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Existing League Policy: <br />In 2008, the League formed a new Water Task Force to consider updates and revision to the Water <br />Guidelines the League drafted and adopted 20 years earlier. These new Guidelines were formally approved <br />by the League board of directors in Feb. 2010. Below are the most pertinent policy and guiding principles <br />related to the proposed resolution. To view the entire water policy guidelines, go to <br />www.cacities.org/waterpolicyguidelines. <br /> <br />General Principles <br />• The League supports the development of additional groundwater and surface water storage, <br />including proposed surface storage projects now under study if they are determined to be feasible, <br />including but not limited to: environmentally, economically, and geographically relating to point of <br />origin. Appropriate funding sources could include, but are not limited to user fees, bonds and federal <br />funding. <br />• The League supports state water policy that allows undertaking aggressive water conservation and <br />water use efficiency while preserving, and not diminishing, public and constitutional water rights. <br /> <br />Water Conservation <br />• The League supports the development of a statewide goal to reduce water use by 20% by 2020 <br />through the implementation of fair and equitable measures consistent with these principles. <br />• Accomplishing water conservation and water use efficiency goals will require statewide action by <br />all water users, including residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural water users, local and <br />regional planning agencies, state and federal agencies, chambers of commerce, and business, <br />commercial and industrial professional and trade associations. <br /> <br />Water Recycling <br />• Wherever feasible, water recycling should be practiced in urban, industrial and agricultural sectors. <br />This includes increasing the use of recycled water over 2002 levels by at least one million acre- <br />feet/year (afy) by 2020 and by at least two million afy by 2030. <br />• Increased recycling, reuse and other refinements in water management practices should be included <br />in all water supply programs. <br /> <br />Water Storage <br />• The development of additional surface facilities and use of groundwater basins to store surface <br />water that is surplus to that needed to maintain State Water Resource Control Board (SWRCB) Bay- <br />Delta estuary water quality standards should be supported. <br /> <br />Groundwater <br />• The principle that local entities within groundwater basins (i.e., cities, counties, special districts, and <br />the regional water quality control boards) working cooperatively should be responsible for and <br />involved in developing and implementing basin wide groundwater, basin management plans should <br />be supported. The plans should include, but not be limited to: a) protecting groundwater quality; b) <br />identifying means to correct groundwater overdraft; c) implementing better irrigation techniques; d) <br />increasing water reclamation and reuse; and e) refining water conservation and other management <br />practices. <br />• Financial assistance from state and federal governments should be made available to requesting <br />local agencies to develop and implement their groundwater management plans. <br /> <br />Financial Considerations <br />• It is recognized that the development and operation of water supply, water conveyance, flood control <br />and stormwater management, water storage, and wastewater treatment facilities is frequently beyond <br />the capability of local areas to finance; <br />10