MPWMD BOARD MEETING--MARCH 17, 2003--ITEM 24--MONTHLY WATER SUPPLY STATUS REPORT

24. MONTHLY WATER SUPPLY STATUS REPORT

Meeting Date: March 17, 2003 Budgeted: N/A

Program/Line Item No.: N/A

Staff Contact: Darby Fuerst Cost Estimate: N/A

General Counsel Approval: N/A

Committee Recommendation: N/A

CEQA Compliance: N/A

Exhibit 24-A shows the water supply status for the Monterey Peninsula Water Resources System (MPWRS) as of March 1, 2003. This system includes the surface water resources in the Carmel River Basin, the ground water resources in the Carmel Valley Alluvial Aquifer, and Seaside Coastal Ground Water Subareas. Exhibit 24-A focuses on four factors: rainfall, runoff, storage, and steelhead.

The report is limited to the water year that began October 1, 2002 and will end on September 30, 2003 (WY 2003). The rainfall and streamflow values are based on measurements recorded in the upper Carmel River Basin at San Clemente Dam. This site was selected because of its location above storage facilities and the availability of long-term rainfall and runoff records.

Water Supply Status: As shown, rainfall during WY 2003 through February totaled 18.0 inches, which is 116% of the long-term average. Runoff during WY 2003 through February totaled 33,210 acre-feet, which is 89% of average. Usable storage, which includes surface and ground water, was 32,400 acre-feet or 105% of average at the end of February 2003. This storage equates to 86% of system capacity.

In addition, 256 adult steelhead have been counted in the fish ladder at San Clemente Dam in WY 2003, which is 126% of the long-term average. In addition, 108 juvenile steelhead have been rescued from drying reaches of the Carmel River mainstem by District staff during WY 2003.

Production Compliance: Under State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) Order No. WR 95-10, Cal-Am is allowed to produce no more than 11,285 acre-feet of water from the Carmel River in WY 2003. In addition, under current District water supply budgets, Cal-Am is allowed to produce a maximum of 4,000 acre-feet of water from the Seaside Basin coastal subareas in WY 2003. Combined, Cal-Am is limited to 15,285 acre-feet of production in WY 2003.

For WY 2003 through February, Cal-Am has diverted 5,125 acre-feet from the Carmel River and Seaside basins for customer use. This water production is 203 acre-feet or approximately 3.8% less than the target system production for WY 2003 to date. A monthly breakdown of Cal-Am’s production from the Carmel River and Seaside Basin Coastal subareas for WY 2003 is included as Exhibit 24-B. Cal-Am’s production from the Carmel River Basin is reduced for diversions that are made for injection into the Seaside Basin. During WY 2003 through February, the District has injected 29 acre-feet of water into the Seaside Ground Water Basin.

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