MainSanGabriel Basin
WP,-TERI\I\ ASTER
May 26, 2009
TO:
ALL PARTIES TO SAN GABRIEL BASIN JUDGMENT (LASC 924128), AND ALL SAN GABRIEL VALLEY CITY MANAGERS
RE:
DROUGHT DECLARATION -- CONTINUED 'VATER SUPPLY SHORTAGE; CONSERVATION MEASURES NEEDED
Dear Parties and City Officials: Last year, the Main San Gabriel Basin Watennaster adopted a resolution to alert Water Producers and City Officials to the current critical water supply shortage and to encourage cities and water system operators to implement programs to reduce water demand by up to 20 percent. Following a winter season that produced below-average rainfall and snowpack, with Northern California's reservoirs approaching historic low levels, California's Governor has now issued a state-wide drought declaration and is also asking for a 20 percent reduction in water use. The 2007 court decision to require cutbacks on water pumped from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta has severely curtailed the amount of imported water available to Southern California, and Metropolitan Water District of Southern California has suspended delivery ofreplenislunent water for the past two years. Watermaster is currently unable to purchase most of its imported replenishment water needs. Furthermore, local dry conditions for the past three years have provided only minimal quantities of storm water and runoff for recharge, and our groundwater levels are declining. With below-average rainfall this winter, we can now' expect our groundwater to reach an historic low by summer. Attached for your reference is a hydro graph showing groundwater levels at our Key Well in Baldwin Park. This hydrograph clearly shows the downward trend in vv'ater levels, as wen as the historic low level that the Key Well is projected to reach this summer. Please consider taking steps to reduce water demand and encourage customers and the community to be water-wise. If you have questions, please contact us at (626) 815-1300 or email
[email protected]. Thank you,
~w~~
Carol Williams Executive Officer Main San Gabriel Basin Watennaster
725 North Azusa Avenue· Azusa, California 91702 • Telephone (626) 815·1300
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http://www.watermaster.org
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Fax (626) 815·1303
San Gabriel Valley Water Supply: A GROWING CRISIS IMPACTS OF DROUGHT AND IMPORTED WATER CUTBACKS ON THE SAN GABRIEL VAllEY
WHERE OUR WATER COMES FROM Most local water supplies are from a huge local groundwater Basin. Approximately 80 percent of water supplied to residents and businesses in the San Gabriel Valley is pumped from the Main San Gabriel groundwater basin that underlies the Valley. The Basin is refilled by natural percolation of rainwater, along with artificial recharge of stormwater that is captured in local flood control facilities and gradually percolates into the ground. But imported water is also needed. In most years, imported water is required to supplement these local supplies. For more than one-half century, San Gabriel Valley has depended on both fully treated imported water as well as untreated, imported replenishment water to help refill the groundwater supply.
Lowest Groundwater
Levels Recorded
As a result of the local dry
conditions and the inability
to buy imported water for
recharge, groundwater levels
in the Main San Gabriel Basin
have been steadily dropping
over the past two years, and,
without significant rainfall
this winter, are expected to
fall to the lowest level ever
recorded in 2009.
WATIER SUPPLY CRISIS FACING THE SAN GABRiEL VALLEY Local Drought Impacts: The past few years have been very dry locally, providing only minimal natural recharge and storm run-off. Two years ago, we experienced the driest year on record. Last year's near-average rainfall helped, but the ground was so dry from the previous year that only 60% of the average year's storm water capture was available for recharge. This past winter, we received below-average rainfall. Statewide Drought Impacts: The statewide situation is similar. Below-average rainfall and snowpack statewide for the past two years has greatly diminished water stored in Northern California's reservoirs, and in tum led to reductions in the amount of water that can be sent to Southern California. Colorado River Drought Effects: The Colorado River, another source of imported water for our area, has experienced a record-breaking eight-year drought, resulting in only about half of normal water storage along the river, and a consequent reduction in supply to Southern California. Delta Cutbacks Cause Further Reductions: Water available from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta has been significantly reduced due to a federal court order to protect the endangered Delta Smelt fish. Water deliveries to the State Water Project, which supplies water to users throughout Central and Southern California, have been reduced to about 35 percent of normal. Supplemental Recharge Water Cut Off: Finally, since May 2007 imported replenishment water deliveries to recharge our Basin have been halted, due to the combination of the statewide drought and the court decision mentioned above. Metropolitan Water District, the supplier of our replenishment water, estimates that it may only have water available for groundwater replenishment about 3 years in ten, and even then, the amount available may be significantly reduced.
WATER AGENCIES TAKE ACTION TO RESOLVE WATER SUPPLY CHALLENGES Since the announcement of decreased supplies from the State Water Project in May 2007, San Gabriel VaHey water agencies have been working to deveBop alternatives to minimize the water supply crisis and reduce our reliance on imported replenishment water. THESE EFFORTS INCLUDE:
ACTIONS TO !NCREASE WATER SUPPLY ~
Purchasing More Treated Imported Water for Direct Service to Customers. Untreated imported water for recharge has been cut back indefinitely. However, there are still additional, but limited supplies of imported treated water that can be directly delivered to customers for potable use. While imported treated water costs more than local and replenishment water supplies, area water agencies are purchasing more of it to protect groundwater levels and assure that customer water needs are met.
~
Exploring Ways to Increase Storm Water Capture From Local Dams, Rivers and Recharge Basins. This alternative involves improving the ability to collect stormwater, deliver it to recharge basins, and percolate it into the groundwater basin.
~
Developing a Project to Purify Recycled Water for Groundwater Recharge. Several local water agencies are developing a project that will take up to 25,000 acre-feet of highly-treated recycled water, purify it through a 3-stage state-of-the-art treatment process, and use it for groundwater recharge at the Santa Fe Spreading Grounds and along the San Gabriel River. The project is similar to Orange County Water District's successful Groundwater Replenishment System, which recently went into operation. The San Gabriel Valley project is currently in the preliminary design phase and will require several more years for construction and implementation. However, the recycled water recharge project will ultimately provide a significant part of the San Gabriel Valley's long-term water supply solution that will not be subject to court-ordered cutbacks or weather patterns. Encouraging Valley Residents and Businesses to Reduce Their Water Use by 20%. Although local water agencies are taking action to develop and purchase new water supplies, it will require many years to achieve this goal. But the region is already being impacted by the drought and imported replenishment water cutbacks, so immediate action by local water users is essential; a 20 percent water reduction is needed. Water agencies are developing programs that will help customers to conserve and achieve the necessary 20 percent reduction.
RESOLVING THE GROWING WATER SUPPLY CRISIS WILL TAKE MANY YEARS,
AND REQUIRE LARGE INVESTMENTS TO SUCCEED.
In order to balance water supply and water needs, local water users will also need to adjust water use
to avoid waste and increase efficiency. Your local water supplier will keep you posted as we make
progress on resolving these difficult challenges.
725 North Azusa Avenue, Azusa, CA 91 702 (626) 815- 1300· (626) 815- 1303 fax www.watermaster.org
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MAIN SAN GABRIEL BASIN WATERMASTER STETSON ENGINEERS INC.
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. Covina San Rafael Mesa, Arizona
STETSON
WATER RESOURCE ENGINEERS
ENGINEERS INC.
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BALDWIN PARK KEY WELL ELEVATION (PROJECTED THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2009)
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