On May 2, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to approve a tentative agreement to make the Central Coast Water Authority (CCWA) the lead agency on reacquiring more than 12,000 acre-feet of surplus water from the state. But first, the supervisors wanted to know if the water was going to be used as a drought buffer or get used to supply more development in the county.
How the reacquired water would be used and how much of that cost would fall on ratepayers concerned 1st District Supervisor Das Williams. According to a county staff report, reacquiring water would cost up to $30 million and increase the potential for state rate hikes. Although, it’s not clear how much the rates would go up.
The board’s decision comes after Gov. Jerry Brown lifted on April 7 California’s emergency drought proclamation, following an abundance of rain during the winter.
Williams objected to the idea that state water could be allocated for development projects along the coast or get sold out of county.
“All I’m saying is if these agencies want it for a drought buffer, I’m good,” Williams said, “but if these agencies want to sell it to a developer that we wouldn’t normally approve their development, then not good.”
Several public speakers urged caution on making the CCWA the lead agency.
“Only the state Department of Water Resources is properly the lead agency in the event that CCWA is not the proper authority,” said Mark Chytilo, who was representing several groups, including Gaviota Coast Conservancy and its Committees for Land, Air, Water, and Species. “We would be more comfortable if the county were to retain lead agency status.”
Stephanie Hastings, who came to the meeting representing the water authority, reminded the supervisors that the motion before the board was simply deciding whether the CCWA would be the lead agency.
Robert McDonald, who represented the Carpinteria Valley Water District, said he doesn’t intend to sell reacquired water out of the county.
County Counsel Michael Ghizzoni said that the non-binding term sheet has a “workout” where it would be defensible to make CCWA the lead agency.
County Water Resources Director Tom Fayram said the California Environmental Quality Act analysis would address how the water would be used and implemented. Ultimately the way water is used would come back before the supervisors for approval.
Fifth District Supervisor Steve Lavagnino echoed a similar sentiment to Williams’.
“We’re not starting to talk about water as a growth inducer, it also sustains life,” Lavagnino said. “For people that went through this drought, I don’t think people think of water as some sort of growth inducer.”
This article appears in May 4-11, 2017.