SGVMWD Operations and Local Water Delivery Update

As reported in the February e-Pipeline newsletter, in January 2022, the California Department of Water Resources increased allocations of imported water from zero to 15% of planned allocations to State Water Contractors such as SGVMWD. That was welcome news as the Main San Gabriel Basin is in need of supplemental water due to the dry winter and worsening drought conditions.

In February, the District delivered 2,909 acre-feet of water on behalf of Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District (USGVMWD) and Three Valleys Municipal Water District (TVMWD). Of the total, 1,993 AF were delivered to the San Gabriel Canyon Spreading Grounds and adjacent canal on behalf of USGVMWD, and 916 AF were delivered to Covina Irrigating Company on behalf of TVMWD.

The District’s planned or full allocation is 28,800 acre-feet. About 80 percent of the Valley’s water supply is furnished by local groundwater, and the Valley imports about 20 percent of the water we use from northern California and the Colorado River. A 60 percent allocation is needed to meet the demand of our member cities for replacement water. Thus, in years where the allocation dips below that amount, we see the important role that water storage plays.

As shown in the graphics above, water supply conditions that had improved slightly in February compared to January are trending in the wrong direction once again. Drought conditions are worsening, and groundwater, rainfall, and statewide snow pack and reservoirs, each remain well below desired levels long-term. 

Following a January and February that will enter records as among the driest documented in state history (January and February are supposed to be the wettest months of the year), the snow pack, and potential water run-off to reservoirs, are declining again." “With only one month left in California’s wet season and no major storms in the forecast, Californians should plan for a third year of drought conditions,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “A significantly below-average snowpack combined with already low reservoir levels make it critical that all Californians step up and conserve water every day to help the state meet the challenges of severe drought.”

“With below average precipitation and snowpack up until this point, our latest statewide snowmelt forecasts are only 66 percent of average,” said Sean de Guzman, Manager of DWR’s Snow Surveys and Water Supply Forecasting Unit. “That is not enough to fill up our reservoirs. Without any significant storms on the horizon, it’s safe to say we’ll end this year dry and extend this drought a third year.”

The District’s board took action to address water supply and drought conditions at its December meeting by unanimously passing a resolution, a key premise of which is, “Further, be it resolved, because the current drought is worsening, drought is “normal” and will recur, and California has not yet mandated water use restrictions, the San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District calls upon all residents, businesses and government entities to commit to work together to implement water management best practices and to achieve the highest levels of voluntary water conservation.” To read the entire resolution, please click here.

Many experts compare current conditions to the serious drought of 1976-1977, however, climate change and increasingly warmer temperatures (two degrees hotter, on average, now than 50 years ago) have evaporated precipitation and melted snow pack much faster than in prior years, resulting in less melting snow feeding rivers and reservoirs, and soil moisture drying out before soaking down into the ground. Computer models show that in the future, dry years will be drier, and wet years will be wetter. As the graph below illustrates, drought is common and “normal” in the San Gabriel Valley. Conservation works and should be a “way of life.” 

Local Groundwater – in the Main San Gabriel Basin, the “Baldwin Park Key Well” is the indicator of local groundwater levels (see graph – blue line includes cyclic storage; black line does not). As of March 4, 2022, the level is 181.5 feet above mean sea level, slightly above a month ago when the level was 182.0 feet above mean sea level. As recent storm runoff percolates down to groundwater levels, groundwater levels are likely to improve. The Basin has experienced a fairly steady decline from a recent high of 212.5 feet above mean sea level in December 2019. The present level is still an improvement from the historic low of 169.4 as recently as November 21, 2018. Watermaster’s operating guidelines for replacement water or “safe yield” is between 200 and 250 feet above mean sea level. Main San Gabriel Basin groundwater supplies, which account for nearly 80% of the water we use, remain below desired levels and remain in need of ongoing smart management, replenishment and conservation.

Imported Water – in January 2022, the California Department of Water Resources raised its allocation of imported water to State Water Contractors such as SGVMWD from zero to 15% following significant precipitation in late December 2021. That water is used to supplement local groundwater supplies in the Main San Gabriel Basin. Here is a look at imported water allocations over time:

Local Rainfall – the Los Angeles Almanac reports annual rainfall levels from July 1 of each year to June 30 of each year. At the Santa Fe Dam weather station, as of March 1, rainfall year-to-date is 11.21 inches, more than ALL of the prior year’s total of 6.49 inches, but representing only 64% of normal annual precipitation. 

Statewide Snow Pack – as of March 1, 2022, statewide, the average “snow water equivalent” is 15.4 inches. Snowfall was nearly nonexistent in January and February, so snow levels are now 56% of the April 1 average (snow pack is measured from April 1 to March 31, a 12-month period), thus, April 1 is usually the “high point” for snow accumulation each year. On average, the Sierra Nevada Mountains snow pack, which is a key source of water banked in reservoirs, supplies about 30% of California’s water needs as it melts in the spring and early summer, feeding reservoirs and the water table, resulting in groundwater.

Statewide Reservoir Levels – statewide, as of January 31, 2022, (the latest data available to us), reservoir levels were at 76% of average and 45% of capacity. Lake Shasta, the state’s largest reservoir, is only 37% full; Lake Oroville, the state’s second largest reservoir, is only 47% full. Every winter, most areas need about 12 inches of rainfall before the ground is saturated enough to get large amounts of runoff into streams and reservoirs. Because last year’s precipitation levels were low and the ground was so dry, the ground absorbed high levels of recent precipitation. California’s reservoirs generally hold enough water to go one dry year without impacts but begin to empty if a wet year does not follow.

The District created the OWL Community Grant Program after several years of successfully funding large, highly visible, public water conservation projects in its member cities. We wanted to fund and spur creation of local, grassroots-oriented water conservation projects by providing “seed money” to help schools and non-profit groups possessing plans, inspiration and volunteers. 

Over the years, we’ve funded dozens of such projects and funding is available to expand and continue such efforts. Please visit our website through the link below and learn more about our local community grant program, examples of past grants and grant guidelines. We look forward to assisting you and working together to promote conservation as a way of life.