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41" AND CABRILLO <br />WATER SUPPLY ASSESSMENT AUGUST 21, 2020 <br />Over the past 16 years (2000-2015), there have only been three years when the Colorado River <br />flow has been above average.' The long-term imbalance in future supply and demand is <br />projected to be approximately 3.2 MAF by the year 2060. Actions are currently being taken <br />and planned in the future to resolve the imbalance between water supply and demand in areas <br />that use Colorado River water. Such actions include the resolution of uncertainties related to <br />water conservation, reuse, water banking, and weather modification concepts.7 <br />State Water Proiect <br />The State Water Project (SWP) collects water from rivers in Northern California and redistributes <br />it to the water -scarce but populous central and southern portions of California through a <br />network of aqueducts, pumping stations and power plants. Approximately 70% of the water <br />provided by the SWP is used for urban areas and industry in Southern California and the San <br />Francisco Bay Area, and 30% is used for irrigation in the Central Valley. The availability of <br />water supplies from the SWP can be highly variable. A wet water year may be followed by a dry <br />water year which restricts the amount of water that can be delivered throughout California. <br />Metropolitan's SWP imported water is stored at Castaic Lake on the western side of <br />Metropolitan's service area and at Silverwood Lake near San Bernardino, as well as in Diamond <br />Valley Lake. <br />The Sacramento -San Joaquin River Delta (Delta) is key to the SWP's ability to deliver water to <br />its agricultural and urban contractors. The Delta faces many challenges concerning its long- <br />term sustainability such as climate change posing a threat of increased variability in floods and <br />droughts. Sea level rise complicates efforts in managing salinity levels and preserving water <br />quality in the Delta to ensure a suitable water supply for urban and agricultural use. <br />Furthermore, other challenges include continued subsidence of Delta islands, many of which <br />are below sea level, and the related threat of a catastrophic levee failure as the water pressure <br />increases, or as a result of a major seismic event. <br />Metropolitan's Board approved a Delta Action Plan in June 2007 that provides a framework for <br />staff to pursue actions with other agencies and stakeholders to build a sustainable Delta and <br />reduce conflicts between water supply conveyance and the environment. The Delta action plan <br />aims to prioritize immediate short-term actions to stabilize the Delta while an ultimate solution <br />is selected, and mid-term steps to maintain the Delta while a long-term solution is implemented. <br />Currently, Metropolitan is working towards addressing three basic elements: Delta ecosystem <br />restoration, water supply conveyance, and flood control protection and storage development. <br />In April 2015, the Brown Administration announced California WaterFix, as well as a separate <br />ecosystem restoration effort called California EcoRestore (formerly known as the Bay Delta <br />Conservation Plan). Together, the California WaterFix and California EcoRestore would make <br />significant contributions toward achieving the coequal goals of providing a more reliable water <br />supply for California and protecting, restoring, and enhancing the Delta ecosystem. The <br />WaterFix was aimed at making physical and operational improvements to the SWP system in <br />the Delta necessary to restore and protect ecosystem health, south -of -Delta SWP water supplies, <br />and water quality. <br />6 2015 Metropolitan UWMP. <br />7 2012 USBR Colorado River Basin Water Supply and Demand Study. <br />FUSCOE ENGINEERING, INC. 55D-25 17 <br />