Water

Water

Support for prudent management of water resources, both surface and underground to insure quality of water in the Cache Creek watershed, one of Yolo County's major resources of ground water.
Position History: 
  • Adopted 1989 (Water) / Re-­affirmed 2013 (Water; updates under Adopted 2013)
  • Adopted 1988 (Incorporated under Water Pollution 1995) (Water - Yolo County Injection Wells) 
Objectives:
  1. Communications: improved communications and coordination among water agencies to resolve water issue problems.
  2. Water Supply
    1. Continued recharge of ground water from Cache Creek.
    2. On-going monitoring and study of chemicals, including boron, in the water supply.
    3. Protection of the aquifer is our highest priority. All activities including mining, must establish that they will not endanger the aquifer. Each new mining area must have a Site Specific Environmental Impact Report (EIR) before permits are issued. Funding for monitoring to maintain EIR standards should be borne by the industry involved.
  3. Pollution
    1. Control release of effluent upstream on Cache Creek or it's tributaries; i.e. Clear Lake communities.
    2. Monitoring, testing, and enforcement of regulations regarding release of contaminants in ground water; i.e. agricultural, industrial and commercial uses, and septic tanks.
    3. Strong monitoring and testing for chemicals in water run-­‐off from mining operations, including Homestake.
  4. Erosions and Flooding: a policy that preserves farmlands from erosion and flooding.
  5. Riparian and Wildlife
    1. Effective planning to conserve wildlife and riparian habitats and species, including wildlife statuaries along Cache Creek.
    2. Gravel reclamation plans that include provisions for riparian and wildlife preservation.
  6. Support measures to ensure future quality and quantity of surface and ground water in Yolo County for agricultural, urban and environmental issues.
    1. Initiation by Yolo County of storing interagency cooperation for the purpose of: 
      1. Protection of County surface and ground water resource based on a county water management policy.
      2. Coordinated data collection and analysis, which is made available to the public, including but not limited to: subsidence, compaction, quality and quantity of supply, pollution and ground water recharge.
      3. Development of a Yolo County ground water management plan involving all surface and groundwater users; agricultural, Iran industrial, environmental , private and public.
    2. Requirement of an environmental impact report which identifies environmental, hydrologic, economic and third party effects, as well as mitigation measures, prior to evaluating proposal for short or long term transfers of water into or out of the county.
    3. The Board of Supervisors should be involved in evaluation and permitting of transfers.
    4. Requirements that agreements established responsibilities for third party effects in the county prior to any transfers of water.
  7. Yolo County Injection Wells
  • Support the county ordinance providing regulations on injection wells in Yolo County in addition to the regulations established by the State Division of Oil and Gas (DOG). Such an ordinance and accompanying regulations should provide for citizen input; offer maximum protection to the county's underground aquifers; and contain strong provisions to protect the health, safety, and welfare of county residents. The permitting process shall provide that the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements be followed to ensure site specific EIR's and that alternatives be considered. All costs of administering the ordinance and accompany regulations shall be borne by the injection well operators and/or responsible authority.

Adopted 2013

  1. Agency Coordination: Agencies that Affect Woodland and Yolo County
    1. Streamline the number of agencies that have control over water to reduce overlap and increase efficiency
      1. Appoint commissioners on water related boards who have knowledge of water issues and experience in the field
      2. Increase coordination and communication between agencies
    2. Establish standards for water management with clear lines of authority
  2. Groundwater: Emphasize Importance of preserving and maintaining groundwater
    1. Acknowledge connection between groundwater and surface water. 
    2. Groundwater monitoring needs to be done for quality and quantity including for drinking, agriculture and wastewater uses. This monitoring needs to be easily available to the public including complete internet access. 
    3. Establish both active and passive aquifer recharge.
      1. Active includes pumping clean water into existing aquifers.
      2. Passive includes designing drainage areas, such as retention ponds, that will slowly infiltrate into existing aquifers.
    4. Require permits for drilling and have these permits mandate sustainability and quality of water for reuse.
      1. Water well drilling
      2. Gas well drilling, mining and associated water usage 
  3. Ag and Water
    1. Expand underground storage and groundwater banking to both stretch available water supplies and replace that lost to a shrinking snowpack.
    2. Identify and manage pollutants (nitrates, pesticides, selenium, etc.) at the point of origin.
    3. Build adaptive capacity for agricultural water usage to deal with changes in the environment, climate, and economy.
    4. Develop co-­‐operative approaches for agricultural water management.
    5. Develop innovative approaches to deliver water. 
  4. Climate Change and its affect on water supply 
    1. Include Consideration of Climate Change in all water plans and projects.
      1. Preserve groundwater by encouraging conjunctive use, innovative approaches, etc.
      2. Conserve water (see Climate Change Position on Water from 2011).
      3. Balance ecosystem preservation with agriculture and urban need.
We reaffirm all existing water positions from 1988 and 1989 particularly “f” which states the following:
  • Support measures to ensure future quality and quantity of surface and groundwater in Yolo County for agricultural, urban, and environmental issues.*
League to which this content belongs: 
Woodland