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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - November 17, 1999 E-09n -CITY OF LODI COUNCIL• • ��</FOFtia`Q AGENDA TITLE: Letter to East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) Supporting Beckman Test Project MEETING DATE: November 17, 1999 PREPARED BY: Public Works Director RECOMMENDED ACTION: That the City Council send the attached letter to EBMUD in support of the next phase of the Beckman Test Project. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Through its membership in East San Joaquin Parties Water Authority (ESJPWA), the City has supported development of a groundwater enhancement project in cooperation with EBMUD. Our support has included a significant amount of staff time and over $60,000 in monetary contributions in the last two years. Conceptually, the project calls for EBMUD to provide high-quality surface water for injection into the groundwater during normal and wet years. In dry years, ESJPWA would pump water for export to EBMUD. The amounts of water injected and exported would be adjusted so there is a net benefit (addition) to the amount of groundwater in the basin. Discussions have centered on a long-term average of 2 to 1 import versus export. Conjunctive use variations of the project would call for EBMUD to supply surface water in lieu of local water agencies using groundwater. The net result is that the current overpumping of groundwater would be reduced. The project to date has consisted of much discussion, negotiation, and a small test project, known as the Beckman Test Project. This consisted of one injection/extraction well which has demonstrated the technical feasibility of the project and provided useful data for design of possible future projects. Unfortunately, the County Water Advisory Commission denied the export of a very small amount of water as part of the initial test. The next phase of the test project would consist of injection and extraction of additional water, monitoring wells and engineering analysis, all in order to answer questions about migration of injected water. Also, from a practical standpoint, EBMUD needs to know if San Joaquin County interests can come together to develop a project that meets both our needs. Thus, EBMUD has asked for letters of support before they commit additional water, time and money to continuation of the project. Stockton East Water District has sent such a letter and a copy is attached for the Council's information. The "success criteria" mentioned is also attached. Quite frankly, staff feels that the water agencies in San Joaquin County are being too reluctant in their approach to conjunctive -use programs. Thus, the letter we are presenting for consideration reflects this sentiment. Based on past Council direction, staff has continued to meet with local irrigation districts and EBMUD to discuss such opportunities. Given the importance of groundwater, not only to the City but also to the adjacent agricultural community which is a major portion of Lodi's economy, Lodi may need to take a more aggressive role in development of a project. FUNDING: Not applicable. Richard C. Prima, Jr. Public Works Director RCP/Im Attachments cc: Fred Weybret, North San Joaquin Water Conservation District William Stokes, Chairman of the Board, Woodbridge Irrigation District Anonj ayacino, Executive Dire ictor East San ac�u�n EartiEs V1�alg Vt oriity Jot in ver, an oaqu n County �o on ro a e Conservation District APPROVED: H. Dixon nn -- City Manager BECKMANTEST 11109!99 CITY COUNCIL KEITH LAND, Mayor STEPHEN J. MANN Mayor Pro Tempore SUSAN HITCHCOCK ALAN S. NAKANISHI PHILLIP A. PENNING CITY OF LODI CITY HALL, 221 WEST PINE STREET P.O. BOX 3006 LODI, CALIFORNIA 95241-1910 (209)333-6706 FAX (209) 333-6710 November 17, 1999 John A. Coleman, President East Bay Municipal Utility District P. O. Box 24055 Oakland, CA 94623 H. DIXON FLYNN City Manager ALICE M. REIMCHE City Clerk RANDALL A. BAYS City Attorney SUBJECT: Letter of Support — ESJPWA/EBMUD Beckman Test Project The City of Lodi has been an active supporter of the Beckman Test Project and continues in its belief of a conjunctive -use project in which additional water is provided to East San Joaquin County and a reasonable portion of that additional water be available for export. The City appreciates the District's continued willingness to work with local agencies to solve both our water supply needs. The District's need for additional water in dry years and availability of water and infrastructure during wet years, coupled with our area's groundwater basin which has storage space available, makes a good setting for such a project. We understand and fully support the need for reasonable assurances to local landowners and will continue to work toward that end. However, we also feel that it is impossible to legislate every possible contingency. Any project agreement must work for both parties and attaining that agreement will be based on a reasonable level of trust and respect for each of our goals and needs. Sincerely, Keith Land Mayor KURCP/Im cc: Fred Weybret, North San Joaquin Water Conservation District William Stokes, Chairman of the Board, Woodbridge Irrigation District Anthony Saracino, Executive Director, East San Joaquin Parties Water Authority EBMUD9901 FILE No.950 11102 '99 16:01 ID:STOCKTON EAST WATER FAX:209 948 0423 PAGE 2 I1IRFCTONN 0 -NO (MANNkGCH(NI 11NDJALW WA(NINS JAf.N N TOW -JxT I.AVhN t'M4 SANl3U(NE 111 AL111rli d S(jNNI-.H YMMA!j MOLMK KEVIN M MAN (II'NF.RAt MANACA" VIHCiI. i - w1i 1NI{ I M"St4rANI MAWHI JYANNPM ?LIN11IN_ ZI .7�iWATER3 TOCKTON EAST TER DISTRICT (11:N1.11AI 0C(5F1. 5767 E. MAIN STREET P.A. BOX 5157 STOCKTON CA OS205-0157 2091948-0333 FAX 20W948-0423 November 2, 1999 John A. Coleman President East Bay Municipal Post Office 24055 Oakland, California Utilities District 94623 Re: Letter of Su ort/ESJPWA -- Beckman Teat Injection/ Extraction Project -- Extension Project Test Project) Dear Jahn; Stockton East Water District supports the East San Joaquin Parties Water Authority's Test Project. Our reasons for supporting the Test Project are twofold. First, the District supports groundwater recharge and groundwater banking programs that will have a net benefit to the Eastern San Joaquin County's critically overdrafted groundwater basin. As you know, Stockton East Water District was formed specifically for the purpose of bringing additional surface water to the basin to cure the existing overdraft. As such, the District is willing to support groundwater recharge and banking programs that bring additional water into the groundwater basin. Secondly, the District believes that it is critical to develop additional information to confirm that no harm to overlying landowners will result from the implementation of such projects. The District's support for the Test Project is conditioned upon the test results demonstrating that the goals and the success criteria outlined by ESJPWA are met including confirming the rate of migration, water levels and water quality assurances. Tf the test results demonstrate that the success criteria are met and confirm that the overlying groundwater users will not be injured, the District will support ESMUD extracting 50% of the water injected during the Test Project for their own use. Support of this Test Project is not tied to any future project and the District does not guarantee its support for future exportation of water by EBMUD. However, if the goals and the success criteria are achieved, the District would be willing to commence a community outreach program and enter into discussions with ESMUD on a potential long-term project. Such a project must be consistent with both the Diatrict's mission to enhance groundwater supplies, and the resulting data from the Test Project that confirms no injury to overlying 1 ardowner s . we look forward to working with you in the future for the mutual benefit of all the parties. Very truly yours, ALFRED B. BONNER President Beckman Extension Goals and Success Criteria Adopted by the ESJPWA Board on October 1, 1999 1) Goals of the Extension Project The three primary goals of the Extension project are to demonstrate: a. No harm to overlying landowners as a result of injection of surface water or export of 50% or previously banked water b. Benefit to the groundwater basin c. Benefits to the overlying landowners 2) Establishment of Success Criteria Following are the three criteria that would be mutually agreed upon prior to implementation of the Beckman Extension project. a. Rate of Migration The Rate of Migration criterion will demonstrate that benefits derived from groundwater recharge would remain in the area where groundwater extractions take place. Two to three new monitoring wells would be installed to establish groundwater gradient, flow direction and migration rate in the aquifer unit targeted for injection. A capture zone for the extraction well would be determined under a given pumping rate. "Capture zone" is defined as the calculated area of flow to a pumping project extraction well based on defined aquifer parameters and pumping rates. This test of the Rate of Migration criterion will be considered successful if, based on the determined migration rate, the volume of water projected to remain in the capture zone after 20 years (or other mutually -acceptable period) exceeds 50% of the injected volume. b. Water Levels The Water Level criterion will establish the net benefits to overlying landowners and determine a threshold for potential short-term impacts that would require mitigation. Static water levels during extraction in all existing water supply wells within the capture zone would not exceed a 10 -foot decrease beyond the static water levels measured prior to extraction without mutually -agreeable mitigation or additional contractual agreements. c. Water Quality Water quality in the basin will be equal to or better than existing conditions as a result of the project. The test of the Water Quality criterion will be considered successful if injection and subsequent pumping of 50% of injected water results in an improvement of water quality. Water quality parameters specified during the initial Beckman project will be monitored before, during and after the test to assess such effects. 3) The ESJPWA Technical Committee, a representative from the Farm Bureau, and a representative from EBMUD will serve as the Monitoring Subcommittee that gathers and evaluates data during the Extension project. A primary function of this subcommittee will be to determine whether the success criteria have been satisfied. 4) If the above criteria are not met during the Extension project, the ESJPWA Board will re-evaluate options in light of the data gained from the Extension project and make a determination whether to seek consensus on alternative criteria or to conclude that a larger scale project is not viable. CITY COUNCIL H. DIXON FLYNN KEITH LAND, Mayorr CITY OF T .ODI ALICE M. RE MC E Ianager STEPHEN J. MANN �/ 1 1-I Mayor Pro Tempore City Clerk CITY HALL, 221 WEST PINE STREET SUSAN HITCHCOCK P.O. BOX 3006 RANDALL A. HAYS ALAN S. NAKANISHI City Attorney PHILLIP A. PENNING LODI, CALIFORNIA 95241-1910 (209) 333-6706 FAX (209) 333-6710 November 11, 1999 North San Joaquin Water Conservation District Woodbridge Irrigation District Attn: Fred Weybret Attn: William Stokes c/o 125 North Church Street 18777 N. Lower Sacramento Rd. Lodi, CA 95240 Woodbridge, CA 95258 East San Joaquin Parties Water Authority Anthony M. Saracino c/o Saracino-Kirby, Inc. 555 Capitol Mall, Ste. 1550 Sacramento, CA 95814 SJC Flood Control & Water Conservation District John Pulver, Water Resources Coordinator P.O. Box 1810 Stockton, CA 95201-1810 SUBJECT: Letter to East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) Supporting Beckman Test Project Enclosed is a copy of background information on an item on the City Council agenda of Wednesday, November 17, 1999. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chamber, Carnegie Forum, 305 West Pine Street. This item is on the consent calendar and is usually not discussed unless a Council Member requests discussion. The public is given an opportunity to address items on the consent calendar at the appropriate time. If you wish to write to the City Council, please address your letter to City Council, City of Lodi, P. O. Box 3006, Lodi, California, 95241-1910. Be sure to allow time for the mail. Or, you may hand -deliver the letter to City Hall, 221 West Pine Street. If you wish to address the Council at the Council Meeting, be sure to fill out a speaker's card (available at the Carnegie Forum immediately prior to the start of the meeting) and give it to the City Clerk. If you have any questions about communicating with the Council, please contact Alice Reimche, City Clerk, at (209) 333-6702. If you have any questions about the item itself, please call me at (209) 333-6759. JJ 4 �� tA Richard C. Prima, r. Public Works Director RCPArn Enclosure cc: City Clerk NBECKMANTEST