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Planning and Building Department, Economic Development Division, recommending the Board receive and file a presentation from the El Dorado County Water Agency on their report titled "Outdoor Recreation in the Upper American River Watershed: An Analysis of Economic Impact and Value."
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
El Dorado Water Agency (EDWA) was established in 1959 to provide integrated water resources planning management throughout El Dorado County to ensure the county has reliable, accessible, and affordable water now and into the future. This long-term water supply is necessary to support growing agribusiness and community needs, protect the environment, maintain healthy watersheds and forests, and minimize flooding and wildfire risks. EDWA’s role and responsibilities in countywide water resource development and management are designed to fulfill the County of El Dorado’s adopted General Plan. EDWA does not own any water facilities nor provide water supply directly to any water users.
Given the geography of the county, with its rich natural lands, watershed management is a vital component to ensuring reliable and resilient water supplies. Recognizing the importance to watershed management, EDWA convened the Upper American River Watershed (UARW) Group to establish a cohesive and shared vision for sustainably managing the UARW for long-term resiliency and community prosperity. Consistent with the UAWR Group's recognition of the need to properly value this working landscape, EDWA performed an initial economic valuation of the UARW. The UARW is approximately 1.5 million acres spanning from the divide of Sierra Nevada to Folsom Reservoir. This area encompasses diverse ecosystems ranging from expansive forests to freshwater bodies to fertile agricultural lands. These ecosystems are working landscapes that produce goods, like food and clean water, and services, such as recreation and flood protection. These ecosystem goods and services provide...
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