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1 RiversideCA.gov1
RiversideCA.gov
THE UPPER SANTA ANA RIVER WATERSHED INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCING AUTHORITY JPACity CouncilSeptember 6, 2022Public Utilities Department Upper Santa Ana River Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP)From Conflict to Collaboration1 2 8/25/2022
2 Santa Ana River Watershed ChallengeSanta Ana River Watershed ChallengeHow do we meet water supply needs while protecting the needs of a functional riverine ecosystem How do we work together to maximize the value of local water resources for all agencies 4Old Strategy: LitigationOld Strategy: Litigation
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3 New Strategy: Partnership
Inter-Agency Collaboration•Water Districts, NGOs, and Wildlife Agencies work together to find win-win solutions.Accept Reality and Plan Accordingly•People need water and so do fish. •What’s good for the River is good for people.•The watershed is interconnected with many stakeholders.Failure is not an option•Nobody benefits if we do nothing.•The cost is too great for doing nothing.•Working together is the only way forward.
HCP: PurposePartnership and CollaborationRegional, comprehensive program:Framework to protect, enhance, restore habitat for speciesStreamline permitting for projects 5 6
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4 7HCP PermitteesHCP Team:11 water agenciesSan Bernardino Valley Municipal Water DistrictSan Bernardino Valley Water Conservation DistrictSan Bernardino Municipal Water DepartmentWestern Municipal Water DistrictEast Valley Water DistrictWest Valley Water DistrictRiverside Public UtilitiesInland Empire Utility AgencyCity of RialtoOrange County Water DistrictMetropolitan Water District of Southern CaliforniaSouthern California Edison 8ESA Permitting for Covered SpeciesPlantsSlender-horned spineflowerSanta Ana River woolly-starFishesSanta Ana suckerArroyo chubSanta Ana speckled daceAmphibians and ReptilesWestern spadefootMountain yellow-legged frogWestern pond turtleSouth coast garter snakeCalifornia glossy snakeMammalsSan Bernardino kangaroo ratLos Angeles pocket mouseBirdsLeast Bell's vireoSouthwestern willow flycatcherYellow-breasted chatWestern yellow-billed cuckooTricolored blackbirdBurrowing owlCoastal California gnatcatcherCactus wren Photo: RCRCD
Photo: Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Photo: SB County Public Works
Photo: San Diego ZooFully avoided speciesDelhi Sands flower-loving flyArroyo toad7 8 8/25/2022
5 Covered Activities•>100 Projects over 50 years•Phase 1: 0 - 5 years•Phase 2: 6 - 10 years•Phase 3: 11 - 15 years•Phase 4: 16+ years•Types of Covered Activities:oWater ReuseoGroundwater RechargeoWells and Water Conveyance InfrastructureoSolar Energy DevelopmentoExisting Facility Routine Operations and MaintenanceoHabitat Improvement, Management, and Monitoring 10Conservation StrategyConservation StrategyPROTECT & ENHANCE EXISTING HABITATCREATE MORE HABITATESTABLISH ADDITIONAL POPULATIONSREDUCE THREATS9 10 8/25/2022
6 Conservation StrategyConservation Strategy
Five Preserve Units:Santa Ana River Preserve Unit (508 acres)Alluvial Fan Units A & B: (1,335 acres)Santa Ana Sucker Preserve Units A & B: (264 acres)Total: ~2,100 acres Tributary Restoration Sites: Increase Habitat Tributary Restoration Sites: Increase Habitat Restoration Sites along Santa Ana River•Restore riparian habitat•Create stream habitat•Conserve and manage •Provide water supply 11 12
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7 Innovative Solutions for Water and HabitatInnovative Solutions for Water and Habitat
TRANSLOCATION TO UPPER WATERSHED
IMPACTS & RISK
REFUGIASAS Translocation Units A & B
Captive Rearing13
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8 Santa Ana Sucker Preserve Units A & BSanta Ana Sucker Preserve Units A & BSanta Ana River mainstem: translocate fromMountain tributary: translocate to Challenges & Opportunities Challenges & Opportunities Multiple Benefits for Habitat, People, Property •Creating/Improve habitat •Provide permanent water supply to restoration sites•Long-term management and monitoring•Funded Ranger patrol of restoration sites•Conservation easements and endowments 15 16 8/25/2022
9 Challenges
https://www.pe.com/2017/12/21/riverside-fire-responds-to-reports-of-brush-fire-in-santa-ana-river-bottom/ https://www.pe.com/2021/09/05/spike-in-atv-crashes-in-riverside-prompts-beefed-up-barriers-and-security-at-santa-ana-riverbed/ Opportunities - Partnerships
https://www.pe.com/2020/02/06/firefighters-battle-4-acre-brush-fire-in-santa-ana-river-bottom-on-west-side-of-riverside/•Partnerships •Incorporate fire fighting into planning process•Site protection•Strategic access control•Ranger patrols•Trash collection 17 18
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10 Ranger Patrols
Hidden Valley•Encampments are few where patrols currently occur https://fpdcc.com/places/locations/river-trail-nature-center/ https://idahonews.com/news/local/gallery/30-years-in-the-treasure-valley-idaho-fish-and-games-mk-nature-center?photo=11Opportunities – Responsible Public Use19 20 8/25/2022
11 Restoration at Hidden ValleyRestoration at Hidden Valley 21 22
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12 23HCP BenefitsHCP BenefitsCapture & Recharge of ~80,000 AFY Local cost savings: $945MPermanently conserve ≥ 2,000 acresRegional water supply reliability & capacity Riverside = 11,000 AFCreation of ~85 jobs annuallyProtect 22 native animals and plantsProtect 12 endangered /threatened speciesManage conservation lands, & translocations in perpetuity. Provide dedicated stream flow. 24 Photo: Cornell Lab of Ornithology
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13 RiversideCA.gov25
1. The Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014 established the WIFIA Program.2. Administered by the EPA for eligible water and wastewater infrastructure projects, offering low interest, favorable financing.3. San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District is leading an effort to make WIFIA financing available for the region.4. RPU has an opportunity to partner with the region to be eligible for WIFIA financing for future water supply projects.BACKGROUND Achieving Water Resilience through Regional Collaboration and Integrated Infrastructure Heather Dyer, MS, MBACEO/General ManagerSan Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District 25 26
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14 What we do…Ensure a reliable water supply to the region we serve, forever.ResilienceStewardshipVisionForesightStrategy Proactive Water Resources Planning●Stormwater capture – maximize local resources●Recycled Water - drought proof supply●Conjunctive Use Projects - shared infrastructure/shared resources●Groundwater management - Proactive/adaptive 27 28
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15 UPPER SANTA ANA RIVER WATERSHED INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCING AUTHORITY 30Program NeedFor many years, the San Bernardino Valley has been challenged by prolonged drought, increased wildfires, and climate uncertainty. In response, the region, which relies heavily on imported water, is investing in collaborative strategies to diversify its water supply portfolio, recharge its groundwater basins, restore critical habitat and secure a sustainable water future. The Upper SAR Watershed, spanning over 850 square miles in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties in southern California, is a highly connected system of surface water, groundwater, and rich habitat that the region depends on for its local water supply. 30 29 30
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16 Program Description31WA TERSHED CONNECTis a regional infrastructure program, a network of forward-looking projects designed to achieve water supply reliability, climate resilience, and long-term ecological health of the Upper Santa Ana River (Upper SAR) Watershed. WA TERSHED CONNECTis a multiphase program comprised of interconnected water capture, recharge, storage, treatment, and conveyance projects. This comprehensive package of infrastructure projects are expected to collectively maximize the use and reuse of local water resources, while attaining a healthy, functional river ecosystem that supports 22 federally and state-protected speciesWA TERSHED CONNECTinnovative approach is expected to maximize program value and offers synergistic benefits to the watershed and its people.WA TERSHED CONNECT’s purpose is to achieve regional water supply security, resilience to extended drought and the effects of climate change and holistically enhance the health of the Upper SAR Watershed.
SYNERGY :the interaction or cooperation of two or more organizations, elements, or other agents to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects 31 32
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17 OpportunityWater Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) is an innovative, federal low-cost, and flexible infrastructure financing mechanismValley District and other local water agencies created the Financing JPA and the Watershed Connect Program (~$0.5 billion of interconnected projects) in 2021 to take advantage of WIFIALetter of Interest Submitted on June 23, 2021; Watershed Connect invited to submit a loan application in December 2021Application submitted in late May for Phase I; regionally approved for WIFIA loan up to $231 million for capital programOpportunity Phase 1 Projects34Project Name Lead AgencyAcquisition of Greenspot Pump Station San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District $ 14,000,000 Central Feeder - EBX Intertie San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District $ 2,327,000 Lytle Creek-Cajon Creek Mitigation Lands San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District $ 11,590,000Cactus Basin Connector Pipeline San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District $ 2,211,000 Regional Recycled Water System Phase 1 San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District $ 53,073,000 Enhance Recharge Phase 1B San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District $ 65,583,000 Enhance Recharge Phase 1A Liner San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District $ 970,000 Headwaters Resiliency Multipurpose Area San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District $ 32,500,000 SAR Sustainable Parks and Tributaries Water Reuse San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District $ 27,745,675 Active Recharge - Highland Hills Land Acquisition San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District $ 7,247,000 HCP Tributaries Restoration San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District $ 14,294,000 Calimesa Aquifer Storage and Recovery Project Phase 1 Yucaipa Valley Water District $ 12,114,925 Calimesa Aquifer Storage and Recovery Project Phase 2 Yucaipa Valley Water District $ 4,337,448 Calimesa Regional Recycled Water Pipeline Project Yucaipa Valley Water District $ 5,665,383 R-12.5 Recycled Water Reservoirs Yucaipa Valley Water District $ 4,752,500Wochholz Regional Water Recycling Facility Energy Resliency Project Yucaipa Valley Water District $ 29,967,497 Yucaipa Valley Regional Water Filtration Facility Energy Resiliency Project Yucaipa Valley Water District $ 16,298,861 Salinity and Groundwater Enhancement Project Yucaipa Valley Water District $ 34,149,320 Salinity Concentration Reduction and Minimization System Yucaipa Valley Water District $ 9,501,283 3.0 MG R-11.4 Recycled Water Reservoir Yucaipa Valley Water District $ 10,864,424 R-10.3 Recycled Water Booster to R-11.4 Recycled Water Reservoir Yucaipa Valley Water District $ 1,748,520 24-inch Recycled Water Pressure Zone 11 Regional Pipeline Yucaipa Valley Water District $ 9,370,560 Recycled Water Reservoir R-7.2 at the Resource Ranch Yucaipa Valley Water District $ 7,664,800 North Bench Recycled Water Project Yucaipa Valley Water District $ 21,982,020 Calimesa Lake Project Yucaipa Valley Water District $ 10,001,380 Wochholz Regional Water Recycling Facility - SCADA Upgrades Yucaipa Valley Water District $ 1,892,576 Yucaipa Valley Regional Water Filtration Facility - SCADA Upgrades Yucaipa Valley Water District $ 2,830,000 Oak Valley Sewer Lift Station, Force Mainlines and Gravity System Improvements Yucaipa Valley Water District $ 27,710,060 Valley District Phase 1 Total $ 231,540,675YVWD Phase 1 Total $ 210,851,557 Phase 1 Total $ 442,157,232 Bolded projects are expected to be funded with WIFIA Loan Proceeds. 33 34
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18 Valley District Phase 1 Projects35Project Name Project Costs*Acquisition of Greenspot Pump Station SWP Reserves $ 14,000,000 Central Feeder - EBX Intertie SWP Reserves $ 2,327,000 Lytle Creek-Cajon Creek Mitigation Lands GF Reserves, Grants $ 11,590,000Cactus Basin Connector Pipeline GF Reserves, Grants $ 2,211,000 Regional Recycled Water System Phase 1 GF Reserves $ 53,073,000 Enhance Recharge Phase 1B Project Partners, WIFIA Loan, Grants $ 65,583,000 Enhance Recharge Phase 1A Liner Project Partners, WIFIA Loan $ 970,000 Headwaters Resiliency Multipurpose Area GF Reserves $ 32,500,000 SAR Sustainable Parks and Tributaries Water Reuse Project Partner, HCP Partners, WIFIA Loan $ 27,745,675 Active Recharge - Highland Hills Land Acquisition SBVWCD Active Recharge Transfer Fund $ 7,247,000 HCP Tributaries Restoration HCP Partners $ 14,294,000 Valley District Phase 1 Total $ 231,540,675Bolded projects are expected to be funded with WIFIA Proceeds.WIFIA Program BenefitsWIFIA loans offer a low, fixed interest rateWIFIA loans provide flexible financial termsCustomized repayment schedules.Repayment period must be the earlier of 35 years after the date of substantial completion of the project, or the useful life of the project.Payments may be deferred up to 5 years after the project’s substantial completion.Prepayable at any time ($1 million minimum).Federal combined funding can be up to 80% of total project costs.36 35 36
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19 Upper Santa Ana River Watershed Infrastructure Financing Authority The Upper Santa Ana River Watershed Infrastructure Financing Authority (USAR WIFA), a Joint Powers Authority comprised of water agencies, all of whom rely upon the highly connected tributaries, groundwater basins, and natural ecosystems of the Santa Ana River.
Joint Powers Agreement•Agreement was entered into for purposes of assisting in the financing and potential refinancing of projects of the Members•Members pay into JPA based on proportion of benefits received from program (loan)•Installment Purchase Agreements (“IPA”) authorized by the Authority and Members will set forth rights and obligations of the Members and the Authority with respect to debt and will ensure compliance with provisions of any legal document related to such IPA•Members own and operate their facilities/projects•Any amendment to the JPA requires concurrence by all Members at that time•The JPA is governed by one Director for each Member38Current USARWIFA DirectorsPaul Kielhold Chair Valley DistrictLonni Granlund Member YVWDDaniel Cozad Member SBVW Conservation DistrictMiguel Guerrero Member SB Municipal Utilities Department 37 38
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20 Benefits39Resiliency in the face of climate change: The collection of forward-looking recycled water, stormwater capture, groundwater storage, alternative energy, and ecosystem restoration projects are expected to improve water supply security. Investments in alternative water supplies, emergency storage, and system redundancies enhance the regions’ resilience to climate threats.
Infrastructure Enhancements: Modernization of existing infrastructure combined with new conveyance systems are planned to create enhanced water resources. Upgrades, including pipeline protection initiatives and solar energy projects, are expected to reduce climate-related vulnerabilities and ensure reliable services during natural disasters.Improved Water Quality: Advanced treatment upgrades are expected to improve regional water quality by reducing the amount of salt, nutrients, and emerging contaminants introduced to surface waters and groundwater basins. Proposed stormwater capture and treatments projects are expected to produce high-quality water for blending with groundwater supplies high in total dissolved solids.Drought Resiliency: The program’s ambitious stormwater capture, groundwater recharge, and water reuse projects are expected to position the region to sustain short and long-term droughts.
Ecological Health: The proposed habitat mitigation and restoration initiatives are expected to enhance the health of the Upper SAR Watershed, supporting the region’s urban, environmental, recreational, and economic needs.
Project Type Number Projects BenefitsWater Supply and Groundwater Recharge 10 35,760 acre-feet per yearHabitat Restoration 4 641 acres and 1 mile of streamRecycled Water Distribution 7 6,600 connectionsEnergy Resilience 2 7 MegawattsInfrastructure Resilience 5 MultipleTOTAL 28•Valley District is leading 11 projects•Yucaipa Valley Water District is leading 17 projects 39 40
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21 RiversideCA.gov41
CURRENT SAN BERNARDINO BASIN CONDITIONS
150’ water level decline1969 Judgment initiated as a result of decreasing water supplyPeriodAverage inches per year of RainfallComment1933-1960 32.94Period established the "safe yield" of the basin, the annual pumping volumes that can safely be produced from the basin1930-2019 31.03 Long-term average2000-2019 24.04 Drought periodRainfall in the Upper Watershed RiversideCA.gov42
1. Region is experiencing a long-term dry period resulting in decreased water levels.2. As a result of lower water levels:a. Pumps are being lowered.b. Well production volumes are lower because they cannot pump at the same rate as they did when water levels were higher.c. Older wells are pumping much more air and in some cases need to be replaced with deeper wells.3. Western-San Bernardino Watermaster is leading efforts to explore basin management options that would invest in efforts to stabilize and/or improve groundwater conditions to ensure the region’s water supply remains resilient and sustainable into the future.CURRENT SAN BERNARDINO BASIN CONDITIONS41 42 8/25/2022
22 RiversideCA.gov43
Strategic Priority No. 4 – Environmental StewardshipGoal 4.2 –Sustainably manage local water resources to maximize reliability and advance water reuse to ensure sage, reliable and affordable water to our community the item aligns with.Strategic Priority No. 5 – High Performing GovernmentGoal 5.4 – Achieve and maintain financial health by addressing gaps between revenues and expenditure and aligning resources with strategic priorities to yield the greatest impact.Cross-Cutting Threads
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
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That the City Council:1. Approve joining the Upper Santa Ana River Watershed Infrastructure Financing Authority through the execution of a Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement and authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to execute any required documents;2. Designate the Mayor or designee to represent the City of Riverside on the governing board of the Upper Santa Ana River Watershed Infrastructure Financing Authority; and3. Approve an expenditure not to exceed $270,000 to fund Riverside's portion ofsubmitting a funding application and Water Infrastructure Finance andInnovation Act loan package to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for aregional suite of infrastructure projects.RECOMMENDATIONS43 44