2015 Annual Review of the State Water Project
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CALIFORNIA WATER COMMISSION 2015 ANNUAL REVIEW | 1 California Water Commission 2015 ANNUAL REVIEW of the construction and operation of the State Water Project 2 | CALIFORNIA WATER COMMISSION 2015 ANNUAL REVIEW Background and Authority The California Water Commission consists of nine members appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the State Senate. Seven members are chosen for their general expertise related to the control, storage, and beneficial use of water and two are chosen for their knowledge of the environment. The Commission provides a public forum to discuss water issues, advises the Director of the Department of Water Resources (DWR), and takes appropriate statutory actions CALIFORNIA to further the development of policies that support integrated and WATER COMMISSION sustainable water resource management and a healthy environment. The roles and responsibilities of the Commission are defined in the Joseph Byrne, Chair Water Code, sections of the Government Code, and the Code of Joe Del Bosque, Vice-Chair Civil Procedures. The California Water Commission conducts an Andrew Ball annual review of the construction and operation of the State Water Project (SWP), and makes a report on its findings to the Department Danny Curtin and Legislature, with any recommendations it may have. Paula Daniels (WC §165) Maria Herrera David Orth Armando Quintero CALIFORNIA WATER COMMISSION 2015 ANNUAL REVIEW | 3 KEY ACTIVITIES OF THE WATER COMMISSION’S ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE STATE WATER PROJECT In 2015, the California Water Commission closely coordinated with the Department of Water Resources to identify issues and challenges, and to ensure the integrity and sound operation of the SWP. • In February 2015, the Commission considered and adopted updated regulations governing the SWP Encroachment Permit process. Establishing a formalized process for issuing encroachment permits allows DWR to ensure that SWP facilities are adequately protected during activities related to the construction of improvements in or around the SWP right of way, and to ensure that the State’s property rights and ability to operate and maintain its facilities are not infringed upon without the State’s consent and concurrence. The Commission, which by statute must approve all department regulations, approved the final regulation on February 18, 2015. (Water Code §161) • In September 2015, SWP Deputy Director Carl Torgersen made a presentation to the Commission on key activities of the SWP. This included updates on the SWP labor contracts process, labor and staffing issues, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) relicensing, refurbishments and repairs at SWP facilities, and the use of renewable energy in operations. The Commission’s analysis of this information is consistent with the statutory responsibility of the Commission to conduct an annual review of the progress and construction of the Project. (Water Code §165) • On April 13, 2015 members of the Commission toured SWP facilities in DWR’s Oroville Field Division and on October 12, 2015 members of the Commission toured SWP facilities in DWR’s Delta Field Division. At these facilities, Commission members had the opportunity to discuss a variety of topics with SWP staff and management, including project operations, construction and maintenance, power and energy, regulatory compliance, staffing, and future opportunities and challenges. These discussions also focused on long term issues including water supply reliability in the face of climate change, population growth, and protection of ecosystems. Description of sites visited: • Lake Oroville is the beginning of the SWP system. Winter and spring runoff from the Sierra Nevada mountain range is stored behind Oroville Dam; from there it travels through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and is transported throughout the state. The Oroville complex includes water storage and conveyance facilities as well as power generation facilities. Commission members toured facilities including the Hyatt Powerplant and Oroville Dam. Commission members and SWP staff discussed the impacts to Project operations caused by the current drought and the 2012 fire at the Ronald B. Robie Thermalito Pumping-Generating Plant. • The California Aqueduct begins in DWR’s Delta Field Division, where water is pumped from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta into Clifton Court Forebay, and into the Aqueduct. Commission members toured Banks Pumping Plant, Skinner Fish Facility, and Clifton Court Forebay and Intake Structure. Discussions with SWP staff focused on long-term sustainability, the drought’s effects on pumping capability, and protections for fish. 4 | CALIFORNIA WATER COMMISSION 2015 ANNUAL REVIEW FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS The California Water Commission was briefed at its monthly public meetings on other key issues related to the State Water Project. From those discussions emerged several key areas of concern and recommendations for action: Impacts to the State Water Project and Water Deliveries During Severe Droughts California is in its fourth year of extreme drought conditions. Despite increased precipitation in late 2015, 87% of the state remained in severe, extreme, or exceptional drought conditions at the end of the year. The drought continued to have significant impacts on water deliveries and SWP operations in 2015. The Commission was briefed on drought conditions, impacts, and response actions several times throughout the year. Several consecutive years of below average precipitation and snowpack have left SWP reservoirs at consistently low levels and have prevented DWR from delivering SWP contractors’ maximum entitlements. After an initial allocation of 10% and a subsequent increase to 15%, the SWP was able to provide a 20% allocation for State Water Contractors in March 2015. The allocation increases were made possible primarily by runoff from late winter storms that was exported and stored in San Luis Reservoir. In addition to water deliveries, the drought has also impacted SWP operations. At their site visit to the Delta Field Division, members of the Commission learned that pumping into the California Aqueduct is currently extremely limited. Decreased pumping at SWP facilities has also limited DWR’s ability to generate power. Energy generated by the SWP typically powers Project operations, and also helps stabilize California’s electrical grid. The Commission supports activities to fully integrate SWP operations into an overall State drought plan and to prepare for the impacts of a potentially dry 2016 in order to maximize water supply reliability for municipal, agricultural, industrial, and recreational uses and for protecting and enhancing fish and wildlife. Investments to Maintain and Improve State Water Project Operations and Facilities DWR provided the Commission with information about its activities to address some of the administrative and procedural challenges of effective operations. DWR continues to consider ways to improve internal and external business practices and processes to reduce costs, increase efficiency, and streamline processes that improve reliability of operations and water deliveries. To meet these changing needs, the Commission supports continued discussion and evaluation of new governance structures that will provide long-term sustainable solutions to administer the operations of the SWP in ways that are more cost effective, more flexible, and more efficient. Much of the SWP infrastructure is approaching 50 years old and requires upkeep to remain in working condition. To deal with these needs, DWR’s developed the Asset Management Program, which is a comprehensive approach to coordinate investments in refurbishment. The program assesses risks associated with the SWP and maintains the schedule for facility refurbishment. The goal of implementing the Asset Management Program is to prevent unexpected problems or failures that could be the result of aging infrastructure. During a September 16, 2015 briefing the Commission was updated on the status of several maintenance projects. Seismic remediation is currently underway at Perris Dam. A change in seismic requirements necessitated the work, which will strengthen and protect the dam against a maximum credible earthquake. DWR estimates that this work will be CALIFORNIA WATER COMMISSION 2015 ANNUAL REVIEW | 5 complete in September 2017. DWR has completed clean-up efforts after a 2012 fire at the Ronald B. Robie Thermalito Pumping-Generating Plant and is in the process of refurbishing both the plant and the systems that were damaged. Some mechanical and electrical upgrades are also being made during the refurbishment process, which will be completed in December 2018. The Commission was also updated on the River Valve Outlet System (RVOS) at Oroville Dam. Following an accident at Oroville Dam’s low level outlet works in 2009, DWR concurred in a 2012 Agreement with both CalOSHA and the International Union of Operating Engineers (representing DWR Trades and Crafts staff) not to operate the RVOS until the system was completely refurbished. DWR embarked on an accelerated refurbishment program to respond to concerns about operational needs during the ongoing drought. Personnel from DWR’s Division of Operations and Maintenance and Division of Engineering, along with DWR contractors, successfully refurbished, tested, and commissioned the RVOS for 2014 drought emergency operations which commenced in August 2014. DWR is currently utilizing the RVOS for Feather River fishery water temperature management; if the