ITEM:

CONSENT CALENDAR

 

5.

Receive PHASE 1 AQUIFER STORAGE AND RECOVERY PROJECT Water Year 2009 Summary Report

 

Meeting Date:

March 15, 2010

Budgeted: 

N/A

 

From:

Darby Fuerst,

Program/

N/A

 

General Manager

Line Item No.:

 

Prepared By:

Joe Oliver

Cost Estimate:

N/A

 

General Counsel Review:  N/A

Committee Recommendation:  N/A

CEQA Compliance:  N/A

 

SUMMARY:  A draft report documenting the summary of operations for Water Year 2009 at the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District (MPWMD or District) Phase 1 Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) site (formerly known as the Santa Margarita ASR test well facility) has been prepared by the District’s technical consultant on the project, Pueblo Water Resources, Inc.  The draft report has been provided to the Board under separate cover, and can be viewed on the MPWMD home webpage under Water Supply Projects at http://www.mpwmd.dst.ca.us/wrd/asr/WY2009_draft_report_feb10.pdf. The report documents the ASR activities conducted at the Phase 1 ASR site during WY 2009, including:  (a) dual-well injection well testing and performance, (b) seasonal recharge operations, and (c) water-quality monitoring.

    

RECOMMENDATION:  The Board should receive the draft report documenting ASR activities at the Phase 1 ASR site during WY 2009.  If this item is adopted along with the Consent Calendar, the report will be finalized and distributed, subject to inclusion of comments from the District or other interested parties.

 

BACKGROUND:  The District has been studying the Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) concept in the Seaside Basin since 1996.  The concept entails diverting excess winter flows from the Carmel River Basin approximately six miles to the hydrologically-separate Seaside Basin, where the water is injected into specially-constructed ASR wells, for later recovery during dry periods.  Prior to injection, the diverted water is treated so that it meets potable drinking water standards.   In 1998, the District constructed a pilot injection well, known as the Paso Robles Test Injection Well (PRTIW) in the northeastern portion of the City of Seaside.  The pilot well is 12 inches in diameter, 460 feet deep, and screened in the Paso Robles Formation aquifer.  Injection testing during WYs 1999 and 2000 at the pilot well provided data that allowed the District to proceed with construction of a larger injection test well, SMTIW No. 1 (now referred to as ASR Well No. 1) in 2001 on the former Fort Ord Military Reservation, approximately 300 feet east of the PRTIW.  ASR Well No. 1 is 18 inches in diameter, 720 feet deep, and screened in the Santa Margarita Sandstone aquifer.  The Santa Margarita aquifer has more favorable hydrogeologic characteristics, and is therefore more conducive to a full-scale ASR project in the basin.  SMTIW No. 2 (now referred to as ASR Well No. 2) was drilled in 2007 and equipped with permanent pump and motor in 2008.  ASR Well No. 2 is larger and deeper, at 22 inches in diameter and 790 feet deep.  The draft report has been sent to California American Water staff for their review and comment.  The report, once finalized, will be provided to the resource agencies that are overseeing authorization of the ASR activities.  The report will also be a useful reference document to support future operations and testing at the Phase 1 ASR Project site.

 

IMPACT ON STAFF/RESOURCES:  A significant staff effort has been expended planning, coordinating, and overseeing work on the District’s ASR testing program in the Seaside Basin.  It is planned to continue this level of effort during the remainder of this year and into the next recharge season.

 

EXHIBIT

None

 

 

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