CC 2014-05-27 Supplemental Information pRR0y0
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L_▪ INCORPORATED 9Z
▪ JULY 10, 1911
m MEMORANDUM
FORN`P
TO: CITY COUNCIL
FROM: TERESA MCCLISH, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
SUBJECT: SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
AGENDA ITEM 8i —MAY 27, 2014 CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CONSIDERATION OF LETTER TO SUPPORT THE DECLARATION OF
LOPEZ SURPLUS WATER
DATE: MAY 27, 2014
Based upon Council feedback, attached is an amended letter with minor non-
substantive changes, to the San Luis Obispo Board of Supervisors supporting the
declaration of Lopez Surplus Water.
: 0 CITY OF
PFtR�Y0 '4N�F 300 E. Branch Street
-s_--_:::r-, .:::.::::.:..1 Arroyo Grande, CA 93420
OFFICE OF THE -- -- --
- - 41,7' Phone: (805) 473-5400
MAYOR FAX:FAX (805) 473-0386
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tferrara @arroyogrande.org
C A 111 F O R N 1 A www.arroyogrande.org
May 28, 2014
Bruce Gibson, Chair, and Supervisors
San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors and Directors, San Luis Obispo County
Flood Control and Water Conservation District
Room D-430, County Government Center
San Luis Obispo, CA 93408
SUBJECT: COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT -
DECLARATION OF SURPLUS WATER
Dear Chair Gibson, Supervisors, and Members of the Board:
I am writing on behalf of the Arroyo Grande City Council to urge the District to
undertake and complete the process of declaring surplus water availability at Lopez
Lake in compliance with the provisions of the Water Supply Contract that exists
between the District and the City of Arroyo Grande.
The City receives its water supply from Lopez Lake and the Santa Maria Ground
Water Basin. Since its construction, the City has relied on Lopez Lake and its
treatment facility to supply approximately 61% of the City's water needs through the
regular allocation under the contract. In addition, the City has used Lopez Lake
"surplus water" which is more appropriately defined as "carry-over entitlement and
unused down-stream release" whenever it has been declared.
In recent years, the San Luis Obispo County Director of Public Works was given the
authority to declare surplus water, as the provisions are precisely included in
accordance with the contract. According to Article 4. Distribution and Sale of
Project Water subparagraphs (C) and (D) the amount of surplus water available
annually is determined by a mathematical calculation performed by the District. This
calculation is based on the difference between the amount of entitlement water
delivered to the agencies plus the amount released downstream and the safe yield of
the reservoir. The safe yield consists of up to 4,200 acre feet made available for
down-stream release and the total of 4,350 acre feet of project water that is to be
distributed to the contract agencies, including Arroyo Grande. The safe yield totals
8,730 acre feet of water. Any unused project water within the safe yield is then placed
in a pool and made available to the contracting agencies on a proportionate share
basis as surplus water in the next water year. As noted in the contract, the
determination of the existence of surplus water is based on the completion of the
process and is not discretionary.
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Since 2011, Arroyo Grande, along with the other member agencies, has been
managing our Lopez water supply by utilizing the declared surplus before our
entitlements. We have each intentionally preserved an amount of entitlement water
every year so that it can be carried over to be declared as surplus in the next year and
then used as part of that year's supply. In light of the current drought conditions, the
City may also use the surplus in the coming year to offset the demand on the ground
water basin and limit the potential for sea water intrusion.
While the Contract appears to provide some discretion to the County to reduce water
entitlement amounts during certain drought conditions, there are no provisions in the
Contract that allow the County to modify surplus water allocations. In addition,
protocols are currently being developed by the Zone 3 Technical Advisory Committee
(TAC) to clarify procedures when entitlements would be impacted. Therefore, staff also
recommends that no decisions be made regarding entitlements until those protocols
are established.
On May 15, 2014, the Zone 3 Advisory Committee recommended that surplus water be
declared in the amount of not less than 2,327 AF based on a modified calculation.
From the City's perspective, the declaration of surplus water needs to be completed in
accordance with the provisions of the water supply contract as it has been historically
calculated which would yield slightly less surplus supply. However, we would support
the Zone 3 Advisory Committee's recommendation as well. Once surplus water is
declared, it is the City's intent to use its proportionate share in combination with the
City's ongoing conservation efforts to ensure that the City's long-term water sources
are balanced and protected.
The Arroyo Grande City Council strongly requests that the Board ensure the
declaration of surplus water be conducted per the provisions of the agreement or as
recommended by the Zone 3 Advisory Committee.
Sincerely,
Tony Ferrara
Mayor
cc: Zone 3 Advisory Board