Presenter’s Name, Job Title Agency The California WaterFix A State of the Art, Real Solution to Modernize, Repair and Protect California’s Aging Water Delivery System from the North. Presenter’s Name, Job Title Agency

A Sustainable Water Future Protecting California’s water supply from the north Protecting the environment California WaterFix is a massive construction project that will secure water reliability for generations. The plan is a state-of-the-art solution to the many threats facing the Delta, protecting California’s water supply and native fish populations.

Where Southern California Gets Its Water Los Angeles Aqueduct (1913) Colorado River (25%) Aqueduct (1941) State Water Project (30%) Entitlement (1972) Sierra Nevada Mountains Snowpack Water Use Efficiency (Rebates, Education and Conservation) Local Supplies (45%) Groundwater, Recycling, Desalination, Conservation and LA Aqueduct Transfers and Storage X X = POTENTIAL EARTHQUAKE LOCATIONS

State Water Project 25 million Californians 700,000 acres of farmland The State Water Project (SWP), built and operated by the California Department of Water Resources, is a massive water delivery system that provides water to more than 25 million Californians and 700,000 acres of farmland. Even with newly developed local supplies and more conservation, imported water will remain a critical water source.

Sacramento- San Joaquin Bay Delta The Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay Delta (Delta) is the focal point for water distribution through the state, serving as the hub through which water passes from north to south. Its complex maze-like waterways, supported by a series of man-made levees, are highly susceptible to damage from flooding and earthquakes. Some islands are accessible only by boat or ferry, while other islands are only connected by bridges.

Sacramento- San Joaquin Bay Delta 738,000 acres Five rivers flow into the Delta, accounting for nearly half of the snowmelt and runoff of the entire state. The most noted are the San Joaquin and Sacramento rivers.

What is the Problem? Wasted water The cost of doing nothing is too great Outdated and unreliable system Environmental decline The current system cannot adequately capture and store water when it is available. Impacts without the WaterFix could include species decline, water supply disruption, loss of jobs, and higher food and water prices. 50-year old dirt levees are all that protect most Northern California water supplies from rising sea levels, intense storms and floods. If these levees fail, salt water intrusion would contaminate our fresh water supply from the north. Current pumps are powerful and cause reverse flows which trap endangered fish, and pull them towards predators. State of the art construction techniques, improved fish screens, and tunneling improvements, promise minimal impact on Delta species.

Major Threats to the Delta Earthquakes Rising sea levels Environmental decline There is a 72% chance of a 6.7 or greater magnitude earthquake hitting San Francisco Bay before 2030. The California Delta is considered the most vulnerable location in the state’s water system. 50 year-old dirt levees are prone to failure in a large earthquake, threatening to disrupt water deliveries throughout California. Sea level rise threatens salt water intrusion and contamination of fresh water, disrupting water supplies for weeks, months, or years. Native fish populations are in decline and many species are endangered due to current operating procedures and unnatural river flows caused by pumping.

At Risk with Major Delta Failure 750 species of plants and wildlife $2 billion in local economy 3 million acres of farmland Once a vast marshland, the Delta began changing rapidly when unsuccessful miners turned to farming and began draining and reclaiming the land in the mid 1800s. No one agrees on just one cause the collapse of the ecosystem. Excessive water diversions, invasive plants and other species, agricultural drainage and pollutants, stormwater and treated wastewater discharged into the system are all contributing factors.

Aging Dirt Levees It is a matter of when, not if, the DIRT levees supporting the Delta will fail. Since the 19th Century, each of the islands and tracts has flooded at least once, several of them more than once. There have been about 100 levee failures since the early 1890s. The last levee break was at Jones Tract in 2004. The levee was repaired at a cost of $90 million dollars. A massive earthquake could potentially cause multiple levee failures and draw salty water from San Francisco Bay deep into the Delta, jeopardizing the fresh water flows that much of California's population and agriculture depends on.

The Deal With the Fish Reverse flows cause pumping restrictions and shut-downs Loss of natural habitat leaves no cover from predators Since the early 1800’s, the Delta has been manipulated to fit current needs of the region, and so, unsurprisingly, native species have struggled to adapt. Some native species have already gone extinct, and several more are endangered, including the spring-run and winter-run Chinook salmon, and the Delta smelt. Water pumps have been subject to shut-downs and restrictions imposed by the court in order to protect endangered species. Existing water supply systems have had profound impacts on the Delta, changing the natural flow patterns and even reversing the direction of the rivers at times which interfere with natural fish migrations.

WaterFix and Agriculture Save millions of acres of farmland Preserve nearly 12,000 farm jobs Secure reasonable food prices California is positioned as the agricultural powerhouse of the United States – leading all other states in farm income. Over 90 agricultural products are grown in the Delta including crops such at tomatoes, rice, strawberries, blueberries, corn, grain, alfalfa, nuts, grapes, olives and more. A fix to our water delivery system would save millions of acres of farmland, preserve nearly 12,000 farm jobs, and secure reasonable food prices.

Susceptible Infrastructure Highways Railways Water channels Since the Delta occupies the space between the Bay Area and the rest of the state, a lot of critical infrastructure must cross the Delta. Two major highways cross the Delta on its border, and two state highways connect the Central Valley to the Bay Area. Three major railway lines run through the Delta. Ships access the inland ports at Sacramento and Stockton through deep water channels, traveling nearly 80 miles inland from the Golden Gate Bridge.

Utilities Infrastructure Natural gas Electric power Wind turbines Pumping plants The Delta is a vital link in the state's utility infrastructure as well. The Delta serves as an important source of natural gas and as an important underground gas storage area. Electrical lines cross the Delta bringing power to the Bay Area as well as suppling power to cities and farms in Central and Southern California. Wind turbines take advantage of the frequent, reliable winds. The Banks Pumping Plant draws water from the Delta, for the State Water Project- the “hub” for the state’s water system. Banks is the starting point for the California Aqueduct.

California WaterFix (The Plan) SWP Pumps Additional Intakes Sacramento River Habitat Restoration San Francisco Bay Tunnels Known formally as the Bay Delta Conservation Plan, the project calls for construction of two 30-mile-long tunnels that would draw water from the Sacramento River and deliver it to the pumps and government-operated canals near Tracy. From there, the water would be pumped, as it has been for decades, to 25 million Southern Californians and 3 million acres of farmland. Two 40-foot tunnels have been designed to help stabilize the environmentally fragile Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, and improve delivery to customers of the State Water Project and the federal government’s Central Valley Project. Two 40-Foot Tunnels

A Plan For Emergencies Delta earthquake faults 72% chance of a 6.7 magnitude earthquake by 2030 Most southland water in reserves is imported water. The WaterFix will help ensure that we have the supplies we need in critical times of drought and other emergencies. Several earthquake faults run under or near the Delta, and seismic risk to the levees is a major concern. A massive earthquake could potentially cause multiple levee failures and draw salty water from San Francisco Bay deep into the Delta, jeopardizing the fresh water supply. Repairs could cost billions and take anywhere from 6 months to 2 years.

How Much Will It Cost? $14.9 billion or $5 a month Billions of dollars in economic activity are dependent on the delta 1000’s of jobs created The cost to fix California’s primary water delivery system is estimated at $14.9 billion – or about $5 a month for urban water users – and will be paid for by public water agencies that rely on the supplies. The California Water Fix will protect economic interests across the state while generating thousands of jobs. Imported water supplies are much less expensive than developing new local supplies, although both are needed in some combination in the future.

California EcoRestore In addition to the California WaterFix Delta habitat restoration plan by the year 2020 Native wetlands have been dredged and diked since the 1800’s to support farming, transportation, commerce and housing development. Diversions from the Delta now provide water for most of California’s population and economy. Channelization of Delta waterways, the discharge of pollutants and the introduction of non-native species have all combined to degrade the quality of water and native habitat. In addition to the California WaterFix, and over the next five years, California will pursue more than 30,000 acres of critical Delta restoration under the California EcoRestore. California EcoRestore is a California Natural Resources Agency initiative implemented in coordination with state and federal agencies.

EcoRestore Project Map Plans to fulfill biological opinion requirements for: Long-term operations of the CVP and SWP Mitigation and restoration goals for a healthy Delta The California EcoRestore program is focused on implementing a comprehensive suite of habitat restoration actions to support the long-term health of the Delta and its native fish and wildlife species.

MWDOC Calls to Action “…without decisive action, the Delta will fail.” ~Wayne Osborne, MWDOC Board President On December 5, 2016, MWDOC Board unanimously approved a resolution for support of the proposed project. MWDOC’s Water Reliability Study found that the WaterFix is the single most cost-effective project to ensure long-term reliability.

What Can You Do? Adopt a Support Position Oppose Any Action Against the WaterFix Request support materials Request a presentation Tell your friends! Adopt a Resolution in Support of the California WaterFix and EcoRestore Oppose any legislation aimed at stopping the WaterFix Call and write your legislators on the State AND Federal level. Engage the business community, (Chambers of Commerce, BIA, etc.) Available materials- 101 PowerPoint, sample resolution, briefing paper, talking points and news release

The Bottom Line… It’s Now or Never The California Water Fix ensures that the millions of Californians dependent on the Delta will have a protected water supply. Fixing our water delivery system will improve the natural direction of river flows, help native fish species navigate to and from the ocean during critical migration periods, guard against water supply disruptions, and ensure that local water projects like recycling and groundwater recharger work better. State of the art construction techniques, fish screens, and tunneling innovations promise minimal impact on Delta residents. Without this solution, the environment will continue to decline, delta fish species will inevitably perish, and a major disaster will spell economic disruption for all of California. The current system can't survive levee collapse or earthquake… Public’s water awareness is high. Can’t risk NOT doing it. We stand too much to gain in the way of reliability, sustainability and economic growth.