CITY OF VISALIA &
KAWEAH DELTA WATER
CONSERVATION DISTRICT
WATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
2024 Annual Report
Management Committee:
City of Visalia Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District Steve Nelsen – Council Member Don Mills – Director
Staff: Staff:
Leslie Caviglia, City Manager Shane Smith – Manager
Nick Bartsch, Water Resources Mana ger Larry Dotson – Sr. Engineer Dennis Keller – Consultant
Submitted By:
Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District
February 5, 2025
Water Management Program: 2024 Annual Report
Water Acquired
The program was able to acquire a total of 221.88 acre-feet of water during the 2024 calendar year. The water was obtained from Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District’s Central Valley Project (CVP) supplies. The City of Visalia acquired at a rate of $150.00 per acre-foot for a total cost of $33,282.00.
Water Rights Acquired
There were not any water rights acquired through the program during the 2024 calendar year.
Actual Water Deliveries
The 221.88 acre-feet of Central Valley Project water delivered through the program during the 2024 calendar year was diverted into the Creekside Basin (63.2 ac-ft) and Modoc Basin(158.68 ac-ft) in the month of May.
Planning Activities
During this reporting year there was one progress meeting of the Management Committee. A copy of meeting minutes is included with this report as Attachment No. 1. The meetings included representatives from Tulare Irrigation District (TID) in an effort to combine resources to the benefit of the groundwater within the Visalia region. Planning activities continue to focus on the feasibility of implementing groundwater recharge improvements to natural channels that flow through the City of Visalia. The Committee also considered a program funding reallocation that would eliminate the “Water Rights” category and subsequently rebalance the “Water Purchase” and “Design & Construction” categories.
Planning activities for the year continued to focus on the feasibility of implementing groundwater recharge improvements to natural channels that flow through the City of Visalia. The program also investigated modifications to existing and proposed City storm water basins toward multi-operational use that would include groundwater recharge through possible interconnection to surface water supply systems
The other major goal that the plan addresses is the acquisition and delivery of available surface water for groundwater recharge to the benefit of the City. The Management Committee proposed an authorization of a predetermined expenditure limit of $300,000 at a maximum rate of $150.00 per acre-foot toward the purchase of imported surface water for the 2024 calendar year. Such authorization provides a means to respond in a timely manner to available opportunities to acquire water without being encumbered by the program’s committee meeting and consent procedure.
The program’s planning focus and goals for the 2024 calendar year were presented in an annual plan and approved by the District in August 2024 and the City in August 2024. The document provides guidance to staff for implementation of action items that work toward achieving long and short term program goals. A copy of 2024 Annual Plan is included with this report as Attachment No. 2.
Engineering Activities
Engineering activities for the calendar year consisted primarily of cooperation between the District and the City in the development of improvement plans for the Eastside Regional Park Project and Oakes Basin Project. Both projects will function as multipurpose facilities with storm water layoff and groundwater recharge benefits.
Water Management Program: 2024 Annual Report
Facilities Acquired
There were not any facilities acquired through the program during the 2024 calendar year.
Facilities Constructed
There were not any facilities constructed through the program during the 2024 calendar year.
Water Management Program: 2024 Status Report
Activity Balance Activity Balance Activity Balance Activity Balance Beginning Balance 1,592,213.48 322,378.18 374,827.86 895,007.44 January Payment 14,251.55 1,606,465.03 1,425.15 323,803.33 2,850.31 377,678.17 9,976.09 904,983.53 January Disbursement 1,606,465.03 323,803.33 377,678.17 904,983.53 February Payment 14,251.55 1,620,716.58 1,425.15 325,228.48 2,850.31 380,528.48 9,976.09 914,959.62 February Disbursement 1,620,716.58 325,228.48 380,528.48 914,959.62 March Payment 14,251.55 1,634,968.13 1,425.15 326,653.63 2,850.31 383,378.79 9,976.09 924,935.71 March Disbursement 1,634,968.13 326,653.63 383,378.79 924,935.71 Jan/Feb/Mar Interest 7,660.99 1,642,629.12 1,530.61 328,184.24 1,796.40 385,175.19 4,333.98 929,269.69 April Payment 14,251.55 1,656,880.67 1,425.15 329,609.39 2,850.31 388,025.50 9,976.09 939,245.78 April Disbursement 1,656,880.67 329,609.39 388,025.50 939,245.78 May Payment 14,251.55 1,671,132.22 1,425.15 331,034.54 2,850.31 390,875.81 9,976.09 949,221.87 May Disbursement 1,671,132.22 331,034.54 390,875.81 949,221.87 June Payment 14,251.57 1,685,383.79 1,425.16 332,459.70 2,850.31 393,726.12 9,976.10 959,197.97 June Disbursement 1,685,383.79 332,459.70 393,726.12 959,197.97 Apr/May/Jun Interest 2,030.85 1,687,414.64 400.61 332,860.31 474.43 394,200.55 1,155.81 960,353.78 July Payment 14,750.36 1,702,165.00 1,475.04 334,335.35 2,950.07 397,150.62 10,325.25 970,679.03 July Disbursement (33,282.00) 1,668,883.00 334,335.35 (33,282.00) 363,868.62 970,679.03 August Payment 14,750.36 1,683,633.36 1,475.04 335,810.39 2,950.07 366,818.69 10,325.25 981,004.28 August Disbursement 1,683,633.36 335,810.39 366,818.69 981,004.28 September Payment 14,750.36 1,698,383.72 1,475.04 337,285.43 2,950.07 369,768.76 10,325.25 991,329.53 September Disbursement 1,698,383.72 337,285.43 369,768.76 991,329.53 Jul/Aug/Sep Interest 2,101.93 1,700,485.65 409.40 337,694.83 489.23 370,257.99 1,203.30 992,532.83 October Payment 14,750.36 1,715,236.01 1,475.04 339,169.87 2,950.07 373,208.06 10,325.25 1,002,858.08 October Disbursement 1,715,236.01 339,169.87 373,208.06 1,002,858.08 November Payment 14,750.36 1,729,986.37 1,475.04 340,644.91 2,950.07 376,158.13 10,325.25 1,013,183.33 November Disbursement 1,729,986.37 340,644.91 376,158.13 1,013,183.33 December Payment 14,750.36 1,744,736.73 1,475.04 342,119.95 2,950.07 379,108.20 10,325.25 1,023,508.58 December Disbursement 1,744,736.73 342,119.95 379,108.20 1,023,508.58 Oct/Nov/Dec Interest 3,518.97 1,748,255.70 687.18 342,807.13 764.12 379,872.32 2,067.67 1,025,576.25 1,748,255.70 342,807.13 379,872.32 1,025,576.25 Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District / City of Visalia Program Funding (Calender Year 2024)
Design & ConstructionWater PurchaseWater Rights
GENERAL PROGRAM
INDIVIDUAL PROGRAMS
DESCRIPTION
Updated: 2/5/2025
Water Management Program: 2024 Annual Report
Attachment No. 1
VISALIA WATER MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
Minutes of Meeting: December 4, 2024 (3:00 p.m.)
Attendee’s City of Visalia: Steve Nelsen, Leslie Caviglia, Nick Bartsch Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District: Don Mills, Shane Smith, Larry Dotson
Tulare Irrigation District: Mark Crenshaw
Public Comment Larry Dotson opened the meeting up for any public comment and there were none.
Funding Report Larry Dotson reviewed the Water Management Program 2024 Status Report on the balance of funds to date. Total funds available for the beginning of November are $1,729,986.37. July water purchase expenditures were for CVP water purchase by the District at $150.00/af for 221.88 af of water recharged to the benefit of the City.
2025
Annual Plan Larry Dotson presented the “Draft” 2025Annual Plan to the Committee for review and recommendation. The Committee discussed changes in program funding allocation percentages, annual water purchase funding limitations and acceptable water rates. Don Mills motioned and Steve Nelson seconded that the 2025 Annual Plan be considered by each respective agency for consideration with the proposed changes.
Update on Other
Recharge
Programs/Projects
DWR Flood Corridor Pro
gram - City of Visalia Grant Project
The City continues to make progress on their projects. The Goshen Basin has been completed for diversion and pumping from North Mill Creek. The Peoples Basin project has accomplished excavation of the basin and expecting to go out to bid for the inlet and outlet improvements. The Oakes Basin Project is still in design for the interconnection to the proposed “Eastside Regional Park” recharge basins and is expect to start construction in the summer of 2025.
Eastside Regional Park and Recharge Project
Leslie Caviglia reported that the first phase of recharge basin construction (Basin “F”, south of Packwood Creek) has been completed and is presently having landscaping installed. The next phase of recharge basin construction (Basin “D”, north of Packwood Creek) is expected to start construction in 2025.
DWR - Flood Diversion and Recharge Enhancement (FDRE) Initative The District has entered an agreement with the Department of Water Resources (DWR) for the purchase of portable surface water pumps for the diversion of flood waters for recharge purchases. DWR has approved the purchase of four(4) portable pumps with associated equipment and the District is proceeding with the acquisition of the equipment.
VISALIA WATER MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
Minutes of Meeting: December 4, 2024 (3:00 p.m.)
Update on Other
Recharge
Programs/Projects
Basin No. 4 Inlet Upgrades
The City and District over the last several years has worked together to evaluate the diversion / recharge operations of Basin No. 4 for the purposes of laying off storm / flood waters from South Mill Creek. The Committee was requested by staff to retain a consultant for study alternatives for upgrading the existing inlet control structures to accommodate effective operations that meet desired objectives. The Committee directed staff to proceed to retain a consultant to perform an Initial Study for potential upgrades to the Basin No. 4 Inlet Structures.
Surface Water Suppl
y Larry Dotson reported that current surface water supplies for the Kaweah River being minimal due to no precipitation since spring.
Next Meetings Tentatively November 18, 2025 @ 3:00 p.m. or Upon request of either agency.
Water Management Program: 2024 Annual Report
Attachment No. 2
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VISALIA WATER MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
2024 Annual Plan
Background
On December 31, 2001, the City of Visalia (“City”) and the Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District (“District”) entered into an Agreement (“Agreement”), a copy of which can be found attached to the Minutes of the October 2, 2001 meeting of the Board of Director’s for Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District. The Agreement provides that a Management Committee be formed. The Management Committee is to be comprised of representatives of the City and District. Specifically, the Management Committee is to be “comprised of one member from each of the governing boards and other staff and technical representatives of the City and the District.” The Management Committee is required to meet “as necessary.” Further, the Agreement directs that the Management Committee “shall each year develop an annual plan to achieve the purpose as specified in paragraph 1 which plan shall be mutually agreeable to the parties hereto.” This document is intended to fulfill the requirement for the Management Committee, which has become known as the Visalia Water Management Committee, to develop an annual plan.
Objectives
According to the Agreement, the primary purpose of the Agreement and the Management Committee “is to maintain existing water rights and acquire additional water supplies for the primary benefit of the residents of the City of Visalia.” Another purpose of the Agreement “is to provide funding mechanisms for the maintenance and acquisition of such water supplies and for the construction of facilities necessary to apply such water to the benefit of the residents of the City.” In the Agreement, the City and the District expressed their intent “that the activities undertaken pursuant to this program will result in maintenance and enhancement of groundwater levels in and around the City.” Finally, the document provides that “each year an annual plan will be developed to identify specific activities to meet these purposes.
Short Range Goals
In the near term, the Management Committee intends to continue to accumulate money in its funds as a result of the annual contributions by the City as required by the Agreement. Of the monies collected in the fund, it intends to spend approximately 70% toward water project design, construction and land rights, 20% toward water purchases and 10% toward the purchase of water rights.
Long Range Goals
The Water Management Committee’s long term objectives are to replenish and enhance the groundwater used by the City to provide water to the residents of the City.
By doing so it hopes to eventually achieve an ongoing and long-term balance between groundwater extractions and groundwater replenishment in the groundwater basin utilized to provide water to the residents of the City. -2-
Action Items
The City and the District, by their adoption of this 2024 Annual Plan, hereby authorize certain actions to be taken during 2024 as follows:
1) For both the District and the City to carry out the purposes as established by Section 1 of the Agreement to the benefit of groundwater utilized to provide water to the residents of the City.
2) For both the District and the City to participate in Management Committee meetings upon reasonable call and notice by either party. Regularly scheduled meetings shall occur semi-annually and be set for the third Tuesday of the months of May and November at 3:00 pm at the District’s office. 3) For the City to make the annual payment as required by Section 3 of the Agreement; and
4) For the District to administer program funds as directed by the Management Committee. The following funding objectives have been established so as to provide for a means to carry out the purposes of the Agreement. Funding objectives are presently set at 70 percent for groundwater improvement projects, 20 percent for surface water purchases for groundwater recharge and 10 percent for acquisition of available surface water rights; and
5) For the City and District to continue to investigate and pursue groundwater recharge improvement projects including studies for delivery system improvements and optimization. The program herein allocates $15,000 for preliminary investigation toward the research and development of possible future projects.
6) Upon mutual agreement by the District General Manager and the City Manager, without further approval from the Management Committee, to use the agreement’s program funds on deposit with the District to purchase up to $300,000 worth of water, at a rate of no more than $150 per acre foot, and import such water into the Kaweah Basin for recharge in basins, natural channels and artificial channels located either within the City or within close enough proximity to the City, on an annual basis; and
7) For the City and District to continue to survey, identify and acquire property rights for parcels of real property that might be available in or about the City for purchase and development as groundwater recharge basins; and 8) For the City and District to continue to survey, identify and acquire water rights that might be available for purchase in order to supply an ongoing source of water for groundwater recharge; and
9) For the District to complete and provide the City with an annual report detailing the accomplishment of the aforementioned action items.
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Approval
This 2024 Annual Plan shall be deemed approved and in effect once it has been reviewed and approved by a majority vote of the City Council of the City and by a majority vote of the Board of Directors of the District. 1) The Board of Directors of the District approved this 2024 Annual Plan during their regular meeting on August 6, 2024
2) The City Council of the City approved this 2024 Annual Plan as herein presented at a regular meeting on August 19, 2024