HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report Item 4.C 9/9/2013 Agenxiai Ite vw#4.C
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DATE: September 9, 2013
TO: Honorable,Mayor:and:Members of the City Council through City Manager
FROM: Dan St John E.ASCE, Public Works and Utilities Director
Dave Iribarne,Conservation Coordinator
SUBJECT: Status Report—City Water Supply and Water Conservation
RECOMMENDATION
This item is a status report and'doesnotrequire action by the Council.
BACKGROUND
In cooperation with the Sonotna.County Water Agency (SCWA) and the other principal water
contractors, City staff,have been carefully monitoring the status of our regional water supply
affected by very dry conditions this calendar year Through.July, the region has received 3.4
inches of rainfall (measured at Novato) compared to over 13 inches last year for the same period.
To date, the key measure of water level at Lake Mendocino, a major source of the regions
supply, has not dropped below the "critical pool elevation" and therefore the agencies and.
contractors have not moved info;ntandatorywater conservation.measures. However, two months
remain,in the summer demand season and operators are monitoring status hourly. The attached
report provides an overview and status report of the current water supply situation and a
summary of increased water conservation activities.
Council Goal: "Create and Implement clear direction on development and sustainability
objectives".
DISCUSSION.
Please refer to the attached report.
FINANCIAL,.IMPACTS,
None
ATTACHMENTS
I. Water Supply`and:Conservation Update
Agenda Review:
City Attorney Finance Director City Manager
Attachment 1
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WATER SUPPLY AND CONSERVATION'
AUGUST 20, 2013'
Background
In April 2013, the Sonoma County Water Agency's (SCWA).Board of Directors filed a Petition
for Temporary Urgency Change (TUC): in SCWA's water rights permits with the State Water
Resources'Control Board to:request lower minimum flows in the Russian River due to water
supply conditions and Russian'River Biological Opinion requirements.
A primary purpose of the 2013,TUG order is to preserve water levels in Lake Mendocino, which
is unusually low,after a dry spring season.. In order to ensure thereris•enough water in the lake in
the fall for water-supply and for the fall Chinook salmon run, lake levels need to stay above a
certain level (known as the critical storage curve). The graph below shows Lake Mendocino
levels compared to the critical storage curve. As summarized below,:if'lake levels drop below
the critical storage curve after Ray I,sminimum river flows would need,to be reduced.
Lake Mendocino'2013 Critical Storage Curve
.—.Actual Storage :.2013 Critical Starage Curve ,r,-,aurae:Curve;-
120,000 -;: -_120,000
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X , al 2 AC e eta t ao.00q
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1)° rAu ust 12 x2013 3
a so,000 � so,000
ow
.* 40V000 � _ / '`.r .40.000
1 : (
August 12,120131,
zo;ooar 45,583;Acre feet: ! 20000
. - i ;11, 1 . o
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug` Sep Oct
The Russian,River Biological Opinion determined that lower flows in the Russian River are
beneficial Tor endangered.of threatened salmon and steelliead. It.requires the Water Agency to
seek permanent reductions'in required minimum flows in the Russian River and Dry Creek by
requesting.a "revision to the existing State Water Board Order known as Decision 1610. The
Water Agency is also required to seek temporary changes in minimum flows on the Russian
River annually until,:a.permanent change is adopted. These annual requests began in.2010.
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Summary ofthe:2013 Petition:
The Sonoma County Water Agency .requested that the State Water Resources Control Board
make the following temporary changes to the Decision 1610 (D-1610) instream flow
requirements for the period of'180 days from May 1 through October 28:
• (a) for May 1 through June 30, the Decision 1610 requirements for Dry conditions will
apply in the main stem Russian River (75 cfs in the Upper Russian River from its
confluence with the East Fork to its confluence.with Dry Creek and 85 cfs in the Lower
Russian River downstream of its confluence with Dry Creek to the Pacific Ocean);
• (b) if, after July 1 storage in Lake Mendocino is above the Water Agency's calculated
critical storage,curve the-Decision 1610 requirements.fofDryWater supply conditions
will continue to apply;
• (c) if, after July 1 storage in Lake Mendocino dropsebelo,w the critical storage curve for
more than three<consecutive,days, then, from that date through October 28 the Decision
1610 requirements for Critical water supply conditions will apply in the Russian River
(25 cfs in the Upper; Russian River from its confluence with the East Fork to its
confluence with Dry Creek and 35 cfs in the Lower Russian.River downstream of its
confluence with Dry Creek to the Pacific Ocean).
To improve its efforts in optimally'managing flows. in the Russian River, the Water Agency
requests that under Dry water supply conditions.the minimum instream flow requirements be
implemented on a 5-day running, average of average daily stream flow measurements with
instantaneous flows on the Upper Russian River being no less than 65 cfs and on the Lower
Russian,River being no less than70.cfs.
Current Supply Status
As of August 19, 2013, storage levels above the critical.storage.levels meaning that option (a)
above will remain in place, 'Ifstorage levels drop ,below the critical storage curve, staff will
request that Council approve:a;resolution:authorizing the City Manager to implement Stage; 1, of
the City's Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP). Stage 1 of the WSCP requests a 15%
voluntary reduction in consumption from all City of Petaluma water customers.
Current Enhanced Water Conservation Efforts
The, .City of Petaluma Water Conservation program has implemented enhanced water
conservation efforts,front=the time the TUC Was issued in April of 2013. These efforts go above
and beyond the,City'snormal Water Conservation Plan measur"eS,and include the following:
• Actively promoted the Sonoma-Marin Water 'Saving Partnership 20-Gallon Challenge
program. This regional program solicits a voluntary reduction,in water consumption of
20 gallons per person,perrday, The program incehtivizes customers who take the pledge
to reduce consumption by 20 gallons per day with monthly drawings to win a variety of
prizes (including water efficient washing machines, professional water efficient
landscape design;plans.for. their, landscapes and other water efficient devices). The City
mailed post:,cards to all water customers promoting the program and also promoted the
prograimat the Sonoma-Marin fair.
• Expedited the recycled water conversion project,. Staff has re-shifted priorities to
expedite the expansion of tertiary recycled water into town. To date, Prince Park,
Wiseman.Park and the Airport irrigation have been converted to recycled water. The
Casa Grande high school irrigation is currently being converted to recycled water and is
expected to be complete in the fall of 2013. This will'result in approximately 48 million
gallons of annual potable water savings which is equivalent to about four days of peak
summer water use for,the whole City. In addition, City crews removed Lucceshi Park
from the potable system in July and now fill it from an old well that is not suitable for
potable use. This will save an additional 8 to 10 million gallons per year.
• Reached out-to commercial accounts with large turf areas and incentivized them to sheet
mulch their turf areas byy providing free supplies through the City's Mulch Madness
program and providing free voluntary labor. This resulted in over 25;000 square feet of
turf being sheet mulched.
• Incentivized Utility department field staff to enhance their water waste patrol efforts.
Each field-staff employee is armed with updated "Oops Tags" (e.g. door hangers that
notify customers of a,potential water waste problem that was'observed in the field) and.a
20-Gallon Challenge;post-card to hand out to customers who are observed to have a
potential water waste issue:on their property.
Staff will continue to promote water conservation and to provide creative incentives for
customers to conserve water in order to help meet the challenges presented during these
drier than normal conditions.
Current Enhanced'Water Conservation Efforts
City staff monitors water delivery from SCWA and well production daily. May 15 through July
3151, the City has averaged 11.12 mgd (million gallons per day), up?slightly from the 10;68 mgd
average last year The 12-year average for the same 3-month period was 11.42 mgd. Staff
believes demands is slightly higher because of the record dry winter and spring this year
compared''-to a relatively wet late..spring last year and an uptick of the use of temporary
construction Water on a number Of building sites around town.
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