Report 2016-132 Recommendation 8 Responses

Report 2016-132: Department of Water Resources: The Unexpected Complexity of the California WaterFix Project Has Resulted in Significant Cost Increases and Delays (Release Date: October 2017)

Recommendation #8 To: Water Resources, Department of

In order to prepare for the potential approval of WaterFix and to ensure that the project is managed properly during the design and construction phase, DWR should develop an appropriate governance structure so that it is prepared to oversee the design and construction of WaterFix in the event it is ultimately approved.

1-Year Agency Response

To facilitate a partnership to develop the final design and construction of WaterFix, DWR established the Delta Conveyance Office (DCO) in April 2018 to oversee the program. Participating public water agencies subsequently formed a Joint Powers Authority, called the Delta Conveyance Design and Construction Authority (DCA), which met for the first time on May 17, 2018. The DCA hired an interim executive director and interim general counsel and met for a second time on July 19, 2018. The DCA meetings are publicly noticed and are available at www.dcdca.org.

To formalize this partnership and the governance structure for WaterFix, in May 2018, DWR entered into a Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement with the DCA. The JEPA provides that the DCA will design and construct WaterFix, according to DWR standards and specifications, with DWR oversight through the DCO.

More information on all the above is publicly available at our website, CaliforniaWaterFix.com.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

6-Month Agency Response

A governance structure has been developed with the public water agencies and will be implemented when the project moves into the implementation phase. Will Implement.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

60-Day Agency Response

A governance structure has been developed with the public water agencies and will be implemented when the project moves into the implementation phase.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

All Recommendations in 2016-132

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.