Main San Gabriel Basin Management BASIN REPLENISHMENT by Anthony C. Zampiello San Gabriel Valley Water Forum Presented August 28, 2012 SAN GABRIEL VALLEY MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT THREE VALLEYS MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT SAN GABRIEL VALLEY MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT

 Water rights dispute in San Gabriel Valley led to adjudication in 1972  9-person Watermaster Board created to administer judgment  Actions under continuing Court jurisdiction Main San Gabriel Basin Watermaster

 6 Producer Representatives -- nominated annually from Water Rights Holders  3 Public Agency Representatives -- appointed annually from Municipal Water District Boards MSGB Watermaster Board

 Monitors and Manages Groundwater Extractions  Monitors and Manages Day to Day Water Quality of the Basin  Annually Determines the Operating Safe Yield for the Basin  Orders Replacement Water Purchases Main San Gabriel Basin Watermaster

 June 21, 2012, Judgment Amendments Approved o Extensive Outreach to All Parties o No Opposition o Over Twenty Amendments Were Included o Increased Adaptability To Supply Conditions o Included Administrative and Operational Fixes New Management Tool

 Export and Storage of Supplemental Water  Public Policy Education  Replacement Purchase Flexibility  Spread of Import Water Above 250 feet (AMSL)  Water Resource Development Assessment  Supplemental Assessments  Replacement Water-Purchase Planning in Conjunction with Responsible Agencies Key Judgment Amendments

 Underlies San Gabriel Valley o Approximately 167 square miles of surface area  Serves 80 Percent of Valley Water Needs o Approximately 1.4 million people  Annual Water Production: o Approximately 230, ,000 acre-feet Main San Gabriel Basin Physical Setting

Getting Water to the Consumer

SAN GABRIEL VALLEY MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT THREE VALLEYS MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT SAN GABRIEL VALLEY MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT

 Original Basin Management Structure o Emphasis Placed On Groundwater Supply Related Facilities (Wells, Reservoirs, Booster Plants) o Reliance Upon Groundwater Replenishment Deliveries  Interruptible Supply/Replenishment Rate (~$100/AF Interruptible Rate Reduction)  30,000 To 50,000 AFY Why is Groundwater So Important to the Valley?

 Main Basin Judgment – 1972 (40 Years Of Basin Management) o Physical Solution  “Conjunctive Use” Of Surface Water, Groundwater, Supplemental Water, And Groundwater Storage – Not A New Concept  Annual Operating Safe Yield Established Based On Current Hydrologic Conditions – Extractions Without Replacement Water Fee  Allows/Anticipates Over Production To Meet Demands – Replacement Water  Depends On Reliable Untreated Supplemental Water To Replace Over Production o Responsible Agencies Deliver Supplemental Water As Replacement Water  MWD Member Agencies (SWP/Colorado River) Upper District Three Valleys District  San Gabriel District (SWP 28,800 AFY) Main Basin Physical Solution

 MWD Untreated Imported Water Deliveries o Replenishment Water Rate  “Good Ol’ Days” Historically Available ; Replenishment Water On Interruptible Basis  MWD Cyclic Storage Account (140,000 AF To 100,000 AF Capacity)  Allowed MWD To Deliver/Store Significant Volume Of Surplus Water ; Interruptible, Cyclic Storage ± 50,000 AF  Replenishment Rate (Most Recently $442/AF V. $560/AF For Tier 1, Untreated, Full-Service Water)  Historically Never Subject To Readiness To Serve (RTS) Charge (Only FIRM Deliveries Not Interruptible Deliveries)  Replenishment Rate Suspended In May 2007 Managing Replacement Deliveries

 Each Year Board Considers Several Factors: o Current and projected groundwater elevation at the Key Well. o Historical and current hydrologic conditions within the Basin o Rainfall o Storage of local runoff in surface reservoirs o Conservation of local runoff o Availability of supplemental imported water o Quantity of water in Cyclic Storage o Carry-over rights o Other Establishing The Operating Safe Yield

 Basin Replenish Reliability Opportunities o Under Physical Solution  Continue To Work With MWD For Firm/Reliable Untreated Water Supply (Annual Contract?)  Develop A Supplemental Recycled Water Program  Promote Conservation  Fully Develop Capacity to Capture Large Storm Events o Limited Options Without Physical Solution  Limit Production To Basin Natural Safe Yield  Construct New Treated Water Connections To MWD And Develop Increased Allocation Main San Gabriel Basin Management

 Imported Supply Reliability  Sediment Management  Critical Habitat Designations  Flood Management  Meeting Future Demands Local Supply Challenges

 So California Coastal Plain is a dry region o Some areas rely heavily on imported water  SGV groundwater can sustain us through several years of drought  Improvements needed to enhance water supply reliability o Maximize groundwater storage opportunities o Additional infrastructure to maintain groundwater levels, increase operational flexibility The Simple Truth

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