TULARE LAKE BASIN Portion of KERN COUNTY INTEGRATED REGIONAL WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN

Transcription

1 MEETING OVERVIEW TULARE LAKE BASIN Portion of KERN COUNTY INTEGRATED REGIONAL WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN Stakeholder Meeting #5 March 30, 2009 Park Stockdale Civic Association, Bakersfield The purpose of this fifth stakeholder meeting of the Tulare Lake Basin Portion of Kern County Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (Kern IRWMP) was to (1) report on the IRWMP objectives and (2) to identify water management strategies applicable to the Kern region. OPENING TOPICS Bill Miller from the North of the River Municipal Water District and the Kern IRWMP Executive Committee Co-Chair opened the meeting. Joan Chaplick from Moore, Iacofano, Goltsman, Inc. (MIG) facilitated the meeting and began by reviewing the agenda and requesting selfintroductions from those attending the Kern IRWMP stakeholder meeting for the first time. Two new stakeholders introduced themselves to the rest of the group: Arthur Unger, Sierra Club Jesse Dhaliwal, California Department of Public Health Lauren Bauer from the Kern County Water Agency gave a report from the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee meets the first Wednesday of every month. Topics recently addressed by the Executive Committee: Reaching agreements with other adjacent IRWMPs that share boundaries with the Kern IRWMP. A letter of Agreement has been reached with Inyo-Mono. A second letter is being developed with the South Sierra group. A waiver of fees request from the Lost Hills Public Utility District. Berrenda Mesa Water District offered to pay the fee on behalf of Lost Hills Meredith Clement from Kennedy/Jenks Consultants provided an update on the IRWMP Grant Funding process. An update on the status of the Regional Acceptance Process (RAP) application was provided, which has been prepared and will be submitted to DWR in advance of the April 29 DWR deadline. The RAP is the first step required for an IRWMP to apply for funding from DWR. Mary Lou Cotton from Kennedy/Jenks Consultants provided an update on new requirements for 2010 Urban Water Management Plans Specific items from AB 1420 required for urban water suppliers were reviewed. Questions and comments concerning the IRWMP Grant Funding Update: Tulare Lake Basin/Kern County IRWMP Stakeholder Meeting #5 Page 1 of 5

2 There was a question concerning whether these new requirements affect small water agencies that do not have to do Urban Water Management Plans. It was explained that they are not affected. Concern was expressed that a future grant application from a group of stakeholders could be held up if a member of that group; an urban water supply agency; had not yet complied with the new water conservation measures/self certification requirement. In response, it was explained should that situation arise, it will not hold up the funding process for that group application and that DWR will work with the urban entity to help bring them into compliance. In response to a question, it was explained that the threshold at which the requirement for an urban water management plan kicks in is 3,000 acre feet of water annually or 3,000 customer connections. If the group agrees, the new UWMP requirements could become a criterion that is applied in the project prioritization process. IRWMP OBJECTIVES Ms. Chaplick provided an update on the development of the IRWMP Objectives, which had been a primary topic during the earlier meetings of the Kern IRWMP. Following the February 17 meeting, a working group met to review and refine the objectives. The volunteers for this review panel included John Alderson, City of Delano; Dee Jaspar, Vaughn Water Company; Mark Lambert; City of Bakersfield; and Bill Miller, North of the River Municipal Water District. The resulting draft set of Kern IRWMP Objectives was provided as a handout to the stakeholder participants. Feedback was requested from the group, but no additional comments or changes were suggested indicating there was general satisfaction with the latest version. As a next step, the Executive Committee will review the draft Objectives for potential approval and incorporation into the IRWMP and also begin the process of identifying measurable targets for these objectives. WATER MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES Representatives from seven of the eight geographic sub-regions that make up the Regional Water Management Group also met independently in the weeks since the February 17 meeting. The purpose of these sub-region level discussions was to identify the key issues within each sub-region and the highest impact water management strategies for addressing these issues. Using results from these sub-region discussions, Kennedy/Jenks Consultants presented to the group a Resource Management Strategy Matrix that provided an overview of the strategies selected by each of the regions. A volunteer from six of the sub-regions provided a brief presentation to the entire stakeholder group reviewing the issues identified and the strategies selected by their sub-region. Key strategies selected by each of the sub-regions: North County Conjunctive Management and Groundwater Storage (recharge aquifers in wet years) Tulare Lake Basin/Kern County IRWMP Stakeholder Meeting #5 Page 2 of 5

3 Matching Water Quality to Appropriate Use Land Use Planning & Management (ensuring dedicated source of water for all new development) (prevent overdrafts, ensure long term supply of water) Greater Bakersfield Urban Water Use Efficiency Conveyance Delta/Regional/Local Surface Storage Mountains and Foothills Currently, results are only from the Tehachapi subgroup. The Tehachapi subgroup identified six strategies: Urban Water Use Efficiency Groundwater Aquifer Remediation Drinking Water Treatment and Distribution Pollution Prevention Area is 100% dependent on well water for portable water supply, so groundwater management and pollution prevention are very important. Kern Fan The Kern Fan group highlighted the need for better use of existing water and the need to develop new water supplies. The Kern Fan identified the following as their top strategies: Conveyance - Delta, Regional/Local Desalination Forest Management Land Use Planning and Management Westside Conveyance Delta, Regional/Local Conjunctive Management and Groundwater Storage Surface Storage Water/Local Tulare Lake Basin/Kern County IRWMP Stakeholder Meeting #5 Page 3 of 5

4 South County This group had not yet had an opportunity to meet as a sub region. Comments following this series of presentations included: The Frazier Park Public Utility District plans on providing its input on issues and strategies but had not yet submitted its participation agreement, as it was not clear whether they were a part of the South County Sub Region or the Mountains and Foothills. There was a question concerning how this information will be used to develop the IRWMP. It was noted that just as the issues help identify the key strategies that each sub region will implement, the issues and strategies together will help determine the kinds of projects that should be pursued to carry out those strategies. CALL FOR PROJECTS Mary Lou Cotton from Kennedy/Jenks Consultants introduced the Call for Projects process, explaining how it will be used to identify potential projects proposed by members of the stakeholder group. Ms. Cotton described the two different project identification forms that had been provided as handouts, explaining that the short form could be used for concept project proposals and the long form could be used for those projects that are more fully developed proposals. The information the long form requires is very similar to what will eventually be required for a grant application. At a minimum, however, Kennedy/Jenks needs to receive a short form for every project in order to include it in the IRWMP. The stakeholder group will be able to use the information collected by these project identification forms to compare, select and rank project proposals. The goal will be to have a ranked list of project proposals ready for submission to DWR when the State is able to release grant funds. Questions and comments included: There was a question concerning the process for prioritizing proposed projects, and whether this would include ranking criteria Concern was expressed about sharing project information prematurely. It was explained that this is meant to be an iterative process. o Do not hold back, as group discussions and feedback can further shape and enhance proposed projects and also identify partnering opportunities. o As a group participants will have a chance to review each other s projects and further the collaborative process. How to address the smaller outlying areas, as the overall IRWMP could be dominated by projects from the Bakersfield area, where the bulk of the County population reside. Tulare Lake Basin/Kern County IRWMP Stakeholder Meeting #5 Page 4 of 5

5 o o One of the criteria could be that outlying areas of the County are allotted a certain portion of the funding. One of the reasons sub-regions were formed was to address the sheer geographic scope and diversity of Kern County Initial project ideas were requested as an example for the group to consider. It was suggested at the next stakeholder meeting that each sub-region briefly present two of the projects they are planning to propose for the Kern IRWMP. Two stakeholders briefly described project ideas they were in the process of developing. The objective of one proposed project is to encourage small water systems in the Kern River Valley to work together more closely by establishing master water meters. Another project under consideration is a possible three-way partnership that will take effluent from one waste water source and exchange it for use in non food agricultural projects. It was suggested that SharePoint, an interactive website, be used to share project information and ideas. o A list of projects will be posted to the Kern IRWMP website ( as they are submitted. Additionally, an interactive website component is being developed. NEXT STEPS Lauren Bauer stated a lead agency had to be identified for purposes of the Region Acceptance Process application. She explained this designation was specific only to the RAP and did not lead to any other long term administrative program responsibility for the Kern IRWMP. The Executive Committee Co-chairs have nominated the Kern County Water Agency (Agency) to serve as lead agency. Although the Kern County Water Agency can perform this role, Ms. Bauer asked if there were another stakeholder member organization willing to assume this responsibility. No other agencies volunteered to be the RAP lead agency or expressed concern about the Kern County Water Agency taking on this role. The next meeting of the Kern IRWMP will be held on the evening of April 20. This evening time is in response to concerns expressed in earlier meetings that interested members of the public who work during the day be afforded opportunities to become educated about the IRWMP and provide their input into the planning process. Tulare Lake Basin/Kern County IRWMP Stakeholder Meeting #5 Page 5 of 5