Our mission is to manage and conserve water and other resources for the citizens of Butte County. We accomplish our mission by:

• Protecting Groundwater through some of the strongest policies and programs in California.
• Monitoring and Evaluating Groundwater Conditions to track trends in groundwater elevation, water quality and subsidence.
• Supporting Sustainable Water Supplies for the long term health of our communities, economy and environment.
• Advocating for the preservation of Area of Origin statutory protections and other established surface water rights.
• Working Cooperatively throughout the region because we share common watershed and groundwater basins.
• Advancing Education strengthens our ability to sustain our water resources through a well-informed public.

Butte County Water Policy Workshop

December 17, 2019
2:15 PM
Board of Supervisor Chambers
25 County Center Drive, Oroville

On December 17, 2019, the Butte County Board of Supervisors will hold a Water Policy Workshop. The workshop will include a presentation of adopted Butte County water resource policies as well as an overview of water supply challenges.  Over the past two decades, Butte County has enacted numerous water resource policies and programs.  Starting in 1996, through the voter approved Butte County Code, Chapter 33, Groundwater Conservation, a significant policy foundation has been established.  In 2010, the Board of Supervisors adopted the Butte County General Plan 2030, which includes an optional Water Resource Element that specifies the County's water resource policies, programs and intended future actions.  Since the adoption of the General Plan 2030, water resource issues in the County have been affected by periods of severe drought, ongoing climate change, implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act and water supply impacts from disasters such as the Camp Fire. With these ongoing and emerging issues, it is timely for the Board and community to revisit Butte County Water Policies with an opportunity for Board discussion and/or action, public comment, and Board direction to staff.  The Water Policy Workshop is timed for 2:15 p.m. on December 17, 2019, and may be continued to a future date if the Board determines additional time is needed for discussion, public comment, or Board direction.

The agenda for the workshop is listed below.

1) Introduction
2) Policy Foundation
3) County Activities
4) Local Water Supply Challenges
5) Public Comment
6) Policy Discussion and Direction to Staff

Workshop materials are as follows:

Workshop Agenda Transmittal
General Plan Water Element Goals
General Plan Water Element
Chapter 33
Water Commission Bylaws
Water Challenges
Presentation