TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
3.	REVIEW CONTINGENCY IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR STAGES 4 THROUGH 7 OF THE EXPANDED WATER CONSERVATION AND STANDBY RATIONING PLAN
Meeting Date:		January 8, 2008
From:		David A. Berger,
		General Manager
Prepared by:		Stephanie Pintar

SUMMARY: The Water Demand Committee has been reviewing a draft Contingency Implementation Plan for Stages 4-7 of the Expanded Water Conservation and Standby Rationing Plan (see background for details). A number of policy questions have been addressed by the committee for recommendation to the Board. Based on input from the Water Demand Committee, staff will be preparing a draft ordinance to amend and refine the Plan.

The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) is being provided the opportunity to review the draft Contingency Plan including one proposed policy change prior to Board consideration. Specifically, the Water Demand Committee has recommended a change to the regulation involving moratorium timing. This action directly impacts the planning and building departments of the Jurisdictions.

Under existing District rules, a moratorium on the issuance of water permits requiring water from a Jurisiction’s Paralta or Pre-Paralta allocations would occur on October 1, following implementation of Stage 5 Water Rationing. During Stage 6, again on October 1, the moratorium expands to include water permits that utilize a public or private Water Use Credit. The October 1st date corresponds to a four-month lead time from the May Board meeting when rationing would be considered, if drought conditions exist.

The Water Demand Committee is recommending the Board amend the regulation to allow some flexibility to the October 1 moratorium implementation date as necessary to implement stages of rationing (other than at the May Board meeting). The committee’s recommendation is to amend the regulation to allow a four-month delay before a moratorium is implemented in the event the Board declares Stage 5 or 6, at any time other than the May Board meeting.

RECOMMENDATION: The Technical Advisory Committee should consider the Water Demand Committee’s recommendation on moratorium timing. Any changes to the regulation will be brought back to the TAC prior to Board consideration of an ordinance.

BACKGROUND: The California Central Coast, and particularly the Monterey Peninsula, has just completed a Critically Dry Water Year and is heading into the new water year with a prediction of another dry winter. Dry conditions have led to extremely low water levels in both of the reservoirs serving the Monterey Peninsula. Inflow into the Las Padres reservoir recently was at a record low. The Monterey Peninsula is dependent on groundwater supplies replenished by surface water and is restricted by both a state-ordered reduction (SWRCB Order No. 95-10) and a legally ordered reduction (California American Water v. City of Seaside, et al, Case No. M66343), resulted in a decision which determined the initial Operating Safe Yield for the Seaside Basin is 5,600 Acre-Feet (Coastal Subarea is 4,611 Acre-Feet and 989 Acre-Feet for the Laguna Seca Subarea). Water availability from the Seaside Basin will be further reduced beginning in January 2009. Statewide drought planning is underway.

The District has a current and innovative plan to address water shortages. The Expanded Water Conservation and Standby Rationing Plan was adopted in 1999 as Regulation XV of the District’s Rules and Regulations. The plan responds to increasing degrees of water supply restrictions. The early stages of the program assist the community in conserving water so that mandatory rationing may be avoided. To date, the Peninsula water users have been in Stages 1-3 at various times since the Plan’s adoption.

Stages 4-7 of the Expanded Water Supply and Standby Rationing Plan respond to drought or to other emergency reductions in water supply. Stage 4 provides the entry point for non-CAW water distribution systems to join the efforts undertaken by CAW customers in the lower stages (Stages 1-3). During Stage 4, District staff contact and obtain information from all effected water distribution system operators in preparation for Stage 5 (15 rationing). In Stage 5, all systems must reduce water use by 15 percent. CAW and Seaside Basin customers must reduce 15 percent from the Operating Safe Yield. CAW customers have the benefit of using the limited and restricted waters from the Carmel River to augment their needs.

Attached as Exhibit 3-A is a draft of the Contingency Implementation Plan for Stages 4 through 7 of the Expanded Water Conservation and Standby Rationing Plan (i.e. MPWMD Regulation XV). Stages 4-7 respond to drought situations where water rationing is required. The Plan discusses the following areas related to implementation of Stages 4-7 and identifies possible concerns:

• Board Policy Decisions
• Personnel
• Public Education and Outreach
• Enforcement
• Data Management Needs
• Budget

The draft of the Implementation Plan has been prepared to achieve one of the Strategic Plan objectives of the Board’s three-year goal: Enhance and Protect the Water Resources of the Carmel River and the Seaside Ground Water Basin for the Benefit of the Environment and the Community. The specific strategic objective was to “Present to the Water Demand Committee a draft contingency plan to implement Stages 5-7 of the Expanded Conservation and Standby Rationing Plan in case of drought.” Presentation of this report was first made at the September Water Demand Committee meeting.

EXHIBIT

3-A Draft Implementation Plan

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