May 9, 2012 1

CV-SALTS and the

Recycled Water Policy

A Stakeholder Based Approach to Developing a Salt and Nitrate

Management Plan for the Central Valley

David William Cory

ACWA Conference

May 9,2012 2

Salt Issues• More salt enters the

region than leaves – Sacramento Basin has relatively

few salt impaired areas but salt exported to the Delta can be picked up and redistributed by SWP and CVP

– San Joaquin River is the SJR Basin’s sole outlet. Salt imports exceed export capacity

– Tulare Lake Basin has no reliable outlet

Tulare Lake

Delta

Sacramento River

San Joaquin River

May 9, 2012 3

Salt IssuesSalt build-up threatens agricultural productivity

Increasing salt concentrations (including NO3) in groundwater threaten drinking water in some areas

May 9, 2012 4

Economic CostIf the Region does not change it’s approach to salt, by 2030…

– Direct annual costs anticipated to range between $1 to 1.5 BILLION

– Total annual income impacts statewide anticipated between $1.7 to 3 BILLION

May 9, 2012 5

Regional Sources– Agricultural – Urban– Rural– Environmental– Industrial – Water Providers

Diverse SourcesDiverse Sources

Local Sources– Municipal wastewater – Septic tanks– Oil field brines– Confined animal

facilities– Food processors

May 9, 2012 6

Stakeholder Based Solutions

• Stakeholder involvement and ownership• Better addresses all needs and

concerns• Utilize everyone’s efforts & resources

more efficiently and effectively• Basin Plan - based on better data

- more effective

May 9, 2012 7

CV-SALTS Launch

2006: Joint Workshop– Initial Products

• Economic study• Metadata report• Educational Video• Strategy

2009: MOA– State Water Board– Central Valley Water Board– Central Valley Salinity Coalition

May 9, 2012 8

The Original MissionDevelop a comprehensive

regional salinity management plan that is robust enough to support

basin plan amendments

Plans to be amended:• Sacramento/San Joaquin River Basin Plan• Tulare Lake Basin Plan• Delta Plan

May 9, 2012 9

Leadership Team(State/Federal Agencies and Stakeholders)

Central ValleySalinity

Coalition(Stakeholders)

CV-SALTS Executive Committee(Subset Leadership Team and CVSC)

TechnicalCommittee

EducationOutreach

LowerSan Joaquin

CV-SALTS STRUCTURE

Strategy and Framework

May 9, 2012 10

Revise Regulatory Structure• Beneficial Uses; Water Quality Objectives; Policies

Develop Policies and Procedures to:• Evaluate Compliance• Provide Regulatory Flexibility

Provide basis for short and long-term management of salts and nitrate at appropriate geographic scales

Three Key Work Areas1. Regulatory Planning

– Regulatory structure and policies to support basin-wide S/N management

2. CV-SNMP Master Plan Development– Creates framework for implementation

3. SNMP Implementation– Provides basis and process for future

development of area-specific SNMPs

*A Plan Within a Plan*

May 9, 2012 11

Conceptual Model (Technical Approach)

Policy

Central Valley SNMP (Management Zones)

Area Specific (SNMPs; archetypes; prototypes)

May 9, 2012 12

Supports

CV-SNMP Master Plan Development

Two-tiered Structure1. Basin-wide requirements2. Placeholder to incorporate area-specific

Utilize Proofs of Concept– Archetypes: how to establish

appropriate beneficial uses and water quality objectives

– Prototypes: vet implementation strategies and monitoring components

May 9, 2012 13

Archetype Studies• Constructed Ag Drains

– Appropriate MUN Beneficial Use application• Lower San Joaquin River

– Appropriate beneficial uses/water quality objectives surface water

• Tulare Lake Bed Groundwater Basin– Appropriate beneficial uses

• Zone Studies– Develop management zones and default

regional AGR objectives

May 9, 2012 14

Prototype Studies

• Lower San Joaquin River– Implementation Alternatives for meeting

WQOs and salt balance• Disadvantaged Communities

– Address nitrate contaminated GW basins• ILRP groundwater WDRs

– Regional monitoring design

May 9, 2012 15

Recycled Water Policy Elements CV-SALTS

Water recycling and stormwater management goals/objectives X

Conceptual model --Source/fate; assimilative capacity; etc. X

Monitoring Plan X

Antidegradation analysis X

Implementation methods --Including templates for modifying BUs, WQOs, and developing area specific SNMPs

X

Management activities X

May 9, 2012 16

Anticipated Outcome: Adoption of a CV-SNMP that complies with SRWP

Anticipated Outcome: Ability to fold in more area specific plans as needed

Utilize Master CV-SNMP as default management approach

Periodic updates to include area-specific SNMP in the future

– Utilize process templates from master plan• Area-specific SNMPs• Archetypes• Prototypes

May 9, 2012 17

State Board Mtg6 December 2011

CV-SALTS Annual Report Slide 18

Additional Information:

www.cvsalinity.org

Central Valley Water Board Workshop

June 12, 2012 in Fresno

May 9, 2012 19