SGVMWD Operations and Local Water Delivery Update -

State Water Project Allocation Reduced to 5%

In January 2022, following winter precipitation, 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 welcome news was significantly reversed in March as the State reduced the allocation back to only 5% due to declining water supply conditions following the driest three-month period in our history in January, February and March. A 5% allocation means the District will be able to deliver only 1,440 AF of water (of its planned 28,800 AF) from the SWP to underground storage in the Main San Gabriel Basin. 

As of May 31st, the Devil Canyon-Azusa Pipeline is offline for maintenance and infrastructure projects. In July, the pipeline modification portion of the project is underway and is expected to be completed by July 5th. Two 30” WYEs are being installed in order to launch and receive the electro-magnetic condition assessment equipment (30” See Snake inspection tool). C.P. Construction Co., Inc. is the contractor.

• PICA (Pipeline Inspection and Condition Analysis Corporation) is the subcontractor performing the condition assessment and will coordinate with engineers to provide data analysis including structural analysis, failure risk curves and repair prioritization.
• Pigging / size-gauging is expected to commence the week of July 11th.
• Electro-magnetic (See Snake) and leak detection testing (PICA Pipers) should commence the week of July 18th.
• Once the free swimming testing is complete, the pipeline will be dewatered.
• Once dewatered, a complete CCTV inspection will be conducted for visual reinforcement of data gathered by the condition assessment tools. 
• Provided there are no areas requiring excavation for supplemental inspection/immediate repair, the pipeline will be refilled and is expected to be available by September 1st.

Summary - As shown in the graphics above, water supply conditions remain lower than desired and are trending negatively. U.S. Drought Monitor maps reveal more than 97% of California is classified under severe or extreme drought, up from about 66% five months ago. Groundwater, rainfall, and statewide snow pack and reservoirs, each remain well below desired levels.  

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. 

We’ll need multiple above-average rain and snow years to make up the difference. As the graph below illustrates, drought is common and “normal” in the San Gabriel Valley. 

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 August, 2022, the level declined to 182.6 feet above mean sea level. The Basin has experienced a fairly steady decline in groundwater levels in recent years from a high of 212.5 feet above mean sea level in December 2019. The present level is trending downward toward the historic low of 169.4 recorded on November 21, 2018. Watermaster’s operating guidelines for replacement water or “safe yield” is between 200 and 250 feet above mean sea level. 

Note: Groundwater use accounts for 41% of California’s total water supply on an average, annual basis, and as much as 58% in a critically dry year. About 85% of public water systems rely on groundwater as their primary supply. Of water diverted and pumped in California, about 80% is used by agriculture and 20% is used by cities and towns.

Imported Water – in March 2022, the California Department of Water Resources reduced its allocation of imported water to State Water Contractors such as SGVMWD from zero to 5% (from 15%) due to the record-setting dry conditions from January through March of this year. Imported water is used to supplement local groundwater supplies in the Main San Gabriel Basin. Here is a look at how imported water allocations fluctuate over time:

Local Rainfall – the Los Angeles Almanac reports annual rainfall levels from July 1 to June 30 of each year. For the nearby Santa Fe Dam weather station, the total rainfall for the 2021-2022 year was 13.36 inches, 77% of normal (which is about 17.38 inches of rain per year), but better than the prior year’s total of 6.49 inches. There was no measurable rainfall at the station in the month of July 2022.

Statewide Snow Pack – as of August 1, 2022, statewide, snowpack was 0% of the April 1 average (snow pack is measured from April 1 to March 31, a 12-month period). April 1 is usually the “high point” for snow accumulation each year. 

Note: On average, the Sierra Nevada Mountains snowpack, 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 June 30, 2022, (the latest data available to us), reservoir levels were at 69 of average and 51% of capacity. Shasta Lake, the state’s largest reservoir, was at 38% capacity in late July 2022. Because last year’s precipitation levels were low and the ground was so dry, the ground absorbed high levels of recent precipitation, depriving our reservoirs of needed supply.

Note: 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. 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 OWL Community Grant Program seeks 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. 

We are very flexible with respect to project approaches and funding levels. In fact, as of April 1, 2022, we no longer have limits on the amount of funds for which schools and non-profit organizations may apply. Charted below is a summary of grants to date. Please click on the chart to be directed to our website to learn more about the program and grant guidelines. Applying is easy and may be completed online. Contact us if you have any questions at 626-969-7911 or info@sgvmwd.com. 

Teaching the Future of Sierra Madre about Aquifers and Groundwater

A significant role of the San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District is not only to provide our partner cities with water, but also to educate the general public about water resources and conservation. Through our efforts, we hope to provide the public with water-saving tips, guides, and ways to decrease water usage around the home. 

On July 20th, the district, alongside the Sierra Madre Parks and Recreation Services, hosted a fun interactive activity for the children of the city of Sierra Madre. Through the creative use of building materials, as well as a set of instructions, the children were able to construct their very own miniature aquifer, as well as see the effects of groundwater pollution by using some food-coloring solution. The kids took home a valuable lesson, as well as a cool model!

Pictured below is External Affairs Manager Evelyn Reyes teaching the children to build an aquifer.