HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES NO 013-14I
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RESOLUTION NO. 0 13— 14
A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING GOVERNOR'S
DECLARATION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY
DUE TO WATER SHORTAGE.
WHEREAS, City of Bakersfield (City) is currently facing what could be
another very dry water year, following two dry years in 2012 and 2013. Results
from the preliminary snow surveys conducted by the California Department of
Water Resources (DWR) for the Sierra Nevada snowpack do not look good. City
residents are largely dependent on snow melt which feeds the Kern River, as well
as groundwater stored in the underground aquifer which is replenished by Kern
River flows; and
WHEREAS, DWR is forecasting that the State Water Project (SWP) will be
able to provide only 5 percent of the contracted amount for Kern County Water
Agency Improvement District No. 4 (ID4) to treat and deliver to local residential
customers. The current dry conditions, the decreasing Kern River water supply,
and the unreliable source of water from the SWP for residential customers over
time could reduce the City's available water supply and further contribute to
already declining groundwater levels in and around the City; and
WHEREAS, the drought is causing direct impacts in the City associated with
reduced Kern River flows, which further exacerbates already declining
groundwater levels, and a loss of recharge from State Water supplies previously
used for recharge within ID4's service area; and
WHEREAS, anticipating a dry year in 2014, and based on the initial forecast
of 5 percent of its SWP allocation, in November 2013 the Kern County Water
Agency (Agency) Board declared a drought emergency. The drought
emergency allows the Agency to move quickly to conduct emergency repairs
on its wells and facilitate water exchanges with other agencies; and
WHEREAS the Kern County Board of Supervisors, at their meeting on
January 14th, adopted a resolution proclaiming a state of local emergency in
Kern County caused by a severe water shortage and requesting immediate
state and federal assistance; and
WHEREAS, the City recommend adoptions of a resolution supporting a
statewide declaration of a State of Emergency due to the current drought
conditions because the drought threatens the City's present and long term
water supply, and because such a resolution would support similar resolutions by
the Agency and other local entities. aAKr-9
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Council of the City of Bakersfield
as follows:
1. The above recitals are true and correct and are incorporated
herein by reference.
2. The Governor has declared a State -wide emergency due to the
severe water shortage.
3. The Governor and the Department of Water Resources are
requested to develop additional programs and measures to
provide additional emergency water supplies.
4. The City of Bakersfield supports passage of this Resolution.
SAC0UNCIL \Resos \13 -14 \Water Drought.Emergcy.Docx
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HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was passed and adopted
by the Council of the City of Bakersfield at a regular meeting thereof held on
JAN 2 2 2014 , by the following vote:
AY COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA, MAXWELL, W IE R, SMITH HANSON, SULLIN, JOHNSON
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBER N1D1n2
ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBER NOM
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBER ON
APPROVED JAN 2 2 2014
ROBERTA GAFFORD, C
CITY CLERK and Ex Offi Clerk of the
Council of the City of Bakersfield
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
VIRGINIA GENNARO
City Attorney
RICHARD IGER
Associate City Attorney
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