A Word From Our General Manager, Ken Payne
This month, we embarked on the development of a new five-year Strategic Plan for 2020-2025, known as the SP25+. Our current strategic plan anticipates water resource-related needs and challenges that prioritized new water supplies to serve the needs of the County, opportunities in stormwater management, and new funding sources to support key projects and initiatives throughout the County.
Our new Strategic Plan will build upon recent successes and outline the overall goals and objectives for the Agency over the next five years. Emphasis will be on the Agency’s fundamental water resources responsibilities, to economically develop water resources from a countywide perspective with the County, water districts, municipalities, and resource conservation districts. The new Plan also will reflect our renewed focus on integrated and comprehensive water management as outlined in the Agency’s 1959 Water Act, and our collaborative project development as outlined in the Agency’s 2019 Water Resources Development and Management Plan (WRDMP).
Our staff will be working closely with the Board of Directors on the plan development process. A series of workshops are occurring to review the overall direction and contents of the plan, and to gather input for incorporation in the plan. Pending Board approval, we anticipate releasing the completed 2020-2025 Strategic Plan in Winter 2020-21.
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Agency Approves More than $330,000 in
Cost-Sharing Funds
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At its August meeting, our Board of Directors approved approximately $336,000 in funds to implement a series of projects throughout El Dorado County. The funds will support the efforts by the South Tahoe Public Utility District (STPUD), Tahoe City Public Utility District (TCPUD), El Dorado Irrigation District (EID), Georgetown Divide Public Utility District (GDPUD), Grizzly Flats Community Services District (GFCSD), and the American River Conservancy (ARC). Implementation program projects will include cost and technical assistance for the following categories:
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Water Security: STPUD and TCPUD are finalizing their water rights associated with the Truckee River Operating Agreement. In addition, the cost-share funds support STPUD, EID, GDPUD, and GFCSD to develop their urban water management plans that outline long-term resource planning and ensure adequate water supplies will meet existing and future water needs.
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Assistance and Innovation: STPUD is pursuing technological advances for waterline protection systems to prioritize pipeline replacement, and to use artificial intelligence for predicting waterline failures. Also, GDPUD is implementing metering that will improve conservation and water delivery efficiencies.
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Watershed Management: The ARC is leading a meadow assessment for the upper North Fork Cosumnes River watershed. This represents the initial phase for developing a comprehensive meadow restoration and monitoring plan that will benefit the County.
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Communication and Advocacy: STPUD is completing a private well owner survey, and gathering important data on well usage and water quality. An estimated 246 well owners will be contacted as part of the survey.
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In implementing our 2019 WRDMP, the Agency will leverage regional collaborations and support for more effective planning and resource management. In addition to cost-sharing programs, we have entered into a memorandum of understanding with STPUD, that will lead the efforts to develop a groundwater sustainability plan for the South Tahoe region. These combined efforts more efficiently allocate time, information, and other resources while unifying our approach to create and maintain a more resilient water supply in El Dorado County. |
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Agency Receives Grant for Development of
Regional Drought Contingency Plan
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The Agency received a WaterSMART grant from the United States Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) to prepare a Regional Drought Contingency Plan (RDCP) for the Upper American River Basin. The RDCP will be a collaborative project among water purveyors and stakeholders of the Upper American River Watershed and a portion of the Cosumnes River Watershed in El Dorado County. |
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The Agency is leading the plan development effort, alongside key partner, El Dorado Irrigation District. Other water purveyors in the planning area, including Georgetown Divide Public Utility District and Grizzly Flats Community Services District, will serve as active members of the Drought Planning Executive Committee. Placer County Water Agency is included since we share the upper portions of the American River Watershed. The Regional Water Authority will also participate by representing the interests of downstream water purveyors. Additional stakeholders that will participate in the process include tribal stakeholders, public and private landowners and land managers, including the United States Forest Service, agricultural interests, and local conservation organizations.
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The RDCP will include the following six elements, as agreed upon with Reclamation: drought monitoring, vulnerability assessment, mitigation actions, response actions, operational and administrative framework, and plan update process. The plan is slated for completion by the end of 2021. |
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Georgetown Divide Public Utility District
Approves First-Ever Water Transfer
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For the first time in its history, the Georgetown Divide Public Utility District (GDPUD) completed a temporary water transfer this year. The one-time transfer of 2,000 acre-feet of water was released from Stumpy Meadows Reservoir for delivery to Folsom Lake. The transfer was initiated on August 19 and completed earlier this month.
The favorable hydrologic conditions in the region this year presented an ideal opportunity for GDPUD to execute the transfer, which was authorized by its Board of Directors in May. While the region experienced an average/slightly dry water year that was sufficient to meet local needs, there remained a demand for additional water supply in other parts of the state. The 2,000 acre-feet of water from this transfer will ultimately be received by Westlands Water District for distribution to farms located in west Fresno and King counties.
The additional revenue generated from the temporary transfer will be used to fund deferred Capital Improvement Program projects for GDPUD, which would otherwise likely require future water customer rate increases to fund.
“This one-time transfer creates a much-needed alternative revenue source for the District, does not negatively impact our ratepayers, and assists the State in meeting agriculture water demands and ultimately providing food to the nation. Since we anticipate that Stumpy Meadows will likely be refilled during the 2020-2021 winter season, there are also no expected long-term effects on our water supplies.”
~ Jeff Nelson, Interim General Manager, Georgetown Divide Public Utility District
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