madera county gsas workshop groundwater recharge

June 16, 2021

Madera County GSA Workshop

June 16th, 2021

3pm – 5pm

Hybrid Meeting

1

Madera County GSAs Workshop

Groundwater RechargeSustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation (SALC)

Domestic Well MitigationAllocations

June 16, 2021


1. Welcome

2. Introduction and GSP Review

3. Recharge Program

4. SALC Program

5. Domestic Well Mitigation Program

6. Allocations

7. Wrap up

Agenda

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June 16, 2021


Introduction and GSP Review

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June 16, 2021


Groundwater Conditions Without Projects

4

SAMPLE WELL

June 16, 2021


Simplified Groundwater Budget Without Projects

5

545,200

379,300

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

GroundwaterExtraction

GroundwaterRecharge

Ave

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nn

ua

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olu

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, 2

04

0-2

090

(Acre

-Feet)

Madera Subbasin

June 16, 2021


Step 1: Develop Projects to Increase Recharge• Madera County Recharge Program: Divert all available flood waters to increase recharge

6

545,200

379,300

60,000

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000


GroundwaterRecharge + Projects

Ave

rag

e A

nn

ua

l V

olu

me

, 2

04

0-2

090

(Ac

re-F

ee

t)

Net ProjectInfiltration

Recharge, withoutProjects

Extraction

June 16, 2021


439,300

105,900

379,300

60,000

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000


GroundwaterRecharge + Projects

Ave

rag

e A

nn

ua

l V

olu

me

, 2

04

0-2

090

(Ac

re-F

ee

t)

Net ProjectInfiltration

Recharge, withoutProjects

Crop Water UseReduction

Extraction

-

Step 2: Demand Management• Crop Water Use Reduction Program: Madera County GSA 90,000 AF. Remaining crop water

use reduction due to permanent recharge basins replacing irrigated area

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June 16, 2021


Groundwater Conditions With Projects

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SAMPLE WELL

June 16, 2021


GSP Requires Increased Recharge and Consumptive Use Reduction• Increased recharge in the Madera County GSAs

• Recharge (basins, flood-MAR, in-lieu)

• Other supplies and transfers

• Consumptive use reduction (demand management) program• Allocation

• Allocation + Water Market

• Land Resting/Retirement and Easements

• Fee structures

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June 16, 2021


Example GSP Implementation

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0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

2030

2031

2032

2033

2034

2035

2036

2037

2038

2039

2040

Vo

lum

e (a

cre-

feet

/yea

r)

Water Year

Sustainable Yield Total Recharge from Recharge Projects Transitional Water

Sust. Agric. Lands Conserv. (SALC) Other Demand Management

June 16, 2021


Recharge Program

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June 16, 2021


Recharge Study Objective• Develop a strategic recharge plan and implementation program to achieve

groundwater recharge through in-lieu practices, Flood-MAR, and spreading basins with the following specific objectives:

• Develop projects that address “low hanging fruit” first.

• Develop and implement projects that optimize on-farm recharge versus recharge basins and other methods.

• Identify and pursue funding opportunities for implementation of projects.

• Identify or establish partnerships with public agencies and non-profits to advance recharge

• Program costs should be consistent with other GSA projects and demand management program efforts

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June 16, 2021


Approaches to Selecting Recharge Areas

• Select “best” area based on:• Hydrogeologic Factors

• Distance to Water Supply and Conveyance

• Relationship to Underrepresented Communities (URCs)

• Grant-specific factors

• Current cropping

• Landowner interest

• Landowner interest• Forms Received

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June 16, 2021


Recharge areas, water sources, and conveyances• Chowchilla subbasin

• East area with conveyance via Madera Canal and CWD system (subject to CWD approval) to distribute Section 215 water.

• West area with conveyance via Eastside Bypass and new constructed conveyance (pumps and pipes or gravity) to divert winter flood flows.

• Madera subbasin• East area with conveyance via Madera Canal and MID system (subject to MID

approval) to distribute Section 215 water.

• West area with conveyance via Eastside Bypass and new constructed conveyance (pumps and pipes or gravity) to divert winter flood flows.

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June 16, 2021


Chowchilla Subbasin Recharge Areas

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Madera Subbasin Recharge Areas

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June 16, 2021


Phased Project Implementation

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Project/Phase Targeted Recharge Volume, AF in wet years

Targeted Start Date

Targeted End Date

Water Sources, AF/yr

Chowchilla SB

Madera SB Eastside/ Chowchilla Bypass

USBR Contract and Section 215

Chowchilla Madera Chowchilla Madera

Phase 1 – Prop 68 Grant Projects

8,000 11,200 Jan 2022 Dec 2023 8,000 0 0 11,200

Phase 2 14,300 26,000 July 2022 July 2024 14,300 26,000 0 0

Phase 3 15,500 26,000 Jan 2023 Dec 2024 15,500 26,000 0 0

Phase 4 22,000 26,000 July 2023 July 2025 22,000 26,000 0 0

Phase 5 19,500 25,000 Jan 2024 Dec 2026 10,000 25,000 9,500 0

TOTALS 79,300 114,200 69,800 103,000 9,500 11,200

June 16, 2021


Implementation Progress – DWR Prop 68 Grant

• $4,197,600 awarded for Chowchilla subbasin project• Project in west area

• Flood water in Eastside Bypass• New constructed conveyance (pumps and pipes)• Two recharge areas (basins)• Flood-MAR

• $4,197,600 awarded for Madera subbasin project• Project in east area

• Madera County Reclamation contract for Section 215 water• Conveyance via Madera Canal and MID system• One recharge basin--turnouts on MID lateral 6.2 and gravity pipeline• Flood-MAR—3 turnouts on MID laterals 6.2 and 32.2

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June 16, 2021


Landowner Support & Recharge Interest Forms

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• Forms received as of 2/23/2021• 40 Landowners/Property Managers

• 206 parcels, approximately 30,000 acres

• List of forms (sorted by APN) received will be posted to:

https://www.maderacountywater.com/recharge/

• List includes proposed implementation phase, if known.

• Updated over time to reflect forms received and project development and implementation




June 16, 2021


Emergency Recharge Plan

• Objective: the County is considering development of an Emergency Recharge Plan to maximize recharge to the extent water is available during the 2021/2022 winter season. • Emergency Plan that can be implemented by County GSA and local landowners if water available for

recharge before permanent structures can be built.

• Identification and completion of necessary permits and approvals for water diversion.

• Identification of potential plan alternatives.

• Identification and completion of environmental permitting and regulatory compliance.

• Identification/specifications of temporary infrastructure, water sources, diversion locations, and diversion methods.

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June 16, 2021


Next Steps

• Finalize DWR grant agreement for Phase 1 projects• County and DWR execute grant agreement • County issues request for proposals (RFP) for technical services • Project planning, design, permitting – estimated completion date = 12/2022• Phase 1 construction – estimated completion date 12/2023

• Prepare preliminary design packages for Projects/Phases 2-5

• Emergency Recharge Plan• Engage local landowners

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June 16, 2021


SALC Program

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June 16, 2021


• Agricultural land conservation program study with the primary objectives of developing:• Criteria for identifying and prioritizing land for its potential to be temporarily

rested, permanently retired, or retired and restored and

• An incentive program structured for resting, retiring, restoring, or protecting land under alternative water-centric conservation easements/land retirement

• Maximize potential for multi-benefit land repurposing including ecosystem services and habitat

• Program incentives that are consistent with other GSA demand management program efforts

SALC Program Objective

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June 16, 2021


How Does SALC Work?

SALC acquires water (+ other benefits) from enrolled lands

Landowner charges to pay for the SALC program

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• SALC acquires water from lands that enroll in the program

• Lands that enroll in the program receive an incentive payment

• Other lands are charged to pay for the SALC program

June 16, 2021


SALC Program

• Madera County GSAs: Chowchilla, Madera, Delta Mendota

• The SALC program could address multiple purposes that would not reduce water use including:• Keeping lands in production

• Other environmental benefits

• Lands located near existing development

• Different types of unirrigated uses

• The key SALC program features include:• Using the SALC program to incentivize reducing groundwater use

• Multi-benefits from land repurposing

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June 16, 2021


Establishing the SALC Program

• The SALC program would need to incentivize participation in the program by offering a payment to enrolled lands

• Incentives to encourage voluntary participation in the SALC program• Transition planning, existing crops and land, other family and business

considerations, alternative land uses, and income from farming

• Typical crop returns as a standard basis for approximating SALC incentive payments

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June 16, 2021


SALC Incentive Payments

• The goal is to identify “low-hanging fruit” consistent with GSP implementation strategy to minimize costs

• Incentives based on crop returns depend on various factors, for example:• Crops produced

• Age of orchard/vineyard

• Costs

• Crop market conditions (prices)

• Available water supply

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June 16, 2021


SALC Program Eligibility

• Currently irrigated lands • Can receive Sustainable Yield and opt-in for Transitional Water• SALC would acquire Sustainable Yield and Transitional Water

• Scale of the SALC program for irrigated lands• Depends on the number of currently irrigated acres that enroll in the SALC

program• The quantity of Transitional Water will decrease over time and SALC incentive

payments would be proportionally adjusted

• Currently non-irrigated lands • Can opt-in for Sustainable Yield, and use for irrigation• SALC would be able to acquire Sustainable Yield from lands that do not opt-in

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June 16, 2021


Irrigated Lands

• SALC program incentive payments would change with:• The scale of program

• Available Transitional Water

• The example shows the range with current Transitional Water and crop market conditions

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June 16, 2021


Non-Irrigated Grass/Rangelands

• Potential ecosystem/habitat benefits for non-irrigated lands and repurposed irrigated lands• Reduced habitat fragmentation• Benefits for area-sensitive species• Potential flood risk reduction benefits

• Non-irrigated lands eligibility under SALC program• Payment to keep lands in non-irrigated uses• Example shows incentive range based on value of irrigation water uses

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Madera County GSA Non-Irrigated Acres Incentive Range ($/ac)

Madera 35,000 $85 - $125

Chowchilla 3,800 $55 - $80

Delta Mendota 0 -

June 16, 2021


Multi-Benefit Land Repurposing

• Potential funding to support program expansion to achieve multiple-benefits

• Governor’s May Revised Budget included $500 million to the Department of Conservation for multi-benefit land repurposing

• AB 252: Department of Conservation Multi-benefit Land Repurposing Incentive Program

• Recent NGO studies• EDF Strategic Land Repurposing

• TNC Strategic Land Rewilding

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June 16, 2021


SALC Program Cost

• SALC demand management targets: • Madera: 45,000 AFY• Chowchilla: 13,900 AFY• Delta Mendota: 1,000 AFY

• Program considerations• Includes non-irrigated lands• Phase-in period• Length and term of easements/agreements

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Madera County GSA

Incentive Payment to SALC Lands ($/ac)

Cost to Irrigated Lands not in SALC ($/ac)

Total annual cost ($M)

Madera $550 - $625 $240 - $275 $16.0

Chowchilla $490 - $550 $120 - $150 $3.6

Delta Mendota $650 - $700 $200 - $225 $0.34

June 16, 2021


Next Steps

• Receive feedback on the following program design components:• Non-irrigated lands participation

• Multi-benefit land repurposing options

• Length of program agreements/easements

• Continue to update SALC program for consistency with other GSA programs and policy decisions

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June 16, 2021


Domestic Well Inventory Update

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June 16, 2021


• DWR Prop 68 Grant Funding

• GSPs included Domestic Well Mitigation Programs to avoid adverse impacts to this group of beneficial users

• Need for improved understanding of locations, density, construction of active domestic wells (Part 1: Domestic Well Inventory)

• Identify/address additional monitoring needs with dedicated MWs (Part 2: Install new MWs in areas with clusters of domestic wells)

Project Background/Objectives

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June 16, 2021


• Wells can experience three general types of problems: Pump, Well, Aquifer

• Pump Problem: Most wells pumps are designed to last up to 10-15 years before needing replacement (not related to declining water levels)

• Well Problem: Wells typically made of PVC or steel materials that degrade over time; typical well life may be 30-50 years (not related to declining water levels)

• Aquifer Problem: Declining water levels that may go below the bottom of a well, thereby causing no water to be available to well

• Intent of Domestic Well Mitigation Program is to assist well owners with “Aquifer” problem that occurs after submittal of GSP in January 2020.

Project Background/Purpose

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June 16, 2021


• Cuyama Valley and Paso Robles Subbasin GSPs were not approved in part because of deficiencies related to handling of Groundwater Level SMC and mitigation specific to domestic wells

• DWR evaluations state, “While SGMA does not require all impacts to groundwater uses and users be mitigated, the GSA should consider including mitigation strategies describing how drinking water impacts that may occur due to continued overdraft during the period between the start of GSP implementation and achievement of the sustainability goal will be addressed.”

Recent (June 2021) DWR Review of GSPs

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June 16, 2021


Inventory Dataset Characteristics

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Data SourceHistorical

Well Presence

Well Status (active)

Location Accuracy

Construction(depth, screens)

DWR Well Completion Report Database Since early 1900s

NoVariable

(some only to PLSS section) Usually included

County Well Permit Database Since 1990s

(Mad=1990, Mer=1998)

NoBy APN (not all

match parcel GIS data)

No (only seal

depth)

County Parcel Data

Inferred from Use/Dwelling

CodeNo By APN No

Census Information

Inferred from # Homes

NoBy Census

BlockNo

June 16, 2021


Domestic Wells (DWR WCR) Since 1970

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June 16, 2021


County Well Permits Since 1990s

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June 16, 2021


Inferred Domestic Wells from Parcel Data

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June 16, 2021


Domestic Well WCRs vs. County Permits

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0

50

100

150

200

250

300

19

91

19

92

19

93

19

94

19

95

19

96

19

97

19

98

19

99

20

00

20

01

20

02

20

03

20

04

20

05

20

06

20

07

20

08

20

09

20

10

20

11

20

12

20

13

20

14

20

15

20

16

20

17

20

18

20

19

20

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WCRs and County Permits by Year in Madera County Portion of Madera and Chowchilla Subbasins - New Domestic Wells

New WCRs New Well Permit Matches APN

June 16, 2021


Typical Definition of Dry Well: Regional groundwater level below bottom of well or insufficient well saturation (e.g., 10 feet above bottom of well).

Note: A water level below a pump does not necessarily constitute a dry well – pump may just need to be lowered.

Refined Analysis of Dry Domestic Wells

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June 16, 2021


Notes: Costs for lowering pump based on lowering pump by 100 feet; Replacement well cost for 500-foot deep well; Well deepening for domestic wells not a realistic option

Refined Analysis of Dry Domestic Wells

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IssueType of

ProblemSolution

Related to GSP

Typical Cost

Water level in well below pump setting depth

PumpLower Pump Yes/No $1,000

Pump not working (old age or pump-related issue)

Pump Replace Pump

No$1,500 to

$3,000

Well casing/screen failure (due to old age)

Well Replace Well

No$25,000 to

$30,000

Water level below bottom of well

Aquifer Replace Well

Yes$25,000 to

$30,000

June 16, 2021


• Meeting with RWMG on June 28

• Sensitivity analysis of assumptions

• Finalize domestic well inventory

• Evaluate optimum nested monitoring well locations

• Prepare Domestic Well Inventory Report

• Drill/install new nested monitoring wells

• Install transducers and collect GW quality samples

• Prepare Well Installation Reports

Next Steps

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June 16, 2021


Allocations

• Key Terms

• Applied Water

• Evapotranspiration of Applied Water

• Allocation

• Dry Run

• Sustainable Yield

• Transitional Water

• Allocations for Subbasins within County GSAs

June 16, 2021


Key Terms

• Applied Water (AW)

• Volume delivered through irrigation system

• Water flows to deep percolation and runoff as well as to evapotranspiration, depending on irrigation efficiency

• Measured with meters

• Evapotranspiration of Applied Water (ETAW)

• Volume of applied water transpired by plants and evaporated from the soil (i.e., consumptive use)

• Less than Applied Water

• Measured with satellite data

June 16, 2021


Historical ETAW

• Almonds – 34 inches per year

• Pistachios – 30 inches per year

• Grapes – 20 inches per year

• Values vary with cultural practices, age and varieties.

June 16, 2021


Key Terms

• Allocation – a water budget that decreases over time (2020-2040)

• Dry Run – a practice time (with no associated water rates)

• Sustainable Yield – water that naturally exists in the subbasins from seepage and percolation

• Transitional Water – water that is continued overdraft, but allows irrigated acres to transition to lower water use

June 16, 2021


Sustainable Yield and Transitional Water Buckets

SY TW SY TW SY TW

2020 90,000 113,000 22,500 63,400 1,500 2,000 2%

2021 90,000 110,740 22,500 62,132 1,500 1,960 2%

2022 90,000 108,480 22,500 60,864 1,500 1,920 2%

2023 90,000 106,220 22,500 59,596 1,500 1,880 2%

2024 90,000 103,960 22,500 58,328 1,500 1,840 2%

2025 90,000 101,700 22,500 57,060 1,500 1,800 2%

Exhibit A

Year

Madera County GSAs

Madera Subbasin Chowchilla Subbasin Delta Mendota Subbasin

Exhibit A – Based on 2020 ETAW

June 16, 2021


The Math

Madera County GSA in Chowchilla Subbasin 2021:

• To calculate Sustainable Yield (SY):

22,500 AF

38,000 ac

= 0.59 ft or 7 inches total of SY

• To calculate Transitional Water (TW):

62,132 AF

38,000 ac

= 1.6 ft or 19.7 inches total of TW

Total Allocation for Irrigated Land is:= 7 + 19.7 = 26.7 inches

June 16, 2021


Per Acre Allocation for Irrigated Land

Madera County GSA: Madera Subbasin

Inches of ETAW

2021 28.3

2022 28.0

2023 27.7

2024 27.4

2025 27.1

Madera County GSA: Chowchilla Subbasin

Inches of ETAW

2021 26.7

2022 26.3

2023 25.9

2024 25.5

2025 25.1

June 16, 2021


Action Items

Growers

Sign up for Irriwatch for irrigated parcels

County GSAs

Develop Outreach materials on Allocations

Work with Irriwatch to simplify the portal

Bring Board Items back to BOS:

Dairy-related challenges

Opt-in mechanism

Allocation Approach revised 2020 ETAW

madera county gsas workshop groundwater recharge

Documents