HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.05.2017 WB Minutes Regular MtgB A K E R S F I E L D
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE
WATER BOARD - CITY OF BAKERSFIELD
Wednesday, April 5, 2017 - 2:00 p.m.
Water Resources Building Conference Room
1000 Buena Vista Road, Bakersfield, CA 93311
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Smith called the meeting to order at 2:06 p,m,
2. ROLL CALL
Present: Chairman Smith, Member Weir, Member Sullivan (seated at 2:31 pm)
Absent: None
3. MINUTES
A. Minutes of the Special Meeting of February 8, 2017 for approval
Motion by Weir to approve the Minutes of the Regular Water Board
Meeting of February 8, 2017. APPROVED with Member Sullivan absent
4. PUBLIC STATEMENTS
Dennis Fox (at 2 :22 pm) asked to submit a letter subject titled: Subsidies
Negative Impacts, for Board review at their leisure. Letter was copied and
distributed to Board Members at the conclusion of meeting. No action
taken.
5. REPORTS
A. Kern River & Isabella Reservoir Operations Report
Heather Williams, Hydrographic Supervisor, reviewed the first graph which
showed the trends for, the Kern River Natural Flow, Regulated Flow and
Isabella Reservoir Storage, Ms, Williams stated since the last meeting there
has only been one significant storm, which occurred on March 22, 2017.
As of midnight last night the current storage at Lake Isabella is 241,634
acre feet, the regulated outflow is 4,118 cubic feet per second, and inflow
into the lake is 4,058 cubic feet per second. Average inflow to the lake on
this day is 1,326 cubic feet per second. Ms, Williams reviewed the Kern
River Basin Snowpack Accumulation chart. Ms. Williams stated the snow
pack has an estimated water content of 40 inches. This is almost double
the normal average of water content for April 11t. Unofficially the DWR
Snow Surveys has the April 1, 2017 snowpack at 219% of normal.
BakersfICIU, C alifurlIIU, April 5, 2017 - rage 2
5. REPORTS continued
A. Chairman Smith asked questions regarding storage at Lake Isabella,
Water Resources Manager Art Chianello confirmed the original maximum
design storage capacity is approximately 560,000 acre feet which has
since 2006 been reduced to 361,250 acre -feet during certain times of the
year until repairs at the dam are completed. Mr, Chianello stated that the
Army Corps' Isabella Dam design manual includes a Water Control
Diagram with three maximum reservoir storage capacities during the
calendar year. The three maximum levels are 170,000 acre -feet, 245,000
acre -feet, and approximately 560,000 acre -feet, Only the 560,000 acre -
feet has been temporarily reduced to 361,250 acre -feet until repairs are
completed at the dam.
B. Update on Water Usage in the City's Domestic Water Service Area for
2017.
Jason Meadors, Water Resources Director, provided the monthly water
usage for the months of January and February 2017 for the City's
domestic water service area. Back in June 2016, the City and Cal Water
both adopted a 9% conservation standard target based on analysis of
water supplies. In February 2017, the State of California extended its
drought regulations until October 2017 or until the state makes changes
prior to that date. Table 1 in the provided documentation summarizes
and compares water usage. Mr. Meadors explained the comparison of
2017 reported numbers to 2013. In January 2017, water consumption was
reduced 11.1 % from the 2013 levels, and in February, consumption was
reduced 25.7 %, Mr. Meadors pointed out the R -GPCD, residential gallons
per capita per day, is the average volume of water a typical resident
uses. In February 2017, the residential number showed a 31% reduction.
Table 1 also shows an increase in population over the last 4 years since
January 2013 of approximately 12,701 people and approximately 3,600
connections. Mr, Meadors reviewed Table 2, which is a running total of
our cumulative water savings. From June 2016 to February 2017, the
overall cumulative water savings was 17 %, Mr, Meadors stated that
groundwater levels are still at historical lows although the current water
recharge activities are helping. However, because groundwater levels
are at historic lows it is still important that all citizens continue to conserve
water. Chairman Smith asked if there were any data regarding
groundwater elevations. Mr. Chianello responded that staff measured
groundwater levels in the 2800 acres piezometers on January 15 and
March 31. the data shows that there is a trend of rising groundwater
levels within a range of 5 to 25 feet.
HEARINGS
7. DEFERRED BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS
9. KERN RIVER LEVEE DISTRICT
Bakersfield, California, April 5, 2017 - Page 3
10, MISCELLANEOUS
A. Short video presentation on "Kern River - A Legend in Compromise" and
then distributed Water Board member reference information.
Art Chianello, Water Resources Manager presented a video to the Board
entitled, "Kern River - A Legend in Compromise ". This documentary was
created by the City Water Resources Department in 1988. Mr. Chianello
stated that the history of how the water rights were established,
entitlement under the Shaw Decree, and many agreements including the
Miller Haggin Agreement provide for a well- managed river. Management
of these water flows on a daily basis including the record keeping are the
responsibility of the City of Bakersfield's Water Resources Department and
have been that way since the purchase in 1976.
11. WATER BOARD STATEMENTS
Chairman Smith stated he likes all the water in the river and thanked Mr,
Chianello for coordinating with others to fix the bike path one week earlier
than scheduled, The bike path was scheduled to be completed in three
weeks but was fixed in two. Chairman Smith summarized there was some
erosion in the bike path past Allen Rd and the bike path had to be closed
for approximately the last 7 miles. Mr. Meadors stated both Guinn
Construction and the Kern County Water Agency did a great job,
12. CLOSED SESSION - None
13. CLOSED SESSION ACTION - None
14, ADJOURNMENT
Chairman Smith adjourned the meeting at 2;44 p.m.
Bob Smith, Chairman
City of Bakersfield Water Board
Bobbie Zaragoza, CIVIC, Secretary
City of Bakersfield Water Board