May 9, 2012 1
CV-SALTS and the
Recycled Water Policy
A Stakeholder Based Approach to Developing a Salt and Nitrate
Management Plan for the Central Valley
David William Cory
ACWA Conference
May 9,2012 2
Salt Issues• More salt enters the
region than leaves – Sacramento Basin has relatively
few salt impaired areas but salt exported to the Delta can be picked up and redistributed by SWP and CVP
– San Joaquin River is the SJR Basin’s sole outlet. Salt imports exceed export capacity
– Tulare Lake Basin has no reliable outlet
Tulare Lake
Delta
Sacramento River
San Joaquin River
May 9, 2012 3
Salt IssuesSalt build-up threatens agricultural productivity
Increasing salt concentrations (including NO3) in groundwater threaten drinking water in some areas
May 9, 2012 4
Economic CostIf the Region does not change it’s approach to salt, by 2030…
– Direct annual costs anticipated to range between $1 to 1.5 BILLION
– Total annual income impacts statewide anticipated between $1.7 to 3 BILLION
May 9, 2012 5
Regional Sources– Agricultural – Urban– Rural– Environmental– Industrial – Water Providers
Diverse SourcesDiverse Sources
Local Sources– Municipal wastewater – Septic tanks– Oil field brines– Confined animal
facilities– Food processors
May 9, 2012 6
Stakeholder Based Solutions
• Stakeholder involvement and ownership• Better addresses all needs and
concerns• Utilize everyone’s efforts & resources
more efficiently and effectively• Basin Plan - based on better data
- more effective
May 9, 2012 7
CV-SALTS Launch
2006: Joint Workshop– Initial Products
• Economic study• Metadata report• Educational Video• Strategy
2009: MOA– State Water Board– Central Valley Water Board– Central Valley Salinity Coalition
May 9, 2012 8
The Original MissionDevelop a comprehensive
regional salinity management plan that is robust enough to support
basin plan amendments
Plans to be amended:• Sacramento/San Joaquin River Basin Plan• Tulare Lake Basin Plan• Delta Plan
May 9, 2012 9
Leadership Team(State/Federal Agencies and Stakeholders)
Central ValleySalinity
Coalition(Stakeholders)
CV-SALTS Executive Committee(Subset Leadership Team and CVSC)
TechnicalCommittee
EducationOutreach
LowerSan Joaquin
CV-SALTS STRUCTURE
Strategy and Framework
May 9, 2012 10
Revise Regulatory Structure• Beneficial Uses; Water Quality Objectives; Policies
Develop Policies and Procedures to:• Evaluate Compliance• Provide Regulatory Flexibility
Provide basis for short and long-term management of salts and nitrate at appropriate geographic scales
Three Key Work Areas1. Regulatory Planning
– Regulatory structure and policies to support basin-wide S/N management
2. CV-SNMP Master Plan Development– Creates framework for implementation
3. SNMP Implementation– Provides basis and process for future
development of area-specific SNMPs
*A Plan Within a Plan*
May 9, 2012 11
Conceptual Model (Technical Approach)
Policy
Central Valley SNMP (Management Zones)
Area Specific (SNMPs; archetypes; prototypes)
May 9, 2012 12
Supports
CV-SNMP Master Plan Development
Two-tiered Structure1. Basin-wide requirements2. Placeholder to incorporate area-specific
Utilize Proofs of Concept– Archetypes: how to establish
appropriate beneficial uses and water quality objectives
– Prototypes: vet implementation strategies and monitoring components
May 9, 2012 13
Archetype Studies• Constructed Ag Drains
– Appropriate MUN Beneficial Use application• Lower San Joaquin River
– Appropriate beneficial uses/water quality objectives surface water
• Tulare Lake Bed Groundwater Basin– Appropriate beneficial uses
• Zone Studies– Develop management zones and default
regional AGR objectives
May 9, 2012 14
Prototype Studies
• Lower San Joaquin River– Implementation Alternatives for meeting
WQOs and salt balance• Disadvantaged Communities
– Address nitrate contaminated GW basins• ILRP groundwater WDRs
– Regional monitoring design
May 9, 2012 15
Recycled Water Policy Elements CV-SALTS
Water recycling and stormwater management goals/objectives X
Conceptual model --Source/fate; assimilative capacity; etc. X
Monitoring Plan X
Antidegradation analysis X
Implementation methods --Including templates for modifying BUs, WQOs, and developing area specific SNMPs
X
Management activities X
May 9, 2012 16
Anticipated Outcome: Adoption of a CV-SNMP that complies with SRWP
Anticipated Outcome: Ability to fold in more area specific plans as needed
Utilize Master CV-SNMP as default management approach
Periodic updates to include area-specific SNMP in the future
– Utilize process templates from master plan• Area-specific SNMPs• Archetypes• Prototypes
May 9, 2012 17
State Board Mtg6 December 2011
CV-SALTS Annual Report Slide 18
Additional Information:
www.cvsalinity.org
Central Valley Water Board Workshop
June 12, 2012 in Fresno
May 9, 2012 19
