That the City Council receive and file the report and direct staff to send the response letter to the Orange County Grand Jury.

The wet winter of 2022-23 left Orange County dams and reservoirs at nearly full capacity, and the Sierra snow pack is at its deepest level in many years.  In spite of this, the Western Rockies, the Colorado River, and lakes Powell and Mead have, thus far, seen limited benefits from the wet winter. These sources provide Southern Californians with a significant amount of its potable water supply, with approximately one half of all water used in Southern California being imported from the Colorado River and the California Aqueduct. These supplies are often constrained and have become less reliable. The 2022-2023 Orange County Grand Jury investigated a variety of factors leading up to Orange County's "Water Crisis", and prepared the attached report with recommendations and findings.

The 2022-2023 Orange County Grand Jury Report, Historic Rain, Yet Drought Remains, identifies the need to develop a transformational drought-resistant water resource outside the status quo of recycling, conservation, capturing flood water runoff, and finding new areas for storage.  The Orange County Grand Jury recommends the creation of a new agency, a "Climate Resiliency District" to solve the County's water crisis through desalination of ocean water, and lessen the County's dependence on State and regional water projects.  The proposed Climate Resiliency District would be dedicated to developing and managing Orange County's desalination facilities.  The report elaborates on the dependency of outside water supplies such as the California Water Project and the Colorado River Basin that provide more than 50% of Orange County's local water supply.  The Orange County Water District (OCWD) manages the groundwater basin serving North and Central Orange County.  Through water transfer and water banking agreements, groundwater recharge, and stormwater capture, OCWD's member agencies rely on import water for approximately 23% of their needs.  South Orange County lacks a large aquifer and is reliant on imported water for 90% of its needs. 

The City of La Habra is not an OCWD member agency, and does not have access to the Orange County Groundwater Basin. The City's primary sources of water supply are from California Domestic Water Company (CDWC), and the La Habra Groundwater Basin. While La Habra has the ability to import water from the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC), the use of imported water represents less than 5% of the City's annual water production, and is typically accessed in emergency situations or during planned system maintenance. The City's dependence on imported water is negligible and its 2020 Urban Water Management Plan, which was prepared with the assistance of MWDOC and CDWC, indicates that the City's supplies are suitable to meet forecasted current and future demands through 2045.  In the event of a supply shortage, La Habra's Water Shortage Contingency Plan identifies stages of reduction and actions to be taken to offset the shortage.

Pursuant to California Penal Code 933.05(a) and (b), the City of La Habra, along with all other Orange County cities, are required to respond to the report's findings and recommendations that are specific to their respective agencies, by September 5, 2023. Furthermore, California Penal Code Section 933.05 specifies the manner in which such comment(s) are to be made as follows: (a) As to each Grand Jury finding, the responding person or entity shall indicate one of the following: (1) The respondent agrees with the finding. (2)The respondent disagrees wholly or partially with the finding, in which case the response shall specify the portion of the finding that is disputed and shall include an explanation of the reasons therefor. (b) As to each Grand Jury recommendation, the responding person or entity shall report one of the following actions: (1) The recommendation has been implemented, with a summary regarding the implemented action. (2) The recommendation has not yet been implemented, but will be implemented in the future, with a time frame for implementation. (3) The recommendation requires further analysis, with an explanation and the scope and parameters of an analysis or study, and a time frame for the matter to be prepared for discussion by the officer or head of the agency or department being investigated or reviewed, including the governing body of the public agency when applicable. This time frame shall not exceed six months from the date of publication of the Grand Jury report. (4) The recommendation will not be implemented because it is not warranted or is not reasonable, with an explanation therefor. 

Based on its investigation, the 2022-2023 Orange County Grand Jury Report arrived at twelve principle findings and four recommendations. The City's proposed response, emphasizing La Habra's unique water supply characteristics, is attached for Council consideration.