STAFF REPORT
City of Lancaster
CC 7
10/22/2024
TN
Date: October 22, 2024
To: Mayor Parris and City Council Members
From: Patti Garibay, Director - Community Development
Subject: Approval of the Carryover Water Transfer Agreement between the City of Lancaster and the 50th District Agricultural Association Recommendations:
1. Approve the Carryover Water Transfer Agreement between the City of Lancaster and the 50th District Agricultural Association (50 th District) to transfer 192-acre feet (AF) of carryover water that the 50th District has banked since the Water Adjudication Judgement was finalized.
2. Approve an additional transfer of 32 AF of carryover water per year from the 50 th District to the City. This includes a total of 160 AF of carryover water over a five-year period.
3. Approve the Transfer Request Form, which will be submitted jointly by the City of Lancaster and 50 th District to the Antelope Valley Water Master (Water Master) for approval of the transaction. Approve any future transfer request forms submitted by the City and 50th District to complete this carryover water transfer agreement.
4. Authorize the City Manager, or his designees, to execute all documents and make any non- substantive changes necessary to complete the transaction.
G.C. Section 84308: No
Fiscal Impact:
The City will pay an application fee of $1,650 to the Water Master upon submittal of the transfer application. Funding is available in account 101-20000-5710 to pay for the application fee. 1 7
9 3
Background:
As a participant in the Antelope Valley Ground Water Adjudication, the 50th District received 32 AF of permanent groundwater rights, which they are currently not utilizing for their site and have no plans to utilize in the future. This water has been carried over as allowed by the Water Adjudication Judgment. The Adjudication ruling allows the 50 th District to transfer carryover water rights to another State or local agency of their choosing. The process to transfer carryover water includes the submittal of an application to the Water Master, which provides details of the transfer, including the amount of water being transferred and where the water will be utilized by the recipient.
The City provides the 50 th District with support throughout the year for various events hosted at their site, including the Antelope Valley Fair, California Poppy Festival, and the Fourth of July Celebration. Staff help prepare the facility for the events, review traffic plans, and provide support on the day of the events in addition to other support activities.
The 50th District is willing to transfer the 192 AF of carryover water they currently have banked in addition to five additional years of carryover water totaling 160 AF to the City in exchange for the City’s continued support on the various events. With Council approval, staff will work with the 50 th District to submit the water transfer application and get approval for the transaction through the Water Master.
The City does not have plans to utilize the carryover water at this time but will have the water available to transfer or allocate for future projects. The City will need to submit a new point of extraction application to the Water Master once a location for use has been determined.
PG/sg
Attachments:
Ground Water Transfer Agreement
Transfer Request Form