Pacific Progressive

Will Orange County's Congress Members Support Critical County Water Projects?

Representatives from Irvine Ranch Water District, Mesa Consolidated Water District, San Juan Capistrano, the Municipal Water District of Orange County and the County of Orange met with Representatives Loretta Sanchez, Ed Royce and Ken Calvert to discuss crucial water projects in Orange County.  Representatives John Campbell, Gary Miller and Dana Rohrbacher sent staff to the meeting.

This issue needs to be watched because how badly the Orange County delegation is in bringing home money to their districts. For instance, Rep. Sanchez brought in the  bucks for dredge the Newport back bay even though the project is in Rep. John Campbell's district.  The Orange County Business Council (OCBC) recently pointed out in an OC Register article that Orange County received $439 per capita in stimulus money compared to $687 for Los Angeles County and $8021 for Sacramento.

The projects that need federal money are:  

• Syphon Reservoir Project at Irvine Ranch Water District (IRWD) - $7.5-$10 million needed to convert the facility from seasonal to year round use.  $40-$50 million is needed to increase the storage capacity from 500 acre feet to 5000 acre feet.  The reservoir is currently used for irrigation water and would be used for recycled water once the work is completed.
• IRWD is seeking to use Clean Renewable Water Supply bonds (CREWS) to finance water recycling, desalination and groundwater contamination clean up projects.
• Mesa Consolidated Water District (MCWD) wants $1 million to upgrade the Colored Water Treatment Facility which uses ozone and biofiltration to remove a sulfur smell and amber color from groundwater to make the water drinkable.

Sponsors Needed for Children's Water Education Festival

Organizers of the Children's Water Education Festival are seeking businesses and individuals to sponsor the annual event that caters to kids across Orange County.

For the past decade, Orange County has been home to the largest water education festival of its kind. From laboratory experiments to water relays, Orange County children have been learning first-hand about water and our environment, and how they can conserve our limited natural resources. 

The Festival is a free field trip hosted by the Orange County Water District, Disneyland Resort, National Water Research Institute, Municipal Water District of Orange County and Orange County Water District Groundwater Guardian Team.

On March 24 and 25, more than 5,000 fourth, fifth and sixth grade students from across Orange County will attend the Festival at the Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace Foundation in Yorba Linda. 

Sponsorship opportunities range and begin at $25.  

For more information, call Gina Pineda at 714-378-3323.

Orange Considering How to Handle Sale of East Orange County Water District - Jan 12

What to do with the East Orange County Water District (EOCWD)?  The district has decided they want to go out of business and are selling the infrastructure and service rights.  On Tuesday, January 12, 2010, the City of Orange will discuss possible actions.  

EOCWD is an old agricultural district that now includes parts of Tustin, North Tustin, East Tustin, Red Hill, Lemon Heights, Cowan Heights, Orange Park Acres, and Panorama Heights.  The service area is intertwined with the City of Orange, Irvine Ranch Water District (IRWD) and Tustin.  

The big prize in buying the district is the right to buy water from the Colorado River Aqueduct and the State Water Project.  

City staff have presented three recommended actions:

1. Pursue the consolidation of the EOCWD's Wholesale Zone as part of the team with the Irvine Ranch Water District (IRWD) and the City of Tustin
2. Pursue consolidation of the EOCWD's Wholesale Zone as part of the team with the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC)
3. Direct staff to work with the successor agency to the EOCWD's Retail Zone to negotiate the transfer of approximately 86 water services now served by EOCWD and inside the City limits to the City's water service.

The staff report is here Download EOCWDPurchase

Water Rebate Programs Starting Up Again - Sept 21

Two water rebate programs will be starting up again on September 21, 2009. 

SoCal Water$mart is for residential water customers.  People who live in houses are eligible.  You are also eligible if your apartment, townhome, condominium or mobile home complex has four or fewer dwellings and is not represented by a home owners association.

High efficiency clothes washers, high efficiency toilets, weather based irrigation controllers (smart controllers), rotating irrigation nozzles, and synthetic turf are eligible for rebates under this program. A list of qualifying models and products is on the website.  

Rebates are limited and are first come, first served.  Purchases must be made on or after September 21, 2009 to be eligible for this round of rebates.  The rebates are offered thru the Metropolitan Water District. If your local water agency is not a member or has chosen to not participate, you may not be eligible for the rebate program.  Check the website for all of the details.

Save A Buck is back for commercial users.  This program includes commercial, industrial, institutional, and multi-family water customers.  If your apartment, townhome, condominium, or mobile home complex has five or more units and is represented by a home owners association, this is your program.  

Commercial high efficiency toilets, waterless urinals, commercial and multi-family high efficiency washing machines, connectionless food steamers, air-cooled ice machines, pre-rinse spray valves, pressurized waterbrooms, weather based irrigation controllers, and rotating spray nozzles are some of the products which qualify for rebates.

Each type of user has a separate application and qualifying standards. See the Save A Buck website for all of the details.  Rebates are limited and are first come, first served. Save A Buck is being offered thru the Metropolitan Water District.

Water Supply Forum on Sept 30

What do you know about the water that comes out of your tap? Is it from Sacramento, the ground underneath you or somewhere else?  And are they really going to build desalination plants to turn ocean water into drinking water?

The Capistrano Bay League of Women Voters is having a forum to discuss these issues.  The forum will take place on Wednesday, September 30 from 3 to 5 PM at the San Juan Capistrano Community Center, 25925 Camino del Avion, San Juan Capistrano, CA.  The event is part of the South Orange County Regional Water Forum hosted by the city of San Juan Capistrano. 

Fixing the Delta with Five Bills

“Our first priority when we return in August is to restore the draconian cuts to Health and Human Services.  Our second priority will be to take the next major steps on fashioning a set of solutions to our state’s water challenges: fixing the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta; establishing enforceable water conservation standards; better managing our groundwater and surface water supplies; providing funding for those new investments needed to bring the state’s water system into the 21st century,”  Caifornia Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg said.  

Both the State Senate and Assembly are working towards finding a long term solution for the Sacramento River Delta.  Twenty five million Californians (two thirds of the state's population) rely on the Sacramento River Delta for the water they need for their lives and businesses.  

A set of five bills has been offered to bring solutions to the problems with the Delta.  The Delta area faces ecological problems with endangered species, problems with levees which may break and cause flooding, possible ocean saltwater intrusion of the Delta after an earthquake which renders the now salt water Delta unusable for drinking water, and other infrastructure issues.

The five bills being considered are:

AB 39 (Huffman) - Delta Plan

AB 49 (Feuer-Huffman) - Water Efficiency

SB 12 (Simitian) - Delta Stewardship Council

SB 229 (Paveley) - Delta Interim Actions, Water Rights, Groundwater

SB 458 (Wolk) - Delta Conservancy, Delta Protection Commission Revisions

California Water Plan Advisory Committee Meeting Materials Available

Water is critical for California.  Problems with water - who has it, who doesn't, and how to move it, are in ongoing negotiation as the population of the state grows.  The state Department of Water Resources manages works with local water agencies on planning water use.

The most recent meeting was held on August 13, in Sacramento.  During the meeting, topics discussed included Preparing for a Dry 2010, the California Drought Contingency Plan, an update on the work of the Climate Change Technical Advisory Group, Central Valley Flood Management Planning, update on November Tribal Water Summit and results of work on Quantification of Scenarios.

The presentations and documents are available on line.  The next meeting, the Plenary Meeting, will be held on October 14-15, 2009 in Sacramento.  Water is used by everyone, but few people take the time to understand the underlying issues and how decisions being made now will impact their lives in a few months and years.  If citizens better understood water issues, they could discuss the decisions made by local water commissioners and find solutions which work better for their local communities.

Update on California Drought Conditions

California's Department of Water Resources issues monthly updates on California's water supply.  Here are some key facts from the July 2009 report.

•  Statewide precipitation for water year 2008-09 (October 2008 - September 2009) is 17.26 inches compared an average of 21.94 inches.
• Statewide reservoir storage of 83% of average for date, as of end of June 2009.

Storage levels in reservoirs are down.

•  Shasta Reservoir at 52% of capacity, averages 71% of capacity
• Trinity Lake at 48% of capacity, averages 58% of capacity
• Lake Oroville at 45% of capacity, averages 60% of capacity
• Folsom Lake at 65% of capacity averages 87% of capacity
• Don Pedro Reservoir at 81% of capacity, averages 106% of capacity
• Exchequer Reservoir at 58% of capacity, averages 85% of capacity
• Pine Flat Reservoir at 38% of capacity, averages 69% of capacity
• Castaic Lake at 74% of capacity, averages 69% of capacity
• Pyramid Lake at 97% of capacity, averages 103% of capacity
• Millerton Lake at 87% of capacity, averages 132% of capacity
• New Melones at 51% of capacity, averages 84% of capacity
• San Luis Reservoir at 18% of capacity, averages 35% of capacity - San Luis Reservoir stores water which has been transferred thru the Sacramento River Delta for the State and federal water projects.

In the Central Valley, groundwater pumping has increased

California Water Crisis Hearing - August 21 in Fountain Valley

Jose Solorio chairs the Assembly Select Committee on Regional Approaches to Addressing the State's Water Crisis.  On Friday, August 21, 2009, the committee will hold a hearing at the headquarters of the Orange County Water District/Metropolitan Water District of Orange County (OCWD and MWDOC) from 9 AM to 1 PM.  The headquarters are located at 18700 Ward Street, Fountain Valley, CA 92708.

The agenda includes smart irrigation systems, approaches to tiered rates and water report cards, how to sell conservation, groundwater replenishment systems, seawater desalination, options for near and long-term water sustainability, and building water consciousness in the business community.  An update on the Bay Delta Conservation Plan will also be presented.

If you want to attend, you must reserve a seat.  Call Kim Nguyen at 916-319-2069 or email at kim.nguyen(at)asm.ca.gov to reserve a seat.

Irvine Ranch Water District Fast Facts

Irvine Ranch Water District (IRWD)

www.irwd.com

15600 Sand Canyon Avenue

Irvine, CA 92618-3102

949-453-5300

Irvine Ranch Water District provides both drinking water and sanitation.  IRWD also produces recycled water.  The district supplies both groundwater and imported water to users.  

Service Area

Irvine, portions of Tustin, Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Orange, Lake Forest and some unincorporated areas of Orange County.

Meetings

Meetings are the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month at 5:00 PM at headquarters at 15600 Sand Canyon Avenue, Irvine, CA.

Board of Directors

Douglas J. Reinhart, President

Peer A. Swan, Vice President

Steven E. LaMar

Mary Aileen Matheis

John B. Withers

Facilities Operated

• Michelson Water Reclamation Plant  
• San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary (Duck Club and Audobon House)
• Los Alisos Water Reclamation Plant
• Irvine Lake (aka Santiago Reservoir)
• Dyer Road Wellfield
• San Joaquin Reservoir
• 12 additional recycled water reservoirs
• 34 domestic (water produced by IRWD) reservoirs

El Toro Water District Fast Facts

El Toro Water District (ETWD) 

www.etwd.com

234251 Los Alisos Blvd

Lake Forest, CA 92630

949-837-7050

El Toro Water District serves parts of south Orange County.  The district operates as both a water and sanitation district. The district pumps groundwater and buys water from wholesalers. The average annual budget is $22 million.

Service Area

Parts of Laguna Hills, Laguna Woods, Aliso Viejo, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo

Meetings

• Thursday July 23 - Board Meeting - 7:30 AM
• Thursday August 6 - Community Advisory Committee - 7:30 AM
  
• Tuesday August 25 - Engineering, Finance and Insurance - 7:30 AM
  
• Thursday August 27 - Board Meeting - 7:30 AM
  
• Tuesday September 22 - Engineering, Finance and Insurance - 7:30 AM
• Thursday September 24 - Board Meeting - 7:30 AM
  
• Tuesday October 20 - Engineering, Finance and Insurance - 7:30 AM
  
• Thursday October 22 - Board Meeting - 7:30 AM
  
• Thursday November 5 - Community Advisory Committee - 11:30 AM
  
• Monday November 23 - Engineering, Finance and Insurance - 7:30 AM
  
• Tuesday November 24 - Board Meeting - 7:30AM
  
• Tuesday, December 15 - Engineering, Finance and Insurance - 7:30 AM
  
• Thursday December 17 - Board Meeting - 7:30 AM

Board of Directors

Ted F. Martin, President

M. Scott Goldman, Vice President

John S. Dudley, Treasurer

William H. Kahn

Jerard B. Werner

Facilities Operated

•  6 reservoirs including the covered El Toro Reservoir
• Over 130 miles of water lines and 8 booster stations with 13 pressure zones
  
• 1900 fire hydrants
  
• 10,000 water service connections
  
• Emergency connections with other districts - Los Alisos, Trabuco Canyon, Moulton Niguel, Laguna Beach County, Santa Margarita and Irvine Ranch Water Districts
  
• Operate a wastewater treatment plant
  
• 142 miles of pipelines for sanitation purposes
  

 

Why We Have No Water - Timeline of the Current California Drought

A timeline showing milestones in the current California drought is posted by the Department of Water Resources.  The drought timeline starts with the latest Delta Smelt ruling.  The increase in development, population, number of golf courses or other large uses of water are not mentioned.  Does anyone know of a city or county which has ever used a lack of available water as a reason to restrict or reduce development?

March 2007 - Snowpack at 70% of average.

December 2007 - Federal Judge Oliver Wanger issues pumping restrictions to protect Delta Smelt.

May 2008 - Snowpack at 65% of average.

December 2008 - US Fish and Wildlife Service ruling to protect Delta Smelt by curtailing pumping.

March 2009 - Snowpack at 80% of average.

 

Laguna Beach County Water District Fast Facts

Laguna Beach County Water District (LBCWD)

www.lbcwd.org

306 Third St

Laguna Beach, CA 92652

949-494-1041

Laguna Beach County Water District supplies customers with imported water from the Colorado River or Northern California. Currently, the district does not have any groundwater pumping operations.  The district is looking to find ways to resume groundwater pumping operations in the Santa Ana River Basin. 

LBCWD is the lead agency in a joint powers relationship with the South Coast Water District, Irvine Ranch Water District, city of Newport Beach, and the Santa Margarita Water District.  As lead, the LBCWD operates and maintains the Aufdenkamp and Coast Supply transmission lines.  These are the primary pipelines which provide the District's imported water.

MWDOC Open Seat - Division 6 - How to Apply

Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) has a vacant seat which will be filled by appointment. The vacant seat is in Division 6.  

Where is Division 6?

MWDOC Division 6 covers Santa Margarita Water District, Trabuco Canyon Water District, Santiago County Water District, and part of Irvine Ranch Water District.  Eligible zip codes include parts of: 92602, 92610, 92618, 92620, 92630, 92673, 92675, 92676, 92679, 92688,  92691, 92692, 92694,  92780, 92782,  92862, 92869.  Check your eligibility with the Registrar of Voters. 

Who is Eligible?

•  At least 18 years old.
• A citizen of the State of California
• Registered to vote in Division 6 and qualified to vote for the office

• Eligible to take oath of office

How to Apply

Submit a letter, resume, letters of reference, and other biographical materials of your choosing. However, the MWDOC Board asks your consider the time it has to complete the selection process and keep your submissions brief and specific.  The Board requests that you adhere to many of the same guidelines that would apply to a Candidate's Statement submitted for this office:

• Include name, age, occupation
• Discuss your education and qualifications
• Do not reference your party affiliation, if any, or membership or activity in partisan political organizations
• Make no reference to another potential appointee 

East Orange County Water District Fast Facts

East Orange County Water District (EOCWD)

www.eocwd.com

185 N McPherson Rd

Orange, CA 92869-3720

714-538-5815

Service Area

The district serves the area served by Orange County Water Works District #8.  The company is both a retailer and wholesaler of water. 

Areas Served

Portions of Tustin, East Orange, and unincorporated parts of Orange County.

Meetings

3rd Thursday of the month at 5:00 PM at 185 N. McPherson Rd, Orange, CA 92869-3720

Board of Directors

William VanderWerff, President

Douglas M. Chapman, Vice President

Richard B. Bell

Richard E. Barrett

John Dulebohn