HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Resolution 10501 (Calfed Draft Programmatic EIR)RESOLUTION 10501
RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT INCREASING PROTECTION OF THE SAN FRANCISCO AND SAN
PABLO BAYS IN THE CALFED DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
PROCESS
WHEREAS, the health of the San Francisco Day/Delta estuary and the diverse ecosystems it supports are
fundamental to the environmental well being of the entire Bay Area; and
WHEREAS, much of the Bay Area's economic vitality is supported by the Bay/Delta estuary, including industries
such as tourism, recreational and commercial fishing; and
WHEREAS, the Bay/Delta estuary's heath is in rapid decline, manifested by various indicators including dramatic
reductions in fish populations, and due to a variety of devesting impacts, including the diversion of over 50 percent
of it flows from the watershed's rivers, the loss of over 85 percent of historic wetlands, and the discharge of 40,000
tons of pollutants into the Bay; and
WHEREAS, since 1994 the Federal Government and the State of California, in conjunction with agricultural,
urban and environmental stakeholders, have undertaken an effort to address the remarkably complex water
resources issues of the Bay/Delta ecosystems through a process known as Ca1Fed; and
WHEREAS, in the Ca1Fed process the current public comment period for the Draft Programmatic EIR/EIS
provides a critical opportunity for input on the issues affecting the San Francisco Bay/Delta estuary.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of San Rafael does hereby identify
that the following essential elements must be incorporated into future policies and programs undertaken by the
Ca1Fed process:
• A guarantee that there will be adequate freshwater flows into the Bay - The San Francisco Bay/Delta estuary's
historic freshwater flows have been reduced by half. Currently there exists a need for science -based standards
that establish minimum flows of freshwater into the Bay. Adequate flows will benefit the entire estuary in
diverse ways, including improving water quality, supporting biological diversity, and the health of all of the
Bay/Delta estuary's ecosystems.
• Water conservation by all users - Equitable water conservation practices must be required and enforced for all
users throughout California. Managing demand through conservation practices and greater water use
efficiency can eliminate or substantially reduce the need to construct new storage facilities. Until conservation
practices and demand management have been implemented and monitored, the construction of new storage
facilities should not be initiated.
• A fair share of funding for Bay Area environment restoration efforts - The EPA's Comprehensive
Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP), BCDC's San Francisco Bay Plan, and the RWQCB's Bay Basin
Plan all establish numerous beneficial measures that must be taken to protect and restore habitat and improve
fish and wildlife in the Bay/Delta estuary. Of the most recent funding package only 5% came to projects in the
region. Funding to implement these recommended programs must be brought up to levels that are
appropriately proportional to budgets for environmental restoration in other parts of the State.
I, JEANNE M. LEONCINI, Clerk of the City of San Rafael, hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was duly
and regularly introduced and adopted at a regular meeting of the Council of said City on the 20'l' day of September,
1999 by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS : Cohen, Miller, Phillips and Mayor Boro
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS : None
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS : Heller
—RXNNNEE M. LEONCINI, City Clerk
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