Bureau of ReclamationBureau of ReclamationMid-Pacific RegionMid-Pacific Region

Regional Criteria for Regional Criteria for Evaluating Water Evaluating Water

Management Plans for the Management Plans for the Sacramento River Sacramento River

ContractorsContractors

WELCOMEWELCOME

Agenda• Introduction• Background• Regional Criteria• Comments

Water Conservation LawsWater Conservation Laws

Reclamation Reform Act of 1982 (RRA)

Central Valley Project Improvement Act of 1992 (CVPIA)

RRA RequirementsRRA Requirements

●Each Contractors shall develop a Water Conservation Plan (Plan)

●Each Plan shall contain:• Definite goals• Water conservation measures• Time schedule for meeting objectives

CVPIA RequirementsCVPIA Requirements

The Secretary shall:• Develop criteria to evaluate Plans

which:– Include EWMPs identified for Ag Water

Suppliers (State) or– Provides for reasonable alternatives

Standard CriteriaStandard Criteria

Developed Standard Criteria in 1993 Revised every 3 years (1996, 1999, 2002) 2002 Criteria:

• Provides Contractors the option of pooling resources and implementing joint programs

• Provided alternatives, i.e. Quantifiable Objectives

Administrative ProposalAdministrative Proposal

1995 – Interior invited the public to comment on CVPIA implementation

1997 – Final CVPIA Administrative Proposal on Water Conservation – Recommended development of Regional

Criteria for the Sacramento Valley as an experimental first step

– Measurement – Resolve by collecting additional info within Districts

Regional Criteria – How did we Regional Criteria – How did we get here?get here?Initiated Public Scoping in 1997

• 15 Stakeholders interviewed in August 1997• Public Workshops held – October 1 and 28,

1997• Comments received from the public

Sacramento Valley Regional Criteria Sacramento Valley Regional Criteria

First workshop resulted in three alternatives • Regional BMP • Needs analysis with negotiated

efficiency• Objectives driven (QOs)

Second workshop• Selected QO approach and explored

potential QOs

Sacramento Valley Regional CriteriaSacramento Valley Regional Criteria

Drafted Regional Criteria Unresolved issues included:

• Undefined QOs

• Water measurement approach

Development of Regional Criteria Development of Regional Criteria – Restarted Process: 2002– Restarted Process: 2002

Utilized defined QO methodology defined by CALFED

Measurement Study proposal from the Sac River Contractors

Quantifiable ObjectivesQuantifiable Objectives

Quantifiable ObjectivesQuantifiable Objectives

Specific to Ag projectsIdentify improvements on a

Watershed Basis (Targeted Benefits)• Demand Reduction (Reduction in ET)• Water Quality (Reduction in NPS

Pollution)• Environmental (Improved Stream Flows)

Quantifiable ObjectivesQuantifiable Objectives

Quantify the change that will be required for the improvement• Allow early spring flow event of approximately

8,000-10,000 cfs in dry years• Reduce in ET by 5 percent• Reduce Nitrates in River to 10ppm

Establish practices that will lead to all or a portion of the improvement.

Multiple Benefits of Multiple Benefits of Rerouted FlowsRerouted Flows

ET

Irrecoverable Loss

Recoverable Loss

River

Reduce rerouted flow: no supply gain, but increases stream flow and improves quality

Rerouted Flow

Targeted Benefits: Categories Targeted Benefits: Categories by Regionby Region

Region

Sacramento Valley a a a a a a aDelta & Tributary a a a a a a a a a a aWest Side SJ Valley a a a a a a a a a

East Side SJ Valley a a a a a a a aSouthern SJ Valley a a a a a a a a

QuantityQuality

Flo

w /

Tim

ing

Nu

trie

nts

Gro

up

A

Pes

tici

des

Pes

tici

des

Categories of Targeted Benefits by

Region

Sh

ort

-Ter

m

Div

ers

Fle

XF

low

s to

Sal

t S

inks

Sal

init

y

Nat

ive

Co

nst

itu

ents

Tem

per

atu

res

Sed

imen

ts

Lo

ng

-Ter

m

Div

ers

Fle

X

No

np

rod

uct

ive

Eva

po

rati

on

Region

Sacramento Valley a a a a a a aDelta & Tributary a a a a a a a a a a aWest Side SJ Valley a a a a a a a a a

East Side SJ Valley a a a a a a a aSouthern SJ Valley a a a a a a a a

QuantityQuality

Flo

w /

Tim

ing

Nu

trie

nts

Gro

up

A

Pes

tici

des

Pes

tici

des

Categories of Targeted Benefits by

Region

Sh

ort

-Ter

m

Div

ers

Fle

X

Flo

ws

to S

alt

Sin

ks

Sal

init

y

Nat

ive

Co

nst

itu

ents

Tem

per

atu

res

Sed

imen

ts

Lo

ng

-Ter

m

Div

ers

Fle

X

No

np

rod

uct

ive

Eva

po

rati

on

Linking Benefits to Sub-RegionsLinking Benefits to Sub-Regions

Want to use incentives to motivate locals to

address these benefits

21 Sub-Regions

Quantifiable Objectives ApproachQuantifiable Objectives Approach

Analyze QOs

For

Non–Applicability

List

Non–Applicable

Prioritize

Applicable QOs

Develop Proposed QO/Year 1

Develop Proposed QO/Year 2

Develop Proposed QO/Year 3

Develop Proposed QO/Year 4

Develop Proposed QO/Year 5

Identify Actions

Identify Actions

Identify Actions

Identify Actions

Identify Actions

Quantifiable ObjectivesQuantifiable Objectives

Currently developed – 33 QOsContractors to:

• Assess QOs for non-applicability• Develop six potential QOs per year• Develop implementation plan for each QO

–Include specific actions and analysis for local/overall benefits and costs

Analyze QOs for Non-ApplicabilityAnalyze QOs for Non-Applicability

QOs currently being implemented through other Regional activities

CALFED Science Program has determined the QO and/or related TB are no longer warranted

Participating Contractors are not able to affect related TB

Prioritize QOs for Analysis & Prioritize QOs for Analysis & QuantificationQuantification

Information in the Annual Update to include:• Preliminary prioritization of proposed QOs

based on specific considerations• Annual analyze 1/5th of proposed QOs for

implementation (one for each sub-region)• Progress tracked in the Annual Update

(actions and funding efforts)

Potential MeasuresPotential Measures

Consider• Improved grower education• Implementation of appropriate Pricing

and Measurement

Regional Measurement ProgramRegional Measurement Program

Regional Measurement ProgramRegional Measurement Program

Contractor to measure volume of water delivered to each customer, and

Implement procedures providing incentives for improved water management,

or

Regional Measurement ProgramRegional Measurement Program

Initiate implementation of a mutually acceptable measurement program within 3 years of contract renewal

Full implementation within 5 years thereof Based on results from field studies Shall be at lease as effective as the

measurement provision in the Standard Criteria

Monitoring ProgramMonitoring Program

Document existing conditions for flows and water quality constituents for selected QOs • Update these conditions annually

Monitoring Program to include:• Specific monitoring for each objective• Schedule, budget, and responsibility for

monitoring• Annual Reporting requirements

Regional Criteria – Pilot StudyRegional Criteria – Pilot Study

These Regional Criteria are a pilot study

If not found to be as effective, will revert to the current Standard Criteria

BUREAU OF RECLAMATIONBUREAU OF RECLAMATIONwww.usbr.gov/mp/watersharewww.usbr.gov/mp/watershare

CommentsComments