Orange County Grand Jury
• 2008-2009
• Agency Response
Paper Water Does Orange County Have a Reliable Future?
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⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 3 findings
F2
California's looming water supply crisis receives very little, if any, expressed concern from the public in comparison to the numerous other environmental issues presented during development project reviews. (a). Orange County's citizens and interest groups do not appear to grasp the seriousness of the water supply situation or the complexity and urgency of the necessary solutions. (b). Several recent, substantial water supply awareness efforts are underway (e.g. the O.C. Water Summit) that show promise but appear targeted to audiences that are already informed.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
Each Orange County retail and wholesale water agency should affirm its responsibility to develop new, additional, innovative public outreach programs, beyond water conservation and rationing programs, to expose the larger issues surrounding water supply constraints facing Orange County. The objective should be to connect the public with the problem. The outreach effort should entail a water emergency exercise that simulates a complete, sudden break in imported water deliveries. The exercise should be aimed directly at the public and enlist wide-spread public participation on a recurring basis beginning by June 30, 2010. This recommendation may be satisfied by a multi-agency exercise but the inability to coordinate such an event should not preclude the individual agency's responsibility. (Findings F.2, F.2 (a) & (b))
F3
LAFCO is the agency charged with facilitation constructive changes in governmental structure to promote efficient delivery of services. To this end, LAFCO is conducting a governance study of MWDOC which is the designated representative for nearly all of the Orange County retail water agencies, acting on their behalf with their surface water supplier Metropolitan. (a). There are a number of points of governance disagreement between MWDOC and several of its member agencies. This is creating an impediment to the on- going effectiveness of these agencies in critical areas of Orange County's water supply management. (b). The current disagreement is a distraction from the greater good of the agencies working toward Orange County's water future. (c). The stakeholders in LAFCO's study failed to meet their March 11, 2009 deadline for LAFCO's public hearing on this matter. Continued delays are ~~nacceptable.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
Each MWDOC member agency should reaffirm to LAFCO that it will assign the resol-lrces 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 F.3, F.3 (a), (b) & (c))
F4
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. (a). The difference in groundwater availability creates a "haves versus have-nots" situation that is conducive to inherent conflicts. (b). The difference in groundwater availability provides opportunities for responsible participants to develop and construct long-term solutions which will benefit the entire County.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
Each Orange County retail and wholesale water 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 agreement. (Finding F.4, F.4 (a) & (b))