Received Mater Conservation Aug 1 6 2016 Santa By:*

Siltation is continuing to decrease the storage capacity and the safe yield of Lake Cachuma as defined in United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Cachuma Project, California, Contract Between the United States and Santa Barbara County Water Agency Providing for Water Service from the Project, 1995. ID No.1 Response to #1: Partially agree with the finding to the extent that there are many elements affecting the storage capacity of a reservoir and the safe yield of the Cachuma Project. For instance, the modifications to and extension of the radial gates in 2004 increased the capacity of the lake by 9,300 AF for fisheries, while conversely, siltation decreased the storage by 2,000 AF from 2008 based on a bathymetric survey conducted in 2014. With that qualification, siltation is a naturally contributing factor that reduces the capacity of the Cachuma Project. Related to the safe yield finding; although "Safe" yield is not defined in Contract No. 175r-1802R, there is P.O. BOX 157 • 3622 SAGUNTO STREET, SANTA YNEZ, CA 93460 (805) 688-6015 • FAX: (805) 688-3078 • WWW.SYRWD.ORG reference to the "Project" yield as 25,714 AF in Section 6(a)(1)(A) line 15, as an assumed annual "Project" yield for water delivery purposes. This is also considered the "operational" yield based on the EIS/EIR for the Cachuma Project Contract Renewal which provided for reductions in deliveries at certain lake levels to extend the life of the water supply during shortage conditions; thus the "operational" yield. A "safe" yield is the amount of yield that provides water supply without shortages and on a reliable basis through wet and extended or prolonged dry period.

Downstream water rights are protected in the United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Cachuma Project, California, Contract Between the United States and Santa Barbara County Water Agency Providing for Water Service from the Project, 1995 and must be considered when calculating the safe yield. ID No.1 Response to #2: Agree. The downstream water rights and protection of those rights are a condition of the Cachuma Project congressional Authorization and Water Rights Orders. However, disagree that the downstream water rights water would be included in the "safe" yield of the Cachuma Project under that Master Contract and calculated in the amount of allocation of Cachuma Project water for diversion. The Downstream Water Rights water is separate from the diversion and allocation of the Cachuma Project water.

The United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Cachuma Project, California, Contract Between the United States and Santa Barbara County Water Agency Providing for Water Service from the Project, 1995 was written prior to the 2000 National Marine Fisheries Service Biological Opinion and does not include the requirement to release water under the auspices of the Endangered Species Act. ID No.1 Response to #3: Agree.

The 2011-2016 drought is far worse than the "design drought" of 1947-1952 used in the United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Cachuma Project, California, Contract Between the United States and Santa Barbara County Water Agency Providing for Water Service from the Project, 1995 for Lake Cachuma. ID No.1 Response to #4: Agree with the finding.

The United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Cachuma Project, California, Contract Between the United States and Santa Barbara County Water Agency Providing for Water Service from the Project, 1995 extending from 1995 to 2020 (25 years) is too long a period and includes no review and revision clauses to recalculate the "safe yield" of the Cachuma Project. ID No.1 Response to #5: Agree with the finding.

Safe yield from Lake Cachuma in the current United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Cachuma Project, California, Contract Between the United States and Santa Barbara County Water Agency Providing for Water Service from the Project, 1995 is based on a static volume per year. ID No.1 Response to #6: Partially agree. The 1995 Master Contract defines the "Available Supply" as the maximum quantity of Project Water the Contacting Officer (USBR) is authorized to deliver to the Cachuma Member Units. The Operational Yield of 25,714 AFY was calculated for rate setting purposes and to extend the duration of water supplies in dry years; delivery shortages were to occur at certain lake levels as part of the that operational yield.

Conservation policies and drought declarations differ from one member unit to another, possibly confusing water users. ID No.1 Response to #8: Agree with Finding.

Member units approve new water service by issuing, can and will serve letters, intent to serve letters, water service availability documents, or other documents, without expiration dates to citizens and developers. ID No.1 Response to #11: Agree with Finding that ID No.1 issues Can & Will Serve letters and other documents for water service.

Member units utilize can and will serve letters, intent to serve letters, water service availability documents, or other documents to grant new water service that are approved based on water availability during a "normal" year's water supply. ID No.1 Response to #12: Partially agree. ID No.1 bases its issuance of Can & Will Serve letters for new and additional water service on current year water supply and total demand on annual production capability.