CHAPTER 1 Governance and Region Description The purpose of this Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (IRWMP) is to document the regional water resource management conditions, needs and strategies; to describe the process and projects that will improve regional water resources management in the IRWM region; and, to comply with the Final California Department of Water Resources (DWR) Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Grant Program Guidelines. This report accomplishes these goals in the following six chapters: • Chapter 1 Introduction, Governance, and Region Description • Chapter 2 Objectives • Chapter 3 Plan Development Process • Chapter 4 Resource Management Strategies • Chapter 5 Potential Projects and Prioritization • Chapter 6 Implementation Strategy The purpose of this chapter is to provide a description of the governance structure and provide the Region Description of the Northern Sacramento Valley (NSV) IRWMP region, which includes all or portions of the following counties: • Butte County • Colusa County • Glenn County • Shasta County • Sutter County • Tehama County This chapter is prepared in accordance with the DWR IRWM Grant Program Guidelines, dated November 2012 (IRWM Guidelines)1. 1 Final DWR IRWM Grant Program Guidelines for IRWM Implementation and Planning grants funded by Proposition 84 (The Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coast Protection Bond Act of 2006), Chapter 2, and the Stormwater Flood Management (SWFM) grants funded by Proposition 1E (The Disaster Preparedness and Flood Prevention Bond Act of 2006). 1-1 Northern Sacramento Valley March 2014 Integrated Regional Water Management Plan n\c\377-00-11-02\wp\IRWMP\121912_1Ch1 Chapter 1 Governance and Region Description In accordance with the IRWM Guidelines, the IRWMP governance description must include the following elements: • Regional Water Management Group • Governance Structure • Additional Provisions: — Public Outreach and Involvement Processes — Effective Decision Making — Balanced Access — Effective Communication — Long-Term Implementation — Coordination with Neighboring IRWM efforts and State and Federal Agencies — Collaborative Processes — Interim and Formal Changes — Updating or Amending the IRWMP Additionally, a region description should include the following elements: • Watersheds and Water Systems • Internal Boundaries • Water Supplies and Demands • Water Quality • Social and Cultural Makeup • Major Water Related Objectives and Conflicts • IRWMP Regional Boundary • Neighboring/Overlapping IRWM efforts These elements are described in more detail below. Information for the descriptions provided below was derived from previous documents and new information prepared during this IRWMP effort, the Sacramento Valley IRWMP prepared by the Northern California Water Association (NCWA) in 2006, and other regional planning documents. 1.1 GOVERNANCE The governance of the IRWMP, including development of the Regional Water Management Group (RWMG), the RWMG governance structure, and other provisions for outreach, modification, and implementation are described below. 1-2 Northern Sacramento Valley March 2014 Integrated Regional Water Management Plan n\c\377-00-11-02\wp\IRWMP\121912_1Ch1 Chapter 1 Governance and Region Description 1.1.1 Regional Water Management Group CWC 10539 defines an RWMG as follows: RWMG means a group in which three or more local agencies, at least two of which have statutory authority over water supply or water management, as well as those other persons who may be necessary for the development and implementation of a plan that meets the requirements of CWC §10540 and §10541, participate by means of a joint powers agreement, Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), or other written agreement, as appropriate, that is approved by the governing bodies of those local agencies. The NSV RWMG consists of a group of six local agencies: the Counties of Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Shasta, Sutter, Tehama, all of which have some degree of statutory authority over water supply and water management. None of the signatories, however, have total control over water supply and water management in their respective boundaries. Therefore, a substantial effort has been made by the IRWMP signatories to solicit input and coordinate water supply planning with all of the agencies with authority over water supply and management within the IRWM planning area. 1.1.2 Governance Structure The current governance structure was developed and implemented during 2010 and 2011, prior to commencing development of this IRWMP. The process to develop that structure is documented in Technical Memorandum No. 3 (TM3), Appendix A to this IRWMP. TM3 describes the development and formation of the RWMG (the NSV Board) and its technical support group (Technical Advisory Committee, TAC). This structure was implemented pursuant to the provisions of the Four-County MOU, Appendix B to this IRWMP as a single document with the original MOU and subsequent amendments. The specific governance structure was formed through action by each of the six county Boards of Supervisors. The 18-member NSV Board consists of three individuals selected by each of the respective county Boards of Supervisors. This composition was chosen to develop a supportable IRWMP to guide future water resources management decisions and help to secure implementation support. The NSV Board began meeting in January 2011 and focused its initial efforts on developing Bylaws that established the name of the organization, membership, purpose, names and duties of officers, meeting policies and procedures, and provisions for future amendments. NSV Board meetings are public and subject to the Brown Act, so that all people interested in the NSV IRWMP process have an opportunity to express their thoughts directly to the Board. Implementation details are set forth in the NSV Bylaws, which also describe the meeting policies and procedures for both the NSV Board and TAC. The NSV Bylaws are appended to this IRWMP as well (Appendix C). The TAC was established as a working-level group to act as staff to the Board. The relationships among the Board, the six counties and the TAC are shown on Figure 1-1 (see next page). The NSV Board directs the activities of the TAC and receives its recommendations. Following adoption of this IRWMP, the Board’s continuing role is to ensure that the IRWMP is implemented and updated, while safeguarding and supporting collaboration among stakeholders. Although the NSV Board is not an implementing entity, the membership of the NSV Board and 1-3 Northern Sacramento Valley March 2014 Integrated Regional Water Management Plan n\c\377-00-11-02\wp\IRWMP\121912_1Ch1 Chapter 1 Governance and Region Description institutional structures within the NSV provide tremendous resources and capability for implementing most any project or program individually or in partnerships. Figure 1-1. NSV IRWM Board Organizational Structure 1.1.3 Additional Provisions Additional provisions of the IRWMP governance are described below. 1.1.3.1 Public Outreach and Involvement Processes Consistent with the Bylaws, all NSV Board meetings are open to the public. In compliance with the Brown Act, the NSV Board posts its meeting agendas and meeting packages in advanced of the meetings. Meeting minutes and sign-in sheets are kept for each of the meetings. Future meeting frequency will continue to be guided by both budget and agenda topic considerations, but generally continuing on a semi-annual basis, with the TAC continuing on a quarterly basis. The NSV Board expects to solicit public comments at its regular meetings at least annually on progress towards implementing the IRWMP. To notify the public about the IRWMP's pending adoption, a Notice of Intent (NOI) to adopt this IRWMP was published in local newspapers throughout the region as shown in Appendix D. 1-4 Northern Sacramento Valley March 2014 Integrated Regional Water Management Plan n\c\377-00-11-02\wp\IRWMP\121912_1Ch1 Chapter 1 Governance and Region Description 1.1.3.2 Effective Decision Making The current process of NSV Board decision-making has worked well since the NSV Board was established in late 2010, and began meeting in early 2011. Changes to the Bylaws have been adopted several times to improve the effectiveness of meetings and assure that decision-making is adequately supported. The Bylaws define voting requirements for both making regular decisions (for example, adopting IRWMP Goals and Objectives, providing guidance to the TAC and consultants, etc.) and amending the Bylaws. NSV Board decisions are informed by recommendations from the TAC, in addition to extensive public input at both TAC and NSV Board meetings. 1.1.3.3 Balanced Access During the two-year period for development of this IRWMP, the NSV Board and TAC have made effective efforts at providing public access to their deliberations. Initial meetings were held at various locations throughout the region, eventually moving most meetings to Willows as a location central to the region. Two rounds of public workshops (January 2012 and June 2012) were held at three different locations each throughout the region to provide greater public access. The IRWMP web site has also proven to be a successful means of providing timely information to the public and allow public comments to be sent to the consultant team, NSV Board and TAC. In addition, two separate letters at different points in the IRWMP development process were sent to each of the Tribes in the six-county NSV IRWMP region. One