Score: -2 (0/76/2)

Santa Cruz County Grand Jury • 2022-2023

Our Water Account Is Overdrawn Beyond Conservation: Achieving Drought Resilience

Published: May 24, 2022 37 pages

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⚠️ Aviso de traducción: Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.

⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.

Findings and Recommendations 12 findings

If extended drought conditions lead the City of Santa Cruz to execute Stage 5 of its Water Shortage Contingency Plan, it will have extreme economic impacts on all residents throughout the County.

Related Recommendations (3)

By December 31, 2022, the Boards of the Santa Margarita Groundwater Management Agency and the Mid-County Groundwater Management Agency should extend their charters to include and proactively deliver drought-resilience project planning and execution. (F1–F6, F8–F12)

By December 31, 2022, local water districts should jointly publish an integrated drought-resilience action plan that includes essential infrastructure improvements, estimated costs and schedule to complete improvements that will deliver drought resilience to the Mid-County Groundwater Basin, the City of Santa Cruz, and the Santa Margarita Basin by December 31, 2029. Agencies to respond are the San Lorenzo Water District, the Scotts Valley Water District, the City of Santa Cruz Water Department, the Soquel Creek Water District, the Santa Margarita Groundwater Management Agency, and the Mid-County Groundwater Management Agency. (F1–F6, F8–F10, F12)

By December 31, 2022, local water districts should jointly publish an integrated recycled wastewater action plan that specifies the infrastructure improvements, expected costs, and construction schedule that will fully utilize existing wastewater sources by December 31, 2026. Responding agencies are the Scotts Valley Water District, the City of Santa Cruz Water Department, the Soquel Creek Water District, the Central Water District, the Mid-County Groundwater Management Agency, the Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency, and the City of Watsonville Water Division. (F1, F6–F9, F12)

There is an urgent need to create a county-wide drought-resilient water storage and delivery infrastructure.

Related Recommendations (2)

Interdistrict water-sharing plans spanning North County and Mid-County that could benefit all residents have existed since 2015 and deserve to be accelerated. Elements of a Solution

Related Recommendations (2)

Establishing a strategic groundwater reserve, as described in documents from the City of Santa Cruz, is a well-understood and achievable first step.

Related Recommendations (2)

The City of Santa Cruz’s completion of the water rights revision project is a critical element of enabling district collaboration in support of county-level drought resilience.

Related Recommendations (2)

Limited interdistrict water transfers have been achieved and serve as proof of concept.

Related Recommendations (3)

Existing City of Watsonville and City of Santa Cruz wastewater resources are only partially utilized to address passive well resting and saltwater intrusion issues. Agency Capabilities

Related Recommendations (1)

Each agency described in this report communicates well with neighboring agencies, but collaboration is limited and narrow in scope.

Related Recommendations (3)

Agency communications to the public emphasize conservation and sustainability while downplaying agency planning to achieve drought resilience.

Related Recommendations (3)

F10

The individual water supply districts lack funding, resources, and charters to develop county-centric drought-resilience infrastructure.

Related Recommendations (2)

F11

The Groundwater Sustainability Management agencies lack the charters, staff, and resources to plan or execute a county-wide drought-resilience strategy.

Related Recommendations (1)

F12

There is no county-level agency chartered to plan, propose, or build regional district-spanning drought-resilience infrastructure.

Related Recommendations (3)

Conclusions 9

CL1 Page 21

Single point of leadership
CL2 Page 21

Integrated planning and collaboration
CL3 Page 21

Coordinated development
CL4 Page 21

Published goals and governance
CL5 Page 21

Straightforward public communications Multiple Water Multiple Water Diversified Storage Transport and Sources Uses ● Surface reservoirs Redirection
CL6 Page 21

Rainwater to aquifer ● Customers ● Sustainable aquifers ● Interdistrict water
CL7 Page 21

Rainwater to ● Reservoir refill ● Aquifer recovery sharing surface flow ● Active and passive beyond ● Passive and active
CL8 Page 21

Surface flow to aquifer recharge sustainability aquifer storage and reservoir and ● Recycled recovery aquifer recharge wastewater ● Recycled
CL9 Page 21

Recycled ● Counter saltwater wastewater wastewater intrusion transport Figure 9. A Unified Approach to Achieving Drought Resilience (Source: Santa Cruz County Grand Jury) Consistent access to water through drought resilience supports County residents and the economy. The combination of surface and groundwater storage, wastewater recycling, and pipelines will deliver the drought resilience that the County requires to thrive and prosper. Now is the time for agencies to work together to deliver drought resilience to residents.

Commendations 1

CM1 Page 23

C1. The City of Santa Cruz Water Department, the Santa Margarita Groundwater Agency, and the Mid-County Groundwater Agency have shown strong collaboration and innovation toward partially defining the water reserve plan. C2. The Soquel Creek Water District and the City of Santa Cruz Water Department have shown strong collaboration to deliver the Pure Water Soquel project.

Agency Responses 12

Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.

Board of Directors, Mid-County Groundwater Management Agency

May 19, 2022 • 15 pages • 12 responses • Score: -2 (+0, 7, -2) View Details ▾

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12 responses to findings and recommendations

If extended drought conditions lead the City of Santa Cruz to execute Stage 5 of its Water Shortage Contingency Plan, it will have extreme economic impacts on all residents throughout the County.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

There is an urgent need to create a county-wide drought-resilient water storage and delivery infrastructure.

Response: Disagree Score: -1

The urgency for, and availability of, drought resilient water projects varies significantly throughout the County. There is not a simple one-size-fits-all solution as this finding implies. Through the projects already underway, the water supply agencies are making significant progress at tackling water supply security.

Response: Implemented

Score: 0

. By December 31, 2022, local water districts should jointly publish an integrated drought-resilience action plan that includes essential infrastructure improvements, estimated costs and schedule to complete improvements that will deliver drought resilience to the Mid-County Groundwater Basin, the City of Santa Cruz, and the Santa Margarita Basin by December 31, 2029. Agencies to respond are the San Lorenzo Water District, the Scotts Valley Water District, the City of Santa Cruz Water Department, the Soquel Creek Water District, the Santa Margarita Groundwater Management Agency, and the Mid-Co...

Interdistrict water-sharing plans spanning North County and Mid-County that could benefit all residents have existed since 2015 and deserve to be accelerated. Elements of a Solution

Response: Unknown Score: 0

Response: Will Not Implement

Score: -1

The timeline for an integrated report as proposed in this recommendation is premature, as the regulatory landscape under which recycled water projects are permitted is expected to change to allow Direct Potable Reuse projects. Further, the studies underway by the water agencies are needed before any such plan can be finalized. And finally, this proposal is unnecessary as the agencies that can and should be engaged in recycled water project development are already working together.

The City of Santa Cruz’s completion of the water rights revision project is a critical element of enabling district collaboration in support of county-level drought resilience.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

Existing City of Watsonville and City of Santa Cruz wastewater resources are only partially utilized to address passive well resting and saltwater intrusion issues. Agency Capabilities

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

. Existing City of Watsonville and City of Santa Cruz wastewater resources are only partially utilized to address passive well resting and saltwater intrusion issues. _X_ AGREE __ PARTIALLY DISAGREE __ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): The MGA agrees that the City of Santa Cruz wastewater resources are not fully utilized. The MGA is not directly involved with the City of Watsonville and Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency on their wastewater resources and cannot respond to that item. Our Water Account Is Overdrawn Due by August 22, 2022 Page 10 of 14 ...

Each agency described in this report communicates well with neighboring agencies, but collaboration is limited and narrow in scope.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

. Each agency described in this report communicates well with neighboring agencies, but collaboration is limited and narrow in scope. __ AGREE __ PARTIALLY DISAGREE _X_ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): The agencies that comprise the MGA, as well as the neighboring Santa Margarita Groundwater Agency (SMGWA), do communicate well. However, the breadth of collaboration between agencies varies depending on opportunities for mutual benefit and in some cases is quite comprehensive. The development of the two Groundwater Sustainability Agencies as Joint Powers ...

Agency communications to the public emphasize conservation and sustainability while downplaying agency planning to achieve drought resilience.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

. Agency communications to the public emphasize conservation and sustainability while downplaying agency planning to achieve drought resilience. __ AGREE __ PARTIALLY DISAGREE _X_ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): Since its inception in 2016, the MGA has done extensive outreach including public meetings and workshops, tabling at public events, brochures, postcards, a tour of facilities, a website, an email listserve, radio interviews and newspaper editorials. Due to the mandate for a Groundwater Sustainability Agency as required under the Sustainable Gro...

F10

The individual water supply districts lack funding, resources, and charters to develop county-centric drought-resilience infrastructure.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

. The individual water supply districts lack funding, resources, and charters to develop county-centric drought-resilience infrastructure. _X_ AGREE __ PARTIALLY DISAGREE __ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): Our Water Account Is Overdrawn Due by August 22, 2022 Page 6 of 14 F11. The Groundwater Sustainability Management agencies lack the charters, staff, and resources to plan or execute a county-wide drought-resilience strategy. _X_ AGREE __ PARTIALLY DISAGREE __ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): While this is tru...

F11

The Groundwater Sustainability Management agencies lack the charters, staff, and resources to plan or execute a county-wide drought-resilience strategy.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

AGREE __ PARTIALLY DISAGREE __ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): Our Water Account Is Overdrawn Due by August 22, 2022 Page 6 of 14 F11.

F12

There is no county-level agency chartered to plan, propose, or build regional district-spanning drought-resilience infrastructure.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

. There is no county-level agency chartered to plan, propose, or build regional district-spanning drought-resilience infrastructure. _X_ AGREE __ PARTIALLY DISAGREE __ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): There are many agencies that collectively span the entire County, and there have been county-level efforts for decades to help our region become more water secure. Another county-level agency is not necessary, and potentially not even desirable, due to the proven collaborative efforts of the local water agencies and the high cost of creating and running an...

Board of Directors, Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency

August 18, 2022 • 9 pages • 1 response • Score: 0 (+0, 1, 0) View Details ▾

PDF

1 response to findings and recommendations

Agency communications to the public emphasize conservation and sustainability while downplaying agency planning to achieve drought resilience.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

. Agency communications to the public emphasize conservation and sustainability while downplaying agency planning to achieve drought resilience. __ AGREE __ PARTIALLY DISAGREE _X_ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): In a groundwater basin such as Pajaro Valley, which depends on groundwater for over 90% of the water demand for both agricultural and urban uses, any action that bolsters groundwater supplies during wet periods increases the resiliency of basin aquifers to withstand increased pumping during times of drought. PV Water's planning for sustainabili...

Board of Directors, San Lorenzo Valley Water District

August 22, 2022 • 15 pages • 11 responses • Score: 0 (+0, 11, 0) View Details ▾

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11 responses to findings and recommendations

If extended drought conditions lead the City of Santa Cruz to execute Stage 5 of its Water Shortage Contingency Plan, it will have extreme economic impacts on all residents throughout the County.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

is offered solely by the District Manager because the Grand Jury invited such response from the District Manager and not the Board. Our Water Account Is Overdrawn Published on May 24, 2022 Page 2 of 14 Findings F1. If extended drought conditions lead the City of Santa Cruz to execute Stage 5 of its Water Shortage Contingency Plan, it will have extreme economic impacts on all residents throughout the County. __ AGREE X PARTIALLY DISAGREE __ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): The District Manager3 of the San Lorenzo Valley Water District agrees with this f...

There is an urgent need to create a county-wide drought-resilient water storage and delivery infrastructure.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

. There is an urgent need to create a county-wide drought-resilient water storage and delivery infrastructure. __ AGREE X PARTIALLY DISAGREE __ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): The Board of Directors and the District Manager of the San Lorenzo Valley Water District agree with the finding that there is an urgent need to create drought-resilient water storage and delivery infrastructure. This need is present throughout the State of California and particularly affects areas such as Santa Cruz County and neighboring areas that lack direct access to imported...

Response: Implemented

Score: 0

Interdistrict water-sharing plans spanning North County and Mid-County that could benefit all residents have existed since 2015 and deserve to be accelerated. Elements of a Solution

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

. Interdistrict water-sharing plans spanning North County and Mid-County that could benefit all residents have existed since 2015 and deserve to be accelerated. X AGREE __ PARTIALLY DISAGREE __ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): -- Our Water Account Is Overdrawn Published on May 24, 2022 Page 5 of 14 F4. Establishing a strategic groundwater reserve, as described in documents from the City of Santa Cruz, is a well-understood and achievable first step. __ AGREE X PARTIALLY DISAGREE __ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree)...

Establishing a strategic groundwater reserve, as described in documents from the City of Santa Cruz, is a well-understood and achievable first step.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

AGREE __ PARTIALLY DISAGREE __ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): -- Our Water Account Is Overdrawn Published on May 24, 2022 Page 5 of 14 F4.

Limited interdistrict water transfers have been achieved and serve as proof of concept.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

. Limited interdistrict water transfers have been achieved and serve as proof of concept. X AGREE __ PARTIALLY DISAGREE __ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): We agree that cooperation between water systems, including facilitating water transfers in certain instances, is a critical component of drought resiliency planning. The District has participated in such transfers using a bidirectional intertie with the neighboring Scotts Valley Water District under an agreement that allows the two agencies to use the intertie to transfer water between themselves und...

Each agency described in this report communicates well with neighboring agencies, but collaboration is limited and narrow in scope.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

. Each agency described in this report communicates well with neighboring agencies, but collaboration is limited and narrow in scope. __ AGREE X PARTIALLY DISAGREE __ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): We agree that water agencies in Santa Cruz County typically communicate well and frequently on a wide range of matters. One example of such collaboration is the formation of the Santa Margarita Groundwater Agency (SMGWA) as a joint powers agency by and among the District, the Scotts Valley Water District, and the County. SMGWA meets regularly and collaborat...

Agency communications to the public emphasize conservation and sustainability while downplaying agency planning to achieve drought resilience.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

. Agency communications to the public emphasize conservation and sustainability while downplaying agency planning to achieve drought resilience. __ AGREE X PARTIALLY DISAGREE __ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): We agree that water agency communications to the public often emphasize conservation and sustainability. Legal mandates drive many such communications. For example, California statutes and regulations require water purveyors to adopt and implement water shortage contingency plans (WSCPs). WSCPs establish the actions to be taken by water agencies ...

F10

The individual water supply districts lack funding, resources, and charters to develop county-centric drought-resilience infrastructure.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

. The individual water supply districts lack funding, resources, and charters to develop county-centric drought-resilience infrastructure. X AGREE __ PARTIALLY DISAGREE __ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): We agree that individual water supply agencies, particularly relatively small ones such as the District, do not have the resources or mission to take the lead in developing County-centric infrastructure. The District actively collaborates with the County's Water Resources Division and neighboring water agencies and likely would participate in regional ...

F11

The Groundwater Sustainability Management agencies lack the charters, staff, and resources to plan or execute a county-wide drought-resilience strategy.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

. The Groundwater Sustainability Management agencies lack the charters, staff, and resources to plan or execute a county-wide drought-resilience strategy. X AGREE __ PARTIALLY DISAGREE __ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): We agree that the Santa Margarita Groundwater Agency (SMGWA), of which the District is a founding member, cannot focus its resources on County-wide strategies. SMGWA could participate in regional or County-wide projects to the extent such projects benefit the Santa Margarita groundwater basin and are consistent with SMGWA's mission unde...

F12

There is no county-level agency chartered to plan, propose, or build regional district-spanning drought-resilience infrastructure.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

. There is no county-level agency chartered to plan, propose, or build regional district-spanning drought-resilience infrastructure. X AGREE __ PARTIALLY DISAGREE __ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): -- Our Water Account Is Overdrawn Published on May 24, 2022 Page 12 of 14 Recommendations R1. By December 31, 2022, the Boards of the Santa Margarita Groundwater Management Agency and the Mid-County Groundwater Management Agency should extend their charters to include and proactively deliver droughtresilience project planning and execution. __ HAS BEEN IMPL...

Board of Directors, Santa Margarita Groundwater Management Agency

August 22, 2022 • 12 pages • 7 responses • Score: 0 (+0, 7, 0) View Details ▾

PDF

7 responses to findings and recommendations

There is an urgent need to create a county-wide drought-resilient water storage and delivery infrastructure.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

AGREE __ PARTIALLY DISAGREE __ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): Our Water Account Is Overdrawn Due by August 22, 2022 Page 7 of 11 Invited responses on additional findings by SMGWA representative, Piret Harmon F2.

Response: Implemented

Score: 0

Establishing a strategic groundwater reserve, as described in documents from the City of Santa Cruz, is a well-understood and achievable first step.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

. Establishing a strategic groundwater reserve, as described in documents from the City of Santa Cruz, is a well-understood and achievable first step. __ AGREE _X_ PARTIALLY DISAGREE __ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): Establishing a strategic groundwater reserve is well-understood in principle, but many studies and tests are required before any particular aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) project can be deemed achievable. SCWD is currently in the recovery phase of an ASR demonstration project in which excess winter surface flows were injected into Bel...

Agency communications to the public emphasize conservation and sustainability while downplaying agency planning to achieve drought resilience.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

. Agency communications to the public emphasize conservation and sustainability while downplaying agency planning to achieve drought resilience. __ AGREE _X_ PARTIALLY DISAGREE __ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): We agree that water providers typically emphasize conservation and sustainability in their communications with the public, but this is driven by California regulations requiring water purveyors to implement water shortage contingency plans. In reality, achieving drought resilience is a natural outgrowth of water shortage contingency planning an...

F10

The individual water supply districts lack funding, resources, and charters to develop county-centric drought-resilience infrastructure.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

. The individual water supply districts lack funding, resources, and charters to develop county-centric drought-resilience infrastructure. _X_ AGREE __ PARTIALLY DISAGREE __ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): Our Water Account Is Overdrawn Due by August 22, 2022 Page 5 of 11 F11. The Groundwater Sustainability Management agencies lack the charters, staff, and resources to plan or execute a county-wide drought-resilience strategy. _X_ AGREE __ PARTIALLY DISAGREE __ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): We agree that the...

F11

The Groundwater Sustainability Management agencies lack the charters, staff, and resources to plan or execute a county-wide drought-resilience strategy.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

AGREE __ PARTIALLY DISAGREE __ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): Our Water Account Is Overdrawn Due by August 22, 2022 Page 5 of 11 F11.

F12

There is no county-level agency chartered to plan, propose, or build regional district-spanning drought-resilience infrastructure.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

. There is no county-level agency chartered to plan, propose, or build regional district-spanning drought-resilience infrastructure. _X_ AGREE __ PARTIALLY DISAGREE __ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): Our Water Account Is Overdrawn Due by August 22, 2022 Page 7 of 11 Invited responses on additional findings by SMGWA representative, Piret Harmon F2. There is an urgent need to create a county-wide drought-resilient water storage and delivery infrastructure. __ AGREE __ PARTIALLY DISAGREE _X_ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other th...

Board of Directors, Scotts Valley Water District

August 17, 2022 • 10 pages • 9 responses • Score: 0 (+0, 9, 0) View Details ▾

PDF

9 responses to findings and recommendations

If extended drought conditions lead the City of Santa Cruz to execute Stage 5 of its Water Shortage Contingency Plan, it will have extreme economic impacts on all residents throughout the County.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

AGREE PARTIALLY DISAGREE DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): Our Water Account Is Overdrawn Due by August 22, 2022 Page 5 of 9 ADDITIONAL FINDINGS (invited responses from SVWD General Manager) F1.

Response: Implemented

Score: 0

Response: Implemented

Score: 0

. By December 31, 2022, local water districts should jointly publish an integrated recycled wastewater action plan that specifies the infrastructure improvements, expected costs, and construction schedule that will fully utilize existing wastewater sources by December 31, 2026. Responding agencies are the Scotts Valley Water District, the City of Santa Cruz Water Department, the Soquel Creek Water District, the Central Water District, the Mid-County Groundwater Management Agency, the Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency, and the City of Watsonville Water Division. HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED - summa...

Limited interdistrict water transfers have been achieved and serve as proof of concept.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

. Limited interdistrict water transfers have been achieved and serve as proof of concept. X AGREE PARTIALLY DISAGREE DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): F8. Each agency described in this report communicates well with neighboring agencies, but collaboration is limited and narrow in scope. X AGREE PARTIALLY DISAGREE DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): F9. Agency communications to the public emphasize conservation and sustainability while downplaying agency planning to achieve drought resilience. AGREE PARTIALLY DISAGREE ...

Each agency described in this report communicates well with neighboring agencies, but collaboration is limited and narrow in scope.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

AGREE PARTIALLY DISAGREE DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): F8.

Agency communications to the public emphasize conservation and sustainability while downplaying agency planning to achieve drought resilience.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

AGREE PARTIALLY DISAGREE DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): F9.

F10

The individual water supply districts lack funding, resources, and charters to develop county-centric drought-resilience infrastructure.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

. The individual water supply districts lack funding, resources, and charters to develop county-centric drought-resilience infrastructure. X AGREE PARTIALLY DISAGREE DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): F11. The Groundwater Sustainability Management agencies lack the charters, staff, and resources to plan or execute a county-wide drought-resilience strategy. X AGREE PARTIALLY DISAGREE DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): F12. There is no county-level agency chartered to plan, propose, or build regional district-spanning ...

F11

The Groundwater Sustainability Management agencies lack the charters, staff, and resources to plan or execute a county-wide drought-resilience strategy.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

AGREE PARTIALLY DISAGREE DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): F11.

F12

There is no county-level agency chartered to plan, propose, or build regional district-spanning drought-resilience infrastructure.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

AGREE PARTIALLY DISAGREE DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): F12.

Board of Directors, Soquel Creek Water District

August 22, 2022 • 18 pages • 13 responses • Score: 0 (+0, 13, 0) View Details ▾

PDF

13 responses to findings and recommendations

There is an urgent need to create a county-wide drought-resilient water storage and delivery infrastructure.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

. There is an urgent need to create a county-wide drought-resilient water storage and delivery infrastructure. AGREE _X PARTIALLY DISAGREE __ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): While water storage opportunities may traditionally be thought of as above ground tanks and reservoirs, the groundwater basin in our local region (Santa Cruz Mid- County Groundwater Basin) has storage capacity to provide a drought resilient fresh water supply that can protect against further seawater contamination and seawater intrusion. Currently, the State of California has decla...

Response: Implemented

Score: 0

Interdistrict water-sharing plans spanning North County and Mid-County that could benefit all residents have existed since 2015 and deserve to be accelerated. Elements of a Solution

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

. Interdistrict water-sharing plans spanning North County and Mid-County that could benefit all residents have existed since 2015 and deserve to be accelerated. __ AGREE X PARTIALLY DISAGREE __ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): Water purveyors in the North and Mid County regions have collaborated, discussed, and developed potential sharing concepts over the years. While there aren't any concrete plans and we would always like to move faster - there are ideas, concepts, and joint studies that have been considered to provide benefits to the entire communit...

Response: Implemented

Score: 0

Establishing a strategic groundwater reserve, as described in documents from the City of Santa Cruz, is a well-understood and achievable first step.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

. Establishing a strategic groundwater reserve, as described in documents from the City of Santa Cruz, is a well-understood and achievable first step. __ AGREE __ PARTIALLY DISAGREE X DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): Our understanding is the City of Santa Cruz efforts to create a groundwater reserve are still being explored and tested. Thus, it may not be technically accurate to classify those efforts as "well-understood" and thus not sure if it is an "achievable first step". We hope their efforts will achieve the desired results and the District is com...

The City of Santa Cruz’s completion of the water rights revision project is a critical element of enabling district collaboration in support of county-level drought resilience.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

. The City of Santa Cruz's completion of the water rights revision project is a critical element of enabling district collaboration in support of county-level drought resilience. __ AGREE X PARTIALLY DISAGREE __ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): The City of Santa Cruz's water rights project is an important component to expansion of surface water opportunities and their drought resilience. While it may be helpful for drought resiliency for other agencies - it is not as critical of an element for other agencies that use groundwater and are incorporating re...

Limited interdistrict water transfers have been achieved and serve as proof of concept.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

. Limited interdistrict water transfers have been achieved and serve as proof of concept. __ AGREE __ PARTIALLY DISAGREE X DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): The Cooperative Water Transfer Pilot Project agreement between the City of Santa Cruz and Soquel Creek Water District was created in 2015 with the hope of transferring about 300 acre-feet per year to Soquel Creek Water District with various testing to be conducted. Unfortunately, since that time water has been transferred only four (4) times since 2015, with the average of about 34 acre-feet year. Th...

Existing City of Watsonville and City of Santa Cruz wastewater resources are only partially utilized to address passive well resting and saltwater intrusion issues. Agency Capabilities

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

. Existing City of Watsonville and City of Santa Cruz wastewater resources are only partially utilized to address passive well resting and saltwater intrusion issues. __ AGREE X PARTIALLY DISAGREE __ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): Our understanding is that the PV Water and the City of Watsonville use almost all their wastewater resources; however, they should be contacted to verify their situation. We agree with the statement regarding the wastewater resources for the City of Santa Cruz. Required Response from the Board of Directors, Soquel Creek WD O...

Each agency described in this report communicates well with neighboring agencies, but collaboration is limited and narrow in scope.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

. Each agency described in this report communicates well with neighboring agencies, but collaboration is limited and narrow in scope. __ AGREE X PARTIALLY DISAGREE __ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): We agree that the agencies evaluated in this Grand Jury report work well together; however, we disagree that collaboration is limited and narrow in scope. A few examples are: (1) in 2007 Central Water District and Soquel Creek Water District formed a Joint Powers Authority and associated committees (Basin and Implementation Group and Basin Advisory Committe...

Agency communications to the public emphasize conservation and sustainability while downplaying agency planning to achieve drought resilience.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

. Agency communications to the public emphasize conservation and sustainability while downplaying agency planning to achieve drought resilience. __ AGREE X PARTIALLY DISAGREE __ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): Since the late 1990s, the District's outreach and communications incorporated strong conservation messaging. This was necessary to reduce pumping and to slow further seawater intrusion as we evaluated and developed supplemental supplies. Since drought conditions may take years to show their impacts to a groundwater supply, drought resiliency has ...

F10

The individual water supply districts lack funding, resources, and charters to develop county-centric drought-resilience infrastructure.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

. The individual water supply districts lack funding, resources, and charters to develop county-centric drought-resilience infrastructure. __ AGREE X PARTIALLY DISAGREE __ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): We would be remiss not to recognize and appreciate all the funding for the Pure Water Soquel Project, including a $50M grant and approximately $25M low interest loan from the State Water Resources Control Board, $9M grant from the Federal Bureau of Reclamation, and an $88M low-interest loan from the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Additi...

F11

The Groundwater Sustainability Management agencies lack the charters, staff, and resources to plan or execute a county-wide drought-resilience strategy.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

. The Groundwater Sustainability Management agencies lack the charters, staff, and resources to plan or execute a county-wide drought-resilience strategy. __ AGREE X PARTIALLY DISAGREE __ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): Groundwater Sustainability Agencies were provided some autonomy in how they solve their water challenges and thus the ability to help solve even drought-resilience issues that are more relevant to surface water reliant agencies such as the City of Santa Cruz. For example, the Mid-County Groundwater Agency has designed its goals for the ...

F12

There is no county-level agency chartered to plan, propose, or build regional district-spanning drought-resilience infrastructure.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

. There is no county-level agency chartered to plan, propose, or build regional district-spanning drought-resilience infrastructure. __ AGREE X PARTIALLY DISAGREE __ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): There have been county-level efforts for decades to help our region become more water secure. Another county-level agency is not necessary, and potentially not even desirable, due to the proven collaborative efforts of the local water agencies. One demonstrative example of strong community leadership is shown by the Soquel Creek Water District Board of Direc...

City Council, City of Santa Cruz

August 22, 2022 • 14 pages • 9 responses • Score: 0 (+0, 9, 0) View Details ▾

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9 responses to findings and recommendations

Response: Implemented

Score: 0

Interdistrict water-sharing plans spanning North County and Mid-County that could benefit all residents have existed since 2015 and deserve to be accelerated. Elements of a Solution

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

. Inter-district water-sharing plans spanning North County and Mid-County that could benefit all residents have existed since 2015 and deserve to be accelerated. __ AGREE __ PARTIALLY DISAGREE _X_ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): A finding that implies that work on water transfers has not been ongoing and that it should be accelerated is a significant misrepresentation. Beginning in 2016, Santa Cruz and Soquel Creek Water District developed and piloted a water transfer project agreement that was renewed and extended in 2021. Implementation of that agree...

Response: Implemented

Score: 0

Establishing a strategic groundwater reserve, as described in documents from the City of Santa Cruz, is a well-understood and achievable first step.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

. Establishing a strategic groundwater reserve, as described in documents from the City of Santa Cruz, is a well-understood and achievable first step. __ AGREE __ PARTIALLY DISAGREE _X_ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): In theory, collecting and storing surface water flows during wet conditions in local groundwater basins is an obvious solution to local water supply reliability and groundwater sustainability issues. In practice, however, many factors can influence the success of this approach. The most obvious examples are the geological characteristics ...

Limited interdistrict water transfers have been achieved and serve as proof of concept.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

. Limited inter-district water transfers have been achieved and serve as proof of concept. __ AGREE __ PARTIALLY DISAGREE _X_ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): It is not correct to say that the limited experience with water transfers between Santa Cruz and Soquel Creek demonstrates that this approach can work elsewhere. As noted in the responses to findings F3 and F4 above, numerous technical factors contribute to the success or failure of water transfer proposals and their ability to contribute to increased drought resiliency in mid and northern Santa C...

Each agency described in this report communicates well with neighboring agencies, but collaboration is limited and narrow in scope.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

. Each agency described in this report communicates well with neighboring agencies, but collaboration is limited and narrow in scope. __ AGREE __ PARTIALLY DISAGREE _X_ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): The Grand Jury correctly finds that substantial communication and collaboration occurs among local water agencies, but incorrectly finds that collaboration is narrow and limited in scope. Santa Cruz County's water agency staffs work well and effectively together over a wide range of topics, including forming collaborative staffing groups to support local ...

Agency communications to the public emphasize conservation and sustainability while downplaying agency planning to achieve drought resilience.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

. Agency communications to the public emphasize conservation and sustainability while downplaying agency planning to achieve drought resilience. __ AGREE __ PARTIALLY DISAGREE _X_ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): A review of the problem statement in the 2015 Water Supply Advisory Committee Final Report on Agreements and Recommendations demonstrates that this statement is incorrect (see page 27 of the document in reference #3 in the Grand Jury's report). For Santa Cruz, water conservation has been a long-standing commitment and an element of its water su...

F10

The individual water supply districts lack funding, resources, and charters to develop county-centric drought-resilience infrastructure.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

. The individual water supply districts lack funding, resources, and charters to develop county-centric drought-resilience infrastructure. __ AGREE __ PARTIALLY DISAGREE _X_ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): The premise underlying this finding is if a water supply district had the funding, resources, and charter to develop county-centric drought resilience infrastructure the problem the Grand Jury has identified would not exist. This premise is false. Individual water agencies in the County do have or have the authority needed to generate the resources a...

F12

There is no county-level agency chartered to plan, propose, or build regional district-spanning drought-resilience infrastructure.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

. There is no county-level agency chartered to plan, propose, or build regional district-spanning drought-resilience infrastructure. __ AGREE __ PARTIALLY DISAGREE _X_ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): The Grand Jury is correct that there is no single agency with county-wide jurisdiction that is responsible for developing and implementing actions to ensure drought resilience. However, the City of Santa Cruz disagrees with the assertion that a central county-level agency would do a better job of planning for and implementing county drought resilience for ...

City Council, City of Watsonville

August 22, 2022 • 9 pages • 2 responses • Score: 0 (+0, 2, 0) View Details ▾

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2 responses to findings and recommendations

The City of Santa Cruz’s completion of the water rights revision project is a critical element of enabling district collaboration in support of county-level drought resilience.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

AGREE __ PARTIALLY DISAGREE __ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): Required Response from the City Council, City of Watsonville Exhibit "A" Our Water Account Is Overdrawn Due by August 22, 2022 Page 3 of 5 F9.

Agency communications to the public emphasize conservation and sustainability while downplaying agency planning to achieve drought resilience.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

Director, City of Santa Cruz Water Department

August 22, 2022 • 1 pages View Details ▾

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District Manager, San Lorenzo Valley Water District

August 22, 2022 • 15 pages • 11 responses • Score: 0 (+0, 11, 0) View Details ▾

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11 responses to findings and recommendations

If extended drought conditions lead the City of Santa Cruz to execute Stage 5 of its Water Shortage Contingency Plan, it will have extreme economic impacts on all residents throughout the County.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

There is an urgent need to create a county-wide drought-resilient water storage and delivery infrastructure.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

Response: Implemented

Score: 0

Interdistrict water-sharing plans spanning North County and Mid-County that could benefit all residents have existed since 2015 and deserve to be accelerated. Elements of a Solution

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

Establishing a strategic groundwater reserve, as described in documents from the City of Santa Cruz, is a well-understood and achievable first step.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

AGREE __ PARTIALLY DISAGREE __ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): -- Our Water Account Is Overdrawn Published on May 24, 2022 Page 5 of 14 F4.

Limited interdistrict water transfers have been achieved and serve as proof of concept.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

Each agency described in this report communicates well with neighboring agencies, but collaboration is limited and narrow in scope.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

Agency communications to the public emphasize conservation and sustainability while downplaying agency planning to achieve drought resilience.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

F10

The individual water supply districts lack funding, resources, and charters to develop county-centric drought-resilience infrastructure.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

F11

The Groundwater Sustainability Management agencies lack the charters, staff, and resources to plan or execute a county-wide drought-resilience strategy.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

F12

There is no county-level agency chartered to plan, propose, or build regional district-spanning drought-resilience infrastructure.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

Executive Officer, Santa Cruz County Local Area Formation Commission

August 04, 2022 • 4 pages View Details ▾

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Santa Cruz Public Libraries Joint Powers Authority

September 20, 2022 • 11 pages • 15 responses • Score: 0 (+0, 6, 0) View Details ▾

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15 responses to findings and recommendations

If extended drought conditions lead the City of Santa Cruz to execute Stage 5 of its Water Shortage Contingency Plan, it will have extreme economic impacts on all residents throughout the County.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

There is an urgent need to create a county-wide drought-resilient water storage and delivery infrastructure.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

. The Santa Cruz Public Libraries website states that Measure S funds would be used to address the "most urgent needs" identified in the Facilities Master Plan, which stated no new library branches were needed and focused only on the needs of the existing ten library branches-likely misleading voters. __ AGREE __ PARTIALLY DISAGREE _X_ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): The Santa Cruz Public Libraries (SCPL) website provides general information on the facilities master planning process conducted in 2013. This eventually led to the development of the LFFA ...

Response: Implemented

Score: 0

. In the case of any future ballot measures, the Santa Cruz Public Libraries should inform voters of prior commitments of ballot funds, such as the County Board of Supervisors' commitment of Measure S funds to Live Oak. (F2, F3, F5) __ HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED - summarize what has been done HAS NOT YET BEEN IMPLEMENTED BUT WILL BE IN THE FUTURE - summarize __ what will be done and the timeframe REQUIRES FURTHER ANALYSIS - explain the scope and timeframe __ (not to exceed six months) _X_ WILL NOT BE IMPLEMENTED - explain why Required response explanation, summary, and timeframe: First, Government C...

Interdistrict water-sharing plans spanning North County and Mid-County that could benefit all residents have existed since 2015 and deserve to be accelerated. Elements of a Solution

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

. Voter materials disclosed how Measure S funds would be divided among the Santa Cruz Public Libraries' Member Agencies, but did not disclose the allocation of $5 million to a Live Oak Library Annex within the Live Oak Community Center- likely misleading voters. __ AGREE __ PARTIALLY DISAGREE _X_ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): Measure S funds are not limited to existing branches, and the division of Measure S funds was identified in the LFFA's Joint Powers Agreement (JPA). This information was not required as part of voter materials. Member agencies w...

Response: Implemented

Score: 0

. In the case of any future ballot measures, the Santa Cruz Public Libraries should inform voters of the impact of facility expansion on its future operating budgets. (F6) __ HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED - summarize what has been done HAS NOT YET BEEN IMPLEMENTED BUT WILL BE IN THE FUTURE - summarize __ what will be done and the timeframe REQUIRES FURTHER ANALYSIS - explain the scope and timeframe __ (not to exceed six months) _X_ WILL NOT BE IMPLEMENTED - explain why Required response explanation, summary, and timeframe: As noted above, State law does not require ballot measures issued for a specific...

Establishing a strategic groundwater reserve, as described in documents from the City of Santa Cruz, is a well-understood and achievable first step.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

The City of Santa Cruz’s completion of the water rights revision project is a critical element of enabling district collaboration in support of county-level drought resilience.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

. The Annex is an expansion of the Live Oak Community Center and not an expansion of the Live Oak Branch Library. __ AGREE __ PARTIALLY DISAGREE _X_ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): As identified in the FMP and stated previously, there wasn't adequate program space at the Live Oak Branch Library, and the Live Oak Library Annex (Annex) provides that space. The Annex is an expansion of library facilities in the Live Oak community. It establishes a learning center with meeting/study room space that complements the existing Live Oak Branch Library and provi...

Limited interdistrict water transfers have been achieved and serve as proof of concept.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

. The County's decision to use Measure S funds for the Live Oak Library Annex in the Live Oak Community Center will impact the Santa Cruz Public Libraries operating budget. __ AGREE __ PARTIALLY DISAGREE _X_ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): Establishing the Annex with Measure S funds will not adversely impact SCPL's operating budget. As part of future budgets, the Library Joint Powers Authority Board will consider offering programs and services at the Annex that would have been provided at the Live Oak Branch Library if there were space to accommodate t...

Existing City of Watsonville and City of Santa Cruz wastewater resources are only partially utilized to address passive well resting and saltwater intrusion issues. Agency Capabilities

Response: Unknown Score: 0

Each agency described in this report communicates well with neighboring agencies, but collaboration is limited and narrow in scope.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

Agency communications to the public emphasize conservation and sustainability while downplaying agency planning to achieve drought resilience.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

F10

The individual water supply districts lack funding, resources, and charters to develop county-centric drought-resilience infrastructure.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

F11

The Groundwater Sustainability Management agencies lack the charters, staff, and resources to plan or execute a county-wide drought-resilience strategy.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

F12

There is no county-level agency chartered to plan, propose, or build regional district-spanning drought-resilience infrastructure.

Response: Unknown Score: 0