Public Workshop #3 Todays Agenda Welcome and Introductions Meeting - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Presenters: Charles Gardiner Alyson Watson Hicham ElTal February 26, 2013 Public Workshop #3

Today’s Agenda  Welcome and Introductions  Meeting Purpose and Ground Rules  Introduction to the IRWM Program  Summary of Project Submittals  Implementation Grant Application Update  Summary of Technical Studies  Resources and Information  Questions and Comments 2

Today’s Agenda  Welcome and Introductions  Meeting Purpose and Ground Rules  Introduction to the IRWM Program  Summary of Project Submittals  Implementation Grant Application Update  Summary of Technical Studies  Resources and Information  Questions and Comments 3

Meeting Purpose  Describe the regional planning process  Review the results of the call for projects  Provide an update on implementation grant activities  Discuss results of technical studies  Answer questions 4

Ground Rules  Civility is required.  Treat one another with courtesy.  Respect the personal integrity, values, motivations, and intentions of each participant.  Be honest, fair, and as candid as possible.  Participate with an open mind and respect for other’s interests.  Personal attacks and stereotyping will not be tolerated.  Creativity is encouraged.  Think outside the box and welcome new ideas.  Build on the ideas of others to improve results.  Disagreements will be treated as problems to be solved rather than battles to be won.  Efficiency is important.  Participate fully, without distractions.  Respect time constraints and be succinct.  Let one person speak at a time.  Constructiveness is essential.  Take responsibility for the group as a whole and ask for what you need.  Enter commitments honestly, and keep them.  Delay will not be employed as a tactic to avoid an undesired result. 5

Today’s Agenda  Welcome and Introductions  Meeting Purpose and Ground Rules  Introduction to the IRWM Program  Summary of Technical Studies  Summary of Project Submittals  Implementation Grant Application Update  Resources and Information  Questions and Comments 6

Nearly Ten Years Ago, California Embarked on a New Adventure… Encourage Integrated Flood  In November 2004, the IRWM Program Management was born Protect communities from  Promotes a new model for water drought management Protect  Encourages integrated strategies for water and improve water quality resources management at the regional level Improve local  Provides funding, through competitive grants water security  $500 M through Proposition 50 in 2003  $1 B through Proposition 84 in 2006 Reduce  $300 M through Proposition 1E in 2006 dependence on imported water 7

Today, There Are 46 “Approved” IRWM Regions in California  To be eligible for funding, Regions must:  Be governed by a Regional Water Management Group with statutory authority over water management  Be approved through a structured “Regional Acceptance Process”  Prepare an IRWM Plan consistent with program standards 8

What Does An IRWM Plan Include? IRWM Plan Standards Governance Data Management Region Description Finance Objectives Technical Analysis Resource Management Strategies Relation to Local Water Planning Integration Relation to Local Land Use Planning Project Review Process Stakeholder Involvement Impact and Benefit Coordination Plan Performance and Monitoring Climate Change 9

What is the Process for Developing and Implementing an IRWM Plan? Establish Governance Structure Identify Objectives & Performance Measures Integrate Projects and Programs Identify Impacts and Benefits Prioritize Projects for Implementation Implement Adaptive Secure Funding Management Implement Projects 10

The Merced Region is Developing Its First Integrated Regional Water Management Plan IRWM Plan Standards Existing Data and Information Regional Needs and Objectives New Technical Studies New Governance Structure Public Outreach 11

The Merced Region Encompasses the Northeastern Portion of Merced County 12

Regional Advisory Committee  Approximately 40 members, representing  Farming  Dairy  Water and wastewater agencies  Real estate  Public interests  Environment 13

RAC Purpose  Advise the lead agencies in water resource issues  Assist with public communications 14

Why are we involved? Water is a Precious Resource.  Future generations will need to use the same water we are using today  There are indications that we are negatively affecting the amount and quality of water available locally 15

Subsidence due to Groundwater Overpumping  Eastside Bypass is Sinking by up to 5 ft Every 2 Years 16

Flood Management Needs  A large portion of our county is in the 100 year flood area, including much of Planada and Merced 17

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We want to Ensure that Our Residents are Safe and Protected from Flood Events 19

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Water Quality  Most of our drinking water comes from groundwater  There are some naturally-occurring contaminants in the groundwater such as arsenic  More importantly, humans are the cause of some contamination 21

1,2-Dibromo-3-Chloropropane (DBCP) in Groundwater Preliminary evaluation of groundwater quality based on GeoTacker GAMA data. Subject to revision. 22

What can you do?  Use less water both indoors and outdoors  Don’t dump pollutants on the ground  Use fewer chemicals 23

RAC Meetings As noted during the workshop, the March meeting has been rescheduled; please check website www.mercedirwmp.org for latest schedule  All meetings are publically noticed and open to the public  Meetings are held on the fourth Tuesday of every month from 2:00 – 5:00 pm in the Sam Pipes Room Date Meeting Topic(s) Date Meeting Topic(s) May 2012 Introduction to IRWM November 2012 Prioritized Projects, Governance June 2012 Region Description, December 2012 Special Studies, Governance Objectives July 2012 Region Description, January 2013 Plan Performance and Objectives Monitoring, Data Mgmt August 2012 Objectives, Resource February 2013 Finance, Impacts and Management Strategies Benefits, Data Mgmt September 2012 Project Review Process, March 2013 Governance Database overview April 2013 Draft IRWM Plan 24 October 2012 Prioritization Process, Call for May 2013 Final IRWM Plan Projects

Today’s Agenda  Welcome and Introductions  Meeting Purpose and Ground Rules  Introduction to the IRWM Program  Summary of Technical Studies  Summary of Project Submittals  Implementation Grant Application Update  Resources and Information  Questions and Comments 25

Top Three Regional Objectives Reflect Key Regional Water Management Issues  Manage flood flows for public safety, water supply, recharge, and natural resource management  Meet demands for all uses, including agriculture, urban, and environmental resource needs.  Correct groundwater overdraft conditions. 26

Technical Studies Developed Additional Information in Key Water Management Areas Manage Meet Correct Flood Demands Groundwater Flows for All Uses Overdraft   Conservation    Integrated Flood Management    Groundwater Recharge  Salt & Nutrient Management    Climate Change 27

Water Conservation Study Findings  Potential to increase urban conservation through metering and other programs  Surface water use for irrigation is a significant source of groundwater recharge in the region  The main benefits of conserving irrigation water are:  Potential reductions in energy consumption  Water quality benefits  Increased supply to the Region, to the extent that net outflows are reduced 28

Flood Management Study Findings  The Region’s extensive canal system is vulnerable to failure during excessive storm events  Flood management projects are needed to address channel capacity issues  Deadman Slough, Duck Slough (Mariposa Creek), Miles Creek, and Owens Creek lack adequate capacity to convey 100-year flows  Severe flooding occurs along Fahrens Creek and along the San Joaquin River 29

Groundwater Recharge Study Findings A B D C 30

Salt and Nutrient Study Findings  The Region’s water quality is generally good  Groundwater overdraft may lead to saline intrusion from the southwest portion of the region  Continued monitoring will be needed to maintain and improve water quality 31