10850 Gold Center Drive, Suite 350 Rancho Cordova, California 95670 916-858-2700 FAX: 916-858-2754 DRAFT Tuolumne-Stanislaus Integrated Regional Water Management Plan SECTION 2 – REGION DESCRIPTION 13 February 20134 October 2012 Prepared for Tuolumne Utilities District 18885 Nugget Boulevard Sonora, California 95370 K/J Project No. 1170025.00 DRAFT Table of Contents List of Tables................................................................................................................................. ii List of Figures............................................................................................................................... iii Section 2: Region Description .................................................................... 2-1 2.1 Introduction .........................................................................................2-1 2.2 Region Overview.................................................................................2-1 2.2.1 History of Water Development .................................................2-4 2.2.1.1 Early History ..........................................................2-4 2.2.1.2 19th Century ...........................................................2-4 2.2.1.3 Development of Water Supply Infrastructure.........2-4 2.2.1.4 20th Century and Development of Water Systems .................................................................2-5 2.3 Social and Cultural Makeup ................................................................2-6 2.3.1 Population ................................................................................2-6 2.3.2 Socioeconomic Conditions.......................................................2-7 2.3.3 Disadvantaged Communities ...................................................2-8 2.3.4 Native American Tribes..........................................................2-10 2.3.5 Water-Dependent Recreation ................................................2-10 2.4 Climate ..............................................................................................2-12 2.5 Land Use...........................................................................................2-14 2.6 Jurisdictional Boundaries ..................................................................2-16 2.7 Watersheds .......................................................................................2-21 2.7.1 Upper Tuolumne River Watershed.........................................2-21 2.7.2 Upper Stanislaus River Watershed........................................2-24 2.7.3 Upper Rock Creek-French Camp Slough Watershed ............2-26 2.8 Ecological Processes and Environmental Resources.......................2-26 2.8.1 Aquatic Ecosystems and Fisheries ........................................2-28 2.8.2 Terrestrial Ecosystems...........................................................2-30 2.8.3 Endangered and Listed Species ............................................2-33 2.8.4 Ecosystem Challenges...........................................................2-35 2.8.4.1 Invasive Species..................................................2-35 2.8.4.2 Forest Management Issues .................................2-35 2.9 Water Resources...............................................................................2-36 2.9.1 Water Supply..........................................................................2-36 2.9.1.1 Surface Water Sources........................................2-36 2.9.1.2 Groundwater Resources......................................2-38 2.9.1.3 Groundwater Supply ............................................2-39 2.9.1.4 Regional Water Supplies .....................................2-39 2.9.1.5 Recycled Water ...................................................2-41 2.9.2 Water Demands .....................................................................2-41 2.9.2.1 Municipal and Agricultural Water Demands.........2-41 2.9.2.2 Non-Consumptive Demands – Hydropower Generation ...........................................................2-43 2.9.2.3 Water Exports from the Region............................2-44 Tuolumne-Stanislaus IRWM Plan, DRAFT 10-4-122-13-13 i j:\2011\1170025.00_tud-t-s irwmp\09-reports\9.09-reports\_sections\_posted sections\2013-02-13\_02_t-s-region description_021313_w-trk.doc DRAFT Table of Contents (cont'd) 2.10 Water Related Infrastructure .............................................................2-45 2.10.1 Surface Water Infrastructure..................................................2-45 2.10.2 Groundwater Infrastructure ....................................................2-49 2.10.3 Wastewater and Recycled Water Infrastructure.....................2-50 2.10.4 Water Treatment and Distribution Infrastructure....................2-52 2.11 Water Quality ....................................................................................2-53 2.11.1 Surface Water Quality............................................................2-56 2.11.2 Groundwater Quality ..............................................................2-57 2.11.3 Water from Storage................................................................2-58 List of Tables Table 2-1: T-S Region Boundary Areas...............................................................................2-1 Table 2-2: Population Projections........................................................................................2-7 Table 2-3: Demographic Data..............................................................................................2-8 Table 2-4: Climate Information for Lower Foothills, Elev. 1000 ft ......................................2-13 Table 2-5: Climate Information for Lower Sierras, Elev. 4700 ft ........................................2-13 Table 2-6: Climate Information for Sierra Nevadas, Elev. 9270 ft .....................................2-14 Table 2-7: Land Use in T-S Region ...................................................................................2-15 Table 2-8: Governmental and Land Management Agencies .............................................2-20 Table 2-9: Water and Wastewater Agencies .....................................................................2-20 Table 2-10: Out-of-Region Export and Hydropower Entities ...............................................2-20 Table 2-11: Endangered and Listed Species.......................................................................2-33 Table 2-12: Water Supply Sources......................................................................................2-39 Table 2-13: Water Supply Projections .................................................................................2-41 Table 2-14: 20x2020 Per Capita Water Use Targets...........................................................2-42 Table 2-15: Projected Water Demand Summary, AFY........................................................2-42 Table 2-16: Projected Water Demand by Agency, AFY ......................................................2-43 Table 2-17: Summary of Water Exports ..............................................................................2-45 Table 2-18: Surface Water Storage Reservoirs...................................................................2-48 Table 2-19: Hydropower Generation Projects .....................................................................2-49 Table 2-20: Wastewater Collection and Treatment Systems...............................................2-51 Table 2-21: Impaired Water Bodies .....................................................................................2-54 Table 2-22: Surface Water Quality Constituents of Concern by Use...................................2-57 Tuolumne-Stanislaus IRWM Plan, DRAFT 10-4-122-13-13 ii j:\2011\1170025.00_tud-t-s irwmp\09-reports\9.09-reports\_sections\_posted sections\2013-02-13\_02_t-s-region description_021313_w-trk.doc DRAFT Table of Contents (cont'd) List of Figures Figure 2-1: Region Boundary................................................................................................2-2 Figure 2-2: Major Watersheds ..............................................................................................2-3 Figure 2-3: Disadvantaged Communities..............................................................................2-9 Figure 2-4: Native American Tribes ....................................................................................2-11 Figure 2-5: Snow Depth Variation within the T-S Region ...................................................2-12 Figure 2-6: General Plan Land Use ....................................................................................2-17 Figure 2-7: Land Management Agencies............................................................................2-18 Figure 2-8: Major Water Agencies ......................................................................................2-19 Figure 2-9: Surface Water Schematic.................................................................................2-22 Figure 2-10: Upper Tuolumne River Watershed ...................................................................2-23 Figure 2-11: Upper Stanislaus River Watershed ..................................................................2-25 Figure 2-12: Upper Rock Creek-French Camp Slough Watershed ......................................2-27 Figure 2-13: Groundwater Basin...........................................................................................2-29 Figure 2-14: USFS Meadow Sites ........................................................................................2-31