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HomeMy WebLinkAboutConveyance - Northern California Water Association's Quartely Publication dr `�F G Ymn W " ..,< . N A Quarterly Publication from the Northern California Water Association – s3�?'` 1 As we are now seeing throughout the state,2013 was y ` t the driestyear on record for California. TheE = a� Qf3� 1 : convergence of low carryover storage in Northern blade' , , i California reservoirs,coupled with minimal inflow r into these reservoirs so far this year,led the Governor '. P on January 17 to proclaim a drought in California. Drought Planning As this summary will show,water resources Bryce Lundberg Fritz Durst, Chair Page 3-1.�r managers in the Sacramento Valley are very NCWA Chair NCWA Water Management 23-39 concerned with the ability to serve water for cities Task Force and rural communities,farms,birds,fish and recreation. In the Sacramento Valley,water suppliers are facing significantly reduced surface water allocations,including certain parts of the Valley that will receive no surface water.This includes residential suppliers in the Sacramento metropolitan area Capitol View that depend upon water from Folsom Lake.We also know that groundwater pumping in the Valley will be intense this year(see page 23).Now,more than ever,water suppliers in the Sacramento Valley will be relying Page 14:- 18 upon water management projects and programs that have been implemented in anticipation of water short years. Unfortunately,dry years seem to be challenging California's water supplies on a more frequent basis.Almost a year ago,the water leaders in the Sacramento Valley convened in Richvale to evaluate the current challenges Inside the facing our water supplies and to plan for the dry year we are currently experiencing. The summary of this Beltway session is shown on page 30.We laud the efforts throughout the Valley over the past several decades to prepare Page 19+:-22 for dry years,including the many water management investments that are helping us as we face another dry year. With the dry year in front of us,now is the time for all of us in the Sacramento Valley to roll up our sleeves and work together—district to district,neighbor to neighbor,urban and rural--to manage our precious water supplies, both surface and groundwater,in a way that will help us through this dry cycle.NCWA is providing policy Water Notes, < makers and the general public with information on how the dry year is affecting the Sacramento Valley.You can Page 40-.�i1 also be sure that NCWA is committed to helping local agencies meet the water supply needs in the Sacramento ) Valley for cities and rural communities,farms,birds,fish and recreation;while recognizing there are other areas of the state also suffering from shortages.Our first order of business is to get through this dry spell,but we also will be highlighting the challenges in our water system so that we can change the public discourse on the need a for improved long-term solutions for the State of California. This special drought publication will describe the hydrology challenges facing California and the Sacramento Valley,many of the efforts that are underway to help manage through a dry year and how water resources i managers in the Sacramento Valley are working on a collaborative,regional effort to address the dry conditions i in the Sacramento Valley and throughout the state. g Please call on us if we can help in any way.More details are available in the drought planning assessment section of the NCWA website at: http://www.norcalwater.org/efficient-water-mana=ement/drought-assessment- ;j plannine/. Northern California Water Association 455 Capitol Mall, Suite 335 916/442-8333 ph www.norcalwater.org Sacramento, CA 95814 916/442-4035 fax For dry year information, join us on the Sacramento Valley social media pages! NCWA, together with California Rice Commission,has launched a initiative to connect with legis- lators, decision makers, and the general public about the unique place that is the Sacramento Val- ley and the vital role that water plays here. Please connect with these pages, and share them with your friends: Cminpve. Pq�.gJ facebook millina ,n;,.4Like us on Facebook for ,. ..in ,. i -,„ conversations about Sacramento .� ' in in water Valley people, places, events- a a 4san Faeebaok , ' 1 ;" rbmmw.mm semmenro've ,waln egn upGriaati troder. and of course, water. sr -C, http://www.facebook.com/sacvalleyCA way " Sacramento Valley Water [ 5 ua 11e-1 aa.. c.a., nettia 1 Ira ao..nm vawexnu maMarts po'sae awed(lagan MnmYJ«nee... ^ a 34 Follow us on Twitter, and join as we interact with local people, lir businesses, and organizations in the Sacramento Valley https://twitter.com/sacvalleyca o �wmg - it FctcwntE „ Fa"'""°` Sacramento Valley " ears @$acValleyCA The SactanrdtVSey is Ging prodthat as pe®bk,to Seal ad 44' ). r „z« Follow Sacramento Valley < 1,0/31000,w ul-.Jre ••..:, a as 1 y.waw o a a it 0001W r cxxssa -_ u l 'i 't.r '3'1 °r ",i ) Tweet ti i lam' p k, Wapnk4 Trends�`- 0) gg1j1j1j 1 aauay.�2�nans b'#c ✓4 1 CT 6y'Isy{ANfe'ttwnlra yc& mr wa,w,wm *C19'JaTwr y. acavmm':us0mwmrcn 'n I "� e,--A--„ b J 0.. MY�2ia 4 t ' vIti •`} 5 � a �yr�$ t' InM f 5 1 . Y i HN a. At a.ra'� — `{. ; a .1 -—7- 2 Northam CablondaWaterA Drought Planning Below is the most recent information from the Department of Water Resources' California Data Exchange Center(CDEC) regarding reservoir levels throughout the state. For current information on water conditions,river flows and other statewide water conditions,go to http://cdec.water.ca.gov/index.html. § Y Reservoir Conditions •.,: • ws ,�,m.,. � i, r �h4-�tk Encing At Midnight-February 4,2014 CURRENT RESERVOIR CONDITIONS 6,52- LE GE ND 340 III 3533 4 opa06Y I= acetal 3000 3000 GJ n;+ 2330 2000 2000 20" ANN„ 10001 (E. 1000 1000 3111 01 Trinity Lake Shasta Reservoir Lake Oroville Folsom Lake 47%160% 3i-%153% 36%1 54% 17%1 32% ,44 Jaz { 2000 1000 1 1 0 t New Melones 3-sc '� � ,on 43%173% mows 1 1111111111,81,14.1 911 ExchequerReservoir 21% 44% u � ''1%11.41,1141.11":194 RIE!'111.-:17:5111iP "Jfav i 1 b' %'•h 1000 I N;1111/111111114 kiL/.111_,1111.f1211,r1412111‘17111274,41152 .1^1 San Luis Reservoir h Yr 30%137°6 1000 3m , ---- , 0� ®I a lawrd r 1.- Pine Flat Reservoir Millerton Lake 13% i 37% 37%1 574/0 323 P101 IONE ci I Pyramid Lake Castaic Lake 98% i 103110 84S'C 1 "101% Graph Updated 0205(201401:15 PM 3 Northam CalthentaWaterAsoctatioa Drought Planning ESTIMATED INFLOW TO SHASTA LAKE COMPARISON WITH HISTORICAL 6.0 MUX Estimated UnimpairedjnflOW Updated Janus 11 —MSS SO%ENUN•ttbtnd.allw 113112014 unit 00%ONu.dante Epblw ear 14142014 .•Ulnpaw.tNrw.d Mw at 2014 5 -I • Adua11077Unapfed Mow 12 maf �. 30 & oumuaW°Udmwaea blow 2•waH]1b.pm.dnaaM00 2A-Pier • S it 4 . : t 2t 9 4 / k d.Cbd May n Mn Md en mo day muaeo .len NtCoana t0040On's.CM.!FCEn£. 40.eftm4l so 01.01102,201 meMMad60.ftw le Stab. 10 10-Years with Lowest October 111ryea.Janlnri(Uninwaired Inflow(18224013} wuYau. a 4010411924 UnImptM.d bItw1240 •Actual 1920Ummpatd 010w(321 mM 5.0 •4440 11131 UNmpot°d Mw2347701 •Mw11933IJtI e4Mwt3AZ •Adrl irl Uamul•d Mos d.12 mon -- — - - - •0101a119491000pind blow 0102000 ---. •Anti Ian UrinpLnd 14lw2A3m.n r4.0 •Mum'loll udesseat kilos(105 man _. •MN.I'992 Unbpw.d Mw 252 man •Abed ZWWdmu.edM (43]mat 426 MAF----- �. 3 NNE 2 curse seesaws mow .Fs 20 MAR may 11 I 0.0 Nett:unamuled fromwe[giant w.(ma..Con KOa4 80 Estimated Inflow Bred an NOM River Forecast Center Mkneweknew31 1 1 1 —NOM RFC 50%Ewepmn Forecast Mw 11314014 --NOMRF090%Sondem*Coma*der 14314014 omm4210mMN..Urtryi.ed 14404/kr 2014 - _ _ .___._ • Actual 1477 Unimpaired him(2.123 30'_.. ... ._ {ICurllawVFull.20141MAAS Meow - - �r 2.0�Peery31M1appmatn.aNOZ _._._.. .�,._. ...a. • 8 0 3 $ 3 r i $ 1 ..CWWnx.nd11amm r6.43 en man ado Fon OMCalPafan W Co mm.0Yeugl tmrcttcl am.aimaam 144srp bmm.NOMCNKnn xwnla Raw Fa.u4CNaN W S+x'w.am P..0 de LM.S1ua19OC11 .naaddaw INPNOwE£w59ytl14 4 WordtaneCadondaWatarikascotetlos ?rao..iG � Ik 4 .7` r Drought Plannin Glenn-Colusa Irrigation District—By Thad Bettner, General Manager Based on current hydrologic conditions,GCID is preparing for a Shasta Critical Year under the terms of its Sacramento River Settlement Contract with the Bureau of Reclamation,which requires a 25%reduction when Shasta annual inflow is less than 3.2 million acre-feet.GCID's 825,000 acre-foot supply will be reduced to 618,750 acre-feet during the contract period from April through October in a Critical Year. a l d Yet ✓4�p ' GCID held two meetings for its landowners and water users " ',,,i, -49, '�t f4,1 ket1 on January 14 and 15 to provide available information and : ey explain how water allocations will be handled if supply is 'A;(-''', t �" reduced.The District's Critical Year Allocation Policy (Policy)has been established to maximize available water ; supply in a Critical Year and allocate it fairly.The Policy "' `, allocates water supply based upon deeded acres,regardless " ��-` Aw -a4, . of prior water use or cropping history.Water users are then , "charged back"against their allocated supply for crops "C"k�'.�� . -„' - - grown,based upon each crop's applied unit duty.The Policy "` .*." , also provides for the transfer of allocations between �; landowners and water users and the combining of , K allocations to maximize growers' ability to plant crops. In w�" - . + addition,the Policy facilitates the use of the District's >^� � � , conveyance system to transport water from private wells n '" - .« ?�, -' through commingling,or wheeling the well water to other lands. It is estimated that 20,000 acres will be fallowed this year to balance crop demand and water supply.At this time,GCID is concentrating on the need to move water around internally and will consider external transfers if the hydrology improves. The GCID Board of Directors took action at its January 23,2014,meeting to increase water rates by 18% if the 2014 water year is declared a Critical Year. Water operations and deliveries will also be modified in a Critical Year and some of the changes were explained at the meetings.The water operations department will set delivery targets and flows to maximize deliveries. The system will not be operated on demand,but will be operated on a combination of flows and rotations.District staff will be closely monitoring fields for spill and runoff and enforce the GCID Water Management and Conservation Policy. It is anticipated that all deliveries will terminate on October 31 and there will be no post-harvest irrigation supplies available for crops and decomposition. Reclamation District 108 By Lewis Bair, General Manager The Reclamation District 108 Board has held two special forums prior to the December and January Board meetings focused on existing conditions and preparing for the drought. We are currently sending out a Notice to Landowners and Water Users explaining the existing water outlook and suggesting that they should be preparing contingency plans for water shortage in 2014. The Board has directed staff to prepare a"Drought Plan"which will include allocation procedures for their consideration in February. In parallel the Board has directed staff to make sure that the environmental authorities are in place for water transfers to provide the maximum flexibility possible. We have also had conversations with the USBR and others regarding possible water saving measures related to system operations in general,but more specifically at Wilkins Slough which includes a minimum"Navigation Flow." 5 Nontuncahionuawasrawdaton Drought Planning Regional Water Authority—By John Woodling, Executive Director The Sacramento region is experiencing unprecedented conditions. Calendar year 2013 was one of the driest on record in more than a century of record keeping and 2014 is starting out just as dry. Folsom Reservoir began the winter at historically low levels and is currently at less than 20%capacity. Folsom and the adjoining Lower American River are a water supply source for many Sacramento region residents. The U.S.Bureau of Reclamation,which controls water releases from the reservoir,has reduced flows to 500 feet per second in order to preserve water stored in Folsom. This is concerning as the average flows on the River this time of year are about 1,700 cubic feet per second. The reduction in Folsom flows reduces water available in the Lower American River impacting both water supplies and fish and wildlife. To address these collective impacts,the Water Forum has been hosting working meetings with water agencies and environmental representatives to balance the needs of pre- serving storage in Folsom for water supply and protecting fish and wildlife,particularly Chinook salmon and Steelhead redds. In support of these discussions and the current conditions,the Regional Water Authority(RWA),a membership agency of 21 Sacramento area water entities,has passed a Board resolution urging members to reduce water production by 20%. As of mid- January 2014,the majority of RWA member agencies have issued statements calling for a 10%to 20%reduction. These re- ductions have been coupled with an increase in public outreach both at the regional level with RWA's"How low can you go?" campaign and at the local level as agencies provide customers with water conservation tips and more. Many agencies have increased the number of enforcement staff to ensure that landscape watering guidelines are followed. If current conditions persist,increased reductions and even mandatory no landscape watering may be in the future for some agencies. The proactive strategies implemented by the region's water agencies are in addition to the considerable water conservation and efficiency progress over the last decade. The region's gallons per capita per day(gpcd)use has decreased by 25%from 290 gpcd in 2001 to 218 gpcd in 2010 while accommodating 200,000 more residents. Many agencies implement indoor and out- door rebates,cash for grass and large landscape budget programs. At the utility level,agencies are currently utilizing conjunc- tive use opportunities internally and externally with other agencies to optimize the region's diverse water supplies. Increased participation in these types of programs has helped cushion the effects of the current conditions and will continue to provide relief to the region especially if the drought continues. For more detail about water agency drought status,visit BeWaterSmart.info. Statement from Sacramento City Council Member and Chair of Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency Angelique Ashby (January 17, 2014) Northern California communities have been planning , , t ", , m • and bracing for reduced water supplies for more than a *`- "z"�' "• a zz i decade. The Governor's drought declaration is abso- •� � � 1 lutely critical to raising the public's awareness about the 1.17,14�; ,,�, „ -, , t �' �"': � c � 1, '�'"` need to reduce consumption and helping to bring re- sources to our fanning and other communities facing more immediate economic hits from the drought. Sacramento has also adopted one of the state's most �� � ��� e k progressive water conservation programs for residents, n �" s � ' businesses,parks and others to significantly re- `� «� duce its water use over the next decade.While Sacra- e a mento has already met its 2020 target of reducing per ,� . a capita water consumption to 223 gallons per person per �- ` day,which is comparable or lower usage than most other comparable inland cities in California,we can and • must do more. _ a\ref , s „A v 6 Naawenthawasr � ���: Drought Planning -.'- ,. .1 y,. as ' ''*, "r . ._v. 5 a3 .,,„, As the most innovative state in the nation,we can find solutions to address the many water challenges before us. Sacramento is committed to working with the Governor,our regional partners and statewide water interests to be sure plans do not fall short of addressing the fundamental principle of long-term water supply. Tehama Colusa Canal Authority—By Jeff Sutton, General Manager Record setting dry conditions throughout the entirety of 2013,and that continue to persist well into 2014,have left reservoirs at abysmally low levels. For the seventeen water districts that make up the four county, 150,000 acre Tehama Colusa Canal Authority(TCCA)service area,all of whom are Central Valley Project water service contractors that rely on water stored in Shasta Reservoir,this circumstance has created significant concern. As of mid-January,Shasta is hovering at around 1.65 million acre feet. To put that in context,during years of normal rainfall, the reservoir seldom drops much below 3 million acre feet. In 1977,the oft cited dry year of record,the TCCA water users received cuts to their allocation down to 25%. However,since that time,several environmental regulatory mandates(CVPIA, ESA Biological Opinions,Bay Delta Water Quality Plans)have significantly impacted the utility and � t � operations of the CVP and SWP reservoirs. Not to mention,the state has grown from 16 million to 38 million residents during that time,without any r : significant investment in new surface storage. <a � gn g `c'r;t tt ` s Based on recent history and current modeling,TCCA " water users are expecting to receive an initial allocation -" ' . "'` L. of 0%in February. In 2010,the TCCA districts � � ,, ` received an initial allocation of 0%in February based on » -„ r 1 s,. , s `,( AA „gyp' reservoir levels at the end of January,but significant � , '4q „*� precipitation during February and March resulted in an -14 a ,,,,t1.„-„...y, ", -- increase to 100%by mid-April. That said,the dry conditions we are currentlyexperiencing show no signs r ,,. t . r.'" xa , � `-0, P g gn �s'','".1.;e �v of relenting,and as every week passes without �' } , significant precipitation,the odds for a historically Jas •, 0 d�� a f �, w ti .. challenging year in the arena of water management `± : t a ) ; a ,. �= increase. While we continue to hope and pray for the best,we are also doing everything we can to prepare for the worst. With conditions as dry as they have been,many of our typical drought tools are unavailable. Currently,we have focused our efforts on coordinating with USBR on Warren Act contracts for groundwater pumping into the canals,and the preparation of CEQA and NEPA documents to provide for water transfers from water rights holders in the Sacramento Valley. It is anticipated that potentially up to 80,000 acres of annual crops within the TCCA service area could be fallowed,thereby allowing all of the available water to be focused on the almost 70,000 acres of permanent crops(almonds,pistachios,prunes, walnuts,olives,grapes). As I see folks feverishly working to do everything in their power to minimize and mitigate the drought impacts that threaten our farms and communities, I am constantly reminded how fortunate we are that we have some of the most talented, committed,and creative water managers and farmers that I have ever encountered here in the Sacramento Valley. Mother Nature is certainly putting us all to the test this year. Western Canal Water District—By Ted Trimble, General Manager It's not 1977 anymore. This current drought is a game changer. In this unprecedented year,amidst ever increasing demand and environmental regulations,the availability of water for all beneficial uses has decreased. Western Canal Water District (WCWD)on the Feather River is preparing to operate with whatever Mother Nature gives or doesn't give us. We have a 7 Northern Cais&,.s>WabrAnoaatma Drought ht 9 Planning diversion agreement based on pre-1914 water rights which gives the State of California the right to decrease our deliveries of our natural flow by up to 50%. WCWD is communicating with landowners/growers and has added a"water supply and drought information"page on our website at www.westerncanal.com. Until we know for certain,we are preparing for a decrease in water supply(worse case scenario)and examining our ability to make water available to other parts in the state in excess of what we use locally(best case). A preliminary notice on water supply from the Department of Water Resources is announced February 15 with a final notice on April 10. At this time WCWD is in a holding pattern until we are more certain of the circumstances. Yolo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District— By Tim O'Halloran, General Manager In a normal year the District manages water from Clear Lake and Indian Valley Reservoir. When these water supplies are available,they help sustain the agricultural and the environment of Western Yolo County. This year,due to the extended drought that the State and the Region are experiencing,the District is preparing its water customers for the distinct possibility(probability) • of ZERO water deliveries. iy S G `s'C F'3o , First the numbers. Clear Lake water elevation is �,. gid • " 0.56 feet at the Rumsey Gauge. The District does w not receive any water supply until the lake elevation , a r�ai reaches 3.22 feet on the Rumsey Gauge. In other �� a4 � �. ak v i s s words,the District has ZERO water supply 1 s^tif aft"? _ t tilVetiatA ` r,. . oa available for irrigation release from Clear Lake. At 'tiO ' . � �� f ` e ' Indian Valley Reservoir,there is currently 13,3874. f+f's acre-feet of water in storage. Reservoir capacity when full is 300,000 acre-feet. This means that Indian Valley Reservoir is at 4.5%capacity—well below the point of irrigation releases—again, g � ` ZERO supply. It has been many years since my ate: z� last calculus class,but I am prettysure that ZERO+ • �° •-' l +=� c..2 1*E- -j, f'e' •i • "t , ZERO=ZERO,ZIP,NADA water supply for irrigation deliveries this coming season. - _' h Y A.Fy. +✓5 G� So what will our farmers do? Fortunately,due in part to District conjunctive use policies and programs,we know that the groundwater aquifer below our surface area is in generally good shape. So where possible and practical,the farmers will utilize this groundwater reservoir to meet crop demands. Other tools that will be used include land fallowing and crop shifting to lower value and lower water demand crops. The District will assist its water customers by facilitating the use of its canal system to convey(wheel)water from groundwater well locations to fields located downstream. None of this will be cheap and none of this will be easy. Costs will go up,and revenue will go down. Vital infrastructure modernization and environmental stewardship programs will be cut back. Hopefully,the lessons we all will undoubtedly learn in this critically dry year will allow us to develop better water management tools for the inevitable future dry years. Yuba County Water Agency—By Curt Aikens, General Manager Water supply and use. YCWA's Yuba River Development Project has helped to alleviate groundwater overdraft in the South Yuba Subbasin,improve water supply reliability for both surface water and groundwater users,and provide the ability to conjunctively management surface and groundwater supplies for local and statewide use through water transfers. As of 2010, all eight of our member unit irrigation districts receive surface water from the Yuba River. Agricultural areas outside of the 8 NorthenkCalilondaWatarAeodation �� ku Drought Planning member unit boundaries,and the municipal and industrial sectors,are dependent upon groundwater. Since previous droughts,agricultural demand for surface water has increased with the extension of surface water deliveries to member unit districts located south of the Yuba River. In addition,changes to instream flow requirements that on average have more than doubled since the Project went into operation have increased demands on surface water while urban growth has increased demand for groundwater. Water supply conditions. New Bullards Bar Reservoir is currently at its lowest level since 1984. Is this year more Inflow to the reservoir is less than during 1976-77, excluding a slight increase due to minor rainfall in challenging than 9977? early January. Because of the very dry conditions, inflows have already returned to historic low levels See David Guy's blog at after that minor rain event. Having passed the half- www.waterfoodandtheenvironment.com way point for historical snowpack development, opportunities to improve water conditions are dwindling as it will likely be at least early February and beyond before precipitation occurs given the current dry forecast. The probability of New Bullards Bar Reservoir levels dropping to minimum pool has grown with continued dry conditions. While it is difficult to estimate the probabilities of this occurring,it is likely greater than a 1 in 4 chance that New Bullards Bar Reservoir will reach the minimum pool storage this year. In early January,the Accord River Management Team,the group set up as part of the Yuba Accord with members from the resource agencies and key environmental organizations,was briefed on the potential for entering a Conference Year under the Yuba Accord and reaching minimum pool in the late summer or early fall. The Conference year designation for lower Yuba River required flows was designed for extreme drought conditions like those occurring this year.A Conference Year is intended to be a framework for managing very limited water supplies to develop a plan tailored to the specific conditions that are occurring for that water year. Water management actions. YCWA began implementing measures to address the dry conditions last winter when the 2013 water year turned dry,while still providing Accord instream flows. Under the Accord,flow requirements are indexed to available water supplies and are specifically designed to be responsive to hydrologic conditions. A primary goal of the Accord is to manage supplies for multiple dry years,protecting local groundwater supplies in case of surface water shortage. With the expectation of dry conditions,YCWA completed a moderate groundwater substitution water transfer in 2013 to provide surface water to others areas of state while ensuring that local groundwater supplies are in good condition for 2014. The most recent drought management actions were with regard to river diversions and instream flow requirements. In the third week of December,working with the member unit districts,YCWA reduced irrigation diversions so that they would not affect reservoir releases given the very dry conditions.Because the current Accord instream flows have a differential between the requirement at Smartsville,just below Englebright Dam,and the requirement at Marysville,and irrigation diversions occur between the two compliance points,diversions have been limited to the difference between the two requirements. These fall water delivery reductions have continued from December 18th to the present,and will remain in place through the winter unless significant storms occur. In December,YCWA sought relief from a scheduled increase in the instream flow requirement at the Smartsville Gage during January 1 through 15. On December 30,2013,FERC approved our requested deviation from the requirement. With dry conditions likely to continue through the remainder of the winter,YCWA will be working with the River Management Team to examine how best to protect fisheries on the lower Yuba River and to protect local fanning during this historical drought. Move Water quailty 9 Northers CablondaWaterA ��� DroughtPlannin Water Quality Weathers Historic Conditions Despite a "Below Normal"2012 water year and a"Dry"2013 water year,water quality in the Sacramento Valley remains remarkably consistent and of high quality. Comparing the surface water quality results from the Sacramento Valley Water Quality Coalition's 2013 monitoring year with the long term trend,there was little variation in the results. As measured by the frequency of exceedances of water quality objectives,the charts below show little variation between 2005-13 in either frequency or level of detected exceedances for dissolved oxygen. Dissolved Oxygen Time Series,Ulatis Creek at Brown Road •Dissolved Oxygen 25 25 20 ♦ s 20 15 ♦ 15 zal 10 ♦ ♦ 40 at e.♦♦ ♦..• ♦ 10 5 ` ♦s1 ii ♦ '••: 5 • 0 0 s N N D,in N Cil NN C ti 0 41 CO A 2 Sample Date Dissolved Oxygen Time Series,Willow Slough Bypass at Pole Line •Dissolved Oxygen 25 25 20 • 20 • • 15 • • e• 15 iii 0 0 O 0 0 0 S s o o 14: 4 ✓ N A r., 54 A N 51 N N % N H M1, I- O --1 61 N M .. Sample Date .. 10 Nml6emcmI6ondaWalarAmoaalba Y bRt �C...,W'1S N.' `c�ic�SS��G""y ➢ k AlN 5 Drought Planning Salinity,as expected,became slightly elevated(see below)in agriculturally dominated water bodies as above-average precipitation during the months of October,November,and December 2012 was followed by below-average precipitation during the months of January,February,and March 2013. Conductivity Time Series,Utatis Creek at Brown Road •Conductivity 2000 � zaoD 1500 ♦ 1500 E. 1000 # as ♦♦ •!`4-♦- "' 1000 p•S,♦ ♦Msph♦40►N r ♦ 500• 500 • • ♦ • it 0 • • 0 S - 4 r 4 s % M d sample Pate Conductivity Time Series,Willow Slough Bypass at Pole Line ♦Conductivity 2000 2000 1500 — 1500 E 3000 ♦ ♦+ ♦ ♦ ♦s 1000 : 1.0 ••i :fr.I sna +A+ t♦ ♦♦ •• • i Sad • I o a n Sample Date Overall,the Coalition experienced another year of few pesticide detections,with approximately 98.8%of pesticide results not detected in the irrigation water discharged into drainages. When detected,pesticides rarely exceeded applicable objectives. Precipitation since October 2013 (the beginning of the 2014 monitoring year)has been well below normal. If this trend continues throughout 2014,creeks and sloughs where the Sacramento Valley Water Quality Coalition(Coalition)monitors for discharge from non-rice irrigated agriculture may move more slowly or carry less water,and the number of field parameter exceedances(i.e.,dissolved oxygen,pH,salinity)could increase. Complicating the analysis of surface water quality results in 2014 will be the influence of groundwater pumped to supplement surface water not available for irrigation. Given the extent of irrigation and cultural management practices utilized in the Sacramento Valley,from the Delta to the Oregon border,though,2014 may reflect the results of the last decade. 11 NoedutnCaldorntaWatarAsasdaaen � r noughtDPlannin 49 t[ •Edi 1 ice. � G� On January 17,Governor Brown issued a Drought State of ^ ` Emergency for California. The drought proclamation included a call for Californians to voluntarily reduce water usage by 20 percent and for urban water suppliers and municipalities to / "implement their local water shortage contingency plans immediately." The proclamation also included language and directives to expedite water transfers. The text of the • proclamation and additional information are available at: ),:y•'. ; http://gov.ca.uov/news.php?id=18368. r .mow Also on January 17,the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB)released its Notice of Surface Water Shortage and Potential for Curtailment of Water Right Diversions. The purpose of this notice is to inform water users that if dry weather conditions persist the SWRCB"will notify water right holders in critically dry watershed of the requirement to limit or stop diversions of water under their water right,based on their priority." The text of the notice is available at: haul/ www.swrcb.ca.gov/waterriehts/water issues/programs/droueht/docs/notice of curtailment.pdf On January 31,the Department of Water Resources(DWR)issued a notice on drought.With respect to allocations,DWR provided that:"except for a small amount of carryover water from 2013,customers of the State Water Project(SWP)will get no deliveries in 2014 if current dry conditions persist and deliveries to agricultural districts with long-standing water rights in the Sacramento Valley may be cut 50 percent--the maximum permitted by contract--depending upon future snow survey results. It is important to note that almost all areas served by the SWP have other sources of water,such as groundwater,local reservoirs,and other supplies. The full notice is at:http://www.water.ca.uov/newsinewsreleases/2014/013114prerss conference.pdf. Additionally,the State Water Resources Control Board conditionally approved a temporary urgency change permit requested by DWR and the Bureau of Reclamation"to adjust requirements for freshwater outflow in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in order to preserve stored water that may be needed later in the year...."The SWRCB has also indicated that it will begin issuing curtailment notices to post-I 914 water right holders.The SWRCB will hold a workshop on February 18 to discuss these issues.http://www.swrcb.ca.eov/waterrights/water issues/programs/drought/docs/tucp/tucp press release.pdf. NCWA has offered the following statement in response to the January 31 actions:"In Northern California,the lack of carryover storage in reservoirs from last year,coupled with minimal precipitation,has led to significant cutbacks in water use that will harm the Northern California economy and the environment.This year every drop of water will matter.These measures in the Delta are important for flexibility in the water system,thus allowing more water to be stored in Northern California,where water supplies will be critical to serve water for cities,farms,and birds in the North State--as well as optimizing cold water for salmon." Governor Brown in his state of the state earlier in the month said the following:"Among all our uncertainties,weather is one of the most basic.We can't control it. We can only live with it,and now we have to live with a very serious drought of uncertain duration.Right now,it is imperative that we do everything possible to mitigate the effects of the drought. I have convened an Interagency Drought Task Force and declared a State of Emergency.We need everyone in every part of the state to conserve water. We need regulators to rebalance water rules and enable voluntary transfers of water and we must prepare for forest fires.As the State Water Action Plan lays out,water recycling,expanded storage and serious groundwater management must all be part of the mix. So too must be investments in safe drinking water,particularly in disadvantaged communities.We also need wetlands and watershed restoration and further progress on the Bay Delta Conservation Plan. It is a tall order. But it is what we must do to get through this drought and prepare for the next." 12 NonlanCellandaWatettAssociatiost .rash'„'"' �'�.' '....C'sw'' �,y # a.`<, av^� y hE Drou` ht Plannin He also called out his California Water Action Plan. The plan identifies potential risks to water resources in the state including water scarcity/drought as well as declining groundwater basins and poor water quality. The Water Action Plan also included proposed actions to address the risks,including: Conservation as a California Way of Life, California Water Action Plan Increase Local and Regional Self-Reliance,Achieve Co- Equal Goals for the Delta,Protect and Restore Important Ecosystems,Manage and Prepare for Dry Periods,Expand Water Storage Capacity,Provide Safe Drinking Water for All Communities, Improve Flood Protection,Increase Operational and Regulatory Efficiency,and Identify Sustainable and Integrated Financing Opportunities.http:// resources.ca.gov/docs/Final Water Action Plan Press Release 1-27-14.pdf. The Governor's proposed budget for 2014-15 includes —' $618.7 million in funding that is allocated to begin implementation of the Water Action Plan. The bulk of this Cdfa w.o funding,$472.5 million is grant funding dedicated to the �,,7yti =, ,, rz".LL Integrated Regional Water Management Program. An `'" "`"' " � additional$77 million are Flood SAFE dollars that are included in the budget to increase flood protection. Of the remaining funding,$7.8 million is directed to"Expand Water Storage Capacity." This funding is divided into three programs:$1.9 million is directed to"Sustainable Groundwater Management"to fund the program and 10 staff positions at the Department of Water Resources(DWR)to protect groundwater basins at risk of permanent damage if local or regional agencies are unwilling to do so;$3 million is directed to the Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment(GAMA)program to continue work on the Basin Priority Project to assess groundwater quality;and,$2.9 million for Groundwater Data Collection and Evaluation for 12 DWR staff to continue the Department's groundwater monitoring program and develop an online well completion report submission system. 13 Northam CahlrsaWater' .' f e Sr �J tt4 . � Capitol View 6 DIMARE,VAN Vuwrc&BROWN rio ,, GOVERNMENTAI.RELATIONS&COMMUNICATIONS i f ' CJ '' lc t til ' 11 if illi f+ ( / Simply conserving our way out of a drought isn't going to cut it either,especially j ,/ the drought we are currently facing.It's the beginning of February and we are v already implementing water rationing measures throughout the state. Last year was the driest year on record.This year is shaping up to be just as dire.In fact, DWR staff who conducted their yearly snow pack survey used terms like"dismal" A'` I and"abysmal"to describe our state of affairs) Even if we experience a downpour in the months to come,most know that snow i / t,1 pack is critical because it provides about a third of our water. After the most recent survey,staff for the Department of Water Resources(DWR)are now projecting that municipalities and agricultural customers of the State Water I sir —Nor Project will get no deliveries in 2014 unless there is considerably more rainfall. k a DWR Director,Mark Cowin wrote in a statement last week,"It is our duty to give State Water Project customers a realistic understanding of how much water they e will receive from the Project. Simply put,there's not enough water in the system right now for customers to expect any water this season from the project." What does this mean for public policy at the state level? How are our elected leaders going to address this"abysmal"water year? In December,2013,the California Resources Agency lead by John Laird and overseen by Governor Brown, issued a 30,000 page draft Bay Delta Conservation Plan(BDCP). What?You didn't read the entire report cover to cover? Shocking. The report aims to address our state's most immediate water needs.The intent is to protect dozens of species of fish and wildlife in and around the Delta,while permitting the reliable operation of California's two biggest water delivery projects. The document is divided into 12 sections and many water experts are reading those chapters that most pertain to their areas of proficiency. And to be clear,the BDCP is not intended to be a short term solution to our drought problems, but more of a long range strategy to restore ecological conditions in the Delta while shoring up water supplies for those in the southern part of our state. But the plan couldn't have come at a more opportune time. In fact. Laird recently linked the drought with support for the BDCP saying,"With the conveyance proposed in the(BDCP) in place,the Central Valley this year would have an extra 800,000 acre-feet of water in the San Luis Reservoir."2 In response to the drought,Governor Brown also created a task force to meet on a recurring basis to review the status of water shortages over the next several months. Those agencies included in the task force are:the Department of Food and Agriculture,Office of Emergency Services,the DWR and the State Water Resources Control Board. Consider this task force the interim action short of the Governor declaring a drought emergency. In January,the Governor also issued a drought proclamation,calling for voluntary 20 percent reductions in water use and for state agencies to look at opportunities to lessen the impact of the drought. The Legislature is also talking about the drought and what they can do to offset implications for all t areas of the state.Most believe California must have a more reliable approach than just looking to 'Southern California Public Radio,by Molly Peterson,January 6,2014 http://www.scpr.org/blogs/environment/ 2014/01/04/15530/state-s-first-snowpack-survey-of-the-winter-offers/2 Southern California Public Radio,by Molly Peterson,January 6,2014 http://www.scpr.org/blogs/environment 2014/01/04/15530/state-s-first-snowpack-survey-of-the-winter-offers/ By Amy Brown 14 Northam Caldna Arodat ion lE;:l Capitol View conserving and praying for rain. And that's where the bond w ,c ,,, , a% , comes in.. tl�. �'{ " s s e nmy„�„74 �"i€ Sq4 H�" rp Sb ti � k h� �k� �` ti'�ia Putting aside California's drought conditions for a minute, yr" * it '<•40, Aa to g , i. let's look at where the State is politically. It's an election ,v k -/",, year: The Governor is running for reelection,there are 25 't ,,,i open legislative seats to be determined and the negotiated ', ', `` $11 billion bond is slated to be on the November ballot.Up , 4 `j , until recently,rumor had it that the Governor was not in favor of keeping the water bond on the ballot for a couple ofti `'r ifr ', � - reasons: I)According to several polls,California votersYm were in favor of a bond,but the$11 billion price tag was just , too high. We just clawed our way out of one of the worst '".21',:r , `-.' recessions most of us have experienced in our lifetime and to - x -.t ' , '°%����� ^"' -` pile on more statewide debt was something we weren't willing to do;2)If the bond were defeated,we would be back to square one and the defeat could be perceived as a referendum to the BDCP,something the Governor wasn't willing to risk. Instead,water interests in and around the Capitol have been meeting with law makers to negotiate a less expensive bond and as with any agreement,once you re-open negotiations,everything that was in the original bond is on the table.AB 1331 by Assembly Water Parks&Wildlife Chair,Anthony Rendon,was introduced late last year as a starting point for discussions. Most believed it was an attempt to re-open the issue in the hopes that a bond could be placed on the 2016 general election ballot.Then,the driest start to our winter hit... The big question on everyone's mind is will the Legislature punt kick an alternative bond measure until 2016,will they stick with what's currently on the ballot now,or will they speed up the process and put a version of AB 1331 on the November ballot? AB 1331 has some of the same provisions that the current bond has,which is promising,but some of the amounts dedicated for various projects are significantly lower. For instance,currently AB 1331 contains the same language that protects existing areas of origin and water rights laws which NCWA was successful in getting included in the first go round.It also contains a continuous appropriations provision so the Legislature does not have to approve the fiscal allocations year after year. Unfortunately,AB 1331 only allocates$1.5 billion for storage facilities,where the current bond has$3 billion.NCWA will work diligently to convince legislators to increase that amount back up to its original price. The big debate before us is do the solutions for any anti-drought approach lend the need for storage?If the answer is yes— which most of us believe to be true-then a water bond that has a reliable funding capacity is more critical than ever.Even if winter decides to make a delayed appearance,California will see more winter rain and less snow,and that means making improved efforts to catch winter storm runoff a priority for the state. California will never escape drought,given the state's climate and geography.But careful policy and sensible practices can enable the state to thrive in the driest years,and that involves protecting water rights and allocating the funds to build and operate storage projects like Sites Reservoir. The weather is tenuous,impulsive and capricious. We need to ensure our statewide solutions don't follow suit. 15 NeadmaCalifornfaWatarAnoctatios I1 � Capitol View By Todd Manley Since the first of the year,three water bond bills have been introduced or amended in the State Legislature. Let's look at the bills in order of their introduction or amendment. AB 1445 F On January 6,Assembly Member Dan Logue introduced AB 1445,the California Water Infrastructure Act of 2014. Assembly Member Logue's bill authorizes the sale of$5.8 billion in bonds. This funding , would be"continuously appropriated from the fund,without regard to fiscal years,to the commission for public benefits associated with water storage projects that improve the operation of the state water • , system,are cost effective,and provide a net improvement in ecosystem and water quality conditions...." The projects eligible for the funding consist only of the surface water storage projects identified in the 2000 CALFED Bay-Delta Program Record of Decision,groundwater storage and contamination prevention projects,conjunctive use and reservoir reoperation projects,and"local and regional surface storage projects that improve the operation of water systems in the state and provide public benefits" AB 1445 also includes the NCWA-sponsored language protecting water rights and the Areas of Origin. AB 1331 On January 7,Assembly Member Anthony Rendon amended AB 1331, the Clean and Safe Drinking Water Act of 2014. These recent ift amendments dramatically alter the September 11,2013 version of the bill,which NCWA mostly supported. That bill included$1.5 billion � an (we would prefer$3 billion)for storage that was continuously \\5 a • appropriated,meaning that it would not require further appropriation £ , by the legislature before it could be awarded to qualifying projects. R 1. • wa �� t� The amended version of AB 1331 authorizes$6.5 billion in bonds. Of - • - z p that funding, $1 billion is dedicated to"Clean and Safe Drinking Water." Protecting Rivers,Lakes,Streams,Coastal Waters,and Watersheds would receive$1.5 billion for activities including the protection and restoration of aquatic,wetland and migratory bird ecosystems as fish passage improvements. An additional$1.5 billion is available for Climate Change Preparedness for Regional Water Security. $1 billion of that amount is available for Integrated Regional Water Management Plans,including$76 million for those located in the Sacramento River Hydrologic Region. The other $500 million would be directed for water recycling and advanced water treatment technology project grants and loans. AB 1331 also would dedicate$1 billion for grants and direct expenditures to improve the sustainability of the Delta. The remaining$1.5 billion would be available for numerous different types of projects that per the definitions contained in this legislation a considered"storage." Projects that provide"regional water storage benefits for more than one drinking water supplier or more than three million people would be considered to be providing a"public"benefit to the state of California. Unlike previous versions of AB 1331,these funds would not be continuously appropriated. Rather,they would be parsed out in$300 million chunks each of five continuous fiscal years(from 2015-16 to 2019-20). This funding would be available for 16 Ned6.nCabinewa.' yy ` Capitol View "expenditures,competitive grants,and loans." So, for a project like Sites,from which the state could acquire more than$1.3 billion in public benefits,it appears that the project would need to apply for funds,totaling no more than$300 million each fiscal year. This would .. make it extremely difficult to fund the public portion of the project and highly unlikely that ` ' other potential investors would have confidence enough in the public funding to commit to the .t project. AB 1331 also includes the NCWA-sponsored language protecting water rights and the Areas �' , of Origin. ti The Safe Drinking Water,Water Quality,and Flood Protection Act of 2014 introduced by : : Senator Lois Wolk with Senators Mark DeSaulnier,Loni Hancock,and Darrell Steinberg as m r.r 4z.,> co-authors,renewed the bond effort Senator Wok initiated with SB 42 last session. SB 848 SB 848 would authorize the sale of$6.475 billion in bond sales. These funds would be dedicated to the following purposes. $2 billion would be directed to projects promoting safe drinking water,including$500 million to address immediate safe drinking water needs. Water quality and watershed protection projects would receive$2.1 billion, including$400 million for wastewater treatment projects and$600 million for watershed protection and water quality projects outside the Delta. Flood control and stomiwater management projects could receive$1.375 billion,including$400 million to reduce the risk of levee failure in the Delta. The remaining$1 billion would be available for"Water System Operations Improvements,"which includes surface water storage projects. This funding is not continuously appropriated. SB 848 also includes the NCWA-sponsored language protecting water rights and the Areas of Origin. 17 Northern rA..anao is Or: x Caitol View CALIFORNIA r EDMUND C.91WWNJR.,Governor eapVA JOHN LAIRD,Secretary for Natural Resources resources AGENCY Media Contact Richard Stapler,(916)653-9402 richard.stapfernc resoumes.ca.gov Secretary for Natural Resources Statement on Record Low Snowpack,Need for Conservation,and Completion of Bay Delta Conservation Plan SACRAMENTO, Cafif. —Secretary for Natural Resources John Laird today issued a statement on the record low snowpack measurements,the need for water conservation,and continuing the path forward for the Bay Delta Conservation Plan: "California has just ended one of the driest years in recorded history in many areas.Today's snowpack measurement was an abysmal 20.percent of normal.This is a clear call for all of us to cut back on theamount of water we use watering lawns and landscaping.We have to keep our showers short,and run our washing machines and dishwashers only when we have a full load. Because we rely on just a few big winter storms in December,January,and February to build our snowpack and refill our reservoirs and groundwater basins,there is still some potential for relief.However,at the Governor's direction,a drought task force is meeting regularly to monitor dry conditions and determine the most appropriate action moving forward. In the long-term,Califomia must continue to focus on actions to modernize our water delivery system by completing the environmental planning process for the Bay Delta Conservation Plan. Right now,we cannot move water in a way that is safe for fish,but is also necessary to ride out these dry periods without significant economic disruption.With the conveyance proposed in the Bay Delta Conservation Plan in place,the Central Valley this year would have an extra 800,000 acre-feet of water in the San Luis Reservoir.This effort to restore the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta ecosystem and greatly enhance the water system's reliability is the best investment w a can make right now in our water future." For more information on the Bay Delta Conservation Plan,visit www..BavDe taConservationPlan.com For more information on water conservation,go to www.saveourH2O oar 1S NorllumCebtanaWasrA.oa.uee # %. Inside the Beltwa yl' ,I��� , ,hk,P Ate ©1�' ....,c ,,, P - V!� ,n�"J F"tY's+.: ,M+� EW! 'L'� 4 V� S1C. .: The President signed the 1.012 trillion omnibus appropriations bill this past Friday E (1/17/2014),after the bill sailed through the House and Senate earlier in the week. The bill �, passed the Senate,72-26,with 17 Republicans joining all Democrats in support. Prior to FERGUSON that,the House passed the bill on a 359-67 bipartisan vote. GROUP�.tc In addition to restoring the"sequestration"spending cuts made last year and removing another round of across-the-board reductions set to hit this month,the bill includes several provisions aimed to help bolster the federal response to the prolonged and deepening drought conditions in California and elsewhere in the west. 5R 5. 41 o Ptd lvli4''3;�iakl fid ��A ':I 0 ,. F ivy'e�n9 C E"1',u �a. .. For starters,the bill includes an extension of the Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief Act through 2017. Authority for the program expired in 2012. The Act,in general,authorizes Reclamation to undertake construction,management and conservation measures during drought to minimize or mitigate damage or losses. Construction activities are limited to temporary facilities except for wells, which may be constructed on a permanent basis. Reclamation may also provide loans to water users for construction of temporary or permanent wells,management and conservation activities,or for the acquisition of water to mitigate impacts resulting from drought conditions. The Act also authorizes Reclamation to acquire water to meet diverse requirements under the Endangered Species Act,while at the same time benefiting water users and water contractors. In addition,the Act authorizes Reclamation to participate in the following drought response activities: * participation in state water banks; * facilitation of water acquisitions between willing buyers and willing sellers; * making reclamation facilities available for storage and conveyance of project and non-project water; * making project and non-project water available for non-project uses;and * acquisition of water for fish and wildlife purposes. x� E . °@ � P v,oo atarAPt R� Fy 31€Cft F�t& Qt'ssa, lE@Ff66�� �� I. 6t,�l'"���` 4 by ' �` ,', war f'- r a'av ✓ iSx till?: '2� e• k-c`��'z�ic.,:: ,,, . 33 a �:, ,;#' '-' % - '.:S`yb-�}�'2� 1��� `,9 A.P� � �it'ii H' E �i{: bi P�° ®�'.9 '" G6s it°'� ���� �z� �.� � � �`� �1 L4 rri:�}j�. At the urging of Senator Dianne Feinstein,chair of the Senate Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee,the omnibus appropriations bill also contains a provision that authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to"participate in non-federal groundwater banking programs to increase the operations flexibility,reliability,and efficient use of water in the State of California." The provision specifically states that Reclamation's participation may include,to the extent allowed by the State of California and consistent with state and federal water and environmental laws,paying for the storage of , Central Valley Project(CVP)water supplies,the purchase of stored water,the purchase of shares or an ";' interest in ground water banking facilities or the use of CVP water as a medium of payment for „ . groundwater banking services,to the extent allowed by the state and consistent with state and federal water and environmental laws. By Roger Gwinn 19 NectlwanCaliforsaWdsrAmdation /aside the Beltway ! J t ICrI y,,,l l � The bill also includes a provision advanced by Chairman Feinstein to take a number of steps to advance voluntary water transfers within the CVP. 5 i`c �11tH , 1 ( t [ ( < Finally,the omnibus appropriations bill includes a provision, Section 208,which encourages Reclamation to"expedite completion of the planning and feasibility studies and environmental impact statements associated with the water storage projects"identified in the Calfed Bay-Delta Authorization,Public Law 108-361. The bill also directs Reclamation to share information and provide fmancial support to joint powers authorities,such as the Sites Project Joint Powers Authority,seeking to advance any of the Calfed storage projects. Separately,the bill provides additional funding for other accounts that could provide federal support for drought- related activities. The bill provides$19 million for 11 WaterSMART grants,$7 million more than the president's budget request of$12 million. Title XVI water reuse and recycling projects and studies received$21.5 million,up ; tiyy from the$14 million budget request. Additional non-budgeted funding provided by the omnibus I included increases for Rural Water projects($27.1 million);fish passage and fish screens($4 million);water [an rin conservation and delivery($8 million);environmental w' r _ compliance and restoration($1 million);and facilitiesprc1�, r r } M , °'� ' .per operation,maintenance and rehabilitation($4.2111P million). Reclamation was directed to provide a spending F T plan to the Appropriations Committees within 30-days of k 'aL�" — enactment on these additional funds. SRF j S ,�`-, a r' � Y� box r^6CS '�✓ i_/ E1li C)i; ,[iv] v CSS` fG Fh'j 4R+..1 ' iii j� i vf x,11 11 (-c. �l lo� E. Senators Feinstein and Boxer and Representative Costa called on President Obama to quickly approve Governor Brown's official request for an emergency drought declaration at the federal level. In a letter to President Obama,the lawmakers also called on the president to appoint a federal drought task force and a federal drought coordinator to"parallel efforts at the state level." "The federal drought coordinator should be charged with coordinating actions and responses across federal agencies and coordinating with state agencies related to the drought conditions affecting California,"wrote the lawmakers. "The ongoing dry conditions call for immediate,measurable actions from federal agencies to complement the work being done at the state level to address the water supply challenges that face California." Feinstein,Boxer and Costa also urged the Obama Administration to"direct the federal agencies to maximize opportunities for expedited water transfers,assist with infrastructure improvements,and exercise their discretion in regulatory decision-making within the confines of the law to deliver more water to those whose health and livelihoods depend on it." 20 NorthensCalgandaWaterAncation tier s✓ }:x s Ii side the Beltway � �df� r"�' 1 f-c�rl.r j lU„ I l l:� � �a , 6 � - �()� $f X10UrU`6 � ,,; ( f�C���JC :� 1(�v\f �j 1.1 rn` /' �1c��(l' r f�� �• s'x rn �'SP ���'*..<°`_� ' f,C"^`x4°r,..�ha`a 44: k. ,'. ti x ,f4'77;;E7< �:�+a <.•e'sY.:, This week(Wednesday,January 22)House Speaker John Boehner will join California Representatives Devin Nunes,Kevin McCarthy and David Valadao to announce the introduction of legislation to,in part,provide federal drought relief to California. Among other things,the bill would allow more water to move through the Delta to water users in the San Joaquin Valley and in Southern California. The bill also calls for the formation of a joint House-Senate Committee to address the long-term water shortage facing the state. E1ti n a .-",t•"..'‘. j aZ3 i'<77,7777`777,'7D-..'.P."'7,7 5'7.I.L' ‘L;r 3. .e .'� 4 rF ft ;121 � jt !S ) C1<y ,*11;70;i !yrs ^ P» � EC ' il� a * • ' ' 7.7 '57/ - b ' 41, J N ] )+a Last week(January 16,2013),the United States Department , h,137. G�'? of Agriculture(USDA)designated 27 of California's 58 s ' counties as natural disaster areas due to damages and losses s v • J - r,.. sr caused by extreme drought. k m -,:�'"` r The 27 designated counties included Sacramento and El Dorado Counties. Agricultural operators in all counties designated as natural a .t disaster areas may qualify for low interest emergency(EM) loans from USDA's Farm Service Agency(FSA). Counties ayY "' that are contiguous to the primary disaster counties declared also qualify for USDA natural disaster # § assistance. According to the USDA announcement,the `- acs " ` agency will consider each loan application on its own merits,taking into account the extent of losses,security available and repayment ability.The maximum amount for .., an EM loan is$500,000. Farmers and ranchers in designated counties have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for the EM loan to help cover part of their actual losses. To verify the deadline for applications,farmers and ranchers are encouraged contact their county's Farm Service Agency Office. The location of the County FSA offices in Northern California can also be found here. The Natural Resources Conservation Service(NRCS)has conservation-related disaster assistance to protect soil,water and habitat. Small,non-farming businesses in USDA disaster-designated counties may also be eligible for disaster assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration(wwv.SBA.gov:/disaster). The Farm Service Agency's Emergency Conservation Program may also help restore conservation-related farm property and facilities. And the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program is available for producers enrolled in this annual protection program. 21 NortlurnGL6amwWaterArnmNm `. Inside the Be ,-...w ... t ay r p tlN ck N O 5 N r, t• cS smr3 '9 v , or sp 6,04 8 0 O L y a < _ a a. ) n IC R ei� ��`£s�'6+�&yr>t _ 1 `1,/,iket 111 .1'P.,o4.4)4r0siutilfra CV � S f ca n !; es, N eo�0.tiii ► m+ irtelf Qtt • a !'.S pir.'�SLJ����i Y1 "" v c m t4i al % ?.... 4,5 ... U fi r,, 1��j��y F� W' Y N as �_ @1 'Teo �� i� �v'� .W _if,. t 2 o to U ® .i°� ; U smi CI 't� . . CC w y L� f' �la � x :" ^^,, _ a L COCD tiF o Ii" � . 2 or �� g" CDFo co ' z21 tilAcii ' . NO N 22 CaltiorntaWabwArodetton -,-, rou ht Plann n ii,..„,.,,,,,mc,,,:ty.,.r,;314.:VswitS,35v,3% Groundwater pumping in California is always intense during dry years.In 2014,the groundwater resources in the Sacramento Valley will be challenged.Additionally,there will be additional scrutiny on groundwater resources in the California legislature and the regulatory arena.The SWRCB held a groundwater workshop on January 22,which included testimony by Thad Bettner,Tim O'Hal- loran and Paul Gosselin from Northern California.The SWRCB has develop a concept paper on groundwater,which NCWA sub- mitted comments in December. e � NC - Northern California^'Water Association roadva cetheeconomic.,cerntam!en,;ro.o,emal,,.,,an,,,b;fa f,von'in,Cwtfnna by enhancing mid presening the nuterraghu,supplies and Haar(pasty State Water Resources Control Board Groundwater Workplan Concept Paper December 18,2013 We appreciate the State Water Resources Control Board's(SWRCB)engagement with Northern California as the SW RCB thinks about and further develops a Groundwater Iforkplan Concept Paper(Concept Paper).In our initial comments.we first provide a perspective on groundwater management in the Sacramento Valley and the water resources managers'efforts to advance sustainability in the region. We then offer general thoughts with respectto the October 4,2013 draft Concept Paper that we believe will help promote active groundwater management in California with an eye towards regional sustainability in the Sacramento Valley. It is our hope that this will facilitate an ongoing conversation with the SWRCB and other agencies as those concepts are further discussed and developed. 1. Active Management for Regional Sustainability llte State of California in 2009 adopted a new state policy on regional sustainability.For the Sacramento Valley."each region that depends on water from the Delta watershed shall improve its regional self-reliance for water through investment in water use efficiency,water recycling,advanced water technologies,local and regional water supply projects,and improved regional coordination of local and regional water supply efforts."(Water Code §55021.)NC WA and the water resources managers are committed to advance the economic, social,and environmental sustainability of the Sacramento Valley by actively managing the water resources to preserve the water rights,supplies,and water quality for the rich mosaic of beneficial purposes;farmlands,cities and rural communities.refuges and managed wetlands, recreation,and meandering rivers that support fisheries and wildlife.These water rights and supplies are essential for all three pillars of sustainability:the economy,environmental stewardship and social and community well-being;which--in the Sacramento Valley--are all closely integrated. To better understand and portray the Sacramento River watershed in this light,water resources managers in the region have come together around a technical report defining Efficient Water Management for Regional Sustainability in rhe Sacramento Valley.(See; hurt: ltatW_noreak%ater,ororetlicimv-water-mmtaeemenc.)The report builds upon decades of i ,•atmt 1111 .-9 ;L.Samantr,t+,talsena)St1116 't,lt,q.c iao)112.s.43}a; ailc 01 I)112101 u4:aAct a3 23 NnethemCsbi.vraWatscAsiaanma Drought Planning . continually improving water use efficiency in the Sacramento Valley at the Tann,refuge, district,and basin level.The technical report also provides a foundation to initiate the process to evaluate improved water management opportunities in the Sacramento Valley and the trade-offs that will need to be considered in making future management decisions. Specifically,with respect to groundwater resources,Sacramento Valley water resources managers are building upon this technical framework with three coordinated efforts that wilt be performed in the first part of 2014: An Assessment of the Sacramento Valley's Groundwater Resources.Historically, "groundwater levels associated with the Sacramento Valley have remained steady, declining moderately during extended droughts and generally recovering to their pre- drought levels during subsequent wetter periods."(DWR Bulletin 160-2009,SR-12.) "Groundwater quality in the Sacramento River hydrologic region is generally excellent." (DWR Bulletin 118-2003,p.160.)We will build upon this work and the new draft California Water Plan by providing an independent overview of the Sacramento Valley's groundwater resources and the evolving efforts to better understand and actively manage the resources to provide sustainable benefits for the Sacramento Valley and for California. The report will also provide a discussion of active management successes,long-term vulnerabilities and recommendations for the future. Groundwater Quality Assessment Report.A Groundwater Quality Assessment Report(GQAR)is being developed for the Sacramento Valley,which will provide water resources managers and the leaders in the Sacramento Valley Water Quality Coalition with an assessment of groundwater quality in the region.The GQAR will support the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board's Waste Discharge Requirements for the Long-Term Irrigated Lands Program. Roles and Responsibilities.For the Sacramento Valley,we will explore the respective roles and responsibilities for water agencies,local governments and the state with respect to groundwater management. As pressures on Sacramento Valley water supplies increase,it will be increasingly important to actively manage the groundwater resources in conjunction with surface supplies to assure regional sustainability and self-sufficiency.Imbedded in our sustainability initiative is the ability to 1)manage groundwater resources for the safe-yield of the aquifer systems and 2) preserve groundwater quality.(See e.g.Sustainability of Ground-Water Resources,United States Geological Survey Circular 1186(1999).)Water resources managers are committed to sustainability and will continue their ongoing efforts to promote the safe yield and preserve groundwater quality for regional sustainability. IL Important Themes for the Concept Paper With respect to the draft Concept Paper,we offer the following themes we encourage the SWRCB to consider in this process. 2 24 NorihernCalgornisWateasmodation � Drought Planning A. Subsidiarity:An Over:Arching Concept for California Groundwater With the challenges facing California and its groundwater resources,we encourage the SWRCB to articulate a new way of doing business with respect to how the state empowers and incentivizes local and regional agencies to manage groundwater in a sustainable manner.The Governor in his 2013"State of the State"address on education called for subsidiarity,which is"the idea that a central authority should only perform those tasks which cannot be performed at a more immediate or local level." This is a concept that,if properly applied by state agencies,could forge a new and innovative approach to groundwater management in California.This concept recognizes the regional and local differences in groundwater throughout California and offers an approach where the SWRCB and other state agencies will pursue actions when local or regional agencies fail to act responsibly and state action is necessary to prevent irrevocable hart to a groundwater aquifer system.This concept provides the best opportunity for active and sustainable groundwater management throughout California,while working within the fiscal realities facing California. B. Effective Coordination of Information Management There are currently several state entities and numerous local entities throughout the state that manage databases and information systems involving groundwater.At the state level. this includes the Department of Water Resources,the State Water Resources Control Board,the Department of Public Health,the Department of Pesticide Regulation,and others.Better alignment of state agencies would be helpful for water resources managers and the general public to better understand California's groundwater resources. California over the past decade has created a solid foundation for groundwater management and the related information management in California that should be continued. • The Local Groundwater Management Assistance Act of 2000(AB 303;Water Code 10795)has provided tools for local agencies to better understand groundwater resources and has provided the basis for much of the information that will be provided as part of SB7X-6(see below)and with respect to local and regional groundwater plans under Water Code§10750. • The Groundwater Quality Monitoring Act of 2001 (AB 599,Water Code§10780)led to partnerships with the United States Geological Survey(USGS)and others to establish a statewide groundwater quality monitoring program generally known as the Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment(GAMA)program.With respect to groundwater quality,the SWRCB submitted a report"Public Accessibility to Information about Groundwater Conditions"to the Legislature,which provides an update on the program and makes several recommendations on opportunities to extend the program until 2024 as called for in the original legislation. 3 25 Nordin CaltiondaWaterAssociattost 154 44 ,7 3 2^ Drought Planning A. Subsidiarity:An Over-Arching Concept for California Groundwater With the challenges facing California and its groundwater resources,we encourage the SWRCB to articulate a new way of doing business with respect to how the state empowers and incentivizes local and regional agencies to manage groundwater in a sustainable manner.The Governor in his 2013"State of the State"address on education called for subsidiarity,which is"the idea that a central authority should only perform those tasks which cannot be performed at a more immediate or local level." This is a concept that,if properly applied by state agencies,could forge a new and innovative approach to groundwater management in California.This concept recognizes the regional and local differences in groundwater throughout California and offers an approach where the SWRCB and other state agencies will pursue actions when local or regional agencies fail to act responsibly and state action is necessary to prevent irrevocable harm to a groundwater aquifer system.This concept provides the best opportunity for active and sustainable groundwater management throughout California,while working within the fiscal realities facing California. B. Effective Coordination of Information Management There are currently several state entities and numerous local entities throughout the state that manage databases and information systems involving groundwater.At the state level, this includes the Department of Water Resources,the State Water Resources Control Board,the Department of Public Health,the Department of Pesticide Regulation,and others.Better alignment of state agencies would be helpful for water resources managers and the general public to better understand California's groundwater resources. California over the past decade has created a solid foundation for groundwater management and the related information management in California that should be continued. • The Local Groundwater Management Assistance Act of 2000(AB 303;Water Code 10795)has provided tools for local agencies to better understand groundwater resources and has provided the basis for much of the information that will be provided as part of SB7X-6(see below)and with respect to local and regional groundwater plans under Water Code§10750. • The Groundwater Quality Monitoring Act of 2001(AB 599,Water Code§10780)led to partnerships with the United States Geological Survey(USGS)and others to establish a statewide groundwater quality monitoring program generally known as the Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment(GAMA)program.With respect to groundwater quality,the SWRCB submitted a report"Public Accessibility to Information about Groundwater Conditions"to the Legislature,which provides an update on the program and makes several recommendations on opportunities to extend the program until 2024 as called for in the original legislation. 3 26 NorilwassOilliondaWateaAssodation rought9 • 'lite California Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring Program(CASGEM), where DWR is compiling local groundwater elevation information required under SBX7-6(Water Code§10920),which will be available over the next year.DWR will be identifying the extent of groundwater elevation monitoring that is being undertaken throughout the state and reporting this to the Legislature and the Governor. • The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board(Regional Board)is developing Waste Discharge Requirements(WDRs)as part of the Irrigated lands Regulatory Program.This includes various provisions relating to groundwater, including a Groundwater Quality Assessment. These programs,and various other programs in the State of California,provide the core foundation that will help promote more active groundwater management in California with an eye toward regional sustainability. In the Sacramento Valley,various water resources managers,in conjunction with local governments,will be providing the groundwater elevation monitoring under SBX7-6.This information will not only inform and be used by water resources managers in implementing their local groundwater management plans(i.e.AB3030 etc.),it is also important as an objective tool to inform the public about groundwater resources.This is particularly important in the Sacramento Valley where there are tremendous fears that groundwater will be mined for the benefit of other parts of California. (See e.g.,Water Code§1220.)Additionally,the GQAR will be provided to the Regional Board as part of its WDR. For next steps,we believe the Administration,working with the Legislature and local water resources managers,can solidify this foundation by further supporting these programs and by creating a center of excellence among state agencies,working with local water resources managers,that will serve as the repository for groundwater information and provide the tools for information management and sound analysis of groundwater conditions.One example of a highly successful program we recommend exploring is the Cooperative Snow Survey,where a state entity partners with local entities throughout California to compile and analyze date to inform decision-makers with respect to water conditions in California.(See http://cdec.water.cagov/snowI.)A similar program established for groundwater management could coordinate the various state agencies with groundwater information,while creating a public advisory committee that includes local entities.This type of a strong partnership between the state and local agencies would efficiently use precious state resources,coordinate the respective expertise on groundwater,and continue to solidify the foundation necessary for active groundwater management in California. C. Reliable Surface Supplies are Essential to Sustainable Groundwater Management In nearly all parts of the Sacramento Valley,reliable surface water supplies are the key to healthy groundwater aquifers.The ability for water resources managers to conjunctively manage surface and groundwater resources has led to stable groundwater aquifers that are operated within their safe-yield.Without these surface water supplies,many of these 4 27 ,• .• cainawarAwdau. 441/41/4 Drought Planning areas would likely be either over-drafted or trending towards overdraft conditions.In fact, the localized areas in the Sacramento Valley that have experienced groundwater elevation declines are areas that do not utilize or have access to surface water. In this context,water resources managers continue to explore more effective ways to actively manage their surface and groundwater supplies through local groundwater management plans.(See Water Code§10750.) In this light,there are pressures from various places,including various SWRCB programs,that could redirect surface water away from the Sacramento Valley,which,in turn,will result in additional groundwater pumping,less recharge to groundwater aquifers,and possible impacts to the environment Here,again,the state needs to align its policies and it needs to reconcile these conflicting programs and actions.In other words, the SW RCB should not propose to redirect surface water while ignoring the impacts on the groundwater resources,or by finding that any impacts to groundwater are significant, yet unavoidable as we have seen in different SWRCB proposals. A. Intersection with Land Use Planning. There are several interesting and important intersections between groundwater management and land use planning that deserve further attention.First,the protection of important recharge zones is an important clement of active groundwater management. (See e.g.,Water Code 10753.7.)The second important intersection is the requirements in the water supply and land use planning laws,where the availability of groundwater is part of the water supply analysis provided to the local land use agencies for urbanization.(See e.g.,Water Code§10631(b);Government Code§65867.5.)Third,crop conversions and new land in agricultural production are usually reliant upon groundwater resources.In all cases,there needs to be further coordination between land use entities and water supply entities as part of an effort to advance sustainable management of the groundwater resources. E. Legislative Recommendations With respect to legislative recommendations,we encourage the SWRCB and others to review the Legislative Analyst's Office report:Liquid Assets:Improving Management of the State's Resources.This report provides a good foundation for legislative discussions and it offers sound recommendations for helping advance groundwater sustainability in California.The report is available at: litip://www.lao.ca,gov/reports/2010/rsre/ aroundw:der/¢roundwater 032410.aspx. Thank you for the opportunity to provide input today on how to promote active groundwater management in the Sacramento Valley and California.Please call if you would like to discuss these issues further. 5 28 NordisynaltiondaWaterAssociation Drought Planning • After the first of the year,NCWA renewed our effort to inform legislators and regulators regarding the efforts underway in the Sacramento Valley to address our water short year as well as the impacts all beneficial uses are experiencing in the region. Below is the cover letter and two drought documents that were delivered to every member of the legislature as well as the members of the State Board of Food and Agriculture and the State Water Resources Control Board. 49 Northern Caltfornia— Water Association. Toa<Povme the eeormm@,sn a mgthelraler 'gng slrafNorllsent Coil!andn by elilrmrctng and presrnina the water 'ging supplies am!,00ler mraliry. DRY YEAR CHALLENGES IN CALIFORNIA CALIFORNIA STATE BOARD OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE January 7,2014 As we are now seeing throughout the state,2013 was the driest year on record for California. Water resources managers in the Sacramento Valley continued to be concerned with the impact this is having on our water supplies. Unfortunately,dry years seem to be challenging California's water supplies on a more frequent basis. Almost a year ago.the water leaders in the Sacramento Valley convened in Richvale to evaluate the current challenges facing our water supplies and to plan for the dry year we are currently experiencing. While the impact of the dry year is significant,the actions of water management professionals at the local and state level,as well as considerable efficient water management investments that have been implemented over the past couple of decades,are helping guide us as we face another dry year, The attached documents,which were developed this past summer,describe how water resources managers in the Sacramento Valley are working on a collaborative,regional effort to address the dry conditions in the Sacramento Valley and throughout the state.As you will see,we are committed to meet the water supply needs in the Sacramento Valley for cities,farms,birds,fish and recreation;while,to the extent possible,also helping to meet water supply needs in other parts of the state suffering shortages. If you have any questions,please contact David Guy or Todd Manley at(916)442-8333. ,i ccicot Slal. ic 33 ,Scaa. oi 0.Cdfen` IF9l iL Ttcllwpc 9lol i t}S3t3 Fa mileiIll,}AAi-A ) urihmts,.-i 29 NorthernCalifiandaWaterModation t:- vie rlural Draught Planning -`'r ,� e / . I Northern California - Water Association To advawe the economic,social and envirma ergal susGdmbddy ofhorthem Califenria by enhancing acid preserving the water rights,supplies and wafer quality. Preparing for Drought in the Sacramento Valley August,2013 The Northern California Water Association(NCWA)and its members manage surface and groundwater supplies in the Sacramento Valley--the northern part of the Great Central Valley. The region is blessed with natural resources and good quality water supplies that support a rich mosaic of inter-dependent farmlands,rural communities and cities,habitat for birds and migrating waterfowl along the Pacific Flyway(including wildlife refuges,ricelands and managed wetlands),spawning grounds for numerous salmon and steelhead,and recreational opportunities. Droughts are an increasingly challenging part of water management in California.and droughts have a significant effect on the Sacramento Valley.As part of our ongoing efforts to prepare for dry conditions,the NCWA Board of Directors and water resource managers throughout the region convened earlier this year on January 30 in Richvale to discuss how the Sacramento Valley can better prepare for the next drought(See drounht assessment planning.)NCWA also has a Water Management-Task Force that brings together water leaders throughout the Sacramento Valley to advance active water management inthe region to assure more reliable water supplies during dry periods.These discussions have led to a heightened awareness in the Sacramento Valley about the need to better prepare for future dry conditions,including climate change scenarios that could lead to more extreme dry periods.The themes and recommendations that follow were informed by these meetings and the vigorous discussions that have taken place in board rooms across the region. This document will first provide a historical perspective on drought in the Sacramento Valley, which is instructive on how to better prepare in the future.This will be followed by a general description of how the Sacramento Valley has been impacted by droughts,how it has responded to these droughts,and how water resources managers are planning for future dry conditions. Finally,we provide a set of policy recommendations that we believe will assist state and federal agencies,working with Sacramento Valley water resources managers,better preparefor the next drought. I. A Historical Perspective on Droneht and the Sacramento Valley The Sacramento Valley is challenged by both ravaging floods and droughts,which have had a significant impact on the Valley and its inhabitants. For purposes of this discussion. we consider drought as a prolonged period of dryness or a chronic shortage of water. Historically,the droughts correspond to critical water years as defined by the Department of Water Resources in its"Sacramento Valley Water Year Hydrologic Classification." To 30 NortimenCabiontiaWaterAradation � � � Drought`Planning put this in perspective,since 1906,there have been 14 critical years in the Sacramento Valley,including four of the six years from 1929 through 1934.both 1976-77,and five of the seven years between 1988 and 1994(see attached graphs).The two most recent of these periods are illustrative to understand how the Sacramento Valley responds to different drought scenarios. The 1976-77 drought was the sharpest on record. The flows in rivers and streams were low and affected the ability to divert water throughout the region;several water districts in the Sacramento Valley did not deliver any water to their landowners;Central Valley Project (CVP)water service contracts were reduced to 25%of contract supplies;CVP water right settlement contracts were reduced to 75%;CVP urban contractors were reduced to 50%: and State Water Project(SWP)exchange contracts were reduced to 50%. The 1988.1994 drought was the most prolonged drought in recenthistory and led to major water policy changes in California. In the Sacramento Valley,stream flows and surface water supplies were reduced significantly across the Valley. As an example,the CVP water service contracts along the west side of the Sacramento Valley were reduced to 25% in 1991and 1992.and 35%in 1994;CVP water right settlement contracts along the river were reduced to 75%in 1991, 1992,and 1994;and SWP exchange contracts were reduced by 50%in 1991 and 1992.During this time,CVP urban contractors received between 50% and 75%of their supply or historical use. As a result of the 1988-1994 drought and 23 counties declaring drought emergencies, Governor Wilson in 1991(in the third year of a seven year drought)created the Drought Water Bank and the Department of Water Resources(DWR)purchased 821,045 acre-feet of water in the Sacramento Valley. In 1991,water in the Sacramento Valley was made available by substituting groundwater for surface water and by both crop idling and shifting. In the next year, 1992,only groundwater substitution was pursued for this program. Although the Drought Water Bank served its purpose and avoided a water crisis in California,it was hampered by unclear processes that created tremendous fear and acrimony in the Sacramento Valley.This led to numerous local measures,such as county groundwater export ordinances,that ate deeply imbedded in the Northern California culture and landscape today.Additionally,the Legislature and DWR also developed additional rules for water transfers.Perhaps most importantly,water resources managers in the region advanced various new water management tools to better understand and manage our precious water resources,including monitoring,modeling,basin management objectives. and other planning tools. In 2000 Governor Gray Davis convened a drought panel and appointed several representatives from Northern California to serve on the panel,including at the time: NCWA Chair Don Bransford,Butte County Supervisor Jane Dolan and Yuba County Supervisor Brent Hastey. The panel made several important recommendations to the Governor on how to prepare for the next drought,including a 1)Critical Water Shortage Reduction Marketing Program;2)Assistance to Small Water Systems and Homeowners in Rural Communities;3)Local Agency Groundwater Programs;4)Local Agency Integrated Water Management Plans;5)Drought-Related Research and Public Outreach Activities and 6)Accelerate Funding Assistance to Local Agencies. In July 2000 the Governor issued 2 31 Nort6maCabiondaWaterAssoelasion A Drou ht Plannin 9 9 Preparing for California's Next Drought.Several of these measures have been implemented and provide a framework for drought preparation today. In 2008 and 2009,CVP water service contracts along the west side of the Sacramento Valley were reduced to 40%and CVP urban contractors were reduced to 75%in 2008. Governor Schwarzenegger issued Executive Orders and drought proclamations for most of the San Joaquin Valley—the southern part of the Central Valley.This led to DWR developing the California Drou¢htCantinizencp Plan in November 2010.The purpose of the California Drought Contingency Plan is to articulate a coordinated State government strategy for preparing,responding to,and recovering from drought.This included a 2009 Drought Water Bank.In 2012,DWR also prepared a Climate Change Handbook. H. A Snapshot:How is the Sacramento Valley Impacted during Drought? During the previous droughts,Sacramento Valley water supplies were generally affected in the following manner. • Surface water supplies are significantly reduced for use in certain parts of the Sacramento Valley based on contract limitations,water rights priorities,conditions in SWRCB orders(i.e.,Term 91),and decrees.Both surface storage and direct diversions are limited.This,in turn,reduces surface water use in these areas,which also reduces percolation and recharge to groundwater aquifers during these times. • Groundwater pumping is significantly increased for all uses. For example,in 1977 more than 900 groundwater wells were developed in the five northern counties in the Sacramento Valley. This more than doubled the number of wells in this area. For context,when the availability of surface supplies are reduced,landowners generally increase groundwater pumping in areas where groundwater resources are available. Additionally,as the surface supplies tighten,less return flows are available for downstream use,which also increases groundwater pumping in these areas.it is also important to recognize that the groundwater aquifers are more sustainable during drought as a result of surface supplies and the availability and use of surface water in non-drought years,rather than the groundwater pumping that would occur otherwise. Conjunctive water management by water suppliers throughout the region has helped stabilize many groundwater basins in the region,which otherwise would be further depleted.Importantly,increased groundwater use is for beneficial purposes in the Sacramento Valley. • Small water systems and individuals relying on less reliable groundwater resources (i.e.,foothill areas with fractured rock aquifers)feel the first impact from droughts and they havelimited options to meet water supply needs.DWR and rural counties have focused on this as part of its drought planning efforts. • Water storage is depleted.The Sacramento Valley,as a managed water system,depends upon carryover storage from previous years to provide essential water supplies for all beneficial purposes within the Valley,including farms,cold water for fisheries,cities and rural communities,birds and recreation.The importance of surface storage becomes acute in dry years. 3 32 I.I„t>,,,•cablorniaW,e r I Plarinrt g • Less water is generally available in the system so in-stream flows are reduced and the associated habitat for fish and other aquatic species may be impacted. III. How Does the Sacramento Valley Respond to Drought The primary response to drought in the Sacramento Valley is groundwater pumping by landowners.Importantly,when land does not have access to surface supplies or surface water is deemed too expensive or unsuitable for irrigation practices,landowners will pump groundwater resources. For surface supplies,local agencies prepare and implement contingency plans and conservation measures that internally allocate water and help contain costs for landowners and water users during shortages.Each agency is unique in the way they approach dry periods based on their water rights,contracts and the hydrology in the area.The following are the types of actions the various water management agencies implement in the Sacramento Valley: • Neighbor to neighbor water transfers or exchanges to help meet demands in certain areas. These arrangements primarily occur within districts,but districts also pursue creative transfers with neighboring districts. For example,many farmers redirect their overall water supplies to a certain portion of their lands to make sure water is available for permanent plantings. • Internal management opportunities to maximize their supplies by recapturing or recycling surface water leaving their property or facilities. This,in turn,may degrade water quality and reduce water supplies for downstream water users,both inside and outside the specific district. • Assisting landowners in their efforts to shill crops or other plantings that require less water or can avoid irrigation. IV. Looking to the Future As water resources managers and their consultants plan for future droughts,there are several important elements that will be considered: A. The Changing Landscape in the Sacramento Valley The Sacramento Valley is a dynamic region and it continues to evolve in ways that affect water use and management in the region. Many of these changes have become more visible and place pressure on the region during dry periods. • The Sacramento Valley population continues to increase,with people generally relying upon additional groundwater use for their domestic water supplies. • The Sacramento Valley,like the rest of the Central Valley,has seen a significant increase in irrigated acreage and permanent plantings(i.e.,trees).These factors result in additional demand and reduced elasticity with respect to water supplies 4 33 Non6thcationdawaterascagfon irti .. ... Drought Planning rt 9 9 during all years.Groundwater is pumped to support most of these new plantings and demand,which has led to greater pressure on the groundwater resources, particularly during drought.New irrigation technology has also changed the way water is applied,which has affected the recharge of groundwater resources. Additionally,permanent crops may also require water earlier in the year for frost protection and late in the season to maintain soil moisture until fall rains. • In pursuit of the Central Valley Joint Venture water supply plan,the wildlife refuges and managed wetlands are utilizing more water throughout the year, including fall water for rice straw decomposition and the related waterfowl habitat. Most of this water is conveyed to these lands by water agencies as part of their integrated operations. • Urban areas,including the Cities of Davis and Woodland and the East Bay Municipal Utility District,will utilize surface water supplies from the Sacramento River. • Additional regulatory requirements have reduced the amount of water available for use within the Sacramento Valley and the State. This includes SWRCB decisions, the Central Valley Project Improvement Act(CVPL4),Federal Energy Regulatory Commission(FERC)requirements and other regulatory actions.(See Retrospective Analysis.) B. External Pressures that Affect the Sacramento Valley during Drought The leaders in the Sacramento Valley are cognizant of the challenges facing the rest of the state during drought and are aware that much of California has and will continue to look to Sacramento Valley water supplies during drought conditions. California's populationis expected to cross the 50 million mark in 2049 and grow to nearly 52.7 million by 2060,according to recent population projections by the California Department of Finance.The 2060 population will be 39 percent higher than the state's most recent 2012 population estimate. The demand for water is hardening in many other parts of the state,including water for the increasing population,the industry to support this population and many permanent plantings that need water every year. The reliance in California on the SWP and the CVP,which have their major facilities located within the Sacramento Valley(i.e., Lakes Oroville,Shasta and Folsom),is tested and heightened during a drought as the economic forces to the south and in the Bay Area seek additional water supplies. To better prepare for this pressure,NCWA and water interests throughout the region have been working with The state and federal agencies and water suppliers in other parts of the state.This includes opportunities for re-operating facilities,forbearance agreements and water transfers.These efforts will help meet water demands in other parts of the state,but only if water uses in the Sacramento Valley are met and The water rights and contracts are fully honored and protected. 5 34 N•K6•mCebdomfww•s s.omtm• Drought Planning C. Active Water Management:Sustainability in the Sacramento Valley NCWA and water resources managers throughout the Sacramento Valley are committed to advance the economic,social,and environmental sustainability of the Sacramento Valley by enhancing and preserving its water rights,supplies,and water quality.This is particularly important during dry periods.These water resources managers are actively managing the region's precious water resources to support the rich mosaic of inter-dependent farmlands,habitat for birds and migrating waterfowl along the Pacific Flyway(including wildlife refuges,ricelands and managed wetlands), meandering rivers that support fisheries,wildlife,and recreation,and the cities and rural communities sprinkled throughout the region.The overarching goal is to continually improve water management as a means of achieving regional sustainability with respect to water resources in the region.Importantly,the ongoing sustainability initiative in the Sacramento Valley advances the state policy"to improve regional self- reliance for water through investment in water use efficiency,water recycling, advanced water technologies,local and regional water supply projects and improved regional coordination of local and regional water supply efforts"(Water Code§85021.) To facilitate and coordinate these efforts in the Sacramento Valley,NCWA has convened a Water Management Task Force to bring leaders throughout the region together to think about new water management opportunities and to engage thought- leaders from throughout the state to assist in this process.To better understand and portray the Sacramento River watershed—the Water Management Task Force commissioned a technical report articulatingliYficient MaterManagement for Renionai sS,rslainahillirr in the Sacramento Vallee.The technical report,which brought together a team of water management experts,provides a sophisticated foundation to initiate the process to evaluate improved water management opportunities in the Sacramento Valley and the trade-offs that will need to be considered in making future management decisions in this region.The report articulates a framework for addressing water use efficiency in the Sacramento Valley(given the Valley's unique hydrologic characteristics and existing condition),establishes a basis for assessing and identifying water use efficiency improvements,and provides a basis for constructive dialogue.The report builds upon decades of continually improving water use efficiency in the Sacramento Valley at the farm,refuge,district,and basin level. Importantly,the report is part of our ongoing effort to seek broad input and rigorous discourse on water management in the Sacramento Valley and to continually improve our understanding and efforts to actively manage water resources in the region.For purposes of drought planning,the report provides the context in which water resources managers are actively making water management decisions in the Sacramento Valley. V. A Policy Framework to Assist the Sacramento Valley daring Drought As California prepares for the next drought,we believe that the following provides a policy framework for state and federal agencies to partner and cooperate with Sacramento Valley interests. This,in turn,will help better prepare the Sacramento Valley and the State of California for the next drought. 6 35 Northern CaIt iaWatn Drought Planning 1) Ensure System Stability. As previously discussed,the ability to utilize surface supplies during drought is critical to all of the beneficial purposes in the Sacramento Valley. Any drought program must adhere strictly to California's water rights priority system and must also adhere strictly to the contracts and commitments and policies articulated in slate and federal law regarding the areas and watersheds of origin. The ability to protect water rights and the ability to utilize and manage water for all uses during drought is essential to the Sacramento Valley.Federal and state agencies should help stabilize the water system in California and they should refrain from simply relying on the reallocation of existing supplies to address water supply shortages in other parts of the state. 2) Promote Sustainable Local Groundwater Management and ConjunctiveManagetnent. As this document highlights,the region's groundwater resources are critical during dry periods.Having sustainable groundwater resources is critical to the long-term viability of the region's economic prosperity and environmental well-being. The protection of the groundwater resources can best be accomplished through the implementation of local groundwater management plans and through the regional coordination of these resources. As an example,DWR's local assistance program(i.e.,AB 303 program)has been very helpful to local entities in developing,refining and implementing groundwater management plans and projects. The various Integrated Regional Water Management Plans(IRWMPs)have also served a valuable role in coordination.The continuation of these efforts and the further empowerment of local entities to actively manage groundwater is important to prepare for the next drought. 3) Recognize the Value of Sutface Storage. The value of surface storage becomes very acute during drought when the increment of stored water is critical to meet the various purposes throughout.the Sacramento Valley and the State of California. This,coupled with new challenges posed by climate change,highlight the importance of surface storage and strongly suggests that additional storage must be part of a long-term strategy to provide water and food security for California. The state and federal agencies should promote opportunities to maximize the use of existing storage(i.e., reoperation)and work with local joint powers authorities to conclude the ongoing storage investigations,such as Sites Reservoir,and move forward with the necessary efforts to more effectively manage water supplies in California. 4) Better Coordinate Project Operations.With the cornerstone facilities in the Sacramento Valley,we encourage the operators of the CVP and the SWP to better plan and coordinate their operations in tandem with water resources managers in the Sacramento Valley to help meet the various beneficial water demands within the Sacramento Valley,as well as project deliveries outside the region. 5) Invest in Upstream Infrastructure. In addition to honoring area of origin protections,a mechanism(including funding when appropriate)is necessary for local water agencies to access the water supplies in the region.This includes new infrastructure and upgrading existing infrastructure for current and future uses of water for farms,wildlife refuges and other managed wetlands,and cities and towns. This ability to deliver water for these various purposes is particularly important during drought. 7 36 t ca6vuwat .6.«rank v, ' s � ��Drought Planning 6) Facilitate Sound Water Transfers. Water transfers can provide improved reliability, local and regional operational flexibility,and environmental benefits. Intra-basin water transfers,sometimes referred to as neighbor to neighbor water transfers,are critical for the region to meetits water supply needs during dry periods. Additionally,during a drought,strategic water transfers outside the region on a temporary basis are important to protect water rights and can help meet water demands in other parts of the state, while reducing regulatory pressure on the region. Federal and state agencies should facilitate these efforts through the establishment of appropriate policies and rules before the next drought. 7) Consider RegulatoryPolicies that Reflect Drought Conditions.California's regulatory policies do not always reflect dry conditions in California and the actions that are necessary to manage water supplies for various beneficial purposes.It is important that state and federal agencies incorporate drought planning in their regulatory processes and they fully understand the implications of such policies during drought conditions. 8) Implement Cost-Containment Policies. The ability to access surface supplies in an affordable manner is critical during drought when less water is available for use. With respect to CVP water supplies,it is important that the Bureau of Reclamation implement cost-containment measures,including a process that reduces discretionary expenditures that are passed on to contractors during these conditions. 9) Recognize Energy Issues Related to Drought. A sound state policy to prepare for drought must look beyond the pure hydrologic issues and consider related issues,such as the availability and cost of energy related to water. This relationship will be particularly important during droughts. VI. What's at Stake! The Sacramento Valley is"on the leading edge of ecological and economical sustainability, it's also an exceptional place to live,work and raise a family.The Sacramento Valley joins together a world-renowned mosaic of natural abundance:productive farmlands,wildlife refuges and managed wetlands,cities and rural communities,and meandering rivers that support and feed fisheries and natural habitats.Through efficient management of the region's water resources,the Sacramento Valley will continue to provide what's essential to California's future success and prosperity.Nourishment and sustenance from the fields, habitats for fish and wildlife,recreation and a special quality of life—the Sacramento Valley is home to all of this,and more." These words capture and embrace the Sacramento Valley and are a reminder about What'., or Stake in the ongoing efforts to provide water for this special region,particularly during dry periods. NC W A and water resources managers in the region are committed to the continuous improvement of water management in the region,with an eye to provide water for the various beneficial purposes during dry periods.We welcome any thoughts as we prepare for drought. Please call with any questions or thoughts at 916.442.8333. 5 37 Nort>,.recalownWar r Association rF watt Drought Planning { { c< m2 j j } `4' t� { ce 0 F` I � � Ocb < o , ONr i % 111111111111111111 - _ 4► t [ 1 I ss is t!V f f_ a) ti f .1 i1 l N N _ r m >" 1 1 rO1 E 1 c CM 0 > fi s = x p m t I +' " C f 0 I I j g /� 6 O _ .J. {. Po u iAe�Rs I Z ` ; f 1 u % a w < � = f B< s //� i s@ � £ 1 1 = g V/ S v li=W s f < = n a_ `_ b. g fl < X co 1l1 V M Cl +- O Ol co 1- co N C M Cl - O% xaWI n 5 38 NorthemaltiondaWatorAssociatteet ..... -;, ,,, . Drought Planning ' iv n c. rr. .. ?� fal C: X12 aiii K13 2I 143 y i _EI • , ! \y ; Al : I 1 z- M CS 1 1, c• I, f I I • Iiko ..” 6 ,_ Wrt it-m f V 'Q f 1 I ';:i. C .153e 1 ,s, 41 a1 t 1I f _ r i . m i 1 I: ,�.. s. ,.: N y co C. p 5 R r O 1 1 > i .iI c Q tar :or c 'Q ns CI a1 0] f<'I r E E E - CIS IL z c f I el c 10 > 3 U t, f4 z2 aur § ,!< U ` :� S B _ S ! . 1 ss -----s I $ g a yrs .k I tD L: P r N O T m r m N V dl Cl r O _, 3 r Y xapui z Fl 39 NosIssuCablossaWstsfAssmuss ..✓� �t "fir �.. `.. �t,r Water Notes < ., ,, 4. '40L - r ` 4. it "^ 'r v;ifKati 'i t' tl 4�ti a�r� ..y v� rev '.. # J. .fitj {�` f'`;�Y u t 't "Swp Art r` � 9' x , s I1� 3� , r � -0r ,7 w s q f Nti 40 ** • ca,rwat. NCWA Membership Thank you for reading this edition of the NCWA Conveyance. If you are not currently a NC WA Member,we encourage you to join. Below is a form for Membership. If you have any questions,or would like to join NCWA,please call Todd Manley at (916)442-8333. Membership Water Purveyor: Dues Structure: Dues Rate: number of acres x$1.85 = __Annual Dues for 2013 The dues rate is based upon the number of irrigable acres. Irrigable acreage is defined as the total acreage(that can be irrigated) within an individual purveyor's or water user's service area that is in agricultural production and for waterfowl purposes. The NCWA Board of Directors shall consider specific circumstances in which a significant difference exists between the acreage actually irrigated and the acreage within the purveyor's service area. Contact Information: Billing Information: Contact. Contact: Title: Title: Address: Address: Phone: Phone: E-mail: E-mail: rz Effci ee� onal. 41 N CalliorniaWaterAssociation