DATE: October 9, 2018
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Supervisor Andreas Borgeas
Supervisor Buddy Mendes
SUBJECT: Constitution of California State Water Resources Control Board
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Authorize Supervisors Andreas Borgeas and Buddy Mendes to explore and discuss options with relevant jurisdictions and to work with the County’s State legislative advocates on potentially modifying how the California State Water Resources Control Board is constituted and what duties it performs.
REPORT
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.
DISCUSSION:
California Water Code §175 creates the State Water Resources Control Board (“SWRCB”) within the California Environmental Protection Agency. Section 175 provides that the five members of this board are appointed by the Governor. Four of the members are required to have special qualifications including a water rights attorney, a civil engineer qualified in the field of water supply and rights, a professional engineer qualified in sanitary engineering, and an additional expert qualified in the area of water quality. One of these four members must also be qualified in the field of water supply and water quality relating to irrigated agriculture. The fifth member of the SWRCB is not required to have any specialized experience.
The scope of authority of the SWRCB is very broad, encompassing nearly every major area of the regulation of water supply and quality, particularly in the Central Valley. Concerns have arisen that the method of selection of the members of the SWRCB does not result in a board membership that represents all regions of the state and the many diverse communities and industries with critical interests in how decisions affecting the state’s water supply are made. This proposal would initiate the discussion among interested jurisdictions on possible constructive changes to the way the SWRCB is constituted and operates.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
California Water Code §175