1. Water Conservation in the San Joaquin Valley Mary Lou Cotton, C.C.P.
Senior Water Resources Manager
Kennedy/Jenks Consultants

2. Water Conservation in the San Joaquin Valley
Historical water supply sources and water management strategies
Groundwater
Local surface water
Conjunctive use (since late 1800s)
Central Valley Project (1930s)
State Water Project (1970s)
Water Banking
Water Transfers

4. Water Conservation in the San Joaquin Valley
Historical water supply sources and water management strategies (cont’d.)
Supplies were reliable and inexpensive
Strategies, especially conjunctive use, worked well (had good access to surface water)
Little regulatory oversight
Changes began with drought due to environmental impacts to in-stream flows, especially in Delta

5. Water Conservation in the San Joaquin Valley
Past conservation efforts
Urban: fairly minimal
Public outreach (including kit distribution)
School education
Some rebate programs (mainly ULFTs)
Mainly drought response based
Agriculture: better, due to farm input costs
On-farm irrigation efficiency surveys
Satellite/laser land leveling, water distribution systems
Drip irrigation

6. Water Conservation in the San Joaquin Valley
Impact of legislation: driver of change
UWMP Act and Urban MOU
AWMP Act and Ag MOU (AB 3616)
AB 2572 (Urban metering)
AB 1420 (Urban requirements)
SB (Urban universal retrofit)
SBX7-7 (Ag and Urban requirements)

7. Water Conservation in the San Joaquin Valley
UWMP Act: statute, California Water Code
Many components required, but not “enforced” until recently
Urban MOU: since 1991, completely voluntary
14 Best Management Practices (BMPs)
SJV agencies slow to sign, area not well-represented
Low participation levels due to lack of local cost-effectiveness
Many SJV signatories not in compliance

8. Water Conservation in the San Joaquin Valley
AWMP Act and Ag MOU (AB 3616): statute, California Water Code
Required acreage threshold: 2 million acres of irrigated farmland as signatories to MOU, voluntary
Several Efficient Water Management Practices (EWMPs), three lists
SJV ag water districts are major participants

9. Water Conservation in the San Joaquin Valley
AB 1420: requires detailed demonstration of water conservation measures in UWMPs
AB 2572: Urban metering is mandatory, all UWMP agencies must be fully metered (and reading meters) by 2025
SB 407: Urban universal retrofit, all real estate transactions require verification of low water use plumbing fixtures by 2014

10. Water Conservation in the San Joaquin Valley
SBX7-7: significant requirements for all water suppliers
20% mandatory reduction in statewide urban water use by 2020
All Ag suppliers irrigating more than 25,000 acres must complete Ag Water Management Plan and carry out EWMPs
Penalties: no access to state funding; potential litigation and waste/unreasonable use filings with SWRCB

11. Water Conservation in the San Joaquin Valley
Future water supply sources and strategies (“What’s changing?”)
More focus on conjunctive use and banking, less on surface diversions
Increased interest in recycled water from both sectors: many parts of SJV have no waste outlet to ocean, so represents a major new supply source for irrigation
Recognition of conservation as part of water supply portfolio, rather than public outreach
Conservation not just for droughts any more

12. Water Conservation in the San Joaquin Valley
Future water supply sources and strategies (“What’s changing?”) (cont’d.)
Increased interest in integrated regional water management planning: new state directive; means to access funding
Conservation programs are a significant component
All regions need to use water more efficiently in all sectors

13. Water Conservation in the San Joaquin Valley
Future water conservation efforts, Urban:
Meters: major capital investments
Pricing structures that bill by volume of use (no more flat rates or declining block rates)
System water loss control: required AWWA protocol
Focus on landscape sector due to high SJV evapotranspiration rates, “low-hanging fruit”

14. Water Conservation in the San Joaquin Valley
Future water conservation efforts, Ag:
Measurement with accuracy (major capital investments if meters are used)
Pricing structures based on quantity of water delivered
Recycled water as appropriate
Incentive pricing for various practices, including conjunctive use
Many other water supplier and on-farm measures
However, recent survey shows that water decisions are based on crop rotation and cost

15. Water Conservation in the San Joaquin Valley
Conclusion: major changes in SJV over the next years
Public attitudes changing (especially about meters)
Outreach to disadvantaged communities
Water agencies want to do a good job, but costs remain a concern for this part of California due to economics

16. Water Conservation in the San Joaquin Valley
Questions/Discussion