource for better water management within the local region.
The Okieville and Dashboard Projects would contribute to efforts in achieving long-term groundwater sustainability; therefore, the City of Visalia is supportive of TID’s projects and applications for grant funding.
Fiscal Impact:
No direct impact to the City of Visalia in supporting TID’s grant applications.
Prior Council Action: N/A
Other: N/A
Alternatives: Have TID withdraw the City’s letters of support from the grant application packages.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to confirm the submission of support letters requested by Tulare Irrigation District for their Bureau of Reclamation grant applications for the Okieville and Water Dashboard Projects.
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Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A
Attachments: 1) Letter of Support for the Okieville Project. 2) Letter of Support for the Dashboard Project.