2021 Northern Cities Management
Area Annual Report and Water Supply
Update
May 3, 2022
By: Benjamin A. Fine, P.E. –Director of Public Works/City Engineer Item 12.A
Santa Maria Ground Water Basin Adjudication
•Subject to ongoing litigation
since 1997
•Division of the basin into three
separate management areas
•Monitoring Program and Annual
Report
•Formalized the division of the
NCMA safe yield from the
“Gentleman’s Agreement”
2 Northern Cities Management Area (NCMA)
•Arroyo Grande
•Pismo Beach
•Grover Beach
•Oceono Community
Services District (OCSD)
•Private Users
3 NCMA Annual Report
Groundwater monitoring and data
collection sufficient to characterize:
•Land and water uses in the basin
•Sources of supply to meet those uses
•Groundwater conditions (including
water levels and water quality)
•Amount and disposition of other
sources of water in the NCMA
4 Key Point 1 –Water Elevations
•Slight decrease
•Below average rainfall
•Impacts of lack of rain are less than expected
•Efforts by all NCMA agencies to reduce pumping
5 Key Point 2 –Ground Water Levels
•Greatest threat to basin = saltwater intrusion
•Deep Well Index
•Average of 3 sentry wells (24B03, 30F03 and 30N02)
•DWI < 7.5’ = conditions favorable to saltwater intrusion •Spring 2021 –April elevation ranged 7.0’ –9.0’
•Spring 2020 8.0’ –12’
•Fall 2021 –Cinega Valley 1’ to 14’ lower than before
irrigation season.
•Production zone ranged from 3.8’ –7.0 feet above sealevel 6 7
Key Point 2 –Ground Water Levels
•Deep Wells
•January –9’
•February –10’
•July fell below 7.5’
•October –just above 6’
•Recover seen in November and December year end = 9’
8 Key Point 3 –Change in Groundwater Storage
•Groundwater storage decreased from April 2020 –April
2021 by about 1,400 AF
9 Key Point 4 –Groundwater Quality
•Quality data (chloride, total dissolved solids (TDS) and sodium) all consistent with historical concentrations
•No water quality issues
10 Key Point 5 –Water Supply and Production
•Urban use (NCMA agencies) 6,073 AF
•2007 –8,982 AF
•2016 –5,476 AF
•Total water use 8,658 AF
•Lake Lopez –3,522 AF
•SWP –1,772 AF
•Groundwater –3,344 AF
•Pismo Formation (AG) –20 AF
11 Key Point 5 –Water Supply and Production
12 Key Point 6 –Threats to Water Supply
•Total pumping = 3,344 AF (2021)
•35% of court-accepted 9,500 AFY long-term safe yield
•Storage should increase with consecutive years at 30 –40% of safe yield (this has been the case for the past decade) •Levels have declined in 2021 and the aquifer is still in a tenuous position with respect to seawater intrusion •Historically we have seen groundwater flow to the ocean, this prevents seawater intrusion •Pumping depression near Black Lake Canyon within the NMMA appears to have reversed the groundwater gradient •Creates conditions more likely to result in seawater intrusion •During 2021 there were no indications of seawater intrusion 13 Tree Wells Update on Water Supply
Background
•November 16, 2021
•Update on water supply and committed to return to Council at the second meeting every other month.
15 Rainfall
Month Average
Rainfall (in)
2020
Rainfall (in)
Delta
(in)
2021
Rainfall (in)
Delta
(in)
2022
Rainfall (in)
Delta
(in)
Jan 3.59 0.61 -2.98 6.46 2.87 0.05 -3.54
Feb 3.87 0 -3.87 0.03 -3.84 0.10 -3.77
Mar 3.46 8.02 4.56 2.53 -0.93 1.08 -2.98
April 1.13 1.72 0.59 0 -1.13
May 0.41 0 -0.41 0.1 -0.31
June 0.07 0 -0.07 0 -0.07
July 0.03 0 -0.03 0.03 0.03
Aug 0.02 0 -0.02 0 -0.02
Sep 0.32 0 -0.32 0 -0.32
Oct 0.62 0.04 -0.58 1.95 1.33
Nov 1.7 .049 -1.21 0.46 -1.24
Dec 2.57 1.21 -1.32 7.69 5.12
Total 17.79 12.09 -5.7 19.25 1.46 16
Santa Maria Groundwater Basin
•Adjudication = 700 AF
•Deep Well Index Threshold = 7.5 feet
•October 5, 2021 DWIL = 6.64 feet (0.86 feet below TH)
•July 2021 DWIL = 7.25 feet (0.25 feet below TH)
•April 2021 DWIL = 9.06 feet (1.56 above TH)
•January 2022 DWIL = 9.36 feet (1.86 above TH)
•April 2022 DWIL = 7.98 feet (0.48 above TH)
•1.38 feet lower than January
•1.08 feet lower than April 2021
17 Lopez Lake
•Low Reservoir Response Plan (LRRP)
•January 12, 2022 –14,942.8 AF
•March 9, 2022 –14,508.7 AF
•April 8, 2022 –14,148.1 AF
•May 3, 2022 –14,051.2 AF
•Sept, 2022 < 10,000 AF 18
Lopez Lake Projections
•Assuming average rain
•Storage will drop to 10,000 AF –September 2022
•Storage will drop to 8,000 AF –Beginning of 2023
19 State Water
•December 1, 2021 DWR Bulletin 21-07
•Set initial 2022 supplies “Health and Safety Demand” 55 gpcd •January 20, 2022 –15%
•March 18, 2022 –5%
•County Storage = 12,000 AF
•Total Table A allocations = 4,830 AF
•2.5 years of water (including 2022)
•Snowpack lowest level in 7 years
20 State Water
21 Current Pismo Beach Supplies
22 Source Full Allocation
(AF)
Percent of
Allocation
Allocation (AF)
SMGWB*700 30%210
State Water*1,140 5%57
Drought Buffer 1,240 5%62
Stored State
Water
Lopez Water 892 80%713.6
Lopez Surplus 314
Total 2,692 1,347.6
2021 Production 1,770.9
Deficit (423.3)
Current Pismo Beach Supplies
23 Source Full Allocation
(AF)
Percent of
Allocation
Allocation (AF)
SMGWB*700 30%210
State Water*1,140 5%57
Drought Buffer 1,240 5%62
County State
Water 1,121
Lopez Water 892 80%713.6
Lopez Surplus 314
Total 2,692 2,477.6
2021 Production 1,770.9
Surplus 706.7
Water Conservation Rebates All Program
24 Rebate Program # of
Conversions Rebate Total Current Water
Saving $/AF
Cash 4 Grass 132 $20,061.50 32.63 AF/year $2,453.62
Toilet 355 $28,325.00 21.1 AF/year $1,338.61
Rain Barrel 6 $300.00 0.18 AF/year $1,666.67
Washing Machine 16 $2,400.00 0.31 AF/year $7,741.94
Smart Controller 5 $1,000.00 0.11 AF/year $9,090.91
Commercial Urinal 20 $5,765.66 1.84 AF/year $3,133.51
Irrigation Retrofit 0 $0 0 AF/year $0
Micro-irrigation 3 $1,066.25 0.55 AF/year $1,938.64
TOTAL 537 $118,918.41 56.71 AF/year $2,096.59
Past Actions
•June 1, 2021
•Moderately Restricted Water Supply Condition
•January 18, 2022
•Severely Restricted Water Supply condition
25 Severely Restricted Water Supply
•Use of water which causes runoff onto adjacent properties, non- irrigated areas, private and public walkways, roadways, gutters, parking lots, or structures is prohibited.
•Outdoor water use for washing vehicles, boats, paved surfaces, buildings, and other similar uses shall be attended and have hand- controlled water devices, which shut off the water immediately when not in use.
•No water shall be used for cleaning driveways, patios, parking lots, sidewalks, streets, or other such uses except as found necessary by the city to protect the public health or safety.
26 Severely Restricted Water Supply
•Outdoor irrigation
•Outdoor irrigation is prohibited between the hours of ten a.m. and four p.m.
•Applying water to outdoor landscapes during and within 48 hours after measurable rainfall is prohibited.
•Irrigation of private and public landscaping, turf areas and gardens is permitted at even-numbered addresses only on Mondays and Thursdays, and at odd-numbered addresses only on Tuesdays and Fridays. All customers are directed to use no more water than necessary to maintain landscaping.
27 Severely Restricted Water Supply
•Restaurants shall serve drinking water only in response to a specific request by a customer.
•Using water in a fountain or other decorative water feature, except where the water is part of a recirculating system, is prohibited. •Use of potable water for compaction or dust control purposes in construction activities is prohibited.
•Emptying and refilling swimming pools and commercial spas is prohibited except to prevent structural damage and/or to provide for the public health and safety.
28 Building Restrictions
•Current trigger –May 1st of each year
•Water Supply < 15% of previous year’s production
29 Building Restrictions
30 2021 1,770.9 AF
Current supply 2,477.6 AF
2021 1,770.9 AF
Current supply 1,347.6 AF
Tree WellsConclusion and Recommendations
Staff Recommendations
•Lopez Lake = 14,148.1 AF
•SWP = 5% (could be adjusted down)
•Supply without county stored water = 1,347.6AF
•Staff recommends that Critical Water Supply Condition
32 Critical Water Supply Condition
•Municipal Code Section 13.24.060
•Same water use restrictions as Severely
Restricted
•“the City Council may impose any water rationing
requirements as it deems appropriate to protect
public health, safety, welfare, comfort and
convenience”
33 Possible Water Use Restrictions
•Prohibition on washing vehicles except at a commercial facility that recycles wash water
•Extending the prohibited hours for outdoor irrigation from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. •Limit outdoor irrigation to one day per week
•Mandate that all water users cut their water consumption by 10% as compared to a given baseline (the previous year, another given year, etc.) •Mandate that all water leaks be repaired within 72 hours of notification by the City •Other restrictions the City Council deems necessary to reduce water consumption 34 Next Steps
•Staff will return on May 17, 2022 at Council’s Direction 35 Tree Wells Fiscal Impacts
No Direct Fiscal Impacts
Questions?
Tier I
•Existing planning permit applications as of the date of the resolution will be processed and building permits will be issued for these projects •New planning permit applications for vacant parcels will be accepted and processed, however building permits for these projects will not be issued until Tier I is declared over. •New Commercial/retail use of existing buildings will be allowed but only such that water demand will be less than or equal to the existing water demand over the past 24-month period –including if there was no water use during that time. 38 Tier I
•Redevelopment of existing buildings will be allowed, but only such that the proposed water demand is less than or equal to the current water use of the existing building 39 Tier II
•No outdoor water use will be allowed
•Cash for Grass will remain in effect
•Existing planning permit applications as of the date of the resolution will be processed; however, no building permits will be issued until water supply exceeds Tier II Triggers, and Council approves the issuance of the building permit. •New planning permit applications for vacant parcels will be accepted and processed, however building permits for these projects will not be issued until Tier I is declared over. •New Commercial/retail use of existing buildings will be allowed but only such that water demand will be at least 15% less than the existing water demand over the past 24-month period –including if there was no water use during that time. 40 Tier II
•Redevelopment of existing buildings will be allowed, but only such that the proposed water demand will be at
least 15% less than current water demand over the past
24-month period –including if there was no water use.
•Municipal reduction of irrigation will be no less than 50% 41 Tier III
•No outdoor water use will be allowed
•Cash for Grass will remain in effect
•Existing planning permit applications as of the date of the resolution will be processed; however, no building permits will be issued until water supply exceeds Tier II Triggers, and Council approves the issuance of the building permit. •New planning permit applications for vacant parcels will be accepted and processed, however building permits for these projects will not be issued until Tier I is declared over. •New Commercial/retail use of existing buildings will be allowed but only such that water demand will be at least 30% less than the existing water demand over the past 24-month period –including if there was no water use during that time. 42