CHINO BASIN WATERMASTER
8632 Archibald Avenue, Suite 109, Rancho Cucamonga, Ca 91730
Tel: 909.484.3888
Fax: 909.484.3890
www.cbwm.org
TRACI STEWART
Chief of Watermaster Services
JOHN V. ROSSI
Chief Executive Officer
STAFF REPORT
DATE:
December 11 & 12, 2002
TO:
Watermaster Committee Members
Watermaster Board Members
SUBJECT:
Memorandum of Understanding to Coordinate Watershed Planning and Management
SUMMARY
Issue – Enhanced communication between agencies.
Recommendation – It is recommended the Committees and the Board approve and authorize
execution of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Inland Empire Utilities Agency, the
Orange County Water District, and the Chino Basin Watermaster (Watermaster) to form a Task Force to
coordinate Santa Ana River Watershed planning and management.
Fiscal Impact – None
BACKGROUND
The attached Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been prepared between the Inland Empire Utilities
Agency (IEUA), the Chino Basin Watermaster (Watermaster) and the Orange County Water District (OCWD).
If approved, this MOU would provide a mechanism to significantly improve the communication and
coordination between the Chino Basin agencies and the OCWD through the formalization of a Joint Task
Force to coordinate and implement water resources activities and programs that provide mutual benefit to the
Parties and to the greater Santa Ana River Watershed.
DISCUSSION
Watermaster is the Chino Basin groundwater manager and is responsible for managing groundwater
production. IEUA, a Municipal Water District, collects and treats wastewater throughout most of the Chino
Basin, recycles a portion of the treated “Title 22, Unrestricted Use” recycled water and discharges the
remainder to the Santa Ana River or tributaries to the Santa Ana River. IEUA also engages in cooperative
projects with the dairy industry to treat dairy waste, generate reusable compost and produce clean renewable
electricity. IEUA also purchases imported water form the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
(State Water Project supplies) for groundwater recharge and for direct use by local water retailers.
Specific areas of focus will include but are not limited to: man-made wetlands development, dairy waste
treatment at IEUA’s RP-2 and RP-5, management and optimizing recycled water use, groundwater and
stormwater quality management, reduction of dairy wastes through composting and anaerobic digestion and
institutional coordination at agencies such as the United States Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), the Santa
Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board (SARWQCB), Orange County Flood Control District (OCFCD), and
the Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority (SAWPA).
Specific activities defined in the agreement include:
Memorandum of Understanding to
Coordinate Watershed Planning & Management
December 11&12, 2002
1.
Evaluate the options and technical/financial feasibility of retrofitting IEUA’s RP-2 for treating dairy
wastes, including sewering dairies, optimizing the Santa Ana Regional Interceptor, additional digesters
and dewatering; and other manure treatment technologies (including composting capacity to replace
the existing IEUA Co-composting facility).
2.
Identify opportunities to master plan the RP-2/RP-5 area (including the Chino Creek Park) along Chino
Creek to enhance wildlife habitat values, natural water quality treatment through wetlands, and
stormwater management.
3.
Identify opportunities to work with developers and the Cities of Ontario and Chino for wetlands and
stormwater retention facilities along the Cucamonga Creek drainage system and the drainage system
near the Chino Airport.
4.
Evaluate the effectiveness of the hydraulic control of salts and nitrates of the lower Chino Basin and
Prado Basin. The task force will develop a monitoring program that contains the components
referenced in IEUA’s June 2002 Final Program EIR for the Recycled Water Master Plan. These
components are listed in Attachment “A” of the MOU. During implementation of the monitoring
program, the task force will meet regularly to review and discuss the monitoring data and
accompanying analyses. Data analyses will include, among other tasks, refinement and use of the
Chino Basin groundwater flow model to evaluate the effects of various basin management programs
on groundwater levels and quality.
5.
Develop and recommend an approach to coordinate the groundwater monitoring program with related
surface and storm water monitoring programs in the Chino Basin area and the Prado Basin. The
monitoring data will be stored and managed in a structured electronic database for use by the Santa
Ana River Watermaster, SAWPA, SARWQCB, the TIN/TDS task force, and other public agencies
subject to existing data policies and procedures.
6.
Evaluate site-specific dairy connections to sewers such as the Kimball Interceptor to RP-5 and the
CIW line to RP-2, including evaluations of costs, fees, salt reduction and monitoring.
If approved, the MOU would remain in effect for a period of five years from the date of its signing and could be
renewed for an additional five year term upon the mutual agreement of the Parties.