HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES NO 129-06
RESOLUTION NO.
129';06
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF BAKERSFIELD TO CONGRESSMAN BILL
THOMAS AND CONGRESSMAN JIM COSTA
REQUESTING THAT ALL AVAILABLE OPTIONS
ARE CONSIDERED TO ASSIST THE UNITED
STATES ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS IN
EXPEDITING THE INVESTIGATION, MONITORING,
STUDIES AND REPAIRS OF THE LAKE ISABELLA
DAM AND RESERVOIR PROJECT.
WHEREAS, the City of Bakersfield ("City") is a California charter city and
municipal corporation and owns extensive water rights on the Kern River, has storage
rights in Isabella Reservoir and is vitally interested in maintaining all its right, title and
interest to the conservation storage at the Isabella Reservoir project; and
WHEREAS, City owns and maintains the Kern River channel, distributary canals
and waterways in and around Bakersfield for the public good and provides water for
beneficial uses including groundwater recharge and agricultural uses; and
WHEREAS, the Kern River Levee District is a subsidiary district of City which
operates and maintains the river levee system throughout the Bakersfield area providing
flood protection under normal conditions; and
WHEREAS, uncertainty among the public and downstream residents as to the
integrity and safety of the Isabella project has been brought to the attention of the Corps
and needs to be addressed; and
WHEREAS, Congressman Jim Costa, represents the 20th Congressional District
of California, in the San Joaquin Valley area, including portions of Bakersfield, that the
Isabella Dam and Reservoir project directly protects from flooding and provides water
supply benefits; and
WHEREAS, Congressman Bill Thomas, represents the 22nd Congressional
District in California, which includes the Isabella Dam and Reservoir project area,
portions of Bakersfield and the San Joaquin Valley, that are directly affected by the
operations of the Isabella Dam and Reservoir project; and
WHEREAS, the Corps has placed the Isabella project #1 on its risk assessment
list due to concerns regarding seismic issues, seepage at the Auxiliary Dam and flood
damage potential; and
'< 'òÞ.K~&
o ~
>- m
J::; r-
a Co
ORIGiNAl
WHEREAS, on April 20, 2006 a Seepage Advisory Panel was convened for the
purpose of evaluating information regarding the seepage condition at the Isabella
Auxiliary dam, and to make recommendations for short-term measures to address the
seepage situation; and
WHEREAS, on April 28, 2006 the United States Army Corps of Engineers
("Corps") acting upon technical advice of the Corps Dam Safety Committee declared an
emergency deviation and took over operational control of Isabella outflow and included
ordering the restriction of storage to approximately 360,000 acre-feet (2,585.5'
elevation); and
WHEREAS, the Corps has indicated that it intends to conduct further
investigation, monitoring, study and planning to develop both short and long-term plans
concerning seepage at Auxiliary dam and related seismic issues associated generally
with Isabella Dam and Reservoir ("Engineering Work"); and
WHEREAS, the Corps has indicated that, until the Engineering work is
completed, it anticipates that the restriction on full storage at Isabella Dam and
Reservoir will continue; and
WHEREAS, as a result of the ordered restriction on storage at Isabella Dam and
Reservoir, there is a substantial quantity of Kern River and other waters, normally
utilized to replenish the groundwater basin in and around Bakersfield for future
beneficial uses, being diverted into the California Aqueduct Intertie and forever lost to
Bakersfield and the region; and
WHEREAS, restoring a maximum conservation and recreation storage capacity
at Isabella Dam and Reservoir is critical to enabling the City to continue to manage its
Kern River entitlement to meet the needs of its water users and to ensure that Kern
River water can be conserved, stored and used for beneficial use to the fullest extent
possible; and
WHEREAS, close coordination and continued cooperation between the Corps
and the Kern River Interests is necessary in order to ensure restoration, at the earliest
time possible consistent with maintaining the public safety, of unrestricted operations at
Isabella Dam and Reservoir.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of
Bakersfield as follows:
1. That the above recitals are true and correct; and
-2-
~ 'ÕM~1>
o ~
>- -
I:: g!
a c:,
ORIGINAL
2. That Congressman Bill Thomas and Congressman Jim Costa pursue all
available options to assist the Corps to immediately initiate all necessary
investigations, monitoring, studies, evaluations, planning and remediation
activities regarding the seepage situation at Auxiliary dam as well as any
associated seismic issues at the Isabella Dam and Reservoir project in
order that the Engineering Work is completed expeditiously and in the
shortest time possible; and
3. That the Corps be requested to commit all necessary resources (financial,
staff, specialists and expert consultants) and take all necessary action to
minimize to the fullest extent possible, consistent with the public safety,
the extent and duration of the public's concerns of the integrity of the dam
and any operational restrictions at Isabella Dam and Reservoir; and
4. That City staff and consultants are directed to coordinate with the Corps to
facilitate the timely completion of the necessary Engineering Work to the
fullest extent possible; and
5. That the City Clerk forward a copy of this Resolution to Congressman Bill
Thomas, Congressman Jim Costa and the Corps.
---000---
-3-
~ ~Þ,KS1>
o ~
>- -
m
J::; ,...
a ð
ORIGINAl
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 MAY 2 4 2u06
by the following vote:
/././ /,/ /'..-/
COUNCIL MEMBER MAGGARD, CARSON, BENHAM, COUCH, HANSON, SULLIVAN, SCRIVNER
COUNCIL MEMBER
COUNCIL MEMBER
COUNCIL MEMBER
~
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
CITY CLERK AND EX OFF 10 Clerk of the
Council of the City of Bakersfield
APPROVED
MAY 2 4 2006
By
HARVEY L. HALL
Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
VIRGINIA GENNARO
City Attorney
;
. .7
~¿vd~
JANICE SCANLAN
Assistant City Attorney
S :IRESOLUTIONSILakelsabellaDam.doc
-4-
'òr>.Kê-9
ð- ~
>- ¡;;
~ G
a ORIGINAl