WORKING TOGETHER THE COOPERATIVE PLAN TO IMPROVE

URBAN, AGRICULTURAL, HABITAT, WATER QUANTITY AND QUALITY

SHANNON SWEENEY

WATER RESOURCES MANAGER - CITY OF SANTA MARIA

ANNE COATES

EXEC. DIRECTOR - CACHUMA RESOURCE CONSERVATION DISTRICT

• THE CACHUMA RCD WAS AWARDED 1.25 MILLION

• BOND FREEZE

• BOND RELEASED

• DEFINITION OF “IMPLEMENTATION” WAS REVALUATED

• MODIFY THE CONTRACT TO INCLUDE “CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS”

• LITIGATION/CONTROVERSY CENTRAL COAST AG WAIVER/AG ORDER

• PERFECT STORM FOR FAILURE

RWQCB AGRICULTURAL WATER QUALITY PROP 84

WORKING TOGETHER…

RCDS WORK WITH OUR COMMUNITIES

TO BRING THE RIGHT MINDS AND RESOURCES TOGETHER

TO FACILITATE INNOVATIVE PROJECTS

CITY OF SANTA MARIA•POPULATION 101,000

•MUNICIPAL WATER SUPPLY AVERAGE 12 MGD

• TWO SOURCES OF WATER SUPPLY: STATE WATER AND LOCAL GROUNDWATER

•NITRATE IN SOME GROUNDWATER WELLS EXCEEDS DRINKING WATER STANDARD

• LARGELY AGRICULTURAL

•BLEND WATER SUPPLIES TO CONTROL NITRATE

SALT AND NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT GROUP• STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD CONCERNED ABOUT

RECYCLED WATER

• RECENT WASTEWATER PERMITS REQUIRE AN ASSESSMENT OF SALTS AND NUTRIENTS

• SANTA MARIA VALLEY STAKEHOLDERS GROUP DEVELOPED A GROUNDWATER ASSESSMENT

• STAKEHOLDERS GROUPS INCLUDED THE RCD, WATER AGENCIES, WASTEWATER AGENCIES, MEMBERS FROM THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY

• RESULT OF ASSESSMENT – BASIN BALANCED FOR SALTS, UNBALANCED FOR NITRATE

• NITRATE IS A COMMUNITY PROBLEM

NITRATE

• CONTAMINANT IN DRINKING WATER

• SOLUBLE – MOVES EASILY IN WATER

• CAUSES “BLUE BABY” SYNDROME

• REGULATORY LIMIT IS 45 MG/L AS NO3

• SOURCES OF NITRATE – WASTEWATER, CONFINED ANIMAL OPERATIONS, FERTILIZERS

WELL NITRATE LEVELS

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 20080

20

40

60

80

100

120

Well 5 Well 7 Well 8Year

Nit

rate

(m

g/L

as

NO

3)

NITRATE SOLUTIONS

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• WETLANDS

• MOVABLE PALLETS

• WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT STRUCTURES

• WOODCHIP BIO FILTERS

WORKING TOGETHER…

• CITY OF SANTA MARIA HAD PROJECT WITH NO FUNDING

• RESOURCE CONSERVATION DISTRICT HAD FUNDING WITH NO PROJECT

• COMMUNITY SOLUTION – SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION TO MULTIPLE PROBLEMS

WORKING TOGETHER…

WE ARE ABLE TO LEVERAGE OUR RESOURCES

AND PROVIDE

RELEVANT, MEANINGFUL AND QUANTIFIABLE BENEFITS

THIS PROJECT WILL SERVE AS A MODEL FOR HOW TO ADDRESS NITRATE

PROBLEMS IN OTHER AREAS

STATEWIDE BENEFIT

WORKING TOGETHER…

THANK YOUTO THE CITY OF SANTA MARIA

CARCD

CONSERVATION STRATEGIES GROUP

AND

TO THE STATE WATER BOARD AND THE REGIONAL WATER BOARD

TOGETHER…

WE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE