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Representative Projects in the Last Five Years
LSCE has analyzed the physical occurrence of ground water in a multiple aquifer
system in the Upper Santa Clara River area of Los Angeles County as a basis
for the preparation of the Annual Water Report, to inform County and local
officials about the condition of water supplies relative to current and projected
water demands. Generally related to the Valley-wide annual water report, LSCE
also participated in the preparation and implementation of a Water Management
Program report for Valencia Water Company, which is one of the major retail
water purveyors in the Upper Santa Clara River area. As part of adoption and
implementation of the Water Management Program, LSCE presented testimony to
the California Public Utilities Commission to support certification of the
Program to meet current and projected (over the next 10 to 20 years) water
demands of the Company in the context of regional water resource management
to address preservation of local ground-water supplies in conjunction with
imported State water supplies. LSCE prepared CLWA’s AB 3030 Groundwater Management
Plan, which embraces the entire basin in which local groundwater is conjunctively
used with imported State Water Project supplemental supplies. LSCE also prepared
CLWA’s 2000 Urban Water Management Plan Amendments to describe the yield of
both the Alluvial and Saugus aquifers in the context of their planned long-term
components of overall water supply, and to specifically address the adequacy
of local groundwater to meet projected water demand in light of perchlorate
contamination that has caused multiple wells to be inactivated, and to address
plans and schedule for perchlorate containment and restoration of impacted
well capacity. On behalf of all the Upper Santa Clara River Purveyors, LSCE
prepared a Technical Memorandum as part of an overall Memorandum of Understanding
between the Purveyors and the adjacent, downstream United Water Conservation
District. That effort has resulted in the integration of ground-water monitoring
and database maintenance efforts, and in ground-water modeling and basin operating
yield determination, as tools for long-term basin management.
Conducted a review of historic analyses
of sea water intrusion into the northern (coastal)
portion of the Salinas Valley; provided technical review
and input to the numerical (computer) model developed
by Monterey County for analysis of historical conditions
and potential solutions; critically reviewed the County’s
initial project for solution of sea water intrusion,
the Salinas Valley Water Project; conceptualized, technically
analyzed, and presented an Alternative Basin Management
Project which has been widely accepted in the Valley
and is now being implemented. The project will utilize
the existing Nacimiento and San Antonio reservoirs
to store local runoff, release water from storage for
in-stream ground-water recharge and for direct diversion
in the north valley, and blending with recycled water
for delivery for irrigation to replace ground-water
pumping, thereby abating sea water intrusion.
Designed a coastal and inland monitoring
network to observe basin response to pumping and recharge,
and to detect any onset of seawater intrusion. Developed
ground-water management plans to effectively use the
basin as a source of municipal water supply. Developed
empirical relationships between ground-water levels,
pumpage and precipitation as a management tool. Cooperated
in preparation of numerical ground-water flow model
to assess impacts/benefits of alternative supplemental
water supply options. Prepared an AB3030 Ground-Water
Management Plan. Prepared feasibility evaluation of
ground-water injection potential. Conducting quarterly
reviews of basin conditions. Preparing ongoing biennial
evaluation and updating of management plans and practices. Part
of a multi-disciplinary team to plan a supplemental
surface water diversion, treatment, and groundwater
storage project.
Collected/qualified geologic and hydrologic
data to interpret historical and current ground-water
conditions and to assess the existence of overdraft
conditions, historical ground-water quality degradation,
and the positive quantity and quality impacts of constructing
and operating a local reservoir for regulation of streamflow
to augment in-stream ground-water recharge. Working
on basin-wide ground-water management plans to assess
options for local ground-water recharge. Characterizing
areas of water-quality degradation in the basin to
quantify the benefits of imported SWP water on the
aquifer system, assess water rights issues associated
with importation of SWP water, and develop opportunities
for increased artificial ground-water recharge. Prepared
numerical ground-water flow model of the basin to evaluate
basin water budget and perennial yield, and to assess
future ground-water management opportunities.
LSCE has conducted a study for the City
that comprehensively evaluates subsurface hydrogeologic
conditions in the Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP)
area and describes the City’s approach to managing
ground-water resources. The study included an in-depth
evaluation of hydrogeologic conditions in the UWMP
area, including descriptions of the ground-water basins
from which the City of Vacaville pumps ground water.
The study describes historical and planned utilization
of ground-water resources for a 20-year planning horizon,
including results of a ground-water flow model and
an initial estimate of the sustainable pumpage for
the principal aquifer in the study area. The historical
ground-water data also provide the basis for a management
tool that will be used by the City as part of its conjunctive
water management program to enable optimal use of the
surface and ground-water resources available to the
City. The results of the study, including recommendations
for future monitoring and assessment of the aquifer
system, are presented in a full report “Evaluation
of Hydrogeologic Conditions and Groundwater Supplies
for SB 221/610 Requirements” (SB 221/610 Groundwater
Report; LSCE 2003 in progress) and are part of the
City’s compliance with the requirements of portions
of Senate Bill (SB) 221 and SB 610, as enacted in 2001
and contained in Government Code Section 66473.7 and
Water Code (WC) Sections 10631 and 10910, that relate
to ground water as a source of supply. The results
of the study are also summarized in the draft report “SB
610 Water Supply Assessment for Groundwater Source
Sufficiency” (LSCE September 2003) which was
prepared to address the SB 610 requirements related
to ground water for three new development projects
proposed within the City of Vacaville UWMP area.
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Projects
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