HomeMy Public PortalAbout03 Truckee River Operating AgreementTown of Truckee
California
RESOLUTION NO. 99-03
A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF
TRUCKEE DOCUMENTING SIGNH01CANT CONCERNS REGARDING
THE CURRENT STATUS OF NEGOTIATIONS ON THE TRUCKEE
RIVER OPERATING AGREEMENT (TROA) AND REQUESTING
THAT THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA REFUSE TO SIGN THE
AGREEMENT UNTIL THE INTERESTS OF THE AFFECTED REGION
ARE EFECTIVELY ADDRESSED IN THE AGREEMENT
WHEREAS, the Truckee River Basin Water Group (TRBWG) was formed in 1994 as an
organization of County, City, Resource Management Agencies and public water and sewer service providers
within the California portion of the Truckee River Basin to provide a vehicle to represent local interests in
the Truckee River Operating Agreement (TROA) negotiations; and
WHEREAS, the operation of the Truckee River system and area reservoirs has and will continue
to have significant implications on the economy and environment of the Truckee River Basin within
California; and
WHEREAS, Public Law I 01-618, enacted in 1990, establishes an interstate allocation of the water
resources of the Truckee River and requires the negotiation of a new operating agreement which fairly
manages the resources and provides mitigation for any significant environmental impacts resulting from the
operation of the River; and
WHEREAS, the TROA proposes to establish permanent standards for the operation of the River;
and
WHEREAS, the Department of Water Resources is the lead agency in negotiating California's
interest in the TROA and is the co-lead with the Federal Government in preparing the environmental impact
report for the Agreement; and
'*VHEREAS, before the TROA can be approved and executed, it must undergo environmental review
pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act which must disclose all potentially significant
environmental impacts and identify mitigation measures to reduce said impacts; and
WHEREAS, the draft environmental impact report on the ROA was released on March 10, 1998
and the Town of Truckee and TRBWG responded that the document does not comply with CEQA and fails
to provide meaningful information regarding the long term impacts of the TROA, including:
The draft EIR determination that no significant impacts will result in the California portion of the
Truckee River Basis from the operation of the TROA is based upon a significantly flawed
hydrological model and is not supported by substantial evidence in the record;
Inadequate water quality information and analysis of potential water quality impacts to Lake Tahoe
and the Truckee River including failure to address the information requests of the Lahontan Regional
Water Quality Control Board. This information and analysis is of critical importance because of the
federally protected status of these water bodies;
Town of Truckee
Resolution 99-03
The lack of comprehensive biological information regarding the Truckee River within California
which would support the necessary understanding of the relationship between river flows and the
health of the entire river ecosystem compounded by the absence of any meaningful long term
environmental monitoring program.
Failure to consider potential severe impacts of the TROA on the current and future operation of the
Tahoe-Truckee Sanitation Agency Sewer (TTSA) plant which serves the entire Truckee/North Tahoe
area;
The lack of analysis regarding the long term impacts of depletion and water well standards on both
the long term availability of domestic water to our region and the administrative implications of the
provisions; and
WHEREAS, the impact of the proposed TROA is of paramount importance to our region;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town of Truckee hereby requests, that the
Governor of California not authorize the signing of the TROA until the EIS/EIR is significantly modified
to provide complete and legally adequate documentation of the long term impacts of the implementation of
the TROA and that mandatory mid-course correction or adaptive management standards are negotiated into
the TROA that ensure that the California portion of the Truckee River basin receives the following:
The environmental benefits identified in the current EIR/EIR.
Reasonable access to the water allocation provided by the TROA considering proposed restrictions
and limitations including well drilling limitations and depletion.
That long-term operation of the TTSA sewer plant will not be unreasonably restricted by
modifications to River flows.
A long term monitoring and/or adaptive management program to ensure that significant
environmental impacts resulting from the TROA, known or not known at the time the TROA is
executed, are mitigated to a level of insignificance and to determine whether new or different
techniques are needed to better achieve California's reservoir level and instream flow goals.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town of Truckee respectfully requests that the Governor
of California instruct all State agencies with responsibility to oversee resoumes potentially impacted by the
operation of the Truckee River to coordinate their actions so that the interests of our region are clearly and
comprehensively understood and protected.
Town of Truckee
Resolution 99-03
The foregoing Resolution was introduced at a Regular Meeting of the Tovm Council of the Town of Truckee,
held on the 21st day of January, 1999, by Councilmember Drake who moved its adoption, which motion
being duly seconded by Councilmember McCormack and upon roll call was adopted by the following vote:
AYES:
Councilmembers Drake, Florian, McCormack, Schneider and Mayor Susman
NOES: None
ABSENT: None