Agenda Item Wording:
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Acceptance of the 2022 City of Visalia & Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District Water Management Plan submitted by the Visalia Water Management Committee.
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Deadline for Action: 6/19/2023
Submitting Department: Administration
Contact Name and Phone Number: Rhett Anderson, Water Resource Manager, 559-713-4530
Department Recommendation:
It is recommended that the City Council accept the 2022 Annual Report.
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 agreement was formed with regulatory intention, as a means to facilitate mutual benefit and contribution to conveyance and groundwater projects between the City of Visalia, Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District, and Tulare Irrigation District. The Contract (Contract) is valid for a term of 40 years, at which the end both parties have the option to re-negotiate terms.
According to the terms of this agreement, KDWCD will perform these tasks on behalf of the City in exchange for $100,000 annually at the time of the agreement, adjusted annually for inflation. 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 is not constant and highly volatile. Years in which reasonable supplemental resources are unavailable, un-utilized funds are rolled over into the following year.
The year 2021 was the driest year in recorded history for Tulare County. As a result, supplemental surface supplies were not only scarce, but also in high demand. This high demand drove the price of water to remarkably high prices. In so...
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