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?