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ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH - Director Tia Branton
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Requested Action(s)
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a) RESOLUTION - Request to approval of the resolution adopting the Tehama County Drought Resiliency Plan which brings the County into compliance with SB 552
b) Request direction to staff to submit the adopted Plan to DWR by 6/30/25, in accordance with the DWR grant funding agreement provisions
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Financial Impact:
The project is funded with a $125,000 grant through the California Department of Water Resources. There is no fiscal impact for approving the County’s Drought Resiliency Plan.
Background Information:
September 2021, Senate Bill (SB) 552 (Hertzberg) was signed into law. SB 552 adds new responsibilities and requirements at the local level. Under SB 552, the California State Legislature identifies counties as the best-suited government entity to provide the needed leadership to improve water resilience for state small water systems and domestic wells. The intent is to help small water suppliers and rural communities to reduce their risk of inadequate water supply during drought and water shortage conditions.
The goal of SB 552 is for counties to develop and approve a drought resiliency plan tailored to the specific county water sources, shortage risk, population, geography, economy, and governance and institutional structures and processes. The County has prepared its Drought Resiliency Plan (DRP) that is SB 552 compliant and addresses the requirements of SB 552 and represents the water resource challenges in Tehama County. The Drought Task Force was involved in developing and reviewing the DRP and will be involved in the DRP implementation activities. The DRP assesses drought and water shortage risk, evaluates short- and long-term drought response measures, and collaborates with other water management activities occurring in the County (e.g. the Tehama Groundwater Sustainability Agency regarding SGMA compliance).
The Environmental Health Department (EHD) is requesting the Board of Supervisors to approve the attached resolution adopting the Tehama County Drought Resiliency Plan and authorizing staff to submit the DRP to the California Department of Water Resources as required in the DWR grant funding agreement.