This document summarizes the key points discussed at an Imported Water Committee meeting on February 23, 2012. The committee supported adopting Delta Policy Principles focused on co-equal goals of water reliability and environmental restoration. They advocated requiring a viable financing plan and firm financial commitments from water contractors to pay for Delta solutions. The committee also supported right-sizing conveyance facilities to match demand forecasts and financial commitments, and ensuring the State Water Project remains a publicly owned resource.

1. Imported Water Committee
February 23, 20121

2. 2011(estimated)1991
552 TAF
(95%)
285 TAF
(47%)
231 TAF
(30%)
Total = 578 TAF
Total = 779 TAF
2020
Total = 611 TAF
Metropolitan Water District
Imperial Irrigation District Transfer ; All American & Coachella Canal lining;
Recycling; Seawater desalination; Groundwater, Local surface water, and
Conservation
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3.  Strong proponent and leading voice advocating for a
Delta fix
 Key player in passage of 2009 Comprehensive Delta
policy legislation
◦ Co-equal goals of water reliability and environmental
restoration
 Successful implementation rests on viable financing
plan and firm financial commitment to pay
 2012 Legislative Policy Guidelines
 Draft Delta Policy Principles reviewed last month
◦ Five focus areas
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4.  Continued support of co-equal goals
 Support process that ensure meaningful dialog with all
stakeholders to reduce future conflicts and challenges
 Provide regulatory certainty and predictable supplies
 Encourage a solution that integrates and supports local
resources development
 Improve ability to divert water from Delta during wet
periods
 Encourage the development of a statewide water transfer
market
 Provide improved coordination between SWP and CVP
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5.  Restore the Bay-Delta ecosystem so species
listed under Federal or State Endangered
Species Act are no longer threatened or
endangered
 Work with all stakeholders to ensure
ecosystem restoration issues are addressed in
open and transparent process
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6.  Encourage projects and actions that are cost-effective
 Require total cost of Delta solution be identified before
financing and funding decisions are made
 Seek and support financial analyses of Delta solution
including ability to pay
 Allocate costs proportionally to benefits received
 Require firm financial commitment (take-or-pay, or legal
equivalent) by water contractors and their member agencies
to pay for fixed costs
 Condition financial support on contracted access to facilities
 Use public funds to support actions that protect and restore
environment and provide broad-based public benefits
 Oppose water user fees to fund non-water supply
improvements in Delta that benefit the public
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7.  Require independent technical analysis of key
elements to ensure solution realistically matches
statewide needs
◦ Demand forecast
◦ Size and cost of conveyance facility
 Support “right-sizing” of facilities to match firm
financial commitments to pay for the solution
 Allow access to all SWP facilities to facilitate
transfers
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8.  Support continued state ownership and
operation of SWP as public resource
 Support improved efficiency and transparency
of all SWP operations
 Oppose transfer of operational control of SWP
or any of its facilities to any special interest
groups to ensure SWP continues to be a public
resource
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9.  Adopt Delta Policy Principles as presented
in February 15, 2012 board letter
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