EXHIBIT 23-D

FINAL MINUTES

Water Supply Planning Committee of the

Monterey Peninsula Water Management District

June 21, 2011

 

 

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 9:08 am in the District’s conference room.

 

Committee members present:      Bob Brower, Chair (arrived during the presentation under Item 1.)

                                                     Regina Doyle

                                                     David Pendergrass

 

Staff members present:                Darby Fuerst, General Manager

                                                     Larry Hampson, Senior Water Resources Engineer

                                                     Joe Oliver, Water Resources Manager      

                                                     Arlene Tavani, Executive Assistant

 

District Counsel present:             David Laredo

 

Comments from the Public

George Riley encouraged the District to move forward on investigations into development of additional aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) wells, due to the success of Water Project 1 ASR wells #1 and #2.  He suggested that if the Regional Water Supply Project is delayed, ASR would be an affordable option that could be eligible for public funding,

 

Presentation

1.         Representatives from DeepWater Desal will Present a Report on Development of a Proposed Seawater Desalination Project in Moss Landing

            The committee agreed that at the July meeting, they would discuss a request from Constantz that the Board consider signing a non-binding letter of intent expressing support for the project.   The item could be submitted for Board consideration at the August 15, 2011 meeting.  The committee also requested that staff submit a letter to Constantz requesting a list of all permits that would be required to develop the DeepWater Desal project along with the time-line associated with those permits.

Brent Constantz of DeepWater Desal gave the presentation.  He described the project as follows.  The proposal is to design, build and operate a seawater desalination plant at Moss Landing, California producing not less than 10,000 acre-feet per year of potable water at a rate of up to 25 million gallons per day for beneficial use by designated water purveyors in Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties.  The desalination facility will be located in existing structures north of Moss Landing Harbor.  The Sandholdt pier will be rebuilt and seawater intake and brine discharge lines will be attached to the pier.  Intake and discharge pipelines will extend underwater from the end of the pier to the edge of the undersea Monterey Canyon.  Taking seawater from below the photic zone (the depth of light penetration), will minimize marine life disruption and will provide consistent source water of high quality and low turbidity.  Accessing the deep water Monterey Canyon translates into lower pre-treatment costs and overall lower operating costs than for near-surface or brackish water sources of comparable temperature.  Similarly, discharging concentrated seawater into Monterey Canyon following the desalination process substantially eliminates detrimental impacts on the ocean environment.   An outline of Mr. Constantz’s  presentation was not provided to the District; however, an audio tape of the presentation is available for public review.

 Action Items

2.         Receive Minutes of May 4, 2011 Committee Meeting

On a motion by Director Doyle and second of Director Pendergrass, the minutes were received unanimously on a vote of 3 – 0.  Directors Brower, Markey and Pendergrass voted in favor of the motion.   No comments were directed to the Board during the public comment period on this item.

 

Discussion Items

3.         Discuss Feasibility of Moving Additional Water from Carmel Valley to Water Projects 1 and 2

The committee discussed various alternatives for improvement of the California American Water (Cal-Am) water delivery system to facilitate increased diversions from the Carmel River to Water Project 1 and 2 injection/recovery wells when river flows are high.  One option would be to transmit water via a new pipeline to be constructed on a roadway owned by Tehama.  It was decided that Tehama property owners should be contacted about obtaining permission to construct the transmission pipeline.

 

4.         Progress Report on Water Projects 1 (Underground Storage) and 2 (Expanded Storage)

            Fuerst reported that the diversion season had ended.  Work is underway at the Phase 1 site, at Well #2 to complete permanent wellhead improvements.   Negotiations are underway with the City of Seaside for an easement that will facilitate full implementation of Water Project 2 when it is completed.

 

5.         Update on Potential for Water Project 3 (Local Desal) within District Boundaries

            Hampson provided a summary of meetings with Naval Postgraduate School staff and related their concerns about construction of a desalination facility at the abandoned City of Monterey wastewater treatment plant site owned by the Navy.  The committee requested that District staff proceed to develop a site plan and respond to the Navy’s concerns without benefit of a consultant.

 

6.         Update on Development of Recycled Wastewater Alternatives

            Fuerst reported that the Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency is developing a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on joint development with the District of the Groundwater Replenishment Project.  The MOU has not yet been submitted.

 

7.         Update on Status of Carmel River Reroute/San Clemente Dam Removal Project

            Fuerst referred to the agenda and attachments from the April 29, 2011 San Clemente Dam Removal Quarterly meeting.  He reviewed a brief timeline for completion of the project and a funding update (on file at the District office and the MPWMD website).  He noted that there is a $10 million funding gap, and that there is an effort to obtain funds from private sources and non-profits.   

 

Other Items

No discussion.

 

Set Date for Next Committee Meeting

The committee will meet again on Tuesday, July 19, 2011 at 9 am.

 

Adjournment                        

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 11:05 am.

 

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