HomeMy WebLinkAbout02.15.23 WB Minutes Special MtgBAKER FIELD
THE SOUND OFVOW
MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL
MEETING OF THE
WATER BOARD - CITY OF BAKERSFIELD
Wednesday, February 15, 2023 - 10:00 a.m.
Water Resources Conference Room
1000 Buena Vista Rd., Bakersfield, CA 93311
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Smith called the meeting to order at 10:03 a.m.
2. ROLL CALL
Present: Chairman Smith, Member Freeman, Member Gonzales
Absent: None
3. PUBLIC STATEMENTS - None
4. MINUTES
A. Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of September 14, 2022.
Motion by Member Gonzales to approve the Minutes of September 14,
2022.
UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED
5. KERN RIVER LEVEE DISTRICT - None
6. REPORTS
A. Update on Water Usage in the City's Domestic Water Service Area
Tylor Hester, Domestic Supervisor, presented an update regarding the
City's Domestic Water Service Area. Even with the recent significant recent
rain and snowfall California is still in a drought. The Governor of California
is still calling on all residents to reduce overall water usage by 15% based
on the quantities used in 2020. Mr. Hester referred to graphs showing water
usage in 2022 compared to 2020. Cumulatively, the City's Domestic Water
Bakersfield, California, February 15, 2023 — Page 2
REPORTS (continued)
Service Area saved over 2000 acre-feet compared to 2020 which is a
4.65% reduction from the 2020 baseline. The City of Bakersfield Domestic
Water Service Area has grown; in 2022 we have approximately 6,000 more
residents compared to 2020. Accounting for growth factor, the average
reduction is 9% compared to 2020. Board information only, no action taken.
B. Kern River & Isabella Reservoir Operations Report
Miguel Chavez, Hydrographic Supervisor, explained the Kern River
Watershed as approximately 2400 square miles of the southern Sierra
Nevada's with 8 snow sensors that monitor and report snow depth, air
temperature, and snow water equivalence. The City receives data from the
sensors daily. Mr. Chavez referring to the chart titled Kern River Basin
Snowpack Accumulation explained the historical components for
comparison of the chart which includes 1983, the largest snowpack year on
record, 2015, the driest year on record, 2022, the 4th driest year on record,
and the historical average. It has been a great start to the water year since
November. Snow levels have been at or above average except for the last
week of November and in January 2023 we surpassed the levels we saw in
1983. Since the start of February, storms have tapered off and we are
seeing the expected conditions of La Nina. The Department of Water
Resources published their first Bulletin -120 report for February 1, 2023,
which forecasts estimated runoff of the Kern River and other watersheds
across California. DWR's first projection for the Kern River is 187 percent
of normal snowmelt runoff for the April -July period. The report assumes
average precipitation from the date published, so we expect a drop in the
percentage with the next update. Overall, it is going to be a wet year and
we anticipate heavy operations on the Kern River.
Referring to the chart titled Kern River Natural Flow, Regulated Flow, &
Isabella Reservoir Storage 2022-2023 Water Year, Mr. Chavez explained
the chart covers the 3 main components of day-to-day operations for the
Kern River. Prior to January, flows and storage of Isabella Reservoir were
normal. The January 9th storm was a major contributor to an increase in
storage levels as the volume of water in storage more than doubled in a
span of one week. The Army Crops of Engineers reported an average inflow
of 7,871 cubic feet per second, with an instantaneous peak of 17,800 cubic
feet per second at Kernville on January 9th at approximately 11 pm.
Operations have since returned to normal and releases from the dam
should start increasing as demand picks up and snow starts melting.
The water in the Kern River was a combination of Kern River, State Water
Project, and Friant Flood supplies. Friant supplies are no longer available
and State Water is now the only source in the Kern River west of Calloway.
Board information only, no action taken.
7. HEARINGS - None
Bakersfield, California, February 15, 2023 — Page 3
8. NEW BUSINESS
A. Agreement with AECOM for $288,350.00 to develop and provide a Water
Master Plan
Daniel Maldonado, Assistant Water Resources Director, discussed the
history of the City of Bakersfield purchasing water rights and assets from
Tenneco West Incorporated in 1976 to secure water supplies for current
and future residents of the City of Bakersfield. The 1976 purchase also
required the city to inherit the implementation of pre-existing obligations
and other contracts and agreements in relation to the operation of the Kern
River.
The changing landscape of water has required all of California to review
their usage of water with the passing of the Sustainable Groundwater
Management Act. The City of Bakersfield has always operated as a
conjunctive use system, using both groundwater and surface water to
optimize its water usage to meet demands and needs of the residents of
Bakersfield. During the wet years, we maximize our surface water supplies
by recharging the groundwater aquifer while also utilizing surface water to
deliver to water treatment plants to meet the demands and needs. The City
recharges during wet years so we can pump from the recharged
groundwater aquifer on dry years when surface water supplies are
inadequate.
At the Regular Water Board Meeting of March 9, 2022, Member Parlier
requested Water Staff to begin the process of developing a Water Master
Plan to ensure maximum beneficial use for its residents. AECOM will
develop the Water Master Plan study which will allow the City to continue to
maximize the efficiency of water supplies by developing management
priorities to ensure municipality demands are met now and into the future
while factoring the pre-existing, inherited obligations. Dan Cronquist,
AECOM's Project Manager for the City of Bakersfield's Water Master Plan,
gave an overview of the project direction and items that would be included.
In addition, there will be public outreach to be included in the process.
Motion by Member Gonzales to refer agreement to City Council for
approval on February 22, 2023.
UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED
B. Proposed 2023 Water Board Meeting Calendar
Calendar dates were discussed. Removed the date of March 7, 2023.
Added the date of March 2, 2023 at 11 am. All other dates and times of the
proposed calendar remained unchanged.
Motion by Member Gonzales to approve with changes as discussed.
UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED
Bakersfield, California, February 15, 2023 — Page 4
9. WATER BOARD STATEMENTS - None
10. CLOSED SESSION — None
11. CLOSED SESSION ACTION - None
12. ADJOURNMENT
Chairman Smith adjourned the meeting at 10:47 a.m.
ob Smith, Chairman
City of Bakersfield Water Board
Kimberly Aleman, Secretary
City of Bakersfield Water
Board