Responses of the Trabuco Canyon Water District

a and b) TCWD's Response to R.2: This recommendation has already been implemented. "A complete sudden break in the imported supplies" was a component of the statewide Golden Guardian exercise in 2008 in which 20 of Orange County's water and wastewater utilities participated. This type of exercise or variations of it are repeated periodically. R.3 Each MWDOC member agency should reaffirm to LAFCO that it will assign the resources necessary to expediently resolve regional governance issues. While the subject study is being facilitated by LAFCO, the options are with the agencies to decide what is best for all. Once conclusions are reached, the parties need to agree quickly and, hopefully, unanimously to adopt a course of action. (Findings F3 a, b and c) TCWD's Response to R.3: TCWD has implemented Recommendation R.3 by its ongoing participation in the numerous meetings which have occurred about and with MWDOC concerning the governance issues. R.4 Each Orange County retail and wholesale agency should affirm its commitment to a fair-share financial responsibility in completing the emergency water supply network for the entire County. The entire County should be prepared together for any conditions of drought, natural or human-caused disaster, or any other catastrophic disruption. WEROC should commence meetings of all parties to facilitate consensus on an equitable fundinglfinancing agreements. (Finding F4 a and b) TCWD's Response to R.4: This recommendation is already being implemented. The Water Emergency Response Organization of Orange County (WEROC) has been established to conduct emergency planning, preparedness and response to disaster type events that impact the water and wastewater agencies within the County. WEROC participates with regional and statewide forums as well. TCWD has plans and activities it carries out to be in a state of emergency preparedness. TCWD has a Board-approved Emergency Preparedness Plan that provides information on District operations, assigns responsibility, and establishes general policies and procedures associated with operations during natural disasters, technological incidents and nuclear defense emergencies. The Plan is updated on an as-needed basis.

Orange County is uniquely fortunate to have a vast, high-quality, well managed groundwater basin serving its north geographical area. However, in its south reaches, it has an equally large, high-growth area with virtually no available groundwater resources.