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HISTORIC RAIN, YET DROUGHT REMAINS <br />weather storage has not met it potential due to challenges in trapping rainwater and <br />runoff. The aquifer has not been made a regular source of water for all of Orange <br />County which could ease South Orange County's supply problems. <br />The aquifer supplies approximately 72% of the water for North and Central Orange <br />County. The aquifer is primarily supplied by runoff in the Santa Ana River and <br />supplemented with water from the OCWD's Groundwater replenishment project and <br />water purchased through MWDOC and MET. <br />OCWD has done well managing the aquifer for North and Central Orange County with <br />existing flows. It has also taken steps to increase the supply of water by working with the <br />Corps of Engineers to better manage the flow of water in the Prado Reservoir, <br />expanding the groundwater replenishment system, and participating in the Santa Ana <br />River Conservation and Conjunctive Use Program .26 All of these steps reinforce the <br />ability of the basin to supply water but do not in themselves assure an increased supply <br />water. <br />South Orange County can only receive water during times of emergencies but does not <br />have regular access to the water. Interviewees noted there was a lack of ability to move <br />water to South Orange County. Because South Orange County is almost 100% <br />dependent upon water imported from MET, this is highly problematic during drought. <br />The Santa Ana River <br />water basin covers San <br />Bernardino and <br />Riverside Counties as <br />well as Orange County. <br />q The Santa Ana <br />Watershed Project <br />Authority (SAWPA) <br />works to maintain the <br />•. water quality in the <br />Santa Ana River and is <br />actively working on <br />drought responses. <br />According to its web <br />IF site, "SAWPA's work in <br />Figure 4.3-1. Water Retail Service Areas in the Santa Ana River Watershed the Santa Ana River <br />Watershed advances projects and programs that build water resiliency and promote <br />collaborative, innovative responses to water planning, all of which help address drought <br />conditions. "27 SAWPA also prepared a water shed management plan.28 <br />ORAkq(61 1F GRAND JURY 2022 1 2023 7 — 44 11 /�U?eQ :�f 57 <br />