Title
Consider authorizing the General Manager to engage with a collation of Western irrigated agriculture interests, including other water agencies, on the United States Army Corps of Engineers Proposed Rule for Agency Specific Procedures for implementation of its Principles, Requirements, and Guidelines for water resources investments.(Staff Presenting: Ara Azhderian)
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Monterey County Water Resources Agency Board of Directors:
Authorize the General Manager to engage with a collation of Western irrigated agriculture interests, including other water agencies, on the United States Army Corps of Engineers Proposed Rule for Agency Specific Procedures for implementation of its Principles, Requirements, and Guidelines for water resources investments.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
In the 2007 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), Congress directed that future revisions to federal Principles, Requirements, and Guidelines (PR&G) for water resources investments "shall not affect the validity of any completed study of a water resources project." This was interpreted by many to mean that revisions to PR&Gs would only apply to future water resource projects, not retroactively to existing projects. Notwithstanding, in 2014, the Obama Administration's Interagency Guidelines stated that PR&Gs specifically apply to operational modifications, modernization of existing facilities, dam safety modifications, culvert replacements, water conveyance and fish ladder modifications. Now the Biden Administration is looking to expand the federal decision-making process to: 1) prioritize environmental justice programs; 2) account for "ecosystem services"; and 3) require new economic analyses; (4) prefer nonstructural alternatives/approaches. In response, the United States Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) has issued a Proposed Rule for Agency Specific Procedures (ASPs) for implementation of its Principles, Requirements, and Guidelines for its w...
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