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Accept the Solano County Drought Resilience Plan, developed pursuant to Senate Bill 552
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Published Notice Required? Yes ___ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ___ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Resource Management recommends that the Board of Supervisors accept the Solano County Drought Resilience Plan, developed pursuant to Senate Bill 552.
SUMMARY:
Senate Bill (SB) 552 (Hertzberg) (2021) requires counties to establish a standing Drought and Water Shortage Task Force and develop a Drought Resilience Plan addressing drought preparedness for domestic wells and state small water systems that are vulnerable to water shortages. The legislation is intended to improve coordination, identify vulnerable communities and establish strategies to ensure continued access to safe drinking water during drought conditions.
The Solano County Drought Resilience Plan (Plan) fulfills these statutory requirements by evaluating drought vulnerabilities, identifying short-term response actions and long-term mitigation strategies and establishing a framework for coordination among County departments, local agencies and State partners. The Plan was developed with technical assistance provided through the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) Drought Resilience Planning Assistance Program and guidance from the Solano County Drought Task Force. Acceptance of the Plan acknowledges completion of the County's SB 552 planning requirements while allowing future implementation actions requiring Board direction or funding to return to the Board for consideration.
Implementation of the Plan is intended to improve the County's ability to identify vulnerable domestic well users, coordinate emergency response, pursue grant funding, and strengthen long-term drought resilience for rural communities.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The California DWR provided funding to support development of the Plan through contracts with Stantec Consulting Services. Costs associated with development of the Plan were absorbed by past fiscal year Working Budgets. Costs associated with development of this agenda item are absorbed by the Department’s FY2026/27 Working Budget.
Implementation of the Plan does not authorize new capital projects or commit the County to future funding obligations. Staff will return to the Board with recommendations, funding opportunities and implementation strategies for priority actions requiring future Board direction and/or funding.
DISCUSSION:
The County's response to Senate Bill 552 has focused on improving drought preparedness for domestic wells and state small water systems through coordinated planning, regional collaboration and development of the Solano County Drought Resilience Plan. The following sections summarize the Drought Task Force, key findings of the Plan and the priority actions that will guide future implementation.
Drought Task Force
SB 552 requires counties to establish a standing Drought Task Force to coordinate drought preparedness and response. The Solano County Drought Task Force (Task Force) was established in August 2022 through expansion of a County Office of Emergency Services drought coordination group formed in 2021 to support development and implementation of the Drought Resilience Plan. The Task Force complements, but does not replace, the responsibilities of local water suppliers and groundwater sustainability agencies.
The Task Force is facilitated by the Department of Resource Management Environmental Health Division and includes representatives from County departments, local governments, special districts, non-city water suppliers and State agencies. Participating entities include the County Administrator's Office, Department of Agriculture, Office of Emergency Services, Solano County Water Agency, Solano Irrigation District, Resource Conservation Districts and State partners.
The Task Force provides a forum for information sharing, coordination and planning to address drought conditions and water shortages, with a focus on state small water systems and domestic wells. The Task Force will continue to support implementation of the Plan, coordinate regional response efforts and recommend updates as conditions, funding opportunities and regulatory requirements evolve.
Next Steps - Drought Task Force
The Task Force will continue to meet regularly to monitor drought conditions, share data and coordinate regional response efforts. Future work includes refining response protocols, strengthening coordination with State agencies and local water providers, supporting implementation of priority actions identified in the Plan and periodically reviewing and updating the Plan as needed.
Drought Resilience Plan
The Plan was developed from 2022 through 2025 following establishment of the Solano County Drought Task Force, with support from the California Department of Water Resources Drought Resilience Planning Assistance Program. The Plan reflects input from the Task Force and regional stakeholders and outlines how the County and its partners will coordinate during water shortage events.
Key Findings
The Drought Resilience Plan identifies several key findings regarding drought vulnerability and preparedness within the County:
• Vulnerability of Domestic Wells and State Small Water Systems - Domestic wells and state small water systems are most at risk of water shortages during extended drought conditions due to limited supply redundancy and infrastructure.
• Groundwater Reliance - Many rural areas depend on groundwater sources that are susceptible to declining levels during prolonged dry periods.
• Short-term Response Capacity - Additional planning and resources are needed to support emergency water supply and assistance programs for affected communities.
• Data Gaps and Monitoring - Improved data collection and tracking are needed to better identify, respond to and anticipate water shortages.
• Interagency Coordination - Timely communication and coordination among County departments, water providers and State agencies is essential to respond to drought conditions.
• Long-term Water Supply Reliability - Infrastructure improvements, supply diversification and program development are necessary to reduce long-term drought vulnerability.
The most vulnerable areas identified in the Plan are rural and unincorporated parts of the County, particularly those reliant on domestic wells and state small water systems, where limited infrastructure, groundwater dependence and reduced system redundancy increase the risk of water shortages during prolonged drought conditions.
The Plan includes a drought and water shortage risk assessment using local and State data, including the Department of Water Resources Water Shortage Vulnerability Explorer tool. The results informed development of response actions and long-term mitigation strategies to reduce water shortage vulnerability.
The Plan is organized into six chapters and includes the following core elements:
• Risk and Vulnerability Assessment - Identifies areas and populations most at risk of water shortages, including state small water systems, domestic well users and disadvantaged communities.
• Water Supply Reliability Strategies - Identifies opportunities to improve long-term water supply reliability through domestic well mitigation, evaluation of water system consolidation, regional coordination and supporting existing groundwater sustainability and water management efforts.
• Response Actions - Establishes short- and long-term actions to reduce drought impacts and water shortage vulnerabilities, including emergency response measures and long-term system improvements.
• Public Outreach and Equity - Provides strategies to improve communication, deliver assistance and ensure equitable access to safe drinking water.
• Implementation and Monitoring - Defines roles, timelines and performance measures to track progress and update the Plan over time.
Priority Actions
The Plan identifies short- and long-term priority actions to improve drought preparedness and resilience. Implementation will be prioritized based on available funding, partnerships and Board direction.
• Short-term Actions focus on immediate drought response, such as development of emergency water supply and domestic well assistance programs, improved coordination with State and local partners and enhanced monitoring of drought conditions.
• Long-term Actions include improving water supply reliability and resilience through infrastructure investments, supply diversification and continued regional coordination.
Next Steps - Drought Resilience Plan
Staff will initiate implementation of priority actions identified in the Plan, focusing on short-term response measures for vulnerable water systems and domestic wells. Most implementation actions involve coordination, monitoring and pursuit of grant funding. Projects requiring County funding or policy direction will return to the Board for future consideration. The County will maintain and periodically update the Plan through the Task Force to reflect changing conditions, new data and funding opportunities.
Staff will coordinate with the Task Force to monitor progress, pursue grant opportunities, report on implementation and return to the Board, as appropriate, with funding strategies, implementation recommendations, and any policy actions requiring Board consideration.
Relationship to Other County Planning Efforts
The Drought Resilience Plan complements other County water planning efforts, including the One Water Framework. While SB 552 focuses specifically on domestic wells and state small water systems, implementation of the Plan will be coordinated with broader regional planning initiatives where appropriate. The Plan is intended to complement, rather than replace, existing groundwater sustainability, emergency management, and regional water planning efforts.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board of Supervisors may choose to provide alternative direction regarding implementation priorities or request modifications to the proposed Plan. This alternative is not recommended because the Plan fulfills SB 552 planning requirements and provides the County’s framework for drought preparedness required by SB 552.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
To develop the Plan, the Department coordinated with the California Department of Water Resources, the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), the County Administrator's Office, County Counsel, the Department of Agriculture, other local governments, Resource Conservation Districts, the Solano County Sheriff's Office/Office of Emergency Services, the Solano County Water Agency, the Solano Irrigation District, the State Water Resources Control Board, and other local water agencies.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION