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Receive a presentation on the development of the Integrated Water Resources Framework (One Water Framework) funded with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds; and Consider providing direction on next steps including the development of the water resources component for a Utilities Master Plan
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No __X__
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No __X__
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the Board of Supervisors:
1. Receive a presentation on the development of the Integrated Water Resources Implementation Framework (One Water Framework) funded with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA); and
2. Provide direction on next steps including the development of the water resources component for a Utilities Master Plan
SUMMARY:
On April 26, 2022, the Board approved funding up to $300,000 through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to develop a region-wide integrated water resources framework (One Water Framework) to serve as a foundation toward development of the water resources component of a future Utility Master Plan for the unincorporated county region. Development of a utility master plan was identified on April 18, 2023, Board Priority Setting as Priority E3 - Economic Development to address County infrastructure needs for water, sewer, electricity, and broadband.
The primary objective of the One Water Framework is to identify challenges and opportunities to provide water management strategies to support water infrastructure planning and economic development in unincorporated Solano County. Outreach and research conducted to develop the One Water Framework evaluates water supply, wastewater, drainage, flood protection, and ecosystem enhancements to maximize benefits, improve water resource sustainability, and enhance resilience to climate change.
The presentation will highlight progress to develop the One Water Framework which was initiated in 2023 and included stakeholder engagement through 2025 and development of the draft One Water Framework (Attachment A). Staff will take comments on the draft One Water Framework until January 22, 2026. Comments received will be considered for a Final One Water Framework to be completed by spring 2026. The draft One Water Framework identifies proposed opportunities, describes constraints (e.g. operation and maintenance funding and concerns) and provides findings and recommendations for moving forward.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The development of the One Water Framework has obligated $300,000 of ARPA funds. Components from the One Water Framework and other funded efforts such as the SALC grant and Bayshore Resiliency Project can contribute toward components for the Utilities Master Plan, but additional funding to fully develop a Utilities Master Plan would be needed.
There is no cost to receive the presentation. The costs associated with preparing the agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the Department’s FY2025/26 Working Budget.
DISCUSSION:
The One Water Framework was developed by the Solano County Department of Resource Management with consultant support from Kennedy/Jenks Consultants, Inc. and guided by a stakeholder-driven process outlined in the Community and Engagement Action Plan (Attachment B). Input was gathered over multiple years from 2023 through 2025 from a steering committee comprised of staff representatives from cities, water agencies, special districts, agricultural representatives, and community organizations. The goal is for the One Water Framework to serve as the strategic foundation for a future Utilities Master Plan for unincorporated Solano County - identified as a key infrastructure and economic development priority (Priority E3) during the Board of Supervisors' April 2023 Priority Setting Session.
The Framework is organized into five sections:
n Section 1: Introduction - Describes land and water uses across Solano County.
n Section 2: Regional Challenges - Identifies the most pressing water-related issues.
n Section 3: Goals and Strategies - Outlines five overarching goals to address challenges.
n Section 4: Implementation Considerations - Recommends next steps for governance, data, funding, and engagement.
n Section 5: Conceptual Projects - Presents three multi-benefit example projects demonstrating integrated solutions.
The One Water Framework synthesizes current water resources data and introduces a countywide, integrated planning approach to overcome the limitations of historically siloed water system management. It recognizes that issues such as groundwater decline, drought impacts, aging infrastructure, and flood risk are interconnected, yet often addressed in isolation. By coordinating water planning across sectors - including drinking water, stormwater, wastewater, agricultural water, and groundwater - the One Water Framework aims to improve sustainability, equity in service delivery, and climate resilience. The included conceptual projects illustrate how these strategies can be implemented to meet high-priority regional needs.
Key Challenges, Opportunities, and Strategic Goals
The One Water Framework identifies critical water-related challenges and regional opportunities across three focus areas, summarized below:
1. Water Supply and Conveyance
2. Wastewater Management
3. Drainage and Flood Protection
Water Supply and Conveyance
Challenges include localized groundwater contamination (e.g., arsenic, nitrate), declining water levels in the Solano Subbasin, gaps in groundwater data, and aging infrastructure among small water systems.
Opportunities include developing regional groundwater recharge programs, promoting small system consolidation, improving data sharing, and aligning agricultural water use with land use and economic development policies.
Wastewater Management
Challenges involve aging septic systems, limited wastewater service areas, inadequate infrastructure to support ag-industrial growth, and limited capacity for recycled water reuse.
Opportunities include expanding regional wastewater services, developing recycled water projects, improving inter-district coordination, and integrating wastewater and agricultural water management for multi-benefit outcomes.
Drainage and Flood Protection
Challenges include unclear maintenance responsibilities, outdated flood studies, and limited flood protection in rural areas.
Opportunities include updating flood management plans, exploring nature-based and multi-benefit solutions, and strengthening interagency collaboration.
Despite these complex challenges, the One Water Framework concludes that a coordinated, countywide approach to water resource planning can improve resilience, reduce redundancy, and support sustainable economic development through multi-benefit projects that enhance water supply reliability, groundwater recharge, flood protection, and ecosystem health. To illustrate this, the One Water Framework includes three conceptual projects demonstrating how integrated solutions can address multiple priorities at once.
One Water Framework Goals and Strategic Direction
With guidance from the Steering Committee, the One Water Framework developed five overarching goals, each supported by a set of complementary strategies designed to address Solano County’s most critical water-related priorities. These goals provide a roadmap to guide the development of a Water Utility Master Plan.
Goal 1: Support Implementation of the Solano County General Plan in relation to Integrated Water Resources Planning
Goal 2: Develop Governance Structures to support Regional Water Resources Management through Interagency Collaboration and Partnership
Goal 3: Enhance Local Sustainable Water Supply and its Reliability and Climate Change Resiliency
Goal 4: Improve Localized Drainage, Flood Protection, and Wastewater Management
Goal 5: Implement Multi-Benefit Strategies, Projects, and Programs through the Management and Integration of Water Resources
Recommended Next Steps
To transition from planning to implementation, the One Water Framework recommends focused actions in the following areas, some of which are already in use:
n Governance & Partnerships: Define agency roles and coordination mechanisms.
n Data & Infrastructure Assessment: Close data gaps, conduct system inventories, and develop a centralized data platform.
n Policy & Funding Alignment: Align ordinances and capital planning with One Water Framework principles; pursue State and federal funding opportunities.
n Public Engagement: Continue community involvement through education and outreach.
n Planning Integration: Use One Water Framework findings to guide development of the Utilities Master Plan and inform related initiatives like the SALC Grant and the Solano Bayshore Resiliency Project.
Comments will be accepted on the Draft One Water Framework through January 22, 2026. Based on comments received, a Final One Water Framework will be developed by Spring 2026 which can serve as a strategic guide for infrastructure planning and initiatives to support the development of a Utilities Master Plan and provide insights for the concurrent SALC Grant initiatives.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose not to receive the presentation; however, this is not recommended as it gives the Board the opportunity to receive a progress update on the ARPA-funded infrastructure project and provide direction to staff.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Department of Resource Management coordinated the County Administrator’s Office, Agricultural Department, Solano County Water Agency, Solano Irrigation District, Cities of Benica, Dixon, Fairfield, Suisun City, Vacaville, Rio Vista, and Vallejo, Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District, Vallejo Flood and Wastewater District, Resource Conservation Districts, Reclamation Districts, Farm Bureau, Solano Land Trust, and Agricultural and water district owners among other interested parties to develop the Framework.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION