December 6, 2022
Jennifer Lucchesi
Executive Officer
California State Lands Commission
100 Howe Avenue, Suite 100 South
Sacramento, CA 95825
Jennifer.Lucchesi@slc.ca.gov
Dear Ms. Lucchesi:
As the State Assemblywoman representing Dana Point, I am pleased to convey and share with your Commission my office’s strong support for the Doheny Ocean Desalination Project (Project).
This technologically unique and environmentally sensitive ocean water desalination project will enhance water reliability for South Coast Water District (SCWD) and the region. SCWD has worked collaboratively for more than eight years with many stakeholders including local officials, other special districts, nonprofit organizations, tribal nations, and others in Orange County and regionally in furtherance of this Project. SCWD has also worked diligently at the State and Federal levels to secure more than $32 million in critical grant funding for the Project to date.
This Project will enable SCWD to further diversify its water supply portfolio and reduce its dependence on imported water from the severely stressed Colorado River and State Water Project, especially during times of historic drought conditions which will become more frequent as climate change evolves. The Project is particularly important to south Orange County, which is roughly 90% dependent on these imported water supplies.
In addition to the water supply benefits, we support this Project because of SCWD’s close collaboration with California State Parks relative to the location of project wells, accommodations to address impacts to State campgrounds during construction, and the potential mutual benefits, post-construction, to enhance the experience for those visiting the area. Further, the Project would be the first in the State to be fully compliant with the California Ocean Plan’s preferred intake and discharge technologies for ocean desalination facilities, utilizing subsurface intakes and comingling brine discharge with an existing wastewater outfall to avoid, or minimize, marine life impacts. For these reasons, we support the Project as it is consistent with public trust needs while safeguarding our natural resources, and it is in the best interests of the State.
The effects of the ongoing drought on the region and our local communities, combined with the region’s overwhelming reliance on imported water, has prompted a need for innovation to achieve a diverse and reliable portfolio of water projects and management strategies. The Project has the potential to be a local and regional asset, reducing south Orange County’s reliance on imported water and ensuring supply reliability in the event of a natural disaster or other major emergency. As such, it is a pleasure to convey my office’s strong support of the California State Lands Commission’s consideration and approval of the Doheny Ocean Desalination Project. Thank you for your consideration and for your ongoing commitment to and efforts on behalf of our residents, businesses, and the region’s resources.
Sincerely,
Laurie Davies
Assemblymember, District 74