Vital Water Information for Customers of Montecito Water District ■ Spring 2004

“One of my challenges is to

firm up the water supply

to meet rising demand,

especially during lengthy

dry periods.”

Longtime Montecito ResidentMontecito Water District’s new General Manager brings a wealth of experience inwater management—as well as experience as a longtime resident of Montecito.Robert L. Roebuck was appointed by the District Board to the post in Novemberfollowing a 20-year career with the City of Santa Barbara where he was in chargeof water, wastewater and recycled water services. He has a degree in civilengineering and 30 years of experience in management, design, construction,operations and maintenance of a wide variety of public works projects.

Priorities: Continue Facility Upgrades and Firm Up Supplies

Roebuck said that his most pressing priorities for the District are:• Continue the replacement of old and undersized pipelines. • Complete the multi-million dollar project to cover the open-air

21-million-gallon Ortega Reservoir.• Meet customer demand for high-quality water service.

City Career Had Positive Impact On Montecito Water

As Water Resources Manager for the City of Santa Barbara, Bob completedseveral key projects that enhanced the City’s operations. Among them is therehabilitation of the Cater Water Treatment Plant that serves not only the City ofSanta Barbara but also Montecito and Carpinteria.

Montecito Roots

The Roebucks have lived in Montecito for the past 21 years. His wife of 25 years,Athena, teaches physical education at the Montecito Union School and their threechildren all attend local schools.In his leisure time, Bob leads an active life, playing beach volleyball, jogging onthe beach and snow skiing. He also has coached baseball and basketball at theMontecito YMCA for many years.

Robert L. Roebuck Heads District Staff, is Former WaterResources Manager for Santa Barbara and a Montecito Resident

Welcome to New General Manager

“Bob is especially proud

of The City of Santa

Barbara’s Sheffield project,

now under construction.

It took seven years and a

huge effort to gain approval

for what he described as

“a wonderful project that

protects water quality.”

“I look forward to working

for the Montecito Water

District, and continuing to

improve the already great

water service here.”

Water Management Plan ToMeet Customer Water NeedsMontecito Water District’s Updated Urban Water Management Planlooks ahead 20 years into the future, making projections about watersupply and demand. The purpose is to assure that we can meetcustomer water needs at all times and under all conditions.

Community Plans Set ParametersThe District’s Water demand forecasts are based on the Santa BarbaraCounty-prepared Montecito, Toro Canyon and Summerland CommunityPlans, and the Local Coastal Plan. In response to a new state law, SantaBarbara County will now permit second residential units on certain parcels,and that may further increase the demand on District water supplies.

Diversity of Water Sources Key To SuccessWithin parameters set by community growth management plans,Montecito Water District does water supply planning. Maintaining adiversity of sources is the key to assuring water supply reliability.

Lessons learned from devastating dawareness of the importance of co

Portfolio Of Water SuppliesFor Water ReliabilityMontecito Water District has made significant investments to develop adiverse portfolio of water supplies. If one or more supplies fall shortdue to drought, facility breakdown, or emergency, another is available.

The District Is Ensuring Long-Term Supplies To Meet Customer Needs

Three Ways We CanHelp You Save Water■ Free Conservation LiteratureWe offer free literature about gardeningand home water conservation. Forinformation and to get answers to yourconservation questions contact theDistrict Office.

■ Free Water AuditsReceive a free water audit from the District.Just fill out a simple form and an expertwill analyze your water use, suggestingways to use water more efficiently withoutdecreasing comfort or landscape beauty.

■ Water Conservation GardenMost residential water is used outdoors.Visit our Water Conservation Gardenwith landscaping techniques and choicesthat are attractive and still save water.

Drought AlertOur primary water sources—LakeCachuma, Jameson Lake and Fox andAlder Creeks—are currently diminisheddue to lack of sufficient rainfall andrunoff. Thus, we are using more StateProject Water this year and readyingour limited groundwater wells for possi-ble activation.

Although Montecito Water District hasaugmented its water supplies, there isnever enough water to waste.

All this has turned the spotlight on theneed for wise water use. We need yourhelp to use water efficiently, focusing onirrigation for landscaping where mosthousehold water is used.

Despite Recent Rains: Dry Ye

Less Turf, More Native PlantsTurf is the ultimate water waster, demanding considerable maintenance.Many varieties of groundcover can replace grass beautifully—while savingwater and requiring less maintenance and fertilizer.

Choose Water-Smart and Native PlantsSelecting the right low water use plants produces brilliant splashes of colorwhile using less than half the water of traditional landscapes.

Mulch: Secret To A Water-Wise GardenSeveral inches of shredded redwood, gravel, compost or other mulch slowsevaporation, and cools and protects the soil. Mulch inhibits weed growth,covers bare ground and dresses up the garden.

Reset Irrigation Systems To Water When Its CoolWater at dawn when evaporation is lower and the air is more calm. Resetsprinkler timers when seasons change. Try the landscape calculator atwww.sbwater.org to create an irrigation schedule for your yard.

droughts of the past have resulted in an increasedonserving water and of maintaining diversified supplies

A water-smart landscapecan easily use less thanhalf the water of atraditional garden,require less maintenanceand fertilizer, and atthe same time offer a gardener endlesscreative possibilities.

Because water is so precious, it should never be taken for granted orwasted. Using water wisely does not require doing without beauty. Itmeans using water more efficiently so that you get the same benefitswith less water.

Water-smart landscaping saves water and money and looks greattoo. Low-water use plants can be lush, producing splashes of brilliantcolor throughout the year.

3% - Groundwater WellsA Small But Critical Backup Supply.

18% - State Water ProjectDiversifies Sources andProvides Local DroughtProtection.

34% - Jameson Lake,Fox and Alder Creeksand Doulton Tunnel Low-Cost, High QualityLocal Supplies.

45% - Lake CachumaOur Primary Supply.

Wise Water Use CreatesBeautiful Landscapes

■ Install a low-flow showerhead. New models provide avigorous spray, yet save waterand the energy to heat it.

■ New front-loading washingmachines save water andthe energy to heat it, whilecleaning better and moregently than old style washers.

Indoor WaterSavings

Water

ear Puts Focus On Conservation

30 Years of Serviceto Customers—During the last30 years, Jerry’s face may well havebeen one of those you saw whenyou visited the District Office.Jerry has contributed greatly to thesmooth operation of the Districtand has always been gracious insupporting other staff and inaccepting additional duties.

Responsible For ImprovedEfficiency—Decades ago, Jerrywas instrumental in moving theDistrict’s billing and accountingsystems from hand written tocomputers. He also maintainedrationing and moratoriumprograms during the prolonged1990’s drought period, andcurrently implements the District’sWater Conservation programs.

Thank You, Jerry—The Boardof Directors and staff ofMontecito Water District thankJerry for many years of excellentservice and extend our warmestgood wishes for his future.

With Appreciation to,

Jerry D. Paleyon His Retirement.

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

P A I DSanta Barbara, CA

Permit No. 801

P.O. Box 5037Montecito, CA 93150

805/969-2271email: webmaster@montecitowater.com

BOARD OF DIRECTORSW. W. “Rick” Drewry, President

Robert M. Edmonston, Vice-PresidentJan E. Abel

Robert W. PuddicombeLarry Wilson

Please visit us at montecitowater.com.Learn about the District’s history, Board of Directors, agendas,construction schedules, newsletters, water quality, billing information, conservation and more.

El Jaro Creek ProjectReduces SedimentA series of three separate projects toreduce sediment in El Jaro Creek wascompleted in December 2003.

This demonstration project, funded bygrants, aids Steelhead by reducingthe amount of sediment that wouldotherwise clog gravels needed by thefish for spawning.

Streambank StabilizedThe work involved stabilizing aneroding streambank and removing orstabilizing culverts.

State and Federal GrantsOver $3 million in state and federalgrants have been received in recentyears to help pay for the cost of fishenhancement projects.

Salsipuedes Creek ProjectCompleted in January 2004, theSalsipuedes Creek project involvedconstruction of three small step pools toallow Steelhead to migrate to and fromspawning areas during high and lowwater flows.

Cooperative EffortMontecito Water District and other localagencies worked cooperatively withfederal and state agencies and fisheryadvocates to carry out the project.

Win-Win SituationProjects such as this on the Santa YnezRiver and the creeks that feed it notonly benefit endangered fish andwildlife species but help ensure a localwater resource.

Jerry D. Paley

Printed on recycled paper. Each ton of recycled paper saves 7,000 gallons of water.

Steelhead Get Helping HandTwo Santa Ynez River

Projects Protect Fish,

Improve the

Environment, and Help

Secure Water Supplies

In order to maintain access to Santa Ynez River watersupplies for our customers, Montecito Water District andits partners in the Cachuma Lake Project are workingcooperatively to enhance fish habitat in the SantaYnez River and its tributaries. Two recent projects aredescribed below.