EXHIBIT 2-A

 

 

 

 

 

 

District Drills New Aquifer Storage and Recovery Well

 

An important initial step to help address pressing water issues on the Monterey Peninsula is nearing completion.  In August 2006, the MPWMD Board of Directors certified the Environmental Impact Report for the MPWMD Phase 1 Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) Project.  The District obtained necessary federal and local permits, and in December 2006 began construction of its second ASR Well at its Santa Margarita Test Injection Site.

 

The new well will work in tandem with the Water District’s existing full-scale test well.  Together, the two wells will result in a maximum diversion of 2,400 acre-feet per year (AFY) from the Carmel River (in wet years), and an average increased yield of 920 AFY.**  Based on the performance of the Phase 1 Project, additional phases will be considered in the future. ASR is complementary to other water augmentation projects that have been proposed to address the Monterey Peninsula’s long-term supply needs.

 

In a cooperative effort with California American Water (CAW), the District performed environmental review and helped CAW obtain permits for a temporary pipeline that will bring treated river water to the ASR well site and enable greater operational flexibility for the CAW system in the Seaside area. 

 

ASR entails diverting excess water flow from the Carmel River during winter and spring periods.  The water is treated and carried to the Seaside Groundwater Basin through CAW’s water pipes.  The water is then injected and stored in the Seaside Basin, and later recovered and used by CAW customers, offsetting a portion of CAW’s need to pump from the Carmel River during drier times when threatened species and river habitat are at greater risk.  ASR also helps to comply with a March 2006 Superior Court Order to restore water levels in the over-drafted Seaside Groundwater Basin.   The reliability of community supply benefits by using water from different sources when it is most plentiful and does the least environmental harm.  Since 1998, the District in cooperation with CAW, has injected approximately 1,863 AF of excess winter flow from the Carmel River into the Seaside Basin. 

 

 

[Insert ASR Construction Photo]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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** An acre-foot of water is enough to cover a football field with one foot of water, or supply four Monterey peninsula homes with water for a year.

Financial Update

 

Total revenues received in Fiscal Year (FY) 2005-06 were $4,281,870 while expenditures totaled $5,104,181.  The difference of $822,311 was funded from general operating reserves set aside in previous years.  The deficit was mostly attributable to one-time legal costs associated with an adjudication lawsuit related to the Seaside Groundwater Basin.  As of June 30, 2006, a balance of $1,399,680 remained in the general operating reserves account.

 

The adopted budget for FY 2006-07 anticipates revenues of $8,288,900 and expenditures of $8,143,600, with the difference of $145,300 being used to replenish general operating reserves.  The budget includes approximately $2,500,000 of one-time expenditures to fund work towards completion of the District’s Phase I Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) Project.  The budget anticipates that these ASR costs will be funded by a debt issuance, so the revenue portion of the budget contains an offsetting amount of anticipated bond proceeds.

 

The FY 2006-07 budget was prepared using a series of strategies developed by the staff and adopted by the Board in 2004 for balancing the budget and discontinuing the use of general operating reserves. 

                                                                            

Existing and Future Water Supply Needs

 

At the request of the MPWMD Board, and working with the District’s Policy and Technical Advisory Committees, staff developed updated estimates of existing and future water needs in the District.  These estimates will be used to size various water supply project alternatives that have been proposed.  Existing water demand was estimated based on reported production over the last ten years, adjusted for the above-normal rainfall conditions that occurred during this period.  Future water demand was estimated based on General Plan “build-out” projections provided by each of the land use jurisdictions within the District.  Specifically, staff estimated that existing water demand in the District has averaged 19,200 acre-feet per year for the last ten years and that future water demand in the District would total 4,500 acre-feet per year. 

 

Based on the existing demand estimate, staff estimated that approximately 12,500 acre-feet of new supplies must be developed to replace existing supplies that are being produced in excess of currently and potentially recognized, and adjudicated, water rights.  As a result, at its November 2006 regular meeting the Board tentatively determined that approximately 17,000 acre-feet per year of new supplies must be developed to reliably meet existing and future water demand within the District.  The Board referred this target number to the jurisdictions for requested comment in early 2007.    

 

Accomplishments and Milestones

 

Water Supply

 

Ø      Updated comprehensive matrix on water supply concepts that could meet community needs.  Seven concepts include land-based and offshore (ship-based) desalination, aquifer storage and recovery in the Seaside Basin, and purified recycled water.

Ø      Certified Environmental Impact Report/Assessment for proposed Phase 1 ASR Project and CAW temporary pipeline.  The project entails a second ASR well at the existing MPWMD test site. 

Ø      Obtained temporary water right and diverted 411 AF of Carmel River water for injection into the Seaside Basin.

Ø      Finalized cooperative Management and Operations Agreement with CAW for existing and future ASR facilities.

Ø      Participated in Monterey County led meeting of water district, city and county representatives regarding possible formation of a regional water supply planning entity called the Monterey Bay Regional Water Authority.

Ø      Selected as one of six statewide finalists to receive Clair C. Hill Award for Excellence in Water Resources Management.

 

Environmental Protection

 

Ø      Led interagency technical advisory committee to develop interim actions and study plan for long-term management of the Carmel River Lagoon and Barrier Beach.

Ø      Conducted emergency bank stabilization work along a portion of the Carmel River.

Ø      Monitored use of Carmel River habitat by indicator bird species at 10 locations; assessed wildlife habitat availability trends in streamside vegetation areas.

Ø      Maintained streamflow gaging stations at four sites on the Carmel River and 11 sites on tributary creeks to better assess surface water resources within the District.

Ø      Counted 350 adult steelhead at the San Clemente Dam fish ladder to assess the winter run.

Ø      Collected surface water quality data from three Carmel River sites and water temperature data from eight locations to assess steelhead rearing habitat conditions.

Ø      Conducted steelhead juvenile population surveys throughout the length of the Carmel River and coordinated interagency and volunteer effort to sample the Carmel River Lagoon to determine the number of juvenile steelhead present.

Ø      Collected groundwater level data at 70 wells and groundwater quality data at 25 wells as part of the District’s monitoring program the Carmel River and Seaside Groundwater Basins

 

Conservation/Permitting

 

Ø      Approved 544 rebate applications for a total of $69,550 resulting in annual water savings of 10.54 acre-feet.

Ø      Issued 1,410 water permits and performed 1,694 inspections resulting in annual water savings of 33 acre-feet.

Ø      Issued 63 water use permits.

Ø      Joined the California Urban Water Conservation Council as a signatory to the Memorandum of Understanding Regarding Water Conservation in California.

Ø      Actively participated on the Bay Area Water Conservation Coordinators team, a resource for conservation efforts, programs, studies and experiences with various water use efficiency technologies and measures

Ø      Initiated and led the regional collaboration on the Water-wise Landscaping for Monterey County water conservation software effort.

Ø      Organized, budgeted, and coordinated all efforts for the highly successful Water-wise Landscape Symposium and Vendor Expo held in Carmel Valley.

Ø      Participated in the Water Awareness Committee of Monterey County’s 2nd Annual Water-wise Landscape Design Competition at the Monterey County Fair.  Staff judged the garden displays in the horticultural center for promotion of the Water Awareness Committee’s Retire Your Turf campaign. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revisions to Water Permit and Water Credit Rules

 

A comprehensive revision to the District’s Rules and Regulations was completed in September 2006 when the Board adopted Ordinance No. 125.  Extensive revisions included updates to water permit and water credit rules.  The permit and credit rules were simplified and reorganized, definitions were updated, and outdated and unnecessary text was deleted.  The rules were also amended to include adopted policies and administrative practices.  The goal was to make the rules easier to understand.  The amended rules, effective January 1, 2007, can be found on the District’s website.

 

Integrated Regional Water Management Plan

 

District staff led the effort to obtain $497,000 of Proposition 50 grant funds to prepare an Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (IRWMP) for the Monterey Bay Area.  Final written approval of State Department of Water Resources funding was made in early January 2006.  Since then, the District staff has worked closely with its local public and non-profit partners to complete the IRWMP, including retaining specialized consultants for this type of work.  A Draft Plan was completed in October 2006, and a Final Plan is anticipated in March 2007.  Completion of the IRWMP will position the Monterey Bay Area to receive implementation funds for specific projects, such as the MPWMD Phase 1 ASR Project.

 

2006 Board of Directors                      Staff Contact Information

General Information

658-5600

 

Water Permit Office

658-5601

 

David A. Berger

General Manager/Board Secretary

658-5650

Andrew Bell

Planning & Engineering Manager/District Engineer

658-5620

Rick Dickhaut

Administrative Services Manager/CFO/Treasurer

658-5614

David Laredo

General Counsel

658-5650

Joseph Oliver

Water Resources Manager

658-5640

Stephanie Pintar

Water Demand Manager

658-5630

Henrietta Stern

Project Manager

658-5621

 

Michelle Knight, Chair

Division 4

Judi Lehman, Vice-Chair

Division 2

Alvin Edwards

Division 1

Kristi Markey

Division 3

Larry Foy

Division 5

David Pendergrass

Mayoral Representative

David Potter

Monterey County

Board of Supervisors

Representative

 

 

We Want To Hear From You

 

If you found the information in this report useful or have questions about water supply, conservation or other topics in this report, please contact Henrietta Stern at henri@mpwmd.dst.ca.us or at 658-5621

 

 

 

 

 


               Monterey Peninsula

                                    Water Management District
                           5 Harris Court, Bldg. G, P.O. Box 85, Monterey, CA 93942-0085

                                    (831) 658-5600, Fax (831) 644-9560, http://www.mpwmd.dst.ca.us

 

 

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