ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE

 

4.

CONSIDER EXPENDITURE OF BUDGETED FUNDS FOR PREPARATION OF PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF TULARCITOS GROUNDWATER BASIN – POTENTIAL FUTURE AQUIFER STORAGE AND RECOVERY SITE

 

Meeting Date:

November 13, 2012

Budgeted: 

Yes

 

From:

David J. Stoldt,

Program/

Water Supply Projects

 

General Manager

Line Item No.:    

1-7-1

 

Prepared By:

Joe Oliver

Cost Estimate:

$20,000

 

General Counsel Review:  N/A

Committee Recommendation:  The Administrative Committee reviewed this item on November 13, 2012 and recommended __________.

CEQA Compliance:  N/A

 

SUMMARY:  In addition to the Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) expansion opportunities that the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District (MPWMD or District) has been pursuing in the Seaside Groundwater Basin, interest has also been expressed through the MPWMD board's Water Supply Planning Committee to investigate possible use of ASR technology at other locations.  In particular, development of an ASR project within the Carmel River Watershed in the Tularcitos Creek Basin has been identified as a potential supplemental water supply option for the MPWMD area.  The project concept would be to divert Carmel River flows during high-flow winter periods to underground aquifer storage in an area of the Tularcitos Basin, for subsequent recovery and use during summer or extended dry periods.  Recovery concepts include extraction and delivery directly to the Cal-Am distribution system and/or delivery via summertime surface flow releases providing streamflow enhancement.

 

The area of interest in the Tularcitos Basin is outside of the MPWMD boundaries and accordingly, there is little technical information currently available.  The initial effort envisioned under this item would include review of existing data sources, compilation of existing well and streamflow records, creation of a database to support the investigation, and development of preliminary hydrogeologic maps and figures.

 

RECOMMENDATION:  District staff recommends that the Board authorize expenditures up to $20,000 for development of reconnaissance-level technical information regarding the Tularcitos Basin, to support the planned feasibility analysis of a potential future ASR project in this area.  This item has been discussed at several recent meetings of the District board’s Water Supply Planning Committee.  District staff will continue with preparation of a Work Plan for this ASR expansion concept that will be reviewed with the Water Supply Planning Committee if this item is approved along with the Consent Calendar.

 

BACKGROUND:  The MPWMD currently holds a water right issued by the State Water Resources Control Board (Permit 20808B) that could be the basis for the additional water rights that would be needed for potential future ASR expansion in the Tularcitos Basin.  The work envisioned under this item would compile preliminary technical data in support of a full feasibility analysis of this project concept.  Existing reports and available records will be compiled to develop a better reconnaissance-level understanding of this project.  Assuming the results from this preliminary phase of work are favorable, planned future steps would include more detailed and specific ASR project concepts, coordination with property owners and resource management agencies, and site-specific pilot investigations.

 

IMPACT ON STAFF/RESOURCES:  Planning, design, construction and operation of potential water-supply augmentation projects are ongoing significant staff commitments, as reflected in the District’s Strategic Plan and annual budgets.  Funds for the proposed work are in the MPWMD FY 2012-13 budget under Line Item 1-7-1 (ASR Expansion Study).

 

EXHIBIT

None

 

 

U:\staff\Board_Committees\Admin\2012\20121113\04\item4.docx