Public Scoping Meeting for the Preparation of a Program Environmental Impact Report

1. Public Scoping Meeting for the Preparation of a Program Environmental Impact Report to Address Implementation of the Optimum Basin Management Program (OBMP) for the Chino Groundwater Basin

2. Optimum Basin Management ProgramPurpose of a Scoping Meeting • Scoping helps to identify the range of actions, alternatives, environmental effects, methods of assessment, and mitigation measures to be analyzed in depth, and eliminates from detailed study those issues that are not important to the decision at hand (Section 15083 CEQA Guidelines).

3. Optimum Basin Management ProgramPurpose of Notice of Preparation (NOP) • The purpose of a NOP is to fulfill legal notification requirements, and to inform the public and CEQA Responsible and Trustee Agencies that a program EIR will be prepared. • The intent is to solicit input regarding the potential environmental effects of the proposed project.

4. Optimum Basin Management ProgramProgram Environmental Impact Report (EIR) • A program EIR has been selected for the OBMP based on the definition of a program document contained in Section 15168 of the State CEQA Guidelines which states: • “ A program EIR is an EIR which may be prepared on a series of actions that can be characterized as one large project and are related either: (1) Geographically, (2) As a logical part in the chain of contemplated actions,...”

5. Optimum Basin Management Program& CEQA • The OBMP clearly establishes a program that falls within the scope of a programmatic document because it defines a series of actions that are tied together within the Chino Groundwater Basin; and the proposed program actions are all designed to fulfill the goal of enhanced safe yield and improved water quality for the Basin.

6. Optimum Basin Management ProgramPotential Environmental Effects • The IEUA proposes to prepare a full scope environmental evaluation that will address all issues on a standard Initial Study Environmental Checklist Form. These include: • Land Use  Hazards • Population & Housing  Noise • Geological Problems  Public Services • Water  Utilities & Service Systems • Air Quality  Aesthetics • Transportation/Circulation  Cultural Resources • Biological Resources  Recreation • Energy & Mineral Resources

7. Geological problems (subsidence or liquefaction) may be caused or exacerbated due to extraction and recharge of groundwater in support of OBMP objectives. Biological resource impacts may be caused by ground disturbance undertaken to install the facilities required to implement the OBMP. The creation and expansion of water-related facilities may affect future growth in undeveloped areas. Recycling reclaimed water has the potential to increase levels of Total Dissolved Solids and adversely impact groundwater quality in the Basin. Operation of desalting and treatment facilities will generate salt and other waste products that may be problematic for disposal. Construction of additional facilities has the potential to conflict with existing land uses. Optimum Basin Management ProgramPotential Impacts Requiring Mitigation

8. The unplanned use of flood control basins for percolation of storm water and recycled water could result in the potential for exposure of people and surrounding areas to flooding hazards. Treatment of degraded water has the potential to generate hazardous wastes (both solid waste and air pollutants) and the potential to expose people to hazardous conditions. Visual resources may be affected by construction of element facilities. Construction and operation of facilities to implement program elements may have air quality impacts (fugitive dust or other emissions). Construction activities and new facility operations may generate noise that will conflict with adjacent land uses. Cultural resource impacts may be caused by ground disturbances undertaken to install OBMP physical facilities. Optimum Basin Management ProgramPotential Impacts Requiring Mitigation

9. Chino Basin WatermasterOptimum Basin Management Program • The Optimum Basin Management Program (OBMP) encompasses the Chino Basin. The Chino Groundwater Basin has been divided into five management zones, based on hydrologic conditions, and into three sub-basins.

10. Optimum Basin Management ProgramRegional Map of the Chino Groundwater Basin

12. Optimum Basin Management ProgramChino Sub-basins

13. Optimum Basin Management ProgramCharacteristics • The Chino Groundwater Basin is one of the largest groundwater basins in southern California, containing about 5 million acre-feet of water in storage with an additional unused storage capacity of about 1 million acre-feet.

14. Optimum Basin Management ProgramCharacteristics • Cities and other water supply entities produce groundwater for all or part of their municipal and industrial supplies from the Chino Groundwater Basin. • The average annual well production is 140,000 acre-feet for the Basin. • An additional 300 to 400 agricultural users also produce groundwater from the Basin.

15. Optimum Basin Management ProgramDescription • The Chino Basin Watermaster was effectively established by a Judgement entered in the Superior Court of California (the Court) in 1977. • The Judgement allows the Watermaster to collect funds, to finance essential studies and negotiations, and to implement a management program for the Chino Groundwater Basin. • The Watermaster was also directed by the Court to prepare and submit an OBMP document.

16. Optimum Basin Management ProgramPhasing • Phase 1- Defining the state of the Chino Groundwater Basin, establishing goals concerning major stakeholders and affirming the management plan. • Phase 2- Implementation mechanisms for the OBMP.

17. Optimum Basin Management ProgramGoals • Goal 1:To enhance Chino Basin groundwater supplies. • Goal 2:To protect and enhance water quality. • Goal 3:To enhance management of the Chino Groundwater Basin. • Goal 4:To equitably finance the OBMP.

18. Element No.1: Monitoring Element No. 2: Recharge Element No. 3: Water Supply Plan for the Impaired Areas of the Basin Element No. 4: Groundwater Management Plan for Zone 1 Element No. 5: Regional Supplemental Water Program Element No. 6: Cooperative Efforts Element No. 7: Salt Management Element No. 8: Groundwater Storage Management Program Element No. 9: Conjunctive-Use Programs Optimum Basin Management ProgramElements for Development & Implementation

19. Develop and Implement Comprehensive Monitoring Program Impact of recharge water on groundwater will be monitored using up & down gradient monitoring wells. Data from the monitoring study will provide necessary information to determine outflow to the Santa Ana River, actual Basin production, optimum groundwater treatment facility design and management policies for the Basin. Program Element No. 1

20. Develop and Implement Comprehensive Recharge Program The recharge of recycled water will be coordinated with percolation of surface runoff from the mountains, urban stormwater runoff, and State Water Project sources, so as to minimize future dependency on uncertain water supplies. Locate new recharge facilities in the upper half of the basin to ensure recovery of this water for beneficial uses and to increase basin yield. Locate new recharge facilities in the lower half of the basin only when recovery of recharged water can be assured, and when sub-basin water quality will not be adversely affected (Relates to Program Element 3,4,5,9). Program Element No. 2

21. Develop and Implement Water Supply Plan for the Impaired Areas of the Basin. Develop regional and local groundwater treatment systems/programs to treat degraded groundwater for subsequent direct beneficial uses, to improve groundwater quality by decreasing TDS and Nitrogen concentrations, and to maintain/increase safe yield. These systems/programs will help to prevent basin outflow, stop the spreading of degraded water quality, and improve Santa Ana River water quality (Related to Program Elements 1,5,7,9). Program Element No. 3

22. Develop and Implement Groundwater Management Plan for Management Zone 1. Develop groundwater level and quality management programs for use in arresting the decline in groundwater level for this zone. Implement a combination of the following actions to minimize potential for additional subsidence, fissuring, lost production capability and water quality problems: (a)increase recharge, (b)manage zonal production, (c)increase direct use of supplemental water supplies in this area, and (d) develop new management policies regarding cyclic and local storage accounts (Relates to Program Elements 1,2,5,6,8,9) Program Element No. 4

23. Develop and Implement Regional Supplemental Water Program. To allow for greater recharge of recycled water, develop offset programs and mitigation programs to increase the assimilative capacity for TDS and Nitrogen in the Basin. As future demands increase, traditional sources of supplemental supplies may become limited. By maximizing the direct use of recycled water, future dependence on expensive and less reliable sources will be minimized. This program will ensure that adequate supplies of high quality water will be available to meet future demands (Relates to Program Elements 2,3,4,9). Program Element No. 5

24. Develop and Implement Cooperative Programs with the Regional Board and Other Agencies to Improve Basin Management. Cooperatively participate in RWQCB Watershed Management Efforts for the region. Coordinate efforts to blend recycled water, imported water and natural storm water, facilitating better management of the TDS and TIN in flushing/cleaning-up the groundwater basin. Coordinate with regulatory agencies to share monitoring responsibilities and to facilitate information distribution so that coordinated action may be taken to define and address water quality issues, and to allow for improved timeliness in clean-up efforts (Relates to Program Elements 1,3,4,9). Program Element No. 6

25. Develop and Implement Salt Management Program. Develop salt budget goals to obtain optimum water quality for the entire Chino Basin. Coordinate recycled water recharge program with the construction of desalters in the lower end of Chino Basin. Develop programs to export manure, treat or export dairy sewage, and eliminate dairy sewage discharge into the basin. These actions will decrease ongoing salt and nitrogen loading at less cost than treatment of receiving waters. Program Element No. 7

26. Develop and Implement Groundwater Storage Management Program. Develop methods to account for losses from cyclic and local storage accounts and set limits on storage. This action will help maintain the safe yield and ensure that basin water is put to maximum beneficial use (Relates to Program Element 4). Program Element No. 8

27. Develop and Implement Conjunctive-Use Program. Develop conjunctive use programs that account for water quantity and quality and will result in balanced production throughout the Basin. This will result in lower water supply costs to basin producers (Relates to the implementation of all Program Elements and Goal Number 4). Program Element No. 9

28. Optimum Basin Management ProgramPotential Projects Maintain and construct wells as necessary for monitoring and recharge purposes Install water pipelines and brine pipelines to deliver water, transport recycled water and export wastes to the SARI system Construct Pump Stations Construct and Operate Desalters and/or Ion Exchange treatment facilities Make improvements on existing flood control channels/basins to allow for groundwater recharge Construct new spreading basins to allow for groundwater recharge