Where does our Vlater come from?

(1)

(2)

Where does our Vlater come from?

+

local drinking water

treatment plant • Cities

,-... lakes, reservoirs, fivers, boys & the delta

o

Mokelumne Aqueduct

@

Heteh Hetchy Aqueduct • Delta Mendota Conal

e

South Bay Aqueduct . , California Aqueduct

CD

Son Felipe Project

. , Coastal Aqueduct . . los Angeles Aqueduct ... Colorado R'lver Aqueduct

A

Jones Pumping Plont

A

H.O. Bonks Delta

Pumping Plant

' " South Boy Pumping Plant

AI.

O'Neill Pumping Plant ... Pacheco Pumping Plant ... Coyote Pumping Plant

(3)

•

MONTEREY

Santa Clara County

Water supplies

30% local water

15% natural groundwater

10% frorn reserVoirs to groundwater 5% from reservoirs to drinking

waterJreament plants

55% imported water

15%

through Delta to replenish groundwater

25%

through Delta to drinking

water treatment plants

15%

from Hefch Hetchysystem

---.---~---~---5%

recycled water

90%

10%

savings

needed

100%

. '''J'-~'

'(

~ .

\

San Luis ,_+, Reservoir • ... San Justo HOLLISTER Reservoir &~c-0:" ... iY~ SAN LUIS OBISPO

•

<,01>"> -"-" \ .. /\~. H.etch-Hetchy Aqueduct.,!

>~i::."'s]::;j

c._<n'! ' ..•••..

/vasona Stever\~ .. ' .. '.: .. :.\

R;nc~a/

leXin~

GUadaIU~'" e:-." ... I

Alm\._

•

FRESNO ~-1r- . , 0, ",,; -19, ~.o: ~c,

a closer look

•

BAKERSFIELD i

(>

'>

AndJrson

I

'~---Owens Lake

..

Los Angeles Aqueduct S1 a ;: .Q

o

_c I

.2

jj

i

_~ u :;c Q. g 0)

(4)

Where does your water [orne from?

Alviso

•

Campbell

•

Cupertino

•

Gilroy

•

Los Altos

•

Los' Altos Hills

•

Los Gatos

•

Milpitas

•

Monte Sereno

•

: MorgCin, Hill

•

Mountain View

•

PcdoAlto San Jose

•

(,::"S'~~: M~rtin

_•

Santa Clara

•

S~r,atogCl

•

Sunnyvale

•

• About the Santa Clara Valley Water District

The Santa Clara Valley Water District manages an integrated water resources system that includes the

'U,J..,'Y

safe water, flood protection and stewardship of streams on behalf of Santa Clara County's 1.8 million residEmts;;

effectively manages 10 dams and surface water reservoirs, three water treatment plants, a state·of-the-art water "u'_n,.,y,."C'

laboratory, nearly 400 acres of groundwater recharge ponds and more than 275 miles

of

streams. We provide wh,,,I.,.cil water and groundwater management services to local municipalities and private water retailers who deliver .drinkinclwdl directly to homes and businesses throughout Santa Clara County.

(5)

Outlook as of February 1, 2014

The record.setting dry conditions

of

2013 continued through January 2014. Through careful management, Santa Clara County is entering 2014 with healthy groundwater levels, but the outlook for surface water to supply the District's water treatment plants and maintain the groundwater basin is very limited. Due to critically dry conditions statewide, imported water will be affected by poor Delta water quality and potential interruptions due to low storage levels in San luis Reservoir, creating significant operational challenges. On January 17, the Governor declared a Drought State of Emergency, and asked local urban water agencies to implement their Water Shortage Contingency Plans. On January 28 the District Board took action to adopt a preliminary water use reduction target equal to

10%

of

2013 countywide demand, and approved other drought response measures. On January 31, the initial State Water Proiect allocation was reduced from 5% to zero. Releases of imported and local water to groundwater recharge have been cut back to conserve supplies for use this summer at the treatment plants. These operational changes, which were discussed with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, will gradually dry up most flows in creeks and recharge ponds. The water supply outlook can change significantly from month to month during the winter, but even with a very wet March and April, the current water year will remain below average.

Weather

Local Reservoirs

Imported Water

Rainfall in San Jose

• Month of January = 0.11 inch

• Total·to·date = 1 .61 inches or 21 % of average to date (Rainfall year is July 1 to June 30)

February 1 Northern Sierra snowpack water content is about 6% of average for this date

• Total February 1 storage = 53,617 acre·feet

» 52% of 20·year average· for this date

» 32% of total capacity

» 44% of restricted capacity storage (169,009 acre-feet total storage capacity limited by seismic restrictions to 122,924 acre-feet)

• Storage levels in Almaden, Stevens Creek and Uvas reservoirs are each approximately 3% of total capacity

• Approximately 164 acre·feet of imported water delivered into local reservoirs during January 2014

• 2014 State Water Proiect and Central Valley Project allocations:

» State Water Project initial allocation reduced from 5% to zero on January 31

» Central Valley Project initial allocations expected in mid·February

• 2013 State Water Project and Central Valley Project estimated carryover supplies for 2014 = 31,252 acre·feet

• Reservoir storage:

» Shasta Reservoir at 54% of average, as of January 30

» Oroville Reservoir at 54% of average, as of February 1

» San luis Reservoir at 39% of average, as of January 30

• Semitropic groundwater bank reserves: 262,665 acre·feet as of February 1, but return of 2014 contract amount (31,500 acre·feet) may be limited by SWP operational constraints • Exchanges and transfers executed in FY 14: Statewide critically dry conditions and

operational constraints are impacting some 2014 transfers, availability being confirmed • Estimated Hetch Hetchy deliveries to Santa Clara County:

» Month of January = 2,900 acre·feet

}) 2013 Total = 54,200 acre·feet, or 103% of the five·year average }) 2014 preliminary reduction = 10% announced by SFPUC on January 31

(6)

Treated Water

Groundwater

Conserved Water

Recycled Water

• Above average demands of 8,400 acre-feet delivered in January • This total is 1 18% of the five-year average for January

• Groundwater Storage: Total storage at the end of 2014 is projected to be 271,000 acre-feet, which falls within Stage 2 (Alert) of the Water Shortage Contingency Plan.

o Santa Clara Plain:

» The January managed recharge estimate is 5,100 acre-feet. The year-Io-date managed recharge estimate is 5,100 acre-feet, or 127% of the five-year average

» The January groundwater pumping estimate is 6,000 acre-feet. The year-to-date groundwater pumping estimate is 6,000 acre-feet, or 134% of the five-year average » The groundwater level in Santa Clara Plain (San Jose) is significantly lower than last year

and 13 feet lower than the five-year average

o Coyote Valley:

» The January managed recharge estimate is 800 acre-feet. The year-to-date managed recharge estimate is 800 acre-feet, or 86% of the five-year average

}} The January groundwater pumping estimate is 700 acre-feet. The year-to-date groundwater pumping estimate is 700 acre-feet, or 89% of the five-year average }} The groundwater level in Coyote Valley is about 6 feet lower than last year and 4 feet

lower than the five-year average

o L1agas Subbasin:

}} The January managed recharge estimate is 1,400 acre-feet. The year-to-date managed recharge estimate is 1,400 acre-feet, or 73% of the five-year average

}} The January groundwater pumping estimate is 1,600 acre-feet. The year-to-date groundwater pumping estimate is 1,600 acre-feet, or 99% of the five-year average }} The groundwater level in L1agas Subbasin (San Martin) is about 24 feet lower than last

year and 19 feet lower than the five-year average

o Saved 56,000 acre-feet in FY13 from long-term program (baseline year is 1992). Goal is to save nearly 60,000 acre-feet in FY14

• Estimated 2013 total county water use of 360,000 acre-feet increased by 4% from 2012 o Program changes as of January 1, 2014 include a new graywater laundry-to-Iandscape

rebate program and increased rebate amounts for landscape conversion and submeters

o Estimated January 2014 production

=

1,168 acre-feet (recycled water is billed on a semi-annual basis)

o Estimated year-to-date = 1,168 acre-feet or 159% of the five-year average

o Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center is in construction and completion is expected by summer 2014

(7)

Updates and New Programs

•

New rebate amounts for High-Efficiency Toilet Rebate program. Replace your inefficient toilets and you may be eligible to receive up to $125 per PREMIUM model High-Efficiency Toilet and up to $50 per Non-PREMIUM High-Efficiency Toilet, no pre-inspection required. For more information or to receive a High Efficiency Toilet Rebate Program Application,

Save Water. Save Money.

For water saving

rebates,

go

to

5ave20Galions.org.

please call the District's contractor, ConserVision Consulting, at 1-877-874-8479.

New rebate amounts for the Residential High-Efficiency Clothes Washer Rebate Program.

Purchase and install a qualifying high-efficiency clothes washer and you may be eligible to receive up to $200 for a combined Water Agency and PG&E Rebate on a qualifying Energy Star Most Efficient clothes washer or up to $50 for a Water Agency Rebate on a qualifying CEE Tier 3 qualifying clothes washer. For more information or to apply online, visit: www.waterenergysavings.com.

New rebate amounts for the Landscape Conversion Rebate Program. As of Jan 1,2014, rebates have increased to $1.00 per square foot of converted high water using landscape to low water using landscape. The rebate amount within a cost-sharing partner area increased to $2.00 per square foot. For more information, please call the Water Conservation Hotline at (408) 630-2554.

NEW Graywater Laundry to Landscape Rebate Program. Receive up to $100 per residential site for properly connecting a clothes washer to a graywater irrigation system. For more information or to schedule a pre-inspection and receive a Graywater Laundry to Landscape Rebate Program application, please email

[email protected] or call the Water Conservation Hotline at (408) 630-2554.

NEW Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program. Water conservation research grants for agencies and organizations to study and pilot-test new and innovative water conservation programs and efficient technologies are now being offered. The primary goal is to identify water savings devices and strategies that can assist the district in meeting its long-term water savings goal of 98,500 acre-feet per year by 2030. For more information, please call the Water Conservation Hotline at (408) 630-2554.

New rebate amounts for Submeter Rebate Program. As of Jan 1,2014, rebate amounts have increased for submeters. Mobile home parks and condominium complexes can receive up to $150 per installed submeter for changing from a master water meter to individual water submeters.

Additional Programs

• Water-Wise House Call Program. A Water-Wise House Call is a free home water use survey that helps identify opportunities where you can conserve water. To suit your schedule, Water-Wise House Calls are available for Santa Clara County residents and apartment managers Monday through Saturday, during daylight hours. To schedule an appointment, please call 1 (800) 548-1882, or if you are a San Jose Water Company customer, please call (408) 279-7900 to schedule a free Water Watcher Audit.

• Commercial Rebate Programs and Landscape Surveys

Commercial rebates are available for qualifying businesses, apartment complexes and schools in Santa Clara County for high-efficiency washing machines, submeters, process improvements, air-cooled ice machines, and

connectionless food steamers. For more information about the program, please call (408) 630-2707. For the commercial high-efficiency toilet and urinal flush valve program, please call (800) 307-5700. In addition to the new

(8)

rebate amounts for the Landscape Conversion Rebate program, the district offers FREE Landscape Surveys and rebates for weather-based irrigation controllers and efficient irrigation equipment. For more information, please call the Water Conservation Hotline at (408) 630-2554.

• Water Saving Tips. Visit save20gallons.org or call the Water Conservation Hotline at (408) 630-2554.

Valley

Wdt~r

t--I'Jt-VVS

Would you like to sign up for our monthly e,hewsl"~er.?

(9)

Purifying water for a sustainable tomorrow

The Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center is the largest advanced water purification plant in Northern California.

The state·of-the-art facility, nearing completion, will receive secondary-treated effluent and highly purify it by using three proven purification pracesses-microfiltration, reverse osmosis and ultraviolet light. The result,

8

million gallons a day of highly purified water that is expected to match California drinking water standards.

o iFo 0

PlUiltfllfl!\:\QJTI'il@[(H

IPlu~Jli\;~~~~~

The $68 million purification center is a partnership between the water district and the cities of San Jose and Santa Clara. The highly purified water produced at the new purification center will be blended with the existing recycled water supply produced at the neighboring San Jose-Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility to enhance its quality and expand its usage.

The center will demonstrate proven technologies to produce highly purified water that can be used for a variety of purposes, including potentially expanding Silicon Valley's future drinking water supplies.

The purification center uses technology similar to Mother Nature's filtration process, but with the advantage

of purifying the water more quickly.

Microfiltration

In this initial filtration process, treated wastewater is forced thraugh filtration membrane modules made up of thousands of hollow fibers, similar to straws. These fibers have very fine pores in the sides that are

O.

I micron

in diameter, or about 1/300th the width of human hair. As the water is drawn through the pores into the center of the fibers, solids, bacteria, protozoa and some viruses are filtered out of the water.

Reverse Osmosis

During the reverse osmosis process, water is forced under high pressure through membrane sheets with holes

so small that a water molecule is almost the only substance that can pass through. The process removes constituents such as salts, viruses and most contaminants of emerging concern, such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products and pesticides.

Ultraviolet Light

Now the water is very clean, but as a further safety back-up, the water is sent through chambers that emit

strong ultraviolet light to inactivate any remaining viruses and break down some of the remaining trace organic compounds. Ultraviolet light is a powerful disinfection process that creates water of very high quality.

(10)

Providing water for today and tomorrow

Water has been and always will be nature's renewable resource. An adequate supply of safe, reliable water is crucial to sustain our economy and quality of life.

However, we face a number of key challenges in providing a reliable supply. Growing waterdemand, uncertain imported water supplies, recurring droughts, regulatory restrictions and climate change all place growing pressures on the state's water supplies and underscore the need for new sources of water.

Our existing water sources, combined with expanded water conservation efforts and water recycling, are necessary if Silicon Valley is to continue to thrive.

With the new purification center, the water district is ioining many innovative cities and water agencies that are utilizing water purification technologies to purify recycled water so it can be used for various purposes. Investment in this proiect will demonstrate proven technologies that would be available locally to produce purified water for a variety of potential purposes, including expanding future drinking water supplies.

The new facility has received $8.25 million from the federal American Recovery and Re-investment Act and $5.25 million from the California Department of Water Resources. For more information on the project, visit purewater4u.org.

Benefits of the project:

• Enhances recycle water quality

• Creates a locally controlled, high quality water supply

• Increases water reliability by providing

purified water in all times, even during droughts • Helps reduce dependency an water from the

Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta • Protects the region's groundwater supplies • Protects the environment by reusing

a precious resource

• Reduces wastewater discharge to the San Francisco Bay and preserves the natural tidal habitat

(11)

Almaden Reservoir is at its lowest level in years.

Lack of rainfall continues to

impact creeks and reservoirs

To conserve woter in the midst of one of the driest

seasons on record, the Santa Ciara Valley Water

District is modifying its operations. These changes

will impact creek flows and groundwater recharge

pond water levels in your neighborhood.

Despite the dry conditions, the water district carefully

managed its operations and ended 2013 with

normal groundwater levels. But minimum runoff in

local reservoirs and low allocations of state and

federal imported water mean that there will be

a limited amount of surface water available for

deliveries this year.

The water district is firming up imported water

supplies and recognizes that if there are storms this

spring, that may increase local reservoir storage.

Until that becomes clear, the water district will

reduce releases from its local reservoirs and

water distribution system to creeks and ponds

for groundwater recharge. The water district has

discussed the changes with state and federal fishery

agencies to minimize impacts to fish. It will also

soon meet with city and county parks representatives

regarding the changes and impacts to recreation

at these sites.

planned' operation

condifionsin your area

(Zupertin9ISa~toga

area:

• ReleClsesofiocol wolerlrolTl Sievens Creek

Reservoir will

continu~

to provide limited flows in

. Stevens Creek,but expect progressively drying

creek conditions if rainfall.does not occur in

coming months.

~ReleasesofimportedV>'ater

to

local creeks for

'groundwClterrechargear~

_.

being suspended.

• Expect drying cr.eekconditions inCalabazas,

Regnart, Rodeo; Saratoga and Stevens creeks if

rainfall does not occur in coming months.

lOs GatOs

C.-eek

area:

"Releases of localwaterlrom Lexington Reservoir

. and throUgh

VClso~aReservoirwiH

continue to

provide flows i[llos Gatos Creek downstream. of

Lincoln Avenue, . but expect progressively drying

q~k

conditions if raihfalldoes not occur in

coming months.

• R!lleasesbl "'<.lter to some offstream recharge

ponek or" being suspendedimmediqtely at Page

an~lv\cg;lincey

ponds, and releases 10 Camden

. Clnd 9kqponds may be .curtailed or suspended in

the coming

wee~;

continued on back,

Los Alamitos Creek, upstream of Camden Avenue, during the

(12)

South San Jose/

Almaden area:

• Releases oflocahvater from Guadalupe and Calero

reservoirs will continue

10

provide limited flows,

but expect progressively drying creek conditions

if rainfall does not occur in coming months,

• Releases of local water from Almaden Reservoir

have, for the last four months, b"en accomplished by

pumping water over the dam because water levels

are too low to use the outlet. Expect pragressively

drying creek conditions when this operation is

discontinued and if rainfall does not occur in

earning manths.

• Releases .of water ta las Capitancillas Pands are

currently suspended far stream gaugewark, and

will nat beput back inta aperatian until water·

supply canditians imprave. If critically dryhydralagy

cantinues in 2014, thewater district mayuse this

oppartunity ta undertake needed rehabilitati.onaf

this pand system.

• Releases .of imported water ta Rass Creek are

being suspended.

.

• Expect pragressively .Iower waierlevelsin

Almaden Lake with. curtailed adjacent "reek

flaws and imported water releases.

Save Water.

Save Money.

for water saving re.bate program, go to:

Save2DGallons.org/rebates

...

..

... .

East San

Jose

area:

• Releasesof imparted

wattlrtolJpp~r

I'enitentia

Creek ()nd rnastadjacertrecharge

p.a~dsar",

.

being suspended.

•

Expectgrad~alredu.ctian

iny.taterlevels atPiedmant,.

Capital,

Helrnsleya~d

City Parkpands.

Morgan Hill/SoutttSanJoliearea:

•.•

R~leases afimparfed)vatertCi"CCiycjfeCte~kdr~

being significantly curtailed.

.

. " , ; " ' ' ' " -,,'

••.. EkpeC!

progr~ssivelydrYil1g"ci~ek.<;C>l1diiICln~b~loi;ti···

Metcalf Raad.

.

GilroY/l'f\organttili

a~CI:'

••

Rel~(j~es.of

lacaLWatei

fr?+Yv6saRdiSh~:;.~r()."';

.•

d()ms y.till ...

cantinue.fapro~ideli~if"dJI(),#sin'8v~~.·,"'"

and

·UagCls·.~reeks, bUlexpe~tp~ogr¥ssi~elydr>,irg

creek canditians. if rainfall dpesnatp"cur incoming

manths.

··Releases

afirnpartedy.taterfoMadr'''reCh~rjr.~d;~~

... .

Mqin Avenue ponds

?rebei~gmdintained\?pr?tect.·

graundWafercPQditipns .. in the/vla(gahHill.areq," ,.

For

a

better world, only wash full loads.

find more tips ~t savel0gallans.org or caU (40B} 530·2554.

s ...

le

s•Dry

~,,~v~wOl.;,~6

(13)

Groundwater

VOTE FOR

. TER

~

DESERT

/,"n'l"'D

Groundwater is water found in aquifers, geological formations below the ground surface. Water seeps through the surface of the earth in much the same way that water saturates a sponge, to fill the cracks and pores of sand and gravel layers beneath our feet. The Santa Clara Valley overlies an aquifer system with two subbasins: the Santa Clara Subbasin in the north and the Llagas Subbasin, which extends from Morgan Hill south to Gilroy.

Local communities have relied on groundwater since the 1850s, when they first drilled wells to supply water to residents, agriculture and businesses. By 1921, with far more water being pumped than naturally replenished, groundwater levels declined and land subsidence, the broad sagging of the land surface over many miles, occurred. Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara and north San Jose experienced permanent land subsidence, with the ground surface in downtown San Jose dropping about 13 feet.

Santa Clara County voters formed the water district in 1929 to recharge the subbasins with water to counterbalance pumping, maintain the supply of groundwater and prevent land subsidence. Because subsidence changes the elevation of the land surface, it can cause serious and costly problems, including flooding, saltwater

()

o

3 CD

continued on back ...

San~a

Clara

Valle~

(14)

Groundwater

This chart illustrates

how district recharge

programs, imported water deliveries, and treated water programs have all dramatically contributed to a sustainable water supply.

Elevation 5 0 Natural groundwater Population 2 million 1 million

o

...

Jb=~~1=

...

At:

1···0 - 5 0 Reservoirs constrl.lded to capture more locol waler

Increased deliveries of imporled water (federol)

-100ft··· ... ···11··· ... .

First deliveries of

imported water (slote)

Year

A graphic representation not intended as a technical exhibit.

intrusion and damage to underground utilities such as sewer systems. Subsidence that occurred in the county prior to the 1970s caused millions in damage and highlighted the need for flood protection programs. The water district actively manages the groundwater subbasins through programs to increase the

supply nature provides and to protect them from contamination or other threats that would jeopardize this essential local resource.

Three main sources directly replenish groundwater in Santa Clora County:

Just as important to the groundwater subbasins are water district programs like treated water deliveries, water recycling and water conservation. They indirectly help keep groundwater elevations from plummeting and the land from subsiding by reducing demands on the subbasins. By meeting needs

otherwise met by groundwater, we can consider these programs "in-lieu recharge," as if the groundwater subbasins had been recharged by that amount. These programs are essential to meet the county's water needs now and into the future. The chart above illustrates the water district's dramatic contribution to a sustainable groundwater supply through direct recharge programs, imported water deliveries and treated water programs.

In addition to programs to increase supplies, the water district also has programs to address the numerous threats to groundwater quality. Leaking underground fuel tanks, industrial spills, urban runoff, septic systems, poorly managed agricultural operations and other sources can pollute groundwater, making it costly to treat or even unusable. The restoration of contaminated groundwater can take years, decades or longer. Prevention is key to groundwater protection.

(15)

1m

rted Water

The abundance of crops and fruit and nut orchards in Santa Clara County during the early 20th century created a great need for water in this "Valley of Heart's Delight." But even then, local rainfall could not replenish groundwater basins fast enough to meet demand. In parts of San Jose, the pumping of so much water actually caused the ground to sink. To prevent further land subsidence and secure the region's long-term water future, voters in 1929 approved the creation of a water conservation district, known today as the Santa Clara Valley Water District. In the 1960's, the county looked outside its borders for the water it would need to meet booming population growth and economic development as it transitioned into "Silicon Valley." In 1965, deliveries began from the State Water Project (SWP) through the South Bay Aqueduct. In 1977, the water district signed a contract for water from the federal Central Valley Project (CVP) and those deliveries began from San Luis Reservoir in 1987.

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(16)

Today, it surprises many local residents to learn that, like Southern California, the San Francisco Bay Area depends on the Delta watershed for much of its water supply. Rainfall and snowmelt from the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, flowing through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, supplies half of the water used in Santa Clara County in an average year. Many are also unaware that most of the water for both San Francisco and Oakland would also flow through the Delta if it were not diverted around the Delta in aqueducts.

Imported supplies are an integral part

of

the water district's water management, which also includes local supplies, conservation and recycling. Protection of the county's imported water interests is a key priority. As the only major contractor of both the SWP and CVP, the water district plays a very unique role, working with other SWP and CVP contractors to ensure the delivery, reliability and cost-effectiveness of Santa Clara County's imported water supplies today and into the future.

Santa Clara County

by the numbers

"-(])

-+-30% local water

15% natural groundwater 10% from reservoirs to groundwater 5% from reservoirs to drinking water treatment plants

55%

imported water

15% thru Delta to replenish groundwater 25% thru Delta to drinking

water treatment plants 15% from Hetch Hetchy

o

-~

system

-5% recycled water

90%

10% savings needed

100%

(17)

The Delta

The Delta is where California's lwo longest rivers, the Sacramento and San Joaquin, meet and flow into San Francisco Bay to create the West Coast's largest estuary. The Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers receive snowmelt and rain runoff from more than 40 percent of California's land area, including the Sierra Nevada range in northern and eastern California.

A tremendously important ecosystem, the Delta supports more than 700 plant and animal species and is a major transit point along the Pacific Flyway, a key breeding area for numerous waterfowl and a migration route for salmon, steelhead and sturgeon. It is also a renowned recreational playground, a productive farming region and home to more than a half million people. Its more than 1,000 miles of levees protect vital Bay Area and state infrastructures, including gas and power lines, pipelines, highways and railroads. The Delta is the hub of California's major water systems, the State Water Project (SWP) and the federal Central Valley Project (CYP) supply drinking water to lwo thirds of the state's population and irrigate millions of acres of the nation's most productive agricultural lands. Santa Clara County relies on these lwo water projects for 40 percent

of

its water supplies on average. Consequently, threats to the Delta ecosystem and these water projects pose problems not only to Southern California or farmers, but to Silicon Valley too. Invasive and non-native species, water pollution and wastewater discharges, unscreened water diversions, and changes in natural

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Sanla Clara Valley

Waler Dislrict

(18)

The Delta

flow patterns and hydrology threaten the health

of

the Delta's ecosystem and have contributed to the decline of several fish populations. And regulatory constraints to protect these threatened fish species have reduced the reliability

of

the county's SWP and CVP water supplies. Catastrophic levee failure is also a growing threat. The Public Policy Institute of California, a nonpartisan think-tank, estimates there is a 66 percent chance of maior levee failure in the Delta within the next 5Oyears. A maior levee failure could shut down the SWP and CVP Delta pumps for six to 18 months, depending on when and where it occurred, severely impacting Santa Clara County and the California economy.

Climate change scenarios predict even greater threats in the future. Earlier snow melts will put additional strain on the Delta levees. Rising sea level also threatens levee stability and will allow more salty ocean water to intrude into the Delta. This increased salinity may affect fish populations and will increase the cost to treat the water for use in Santa Clara County and elsewhere.

To address these risks, the water district is actively working with others on the Bay Delta Conservation Plan

(BDCP), a promising effort aimed at the dual goals of improving Delta ecosystem health and water supply reliability. BDCP participants include the Department

of

Water Resources, the U.S. Bureau

of

Reclamation, state and federal fishery agencies, SWP and CVP contractors, and environmental organizations. The conservation strategy will include measures to restore habitat, reduce stressors such as invasive species and contaminants and improve water conveyance through the Delta. The BDCP will also secure long-term Endangered Species Act permits for SWP and CVP operations.

The fisheries conservation community generally agrees that a properly operated, new isolated conveyance facility will substantially benefit certain listed species compared to the existing system. An isolated conveyance facility would divert water through five new intakes along the Sacramento River before it enters the Delta and convey it directly to the SWP and CVP pumping plants in the south Delta. At the same time, a new isolated facility equipped with state-af-the-art fish screens would help achieve a more reliable water supply for Santa Clara County.