conservation action committee april 17, 2014

Conservation Action CommitteeApril 17, 2014

Drought Watch 2014

Lake Oroville, 2014

2

What’s Happened Since We Last Met?

3

Not Much Good News for California

Jan. 17 – Governor Brown declares state of emergency

Jan. 30 – State snowpack level dwindles to 12% of normal

Jan. 31 – 2014 State Water Project delivery estimate reduced to zero

No “March Miracle”

January 18, 2013

January 18, 2014

4

Water Agency Drought Response

Feb. 11 - MWD of S. California declares “water supply alert”Calls for voluntary

conservation, doubles conservation budget

Feb. 14 – Water Authority activates drought response planDeclares “Drought Watch”

condition, increased voluntary conservation

Most local agencies have activated drought response ordinances

Levels of Water Authority Model Drought Response Ordinance

5

Current Water Supply Conditions

6

Northern Sierra 8-Station Precipitation Index, April 14, 2014

We’re a little better, but not much

7

Statewide Snowpack ConditionsDWR snow survey on April 1

Typical date of season’s maximum snow accumulation

Statewide snowpack was 32% of average

Snowpack Conditions on April 14, 2014Region Inches % NormalNorth 4” 16%

Central 10” 33%South 6” 25%

Statewide 7” 26%

8

9

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

140%

Colorado River Basin - Inflow to Lake Powell

*US Bureau of Reclamation WY 2014 forecast made on April 2, 2014

10Source: April 8, 2014 MWD Water Planning and Stewardship Committee

11

Fiscal Year Potable Water Use Water Authority Service Area

Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

80,000

Water Use FY13 (AF) Water Use FY14 (AF)

Acre-Feet July – March of FY 2014 is 4% more than in FY 2013

% Average Rainfall at Lindbergh FieldFY 2013 FY 2014Dec – Feb: 71% Dec – Feb: 26%

Ave. Daily Max.Temp.January 2013: 64.6º FJanuary 2014: 70.5º F Normal: 65º F

12

What’s Happening Next?

13

Fed/State Drought Operations Plan April - November 2014

USBR, DWR coordinating major water systemsAddresses health and safety needs, salinity control in the

Delta, and fish and wildlife protectionConservative assumption that drought persists

into 2015No new water expected in 2014 from State Water

ProjectAgencies will update plan as conditions changeReport on http://ca.gov/drought/

14

National Weather Service OutlookApril – June 2014

A = Above Average B = Below Average EC = Equal ChancesMade March 20, 2014

• Over 50% chance of El Niño developing in summer

Temperature OutlookPrecipitation Outlook

15

Campaigns for Increased Conservation Ramping Up

Statewide:“Save Our Water” outreach (ACWA/DWR) increasing in

JuneSouthern California

MWD effort in development, expected June launchCoordinating messages in San Diego region

Water AuthorityLaunching late AprilCoordinating with member agencies (city of San Diego,

etc.)Securing additional grant funding for incentives

16

Thank you!

Jason FosterDirector, Public Outreach and ConservationSan Diego County Water Authorityjfoster@sdcwa.org(858) 522-6701