Agenda Item Wording:
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Water Management Plan - Receive the 2024 Visalia Water Management Annual Report and consider approval of the 2025 Water Management Plan submitted by the Visalia Water Management Committee.
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Deadline for Action: 2/18/2025
Submitting Department: Administration
Contact Name and Phone Number: Nick Bartsch, Public Works Director, (559) 713-4052
Department Recommendation:
It is the recommendation of staff that City Council receive the 2024 Annual Report and approve the 2025 Visalia Water Management Plan.
Background Discussion:
In 2001, the City of Visalia (City) partnered with the Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District (KDWCD) for the purpose of water resources management, supplemental surface purchases, and necessary or opportunistic projects on behalf of the City's benefit. The contract (Contract) is valid for a term of 40 years, at which time both parties have the option to re-negotiate terms.
According to the terms of this agreement, there is a Management Committee comprised of a representative of the City of Visalia (Steve Nelsen, Council Member), and a representative of KDWCD (Don Mills, KDWCD Board Member). KDWCD has committed to manage the implementation of the Plan, on behalf of the City, and the City provides an annual payment, that is increased annually for inflation, for implementation of the annual Plan. In 2024, the City provided $177,004.32 for this purpose. The funds are designated for beneficial purchases and/or projects, when such purchases are considered economically feasible. As a result of unpredictable and alternating wet and dry years, opportunities to purchase additional water supplies are not constant and highly volatile. Years in which reasonable supplemental resources are unavailable, un-utilized funds are rolled over into the following year.
As per the contract, KDWCD provides an annual report and a management plan for the incoming year for ...
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