The Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency is continuing public outreach Tuesday over the Urban Water Management Plan, the five-year strategy the agency uses to manage local water need and supply.
The agency considers it a critical planning tool, which ensures that sufficient supply is to meet future needs and steps are in place should a critical water shortage occur, Kevin Strauss, a spokesman for SCV Water, said in a phone interview Friday.
“It’ll be a brief overview presentation for the Planning Commission — what we’ve done over the last few months,” he said.
The process started in September, with the agency expected to create a plan by the end of its fiscal year June 30.
“And so since that September, our Urban Water Management Plan team has gone around to different organizations and entities within the (SCV) to discuss the plan, where we are in the planning process as the plan continues to develop and then get input,” he said.
There are expected to be several more public meetings, he said, and each one is a great opportunity for members of the public to share any concerns or questions they might have, which are encouraged at the meetings.
“This is such an important topic in our valley, specific to water supplies and supply reliability, as we plan for the future, and having that input and then understanding of the topic and how the public can shape what this plan is,” he said. “There’s still time to be involved and to get priorities heard.”
He also said the agency would be happy to meet with residents and stakeholders if they’re unable to make the meetings listed on the agency’s website for the plan.
During the next workshop at 6 p.m. Feb. 18, there will be some topics that have been of high interest to the community of late, particularly in light of last year’s deadly fires and the likelihood of more extreme weather events in parts of the SCV.
“The topic for the public workshop on the 18th is, ‘What does SCV Water do in the event of an emergency? What are our capabilities with our system built for?’” he said, mentioning a few of the questions the agency would be addressing. “And getting input and feedback on what that system status is, so as we put it into the plan and we look towards the future of water in Santa Clarita, then we can take those things into account and design a system update as best that we can.”
The agency’s website has a schedule for the future meetings, as well as links so members of the public can participate online if they want: SCVWater.com/UWMP.
The meeting is scheduled to be held in person at the agency’s office at 26521 Summit Circle in Santa Clarita.
