Kern County Water Agency – Know & Tell

Josh, Jason, & Juy

Water Sources

ExternalState Water Project (31%)Central Valley Project (Federal Bureau of

Reclamation) (12%) Local

Kern River (22%)Groundwater (35%)

State Water Project

Deliveries via California Aqueduct Delivers over 10,670

cfs

5.2 Billion spent as of 2001 on SWP

Share of costs based on geography

Water Agency has 2nd biggest share

Central Valley Project

Federal Project run by the Bureau of Reclamation

Friant Division transports surplus Northern California water through the southern part of the central valley

Friant Kern Canal moves water from the Central Valley Project to the Kern River

Kern County Water Agency

Local Government Special District (not part of Kern County, although they do get to approve our budget )

Formed by a special act by State Legislature and approved by County Voters in 1961

Mission: Assure adequate, reliable, and affordable water supplies are available for beneficial use by the people, economy, and the lands of Kern County

Kern County Water Agency

See org Chart Departments primarily involved in

“Marketing” of water:Water ResourcesCross Valley Canal (CVC) Improvement District No. 4 (ID4)

Water Resources

Takes orders from member units and makes requests for water to SWP and CVP

Keeps Track of Water member units have in “bank accounts”

Tries to forecast demand Lobbies at the State and Federal level to

keep water supplies safe

Improvement District No. 4

Supplies supplemental water supply to the Urban Bakersfield area

Includes the Henry C. Garnett Water Purification Plant that treats water from the Kern River, Banking Projects, SWP, FK Canal

40 million gallon-per-day serves 1/5 of residents of Metropolitan Bakersfield

Cross Valley Canal

Delivers water that has been treated at the purification plant to member units

21 miles long and delivers up to 920 cubic-feet of water per second

Shut-down currently in order to increase canal capacity

Groundwater Banking

Process of storing water in the ground during wet years and pumping it up during dry ones

Water Resoruces and ID4 both track this Local Banking Projects

Pioneer ProjectBerrenda Mesa Water DistrictKern Water BankCity of Bakersfield 2800 Acres

Recharge BasinCross Valley

CanalRecovery Well

RechargeCanal

Discharge Pipe

Surface Seal

Well CasingUnconfined Aquifer

Sand/Gravel

Kern River

Confined Aquifer

Clay/Silt

Intake Section(perforations)

Gravel Pack

Water Table

Ingredients for a SuccessfulGroundwater Banking and Recovery Program

SOILS, GEOLOGY, GOOD WATER QUALITY

MULTIPLE WATERSUPPLIES

FACILITYINFRASTRUCTURE

LOCAL MANAGEMENTAND SUPPORT

What Are Member Units

Primarily government entities that administer water rights on behalf of their land owners: Belridge Water Storage District Berrenda Mesa Water District Buena Vista Water Storage District Cawelo Water District Henry Miller Water District Kern Delta Water District Lost Hills Water District Rosedale-Rio Bravo Water Storage District Semitropic Water Storage District Tehachapi-Cummings County Water District Tejon-Castac Water District West Kern Water District Wheeler Ridge-Maricopa Water Storage District

Cost of Water

Primary costs of water involve distribution and purification

Capital costs (Fixed Costs) involved in the construction of conveyance facilities such as canals, pumps, reservoirs, wells, etc.

Power costs (Variable Costs) to pump water through conveyance facilities

Availability of Water (its more expensive during dry years)

Cost of treating water

What does this mean?

Further south you are = more money Each pump, turnout, and piece of equipment that

must be operated in order to get water to you adds to the price you pay for water

State Water Project is the largest wholesale user of electricity in the state

Metropolitan Water District (provides water for Southern California) pays the most for water, the Kern County Water Agency has the next highest costs

How Costs Flow (water pun intended)

Land Owner

Member Unit

Kern County Water Agency

SWP / CVP

What does KCWA do to keep costs down? Better forecasting Audits of other government Agencies involved Better infrastructure and conveyance Better treatment facilities Construction of Solar Photovoltaic Project to

serve as hedge against rising energy prices Lobbying to protect important sources of water

such as the Sacramento Delta Engage legislative analysts to warn of any

potential legal threats Water Education to encourage people to use

water wisely

Questions?