Exec Summary Report_11-15-04 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Executive Summary Table ES-5 Potential Benefits and Issues of Families of Options for Resolving Supply and Demand Gaps Development of Additional Storage Development of New Storage Facilities d Can diversify water sources if water to be ~. There may be significant environmental stored is from a new source impacts. These impacts are likely to be Construction of new storage facilities. ^ Can increase the reliability of supply and more significant than if enlarging existing Storage options include on channel and off- reduce risk of supply shortfalls storage facilities. channel reservoirs or gravel lakes. ^ Does not impact existing water rights if ^ Loss of recreation associated with free- storing under a new water right flowing streams, such as fishing, rafting, . Can potentially reduce the pressure to kayaking. transfer agricultural rights . Water quality impacts can be associated ^ Captures an unused resource with impounded water. ^ Maximizes compact entitlements ^ Cultural impacts associated with inundation ^ Increases overall system efficiencies by of lands. minimizing system spills ^ Increase the yield of exchanges and non- . Permitting and mitigation can be expensive and lengthy with an uncertain outcome. potable reuse for irrigation ^ A significant amount of storage may be ^ Required to firm the yield of agricultural required to produce an acre-foot of firm transfers yield. The amount of storage required will ^ May provide flat water recreation be basin and water rights specific. opportunities ^ Potential for hydropower generation Enlargement of Existing Storage Facilities ^ Fewer environmental issues than new ^ Environmental and recreation impacts can storage also occur here depending on the size of Increasing the available storage in existing . Permitting and mitigation requirements may facility. storage facilities. Options include raising be less stringent than new storage . May not diversify water sources dam embankments, dredging and raising ^ Can increase the reliability and reduce risk ^ Permitting and mitigation requirements can spillway levels. of supply shortfalls be expensive and lengthy with an uncertain ^ Other benefits are the same as outcome development of new storage ^ May have a high storage to yield ratio, depending on the water to be stored ^ Limited number of reservoirs to enlarge, since most reservoirs are not cost-effective to enlarge ^ Limited volume of increased storage available ^ May not be cheaper than new storage since original structures have not been designed or constructed to current engineering standards Conjunctive Use of Surface Water and Groundwater Non-renewable, Bedrock Aquifers ^ Recharges aquifers that have very low or ~. Surface water supplies must be available almost non-existent rates of recharge for recharge The diversion and well injection of surface ^ Maximizes the beneficial use of ^ Water has to be treated to potable water water supplies into a bedrock aquifer nonrenewable aquifers and extends their qualiiy and must be chemically compatible during times of surplus surface water and useful life with native groundwater before recharge to extraction of groundwater during times of ^ Evaporation is minimized reduce clogging insufficient surface water supplies. The ^ Lesser environmental impacts than ^ All of the recharged water may not be intent is to extend the life of non-renewable reservoir storage recoverable groundwater sources. ^ The permitting process is simpler than for ^ High energy costs incurred for recharge developing surface water storage and pumping ^ Can use existing infrastructure during non- ^ May need additional wells or storage and peak demand periods surface water treatrnent to meet peak ^ Potable qualiiy water can be withdrawn demands . Significant volumes of potential aquifer . Injection rates usually are low storage available ^ Additional storage needed to capture peak surface water flows for recharge J~~a $~ole'ri~ice Wo~e' $upplY Initia~ive ~~ S:\REPORT\WORD PROCESSING\REPORT\EXEC SUMMARY 11-10-04.DOC ES-33