Water Quality and Supply Issues Monthly Update-MAR 2023
Happy Spring 2023 to everyone working in the construction industry in California. As we try and dry out (maybe soon?) from a record-setting winter of precipitation, state and local agencies across the state are continuing to look at finding ways to store and conserve more water.
Legislators in Sacramento have already introduced new bond funding proposals to provide additional flood protection for millions of Californians while at the same time building storage to accommodate the highly variable precipitation we receive year to year.
In southern California, conservation mandates enacted in 2022 were terminated for large areas of Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Ventura counties because of the bumper year in rainfall and water available in storage. Easing restrictions was welcome news for residents and businesses. However, the major State water contractor in the area, The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, is maintaining its focus on reducing reliance on Colorado River supplies, increasing local supply development through groundwater replenishment, and funding crucial water recycling efforts such as the Southern California Pure Water project.
On the advocacy front, CICWQ has been working with local public works agencies at the county and city levels (Bay Area – Southern California) to ensure site development engineering guidance is appropriately updated to include the latest in stormwater runoff capture technologies. These systems are generally known as biofiltration and bioretention. A new generation of municipal stormwater permits is being adopted, which allows these systems, but updates must be made in the technical guidance used by project proponents and developers and their planners and engineers.
WATER ISSUES WORTH YOUR TIME IN MARCH
1) California Flood Protection Bond Act of 2024 – AB 305 (Villapudua)
Assembly Bill 305 (Villapudua) was introduced in late January 2023 as a flood protection general obligation bond act and, if approved, would be submitted to the voters at the next general election for an unspecified amount. California Flood Protection Bond Act of 2024. According to Assembly Member Carlos Villapudua “The California Flood Protection Bond Act of 2024 will place a multi-billion dollar proposal in front of California voters for the purpose of funding flood management projects across the state.”
2) Emergency Conservation Mandates Removed for Customers within the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
In a significant change, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California reports it will no longer mandate emergency restrictions on water use for nearly 7 million people after winter storms helped alleviate shortage conditions that severely limited the availability of state water supplies. MWD’s Board of Directors approved the mandate removal on Tuesday, March 14).
3) State Water Project Allocation Increases to 75%
On March 24, the California Department of Water Resources updated the State Water Project delivery forecast to 75% of requested water supplies, which is up from the 35% announced in February of this year.
Further adjustments could be made to the allocation after the next Sierra snow survey is done in early April. The State Water Project serves 27 million Californians.
