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Agreements with MWD and OCWD for Restoration of Local Recharge Sources <br />from Invasive Dreissnid Mussels Study <br />August 20, 2019 <br />Page 2 <br />Water District (OCWD) and Trussell Technologies to submit a proposal entitled "Restoration of <br />Local Recharge Sources from Invasive Dreissenid Mussels" (Study). <br />Ever since their discovery in Lake Mead in 2007, quagga mussels (Dreissena bugensis) have <br />spread through MWD's Colorado River Aqueduct (CRA) as far south as Lake Skinner, near <br />Temecula. As of December 2017, quagga mussels have been detected in 43 locations in <br />California. To minimize the spread of quagga mussels, MWD chlorinates CRA water, starting at <br />Copper Basin reservoir, close to the eastern end of the CRA, and at other locations, such as Lake <br />Matthews. Despite this effort, quagga mussels have infested reservoirs used for capture of local <br />runoff, as well as rivers, streams, and canals used to convey both local supplies and imported <br />supplies to groundwater replenishment facilities. This is important because OCWD uses many of <br />the same facilities to recharge imported water and local sources, such as stormwater. As a result, <br />the presence of quagga mussels presents a barrier to the efficient use of these dual -use facilities <br />and has affected the ability to maximize the capture and recharge of local supplies. This, in turn, <br />affects the amount of water available to those that rely on the groundwater basin for water supplies. <br />As an example, Irvine Lake, which is owned and operated by the Irvine Ranch Water District <br />(IRWD), receives both imported CRA water and local storm flow. Downstream of Irvine Lake are <br />OCWD's Santiago Basins which are gravel mines that were converted to groundwater <br />replenishment facilities in the early 1990s. In the 1990s, water from Irvine Lake was discharged to <br />Santiago Basins via Santiago Creek for groundwater replenishment. These deliveries are no longer <br />possible due to the presence of the quagga mussel in Irvine Lake and the potential for infesting <br />Santiago Creek and Santiago Basins. <br />The City of Sana Ana is one of 19 major retailers in the OCWD service area, serving a population <br />of over 334,000. As a groundwater producer in the OCWD service region, the City relies upon <br />OCWD's management of the Orange County groundwater basin for three-quarters of its water <br />supply. This Study is designed to examine ways to maximize the recharge of both imported and <br />local supplies, which will, in turn, increase available water supplies to the City, and others that rely <br />on the groundwater basin. <br />The total cost of the Study is $245,592. On January 31, 2019, the City was notified that MWD <br />authorized the proposal under the FSA Funding Program, which will cover half of the total Study <br />cost. In addition to OCWD, other agencies contributing funding to the Study include the Water <br />Replenishment District of Southern California, United Water Conservation District, the Main San <br />Gabriel Watermaster, and the Central Basin Municipal Water District. The Study is slated to be <br />completed by February 2021. <br />As lead agency, the City will need to enter into two agreements. The first is with MWD (Exhibit 1) <br />and the second is with OCWD (Exhibit 2). The City will receive invoices from OCWD and issue <br />payments for the MWD share of the costs. Subsequently, City will submit invoices to MWD for <br />reimbursement. MWD will not reimburse the City until it issues payments to OCWD. As a result, <br />City funds.will be used to temporarily facilitate the transfer of funds between MWD and OCWD. At <br />20Ci-2 <br />