REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
March 1, 2018
FROM: THOMAS C. ESQUEDA, Director
Department of Public Utilities
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to receiving Unreleased Restoration Flows from Millerton Lake:
1. Adopt findings of statutory exemption pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15282(u).
2. ***RESOLUTION - Authorizing the Execution of a contract for Unreleased Restoration Flows between the United States and the City of Fresno through February 28, 2025. (Subject to Mayor's veto)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
The Administration recommends that Council adopt findings of a statutory exemption pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15282(u), and authorize the Director of Public Utilities or designee to purchase Unreleased Restoration Flows (URFs) from Millerton Lake from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Bureau) should they become available through February 28, 2025.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Depending upon precipitation and hydrology, the Bureau's San Joaquin River Restoration Program (SJRRP) Administrator may announce the availability of additional water supply from Millerton Lake through URFs annually. Each year the SJRRP Administrator determines the water supply required to accommodate SJRRP demands; and if all of the water allocated to the SJRRP is not required to meet the demands, then the SJRRP Administrator may issue a declaration announcing that URFs may be released to Friant Division Contractors from Millerton Lake. The URF program is authorized through February 28, 2025. The City has requested URFs for Water Year 2018-2019 and each year will request URFs if they are needed and would be beneficial to the City.
This Resolution is required by the Bureau for the City to accept URFs. The Administration recommends that the Fresno City Council adopt the attached Resolution to authorize the Director to purchase URFs from Millerton Lake for a purchase price yet to be determined. URFs are a type of water supply incorporated into the City's 9D contract, which has been ...
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