Score: -1 (4/1/5)

Orange County Grand Jury • 2022-2023

Historic Rain, Yet Drought Remains

57 pages

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⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.

⚠️ 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

Future water supplies are impacted by climate change and current supplies will not meet future demands.

No recommendations for this finding

Climatologists predict future extended periods of low moisture with occasional wet years.

No recommendations for this finding

Climate change is inevitable and is exacerbated by human behavior.

No recommendations for this finding

South Orange County relies primarily on the importation of water.

No recommendations for this finding

Local water suppliers recognize that enhanced stormwater capture and storage, wastewater recycling, and infrastructure improvements will not be sufficient to address the long-term forecast of drought and its effects on supply.

Related Recommendations (2)

The County of Orange Board of Supervisors should take a leadership role by the end of calendar year 2023 to explore the establishment of a “Climate Resiliency District” or Joint Powers Authority to fund and expedite implementation of a drought-resistant source of water. F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6, F7, F8, F9, F12

Orange County water agencies should expedite the planning, development, and construction of desalination plants over the next five years to insure a sustainable and reliable drought-resistant source of water. F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6, F7, F8, F9,

There is significant water infrastructure planning, but inadequate implementation.

Related Recommendations (2)

The review and approval process for major water capital projects is cumbersome and overly restrictive.

Related Recommendations (2)

Failing to find solutions to water shortages will have a significant impact on the Orange County economy.

No recommendations for this finding

Continued development in Orange County creates additional water supply needs.

Related Recommendations (1)

The County of Orange and all Orange County cities should formulate an emergency development moratorium plan in anticipation of the Colorado River water supply being constrained. The emergency moratorium plan should be developed by the end of calendar year 2023. F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6, F7, F8, F9,

F10

Conservation and efficient use of water is essential.

Related Recommendations (1)

Orange County water agencies should update their public communication strategies, by calendar year end 2023, to inform the public of lifestyle changes if additional water sources are not developed. F10, F11, F12

F11

Increased outreach and public education are necessary.

Related Recommendations (1)

F12

Desalination has proven to be technologically and environmentally feasible and is slowly being embraced as a drought-resistant source of water.

No recommendations for this finding

Commendations 1

CM1

South Coast Water District is to be commended for its strategic foresight. The District has recently gained approval for the Doheny Ocean Desalination Project for which they initiated feasibility studies in 2008. The plant is now anticipated to be operational in 2028. The Doheny Ocean Desalination Project is a new, reliable, local, and drought- proof water supply. The Doheny Ocean Desalination Project is the first desalination project in the State of California to be fully compliant with the California Ocean Plan.18 Orange County Water District successfully manages the aquifer under Central and North Orange County for the benefit of multiple water suppliers. It has also built the Groundwater Recovery System (GWRS) to treat wastewater to potable levels for supplementing the aquifer. Recently, it expanded and commissioned the GWRS. The Orange County Grand Jury commends OCWD for its work. The water suppliers for Orange County have undertaking numerous initiatives to increase the resiliency of their water supplies. The Orange County Grand Jury commends these suppliers for their efforts and encourages them to continue pursuing expanded opportunities. The Orange County public has significantly reduced the per-capita water usage through conservation efforts. This is important to maximizing the water supply. The Orange County Grand Jury commends the public for these efforts. The Orange County Grand Jury commends the leadership of MWDOC and OCWD for their continued negotiations regarding merger. The Orange County Grand Jury commends the Southern California news media for their continued efforts in reporting on the critical nature of our water supply.

Agency Responses 18

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

City of Fountain Valley

August 15, 2023 • 4 pages View Details ▾

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City of La Habra

August 21, 2023 • 4 pages View Details ▾

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City of Santa Ana

December 18, 2023 • 5 pages View Details ▾

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El Toro Water District

August 30, 2023 • 6 pages View Details ▾

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Irvine Ranch Water District

August 16, 2023 • 8 pages View Details ▾

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Moulton Niguel Water District

August 21, 2023 • 6 pages View Details ▾

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Santa Margarita Water District

August 15, 2023 • 6 pages View Details ▾

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Serrano Water District

August 28, 2023 • 5 pages View Details ▾

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South Coast Water District

August 31, 2023 • 8 pages View Details ▾

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Municipal Water District of orange County

September 05, 2023 • 16 pages View Details ▾

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City of San Juan Capistrano

September 01, 2023 • 1 pages • 16 responses View Details ▾

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16 responses to findings and recommendations

Future water supplies are impacted by climate change and current supplies will not meet future demands.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

Climatologists predict future extended periods of low moisture with occasional wet years.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

Climate change is inevitable and is exacerbated by human behavior.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

South Orange County relies primarily on the importation of water.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

Response: Unknown Score: 0

There is significant water infrastructure planning, but inadequate implementation.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

The review and approval process for major water capital projects is cumbersome and overly restrictive.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

Failing to find solutions to water shortages will have a significant impact on the Orange County economy.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

Continued development in Orange County creates additional water supply needs.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

F10

Conservation and efficient use of water is essential.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

F11

Increased outreach and public education are necessary.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

F12

Desalination has proven to be technologically and environmentally feasible and is slowly being embraced as a drought-resistant source of water.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

Metropolitan Water District

August 31, 2023 • 23 pages • 17 responses • Score: -1 (+4, 1, -5) View Details ▾

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17 responses to findings and recommendations

Many children experiencing homelessness are not identified as such, and therefore do not receive the support and benefits authorized by the McKinney-Vento Act.

Response: Agree Score: +1

F1: “Future water supplies are impacted by climate change and current supplies will not meet future demands.” Response: Agree Metropolitan agrees that future water supplies will be impacted by climate change and “current supplies will not meet future needs.” As discussed above, Metropolitan and Orange County have undertaken and continue to undertake extensive efforts to develop new supplies and to increase conservation to meet future demands. Metropolitan’s ongoing planning process such as the IRP and Climate Adaptation Master Plan for Water (CAMP4W) are aimed towards addressing the potential ...

All Orange County school districts should develop a “Back to School” plan which includes mandatory McKinney-Vento Act training for all district and school administrators, teachers, office staff, and counselors by December 31, 2023, and annually thereafter. (F1, F2, F3)

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

r 1.9 million acre-feet for Metropolitan. During the 2020-2022 drought, Metropolitan received nearly 1.7 million acre-feet of supplies from the SWP system. Metropolitan is a participant in the SWP with decades of past and ongoing investment in the SWP. As a THE METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA The Honorable Maria Hernandez Page 16 August 31, 2023 member agency of Metropolitan, MWDOC is also invested in the SWP and therefore, works through Metropolitan to work with the State’s DWR to coordinate and improve the SWP’s delivery of water. The State of California has always engaged...

The lack of mandatory McKinney-Vento Act training of school site office staff, counselors, and teachers contributes to a failure to identify children experiencing homelessness.

Response: Disagree Score: -1

F2: “Climatologists predict future extended periods of low moisture with occasional wet years.” Response: Disagree Metropolitan agrees that some climatologists are predicting future low moisture or drought periods, but also notes that these experts are also predicting uncertainty in the weather patterns that may include extreme wet years, like 2022-23. However, there is no consensus on these findings. Also, climatologists normally provide projections and not predictions for future conditions. Finding

Participation in Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) McKinney-Vento Act training programs for all Local Education Agencies (LEA) McKinney-Vento Liaisons should be mandated by October 1, 2023, and annually thereafter. (F1, F3, F5, F6) The ABC’s of Educating Children Experiencing Homelessness in Orange County

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

R2: “Orange County water agencies should expedite the planning, development, and construction of desalination plants over the next five years to insure a sustainable and reliable drought-resistant source of water.

There is disparity in the application of McKinney-Vento regulations across Orange County public school districts which results in unequal access to educational benefits for children experiencing homelessness.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

f 3 See Metropolitan’s 2020 Integrated Water Resources Plan - Regional Needs Assessment at https://www.mwdh2o.com/media/sgvlkith/2020_irp_needs_assessment.pdf THE METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA The Honorable Maria Hernandez Page 6 August 31, 2023 • Page 10: “When the water allocation was reduced from the State Water Project, MET had to switch many of its customers to the Colorado River. However, numerous articles have documented that the lakes on the Colorado River (Mead and Powell) are at the lowest levels since they were built, and their future viability is at question du...

Given that most LEA McKinney-Vento Liaisons are responsible for a number of other duties, and do not have sufficient time to do their McKinney-Vento required work, school districts should identify ways to increase support and/or staff to address the numerous tasks of the Liaisons by October 1, 2023. (F4)

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

r 3 million acre-feet production under $534 million Metropolitan o investment Groundwater Recovery: 1.17 million acre-feet production under $190 million o Metropolitan investment Conjunctive Use Program: 351 thousand acre-feet water stored and 343 thousand o acre-feet water extracted under $27 million Metropolitan and $45 million State Prop 13 investment 1 See Metropolitan’s Achievements in Conservation, Recycling, and Groundwater Recharge (February 2023) at https://www.mwdh2o.com/media/3vah4zvt/2023-annual-achievement-report-final- metropolitan-water-district.pdf THE METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRI...

The majority of McKinney-Vento Liaisons are in full-time positions, but because their work includes multiple non-McKinney-Vento responsibilities, most do not have sufficient time to do the work required by the McKinney-Vento Act.

Response: Agree Score: +1

F4: “South Orange County relies primarily on the importation of water.” Response: Agree Agencies in south Orange County are working to develop and diversify local supplies like the proposed Doheny Desalination Plant. These efforts build upon existing local supply development such as the 28 million gallons per day Baker Water Treatment Plant in Lake Forest, In addition, Metropolitan continues to work to meet its regional water supply reliability goal and meet member agencies’ future demands. Metropolitan’s actions include seismic strengthening of the 520 million gallons per day Diemer Water Tre...

By January 1, 2024, for children experiencing homelessness to receive uninterrupted McKinney-Vento benefits, Orange County school districts should add a section to their mandatory enrollment school form enabling parents/guardians to give permission for their school to share information regarding their child’s McKinney-Vento status with other districts that their child may be attending. (F7)

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

R4. 700 N. Alameda Street, Los Angeles, California 90012 • Mailing Address: Box 54153, Los Angeles, California 90054-0153 • Telephone (213) 217-6000 THE METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA The Honorable Maria Hernandez Page 2 August 31, 2023 Background of Metropolitan Metropolitan is a voluntary cooperative created in 1928 under authority of the Metropolitan Water District Act. Metropolitan’s primary purpose is to provide wholesale water for domestic and municipal uses to its member public agencies. Metropolitan has no retail customers. Metropolitan’s mission is to provide its s...

Many McKinney-Vento Liaisons lack needed experience due to a high turnover rate in those positions.

Response: Disagree Score: -1

F5: “Local water suppliers recognize that enhanced stormwater capture and storage, wastewater recycling, and infrastructure improvements will not be sufficient to address the long- term forecast of drought and its effects on supply.” Response: Disagree Metropolitan, as a regional wholesaler of water, does not have sufficient information to make this determination. Metropolitan would gladly review any information the Grand Jury reviewed to come to this conclusion. For Southern California and the Sierra Nevada watersheds, the scientists generally conclude that annual average precipitation will r...

McKinney-Vento Act training is not mandatory for the majority of McKinney-Vento Liaisons.

Response: Disagree Score: -1

F6: “There is significant water infrastructure planning, but inadequate implementation.” Response: Disagree Metropolitan undertakes extensive implementation of water infrastructure and water supply development. Metropolitan’s current Capital Investment Plan (CIP) for fiscal years 2022/23 and 2023/244 is approximately $600 million. Metropolitan continues to place an emphasis on execution of capital projects, support to internal and external stakeholders, infrastructure reliability and protection, and planning for the future with workforce development initiatives. Additionally, DWR has a robust ...

Students experiencing homelessness who are enrolled in an elementary district often do not continue to receive McKinney-Vento benefits when they move to a high school district because the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) prevents the sharing of this information between districts.

Response: Agree Score: +1

F7: “The review and approval process for major water capital projects is cumbersome and overly restrictive.” Response: Agree The review and approval process for large and complex projects is cumbersome and restrictive. Metropolitan supports efforts to streamline this process, like the Governor’s new water infrastructure package of budget trailer bills, although more can be done. Finding

McKinney-Vento funds depend on school districts submitting grant proposals, but not all districts have employees trained in writing grant applications, resulting in missed funding opportunities.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

F8: “Failing to find solutions to water shortages will have a significant impact on the Orange County economy.” Response: Partially Agree Reliable water supplies and confidence in public infrastructure are necessary linchpins for the health of the economy. The Grand Jury’s finding here implies that solutions are either not known or too difficult to implement. Metropolitan, MWDOC, and Orange County’s progressive water utilities are working collaboratively to ensure reliability of the county’s water service. 4 See Metropolitan’s CIP fo

School districts that do not apply for grants which fund programs benefitting children experiencing homelessness miss potential revenue opportunities.

Response: Disagree Score: -1

F9: “Continued development in Orange County creates additional water supply needs.” Response: Disagree Municipal water demands in Anaheim, Fullerton, Santa Ana, and MWDOC increased only 7 percent since the early 1980s, despite a burgeoning population growth o

F10

McKinney-Vento is an unfunded federally mandated program; however, school districts which qualify and apply for Title I, Part A funds may obtain revenues that can be used The ABC’s of Educating Children Experiencing Homelessness in Orange County for children experiencing homelessness. These funds are insufficient to meet the needs of the school districts supporting children experiencing homelessness.

Response: Unknown Score: 0

f 10 percent about once every 20 years to meet supply gaps. Alternatively, the study noted that there are a number of projects available to OCWD that can help meet supply gaps…” “…South OC is short of emergency supplies today by 20 to 27.5 MGD (which can be o met through a combination of local projects and emergency projects such as the IRWD SOC Emergency Interconnection and the pump-in to the EOCF#2). The emergency needs is the major driver of the need for new local projects in SOC… The study analysis indicates that the San Juan Watershed Project and the Doheny Project THE METROPOLITAN WATER ...

R10

The Orange County Superintendent of Schools should provide information from the School Accountability Report (SARC) to the Board of Supervisors identifying the number and describing the performance of children experiencing homelessness in Orange County public schools. This data should include the aggerate of students in each district who are experiencing homelessness, their chronic absenteeism rates, and the high school graduation rate and the percent who meet or exceed state standards in Englis...

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

r 10 years on the program. They are currently operating a demonstration facility, completing the program’s environmental review, and starting preliminary design of the program’s conveyance pipeline. On July 19, 2023, State officials presented Metropolitan with $80 million to help advance Pure Water Southern California. Metropolitan and the LACSD are partnering on work to accelerate the project’s design and construction, with the potential to begin construction as early as 2025 and water deliveries as early as 2032, upon approval by the Metropolitan Board of Directors. To date, Metropolitan and...

F11

A lack of reliable transportation for children experiencing homelessness often results in chronic tardiness and absenteeism.

Response: Agree Score: +1

F11: “Increased outreach and public education are necessary.” Response: Agree It is well established that behavior water use is influenced by outreach, public education, and earned media from news outlets. Metropolitan is committed to its continued support of outreach and public education programs in Orange County and throughout its service area. Finding

F12

Chronic Absenteeism Rates of Homeless Students are disproportionately high in comparison with the Chronic Absenteeism Rates of All Students and Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Students.

Response: Disagree Score: -1

F12: “Desalination has proven to be technologically and environmentally feasible and is slowly being embraced as a drought-resistant source of water.” Response: Disagree While desalination may be technically feasible and economically viable in some communities, the development of large-scale desalination facilities along Orange County’s coast has been excruciatingly slow and increasingly expensive. Small desalination projects with state-of-the art intake and discharge facilities may prove viable for communities with a demonstrated supply or resiliency need. Nevertheless, Metropolitan supports ...

City of Seal Beach

August 28, 2023 • 3 pages View Details ▾

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August 22, 2023 • 5 pages View Details ▾

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City of Garden Grove

August 22, 2023 • 3 pages View Details ▾

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County of Orange Executive Office

August 08, 2023 • 10 pages View Details ▾

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August 08, 2023 • 3 pages View Details ▾

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July 24, 2023 • 5 pages View Details ▾

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