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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-04-21; Municipal Water District; 412; Briefing of Calfed's Draft EIR/EIS. (WY CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT - AGENDA BILL AB# 412 TITLE: MTG. 04l21198 BRIEFING OF CALFED’S DRAFT EWEIS DEPT. CMWD RECOMMENDED ACTION: This is an informational item only, and there are no staff recommendations. ITEM EXPLANATION: The CALFED Bay-Delta Program is a unique cooperative effort by fifteen state and federal agencies with regulatory and management responsibility in the San Francisco Bay- Sacramento/San Joaquin River Bay-Delta ecosystem to develop a long-term plan to restore ecosystem health and improve water management for beneficial uses of the Bay-Delta system. The objective of this collaborative planning process is to identify comprehensive solutions to the problems of ecosystem quality, water supply reliability, water quality, and Delta levee and channel integrity. The Draft Programmatic EIS/EIR is a joint product of the efforts of each of the CALFED participating agencies, and represents a major step in the process toward collectively achieving CALFED’s objective. It identifies twelve alternative options to achieve this objective and analyzes the environmental impacts of proceeding under each of those ecosystem restoration, water use efficiency, water quality, Delta levee and channel integrity, water transfers, and watershed management coordination, as well as a range of storage and conveyance options. No decision has yet been made on a preferred alternative. Many issues that have been identified and evaluated in this document need further study and discussion. In addition to the public hearing being held between April 21, 1998 and May 14, 1998, CALFED will continue to conduct workshops and public meetings to facilitate public involvement as we progress toward the final plan. The primary purpose of the Draft EIS/EIR is to inform decision-makers and the public about the impacts the various alternatives could have on both the human and the natural environment and to evaluate how well the alternatives meet the Program purposes. Because the Program is a long-term plan for the Bay-Delta ecosystem, the Draft EIS/EIR is a programmatic level planning document, focusing on the interrelated long-term and cumulative consequences of the various alternatives. Subsequent environmental review for the project specific actions involved in implementation of the Program will follow the approval of the Final EISIEIR. Water Authority staff will be making a presentation on this important water issue. FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact associated with this item. Program Ovewiew Ipring vjq8 T he CALFED Bay-Delta Program is a cooperative effort among state and federal agencies and California’s environmental, urban and agricultural communities. It was initiated in 1995 by Governor Pete Wilson and the Clinton Administration to address environmental and water management problems associated with the Bay-Delta system, an intricate web of waterways created at the junction of the San Francisco Bay and the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers and the watershed that feeds them. The Problem Today the Bay-Delta system is in serious trouble. Habitats are declining, and some native species are listed as endangered. The system has suffered from impaired water quality. Water supply reliability has declined significantly. Many levees are structurally weak and present a high risk of failure. Ultimately, California’s trillion-dollar economy, the seventh largest in the world, is at risk if Bay-Delta system environmental and water management problems are not resblved. Rearm To (are The Bay-Delta is the largest estuary on the west coasts of North and South America, home to plants and animals found nowhere else on the planet. More than 22 million Californians rely on the Bay-Delta system for all or some of their drinking water. There is concern that Delta levees are vulnerable to failure, especially during earthquakes or periods of high runoff. Such a failure could flood farmland and wildlife habitat, and could contaminate the fresh water supply and result in a long interruption of water deliveries for both urban and agricultural users. Millions of birds migrate through and live in the Bay-Delta, as do more than 53 species of fish, including one of the most productive natural salmon tisheries on the west coast. Key California industries from agriculture to hi-tech require a plentiful supply of quality water to prosper. Also, attracting new businesses to the State requires water supply reliability. The Bay-Delta system is a key component of the State’s $24 billion agricultural industry, supplying irrigation water to millions of acres of the world’s most productive farmland. For more information n (916) Q-2666 n (916) 654-9780 Fax H 1-800-700-57p Information line n ht@//calfed.ca.gov Progrerr to Date The CALFED Bay-Delta Program is divided into three phases. Phare 1 -- Completed in September 1996, Phase I concentrated on identifying and defining the problems confronting the Bay-Delta system. Also during Phase I, a mission statement and. guiding principles were developed, along with Program objectives and an array of potential actions to meet them. PhaK II -- During Phase II, currently underway, the Program is conducting a comprehensive programmatic environmental review process. Because the CALFED solution area is so large, and because it is approaching its task in an integrated, comprehensive way, environmental review must be conducted on a very broad level. Phare Ill -- s tte-specific, detailed environmental review will occur during Phase III, prior to the implementation of each proposed action. Implementation of the CALFED Bay-Delta solution is expected to take 25 to 30 years. Environmental Review To comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (EIS) and the California Environmental Quality Act (EIR), CALFED is preparing a programmatic Environmental Impact Statement/Programmatic Environmental Impact Report. A 75-day public comment period is being held on the draft March 16 through June 1. The main document and executive summary contain the following information: H Definition of Program scope. n Potential impacts of solution alternatives, each containing program elements for ecosystem restoration, water quality, water use efficiency, levee system integrity, watershed management coordination and water transfers, Delta conveyance and a range of storage options. n Potential impacts of the no-action alternative. n Steps that have been and will continue to be taken to identify a preferred alternative. n Current regulatory climate and potential land-use changes. n Public involvement opportunities. To find out more about the environmental review process and opportunities for you to comment, including times and locations of public hearings in your area, call I-800-900-3587. Potmial Iolutionr Working with the state’s urban and agricultural water users, environmental organizations and others, the CALFED Bay-Delta Program has, identified three conceptual alternatives to solve Bay-Delta system problems. Each conceptual alternative includes actions to comprehensively address ecosystem restoration, water quality improvements, enhanced Delta levee system integrity, water use efficiency, watershed management coordination and water transfers. The three alternatives differ primarily in how each would move and store water within the Bay-Delta system. w C-XFED 4 MY-IXLTA b lwx;Ib\,M Common Program! h, k~ Foundation During Phase I. it was decided that four Program elements were so fundamental to the system’s recovery that they should be included in whichever solution was ultimately chosen. These Common Programs include ecosystem restoration, levee system integrity, water quality and water use efficiency. During Phase II. two additional Common Program elements were added, based on public input and technical analysis. These are watershed management coordination and water transfers. Each alternative, or potential solution, contains the six Common Program elements, each one of which represents a major investment in the system and will significantly reduce resource conflicts. Ecoryrtem Rertoration - P rovides significant improvements in habitat for the environment, restoration of some critical flows and reduced conflict with other Delta system resources. Kate ~yRt?m ~fl~tZ~!$y - Provides significant Water Use improvements in the reliability of the Delta levees to benefit all users of Delta water and land. Storage Conveyance Water Quality Program - Makes significant reductions in point and non-point source pollution. Waterrhed Management Coordination -- Encourages locally led watershed management activities that benefit all Delta system resources. Water Uje Efkienty -- Provides policies for efficient use of water in agricultural and urban settings and environmental purposes, which is essential to using existing and new water supplies wisely. Water Tranrferr -- Provides a policy framework for a properly regulated water market to move water between users, including environmental uses, on a voluntary and compensated basis. “arlable Program Elements - 7 Common Program Elements l/aria ble Program Elementr In addition to the Common Program elements, some of the alternatives include provisions for new or expanded water storage. Each alternative includes modification of Delta conveyance. Alternative I: Existing System Conveyance The Delta channels would be maintained essentially in their current configuration. AltUIIatiK 2: Modified Through Delta Conveyance. Significant improvements to northern Delta channels would accompany the southern Delta improvements contemplated under the existing system conveyance alternative. Alternative 3: Dual Delta Conveyance. The dual Delta conveyance alternative is formed around a combination of modified Delta channels and a new canal or pipeline connecting the Sacramento River in the northern Delta to the SWP and CVP export facilities in the southern Delta. F CALFEP 4 HAY-LELTA h rlwm&4 Awanter Assurances will be an important component of any solution developed by the CALFED Bay-Delta Program. Each alternative, a set of actions to address problems facing the Bay-Delta system, developed by CALFED includes a package of assurances. Assurances are policy-level actions and institutional guarantees that each alternative will be implemented tomorrow as designed and agreed to today. Who Payr? One of the unique aspects of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program is that a strategy for funding the long- term solution is being developed as an integral part of the overall program. Neither one sector of society nor one revenue source will shoulder complete responsibility for paying to implement the ultimate solution alternative. Rather, the cost will be shared by many entities, possibly including user fees, federal appropriations, private-public partnerships and general obligation bonds. The people of California are committed to improving the Delta. This is evidenced by the passage of Proposition 204 in 1996, which provided more than $450 million for the CALFED Bay-Delta Program’s environmental enhancement efforts. Federal authorization for an additional $430 million over the next three-year period has also been secured. Getting to a Solution -- The Phare II Interim Report Whatever alternative is selected, it must be affordable, equitable, publicly acceptable and legally feasible to implement. It must have political and economic staying power. It must reduce conflict among beneficial uses of water (environmental, agricultural, economic, etc.). And, it must ensure that negative impacts are not simply redirected from one problem area, or region, to another. These principles guide the process. The Phase II Interim Report is an important disclosure document. It describes the CALFED process, solution alternatives and the fundamental Program concepts, and analyses that have revealed the comparative technical advantages of each alternative. It also describes how the CALFED agencies will use analysis results in a public process to proceed to the selection of a preferred Program alternative by December 1998. To obtain a copy, call Z-800-900- 3587 or visit the CALFED website at http:/calfed.ca.gov. Getting Involved Government alone cannot solve the problems facing the Bay-Delta system. Active participation and understanding of the issues by all the Bay-Delta system interests and the public is the key to success. Technical working groups, public meetings and workshops, and the federally chartered Bay-Delta Advisory Council all provide opportunities for Californians to participate in the decision-making process. Already, thousands of Californians have contributed to the Bay-Delta Program by volunteering time, sharing expertise, expressing an idea and/or casting a vote in support of Prop 204. To find out how you can get involved in helping to restore the environment and water management of the Bay-Delta system, call the CALFED public information line at 800-700-5752 or visit its website at http://calfed.ca.gov. updated 03/06/98 - 1416 Ninth Street, Suite 1155 Sacramento, California 958 I4 http://calfed.ca.gov Public Information Line 1~8057055752 (916) 657-2666 FAX (916) 654-9760 (ommolll@!d QgaioIK AhtttdfEDBa~klta~m What Ir the Bay-Delta @tern? The Bay-Delta system is an intricate web of waterways created at the junction of the San Francisco Bay and the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers and the watershed that feeds them. The estuary, where salt water from the Pacific Ocean flows through San Francisco Bay and mixes with fresh water from the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers, touches the lives of millions of Californians and people across the nation who have never seen it. Fresh water flows through the Delta -- a network of natural and man-made waterways -- to help supply two-thirds of the state’s population with drinking water, and irrigate 200 types of crops in the fertile Central Valley, including 45 percent of the nation’s fruits and vegetables. Historically, the Delta was a vast region of wetlands teeming with wildlife. In the 19th century, pioneer settlers diked the islands to create farmland. Today, the distinctive estuary ecosystem supports more than 759 species of fish, animals, and birds, including waterfowl migrating on the Pacific Flyway. It supplies and sustains fisheries, wildlife refuges, and 40,000 acres of critical wetlands. The biological health and the biodiversity of the ecosystem depends upon the quality and abundance of water that flows through the estuary. At times, California’s need for water from the Bay-Delta system to serve its people and economy has competed with environmental needs. What Ir the (ALFED Bay-Delta Program?. The CALFED Bay-Delta Program is a cooperative effort among the public and state and federal agencies with management and regulatory responsibility in the Bay-Delta system (see letterhead). It was formed in 1994 by President Bill Clinton and Governor Pete Wilson as part of the Bay-Delta Accord to address the water management and environmental problems associated with the Bay-Delta system. including ecosystem restoration, water quality, water use efficiency and levee system integrity. CALFED Agencies California The Resources Agency Federal Environmental Protection Agency Department of Agriculture Department of Fish and Game Department of the interior Natural Resources Conservation Service Department of Water Resources Fish and Wildlife Service Department of Commerce California Environmental Protection Agency Bureau of Reclamation National Marine Fisheries Service State Water Resources Control Board U.S. Army Corps of Engineers -- Bay-Delta . . . 2 / . What Ir the Draft Programmatic EII/EIR! As part of its analysis of potential Bay-Delta system solutions, and to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act and the National Environmental Protection Act, CALFED has prepared a draft programmatic Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report. This document identifies -- on a broad or “programmatic” level -- potential impacts associated with the actions it is proposing. Upon certification of this document, which will take place after a public review and comment period, individual, site-specific environmental impact analysis will be conducted on all actions prior to implementation. What Are the Pharer of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program? The CALFED Bay-Delta Program is divided into three phases. Completed in September 1996, Phase 1 concentrated on identifying and defining the problems confronting the Bay-Delta system, Also during Phase I, a mission statement and guiding principles were developed, along with Program ob-jectives and an array of potential actions to meet them. During Phase II, currently underway, the Program is conducting a comprehensive programmatic environmental review process. Because the t CALFED solution area is so large, and because CALFED is approaching its task in an integrated, comprehensive way, environmental review must be conducted on a very broad level. Site-specific, detailed environmental review will occur during Phase III, prior to the implementation of each proposed action. Implementation of the CALFED solution is expected to take 25 to 30 years. What Ir the Phase II Interim Report! During Phase II of the CALFED process, alternatives -- potential solutions identified during Phase I of the Program -- were evaluated against a number of criteria. This evaluation included technical analysis as well as stakeholder input. The results of this analysis are contained in the Phase II Interim Report. Designed for the general reader so that everyone can provide informed, focused comment. the Report describes the CALFED process, solution alternatives and the fundamental Program concepts, and analyses that have revealed the comparative technical advantages of each . alternative. The Report also describes how the CALFED agencies will use analysis results in a public process to proceed to the selection of a preferred Program alternative by December 1998. What Ir the Public Comment Period? The public comment period is 75 days. starting March 16 and ending June I. NEPA requires at least 30 days and CEQA requires at least 45. Due to the comprehensive nature of the CALFED Bay- Delta Program, however, it was decided that 75 days would give the public an opportunity to more fully review the documents for evaluation. Because the public has had input since the beginning of the process three years ago, many ideas have already been incorporated into the Program or eliminated for technical reasons identified in pre-feasibility studies, modeling studies and other detailed analysis. New ideas will be similarly evaluated. -- more -- Bay-Delta . . . 3 How (an the Public Comment? There will be 12 public hearings throughout the state starting April 21 and running through May 14. The public may comment at any of these meetings, or may submit comments in writing to Mr. Rick Breitenbach, .CALFED Bay-Delta Program, 1416 Ninth Street, Suite 1155, Sacramento, CA 95814. What tlappknr to Comments? Since the beginning of its activities, CALFED has solicited public feedback on ail aspects of the Program’s development, including goals, solution principles, priorities and implementation. Comments received during the public review period for the draft programmatic ETWEIR will be grouped in categories and forwarded as they come in to the appropriate technical staff for evaluation. If necessary, technical analysis will be conducted as part of this evaluation process. Comments then will be incorporated into a final programmatic EIS/EIR, which will also be circulated for public review and comment prior to signing of the Record of Decision and Certification. What Are the Common Program Elements! Common Program Elements were developed based on the realization that some categories of actions were so fundamental in addressing Bay-Delta system problems that they should not be optional. These Common Program Elements -- common to all the draft alternatives -- are ecosystem restoration, levee system integrity, water quality protection and water use efficiency. During Phase II. two additional Common Programs evolved from the original four, based on public input and technical analysis, because of their value in helping CALFED meet multiple objectives: water transfers and watershed management. All of the Common Program Elements remain relatively unchanged from one alternative to another and are the foundation for the overall improvement of the Bay-Delta system. They represent a significant investment in the system. and willhelp substantially reduce resource conflicts. ‘Each one of the programs is a major program of its own. What Are the Alternatives? The six common programs form the foundation for overall improvement of the Bay-Delta system. They remain relatively unchanged in each of the three potential solutions contained in the draft programmatic EIS/EIR. The three alternatives do differ. however, in how each would move and store water in the system. Alternative I would utilize existing Delta channels to move water across the Delta, make small improvements and consider storage. Alternative 2 would utilize existing Delta channels to move water across the Delta. make significant improvements and consider storage. Alternative 3 is similar to Alternative 2. except it also adds a new channel around the east side of the Delta. -- more -- Bay-Delta . . . 4 Ir There a Preferred Alternative? No. Based on the technical and stakeholder analysis of the potential solutions -- alternatives -- it was decided that additional public input was needed to identify a preferred alternative. All alternatives were evaluated by technical staff and public working committees.against such criteria as benefits to water quality, impact on fish and wildlife, total cost and operational flexibility. The draft programmatic EIS/EIR summarizes these evaluations. Technical performance needs to be considered in the context of assurances. finances, ability to implement, and the public comments received on the draft programmatic EWEIR. A preferred alternative will be chosen after the public comment period ends and will be identified in the final programmatic EIYEIR. Will (alifornianr Get More Water? The Bay-Delta system is currently not able to reliably supply water for agriculture, urban areas and the environment. Proposed improvements to the Bay-Delta system -- such as water conservation, water recycling, water transfers, watershed management, changing the timing of when water is pumped from the Delta for export, and improving the way water flows through the Delta - will result in additional water for the environment, agriculture and urban uses. Will Thir Change Water Rights? No. CALFED is not proposing any changes to existing water rights law. Will land, Be (onverted ar Part of the Plan! Implementation of levee system improvements, ecosystem restoration, and the water quality program will result in some land conversion. Use of land already owned by the government and other possibilities will be considered prior to converting prime agricultural land. and additional measures to mitigate these impacts will be included. Third-party impacts of such actions will be carefully evaluated and taken into consideration. How Do the Alternativer Differ in (art? There are relatively minor differences in cost among the alternatives. The total cost differential among the alternatives is on the order of $1.5 billion. Program capital costs range from about $9 billion to $10.5 billion including the common program elements. storage and conveyance. Approximately $4 billion of this cost is for the common program elements. Up to $5 billion of this -- more -- Bay-Delta . . . 5 cost would be for storage fa,cilities, if a decision was made to implement all of the storage analyzed (6 million acre feet). Annualized costs will range from $500 to $600 million. Where Will the Funding Come From! Financing will be raised over the next few decades through a combination of federal, state and user funds. The people of California are committed to improving the Delta. This is evidenced by the passage of Proposition 204 in 1996, which provided more than $450 milhon for the CALFED Bay- Delta Program’s environmental enhancement efforts. Federal authorization for an additional $430 million over three years has also been secured. In October 1997, President Bill Clinton signed an appropriations bill containing $85 million for the Bay-Delta system. This funding for early implementation of the Program’s environmental actions reflects the fundamental need to restore the ecosystem as an essential component of a comprehensive solution to Bay-Delta system problems. Who Ir Adminirtering Current and Future Fundr? The CALFED Bay-Delta Program agencies are ultimately charged with administering the Program’s funds. Each potential solution will include an implementation strategy and a set of assurances that the solution will achieve what it sets out to do. What Happens Next! When the public comment period is over. CALFED staff will incorporate the comments into the final document. The final programmatic EIS/E]R will then be released for a 30-day review period. likely in late 1998. Then. the CALFED state and federal lead agencies will be asked to certify the document, after which implementation and subsequent environmental review for site-specific prqjects will begin. Implementation will take place over approximately the next 30 years. How long Will it Take To Solve the Problemr! The CALFED Bay-Delta Program focuses on resolving long-term problems. While the full CALFED solution will be implemented over as many as 30 years, significant improvements are expected to begin in 1999, after the initial environmental review process is complete, and consistent with the need for any additional site-specific environmental review. Some environmental restoration has already begun. as the 1994 Bay-Delta Accord called for the early implementation of nonflow related ecosystem restoration projects consistent with the overall Program. This provision is known as “Category III.” CALFED solicited proposals and awarded $60 million in funding for ecosystem restoration projects in 1997. There is an additional $85 million available for ecosystem projects in 1998. -- more -- Bay-Delta . . . 6 How Doe! Alternative 3 Compare to the Peripheral (anal oflq82? While Alternative 3 does include a new Delta channel to take some water around the Delta from the north directly to export pumps in the southern Delta, the comparison ends there. The largest channel proposed in Alternative 3 (15,000 cubic feet per second) is smaller than the proposed Peripheral Canal (23.000 cfs), with other Alternative. 3 variations ranging from 22% to 44% of the Peripheral Canal’s capacity. In addition, Alternative 3 is part of a comprehensive interrelated package that also addresses ecosystem restoration, levee system integrity, water quality and water use efficiency. The CALFED approach is based on finding a comprehensive solution to the problems of the Bay-Delta system. To meet’the objectives of the Program, the solution cannot solve the problems in one area by making problems in another area worse. The Peripheral Canal in 1982 did not come with these durable and long-term assurances. How Ir the Public Involved! CALFED has worked for three years with the public, urban and agricultural water users, fishing interests, environmental organizations, businesses, watershed organizations, and the public to define and evaluate alternatives for solving the problems confronting the Bay-Delta system. Already, thousands of Californians have contributed to the Bay-Delta Program by volunteering time, sharing expertise, and expressing ideas and opinions. Public meetings are held periodically throughout California, and more than a dozen topic-specific work groups hold meetings open to the public on a regular basis. In addition, a federally-chartered group of more than 30 representatives from the state’s leading urban. agricultural, business and environmental interests are serving as members of the Bay-Delta Advisory Council, which meets regularly in a public setting to review the Program’s progress and provide comment and advice. Ultimately, it is the active participation of the entire public that will help fix the Bay-Delta. Government alone cannot solve the problem. ### -- more -- Sdution Principles olution principles are fundamental principles which guide the CALFED Bay-Delta program. The six principles that guide the development and evaluation of the program and development of the alternatives include: Affordable An affordable solution will be one that can be implemented’and maintained within the foreseeable resources of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program and stakeholders. Equitable An equitable solution will focus on resolving problems in all problem areas. lmprovements for some problems will not be made without corresponding improvements for other problems. implementable An implementable solution will have broad public acceptance. legal feasibility and will be timely and relatively simple compared with other alternatives. Durable A durabje solution will have political and economic staying power and will sustain the resources it was designed to protect and enhance. Reduce conflicts in the system A solution will reduce major conflicts among beneficial users of water. No Significant Redirected Impacts A solution will not solve problems in the Bay-Delta system by redirecting significant negative impacts, when viewed in its entirety, in the Bay-Delta or other regions of California. For more information l (916) 657-2666 n (916) 654-9780 FAX W (916) 654-9924 Information line l http://calfad.er.gov Available The result of three years of technical studies and public involvement, CALFED’s draft Programmatic Environment Impact StalementjEnvironmental Impact Report ‘will consist of the following documents, appendices and various technical reports. The release of the draft on March 16 starts the official public comment period of 75 days, ending June I. The documents may be ordered by contacting CALFED; the Executive Summary and the Phase II Report will be posted on CALFED’s website. A new to&free number, (800) 900-3587, will be activated on March I6 with information on all aspects of the draft, including how to order, how to comment, public hearing information, and more. Main Document/Executive Summary: The Main Document contains the required environmental document elements, with everything from an overview of CALFED’s origins; the various alternatives, including the No Action Alternative; summary of various consequences, steps and afialysis that have been and will continue to be taken to reached a preferred program alternative; impact analysis, current regulatory climate and potential land use changes; and a variety of issues ranging from cumulative impacts to public involvement. There is also an Executive Summary of this document. Phase 11 Report: The Phase II Report was designed for the general reader so that everyone could provide informed, focused comment. It describes the CALFED process, solution alternatives and the fundamental Program concepts, and analyses that have revealed the copparative technical advantages of each alternative. The Report also describes how the CALFED agencies will use analysis results in a public process to proceed to the selection of a preferred Program alternative by December 1998. Appendices: T en other appendices, in addition to the Phase II Report, expand upon the information contained in the Executive Summary and the Main Document. l Program Goals and Objectives: Summary of Program goals and objectives developed in Phase I of the Program. l No Action Alternative. Describes the No Action Alternative which is an estimate of future (year 2020) conditions if the project alternatives are not implemented. l Program Alternatives. Summarizes the twelve alternative configurations built around the three Program alternatives. l Ecosystem Restoration Program Plan. Basis of the ecosystem restoration included in all the alternatives. For mote information W (916) 657-2666 I (916) 654-9780 FAX m l-800-700-5752 laformrtioa line I http://trlfed.ca.gou Appendices: (cont.) Water Quality Program. Basis of water quality included in all alternatives. Water Use Efficiency Program and Water Transfers. Basis of water use efficiency included in all alternatives. Long-Term Levee Protection Plan. Basis of Delta levee improvements included in all alternatives. Watershed Management Coordination. Basis of watershed management coordination included in all alternatives. Summary of Modeling Assumptions and Results. Summarizes and references the m ‘IV modeling reports developed during evaluations for the Programmatic EWEIR. Implementation Strategy. Includes financial and assurance strategies for guiding implementation of the long-term comprehensive plan. Technical Reports: Thirteen teckical reports are also available. l l l l l l l l l l l l l Agricultural Resources Technical Repoi;t” ** * :_ , .) i. T i Cultural Resources Technical Report Fishers and Aquatic Resources Technical Report Flood Control Systems Technical Report Geomorphology and Soils Technical Report Groundwater Resources Technical Report Power Production and Energy Technical Report Recreational Resources Technical Report Regional Economics Technical Report Surface Water Resources Technical Report Urban Resources Technical Report Vegetation and Wildlife Technical Report Water Quality Technical Report *I*’ Fact Sheets: In addition, a variety of concise fact sheets are available on various aspects of the program. For a full listing, call CALFED or visit its website. For mere information n (916) 657-2666 I (916) 654-9780 FM n l-800-700-5752 hformation Uac m http://calfrd.ca.gov &lb FACT SHEET: son Diego coullfy Wotar Authority Alternative solutions for Cal$iornia’s Bay-Delta A A partnership of federal and state agencies has released a draft analysis of potential solutions to environ- mental and water management problems that affect the estuary formed by the meeting of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and San Francisco Bay. CALFED, as the partnership is known, was organized in 1995 to develop a long-term, comprehensive solution for the Bay-Delta system. A The Bay-Delta system is the largest estuary on the West Coast of North America and the hub of the water supply that powers California’s trillion-dollar economy. More than 22 million Californians, including those in San Diego County, depend on the Bay-Delta for at least some of their drinking water, Bay-Delta water irrigates 200 types of crops, including 45 percent of the nation’s fruits and vegetables. The region also is home to 430 species of fish, birds, mammals and reptiles. A The Bay-Delta system is in trouble. Habitats are declining; nine species living there are threatened or endangered. The quality of the system’s water has dropped and the reliability of the supply has fallen. Many levees in the Delta are weak structurally and in danger of failing. A The draft environmental impact report/environmental impact statement (EIR/EIS) released March 16 by CALFED examines three alternative solutions for the critical problems facing the Bay-Delta system. Each alternative combines several actions that together address these problems. All of the alternatives have certain common elements; they vary according to water conveyance methods and the amount of new water storage capacity that would be constructed. The alternatives are: Alternative 1: Water would be conveyed through existing Delta channels to the pumps in the South Delta that export water to farms and cities. Alternative 2: Northern Delta channels would be improved to facilitate the flow of water to the pumps. Alternative 3: The Delta would be improved and a new canal or pipeline would be constructed to carry a portion of the water from the Sacramento River in the North Delta to the pumps in the south. CALFED will hold a public hearing on its draft EIWEIS May 12 at 7 p.m. in the Encinitas City Council Chambers, 505 South Vulcan Ave. in Encinitas. Call 800-700-5752 for more information. The 75day public review period for the draft EIWEIS ends June 1. Copies of the executive summary and the Phase 2 report (a description of the process to date for the “general reader”) are available through CalFed’s web site - http://calfed.ca.gov. To obtain copies of the entire document or individual pieces or to learn about the public comment period, call 800-900-3587. FACT SHEET: Alternative solutions for Calijibrnia’s Bay-De&u A Each alternative includes six elements known as “common programs,” which together form the foundation for overall improvement in the Bay-Delta system: Ecosystem restoration: Measures to significantly improve habitats, restore water flow patterns, screen more water diversions from fish and control introduced species. Ecosystem restoration will allow CALFED to carry out other critical tasks, including improving supply reliability and water quality. Water quality: Actions to improve the quality of Delta water by reducing pollution in the system. Water-use efficiency: Provides policies for the efficient use of water on farms, in cities and for environmental purposes, primarily through conservation and recycling programs. Water transfers: Encourages a more effective market to voluntarily move water between users, including the environment, in a manner that reduces economic damage caused by drought, Levee system integrity: Measures to make Delta levees more reliable to reduce the potential for breaks which would flood Delta islands, affect water exports and lessen water quality. Watershed management coordination: Encourages local watershed management that helps to enhance habitat, reduce pollution and stabilize runoff. A The cost of CALFED’s Bay-Delta program is estimated at between $9 billion and $10.6 billion over a period of 20 to 30 years. This includes $4 billion for the common programs, $4.4 billion for storage and between $600 million and $2.2 billion for conveyance. CALFED is developing a finance strategy that will include funds from the federal and state governments, water agencies and voter-approved bonds. A CALFED also is developing policies to achieve the Bay-Delta solution in stages and to assure interested parties that the entire solution package will be executed. A Following public review of its draft analysis, CalFed will compile a final EIR/EIS with a recommended preferred alternative. When the final EIR/EIS is released, the state and federal governments must decide whether to approve the project and seek funding to put it into effect. APRIL 1998 Southern California Supports CAWED Finding a long-term solution to the problems of the Bay-Delta is crucial to our region and our state. We are prepared to reinvest in California3 future by supporting the CALFED process. However three essential elements are fundamental to meeting Southern California’s needs and must be addressed if the CALFED solution is to be successful- improved water quality and supply reliability at an affordable cost. Southern California must negotiate for our future. We believe there is an equitable solution for the environment, agriculture and urban water users. Southern California representatives will be at the table protecting your interests, but your support for and participa- tion in the CALFED process are paramount. What is CALFED and why will it work? The CALFED Bay-Delta Program is a partnership of state and federal agencies charged with developing a solution to the long-term problems of the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. In seeking a compre- hensive solution to water supply, water quality and ecosystem issues, CALFED has brought together statewide water interests-urban, agricultural and environmental-to identify their concerns and reach a consensus-based solution. This process represents a turning point in the perennial California water wars because for the first time we are working together. What does CALFED mean to Southern California? More than 16 million Southern Californians rely on drinking water supplies from State Water Project sources that originate in the Bay-Delta watershed. Success in the CALFED effort to restore the estuary is the first step to securing future water quality and supply reliability for our region. Water Quality Any CALFED solution must improve water quality Reducing salts and other natural organic materials in our source water will help maintain the health and safety of our drinking water for years to come and may eliminate or substan- tially reduce the need to build costly water treatment facilities. Water Reliability Southern California is counting on a reliable supply of water from the Bay- Delta. Regional water managers are helping to meet the need for increased supplies through water recycling, conservation and storage as our population grows by about 200,000 residents each year. Jobs and the Southern California Economy Water issues are critical to the long-term success of business and commerce in any region. If we fail to secure the quality and reliability of Southern California’s water supply, business leaders may reconsider expansion in the region and may even relocate. Our economic future depends on a reliable supply of high-quality water. We cannot support a vibrant economy without it. Environmental Restoration The Bay-Delta provides the largest wetland habitat in the West, encompassing a key nursery ground and migration corridor for more than 120 species of fish and wildlife. Protecting this national treasure should be a top priority for all Californians. The CALFED Timeline The time for decision-making is upon us. CALFED has developed three alternative action plans, all of which include additional storage: Alternative I: Re-operation of the current system. Alternative II: Expanded through-Delta conveyance. Alternative III: Dual-intake system. These alternatives are expected to be released in a draft environmental document in March 1998, followed by a series of public meetings and workshops. The final alternative is expected to be approved by the end of the year Then the work of implementation will begin for all of us. What will a CALFED solution cost? The CALFED solution is likely to involve large-scale ecosystem restoration, storage, and facilities to improve the environment, water quality, and supply reliabitv. CALFED estimates Ban Craa+lse~ ?bavlSarracnarkto- Barn Jaa~ula De#ta- The Bay-Delta is a 738,000 acre estuary where the San Francisco Bay meets the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers. the cost ‘between $4 and $9 biion over 30 years. Some of the funding has already been secured, includ- ing $600 million provided by the passage in 1996 of Proposition 204 and $430 million in authorized federal funding, of which $85 million was appropriated in 1998. As water users benefiting from a Bay-Delta solution, Southern Californians are prepared to shoulder their fair share of the financial responsibility. Long-term regional water rate projections reveal that a total cost in the range of $5 to $6 billion for a Bay-Delta fix may be affordable if equitably shared by state and federal governments as well as water users. Southern California Public Hearings (all begin at 6 p.m.) CALFED will hold 12 public hearings throughout the state to receive comments on the draft report. Four of these hearings will take place in Southern California: April 21: Holiday Inn, 3400 Shelby Street, Ontario April 28: Fire Training Center, 1845 North Ontario, Burbank May 5: University High School, 4771 Campus Drive, h-vine May 12: Encinitas City Council Chambers, 505 S. Vulcan Avenue, Encinitas Following the 75&y comment period, CALFED will host a series of workshops in anticipation of selecting a preferred alternative by the end of the summer. The final environmental report is expected to be released by the end of the year. This information is brought to you by: The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and its 27 member agencies ANAHEIM BEKIIRLY HLLS BUFSANK COMPT~N FULLERTON GLENDALE LONG BEACH LOS ANGELES PAUDENA SAN FER~UNDO &#‘ik?ARINO &-ANZ4&A SANTA MONU TORRANCE CALLEGUAS Mu~crplu. WATER DISTRICT CENTRAL BASOV MVNIUPAL WATER DISTRICT CNINO BAS~V MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT Co~si!x MLNXIPAL WATER DISTRICT EASTERN MUNICIP& WATER DISTRICT FOOTHKL MLTMCIPAL WATER DISTRICT LAS VIRGENES MUNKXPAL WATER DISTRICT MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT OF ORANGE Co~rnrrr SAN DIEGO Couwy WATER AUTHORITY ~&FEE VALLEYS MUNICIPAL WATER D~.w~ci- UPPER SAN GABRIEL VALLEY MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT WEST BASIN MUMCIPAL WATER DISTRICT WESTERN MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRKT OF RIVE-E MERiOFOL/7ilN WAlEOOlStOlCT OFSOO7HERlVGAUFOltiVlA CALFED BAY-DELTA PROGRAM Southern California’s Stake F or southern California, fixing the Bay-Delta means better drinking water quality and a more secure economy. How can that be? How can a region that makes up just 1 percent of California’s land mass. that is nearly 300 miles north of the T&a&pi Mountains, affect water quality in Escondido, job growth in Gardena, or properry values in Pomona? It can because the Bay- Delta supplies most of the water consumed by 16 million southern Californians and their $450 billion economy. What precisely will the CALFED Bay-Delta Program do for southlanders? improve Water Supply Reliability Whichever alternative s&&on is chosen, &e CALFED Bay-Delta Program will improve the way water moves through the Delta. the hub of California’s water distribution system. Equally important. the Program will restore the Bay-Delta ecosystem, reducing constraints on the export of water to agricultural and urban areas. (Currently, when too many endangered-species fish approach the south Delta pumps. pumping temporarily shuts down to protect them. When the ecosystem returns to health. these unpredictable curtailments are expected to decline.) While the CALFED Bay-Delta Program will not solve all of California’s water supply problems. it will help close the water supply gap. which is projected to be as high as 9 million acre feet in critically dry years by 2020. (An acre foot is 325.85 I gallons.) Protect Water Quality The Program will reduce the release of pollutants into the Bay-Delta system, giving you cleaner. healthier water and helping communities to manage water treatment costs. Protect California’s Natural Resources A lush. beautiful network of marshes, waterways. farms, and historic hamlets, the Bay-Delta is a critical environment for thousands of fish and wildlife. as well as for boaters. campers, fishermen, and others. Like Mount Shasta. the southern California beaches. and Yosemite, it is part of the rich natural heritage all Californians enjoy. M/ant To Know More? For further information on how you can participate in the effort to restore the environment and water management of the California Bay-Delta system. contact: CALFED. 1416 Ninth Street, Suite 1155, Sacramento, CA 958 I4 ph: (916) 657-2666 Fax: (916) 654-9780 Public Information Line (916) 654-9924. Website: bttp://dfd.~.gov For ROM iafemttiea l (916) 657-2666 n (916) 611-9780 FAX D f9M) 651-9924 Irfonsrtior liw m hQ://uffa&a.~ SAN DIEGO COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY n The San Diego County Water Authority was organized June 9, 1944, to augment local water resources with a safe, reliable supply of imported water. The Authority fulfills this mission today by importing water through the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD). Typically, 75 to 90 percent of the county’s water is imported. n 1997 is the 50th anniversary of the arrival of imported water in San Diego County. The county’s first delivery of imported water made the journey from the Colorado River and flowed into San Vicente Reservoir Nov. 26, 1947. n Depending on the time of year, between 75 and 100 percent of the water delivered by MWD to San Diego County comes from the Colorado exceeds exacting federal and state water quality standards. n The Authority encompasses 909,000 acres and supports a $67 billion annual economy. It consists of six cities, three water districts, three irrigation districts, eight municipal water districts, one pub- lic utility district, one federal agency and one county water district. The county of San Diego, which doesn’t deliver water, is an ex-officio member agency. n Ninety-seven percent of San Diego County’s 2.7 million residents live within the Authority service area. The popula- tion served by the Authority is expected to reach 3.8 million by 2015. Water demand is projected to increase from 597,000 acre-feet in 1996 to 787,000 acre-feet in 2015. River via a 242-mile aque- duct. The State Water Project San Diego County Water Use supplies the rest from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta through the 444-mile California Aqueduct. Residential of the Riverside-San Diego County line and transports it through five large-diameter pipelines to 23 retail water agencies in San Diego County. These agencies in turn deliver water directly to homes, businesses and other users. Authority water deliveries to its member agencies totaled 446,000 acre-feet of water in 1996. n About half of the water supplied by the Authority already has undergone rig- orous filtration treatment at MWD’s Lake Skinner facility in south Riverside County and is ready to drink. The rest receives similarly thorough filtration treatment at local facilities. All of the water meets or Commercial 13% Public & Other 12% n The Authority takes deliv- ery of water from MWD approximately six miles south n The Authority is governed by a 34- member board of directors appointed by the member agencies. The directors are business and civic leaders with diverse professional and technical backgrounds who live or work in the communities they represent. Continued on back page n Staff costs represent three percent of the Authority’s $323.2 million budget for fiscal 1997-98. The budget breaks down as follows: $70.8 million for construction of pipelines and other capital projects, 0 l 0 0 l l 0 0 l 0 0 l l 0 a 0 0 0 l l 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 @ 0 0 l 0 l 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 l 0 l 0 0 * 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 e 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 e 0 0 e 0 0 + 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 l e 0 0 * 0 0 0 0 a l l 0 0 0 0 0 SAN DIECO COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY Water for San Diego County The story of the San Diego region centers around an ongoing effort to secure and maintain a safe, reliable and sufficient water supply. The San Diego County Water Authority’s task on the brink of the 21 st century is the same one that has faced people in this semi-arid region for centuries - to meet needs by moving water from one place to another. The Spanish missionaries and sol- diers who established the Mission San Diego de Alcala in 1769 quickly found the local water supply to be unreliable unless it was managed care- fully. They began building a dam that still exists in the Mission Trails Regional Park. The Mission Dam and the flume that carried water to the mis- sion was the first such storage and delivery system built by Europeans in the American west. Efforts to manage water continued as San Diego grew. Despite some tem- porary shortages, water from rivers, reservoirs and wells proved adequate until World War II, when the county became a focus for the military’s con- struction and support programs. The population virtually doubled in six years and the local water supply was unable to meet the vastly increased demand. Responding to the situation, local leaders successfully sought state legis- lation allowing creation of the San Diego County Water Authority. Local voters supported establishment of the regional water agency by a 15-l mar- gin in May 1944, and the Authority opened its doors for business three weeks later. Charged with the responsibility of supplementing the local water supply with imported sources, the Authority joined the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California in late 1946. A year later, Colorado River water trans- ported across the Mojave Desert through Metropolitan’s aqueduct flowed down a 71 -mile pipeline and splashed into San Vicente Reservoir for the first time. Today, San Diego County relies on water imported by the Authority via Metropolitan for between 75 and 90 percent of its total supply, depending on local conditions. The Authority is seeking to diversify the region’s water supply rather than depending so heav- ily on one source. The Authority also is acting to ensure that sufficient water will be on hand to meet San Diego County’s future needs, given that the county’s population is projected to grow by about one-third to 3.8 million by 2015. This effort involves a more con- certed effort to develop local water supplies through recycling and groundwater development programs. It also includes detailed analysis of water transfer opportunities, through which the Authority would buy water that has been conserved in other regions, pri- marily farming communities. The potential long-term water conservation and transfer program with the Imperial Irrigation District is an example of such opportunities. . . Member Agencies 1 Carlsbad Municipal Water District 2 Del Mar (City) 3 Escondido (City) 13 Rainbow Municipal Water District 14 Ramona Municipal Water District 15 Rincon Del Diablo Municipal Water District 4 Fallbrook Public Utility District 5 Helix Water District 6 National City (City) 7 Oceanside (City) 8 Olivenhain Municipal Water District 9 Otay Water District 10 Padre Dam Municipal Water District 11 Pendleton Military Reservation 12 Poway (City) 16 San Diego (City) 17 San Dieguito Water District 18 Santa Fe Irrigation District 19 South Bay Irrigation District 20 Vallecitos Water District 21 Valley Center Municipal Water District 22 Vista Irrigation District 23 Yuima Municipal Water District San Diego County is ex-officio member SAN DIEGO COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY Continued from front page $190.7 million to buy water from MWD, $17.6 million for operations and mainte- nance expenses, $43.5 million to ser- vice debt resulting from the sale of bonds to finance capital projects and $650,000 to establish an equipment replacement fund. n The Authority’s assets are valued at approximately $1.2 billion. The assets include five regional pipelines, two hydroelectric plants, three control sta- tions, one pump station and other facil- ities. n The Authority is in the midst of a major Capital Improvement Program initiated in 1989. Through this program, the Authority is enhancing and expand- ing its regional water delivery system to meet local water needs well into the next century. Roughly 75 cents of every dollar the Authority raises through water sales goes to improve the regional water delivery system. n The Authority is acting to ensure that the region’s water needs are met if an earthquake or other emergency disrupts imported water deliveries for a pro- longed period. Authority directors have certified an environmental impact report for an emergency storage system, which includes a new reservoir in the Olivenhain area that would be connect- ed to nearby Lake Hodges. San Vicente Reservoir would be expanded as part of the system, which would add 90,100 acre-feet of reservoir capacity set aside for emergency use within the county. The Authority has not allocated any funds to construct the system. n The Water Resources Plan outlines how the Authority wi H act with its mem- ber agencies to develop a water supply significantly different than that which the July 1997 l Printed on recycled paper county has today. Rather than rely on a single supplier - MWD - for most of its water, the county by 2015 would get approximately 55-60 percent of its water from MWD, 25 percent from water transfers and the rest from local sources. n The Authority is investigating water transfers as a way to help meet the county’s future water needs. One poten- tial transfer under study would involve purchase by the Authority of water con- served in the Imperial Valley. The Authority and the Imperial Irrigation District have agreed to draft terms for the agreement, which would last for at least 75 years and transfer a minimum of 200,000 acre-feet of water per year to San Diego County by 2009. n The Authority is researching and developing innovative ways to increase San Diego County’s dependable supply of local water. Among the methods being used or under study are water reclamation, water repurification, groundwater development and recovery, and desalination. n Seventeen water reclamation facili- ties produced 9,800 acre-feet of water for irrigation and other non-potable pur- poses in the San Diego region in 1996. Another 19 such projects are in the planning stages. Combined, these pro- jects are expected to produce up to 60,000 acre-feet of water for reuse by 2015. n Water repurification is the advanced treatment of reclaimed water so it may be safely stored in a reservoir serving all uses, including human consumption. The Authority is supporting analysis by the city of San Diego of the public health, cost and technical issues associ- ated with using repurification to supple- ment the region’s existing water supply. San Diego is conducting further tests of the process and developing an environ- mental impact report on the facilities needed to produce repurified water. n The Authority and other local water agencies plan to spend more than $5 million in fiscal 1997-98 to promote water conservation as a way of life for the San Diego region. With these funds, local agencies educate people about why they should use water efficiently and how they can do so. They also help to provide ultra-low-flush toilets and other water-efficient plumbing fixtures to county residents. In addition, the Authority funds several programs that evaluate water use in homes and busi- nesses and recommend ways usage can be more efficient. n San Diego County students in kinder- garten through 12th grade learn about water sources and delivery, critical water issues and conservation through the Authority’s school education program. The program offers classroom presenta- tions by Authority staff, in-service training for teachers, special&d curriculum, a mobile science laboratory, a traveling library program and a theater production for elementary school students. n Extensive information about the Authority is available on the World Wide Web at http: l/www.sdcwa.org. The Authority home page includes director biogra- phies, Authority history, facts and figures about programs and projects, information about member agen- cies, articles from recent Authority publications and news releases. n The Authority will gladly send a knowledgeable speaker to community groups interested in learning more about the agency and general water issues. Please call 619-682-4125 for more information.