Item 27 - Water Supply Assessment for Cabrillo Town Center Project

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Cabrillo Town Center WATER SUPPLY ASSESSMENT FEBRUARY 13, 2023 19 County, primarily to the Imperial Irrigation District, and is used mainly for agriculture production. Over the past 16 years (2000-2015), there have only been three years when the Colorado River flow has been above average.7 The long-term imbalance in future supply and demand is projected to be approximately 3.2 MAF by the year 2060. Actions are currently being taken and planned in the (future to resolve the imbalance between water supply and demand in areas thot use Colorado River water. Such actions include the resolution of uncertainties related to water conservation, reuse, water banking, and weather modification concepts.8 State Water Project The State Water Project (SWP) collects water from rivers in Northern California and redistributes it to the water-scarce but populous central and southern portions of California through a network of aqueducts, pumping stations, and power plants. Approximately 70% of the water provided by the SWP is used for urban areas and industry in Southern California and the San Francisco Bay Area, and 30% is used for irrigation in the Central Valley. The availability of water supplies from the SWP can be highly variable. A wet water year may be followed by a dry water year which restricts the amount of water that can be delivered throughout California. Metropolitan’s SWP imported water is stored at Castaic Lake on the western side of Metropolitan’s service area and at Silverwood Lake near San Bernardino, as well as in Diamond Valley Lake. The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta (Delta) is key to the SWP’s ability to deliver water to its agricultural and urban contractors. The Delta faces many challenges concerning its long-term sustainability such as climate change posing a threat of increased variability in floods and droughts. Sea level rise complicates efforts in managing salinity levels and preserving water quality in the Delta to ensure a suitable water supply for urban and agricultural use. Furthermore, other challenges include continued subsidence of Delta islands, many of which are below sea level, and the related threat of a catastrophic level failure as the water pressure increases, or because of a major seismic event. Metropolitan’s Board approved a Delta Action Plan in June 2007 that provides a framework for staff to pursue actions with other agencies and stakeholders to build a sustainable Delta and reduce conflicts between water supply conveyance and the environment. The Delta action plan aims to prioritize immediate short-term actions to stabilize the Delta while an ultimate solution is selected, and mid-term steps to maintain the Delta while a long-term solution is implemented. Currently, Metropolitan is working towards addressing three basic elements: Delta ecosystem restoration, water supply conveyance, and flood control protection and storage development. 7 2020 Metropolitan UWMP. 8 2012 USBR Colorado River Basin Water Supply and Demand Study.