CITY OF SIMI VALLEY
MEMORANDUM
F
ebruary 27, 2023
TO
: Board of Directors, Ventura County Waterworks District No. 8 F
ROM: Department of Public Works
SUBJECT: ADOPTION OF A R ESOLUTION ENDING THE E MERGENCY W ATER
SHORTAGE AND MOVING TO A STAGE II WATER SUPPLY SHORTAGE
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Board of Directors (Board) ad opt Res olution No.
WWD-291, page 4 declaring a Stage II Water Supply Shor tage limiting outdoor watering to two days per week, effective immediately, and rescinding Resolution No.
WWD-286.
BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW
On February 15, 2023 the Calleguas Municipal Water Dist rict (Calleguas) suspended the Water Shortage Emergency Condition originally adopted in April 2022. Its Resolution 2070 (Att achment A, page 7) specifically suspends enforcement of the 1-d ay-per-week irrigation restriction.
Furthermore, Calleguas moved from a Stage 3 Water Shortage to a Stage 2, which allows up to 2-days-per-week irrigation, effective immediately.
In taking this action, the Calleguas Board of Directors considered the current and forecasted condition of water supplies in the State Water Project (SWP) as well as in Metropolitan Water District’s (MWD’s) entire portfolio. Current conditions are very optimistic, with s nowpack in the SWP’s watersheds reaching a 40-y ear high, and with some reservoirs feeding the SWP already nearing full capacities . While some caution is still encouraged, as the remaining winter prec ipitation remains unpredictable, the long drought may be ending if California continues to see precipitation in the c oming weeks. However, MWD remains unsure about future water supplies from the Color ado River, one of their most im portant suppliers, which also affects water supply conditions.
FINDINGS AND ALTERNATIVES
In May 2021, the Board adopted the District's 2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP). The WSCP describes actions to assess water supply reliability, c ompare it with water demands, and if necessary, implement water supply shortage restrictions to reduce demands. Among the approved elements of the WSCP are the six standard water shortage stages. The fo llowing table depicts the shortage stages:
A2318.SR.JD
AGENDA ITEM NO.
Consent (6)
A2318.SR.JD
WSCP Shortage
Stage
Municipal Code
Shortage Level
Percent Supply
Reduction
Descriptive
Condition
I 1 Up to 10% Minor Shortage
II 2 Up to 20% Moderate Shortage
III
3 Up to 30% Severe Shortage
IV Up to 40% Critical Shortage
V Up to 50% Emergency
Shortage
VI 4 50% or More Catastrophic Failure
To comply with actions taken by C alleguas, staff recommends that the Board adopt attached Resolution No. WWD-291 declaring a Stage II Water Supply Shortage. A Stage II Shortage limits watering to two days per week. The irrigation days will be Tuesday and Saturday, for property addresses ending in odd numbers (1, 3, 5, 7, 9), and Wednesday and Sunday for property addresses ending in even numbers (0, 2, 4, 6, 8).
Other mandates include:
• A limit of fifteen (15) minutes per controller station or valve; • An obligation to fix leaks, breaks, or malfunctions within five days.
In June, 2022, s taff initiated implementing a Stage IV Water Supply Shortage Enforcement Plan, which included active inspection of irrigation restriction compliance or violations, documentation of violations, and monetary fines for noncompliance. As the Stage IV restrictions would be liberated should the Board adopt Resolution No.
WWD-291, staff would also immediately suspend proactive enforcement activities. This is consistent with the recent action taken by Calleguas.
A Call to Action and the Community’s Successful Contribution
During the summer and fall of 2022, unprecedented restrictions and reductions in water use were demanded of the District ’s customers. The community responded positively, actively reducing irrigation demands and taking individual measures to reduce water use in their homes and businesses. From June 1, 2022, through December 31, 2022, the District’s water demands were reduced 35% compared to year 2020 usage over the same period. This reduction in water use was essential to meeting the District’s needs to reduce water use mandated by Calleguas and MWD at an unprecedented low point in California’s water supplies.
The following alternatives are available to the Board:
1. Adopt attached Resolution No. WWD-291 declaring a Stage II Water Supply Shortage limiting irrigation to two days per week, effective immediately, and rescinding Resolution No. WWD-286;
2. Do not adopt the Resolution, and provide other direction to staff.
2 A2318.SR.JD
Staff recommends Alternative No. 1.
SUGGESTED CITY COUNCIL MOTION
I move to adopt Resolution No. WWD-291 declaring a Stage II Water Supply Shortage, and rescinding Resolution No. WWD-286 suspending the Water Shortage Emergency.
SUMMARY
On February 15, 2023, the Calleguas Municipal Water District (Calleguas) suspended the Water Shortage Emergency Condition adopted in April 2022. Its Resolution 2070 (Attachment A, page 7) specifically suspends enforcement of the 1- day-per-week irrigation restriction. Furthermore, Calleguas moved from a Stage 3 Water Shortage to a Stage 2, which allows up to 2- days-per-week irrigation, effective immediately . Current
statewide water conditions are very optimistic, with State Water Project (SWP) snowpack at a 40-year high, and with some SWP reservoirs already nearing full capacities. Some caution is still encouraged, as the remaining winter precipitation remains unpredictable.
In late 2022, unprecedented restrictions and reductions in water use were demanded of the District’s customers. The community responded positively, actively reducing water demands in their homes and businesses. From June 1, 2022, through December 31, 2022, the District’s water demands were reduced 35% compared to year 2020 usage over the same period. The reduction in water use was essential to meeting the District’s needs to reduce water use mandated by Calleguas and MWD at an unprecedented low point in California’s water supplies.
Staff recommends the Board of Directors a dopt Resolution No. WWD -291 declaring a Stage II Water Supply Shortage limiting irrigation to two days per week, effective immediately, and rescinding Resolution No. WWD -286 thereby suspending the Water Shortage Emergency.
____________________________________
Ronald K. Fuchiwaki, Director
Department of Public Works
Prepared by: Joe Deakin, Assistant Public Works Director
INDEX Page
Resolution No. WWD-291………………………………………………..4
Attachment A - Calleguas Resolution 2070………………………….. 7
3 A2318.RES.JD
RESOLUTION NO. WWD-291
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
VENTURA COUNTY WATERWORKS DISTRICT NO. 8
DECLARING A WSCP STAGE II WATER SUPPLY
SHORTAGE AND RESCINDING RESOLUTION WWD-286
WHEREAS, the Ventura County Waterworks District No. 8 (Waterwork s District) contracts with Calleguas Municipal Water District (Calleguas) to deliver water imported by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) from the State Water Project (SWP), and is considered a SWP dependent agency by MWD; and
WHEREAS, the Waterworks District Board of Directors, following a public hearing on May 11, 2009, adopted Ordinance No. WWD -08, entitling Article 1, Chapter 11, Title 6 of the Simi Valley Municipal Code (Water Conservation Program); and
WHEREAS, the Waterworks District Board of Directors , following a public hearing on May 17, 2021, passed Resolution No. WWD-283, adopting the 2020 Urban Water Management Plan and 2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP); and
WHEREAS, the adopted WSCP describes six stages of actions the District can take in accordance with California Water Code 10632(a)(3)(A), and provides a cross reference to the Municipal Code Water Conservation Program providing the authority for the Waterworks District Board of Directors to adopt any of t he six stages in the WSCP in accordance with California Water Code 10632(a)(3)(B); and
WHEREAS, on February 15, 2023, the Board of Directors of the Calleguas Municipal Water District adopted a resolution rescinding their Water Shortage Emergency Condition and Adopting an Emergency Water Conservation Program adopted in April, 2022, and furthermore reduced their Stage 3 Water Shortage to a Stage 2 recommending their purveyors adopt water use restrictions allowing up to 2 days per week irrigation allowance; and
WHEREAS, the Calleguas Board of Directors cited imported water supply conditions have improved considerably in Water Year 2022- 2023 given significant precipitation in January 2023 and resultant reservoir levels; and
WHEREAS, on January 26, 2023, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced a 2023 State Water Project (SWP) allocation increase to 30 percent, up from the 5 percent initial allocation announced on December 1, 2022, which exceeds the SWP allocation that Metropolitan estimates is required in order to suspend the EWCP; and
WHEREAS, following the January 2023 storms, the Sierra snowpack is at its highest levels since 1995 with anticipated runoff that will further boost key reservoir levels and likely warrant future increases to the 2023 SWP allocation; and
4 RES. NO. WWD-291
A2318.RES.JD
WHEREAS, the Waterworks District 's WSCP provides for allowing two days per week irrigation in the winter under the Stage II Shortage which would meet the Calleguas recommended restriction. .
NOW, THEREFORE, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF VENTURA
COUNTY WATERWORKS DISTRICT NO. 8 DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1
. Resolution No. WWD-286 is hereby rescinded.
SECTION 2. A W SCP Stage II Water Supply Shortage is hereby declared effective immediately (February 27, 2023) , and will remain in effect until rescinded by the Board of Directors. All restrictions listed under the 2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan (dated June 1, 2021) Stage II Water Shortage are in effect immediately. Municipal Code Title 6, Chapter 11 remain in effect for all other aspects relating water conservation requirements.
SECTION 3 . Outdoor irrigation is restricted to two days per week .
Authorized irrigation days are Tuesday and Saturday, for property addresses ending in odd numbers (1, 3, 5, 7, 9), and Wednesday and Sunday for property addresses ending in even numbers (0, 2, 4, 6, 8).
SECTION 4. The District Manager is authorized to provide exceptions to crucial social and recreational functional turf area managers/owners to allow them sufficient irrigation to maintain healthy turf, as long as such managers/owners provide good-faith efforts to further reduce water use/irrigation to turf areas that are less crucial.
SECTION 5 . The District Secretary shall certify to the adoption of this resolution and shall cause a certified resolution to be filed in the Office of the District Secretary. Within five (5) days following the declaration of the shortage level, the Waterworks District will publish a copy of the resolution in a newspaper used for publication of official notices.
5 RES. NO. WWD-291
A2318.RES.JD
PASSED and ADOPTED this 27th day of February 2023.
Attest:
_
Lucy Blanco, City Clerk/ Fred D. Thomas, Chair of the Ventura District Secretary County Waterworks District No. 8
Approved as to Form: Approved as to Content:
David L. Caceres, Brian Paul Gabler, District Manager District Counsel
Ronald K. Fuchiwaki
Public Works Director
6 ATTACHMENT A
7 8
1 f I
5. Recommends that Calleguas purveyors maintain water demand reduction measures consistent with their WSCPs, without exceeding a two days per week watering restriction.
ADOPTED, SIGNED AND APPROVED this fifteenth day of February, 2023.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was adopted at the regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors of Calleguas Municipal Water District held on February 15, 2023.
ATTEST:
Ra�
Board of Directors (SEAL)
Res. No.2070
9