June 7, 2022, Item #17
DATE:
TO:
FROM:
CONTACT:
SUBJECT:
Summary:
AGENDA REPORT CityofPoway
June 7, 2022
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Co~cil
Enc Heidemann, Director of Public Works (i
Jessica Parks, Public Works Utilities Administrator...-r-n (858) 668-4703 or [email protected] ~ 1
CITY COUNCIL
Adopt a Resolution to Implement the Water Use Restrictive Actions of a Water Shortage Level 2
California is currently in its third year of significant state-wide drought which is impacting water storage supplies and the ability to meet water demands within certain areas of the State. On March 28, 2022, the Governor issued Executive Order N-7-22, calling on the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to initiate a plan for water suppliers to activate their Water Shortage Contingency Plans (WSCP) and initiate the mandatory water conservation actions in Level 2 along with a ban on irrigating decorative turf in Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional (CII) sectors for up to one year.
On May 24, 2022, the SWRCB adopted emergency regulations that include the provisions of the Governor's Executive Order N-7-22 with mandatory actions each urban water supplier must implement by June 10, 2022.
The City of Poway has been at a Water Shortage Contingency Plan Level 1 with voluntary water measures since March 2017. To meet the requirements of the State, the City would need to implement mandatory water use restrictions identified in its Water Shortage Contingency Plan Level 2.
Recommended Action:
It is recommended the City Council adopt the Resolution implementing the mandatory water use restriction actions identified within its Water Shortage Contingency Plan Level 2; and authorize the City Manager to take other actions as appropriate.
Discussion:
The Governor issued an executive order on March 28, 2022, to have the SWRCB require water suppliers to: 1) submit their Annual Water Supply and Demand Assessment (AWSDA) a month earlier than the State Regulations require; 2) initiate a banning of irrigation for "non-functional" turf (or grass) in CII sectors; and 3) require urban water suppliers to activate Level 2 mandatory water conservation 1 of 12
June 7, 2022, Item #17
actions from their WSCP. On May 24, 2022, the SWRCB adopted emergency regulations that validified the Governor's executive order and may remain in effect for up to one year, unless rescinded earlier, or extended by the SWRCB.
To meet the SWRCB emergency regulations, Poway submitted a preliminary AWSDA to the State on May 31, 2022. The final AWSDA is due by July 1, 2022, and will be presented to City Council at its June 7, 2022 meeting. The AWSDA concludes Poway has sufficient water supplies to meet its demands from July 2022 through June 2023. Additionally, in coordination with the San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA), it was determined there will be sufficient water supplies for Poway and the region for multiple dry years.
Staff has been working closely with the SDCWA, it's 24 member agencies, and water agencies throughout California and developed a comment letter for the SWRCB to consider a "Stress Test" approach in the Emergency Regulations (Attachment A). The "Stress Test" letter advocated that the SWRCB consider amending the proposed emergency regulations to allow water suppliers to use the results of their state required AWSDA to determine what specific water shortage response actions are required, if any. The SWRCB did not incorporate the suggested comments into the emergency regulations.
Poway's Water Conservation Plan (WC Plan) was adopted in 1993 and updated in 2008 as Poway Municipal Code (PMC) Chapter 8.94. The WC Plan identifies four water conservation levels, with Level 1 containing voluntary water use restrictions and Levels 2 through 4 imposing increasingly restrictive mandatory measures. On May 18, 2021, the City Council adopted Poway's Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) which aligns to the State's required six stages of drought planning and ties in with the PMC Chapter 8.94 -WC Plan. Poway has been in a Level 1 Water Shortage Watch with voluntary water conservation measures since March 2017, just after the last significant statewide drought in years 2015 and 2016. Poway's water demands are down 23% when compared with 2013's water demands and down 6% when compared with 2017's water demands.
In Poway's WSCP, it states the City will enter into a Water Shortage Response Level 2 when SDCWA notifies its member agencies a demand reduction of up to 20% is required due to water supply shortages resulting from drought in order to ensure sufficient supplies will be available to meet anticipated demands. The SDCWA has determined they do have sufficient supplies available and will not be moving to a Level 2 at this time. Instead, they will remain in a Level 1 and implement their Level 2 mandatory water use restrictions as required by the SWRCB. To keep in line with SDCWA and the region, staff is recommending the City also stay in a WSCP Level 1 and implement its WSCP Level 2 water use restrictions.
It's worth noting the mandatory water use restrictions in a WSCP Level 2 are designed to reduce water demands by up to 20%. With reduction in water demands, water sales will decrease, and water revenues will decline by an estimated $2.7 to $4 million annually. If Poway decides not to implement the actions of its WSCP Level 2, the State may issue administrative fines of $500 per day, which could equate to a fine of up to $182,500 a year.
Water Use Restrictions:
The WSCP Level 2 actions include all WSCP Level 1 voluntary actions to become mandatory with the addition of the following measures:
2 of 12
• Landscape watering shall be conducted only in conformance with landscape watering schedules approved by the City Manager;
June 7, 2022, Item #17
o The City Manager has designated the watering schedule to be no more than three (3) days per week and has determined watering schedules be based on the customer's own choosing.
• All leaks must be repaired within 72 hours of notification by the City of Poway; • Ornamental fountains or similar water features shall not be operated for more than six (6) hours per day; and
• Pool covers are encouraged but not required.
A complete list of mandatory water use restrictions is included in Exhibit A of the attached resolution (Attachment B).
Per the SWRCB's Emergency Regulations, the use of potable (drinking) water is prohibited for the irrigation of non-functional turf at commercial, industrial, and institutional sites. However, the use of potable irrigation is not prohibited to the extent necessary to ensure the health of trees and other perennial non-turf plantings or to the extent necessary to address an immediate health and safety need. Consistent with PMC 8.94, additional types of properties will be exempt from the watering scheduled restrictions at Level 2, including: City-maintained parks, athletic fields, landscaped areas, and facilities; golf courses; Poway Unified School District properties; commercial growers and nurseries; and landscape irrigated with reclaimed water. This exemption recognizes these types of properties employ irrigation professionals using highly efficient irrigation practices.
Since Poway will remain in a WSCP Level 1, there are no enforcement actions required by the City.
Any enforcement for mandatory conservation actions will be handled by the State and residents will be able to report any water waste concerns to savewater.ca.gov.
Customers that participate in the Permanent Special Agricultural Water Rate will not be subject to additional mandatory cutbacks at this time since this is a State required regulation, and the SDCWA has not initiated water delivery cutbacks.
Staff has provided Attachment C to give an overview on drought conditions throughout the western region and information on current water supply conditions.
Outreach:
Staff will notify residents of the mandatory water use restrictions through local media outlets, the City's website, and the City's social media pages. In addition, the SDCWA will provide regional water conservation messaging to ensure a consistent message across the region's water suppliers.
Water Conservation Assistance:
Poway is a participant in the SDCWA's water conservation program which offers rebates and incentives, such as: high-efficiency clothes washers, high-efficiency toilets, weather-based irrigation controllers, rotating nozzles, rain barrels, and turf replacement. Also available through the SDCWA's program are free irrigation checkups to all residents and businesses within Poway. These programs can be found on the City's website at www.poway.org/waterconservation.
Water Conservation Rate Structure:
During a Water Shortage Response Level 2 or higher, PMC 8.94-0S0(B)(S) authorizes the City Council to take action to implement a conservation rate structure designed to encourage water conservation.
This provision was used in the last drought where a $0.75 per unit drought surcharge was added to customers' bills. Staff is not recommending a change to the current rate structure at this time and would only be able to implement a conservation rate when/if Poway enters a Water Shortage Level 2. 3 of 12
June 7, 2022, Item #17
Environmental
Review:
This
action
is
not
subject
to
review
under
the
California
Environmental
Quality
Act
(CEQA)
Fiscal
Impact:
None
with
this
action.
If
in
the
following
months
funding
is
needed
to
encourage
and
promote
water
conservation,
sufficient
funds
are
available
in
Poway's
Water
Conservation
Project
(WTROOOS).
Additionally,
if
revenue
decreases
in
a
manner
that
would
adversely
impact
our
financing
plan
for
the
Water
Infrastructure
Improvement
Program,
staff
will
return
to
Council
to
discuss
and
recommend
solutions. Public
Notification:
None
prior
to
the
June
7,
2022,
City
Council
meeting;
however,
if
City
Council
adopts
the
resolution
Declaring
a Water
Shortage
Alert
Level
2 per
Poway's
Municipal
Code
Chapter
8.94 -
Water
Conservation
Plan,
the
City
shall
publish
a copy
of
the
resolution
in
the
local
newspaper
and
on
the
City's
website.
Attachments: A.
Letter
B.
Resolution
C.
Overview
Reviewed/
Approved
By:
Wendy
K
erman
Assistant
City
Manager
4 of
12 Reviewed
By:
Alan
Fenstermacher
City
Attorney
June 7, 2022, Item #17
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May 19, 2022
Wate~ 01sfu1ct
Submitted via email: [email protected]
Ms. Jeanine Townsend
Clerk to the Board
State Water Resources Control Board
1 001 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Subject: 05/24/2022 BOARD MEETING -ITEM 3 EMERGENCY REGULATION FOR WATER
CONSERVATION
5 of 12 ATTACHMENT A
June 7, 2022, Item #17
Dear Ms. Townsend,
We offer these comments as a statewide coalition of urban water suppliers advocating for the inclusion of a so-called "Stress Test" approach in the Emergency Regulation for Urban Water Conservation proposed by the State Water Resources Control Board (Water Board) to implement Governor Newsom's Executive Order N-7-22 (EO).
1. We support the Governor's action to issue the EO in advance of the third summer of our ongoing statewide drought, and we appreciate the emphasis on local water supplier actions to encourage additional water conservation by water users:
• We especially note the EO's direction that the Water Board "shall consider' adopting emergency regulations that require urban water suppliers to implement the demand response actions in their state-required water shortage contingency plans (WSCPs) to the shortage level of up to twenty percent (Level 2), as specified in Water Code Section 10632 (WC 10632). • Our "Stress Test" Coalition recognizes the important discretion granted to the Water Board to adopt emergency regulations that rely on these locally adopted WSCPs.
2. Our "Stress Test" Coalition also appreciates the Water Board's early release of its "working staff draft" of proposed regulatory text, and the public webinar on April 21, 2022, describing the proposal and soliciting early informal comments before the official comment period begins. Further, we appreciate the indications by Water Board staff that significant flexibility will be given to urban water suppliers, in recognition of variable local circumstances, to implement the adopted regulation in accordance with their WSCPs.
3. We are Requesting that the Water Board Amend the Regulation to Allow Water Suppliers Discretion to Implement Appropriate WSCP Actions Based on Results of the Annual Water Supply and Demand Assessment:
• Our "Stress Test" Coalition advocates that the Water Board consider amending the proposed emergency regulation to allow urban water suppliers to use their own water shortage contingency plans and the results of their state-required annual water supply and demand assessment to determine if and what specific water shortage response actions are required, as specified in WC 10632.1.
• Further, per WC 10632.3, even when the Governor declares a drought emergency, the Legislature has directed that the Water Board defer to the implementation of locally-adopted water shortage contingency plans.
• Both Sections 10632.1 and 10632.3 were incorporated into the Water Code as part of the "lessons learned" from the previous drought, and the supplier-specific risk assessment requirement is patterned after the successful "Stress Test" approach embraced by the state toward the end of the last drought.
4. "Stress Test" Coalition members have sufficiently reliable water supplies due to significant investments of ratepayer funds in additional and alternative water supply and conservation projects:
• We share an ongoing commitment to taking proactive action to enhance water reliability, and to continue our substantial ongoing investments in diverse local water supplies (i.e., recycled water, desalination, salinity management, stormwater capture, storage, etc.) and effective groundwater management.
• We have invested heavily in water conservation and incentive programs, and are committed to water use efficiency education and outreach.
6 of 12
June 7, 2022, Item #17
•
Despite
significant
continued
population
growth
in
many
of
our
service
areas,
we
continue
to
experience
lower
total
water
demands
.
•
Through
our
effective
communication
programs,
we
have
earned
significant
credibility
with
our
customers,
whom
we
trust
to
reduce
water
use
if this
drought
deepens,
in
proportion
to
local
water
supply
conditions.
The
EO
and
the
proposed
emergency
regulation require
water
suppliers
to
prepare
and
submit
a
"preliminary"
annual
water
supply
and
demand
assessment
one
month
early
. However,
requiring
water
systems
statewide
to
implement
Level
2 actions
--
regardless
of
the
system's
ability
to
meet
water
demands
with
available
supplies
--
is
much
like
the
approach
used
in
2015
of
imposing
statewide
water
use
reduction
mandates.
That
approach
not
only
led
to
significant
negative
economic
and
environmental
consequences
in
communities
statewide
, but
it
also
led
to
unnecessary
adverse
financial
impacts
on
consumers
and
water
systems
which
had
heavily
invested
in
water
supply
reliability
projects
to
help
buffer
the
impact
of
drought
on
their
customers.
5. Proposed
New
Language
to
Incorporate
the
"Stress
Test"
Approach
-
We
respectfully
request
that
the
current
draft
language
for
subsection
(c)
of
Section
996
Urban
Drought
Response
Actions
be
replaced
with
the following:
(c)
(1)
Each
urban
water
supplier
that
has
submitted
a
water
shortage
contingency
plan
to
the
Department
of
Water
Resources,
and
has
submitted
to
the
Department
of
Water
Resources
a
preliminary
annual
water
supply
and
demand
assessment
(AWSDA),
no
later
than
June
1, 2022,
demonstrating
that
the
supplier
is
not
experiencing
a
water
shortage
and
can
meet
water
demands
with
existing
supplies,
based
on
the
criteria
set
forth
in
the
supplier's
adopted
water
shortage
contingency
plan,
may
implement
by
June
10,
2022,
the
demand
reduction
actions
identified
in
the
supplier's
water
shortage
contingency
plan
adopted
under
Water
Code
10632
for
a
shortage
level
of
up
to
twenty
percent
(Level
2).
The
Final
AWSDA
submitted
on
July
1,
2022,
shall
substantiate
that
the
supplier
is
not
experiencing
a
water
shortage
and
can
meet
water
demands
with
expected
water
supplies.
(2)
Each
urban
water
supplier
that
has
submitted
a
water
shortage
contingency
plan
to
the
Department
of
Water
Resources,
and
has
submitted
to
the
Department
of
Water
Resources
a
preliminary
annual
water
supply
and
demand
assessment
(AWSDA),
no
later
than
June
1,
2022,
demonstrating
that
the
supplier
is
experiencing
a
water
shortage
and
cannot
meet
water
demands
with
existing
supplies,
shall
implement
by
June
10,
2022,
at
a
minimum,
the
associated
demand
reduction
actions
identified
in
the
supplier's
water
shortage
contingency
plan
adopted
under
Water
Code
10632
for
a
shortage
level
indicated
by
the
preliminary
AWSDA.
(3)
Notwithstanding
subdivisions
(1
and
2),
urban
water
suppliers
shall
not
be
required
to
implement
new
residential
connection
moratoria
pursuant
to
this
section.
Thank
you
for
considering
our
Coalition's
request
to
modify
the
emergency
regulation
to
better
align
with
the
"Stress Test"
approach
and
the full
purpose
of
WC
10632.
If
you
have
any
questions,
please
feel
free
to
contact
our
"Stress
Test"
Coalition's
representative,
Stacy
Taylor,
Water
Policy
Manager
at
Mesa
Water
District
(Mesa
Water®)
at
StacyT@MesaWater
.org
or
714.791
.0848.
Thank
you
for
your
consideration
.
Sincerely, City
of
Banning
City
of
Eureka
City
of
Poway
City
of
Santa
Barbara
7of
12 June 7, 2022, Item #17
City
of
Santa
Cruz
Citrus
Heights
Water
District
Coachella
Valley
Water
District
Desert
Water
Agency
Elsinore
Valley
Municipal
Water
District
Hi-Desert
Water
District
Humboldt
Bay
Municipal
Water
District
Georgetown
Divide
Public
Utilities
District
Mesa
Water
District
Olivenhain
Municipal
Water
District
Pico
Water
District
Rowland
Water
District
Sacramento
Suburban
Water
District
San
Juan
Water
District
Santa
Margarita
Water
District
Serrano
Water
District
Solano
Irrigation
District
South
Tahoe
Public
Utility
District
Truckee
Donner
Public
Utility
District
Utica
Water
and
Power
Authority
Valley
Center
Municipal
Water
District
Walnut
Valley
Water
District
Western
Municipal
Water
District
Yorba
Linda
Water
District
c:
The
Honorable
E.
Joaquin
Esquivel,
Chair,
State
Water
Resources
Control
Board
The
Honorable
Dorene
D'Adamo,
Vice
Chair,
State
Water
Resources
Control
Board
The
Honorable
Laurel
Firestone,
Boardmember,
State
Water
Resources
Control
Board
The
Honorable
Sean
Maguire,
Boardmember,
State
Water
Resources
Control
Board
The
Honorable
Nichole
Morgan,
Boardmember,
State
Water
Resources
Control
Board
Ms.
Eileen
Sobeck,
Executive
Director,
State
Water
Resources
Control
Board
Mr.
Eric
Oppenheimer,
Chief
Deputy
Director,
State
Water
Resources
Control
Board
Mr.
David
Rose,
Senior
Staff
Counsel,
State
Water
Resources
Control
Board
Mr.
Christopher
Hyun,
State
Water
Resources
Control
Board
Ms.
Paola
Gonzalez,
State
Water
Resources
Control
Board
8 of
12 June 7, 2022, Item #17
RESOLUTION NO. 22-
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF POWAY, CALIFORNIA,
ADOPTING WATER SHORTAGE LEVEL 2
CONSERVATION MEASURES
WHEREAS, the City of Poway imports nearly 100% of its potable water supply from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and the San Diego County Water Authority;
WHEREAS, the Governor issued Executive Order N-7-22 on March 28, 2022, calling on the State Water Resources Control Board to consider adopting emergency regulations to increase water conservation. The Executive Order includes a request that the Board require urban water suppliers to implement the water use restrictive actions within Level 2 of their water shortage contingency plans, and establish a ban on the irrigation of non-functional turf by water users in the commercials, industrial, and institutions sectors;
WHEREAS, on May 18, 2021, the City of Poway City Council adopted Poway's Water Shortage Contingency Plan with water use restrictions and six progressive ranges of water shortage response levels of 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50% and greater than 50%; WHEREAS, on May 24, 2022, the State Water Resources Control Board adopted a Resolution implementing an emergency regulation to reduce water demand and improve water conservation;
WHEREAS, pursuant to that emergency regulation, California urban water suppliers shall implement by June 10, 2022 the demand reduction actions identified in their Water Shortage Contingency Plan level 2;
WHEREAS, pursuant to that emergency regulation, potable water is prohibited for the irrigation of non-functional turf at commercial, industrial, and institutional sites with the stipulation that the use of water is not prohibited to the extent necessary to ensure the health of trees and other perennials non-turf plantings, or to the extent necessary to address an immediate health and safety need;
WHEREAS, on March 28, 2022, the Governor suspended the environmental review required by the California Environmental Quality Act to allow State Water Resource Control Board adopted drought conservation emergency regulations and other actions to take place quickly to respond to emergency conditions; WHEREAS, the City of Poway has been in a Water Shortage Response Level 1 since March of 2017;
WHEREAS, to comply with the State Water Resources Control Board's Emergency Regulations, the City of Poway must implement the mandatory water use restrictions listed in its Water Shortage Contingency Plan Level 2, set forth in Poway Municipal Code section 8.94.050(8);
9 of 12 ATTACHMENT B
June 7, 2022, Item #17
WHEREAS,
the
City
of
Poway's
Water
Shortage
Contingency
Plan
states
that
the
City
of
Poway
will
enter
into
a
Water
Shortage
Response
Level
2 when
the
San
Diego
County
Water
Authority
notifies
its
member
agencies
that
a
demand
reduction
of
20%
is
required
due
to
water
supply
shortages;
and
WHEREAS,
the
San
Diego
County
Water
Authority
is
not
declaring
a water
supply
shortage
and
will
remain
in
a
Water
Shortage
Level
1 while
implementing
its
Water
Shortage
Level
2 actions.
NOW,
THEREFORE,
BE
IT
RESOLVED
by
the
City
Council
of
the
City
of
Poway
that:
1)
The
City
of
Poway
is
not
facing
a
water
supply
shortage
and
has
reduced
its
water
demands
by
24%
since
2013.
2)
The
City
of
Poway
will
follow
the
actions
of
its
wholesale
water
supplier,
the
San
Diego
County
Water
Authority,
and
remain
in
a
Water
Shortage
Response
Level
1. 3)
To
comply
with
the
State
Water
Resources
Control
Board's
May
24,
2022
emergency
regulations,
the
City
of
Poway
will
implement
its
Water
Shortage
Response
Level
2 mandatory
conservation
measures
set
forth
in
Poway
Municipal
Code
section
8.94.050(8).
4)
The
mandatory
water
conservation
measures
applicable
to
a
Water
Shortage
Response
Level
2 are
listed
in
"Exhibit
A"
attached
hereto.
5)
Should
the
San
Diego
County
Water
Authority
declare
a
Water
Shortage
Response
Level
2,
the
City
Council
authorizes
the
City
Manager
to
declare
a
Water
Shortage
Response
Level
2 as
set
forth
in
Poway
Municipal
Code
section
8.94.050(8),
without
further
action
by
City
Council.
6)
If the
City
of
Poway
enters
into
a Water
Shortage
Response
Level
2,
the
Water
Shortage
Response
Level
shall
remain
in
effect
in
the
City
of
Poway
until
otherwise
determined
by
the
City
Council
in
accordance
with
the
City
of
Poway's
Water
Shortage
Contingency
Plan.
PASSED,
ADOPTED AND
APPROVED
by
the
City
Council
of
the
City
of
Poway
at
a
regular
meeting
this
7 day
of
June,
2022.
Steve
Vaus,
Mayor
ATTEST: Carrie
Gallagher,
CMG,
City
Clerk
10 of
12 June 7, 2022, Item #17
Exhibit "A"
Poway Water Shortage Contingency Plan
Water Shortage Response Level 2 Conservation Measures
As outlined in Poway's Water Shortage Contingency Plan and the State Water Resources Control Board's Emergency Regulations, the following water conservation measures are mandatory:
• Limit landscape irrigation to no more than 3-days per week • Do not wash down paved surfaces unless for health and safety reasons • Do not allow water waste from inefficient landscape irrigation • The use of potable water is prohibited for the irrigation of non-functional turf at commercial, industrial, and institutional sites; however, the use of potable water is not prohibited to the extent necessary to ensure the health of trees and other perennial non-turf plantings or to the extent necessary to address an immediate health and safety need
• Irrigate residential and commercial landscape before 10:00 a.m. and after 6:00 p.m. only
• Use a hand-held hose equipped with a positive shut-off nozzle of bucket for watering landscaped areas not irrigated by a landscape irrigation system • Irrigate nursery and commercial grower's products before 10:00 a.m. and after 6:00 p.m. only. Watering is permitted at any time using a hand-held hose equipped with a positive shut-off nozzle or bucket
• Use only recirculated water to operate ornamental fountains and operate for no more than six hours per day
• Wash vehicles only using a hand-held hose equipped with a positive shut-off nozzle and a bucket, or a high pressure/low volume wash system • Offer guests in hotels the option of not laundering towels and linens daily • Do not use single pass cooling equipment in new commercial applications • Use a water recirculation system for commercial conveyor car washes and all new commercial laundry systems
• Run only fully loaded dishwashers and washing machines • Repair all water leaks within 72 hours of notification by the City of Poway • Use recycled or non-potable water for construction purposes when available • Serve and refill water in restaurants only upon request 11 of 12
June 7, 2022, Item #17
Overview of the Current Drought and Water Supply Conditions In April and May 2021, the Governor issued proclamations that a state of emergency existed due to severe drought conditions. As drought conditions worsened through the 2021 summer and California experienced record-breaking temperatures, the Governor signed Executive Order N-10-21, which called on Californians to voluntarily reduce water use by 15% when compared to 2020 calendar year demands.
Dry conditions continued as the 2022 calendar year started off as the driest on record during what is typically California's rainy season. Warmer temperatures and dry weather reduced the amount of snowpack in the Northern Sierras and the Upper and Lower Colorado Basins. Reservoir levels throughout the State remain low including major State Water and Central Valley Project reservoirs such as Lake Oroville and Lake Shasta, which are at 55% and 40% of capacity respectively, as of May 24, 2022. On the Colorado River, Lake Mead is currently 29% full and Lake Powell is 25% full.
On April 1, 2022, the California Department of Water Resources conducted their annual snowpack measurements at the Phillips Station in the Northern Sierras. Typically, the snowpack is the deepest in April and the measurement is an indicator of how much water the snow melt will bring to the State Water Project (SWP) for the summer. The SWP is responsible for bringing drinking water to about 25 million people and provides irrigation for 750,000 acres of farmland. This year's measurement was approximately 4% of average.
The Bureau of Reclamation manages the Upper and Lower Colorado River Basins and has issued two urgent drought response actions to help increase the level of Lake Powell by nearly 1 million acre-feet of water over the next 11 months (one acre-foot of water equals 325,851 gallons). Lake Powell is the lowest it's been since originally being filled in the 1960s and is at a critical level where the Glen Canyon Dam will not be able to generate hydropower if the lake drops another 25-30 feet. About 5 million people across six states rely on this hydropower and nearly 40 million rely on the water supply.
For Southern California, the conditions of dry, warm weather are the same as the rest of the State; however, the San Diego County region has a robust water system that maximizes the reliability of the region's water. The San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA) is Poway's water wholesaler, and the majority of Poway's drinking water is supplied by them. SDCWA has spent decades strategically investing in water storage and supply projects to diversify its water portfolio and provide safe and reliable water to its member agencies. The SDCWA's water resources range from the nation's largest seawater desalination plant to the nation's largest agriculture-to-urban water conservation and transfer agreement. Currently, the San Diego region has enough water to provide for all its customers through multiple dry years.
As California entered its third year of dry, warm weather, the Governor issued an executive order on March 28, 2022, to have the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) require water agencies to submit a preliminary Annual Water Supply and Demand Assessment (AWSDA) by June 1, 2022, a month earlier than the State Regulations require, initiate an adoption of regulations banning irrigation of "non-functional" turf (or grass), and require urban water suppliers to activate Level 2 of their Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) with mandatory water conservation actions by June 10, 2022. 12 of 12 ATTACHMENT C