DATE: February 10, 2026
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Steven E. White, Director
Department of Public Works and Planning
SUBJECT: Joint Water Management Exchange Agreement
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a Joint Water Management Exchange Agreement between the County and Arvin-Edison Water Storage District for the management of the County’s Central Valley Project water, effective March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2041.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will allow the County to enter into a new long-term exchange agreement with Arvin-Edison, that together with other firming-up contracts, will secure a firm supply of water for projects in State and Bureau of Reclamation-approved Place of Use locations. The County has an allotment of 3,000 acre-feet of Federal Central Valley Project (CVP) water from the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta, which, when available, has been exchanged with Arvin-Edison Water Storage District (Arvin-Edison). The County’s current agreement will expire on February 28, 2026. This item pertains to a location in District 5.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Should your Board not approve the recommended action, County Service Area 34A (CSA 34A) - Brighton Crest, County Service Area 34C (CSA 34C) - Bella Vista, County Service Area 34D (CSA 34D) - Renaissance at Bella Vista and County Service Area 34G (CSA 34G) - Granville will not have access to potable water. County Service Area 34’s water system is dependent on surface water, pumped from Millerton Lake and sent to surface water treatment plant to be treated and distributed to the residents. Without access to the lake water, approximately 400 residences, a guard shack, and club house will be without water.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The County only pays for water received by the County to supply potable water to CSA 34A, CSA 34C, CSA 34D, and CSA 34G. All water related costs will be paid by those receiving the water.
DISCUSSION:
The County is party to a contract with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for the provision of up to 3,000 acre-feet of Central Valley Project water. Generally, the County does not receive the full 3,000 acre-feet due to Delta supply or delivery constraints. In some years, the County may receive no CVP water and in other years the County may receive the full 3,000 acre-feet allotment.
Under the recommended Agreement, Arvin-Edison will take delivery of the County CVP supply and make it available for exchange to the County. In those years when the County would not receive at least the 900 acre-feet allotted to the water users within the designated place of use (Millerton New Town Specific Plan area), Arvin-Edison will make water available to meet the deficit. In years when the County's entire allotment is available and it all is not used by water users within the designated place of use, Arvin-Edison would keep the water. When new water users currently not within the place of use are added to the place of use, more of the County allocation may be made available to them.
Arvin-Edison is designated as the lead agency for all actions required under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in connection with this Agreement and/or the associated arrangements, with the cooperation of the County acting as a "responsible agency'' in connection therewith. Arvin-Edison has determined that the Agreement is exempt under the provisions of CEQA and has filed a Notice of Exemption. No further environmental action is required at this time. The recommended agreement deviates, in part, from the County’s standard contract language in that it contains a mutual hold harmless clause which has the effect of making each party responsible for losses arising from their own negligent or wrongful performance, or failure to perform. The mutual hold harmless clause was reviewed by Risk Management and deemed to be acceptable for this agreement between public entities.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #71, July 22, 2008
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Joint Water Management Exchange Agreement
CAO ANALYST:
Maria Valencia