Item 28 - Urban Water Management Plan and Water Shortage Contingency Plan

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Santa Ana 2020 Urban Water Management Plan arcadis.com 6-6 have contributed to achievements like achieving a record low diversion of the Colorado River in 2019, a level not seen since the 1950s. Colorado River water management programs include: Imperial Irrigation District / MET Conservation Program – Under agreements executed in 1988 and 1989, this program allows MET to fund water efficiency improvements within Imperial Irrigation District’s service area in return for the right to divert the water conserved by those investments. An average of 105,000 AFY of water has been conserved since the program’s implementation. Palo Verde Land Management, Crop Rotation, and Water Supply Program – Authorized in 2004, this 35-year program allows MET to pay participating farmers to reduce their water use, and for MET to receive the saved water. Over the life of the program, an average of 84,500 AFY has been saved and made available to MET. Bard Seasonal Fallowing Program – Authorized in 2019, this program allows MET to pay participating farmers in Bard to reduce their water use between the late spring and summer months of selected years, which provides up to 6,000 AF of water to be available to MET in certain years. Management of MET-Owned Land in Palo Verde – Since 2001, MET has acquired approximately 21,000 acres of irrigable farmland that are leased to growers, with incentives to grow low water-using crops and experiment with low water-consumption practices. If long-term water savings are realized, MET may explore ways to formally account them for Colorado River supplies. Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) and MET Storage and Interstate Release Agreement – Entered in 2004, this agreement allows SNWA to store its unused, conserved water with MET, in exchange for MET to receive additional Colorado River water supply. MET has relied on the additional water during dry years, especially during the 2011-2016 California drought, and SNWA is not expected to call upon MET to return water until after 2026. Lower Colorado Water Supply Projects – Authorized in 1980s, this project provides up to 10,000 AFY of water to certain entities that do not have or have insufficient rights to use Colorado River water. A contract executed in 2007 allowed MET to receive project water left unused by the project contractors along the River – nearly 10,000 AF was received by MET in 2019 and is estimated for 2020. Exchange Programs – MET is involved in separate exchange programs with the United States Bureau of Reclamation, which takes place at the Colorado River Intake and with San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA), which exchanges conserved Colorado River water. Lake Mead Storage Program – Executed in 2006, this program allows MET to leave excessively conserved water in Lake Mead, for exclusive use by MET in later years. Quagga Mussel Control Program – Developed in 2007, this program introduced surveillance activities and control measures to combat quagga mussels, an invasive species that impact the Colorado River’s water quality.