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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 11031992 - WC.1 i WCA TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Contra FROM: WATER COMMITTEE . Costa SUPERVISOR TOM TORLAKSON, CHAIRC SUPERVISOR SUNNE WRIGHT McPEAK County DATE: NOVEMBER 3 , 1992 SUBJECT: EAST BAY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT (EBMUD) WATER SUPPLY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AND LOWER MOKELUMNE RIVER MANAGEMENT PLAN COMPONENT SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATIONS) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Authorize Chair to sign a letter to EBMUD expressing concerns and comments on the Water Supply Management Program (WSMP) . 2 . Authorize Chair to sign a letter to the State Water Resources Control Board if a position of support is finalized by the Board regarding EBMUD's Lower Mokelumne River Management Plan (LMRMP) . FISCAL IMPACT None. BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS 1. The Water Committee reviewed a summary of the EBMUD WSMP, a planning effort to ensure adequate water supply through the year 2020. The plan looks at a variety of alternatives to provide the additional identified need for water of 130, 000 acre feet. Alternatives included an additional (terminal) reservoir, raising Pardee Reservoir, groundwater storage, additional reclamation and conservation activities, and supplementary supply (Delta or American River) . A draft Environmental Impact Report/Statement will be released in December, 1992 . The groundwater storage composite programs CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S): /o. Supervisor Tom Torlakson, Chair Supervisor Sunne Wright McPeak ACTION OF BOARD ON APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER X APPROVED Recommendation No. 1 authorizing Chair to sign a letter to East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) expressing concerns and comments on the Water Supply Management Program (WSMP) ; and. APPROVED Recommendation No. 2 as modified to authorize the Chair to sign a letter to the State Water Resources Control Board providing support for EBMUD' s planning process and to communicate concern to the State and EBMUD that use of the Delta as a common pool water supply would provide more flexibility in planning for fisheries. VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A UNANIMOUS (ABSENT TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN AYES:�f Y dIY NOES: a ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ON THE ABSENT: Z ABSTAIN: MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. Contact: Roberta Goulart (510/646-2071) ATTESTED �3, /95--) cc: Community Development Dept. (CDD) PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF County Administrator THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS GMEDA AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RG:gms BY , DEPUTY wag:\bo\EBMUD-LM.RMP , EBMUD Water Supply Management Program & Lower Mokelumne River Management Plan Component Continued - Page Two were selected as preferred alternatives by the EBMUD Board of Directors. Assumptions used are of some concern to the Water Committee. The planning document assumes a five percent growth rate per year which seems low for the County. In addition, EBMUD is only considering growth within their existing ultimate service boundary, precluding the possibility of accommodating planned growth in adjacent areas of the County. EBMUD should be considering provision of water for areas near their boundaries where growth is allowed to occur through the County General Plan effort. Acquiescence to the County's planning efforts would have the added advantage of offsetting a suggested current jobs-housing imbalance in the San Ramon area. Current hearings by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the State Water Resources Control Board may also require more water than is planned for in EBMUD's WSMP. The need for water calculated as 130, 000 acre feet by the year 2020 may be significantly influenced by these factors, and the planning document should reflect these possibilities. EBMUD's WSMP should be considering other potential sources of water, such as pursuing long-term water rights via the Bureau of Reclamation and allocations from the State Water Bank. The concept of water distribution through EBMUD existing facilities, or wheeling of water not controlled by EBMUD should also be explored. 2 . The State Water Resources Control Board will be holding hearings on EBMUD's water rights on the Mokelumne River, beginning November 9, 1992 , in response to Department of Fish and Game (DFG) concerns over a declining fishery. EBMUD has requested County support of the Lower Mokelumne River Management Plan (LMRMP) , a component of the WSMP. The Plan commits EBMUD to "protect aquatic resources of the Mokelumne River by modified reservoir operations and adequate releases of water, structural and operational improvements at the Mokelumne River Fish Hatchery, leadership and participation in non-flow enhancement measures, and continued monitoring and research. " The plan does not provide optimum flows for all years, but "provides a balanced approach that uses operational and non-operational measures linked to continued monitoring and research. Unavoidable water shortages would be shared by people and fish. " The Plan addresses an increase in hatchery production with intent to establish a distinct salmon run on the Mokelumne, changing management strategies and measures to control temperature by controlling stratification through reservoir operations as well as flow management. The Department of Fish and Game plan, according to EBMUD officials, requests a great deal of additional water, essentially running the EBMUD system dry in some years. The essential difference in the two plans seems to occur during dry years, where a much increased amount of flow as requested by DFG could occur. EBMUD believes additional flows at those times will not aid the fishery, as high temperatures and entrainment at the Delta creates unusually high fish mortality. EBMUD's plan allows use of the additional increment of water by EBMUD M&I users, and instead, advocates trucking of fish past these obstacles. RG:gms wet:\bo\EBMUD-LM.RMP CONTRA COSTA COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO: WATER COMMITTEE Supervisor Sunne. McPeak Supervisor Tom Torlakson FROM: Roberta Goulart, Staff , ] DATE: October 13, 1992 SUBJECT: EBMUD WATER SUPPLY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (WSMP) ------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------- EBMUD has been involved in a planning effort to enable provision of adequate water supply through the year 2020 . A program-level draft EIR/EIS will be available in late November or early December of this year. First EBMUD evaluated their need for water, over a 30-year planning period. Various factors considered include the outcome (additional flow requirements) resulting from State Board hearings on fishery (and other) needs on the lower Mokelumne, increased demand and drought planning capability. Please see the next page for more detail as to the assumptions used to determine the need for water. The amount of additional water supply needed in 2020 (during the design drought period) is anticipated to be 130,000 acre feet, according to the preliminary draft WSMP. This is based on a 3-year drought planning sequence which combines 1976, 1977 and an average of the two for the third year, and assuming no carry-over storage. The need for water assumes a 1/2% per year growth factor, and is forecasting demand for EBMUD's existing ultimate service boundary only. A large number of possible alternatives were evaluated to accommodate the need for additional water supply, as follows; * several levels of conservation activities * several levels of reclamation activities * groundwater storage/conjunctive use * reservoir storage (Buckhorn, Los Vaqueros and raising Pardee) * supplementary supply (delta diversions, American River) Selection criteria were developed, and the various alternatives were ranked. Composite programs were developed, using the range of alternatives . A number of alternatives have fallen out of the process, due to low rankings . Assumptions used as part of the process included; * a limit on rationing of 25% overall : * assuming aqueducts are secure (eliminating need for local reservoir storage) . Six composite programs will be evaluated as part of the draft EIS/EIR. The six remaining programs are shown on the attached chart, taken from the preliminary draft WSMP. The programs include; * Demand side reduction; (aggressive conservation and reclamation) : * Groundwater (with low-level conservation, reclamation) : * Delta Supply (with low-level conservation, reclamation) : * Groundwater and Folsom South connection (with conservation, reclamation) : * Raise Pardee (with low-level conservation, reclamation) : * Groundwater only. Of these six programs, the EBMUD Board has indicated a preference for two programs which include the conjunctive use, or groundwater alternative. At this time, the 'groundwater only' alternative has been determined by the EBMUD Board to be impractical . The EBMUD Board is requesting comments on their selection of the 'groundwater-American River' or' groundwater-Mokelumne River' preferred alternatives . LOWER MOKELUMNE RIVER MANAGEMENT PLAN (LMRMP) As you are aware, the LMRMP is included as part of the WSMP. The LMRMP, in general terms, was discussed during the last Water Committee meeting, where it was agreed that some additional discussion take place with EBMUD Directors and Senior Staff . I have included some additional information on the issue which was received yesterday. Staff has not been able to review this information, but will endeavor to do so prior to the meeting. CONTRA COSTA COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO: WATER COMMITTEE Supervisor Sunne McPeak Supervisor Tom Torlakson FROM: Roberta Goulart, Staff DATE: September 24, 1992 SUBJECT: EAST BAY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT; SWRCB REVIEW OF MOKELUMNE RIVER WATER RIGHTS HEARINGS ------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------- SWRCB MOKELUMNE RIVER WATER RIGHTS HEARINGS On November 9 , 1992, the SWRCB will be commencing hearings involving EBMUD' s water rights on the Mokelumne River. Per the attached letter of August 21, 1992, EBMUD is requesting support of the lower Mokelumne River Management Plan (LMRMP) , contained as part of the larger Water Supply Management Program. The LMRMP, after a great deal of research, has provided an additional increment of water for fishery use which EBMUD feels addresses the problem of additional water for fishery enhancement, while preserving water supplies for urban use as well. The LMRMP executive summary (Sept. 4, 1992) , commits 'EBMUD to "protect aquatic resources of the Mokelumne River by modified reservoir operations and adequate releases of water, structural and operational improvements at the Mokelumne River Fish Hatchery, leadership and participation in non-flow enhancement measures, and continued monitoring and research. " The plan does not provide optimum flows for all years, but "provides a balanced approach that uses operational and non-operational measures linked to continued monitoring and research. ` Unavoidable water shortages would be shared by people and fish. " The plan addresses an increase in hatchery production with intent to establish a distinct salmon run on the Mokelumne, changing management strategies, and measures to control temperature by controlling stratification through reservoir operations as well as flow management. The Department of Fish and Game has requested a great deal of additional water for fishery use, essentially running the EBMUD supply dry in some years . EAST BAY JORGE MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT GENERAL MANAGER RECEIVED AUG 2 4 1992 August 21, 1992 CLERK BOARD OF SUr c=.1%ISORS C0I4TRA COSi/:CO.• Ms. .Sunne McPeak, Chairperson Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors 651 Pine Street Martinez, CA 94553 Dear Ms. McPeak: Subject: EBMUD Mokelumne River Water Rights The East Bay Municipal Utility District's (EBMUD) historic water rights on the Mokelumne River are in jeopardy. Both federal and state entities are reviewing EBMUD's water rights on the Mokelumne River, the source of 95 percent of your water supply, primarily to enhance downstream fisheries. The potential result is that, despite aggressive action proposed by EBMUD to balance the .water needs of its customers and Mokelumne fishery requirements based on extensive scientific data some permanent reduction in EBMUD's high-quality Mokelumne water supply could occur. After extensive technical and environmental studies, EBMUD is completing a far-reaching Water Supply Management Program. A proposed plan for improving the lower Mokelumne River fishery is a major component of this program, and includes both flow releases and river habitat enhancements that recognize the needs of the environment, local sportsfishing groups, and local Nater supply. In summary, EBMUD's Water Supply Management Program presents elements that, in combination, respond to the District's need for water during the next 30 years. The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) will hold hearings in November on EBMUD's Mokelumne River water rights. The District needs your letter of support, requesting that the SWRCB accept this Water Supply Management Program, with its lower Mokelumne River Management Plan, as the primary planning guide for EBMUD, its existing and future customers, and the Mokelumne River fishery. 375 ELEVENTH STREET. OAKLAND. CA 94607-4240. 15101 287-0101 BOARD OF DIRECTORS NANCYJ.NADEL KENNETH H.SIMMONS.ANDREW COHEN . JOHN A.COLEMAN. STUART FLASHMAN.JOHN M.GIOIA. KATHERINE McKENNEY Ms. Sunne McPeak, Chairperson August 21, 1992 Page 2 I urge you to affirm EBMUD's provision of reliable, high-quality water at reasonable rates, both now and in the future. Attached is a sample letter for your consideration to write to the SWRCB. If you have any questions about this issue, please contact the Community Affairs staff at 287-0135. We are anxious to further discuss this important issue with you. Sincerely, JORGE CARRASCO by Dennis Allen, Acting General Manager JC:DA:wpc G2-14F.92 Enclosure cc: Phil Batchelor, County Administrator