Quick Facts on California Water Groundwater Use
Preparing for a Challenging Water Future: California Water
Overview 2014Felicia MarcusChair, State Water Resources Control
BoardSierra Water WorkgroupLake Tahoe, June 12, 2014STATE WATER
RESOURCES CONTROL BOARDREGIONAL WATER QUALITY CONTROL BOARDS
Combo sense of where admin coming from and update on many issues
facing us that we cant ignore, like the drought, or ones that we
are acting on intensively now, like drinking water and
groundwater.At an inflection point, part of paradigm shift, where
we go from silos to integrated action, we raise drinking water to
the level it deserves (not because of any organizational location,
but because we are actually talking about it as much as other water
issues, which is rare), we face the spectre of what climate change
will bring, and we face the worst drought in terms of impact we
will have faced in modern times.
These are opportunities for collapse or progress, and Im
optimistic that it will be progress.1OverviewSettingall states are
unique; Calif just more so. Administrations Water Action
PlanDrought updateSelected hot issues this year:GroundwaterDrinking
WaterWater BondsOther: Solution setBottom line: Will need all of
the above to deal with future needsBig topic so giving very cursory
overview to lay groundword but can only give a sense.Remarkable
time in water, for better and for worse.Huge challenges that have
come to a head in many instances, but have been visible, knowable,
and addressable for decades and we are the generations to take them
on. 2SettingMost Variable hydrologyYear to yearLocation to
LocationTime of yearMix of sourcesSurface Water system local or
imported (extensive storage/conveyance)Groundwater (intensely
local)Every locale different mixImpact of drought varies tooMix of
water rights tooClimate change and other drivers as gamechangersMix
of solutionsConservation/Recycling/Stormwater/DesalIntegrated Water
Management in regions and statewide, e.g., upper watershed
thinkingStorageDroughtWorst in impact in modern history3rd re
precipMore pop; more irrigated ag; more env water make impact
greater than the other twoEveryone has an opinion on water in CA,
but few look at whole picture. Blind men and elephant.This is one
of our problems, and something we need to deal with as a
wholefortunately, more and more people are saying thatfor instance
why CWAP so well received, and what folks are asking for in
groundwater context.3EvolutionEither/or All of the AboveBig
projects/single issue Integrated water management/multiple
benefitSilosIntegrated water management/multiple
benefitChallenges:BehavioralConversationalProfessionalCalls for
Egosystem Management
4
Hard to readbut the darker it is, the more variation,
unpredictability year to yearThis is defining characteristic
statewide.And, it does show a bit of the west. 5
Using Sac Valley exampleeasier to see through color in terms of
water year types. Gives sense of distribution. In 3 year
increments6
May be obvious, but as noted earliermismatch of timing is also
within the year.7Managing Hydrologic and Geographic Imbalances
Precipitation vs. PopulationFeast or Famine
8And by geographywhich all point to the need for storage and
conveyance if we are thinking statewideMajor Water Projects
Federal Central Valley Project (CVP)
State State Water Project (SWP)
Local Many other projects throughout state, including Colorado
River system, Hetch Hetchy, EBMUD, Owens ValleySource: Water
Environment FoundationSo, CA and federal govt. invested heavily in
Storage and conveyance in the middle of the last century and fueled
incredible growth in industry, ag, and population in central and
southern calif. Both important to economy and culture. Ag essential
to the nation and the world. nations fruits and vegetables.
Point out key onesmany of which can be seen from space and rival
the most audacious public works projects in the world.Imperial
another even older story. But cant do it all today.
Crated economic driver tht may be unmatched in the
worldtremendous econ and pup growth. People and industry largely in
So Cal; vast expansion of ag that feeds the nation and parts of the
world.
However, done pre-env protection lawsunintended conseq of env
and fish stocks crashing as pop and econ grew. Diversions from
ecosystem beyond that viable anywherehuge Delta pumps so great as
to cause reverse flows in key area for iconic salmon.
Climate will exacerbateloss of snowpack as disaster for people,
fish and wildlife (estimate about half our total storage is in
snowpack and that we may lose half of that in the next 30-40
yearsthis storage system cant expand enough to make up for it; sea
level rise endangers the Delta.9Future drivers require
changeChallenges, e.g.,Climate changePopulation growthFood
securityOther limits to deal withSilosTraditional if comfortable
dialogueParadigm shift essential and happening
March of Folly
Other limits: egosystem managementLike to think in half full
terms, but really think it is.
10California Water Action PlanMake Conservation a California Way
of Life Increase Regional Self-Reliance and Integrated Water
Management Across All Levels of Government Achieve the Co-Equal
Goals for the DeltaProtect and Restore Important EcosystemsManage
and Prepare for Dry PeriodsExpand Water Storage Capacity and
Improve Groundwater ManagementProvide Safe Water for All
CommunitiesIncrease Flood ProtectionIncrease Operational and
Regulatory EfficiencyIdentify Sustainable and Integrated Financing
Opportunities
Not plan, but promise; statement of priorities to hold us to. So
far its working.All of the above vs. either/orvery diferentRare to
have in one placefrom water supply of all kinds, to drinking water,
to water quality to ecosystemswhy? Because California nad its
people need and value them all!Also rare for a first term governor
to take on one, let alone all. But it is his 3rd term.Regionall
self-reliance and state assistancerather, sophisticated assessment
of state vs. local roles: subsidiarityIntegrated water management
at heartAgencies working together vs. separately or at
cross-purposes.Droughtgot ahead of us, but weve worked together as
never before.
Highlighted some that are of interest to you, but all of them
are really in your wheelhouse and should be of concern to all water
managersTalk about state interest in storage in face of climate
change projections. And storage of all kinds: big small above
ground and below ground.
Framing is same as ACWA report and Board concept paperhelp
locals first, plus backstop11The Droughta glimpseWhen the well is
dry, we know the worth of water. Benjamin Franklin Poor Richards
AlmanacCant ignore this in any speech to water professionals,
beause 100% of Cakf is in drought. Even if you are one of the folks
who technically has 3 years of storage, you are not an island. It
could go on. But, you are also part of the community that is is
California.12Current crisis: Worst drought in modern times2013
driest year on recordSnowpack fraction of average/ normalReservoir
draw down due to unusual 2012 precipitation patternCould still
rain, as in March miracle of the 90s but that is not a strategy,
and it is May.Third worst on record, with far greater impact than
the 1920sBeyond anything weve dealt withHarbinger of things to
comethink Australia or Climate Change2013water year began in Oct.
Absolute zero in what the year before was a deluge that stopped in
January.This summarygoing to flash through some slides to
illustrate13
14If we were to see a repeat of this years hydrology we would be
badly positioned to meet all Project objectives.15
16 Jan 18, 2013 Jan 18, 2014
20% of normal now.This is our future under climate
change17Selected ActionsRegional differences and choicesDifferent
mix of sources and economiesWater right priorities and different
groundwater regimesChoices re conservation, priorities, etc.Drought
Task ForceActions taken and potential:Emergency
declarationsGovernor Brown February 17, 2014/April 25, 2014Note
second one has a lot about conservation toogives advice, asks us to
find out how folks are doing, and gives us ability to use emergency
regs to deal with what is waste and unreasonable use. Got our
roadmap for the summer18ActionscontEmergency
Legislation--$680m+Including Conservation; Recycling; Stormwater;
IRWMDisaster reliefFarm Bill/USDA/Food Banks/NGOsTransfers
accelerationTemporary flow adjustments to water right
permitsContract water allocation cutbacks by state and federal
projectsWater rights implementation: CurtailmentsWhat is reasonable
use in a drought?19 Quick Facts on California Water Groundwater
UsePercentage of Urban and Agricultural Demands met with
groundwaterNormal Year: 39 percentDry year: 45 percentDrought:
almost 60 percentAbout 9 million Californians (1 in 3) rely solely
on groundwater to meet their needsOn the Central Coast, 86 percent
of drinking water comes from groundwaterIssues,
e.g.,SubsidenceInfrastructureNeighbor to neighbor impactsStorage
loss; storage needWater qualityEcosystem impacts
20Note that this is different in some ways than fractured
bedrock issues, but the neighbor to neighbor impacts are just as
significant albeit more complex.% Water Demand Met by
GroundwaterDont even know what it is in the Sierras21Groundwater
Management Components:CaliforniaArizonaTexasColoradoNew
MexicoStatewide groundwater use permittingXXXActive management
areasXXXXStatewide policywell data made publicXXXXStatewide
policymetering, measurement, and reporting requirementsaXXXa SBX7 6
provides for statewide measurement (at the basin level), but not
metering of water extraction. Western States Approach to
Groundwater ManagementIm just saying22Community Well Systems Where
Contamination has been Detected
GAMA projectNot topic for today, but important. Also part of
CWAPworing EPA, DTSC, SWRCB, and water districts to figure out how
to clean up in urban areaspooling resources and innov. Related to
our next topic too.This includes the Sierras23Community Water
Systems with Principal Contaminants Detected24 Policy Reports
and.Policy reportsLegislative Analysts Office 2009Public Policy
Institute of California 2010ACWA Framework - 2011UCLA Pritzker
Brief 2011Stanford Woods Institute 2011Others.Bars and coffee
shops25
26Evolution of conversationPolicy ReportsGroundwater Concept
PaperState BoardAdministration
WAP/workshops/stakeholderProposalsLegislation
ACWA Groundwater paper came firstWe had much larger built
outdialed it back to engage in the ongoing conversation vs. doing
in our own regulatory silo. Starting a conversation about how to
approach a conversation that is in fact happening and whose time
has comeLooking for right path, right tools, right roleConversation
vs. notice and commentKey concepts:
27Astonishing level of agreementPreference for local action;
need for local tools, authorities, and funding.Monitoring and
measurementNeed for state backstop at State Water Board; info and
assistance a combo of DWR and State Water BoardConnection between
surface water and groundwater and need to acknowledgeReasonable
timeframe (2 years/5 years/20 years?)Recognition of existing
overlying water rights (correlative)Has to be part of larger water
actions, e.g., items in California Water Action Plan28Key
issuesGovernanceMonitoringthresholds/use/storageFinanceSurface
water/groundwater interactionNature of or triggers for the
backstopDWR/SWRCB rolesWater QualityStakeholder
engagementGovernance:Institutional powers/boundaries, e.g.,
subbasins dont coord with county lines; counties dont have
authorities under 3030 because they dont all deliver water; what
about the white spots29Groundwater Level ChangeSouthern Central
ValleySpring 2013 to Spring 2014
30Basin Prioritization Results
126 High and Medium
92% GW use
88% PopulationAs required by the CWC31Drinking
WaterIssuesDrinking Water Quality an issueTwo recent State Water
Board reports highlight problem, in context of communities relying
in whole or part on groundwater98% Served by PWSS that consistently
meet public health standards; but 1-2% in CA is a big number
Nitrate contamination (legacy and ongoing)Increasing knowledge +
technology allows for greater treatment, but costs can be high.
Small Disadvantaged Communities particularly challenged3000 water
districts; many individual wells. State regulations: PWSS over
1532Whats happeningProposal to move to State Board as of July 1One
agency responsible source to tapEfficiency:One stop shopping for $
for many communitiesOne agency responsible for permitting recycled
water (but public health issues still paramount)Long term need to
steward every molecule in face of climate changeStep along path in
DAC solutionsPart of Water Action Plan
33How we got hereLegislation last termWater Action PlanGovernors
Budget proposalDrinking Water Task ForceTrailer Bill language,
passed out of conference committee last week.34Selected
issuesDrinking Water Task Force State Board vs. Regional Board
location/responsibilityField Offices
Locations--keepApproachcompliance assistance emphasisPublic Health
PriorityChief Deputy Director reports directly to EDPublic Health
backgroundPublic Health/Environmental Health OfficersNational
pictureConcern re: split in relationships35Selected issues,
contEmergency ResponseMOURegulatory homesPermitting remains with
Deputy Director (no appeal)Enforcement remains with DD (appeal to
State Board)MCLs (go to State Board)OtherKey public policy
decisions needed re: funding for tech assistance and grants v.
loans Need for tech innovationAppropriate regulatory
response/levelEconomic challenge of delivery to small DACs
36Water Bonds 2014
Chart dropped Perea so have some numbers on slides later in case
folks wantthough rapidly changing landscape.Many/some of you may
know more of the details so happy to have you answer questions. Gov
has not yet weighed in, so I dont have an official position and
have focused more on drought til recently.Existing has $11+billion
with 3 billion for storage, continuously appropriated.Summarize
stuff that may be upper watershed and Calcultate:37Water Bonds 2014
Key elementsClean and Safe Drinking Water $900m-1bGrants for
systemsGroundwater cleanupEmergency waterProtecting Waters and
Watersheds $0-1.7bSettlement agreements, e.g.,
KlamathConservanciesAg runoffStormwaterRegional Water Security
$0-2.615bStorageIntegrated Water
ManagementRecycling/Stormwater/Wastewater/Conservation/infrastructure
Wide range of priorities but generally in these categories,
though some have blank, and distribution varies widely. Some would
categorize differently.Disagreements on how big the market will
bearStoragesize and how allocated (I think these are all continuous
but not sure); surface v. groundwater; this money for public
benefitsDifference in approachsome name more; Wolk bill has big
chunk of money going to conservancies for ecosystem restoration,
including in Delta. All BDCP neutralbut controv over the Wolk
proposal38Other issuesincluding solution set Its all about
Integrated Water Management at all levelsRecycled water
advancement1% financing through SRF ($800m/150,000 af/yr)General
permit for Title 22 uses (June scheduled)SB322 timeline:
groundwater recharge/indirect potable/direct potable feasibility
reportStormwater capture/treatment/useAccelerating groundwater
contamination prevention/treatment/useUpper watershed
connection/managementBDCP/WQCPsConservation as a California Way of
LifeHow to implement multiple benefit thinking across departments
and disciplines
Just making point that there are huge issues going on39Thank
you!!!40