County of San Luis Obispo

Transcription

1 County of San Luis Obispo TO: FROM: VIA: Board of Supervisors Public Works Courtney Howard, Water Resources Engineer Paavo Ogren, Director of Public Works DATE: 12/18/2012 SUBJECT: Paso Robles Groundwater Basin Blue Ribbon Steering Committee progress update and staff recommendations. Districts 1 and 5. RECOMMENDATION It is our recommendation that your Honorable Board, acting as the San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (District): 1. Receive a Paso Robles Groundwater Basin (Basin) Blue Ribbon Steering Committee progress update and provide direction as you deem appropriate; and 2. Authorize staff to proceed with developing requests for proposals to prepare feasibility studies on the alternatives for stabilizing groundwater levels in the Basin as identified in Exhibit A in coordination with the Steering Committee. DISCUSSION On March 27, 2012, your Board adopted the Groundwater Management Plan (GMP) for the portion of the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin (Basin) within its jurisdiction exclusive of local agency/water purveyor service areas. The GMP was developed by the City of Paso Robles, in cooperation with the District, and in coordination with a Steering Committee made up of Basin stakeholders, in order to identify objectives and activities for stabilizing groundwater levels. Your Board acted to form the Steering Committee officially as a Blue Ribbon Steering Committee (Exhibit B ) and added the following line to the Resolution of Adoption: "WHEREAS, the District intends to appoint a Blue Ribbon Committee to advise on implementation of the GMP and intends the Blue Ribbon Committee will: 1) recommend actions to stabilize the basin; 2) recommend structures for management and accountability of GMP activities and 3) recommend financing and cost sharing approaches for implementation activities. Page 2 of 5

2 In addition, your Board directed staff to provide an update on the Steering Committee s progress by December The following is a summary of the Steering Committee s efforts since March: Blue Ribbon Steering Committee Achievements New Volunteers for the Water Level Measuring Program The Steering Committee developed a list of property owners overlying the Basin and worked with staff to identify the areas where wells for the groundwater level measuring program were needed. Several Steering Committee members then reached out to their colleagues, acquaintances and friends to encourage them to be considered for the program. As a result, 24 new wells have been added to the County s groundwater level data collection program. Another round of outreach is anticipated prior to level measuring in 2013 to identify potential participants in the remaining data-gap areas. Staff will be considering the potential for using this model for improving the data collection network in groundwater basins throughout the county. Education and Outreach An Education and Outreach subcommittee was formed early on in the process to advocate for water conservation and inform the public about the Basin s condition and the efforts of the Steering Committee. Most notably, the subcommittee developed a brochure that was mailed to all unincorporated-area landowners and distributed to local businesses (Exhibit C ). The subcommittee has developed goals for education and outreach and is working on developing a website for the Steering Committee. Groundwater Basin Model Update A Groundwater Basin Computer Model Update subcommittee was also formed early on in the process to provide input on the scope of work for the update. The subcommittee s efforts aided the District in submitting a successful Integrated Regional Water Management Program Planning Grant Application, which included $50,000 for the update. The subcommittee will be reviewing progress on the model update at key decision points. Local Groundwater Assistance Grant Application The Steering Committee assisted the District in submitting a Local Groundwater Assistance (LGA) grant application in June 2012 that requested funding to use the updated Basin computer model to evaluate the effect of implementing various alternatives on Basin water levels. Notification of awards for this grant program is anticipated to be given in winter Identifying and Analyzing Solutions The main focus for the Steering Committee has been to identify and evaluate alternatives for stabilizing and/or maintaining groundwater levels. A Solutions subcommittee was formed for this purpose. The subcommittee is developing a comprehensive list of all potential solutions and an evaluation system to develop recommendations for which solution or combination of solutions have the greatest potential for implementation and Basin benefit. Page 3 of 5

3 Staff Recommendation Feasibility Studies Staff is recommending that your Board authorize staff to develop requests for proposals (RFP) to prepare feasibility studies on the alternatives for stabilizing groundwater levels in the Basin as identified in Exhibit A, in coordination with the Steering Committee. The alternatives identified in Exhibit A are consistent with a list of solutions being developed by the Steering Committee. The alternatives are also consistent with those identified in the County-wide Master Water Report (MWR). During the MWR development process, a working group of agency staff and Water Resources Advisory Committee (WRAC) members went through the exercise of identifying the likely lead on each alternative. Consequently, staff anticipates that our effort would primarily be focused on RFPs for the supplemental water alternatives identified in Exhibit A. Nevertheless, authorization to proceed with preparing RFP s for all strategies will enable staff to support the Steering Committee s efforts related to evaluating conservation and recycled water alternatives. The scope of work the proposals would cover would likely include: Defining the various mechanisms for implementing the alternatives, including measured benefits, infrastructure needed, institutional structures and arrangements, environmental considerations, permits, financing mechanisms and cost estimates; Using the updated model to evaluate Basin response under each alternative; and Conducting the feasibility study in a way that develops information needed for relevant grant programs, Federal and State agency requirements and local planning efforts. Authorizing staff to proceed with developing the RFPs will enable staff to develop accurate recommendations for scoping and budgeting of physical solutions to the existing groundwater level declines. OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT/IMPACT The Steering Committee will consider supporting staff s recommendation during their meeting on December 6, Staff will provide a verbal report on the outcome of their consideration during the progress update for your Board. The Water Resources Advisory Committee supported staff s recommendation during their meeting on December 5, 2012, and will be periodically updated on the effort. FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS Efforts associated with implementation of the GMP for the Basin are included in Flood Control Fund 19, whose revenue source is District General Reserves. The Flood Control Fund 19 budget for the current fiscal year is sufficient for developing requests for proposals, as costs are anticipated to be nominal. Receiving proposals will allow staff to develop an accurate financial recommendation related to the use of available District annual revenue and the need to use District reserves for Fund 19 to conduct the feasibility studies. However, it is anticipated that the timing of receiving the proposals may not allow for inclusion of these efforts in the proposed Fiscal Year District budget, and would require staff to present the recommendations during Budget hearings. Page 4 of 5

4 RESULTS Directing staff to proceed with developing requests for proposals to conduct feasibility studies will allow staff to develop accurate recommendations for the scope of effort and financial requirements to develop information for the alternatives for stabilizing groundwater levels in the Basin. Moving forward with efforts to determine how to stabilize levels will help to ensure the Basin is effectively managed so it can remain a reliable source of water for all of its users, contributing to a safe, healthy, livable, prosperous and well-governed community. File: CF Groundwater Management Plan Paso Robles Basin Reference: 12DEC18-BB-1 L:\UTILITY\DEC12\BOS\PRGB SC Progress\PRGB SC Progress brd ltr.doc.ch:lc ATTACHMENTS 1. Vicinity Map 2. Paso Robles Groundwater Basin Management Plan (Clerk s File) 3. Exhibit A - Alternatives for Stabilizing Groundwater Levels 4. Exhibit B - Blue Ribbon Steering Committee 5. Exhibit C - Basin Brochure Page 5 of 5

5 Paso Robles LOCATION - Atascadero 101 San Luis Obispo Pismo Beach Arroyo Grande VICINITY MAP - Monterey County San Luis Obispo County Paso Robles groundwater basin Paso Robles ÿ 46 ÿ 46 ÿ 41 ÿ 46 ÿ 1 ÿ Atascadero ÿ 41 ÿ 229 Morro Bay ÿ 58 San Luis Obispo SITE MAP PASO ROBLES GROUNDWATER BASIN 1 of 1

6 CLERK s FILED Attachment 2. Paso Robles Groundwater Basin Management Plan The document is available at the Clerk-Recorder s office for review. And can also be found at the following link: %20Paso%20Basin%20Final%20GMP.pdf 1 of 1

7 EXHIBIT A Strategy Alternatives Mechanisms Conservation Implementation of Best Management Practices and Best Available Technologies Voluntary Incentive Based Limiting Demand to Perennial Yield Ordinances and Governance Structures Expansion of current infrastructure Nacimiento Water Injection Supplemental Water Salinas Reservoir Basin & Watershed Creeks/Rivers State Water Project Direct Deliveries Recharge Exchanges Banking Programs Wheeling New Off / On-Stream Storage Recycled Water Wastewater Facilities Onsite Systems Direct Deliveries Recharge Injection 1 of 1

8 Exhibit B 1 of 1

9 Cumulative Change in Groundwater Level Since ft -25 ft -50 ft -75 ft -100 ft Source: Paso Robles Groundwater Basin Management Plan, Estrella Area Composite Well Hydrograph The Paso Robles Groundwater Basin Management Plan Water Users Voluntarily Working Together to Protect the Long Term Sustainability of North County s Water Resources The Paso Robles Groundwater Basin Our Shared and Finite Resource According to multiple studies of the basin, as discussed in the Plan, annual basin pumping is now at or near the basin s perennial yield. In addition, from , water levels declined on average of 2 6 feet per year, depending on the location. In 2011, the basin s water users developed a Management Plan to assess the groundwater basin s status and identify actions to protect this extremely valuable resource. Declining Groundwater Levels Looking Ahead Management Plan and Solutions The Plan recommends both short and long term actions by the basin s stakeholders: ft -70 ft Shaded areas indicate the severity of water level decline from Darker areas have seen the highest rates of decline. Increase water use efficiency in all water use sectors (agriculture, rural residential, municipal, commercial) to reduce groundwater demand. Develop supplemental water supplies, such as Lake Nacimiento water, recycled water and State Water Project water. Increase stakeholders knowledge and understanding of the groundwater basin through education and additional data collection. PLAN View the full Management Plan at: publicworks/water/groundwater.asp Paso Robles Groundwater Basin Management Plan Steering Committee 976 Osos Street, Room 200 San Luis Obispo, CA A publication developed by the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin Management Plan Steering Committee Paso Robles Templeton Atascadero 101 Creston Shandon Source: Paso Robles Groundwater Basin Management Plan Photo: GardenSoft 1 of 2

10 Landscape Agriculture Private Wells Checklist for Landscape Water Users you maintain your irrigation system to ensure uniform water distribution? Check the system regularly and fix leaks, broken and clogged heads, overspray problems, and sunken or tilted heads. you water no more than 3 days per week in summer and 2 days per week in spring and fall, and reset your timer at least 4 times per year with the seasons? you water in the early morning before 9 am when winds and temperatures are lowest? you avoid runoff on sloping areas by using multiple, shorter run times? you maintain turf height at 3-4? Longer turf uses significantly less water. you apply an appropriate fertilizer regularly? If the soil lacks nutrients, more water won t help. you check drip systems regularly for leaks, clogged and missing drip emitters? Photo: GardenSoft Collective action by all users to reduce water use can have a meaningful impact in stabilizing water level declines and protecting the long term sustainability of the basin. With our hot-dry summers, more people in the North County and across the Central Coast are reducing high-water-use lawn areas in favor of California natives and plants from the world s other Mediterranean climate regions. Checklist for Agricultural Water Users Have Have you schedule your irrigations based on what the plants need using soil, plant, or weather monitoring tools? you track seasonal rainfall at your site? you know how many gallons of water it takes to saturate the targeted root zone for your crop? you know the application rate of your irrigation system? you monitor your irrigation set times to avoid water traveling beyond the root zone? you evaluated your irrigation system s distribution uniformity? you made corrections to maximize the uniformity of irrigation applications? you regularly clean and maintain your irrigation and filtration system to protect the uniformity of your system? Making the switch from turf to a Central Coast Waterwise Landscape is easy. Using flowering, drought-tolerant shrubs, perennials, annuals and trees, you can create a vibrant landscape that provides color and interest year-round, with a fraction of the annual maintenance and water use of turf. Checklist for Private Well Owners Tracking water levels in your well will enable you to make informed decisions regarding your well and water supply. you know the current water level in your well and where your well pump is set? you know the total depth of your well and where it is screened? you have a method of measuring the water level, like a sounding tube or air line? Have you considered monitoring the water level in your well? Have you enlisted the assistance of local drilling companies to aid you in monitoring your water level? Design your own landscape. For more information on design and establishing drought-tolerant landscapes, please visit: SLO County Water Wise Landscaping Join Us Each Month A Steering Committee has been formed that will coordinate with stakeholders to implement the Groundwater Management Plan to ensure the health of the basin. This committee meets monthly and their meetings are open to the public. For more info, please contact: pasobasincommittee@gmail.com Learn More About Water Conservation There are a variety of educational materials, workshops, and resources available through the following local organizations: Atascadero Mutual Water Company Central Coast Vineyard Team City of Paso Robles Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau Univ. of California Cooperative Extension cesanluisobispo.ucdavis.edu US-LT Resource Conservation District of 2