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Council approves Water Forum 2050 agreement; El Dorado agency not signing
Summary
After a multi-year negotiation, council voted to adopt the Water Forum 2050 regional agreement to balance water reliability and Lower American River health; the El Dorado Water Agency declined to join at this time and council requested continued outreach. The motion passed with one abstention by Mayor McCarty.
City staff and the Sacramento Water Forum presented the Water Forum 2050 agreement, a regional, consensus-based framework to sustain water reliability for the Sacramento region while protecting the Lower American River.
Brett York, supervising engineer in the Department of Utilities, outlined the forum's role in coordinating regional water and environmental priorities. Ashley Casey, executive director of the Sacramento Water Forum, described the agreement's five program areas (flows and operations; corridor health; water supply sustainability; science, monitoring and decision support; governance/funding/administration) and the American River Climate Adaptation Program (RCAP) designed to help the region respond to climate change.
Casey and staff said the original Water Forum agreement (signed in 2000) produced habitat projects, a science-based flow standard used to guide Folsom Reservoir operations, and advances in groundwater management. The Water Forum 2050 agreement updates that framework to address climate change, regulatory changes, and infrastructure needs.
Council members praised the forum's collaborative model. In response to a question about El Dorado Water Agency securing water rights, Casey said the issue has been discussed within the Water Forum, and Eldorado Water Agency released a draft EIR that prompted substantial comment; Eldorado will not sign on to Water Forum 2050 at this time, but staff will continue outreach.
Councilmember Kaplan moved the item and councilmember Dickinson seconded. The motion carried by voice vote with one abstention (Mayor McCarty). Several council members asked staff to keep the council informed about ongoing discussions with El Dorado.
The council's approval advances a regional plan intended to guide coordinated operations, habitat enhancement, and climate adaptation work affecting water operations, habitat, and long-term planning across multiple jurisdictions.
