WORKING TOGETHER
THE COOPERATIVE PLAN TO IMPROVE
URBAN, AGRICULTURAL, HABITAT,
WATER QUANTITY AND QUALITY
SHANNON SWEENEY
WATER RESOURCES MANAGER - CITY OF SANTA MARIA
ANNE COATES
EXEC. DIRECTOR - CACHUMA RESOURCE CONSERVATION DISTRICT
RWQCB
AGRICULTURAL WATER QUALITY PROP 84
• THE CACHUMA RCD WAS AWARDED 1.25 MILLION
• BOND FREEZE
• BOND RELEASED
• DEFINITION OF “IMPLEMENTATION” WAS REVALUATED
• MODIFY THE CONTRACT TO INCLUDE “CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS”
• LITIGATION/CONTROVERSY CENTRAL COAST AG WAIVER/AG ORDER
• PERFECT STORM FOR FAILURE
WORKING TOGETHER…
RCDS WORK WITH OUR COMMUNITIES
TO BRING THE RIGHT MINDS AND RESOURCES TOGETHER
TO FACILITATE INNOVATIVE PROJECTS
CITY OF SANTA MARIA
• POPULATION 101,000
• MUNICIPAL WATER SUPPLY AVERAGE 12 MGD
• TWO SOURCES OF WATER SUPPLY: STATE WATER AND LOCAL
GROUNDWATER
• NITRATE IN SOME GROUNDWATER WELLS EXCEEDS
DRINKING WATER STANDARD
• LARGELY AGRICULTURAL
• BLEND WATER SUPPLIES TO CONTROL NITRATE
SALT AND NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT GROUP
• STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD CONCERNED ABOUT RECYCLED WATER
• RECENT WASTEWATER PERMITS REQUIRE AN ASSESSMENT OF SALTS AND NUTRIENTS
• SANTA MARIA VALLEY STAKEHOLDERS GROUP DEVELOPED A GROUNDWATER
ASSESSMENT
• STAKEHOLDERS GROUPS INCLUDED THE RCD, WATER AGENCIES, WASTEWATER
AGENCIES, MEMBERS FROM THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY
• RESULT OF ASSESSMENT – BASIN BALANCED FOR SALTS, UNBALANCED FOR NITRATE
• NITRATE IS A COMMUNITY PROBLEM
NITRATE
• CONTAMINANT IN DRINKING WATER
• SOLUBLE – MOVES EASILY IN WATER
• CAUSES “BLUE BABY” SYNDROME
• REGULATORY LIMIT IS 45 MG/L AS NO3
• SOURCES OF NITRATE – WASTEWATER, CONFINED ANIMAL
OPERATIONS, FERTILIZERS
WELL NITRATE LEVELS
120
Nitrate (mg/L as NO3)
100
80
60
40
20
0
2000
2001
2002
2003
Well 5
2004
Year
Well 7
2005
Well 8
2006
2007
2008
NITRATE SOLUTIONS
• WETLANDS
• MOVABLE PALLETS
• WASTEWATER TREATMENT
PLANT STRUCTURES
• WOODCHIP BIO FILTERS
WORKING TOGETHER…
• CITY OF SANTA MARIA HAD PROJECT WITH NO FUNDING
• RESOURCE CONSERVATION DISTRICT HAD FUNDING WITH
NO PROJECT
• COMMUNITY SOLUTION – SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION TO
MULTIPLE PROBLEMS
WORKING TOGETHER…
WE ARE ABLE TO LEVERAGE OUR RESOURCES
AND PROVIDE
RELEVANT, MEANINGFUL AND QUANTIFIABLE
BENEFITS
WORKING TOGETHER…
THIS PROJECT WILL SERVE AS A MODEL FOR HOW
TO ADDRESS NITRATE PROBLEMS IN OTHER AREAS
STATEWIDE BENEFIT
THANK YOU
TO THE CITY OF SANTA MARIA
CARCD
CONSERVATION STRATEGIES GROUP
AND
TO THE STATE WATER BOARD AND THE REGIONAL WATER BOARD
TOGETHER…
WE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE