STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD
RESOLUTION NO. 97-018

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING REGARDING
EFFICIENT WATER MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
BY AGRICULTURAL WATER SUPPLIERS
IN CALIFORNIA

WHEREAS:

1. Pursuant to AB 3616, Agricultural Water Suppliers Efficient Water Management Practices Act of 1990, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) has, with the assistance of the AB 3616 Advisory Committee and others, developed a Memorandum of Understanding Regarding Efficient Water Management Practices by Agricultural Water Suppliers in California (MOU) between the agricultural and environmental communities and other interested parties.

2. The MOU establishes the Agricultural Water Management Council (Council) and provides guidance for a reporting process and a mechanism by which the signatories will evaluate and endorse Water Management Plans. The MOU provides a mechanism for planning and implementing cost-effective Efficient Water Management Practices (EWMP), and sets forth lists of EWMPs in three categories. Under the MOU, agricultural water suppliers will advance efficient water management through voluntarily planning, implementing, and evaluating certain irrigation practices.

3. The Council's membership will consist of water suppliers, environmental interest groups, and other interested parties. The water suppliers and the environmental interest groups will have voting rights regarding decisions by the Council.

4. Each signatory of the MOU will agree, by signing, to abide by and support each Water Management Plan endorsed by the Council and to express such support in regulatory or judicial proceedings in which the signatory participates.

5. The Council will make its reports available to the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, DWR, and the governing bodies of all Council members.

6. The MOU enables significant progress to be made voluntarily in the area of agricultural water management, conservation, and efficient use of water by agriculture. MOU is not available electronically.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

1. That the SWRCB endorses the efforts of DWR in developing the MOU and encourages agricultural water suppliers, environmental organizations, and other interested parties to consider signing it.

2. That, together with any other evidence or information it receives in connection with actions it is considering taking, the SWRCB will consider and take into account Water Management Plans prepared under the MOU and endorsed by the Council when such plans are timely brought to the attention of the SWRCB. In addition to other measures, the SWRCB may require water management practices set forth in a Water Management Plan.

CERTIFICATION

The undersigned, Administrative Assistant to the Board, does hereby certify that the foregoing is a full and correct copy of an order duly and regularly adopted at a meeting of the State Water Resources Control Board held on February 20, 1997.

/s/Maureen Marche

Maureen Marche
Administrative Assistant to the Board