Integrated Regional Water Management Plan | 2014 Update

Poso Creek June 2014

Semitropic Water Storage District1101 Central Ave., P.O. Box 8043Wasco, CA 93280

Poso Creek Integrated Regional Water Management Plan

2014 Update – Public Review Draft (Sections)

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List of Acronyms

ACS American Community Survey

AWMP Agricultural Water Management Plan

BDCP Bay-Delta Conservation Plan

BMO Basin Management Objective

CASGEM California Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring (DWR)

CASWSC California Water Science Center (USGS)

CDPH California Department of Health

CEQA California Environmental Quality Act

CIMIS California Irrigation Management Information System (DWR)

COG Council of Governments

CVC Cross Valley Canal

CVP Central Valley Project (Federal – USBR)

CVPIA Central Valley Project Improvement Act

CVRWQCB Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board

CWC California Water Code

DAC Economically-Disadvantaged Community

DAMS Department of Agriculture and Measurement Standards (Kern County)

DMS Data Management System

DWR California Department of Water Resources

ESR Endangered Species Recovery (Program)

FMMP California Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program

FWA Friant Water Authority

GHG Greenhouse Gases (Emissions)

GIS Geographic Information System

GWMP Groundwater Management Plan

HCP Habitat Conservation Plan

ID Irrigation District

ILRP Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program

IRWM Integrated Regional Water Management (Plan or Group)

IRWMG Integrated regional Water Management Group

IRWMP Integrated Regional Water Management Plan

JPA Joint Powers Authority

KCAD Kern County Agricultural Department

KCWA Kern County Water Agency

KGWMC Kern Groundwater Management Committee

KCWRC Kern County Water Resources Committee

KGWMC Kern Groundwater Management Committee

KNWR Kern National Wildlife Refuge

KRWCA Kern River Watershed Coalition Authority

LAFCO Local Agency Formation Commission

Poso Creek Integrated Regional Water Management Plan

2014 Update – Public Review Draft (Sections)

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List of Acronyms (Continued)

M&I Municipal and Industrial (Water Uses)

MHI Median Household Income

MOU Memorandum of Understanding

NEPA National Environmental Policy Act

NWKRCD North West Kern Resource Conservation District

NRCS Natural Resource Conservation Service (USDA)

NWS National Weather Service

PDCF Project Definition and Characterization Form (Submission Form)

PIP Public Involvement Plan (Appendix G)

QA/QC Quality Assurance and Quality Control Measures

RMA Regional Management Agency (changed to RWMG)

RMG Regional Management Group (changed to RWMG)

RMS Resource Management Strategy

RWMG Regional Water Management Group

SDAC Severely Disadvantaged Community (DAC)

SHE Self-Help Enterprises, LLC.

SWP State Water Project (State – DWR)

SWRCB California State Water Resources Control Board

TBWP Tulare Basin Wildlife Partners

USACE US Army Corps of Engineers

USBR US Bureau of Reclamation

USCID US Committee on Irrigation and Drainage

USDA US Department of Agriculture

USGS US Geological Survey

UWMP Urban Water Management Plan

WCP Water Conservation Plan

WD Water District

WMP Water Management Plan

WSD Water Storage District

Poso Creek Integrated Regional Water Management Plan

2014 Update – Public Review Draft (Sections)

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Initial Pages

Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Plan Synopsis and

IRWM Group Participants Tables

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POSO CREEK INTEGRATED REGIONAL WATER MANAGEMENT (IRWM) GROUP

2014 IRWM PLAN UDPATE SYNOPSIS

The purpose of the original 2007 Poso Creek IRWM Plan, the first IRWM Plan

completed and adopted by the Poso Creek IRWM Group, was to provide a framework for (1)

coordinating groundwater and surface water management activities through regional objectives,

and (2) implementing the measures necessary to meet those objectives. These statements

reflected the aims of the IRWM Group to improve water resources management that benefits

inhabitants throughout the Poso Creek Region (Region) as well as water purveyors in other parts

of California while satisfying regional priorities. At the time, the priorities principally

considered the Department of Water Resources’ (DWR) IRWM Proposition 50 Program

Guidelines and the Resource Management Strategies (RMSs) presented in the California Water

Plan Update 2005.

While these purposes and goals remain, the 2014 IRWM Plan Update (Plan) reflects the

IRWM Group’s expanded planning efforts to address requirements in the DWR’s Proposition 84

IRWM Guidelines that focus on additional RMSs (California Water Plan Update 2013) and the

IRWM Plan Standards as follows:

1. Coordination of comprehensive resource management activities for surface water,

groundwater, environmental, and municipal into a cohesive set of “Regional Goals”

(Goals) and “Measurable Objectives” (Objectives).

2. Evaluation and adaptation of the RWMG’s Measurable Objectives, including

Mission/Vision, Regional Goals and their compliance with State planning requirements

for considering Program Preferences, Statewide Priorities, and RMSs.

3. Assessment of structural (project) and non-structural (program) enhancements that

conform to the Measurable Objectives, leading to eventual implementation by the IRWM

Group.

While this Plan was developed to compliment and expand upon the original 2007 Plan, the

overriding conclusions remain the same. That is, surface water supplies available through

delivery to the Region have been largely unreliable, on an annual basis, and will likely remain

unreliable (reduced) in the future relative to historical conditions. Given water users within the

districts that are involved in the IRWM Groups’ efforts are reliant on surface water sources

delivered from outside the Region, it will likely lead to a corresponding decline in groundwater

levels as groundwater is used to make up the reduction in surface water supplies if proactive

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actions are not taken. The economic, environmental, and social burdens of this scenario will be

felt by all users that rely in whole or in part on pumped groundwater, including a significant

portion of agricultural, environmental, and municipal (communities) users in the Region.

As a generalization, this Plan puts into context the planning and implementation efforts to

address these concerns by the IRWM Group through the direction of the Regional Water

Management Group (RWMG). The RWMG is comprised of the districts and agencies that

consider and provide funding of the planning and implementation efforts. In addition to the

RWMG, the IRWM Group includes other regional Stakeholders, members that are directly

involved with or potentially affected by the planning and management efforts of the RWMG,

Interested Parties, and public or private entities that have interest in the Poso Creek regional

planning process but may or may not be directly involved. This Plan contains materials

discussed in context to regional water management needs and concerns for the IRWM Group

regarding the follow subjects:

- RWMG and IRWM Group Governance: Discusses the IRWM Group’s governance

structure based on the agreements and management of the RWMG. Includes the

decision making processes and outreach/involvement efforts used to facilitate

participation in the IRWM Group by the RWMG, Stakeholders, and Interested Parties

(public).

- Regional Description: Discusses the Poso Creek Region, including the water supply

and demand situation, social and cultural makeup, and regional management

objectives and conflicts which have led to the opportunity for regional water

management activities.

- Regional Goals and Measurable Objectives: Discusses the IRWM Group’s Goals

and Objectives, including quantitative and qualitative metrics for monitoring and

achieving said Goals and Objectives. Development of the Goals and Objectives

consider Statewide Priorities and Resources Management Strategies, as well as the

primary resource concerns of regional water users (e.g., agricultural, environmental,

municipal, etc.)

- Projects and Programs Review Process: Discusses the procedure by which any

district, agency, organization, or individual can submit projects and programs to the

IRWM Group for consideration. Includes the RWMG and IRWM Group review

process, and the means by which the Group communicates the list of projects and

programs which have been selected for inclusion in the IRWM Group’s planning and

implementation efforts.

- Impacts and Benefits: Discusses the potential impacts and benefits of Plan

implementation in the Region, to neighboring regions, with community (DAC),

environmental, and economic concerns.

- Plan Performance, Monitoring, and Data Management: Discusses the performance

measures and monitoring methods to ensure that the Plan Objectives are met.

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Includes details on the data needs of the IRWM Group and how the collected data is

shared publically and with local, State, and Federal agencies.

- Funding Opportunities: Discusses the plans for implementation and financing of

projects and programs, including the potential funding mechanisms (e.g., grant

funding support). The certainty and longevity of these funding sources is also

discussed, as well as how to operate and maintain projects and programs once funding

is no longer available.

- Technical Analysis: Discusses the technical analyses used in development of the

Plan, with particular emphasis on the data and baseline conclusions from the original

2007 IRWM Plan.

- Relation to Water Resources and Land-Use Planning: Discusses the relation of the

Plan to other planning documents and programs in the Region, and how the IRWM

Group coordinates with these planning efforts.

- Stakeholder and Public Involvement: Further discusses the means by which the

IRWM Group facilitates participation in the regional planning and implementation

activities, by the RWMG, Stakeholders, and Interested Parties. Emphases are placed

on public participation and the participation of regional communities (DACs).

- Coordination and Integration Standards: Discusses the process by which the IRWM

Group coordinates projects and programs with local agencies (Stakeholders and

Interested Parties). Addresses neighboring IRWM Groups and cooperation efforts

between inter-regional groups.

- Climate Change Assessment: Discusses an evaluation of the Region’s vulnerabilities

to the potential impacts of climate change and how these vulnerabilities are addressed

by the IRWM Group when considering projects and programs (e.g., GHG emissions,

environmental impacts, etc.)

Both structural projects and non-structural program enhancements are addressed in this Plan,

while conforming to the stated Goals and Objectives. These provide the means for coordinating

the assets, needs, and operations regarding water supplies and demands in the Region, with the

end result being mitigated water concerns for the RWMG, Stakeholders, and Interested Parties.

The following pages (tables) acknowledge the participation of the individual districts,

agencies, organizations, and individuals who make up the RWMG, Stakeholders, and Interested

Parties of the Poso Creek IRWM Group. Each of the Boards of Directors of the districts that

make up the RWMG have adopted the Plan and its contents, representing their continued

participation in further developing, funding, and ultimately managing the IRWM Group. Note

that the RWMG had also adopted the original 2007 IRWM Plan in July 2007. To that extent, the

Plan should be considered a living document which may change in response to new information,

changed conditions, or other factors.

IRWM Participating Districts & Agencies

Poso Creek RWMG Participants

District, Agency of Entity Location Special District

Type1

Voting

Rights

Funding

Commit.

Semitropic (SWSD)2

Wasco, CA Water Storage District X X

North Kern (NKWSD) Bakersfield, CA Water Storage District X X

Cawelo (CWD) Bakersfield, CA Water District X X

Shafter-Wasco (SWID) Wasco, CA Irrigation District X X

Kern-Tulare (KTWD) Bakersfield, CA Water District X X

North West Kern (NWKRCD) Bakersfield, CA Resource Conservation

District X

Disadvantaged Community (DAC) Representative X 1 Statutory authority for water supply and/or water management granted under the California Water Code.

2 IRWM Leading Agency.

Poso Creek IRWM Stakeholder Members

District, Agency of Entity Location CWC

Category1

Delano-Earlimart Irrigation District (DEID) Delano, CA WP, GD

Southern San Joaquin Municipal Utility District (SSJ MUD) Delano, CA WP, GD

Rosedale-Rio Bravo Water Storage District Bakersfield, CA WP, GD

Buena Vista Water Storage District Buttonwillow, CA WP, GD

Lost Hills Utility District (LHUD) Lost Hills, CA GD

Lost Hills Water District (LHWD) Lost Hills, CA GD, WP

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) Sacramento, CA SF

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) Fresno, CA SF

Kern County Water Agency (KCWA) Bakersfield, CA WP, SF

Kern National Wildlife Refuge Wasco, CA GD, ES 1 Stakeholder and local agency categories as defined by the California Water Code §10541(g), see Plan Section 11.1.

Poso Creek IRWM Stakeholder Members (Continued)

District, Agency of Entity Location CWC

Category1

Semitropic Wildlife Improvement District Wasco, CA GD, ES

Friant Water Users Authority Lindsay, CA ES, CO

Bishop Acres Mutual Water Company Bakersfield, CA WP

Tulare Basin Wildlife Partners Three Rivers, CA ES

Cities and Unincorporated Communities 2

City of Delano Delano, CA GD, CO, DC

City of McFarland McFarland, CA GD, CO, DC

City of Shafter Shafter, CA GD, CO, DC

Community of Buttonwillow Buttonwillow, CA CO, DC

Community of Earlimart Earlimart, CA CO, DC

Community of Lost Hills Lost Hills, CA CO, DC

Community of Richgrove Richgrove, CA CO, DC

Community of Madonna (Unincorporated) Madonna, CA CO, DC

Community of Pond (Unincorporated) Pond, CA CO, DC

Community of North Shafter (Unincorporated) Shafter, CA CO, DC

Community of South Shafter (Unincorporated), including Smith’s Corner, Thomas Lane, Cherokee

Strip, Burbank, Mexican Colony, and Southwest Shafter Shafter, CA CO, DC

Pond Union School District Wasco, CA SS

Semitropic School District Wasco, CA SS

Maple Elementary School Shafter, CA SS

Shafter Farm Labor Camp Shafter, CA OT

Rodriguez Farm Labor Camp Richgrove, CA OT

Community of Allensworth (Unincorporated) Allensworth, CA CO, DC 1 Stakeholder and local agency categories as defined by the California Water Code §10541(g), see Plan Section 11.1.

2 All incorporated cities and communities are considered Disadvantaged Communities (DACs), represented by both

the DAC Representative (see RWMG Participants table) and a DAC Workgroup; see Plan Section 3.9.

Poso Creek IRWM Stakeholder Members (Continued)

District, Agency of Entity Location CWC

Category1

Cities and Unincorporated Communities 2

Community of Alpaugh (Unincorporated)3

Alpaugh, CA CO, DC

Community of Ducor (Unincorporated) 3 Ducor, CA CO, DC

Community of Blackwells Corner (Unincorporated) 3 Blackwells Corner, CA CO, DC

Individuals

Kathy Wood McLaughlin, Tulare Basin Watershed Coordinator Fresno, CA ES

Carole Combs, Tulare Basin Wildlife Partners Three Rivers, CA ES 1 Stakeholder and local agency categories as defined by the California Water Code §10541(g), see Plan Section 11.1.

2 All incorporated cities and communities are considered Disadvantaged Communities (DACs), represented by both

the DAC Representative (see RWMG Participants table) and a DAC Workgroup; see Plan Section 3.9. 3 Located outside of Poso Creek IRWM Region.

Poso Creek IRWM Interested Parties

District, Agency of Entity Location CWC

Category1

U.S. Department of Agriculture: Natural Resource Conservation Service (USDA – NRCS) Bakersfield, CA SF, ES

Fresno State University: California Water Institute Fresno, CA SF

Kern River Watershed Coalition Authority Fresno, CA ES, CO

Kern County Board of Supervisors Bakersfield, CA GD

County of Kern Engineering Services Bakersfield, CA GD

California Department of Fish and Wildlife Sacramento, CA SF, ES

Paramount Farms Lost Hills, CA IO

Community Water Center Visalia, CA CO

Individuals

Mathew Hurley, Angiola Water District Corcoran, CA WP, GD

Denise Akins, County of Tulare Visalia, CA GD

Misc.‘Public Interest’ including Landowners, Environmental Advocacy Groups, Private/ Public Organizations, etc. CO, OT