HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES NO 09-89RESOLUTION NO. 9-89
A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
BAKERSFIELD SUPPORTING APPROVAL OF A RENEWAL
CONTRACT BETWEEN ORANGE COVE IRRIGATION
DISTRICT, ET AL., AND THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA.
WHEREAS, the City of Bakersfield is a vital part of the
water community of the Southern San Joaquin Valley and Kern
County and the economy of the City of Bakersfield is clearly
tied to the availability of water to the Kern County area; and
WHEREAS, long-term water supply contracts from the
Friant Unit of the Central Valley Project ("CVP") between the
following districts within Kern County and the United States of
America are coming up for renewal on the date indicated:
Arvin-Edison Water Storage District - February 29, 1995;
Delano-Earlimart Irrigation District - February 29, 1992;
Shafter-Wasco Irrigation District - February 28, 1995
Southern San Joaquin Municipal
Utility District
February 28, 1991
WHEREAS, the Orange Cove Irrigation District, a public
agency serving lands within Fresno and Tulare Counties, has the
first Friant Unit contract to expire and be subject to renewal,
which occurs on February 28, 1989, and it is believed the manner
in which certain issues relating to renewal of that contract are
handled will similarly relate to renewal of the above-referenced
Kern County districts' contracts; and
WHEREAS, Orange Cove Irrigation District and the United
States Bureau of Reclamation have negotiated a renewal contract
providing for delivery of water for irrigation, municipal and
industrial uses for a subsequent forty-year period; and
WHEREAS, the above referenced districts, which obtain
their water supplies from the CVP in whole or in part, annually
import more than 400,000 acre-feet to Kern County, and if for
any reason such supplies did not continue to be imported, the
County's existing overdraft, estimated to be 370,000 acre-feet
per year, would be accelerated to the detriment of all residents
and landowners in Kern County and the City of Bakersfield; and
WHEREAS, the estimated value of crops produced from those
areas of the above-referenced districts within Kern County is $600
million, excluding the "multiplier effect" on the local economy,
and if for any reason these areas which are developed upon
reliance of CVP water did not continue to be productive, great
harm would result to all of the residents of Kern County and the
City of Bakersfield; and
WHEREAS, despite a November 10, 1988 opinion prepared by
the Solicitor of the United States Department of Interior
concluding, among other things, that the Bureau of Reclamation is
not required to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement or
Assessment concerning renewals of Friant Unit contracts because
the Secretary of the Department of Interior has no discretion
with respect to renewal of such contracts since renewal of same
is guaranteed by that certain Act of the United State Congress
of July 2, 1956 (43 U.S.C. Section 485h-1), certain organizations
have filed litigation to impede the execution and/or performance
of the renewal contract between the United States and Orange
Cove Irrigation District and other similar districts with the
stated objective of reducing the quantities of water to be put
to beneficial use; and
WHEREAS, renewal of the water supply contract between
Orange Cove Irrigation District and the United States will insure
the continuation of substantial economic benefits to the economy
and residents of Fresno and Tulare counties, and in turn establish
a basis for the above-referenced Kern County contracts to be
likewise renewed and, therefore, continue the substantial
economic benefits to Kern County and City of Bakersfield residents
derived from the CVP water used by these Kern County districts;
NOW THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAKERSFIELD,
CALIFORNIA HEREBY RESOLVES and declares its support for the
renewal contract negotiated between Orange Cove Irrigation
District and the United States and asks that the United States
expeditiously review and approve said contract at a fair and rea-
sonable price, without further delay, recognizing that the existing
contract expires on February 28, 1989.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Mayor is authorized and
directed to forward a certified copy of this resolution to the
Secretary of the United States Department of Interior and staff
is to disseminate copies of this resolution and provide
information to the public, as appropriate.
.......... o0o ..........
- 2 -
I 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 J~nua~¥ 18, 1989 , by
the following vote::
CITY CLE~K/~and Ex Officio Clerk of th~
Council of the City of Bakersfield
APPROVED January 18, 1989
MAYOR of the City of Bakersfield
APPROVED as to form:
/ /ef
~/C~TY A/T~Q~EY ~_ t~C~i%y ~ Bakersfield
ADD:lg
R RES 4
L.HODEL3-5
1/16/89