Water Policy: The California Experience 1 Maria Mehranian Cordoba Corporation & Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board October 8-10, 2014 Developing Government and Governance Capacity for Sustainable Development
Water Supplies in California 2 Statewide conveyance systems Vast network of dams, reservoirs, and pumping stations Billions of dollars spent Over 100 years in the making Source: DEMIS Mapserver
Water Supplies in California 3 In California, water is: in the WRONG amount at the WRONG time in the WRONG places
Water Supplies in California 4 Northern California Wetter climate More rainfall Major urban areas 14.5M population 19% of California s electricity is consumed by water-related uses Central Valley Moderate climate Less rainfall Major agricultural center 6.5M population Southern California Arid climate Less rainfall Highly urbanized 22M population
Sources of Water in Southern California Los Angeles Aqueduct 5 Source: indiana.edu
Sources of Water in Southern California 6 Los Angeles Aqueduct Completed in 1913 1/3 of Los Angeles water 419 miles, 775 cubic feet per second capacity Owens Valley Owens Lake used to be among the largest bodies of water in CA Currently, the largest single source of dust pollution in the United States Source: New York Times
Sources of Water in Southern California Colorado River 7 Source: Associated Press
Sources of Water in Southern California Colorado River Aqueduct 8 Source: Associated Press
Sources of Water in Southern California 9 Colorado River Aqueduct Completed in 1939 242 miles of canals, tunnels, and buried conduits 1.2M acre-feet per year 1/3 of Southern California s water supply
Sources of Water in Southern California State Water Project 1 0 Source: Long Beach Water Department
Sources of Water in Southern California 11 State Water Project System of water pumps, conveyance, and storage that distributes water from North to South Over 700 miles of canals, pipelines, and tunnels and 21 dams 2.4M acre-feet annual water delivery 1/3 of Southern California s water supply Provides water to 25 million people and 750,000 acres of agricultural land Single largest consumer of power in California
Sources of Water in Southern California Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta 12 Source: adammandelman.net
Sources of Water in Southern California 13 Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta Series of islands protected by dirt levees Home to 56 species Irrigates the Central Valley Provides 20% of the State s water supply Levees at severe risk from earthquakes and sea level rise Water moves in and out, with Delta acting as a vessel
Sources of Water in Southern California Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta 14 Source: blogs.kqed.org/science/2014/02/11/record-drought-could-hurt-water-quality/
Sources of Water in Southern California 15 Bay Delta Conservation Plan Benefits: Habitat restoration Improve reliability of Delta water supplies Improve native species populations Prevent saltwater intrusion Reduce risks for local communities Risks: High cost Long construction lead time Endanger the native species populations Ground water contamination Threat to economic vitality in local communities
Water Supplies at Risk 16 Every big project is risky, but what is the risk of doing nothing?
Water Supplies at Risk 17 Levee Failures Source: Stanford.edu
Water Supplies at Risk 18 Lake Oroville, July 2011 Source: Getty Images
Water Supplies at Risk 19 Lake Oroville, August 2014 Source: Getty Images
Water Supplies at Risk 20 Lake Oroville, July 2011 Source: Getty Images
Water Supplies at Risk 21 Lake Oroville, August 2014 Source: Getty Images
Water Supplies at Risk 22 Lake Oroville, July 2011 Source: Getty Images
Water Supplies at Risk 23 Lake Oroville, August 2014 Source: Getty Images
Water Supplies at Risk 24 Saltwater Intrusion Source: kgs.ku.edu
Water Supplies at Risk 25 Groundwater Contamination Source: euwfd.com
Water Policy in California 26 California s water supply, infrastructure, and policy is unsustainable. New sources and new approaches are needed.
Water Policy in California 27 Potential new sources: Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta Restoration Construction of twin tunnels at new intakes in the Delta Local and regional storm water capture Water recycling Conservation Groundwater cleanup Desalination All of the above
Sources of Water in Southern California 28 How do we pay for it?
Water Policy in California Water Bond: Funding gets us going 29 $520M to improve water quality for beneficial use, for reducing and preventing drinking water contaminants, disadvantaged communities $1.495B for competitive grants for multi benefit ecosystem and watershed protection and restoration projects $810M for integrated regional water management plan projects $2.7B for water storage projects, dams and reservoirs $725M for water recycling and advanced water treatment technology $900M for projects to prevent or clean up the contamination of groundwater that serves as a source of drinking water $395M for statewide flood management projects and activities
Integrated Governance 30 Achieving a Sustainable Approach: working together gets us there
Example: Los Angeles MS4 Permit 31 Regulation as a tool to design sustainable water infrastructure Storm water cleanup is a requirement by law MS4 permit regulates the water quality New paradigm: recognizing that all water is precious A regional approach to storm water Storm water is the most cost effective water Improve water quality while creating sustainable water infrastructure Watershed management plans Enhanced watershed management plans Constitute BMPs and lead time to monitor
Example: Los Angeles MS4 Permit 32 From Sustainable Regulation to Sustainable Infrastructure
Example: Elmer Street Project 33 From Sustainable Regulation to Sustainable Infrastructure
Example: Elmer Street Project 34
Example: Elmer Street Project 35 From Sustainable Regulation to Sustainable Infrastructure Meets the Clean Water Act requirements Infiltrates 5.4 million gallons of storm water annually Improves water quality by reducing concentration of lead, copper and other solids Educates 300 visitors annually
Example: Los Angeles River 36 From Sustainable Regulation to Sustainable Infrastructure
Example: Los Angeles River 37
Example: Los Angeles River 38 From Sustainable Regulation to Sustainable Infrastructure 51 miles of river way currently used as flood control channel Navigable waterway hard bottom and soft bottom areas Receives discharge from industrial activities and all storm water and surface water from the cities it goes through Sustainable storm water regulation makes revitalization possible Revitalization plans include parkways, bikeways, bioswales, pocket parks, and storm water capture facilities
Water Policy: The California Experience 39 Previous approaches are no longer sustainable Balance environmental protection with social equity and economic prosperity More important now more than ever to meet water supply needs sustainably All sectors have a role to play We must all work together Source: wsdot.wa.gov
Water Policy: The California Experience 40 Thank you Maria Mehranian Cordoba Corporation & Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board October 9, 2014 Developing Government and Governance Capacity for Sustainable Development