PUB00022 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

actually used in a year. In times of shortages, the SWP agricultural and urban contractors will be cut equally, whereas previously agricultural contractors supplies were reduced first. SWP irrigators agreed to permanently retire 45,000 acre-feet of water entitlements and allow permanent sales of up to 130,000 acre~feet of water to urban contractors in exchange for transfer of fhe 20,000 acre Kern Fan Element of the Kern Water Bank. To increase the firm yield of the SWp, DWR devel- oped the Kern Water Bank, an underground storage project in Kern County. Water stored in an under- ground water aquifer - also known as water "bank- ing" - is used to alleviate shortages in times of drought and increase SWP storage capacity with- out the construction of costly and environmentally troublesome surlace reservoirs. Under the program, depleted groundwater aquifers are recharged with surface water delivered through the aqueduct in wet years. It also entails the recharge of ponds (shallow ponds where water is spread so that it percolates into the ground) and "in-lieu" programs. Under the latter, farmers are provided surtace water in wet years to use in place of pumped groundwater. The Kern Water Bank was transferred from DWR to a new entity. the Kern Water Bank Authority, in 1996. By LOCAL DISTRICTS While the state and federal projects have played major roles in developing California's water reM sources, the role of local development should not be overlooked. Since the early 1900s, local water projects made possible the growth of Los Angeles and San Francisco, other southern California cities and agricultural areas throughout the state. Local districts also worked with private power utilities to construct projects that provide water and electricity. Today hundreds of water utility districts supply Cali- fornians with water purchased by contract from the state or the Bureau, bought wholesale from another water agency, or developed with local resources, It is estimated that there are more than 3,700 pUblic and private agencies in California dealing with some aspect of water supply. use or treatment. The largest of these is MWD. In 1995, MWD broke ground on a new 800,000 acreMfeet reservoir in Riverside County. Completed in 2000, the 52 billion Diamond Valley Reservoir will double surtace water storage capacity for southern California; provide emergency storage in the event an earthquake r'1" '~f;. -:.J , ~', "':~~~..... "-"c' -- ~ ~ . - - -. "'c.. . _ -"":" ~ -I!I '~:1'1o.'o!Il.~;~~'" ... 1999. the bank recharged over 300,000 acre-feet of water into its aquifer, bringing the total in 2000 to over 870,000 acre-feet. After years of opposition fueled by no-growth advo- cates, Santa Barbara County voters in 1991 approved an aqueduct to serve the central coast. Construction on the $575 million pumping station and Coastal Aqueduct. which extends from Kern County to Lake Cachuma. began in 1994 and was completed in July 1997. In fiscal year 1999-2000, the 42.900 acre-feet capacity aqueduct delivered 19,300 acre- feet to Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. disrupts other water sources; provide added drought insurance; assist in optimizing groundwater storage programs; and help improve water quality for the region. Likewise, in northern California, Contra Costa Water District (CCWD). has created its own water supply by passing local bonds. Completed at the end of 1997. CCWD's Los Vaqueros Reservoir cost 5450 million and holds 100,000 acre-feet of water. As is the case with MWD's Diamond Valley Reservoir, Los Vaqueros will increase water supply reliability and water quality (through blending) for customers. -, COll.Hructioll on Metropolitan Water District of SOll1hem California's m'h' 800,000 (1('1"e-fe('/ Diamond Valley Reserv(Jir is completed alld is hegill11i/lR to fil/. The facility \I'il/ prm'ide \nller supply ami H'mer ljuality u(hu1l1ages, as well as, recreational opportunities.