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Water Quality, Supply and Reliability Action Plan

Challenge

The growing population and expanding economy of the San Joaquin Valley require an adequate water supply of sufficient quality that is reliable for all sectors as well as the environment. The current supply is inadequate for the future. Specific challenges include:

  • Reversing significant annual groundwater basin overdraft
  • Restoring and protecting San Joaquin River
  • Finding solutions that embrace efficient water use practices as well as construction of additional storage, both surface and groundwater.
  • Approximately 20% of all electrical energy consumed in the state is used to pump, transport or treat water. Prior to the establishment of the Partnership, the Congressional Delegation initiated the development of the San Joaquin Valley Regional Water Plan and enlisted the expertise of the California Water Institute at California State University, Fresno to facilitate the planning effort. The Partnership decided to support and coordinate with the Regional Water Plan activities, which have been organized into four subjects:


Prior to the establishment of the Partnership, the Congressional Delegation initiated the development of the San Joaquin Valley Regional Water Plan and enlisted the expertise of the California Water Institute at California State University, Fresno to facilitate the planning effort. The Partnership decided to support and coordinate with the Regional Water Plan activities, which have been organized into four subjects:

  • Water Supply
  • Water Quality
  • Flood Control
  • Environmental Enhancement


The Regional Water Plan also is being coordinated with State water planning efforts which are consistent with the concept of regional resource management.

  • Completion of the San Joaquin Valley Regional Water Plan
  • Completion of the San Joaquin River and Tulare Lake Basin Plans
  • Increase in the integrity of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and San Joaquin Valley levees
  • Completion of projects for surface storage, groundwater banking, and recycling brackish water
  • Establishment of a salinity management entity
  • Increase in water supply reliability and quality
  • Increase in access to clean water
  • Increase in environmental restoration along major riparian corridors and watersheds
  • Completion of agricultural and urban water-energy use efficiency programs. Decrease in per capita urban water consumption
  • Increase in water and energy use efficiency per unit of agriculture production

 

Goals and Objectives

Goal 1: Develop and implement an integrated San Joaquin Valley Regional Water Plan.

Objective A: Develop San Joaquin Valley Regional Water Plan (management, technical and administrative support for plan development).

Goal 2: Incorporate major levee enhancements in San Joaquin Valley river and tributary system and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to safeguard regional water quality and quantity and provide for flood control.

Objective A: Significantly improve San Joaquin, Merced, Kings, Kaweah, Tule and Kern Rivers’ and tributaries’ and other Valley drainage systems’ levee integrity to assist communities in meeting 100 year plus flood protection standards and FEMA levee certification standards.

Objective B: Significantly improve Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta levee system integrity.

Goal 3: Augment surface, groundwater banking and recycled water projects in the San Joaquin Valley.

Objective A: Complete the Upper San Joaquin Basin Project

Objective B: Actively support and promote six conjunctive-use projects that can be commissioned or enhanced by 2017.

Objective C: Develop recycled and inland brackish water projects.

Goal 4: Improve water quality and expand salinity management infrastructure development.

Objective A: Develop a Salinity Management Plan to be implemented as an update to the San Joaquin and Tulare Lake Basin Plans.

Objective B: Ensure all communities in San Joaquin Valley have adequate sanitary sewage disposal facilities; proactively site, permit, finance, construction and commission five (5) regional wastewater treatment plants.

Objective C: Ensure all communities in San Joaquin Valley provide water that meets state and federal drinking water standards.

Goal 5: Promote riparian environmental restoration.

Objective A: Develop San Joaquin Valley ecosystem restoration plan. (Coordinate with Economic Development Work Group to advance tourism component of Strategic Action Plan.)

Objective B.1: Restoration: San Joaquin River restoration.

Objective B.2: Water Management: San Joaquin River restoration.

Goal 6: Expand agricultural and urban water-use and energy efficiency programs.

Objective A: Cost-effective, results-oriented, agricultural water use and energy efficiency diagnostic, repair, retrofit and education programs.

Objective B: Cost-effective, results-oriented, urban water use and energy efficiency diagnostic, repair, retrofit and education programs.
 

© 2007 California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley