07-11-2022 BPU RPT 08 - Laserfiche WebLink

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RIVERSIDE PUBLIC UTILITIES Board Memorandum BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES DATE: JULY 11, 2022 SUBJECT: PARTICIPATION IN THE SOLVE THE WATER CRISIS COALITION ISSUE: Consider participation in the Solve the Water Crisis Coalition. RECOMMENDATIONS: That the Board of Public Utilities: 1. Approve an annual expenditure of up to $15,000 for participation in Western Municipal Solve the Water Crisis Coalition for fiscal years 2023 and 2024; 2. Designate Public Utilities General Manager as the designee to represent the City of Riverside on the Solve the Water Crisis Coalition. BACKGROUND: As a result of changing climate and ongoing drought coupled with declining water supplies throughout the State, Western Municipal Water District (Western) has taken the initiative to create a coalition of water agencies .is Coalition intends to raise awareness among the public and California policymakers of the water supply crisis and the long- term investments, improved science, and regulatory reforms to increase water supply and reliability for California. While Riverside has water rights in local groundwater basins that it relies on to produce 100% of its water supply, these basins, like all other groundwater basins throughout the State, are experiencing drought conditions that will require future investment to ensure continued water supply resiliency into the future. Through this Coalition, Riverside will have the opportunity to participate with Western and other stakeholders to bring the greater discussion of water supply reliability to the State legislators and leaders. The Coalition consists of public and private agencies and organizations from both southern and northern California. There are currently 21 member agencies and up to 48 other agencies in the outreach group and considering membership.