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Extraído del Informe Consolidado
Esta investigación fue publicada originalmente como parte de un informe consolidado más amplio que contiene múltiples investigaciones. Consulte el PDF consolidado para ver el documento completo.
Santa Cruz County Grand Jury
• 2021-2022
[Return to Table of Contents] 2021–2022 Consolidated Final Report with Responses 163 The 2021–2022 Santa Cruz County
⚠️ 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.
Note: Missing finding numbers detected: F5, F7, F8
Findings 6 findings
F1
Page 182
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 finding to the extent that existence of conditions leading to Stage 5 of the City’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan would likely be a serious concern to the entire region. The District Manager partially disagrees with the finding because the District does not have information indicating that the City’s Stage 5 would have an extreme economic impact on the District or the San Lorenzo Valley. No-growth policies have been in effect for decades in the San Lorenzo Valley, which help this area live within its means in terms of water resources and allow for potentially high local resiliency to drought conditions. The District is fortunate to have access to a diversity of water supplies, which has helped the District continue to provide reliable, safe and high quality water to the local community despite serious damage to water infrastructure caused by the CZU wildfire. Wildfire damage has kept several major water intakes offline while the District’s water system undergoes repairs. Many of the same factors that allow the District to maintain water service under emergency conditions in the San Lorenzo Valley also create the potential to conjunctively manage District water supplies to enhance local water supply reliability while creating environmental benefits in the San Lorenzo River watershed. The Grand Jury invited the District Manager to respond to this finding and did not assign it to the District’s the Board of Directors, and accordingly this response is offered by the District Manager and not the Board. Our Water Account Is Overdrawn Published on May 24, 2022 [Return to Table of Contents] 2021–2022 Consolidated Final Report with Responses 175
F2
Page 183
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 water. The District and many other governmental and non-governmental entities and individuals have been working diligently to address such issues for decades -- and with increased urgency after years of experiencing the effects of climate change including prolonged drought and wildfire. We partially disagree with the finding to the extent that a County-wide approach may not be the most effective way to meet the needs that exist within the County. In fact, areas within the County served by various water agencies have different geographical and hydrological characteristics and water-supply challenges. For example, the District is geographically distinct because of its location in the San Lorenzo Valley, which is distinguished as a no-growth area with declining water demand due to effective conservation efforts. Moreover, the District is fortunate to have access to diverse sources of surface and groundwater within the San Lorenzo Valley. For all of these reasons, the most critical drought resiliency issues facing the San Lorenzo Valley and the District, and the most practicable solutions, are quite distinct from other areas of the County. Our Water Account Is Overdrawn Published on May 24, 2022 176 Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury
F3
Page 184
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 [Return to Table of Contents] 2021–2022 Consolidated Final Report with Responses 177
F4
Page 185
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): We agree that groundwater reserves provide a valuable buffer against drought-related water shortages. We partially disagree with the finding because the District’s approach for achieving such reserves is described in the District’s proposed Conjunctive Use Plan (CUP). The CUP was developed in partnership with the County’s Water Resources Division. It was published in July 2021 and currently is undergoing review and possible revisions in light of legal and other comments received during the environmental review process. The District is working toward finalizing and implementing its CUP in cooperation with neighboring water agencies and regulators. The District is fortunate to have access to diverse sources of surface and groundwater that give the District the ability to conjunctively manage its water supplies to enhance water supply reliability while creating environmental benefits. The CUP envisions increasing the ability to call upon unused or underutilized water sources when water is available in order to rest groundwater wells and thereby promote recharge in the Santa Margarita groundwater basin. Increased recharge of the basin would, in turn, increase minimum base flows in streams within the basin. The CUP presents a straightforward and achievable project for enhancing aquatic habitat and water supply reliability within the San Lorenzo River watershed and the Santa Margarita groundwater basin. The proposed project described in documents from the City of Santa Cruz Water Department and, more recently, in the groundwater sustainability plan adopted by the Santa Margarita Groundwater Agency, involves pumping excess winter flows into the overdrafted Lompico aquifer in the Santa Margarita groundwater basin to create drought storage for the City of Santa Cruz. The principle behind storing excess surface water flows in an aquifer and then extracting the water during a drought is well understood, but, in practice there are many challenges to implementing aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) projects. For example, pumping into a deep, confined aquifer consisting of only moderately permeable sandstone/siltstone such as the Lompico aquifer is different than many successful ASR projects in shallower, more permeable aquifers. Our Water Account Is Overdrawn Published on May 24, 2022 178 Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury
F6
Page 173
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): Required Response from the City Council, City of Watsonville Exhibit “A” Our Water Account Is Overdrawn Due by August 22, 2022 166 Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury
F9
Page 174
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): Water conservation and sustainability are both significant components that help communities become more resilient. The City of Watsonville communicates regularly with its community and meets regularly with local public water agencies to discuss its water. We highlight our water resources through local events such as Day of the Child, World Wetlands Day (in partnership with Watsonville Wetlands Watch) and Coastal Cleanups. The City of Watsonville’s programs of water use efficiency have effectively lowered the gallons per capita per day of water consumption, allowing the water system to maintain a flat level of water production, despite changing populations. For areas outside City limits, the City has continued its nearly twenty-year working relationship with the Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency (PV Water) to focus on sustainable drought resiliency for the agricultural community. Continued agency collaboration within the Pajaro Valley groundwater basin, combined with residential and commercial programs aimed at conservation will continue this trend towards resiliency. Required Response from the City Council, City of Watsonville Exhibit “A” Our Water Account Is Overdrawn Due by August 22, 2022 [Return to Table of Contents] 2021–2022 Consolidated Final Report with Responses 167
Recommendations 4
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R1Page 175For the Findings, mark one of the following responses with an “X” and provide the required additional information: a. AGREE with the Finding, or b. PARTIALLY DISAGREE with the Finding – specify the portion of the Finding that is disputed and include an explanation of the reasons why, or c. DISAGREE with the Finding – provide an explanation of the reasons why.
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R2Page 175For the Recommendations, mark one of the following actions with an “X” and provide the required additional information: a. HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED – provide a summary of the action taken, or b. HAS NOT YET BEEN IMPLEMENTED BUT WILL BE IN THE FUTURE – provide a timeframe or expected date for completion, or c. REQUIRES FURTHER ANALYSIS – provide an explanation, scope, and parameters of an analysis to be completed , or d. WILL NOT BE IMPLEMENTED – provide an explanation of why it is not warranted or not reasonable.
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R3Page 175By 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 – 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: This Recommendation will not be implemented because it is not warranted. The City of Watsonville and PV Water have been operating and distributing recycled water since 2009 with the intent to continue this partnership for many years to come. In 2021, over 3000 AF of wastewater was recycled and reused as a supplement to PV Water’s Coastal Distribution System. When there is agricultural demand, all the available wastewater is being recycled and reused. Required Response from the City Council, City of Watsonville Exhibit “A” Our Water Account Is Overdrawn Due by August 22, 2022 168 Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury [This page intentionally left blank.] [Return to Table of Contents] 2021–2022 Consolidated Final Report with Responses 169 Santa Cruz Grand Jury Required response to Grand Jury report is due on August 22, 2022 Rosemary Menard Mon, Aug 15, 2022 at 5:19 PM To: "[email protected]" Hello Terry, I sent a note to this email address last week indicating that I don’t plan to respond to the report as an invited responder. Rosemary Menard Rosemary Menard Aug 2, 2022, 1:49:12 PM to [email protected] Good Afternoon – I wanted to let you know that as I will not be providing additional responses as an invited respondent to the Civil Grand Jury’s 2022 report “Our Water Account is Overdrawn.” I appreciate the offer to review your report. Best Rosemary Menard Rosemary Menard Water Director City of Santa Cruz [email protected] Office: 831-420-5205 Cell: 831-345-6309 170 Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury [This page intentionally left blank.] [Return to Table of Contents] 2021–2022 Consolidated Final Report with Responses 171 Santa Cruz Grand Jury SLV Water Grand Jury Final Response -Our Water Account is Overdrawn Rick Rogers Tue, Aug 16, 2022 at 6:11 AM To: "[email protected]" , "[email protected]" Cc: Gail Mahood , Holly Hossack To the Honorable Judge Cogliati and the Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury: Attached, please find the San Lorenzo Valley Water District’s (SLVWD’s) completed response packet in connection with the 2021-2022 Grand Jury Report, entitled “Our Water Account is Overdrawn, Beyond Conservation: Achieving Drought Resilience.” The attached response packet includes responses made on behalf of the Board of Directors and the District Manager. The responses were approved by SLVWD’s Board on July 21. Rick Rogers District Manager SLV Water District 831-430-4624 SLVWD Board and DM - Final Grand Jury response packet - approved 7-21-2022.pdf 452K 172 Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury The 2021–2022 Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury Requires the Board of Directors, San Lorenzo Valley Water District District Manager,1 San Lorenzo Valley Water District to Respond by August 22, 2022 to the Findings and Recommendations listed below which were assigned to them in the report titled Our Water Account Is Overdrawn Beyond Conservation: Achieving Drought Resilience Responses are required from elected officials, elected agency or department heads, and elected boards, councils, and committees which are investigated by the Grand Jury. You are required to respond by the California Penal Code (PC) §933(c). Your response will be considered compliant under PC §933.05 if it contains an appropriate comment on all findings and recommendations which were assigned to you in this report. Please follow the instructions below when preparing your response. This response packet is submitted on behalf of both the Board of Directors and the District Manager Rick Rogers, in fulfilment of their obligations under PC § 933 et seq. Our Water Account Is Overdrawn Published on May 24, 2022 [Return to Table of Contents] 2021–2022 Consolidated Final Report with Responses 173 Instructions for Respondents Your assigned Findings and Recommendations are listed on the following pages with check boxes and an expandable space for summaries, timeframes, and explanations. Please follow these instructions, which paraphrase PC §933.05: 1. For the Findings, mark one of the following responses with an “X” and provide the required additional information: a. AGREE with the Finding, or b. PARTIALLY DISAGREE with the Finding – specify the portion of the Finding that is disputed and include an explanation of the reasons why, or c. DISAGREE with the Finding – provide an explanation of the reasons why. 2. For the Recommendations, mark one of the following actions with an “X” and provide the required additional information: a. HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED – provide a summary of the action taken, or b. HAS NOT YET BEEN IMPLEMENTED BUT WILL BE IN THE FUTURE – provide a timeframe or expected date for completion, or c. REQUIRES FURTHER ANALYSIS – provide an explanation, scope, and parameters of an analysis to be completed , or d. WILL NOT BE IMPLEMENTED – provide an explanation of why it is not warranted or not reasonable. 3. Please confirm the date on which you approved the assigned responses: The Board of Directors of the San Lorenzo Valley Water District approved these responses at a regularly noticed public meeting conducted on July 21, 2022, as shown in the Board meeting minutes.2 4. When your responses are complete, please email your completed Response Packet as a PDF file attachment to both The Honorable Judge Syda Cogliati [email protected] and The Santa Cruz County Grand Jury [email protected]. If you have questions about this response form, please contact the Grand Jury by calling 831-454-2099 or by sending an email to [email protected]. All the responses set forth herein are submitted on behalf of both the Board of Directors and the District Manager, except that the response to F1 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 174 Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury
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R4Page 175When your responses are complete, please email your completed Response Packet as a PDF file attachment to both The Honorable Judge Syda Cogliati [email protected] and The Santa Cruz County Grand Jury [email protected]. If you have questions about this response form, please contact the Grand Jury by calling 831-454-2099 or by sending an email to [email protected]. All the responses set forth herein are submitted on behalf of both the Board of Directors and the District Manager, except that the response to F1 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 174 Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury