ITEM:

PUBLIC HEARING

 

13.

CONSIDER ADOPTION OF OCTOBER THROUGH DECEMBER 2014 QUARTERLY WATER SUPPLY STRATEGY AND BUDGET

 

Meeting Date:

September 15, 2014

Budgeted: 

N/A

 

From:

David J. Stoldt,

Program/

N/A

 

General Manager

Line Item No.:

 

Prepared By:

Kevan Urquhart &

Cost Estimate:

N/A

 

Jonathan Lear

 

 

 

General Counsel Review:  N/A

Committee Recommendation:  N/A

CEQA Compliance:  Notice of Exemption, CEQA, Article 19, Section 15301 (Class 1)

ESA Compliance:  Consistent with the 2001 Conservation Agreement, 2009 Settlement Agreement between the National Marine Fisheries Service and California American Water to minimize take of listed steelhead in the Carmel River, and SWRCB WR Order Nos. 95-10, 98-04, 2002-0002, and 2009-0060.

 

SUMMARY:  The Board will accept public comment and take action on the October through December 2014 Quarterly Water Supply Strategy and Budget for the California American Water (Cal-Am) Main and Laguna Seca Subarea Water Distribution Systems (WDS).  The proposed budget tables will be included as Exhibit 13-A and 13-B, and will show monthly production by source of supply that is required to meet projected customer demand in Cal-Am’s Main system and Laguna Seca Subarea systems (i.e., Ryan Ranch, Bishop, and Hidden Hills) during the October through December 2014 period.  The proposed strategy and budgets are designed to maximize the long-term production potential and protect the environmental quality of the Seaside Groundwater and Carmel River Basins.

 

Exhibit 13-A and 13-B will not be available for inclusion in the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District (MPWMD or District) Board packet due to the timing of the interagency meeting to agree on the targets prior to the Board meeting, but these exhibits will be available for distribution on the date of the Board meeting.

 

RECOMMENDATION:  The Board should receive public input, close the Public Hearing, and discuss the proposed quarterly water supply budget.  District staff will recommend adoption of the proposed budget.  The budget tables will be described in greater detail in Exhibit 13-C, Quarterly Water Supply Strategy Report:  October - December 2014, to be distributed on the date of the Board meeting.

 

BACKGROUND:  The Quarterly Water Supply Strategy and Budget pertains to production within Cal-Am’s Main and Laguna Seca Subarea systems for the three-month period of October, November, and December 2014.  Staff from the District and Cal-Am will meet to cooperatively review, refine and approve this strategy on September 9, 2014.  Staff from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), and State Water Resources Control Board’s, Division of Water Rights (SWRCB-DWR) are expected to attend.

 

Rule 101, Section B of the District Rules and Regulations requires that a Public Hearing be held at the time of determination of the District water supply management strategy.  Notice of this Public Hearing has been published in The Herald.  Adoption of the quarterly water supply strategy and budget is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements per Article 19, Section 15301 (Class 1).  A Notice of Exemption will be filed with the Monterey County Clerk's office, pending Board action on this item.

 

EXHIBITS (will be distributed at the 9/15/2014 Board Meeting)

13-A    Quarterly Water Supply Strategy and Budget for CAW Main System:  October - December 2014

13-B    Quarterly Water Supply Strategy and Budget for CAW Laguna Seca Subarea:  October - December 2014

13-C    Quarterly Water Supply Strategy and Budget Report:  October - December 2014              

 

 

 

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