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“Tales from the Drought”

Explore the impact of drought in West Kern Water District. Learn California's conservation efforts, regulatory processes, and future water efficiency improvements.

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“Tales from the Drought”

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  1. “Tales from the Drought” August 24, 2016

  2. West Kern Water District • Source of supply: State Water Project (Contract = 31,500af) • Average Demands = 22,000 af • Banked Supplies = 200,000 af • Demands distribution: • Power Plants (3 gigawatts) = 11,000 af • Oil and Gas Production = 8,000 af • West Side Communities = 3,000 af

  3. Drought Timeline

  4. Drought Timeline • 2013-2014 Critically Dry: • 3rd year • 20% voluntary conservation • Water Shortage Contingency Plans • Nights, Nozzles and Brooms

  5. Drought Timeline • 2014-2015 Critically Dry: • 4th year • 25% Mandatory Conservation

  6. What did we learn? • California's can conserve: • 24% Conservation in ‘15-’16 • 1.75 million acre-feet of conserved water

  7. What did we learn?

  8. What did we learn?

  9. What did we learn? • One size fits all has its flaws: • Climate • Turf safety • Evaporative coolers • Population growth

  10. What did we learn? • Drought resiliency doesn’t pay.

  11. What did we learn? • Enlargement of State Government: • The Water Conservation Act of 2009 (reflecting back on SBX7 and 20% by 2020) • Extraordinary conservation vs. Conservation as way of life • Reasonable Use Doctrine: • “Overbuilding supply” • “The right to turf”

  12. What did we learn? • Conservation vs. Water Use Efficiency • Water became “mainstream” news topic

  13. What did we learn?

  14. What did we learn?

  15. What did we learn? • You have to work the regulatory process • Comment letters • Testimony at hearings • Develop coalitions • Use the media • A case study: • How do you conserve 28% when only 13% of your water goes to residential and commercial? • Agricultural and Industrial exemption • Alternative (Arbitrary) Compliance • Qualitative vs. Quantitative

  16. Moving forward………. The new Executive Order calls for water use efficiency improvements that include: • Developing new urban water use targets that generate more water conservation than existing SBX7-7 requirements • Reducing water loss (SB 555 mandate loss audits by October 2017). • Improving urban Water Shortage Contingency Plans and reporting requirements • New requirements for agricultural water suppliers

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