Monterey County Agricultural Groundwater Sustainability: Local Issues Solved Locally

Transcription

1 Monterey County Agricultural Groundwater Sustainability: Local Issues Solved Locally Robert Johnson Monterey County Water Resources Agency Sustainable Agriculture Exposition November 14, 2011

2 Today s s Presentation Introduction Define Sustainability Background Information Local Issues / Local Solutions Lessons Learned Future Summary

3 Sustainability sus tain a bil i ty noun The ability to be sustained, supported, upheld, or confirmed The quality of not being harmful to the environment or depleting natural resources, and thereby supporting long-term ecological balance. Environmental Science mindset

4 Agricultural Sustainability Question for today s s presentation: How has the Monterey County Water Resources Agency participated in the Agricultural Sustainability of Monterey County? Answer: Solving local issues locally

5 Created 1947 Monterey County Water Resources Agency Previously MCFC&WCD Special Legislation Special District not a County Department Shares County BOS Changed to Agency in 1991 Inserted BOD Dual Governance can be challenging Authority over County water Responsibility where funded

6 MCWRA Mission Statement Provides flood control services and manages, protects, and enhances the quantity and quality of water for present and future generations of Monterey County

7 Salinas Valley Four major hydrologic subareas Pressure - Brown East Side - Gray Forebay - Bluish Upper Valley Lt Green Hydrologically connected

8 Groundwater is the Primary Source of Supply and Storage

9 Surface Water Supplies of Monterey County Average Annual Outflow: 118,000 AF Average Annual Outflow: 360,000 AF Average Annual Outflow: 76,000 AF

10 Monterey County Water Use Agriculture 510,000 acre-ft Urban 90,000 acre-ft Total Estimate 600,000 acre-ft

11 Monterey County Water Use Salinas Valley 550,000 acre-ft North County 31,000 acre-ft Peninsula 15,000 acre-ft

12 Agricultural and Urban Wells Salinas Valley, CA Source: MCWRA

13 Issues Seawater Intrusion Nitrate Solutions Projects Funding Interaction Local Issues

14 Population 426,000 Industry Agriculture $4 billion Tourism $2 billion Largest city: Salinas - 149,000

15 Local Issue Sea Water Intrusion Background Seawater intrusion Definition Seawater intrusion is the migration of seawater into freshwater aquifers under the influence of groundwater development. Picture is worth a thousand words

16 Cross-Section near the Coast 180 Ft. Aquifer 400 Ft. Aquifer Source: MCWRA Deep Aquifer

17 Source: MCWRA Castroville Area 3D Analysis

18 Local Issue Sea Water Intrusion Background (cont.) Seawater intrusion in the Salinas Valley first documented mid 1930s needed to find a solution State study completed in 1946 Solution still being worked towards today Strategy developed by MCFC&WCD / SVWAC Monterey County Flood Control & Water Conservation District (pre-cursor to Agency) Salinas Valley Water Advisory Committee

19 Historic Progression of Seawater Intrusion 2009 Pressure 180-Ft. Aquifer Approximate Advancement 191 acres Source: MCWRA Date: December 2010 Note: The scale and configuration of all information shown hereon are approximate and are not intended as a guide for design or survey work.

20 Historic Progression of Seawater Intrusion 2009 Pressure 400-Ft. Aquifer Approximate Advancement 93 acres Source: MCWRA Date: December 2010 Note: The scale and configuration of all information shown hereon are approximate and are not intended as a guide for design or survey work.

21 Local Solution Sea Water Intrusion Strategy Solution Strategy: Develop a new water source Move water north to reduce need for coastal pumping Stop pumping along the coast Agency has implemented the following: Nacimiento and San Antonio Reservoirs Monterey County Water Recycling Projects Salinas Valley Water Project

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23 Local Solution Sea Water Intrusion Projects San Antonio Reservoir Completed in 1967 Lake Capacity 335,000 AF Nacimiento Reservoir Completed in 1957 Lake Capacity 377,900 AF

24 Nacimiento Dam

25 San Antonio Dam

26 Monterey County Water Recycling Projects Two Components Salinas Castroville

27 Monterey County Water Recycling Projects Two Components (cont.) Castroville Seawater Intrusion Project

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29 Monterey County Water Recycling Projects Two Components (cont.) Salinas Valley Reclamation Project

30 Salinas Valley Water Project Two Components Nacimiento Spillway Modification Accommodate the PMF Capture and store water during the winter Inflatable dam Salinas River Diversion Facility Divert water to MCWRP Allow for fish passage Inflatable dam

31 Salinas Valley Water Project Two Components (cont.) Spillway Modification Cut spillway crest 12 Installed rubber dam Increased Storage FLEXABILITY, same Storage CAPACITY

32 Salinas Water Project Nacimiento Spillway Modification

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34 Salinas Valley Water Project Salinas River Surface Diversion Facility

35 Salinas River Surface Diversion Facility

36 Water Deliveries WATER Monterey DELIVERIES County Water Castroville Seawater Intrusion Project-Salinas Valley Recycling Project Recycling Projects & Diversion Facility to ,000 20,000 A c r e -F eet 15,000 10,000 5,000 0 FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY YTD Recycled Well SRDF

37 Funding and Interaction Funding projects changed in late 1990 s Proposition 218 Let voters choose to assess themselves Those who benefit from project pay More benefit = pay more Had to develop costs before outreach Called for Interaction with public

38 Funding and Interaction (cont.) Agency carried out informational road shows about SVWP Other groups in public settings Staff went to locals Rotary Clubs, etc Challenge: be able to tell specific property owners how much they would: Pay for SVWP Benefit from SVWP

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40 Funding and Interaction (cont.) Cost Breakdown

41 Local Issue Nitrate in Groundwater Background Agricultural History and Productivity 1700s/1800s California Missions & Spanish Land Grants 1900s Immigrants Dry farming Dairies Sugar beets Multiple crop types generating $4 Billion Growers multiple generations (third and fourth) Up to 3 cropping units Top five crops: Leaf Lettuce, Head Lettuce, Strawberries, Broccoli, Grapes

42 Local Issue Nitrate in Groundwater Background (cont.) Dairies in SV early 1900s Centrifugal pump invented water is more attainable Better drilling methods to drill deeper More effective pumping = more water used 1940s commercial fertilizer introduced

43 Local Issue Nitrate in Groundwater Background (cont.) Concerns Began Late 1980s to Present CA Nonpoint Source Program CA 1988 Nitrate in Ground Water Report 1990s: Monterey County Ad Hoc Nitrate Advisory Committee Threat of Nitrate Adjudication Salinas Valley

44 Local Solution Nitrate in Groundwater Program Implementation MCWRA Nitrate Management Program NTAC 13 Elements 4 Categories Ground Water Nitrate Evaluation Shallow Ag. Wells Ag. Well Head Protection Evaluation

45 Local Solution Nitrate in Groundwater Program Implementation (cont.) Nitrate Grower Survey 2001 Nitrate Management Grower Fact Sheets Ten elements of NTAC Plan implemented WQ took major funding hit with Proposition 218 Using grants to backfill funding

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47 Introduction Define Sustainability Background Information Local Issues / Local Solutions Lessons Learned Future Summary Today s s Presentation

48 Lessons Learned: Change Thinking To work towards solutions: Identify all who need to be involved? Everyone: Process Agriculture Urban Industry Environmental Think Long Term Start Now Stay With It

49 Reminder Lessons Learned: Change Thinking (cont.)

50 Salinas River Diversion Facility Prop 218 Vote Approval 2003 Salinas Valley Recycling Project US Bureau of Reclamation Loan & Prop Owner Assessments1998 Castroville Seawater Intrusion Project Property Owner Assessments1998 San Antonio Dam Vote Approved Bonds Constructed 1965 Nacimiento Dam Bond Constructed 1957 Nacimiento Dam Spillway Modification Prop 218 Approval 2003

51 Current Issues Other ancillary activities Seaside Groundwater Basin WM Carmel River / Lagoon Pajaro River / Lagoon New Opportunities daily

52 Future Issues / Opportunities Aquatic Invasive Species Quagga / Zebra mussels MC Parks / SLO County / Public / State IRWMP Integrated water projects SLO County / Public

53 Summary Defined Sustainability Provided background info Presented Local Issues / Solutions Presented Learned Lessons Discussed Future Opportunities

54 Contact Information Robert Johnson AGM / Chief of Water Resources Planning Monterey County Water Resources Agency 893 Blanco Circle, Salinas, CA Phone: FAX: