April 3, 2000

 Preliminary Component Characterization (excerpts)

 PURPOSE OF THIS DOCUMENT

 This Component Characterization report summarizes the results of the component identification and characterization process and presents an array of components being considered as building blocks of a long-term water supply strategy. The fifteen components were developed from five different categories: Groundwater Development, Desalination, Importation, Legal Strategies, and Reclamation. Three geographic locations have been identified for each of these categories. The components identified represent water supply concepts that have been generally recognized throughout the community as potentially viable water supply alternatives and are based on Plan B submittals by MPWMD Cal-Am,  Sierra Club, Lou Haddad, Terry Spragg, and the Ratepayer Representation Branch of CPUC. Fifteen potential water supply components have been identified and are described in the body of this document. The next steps of the process will be to evaluate components, develop alternative water supply strategies (combinations of components, actions or policies), and recommend a preferred Plan B Alternative. These processes will be the subjects of later reports and public workshops. Exhibit 1 summarizes the fifteen components by category and location. Their relative geographic locations are shown *in Exhibit 2. Detailed facility layouts and location maps are provided for most of the components in the following chapters.

 Groundwater Development

 Two types of groundwater development alternatives have been identified for Plan B components: Conventional Groundwater Pumping (CGP) and Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR). CGP projects rely on natural basin recharge as a source of water supply. ASR projects extend available water supplies by providing additional storage in groundwater aquifers. For the components considered in this category, the aquifer storage would utilize winter flows from the Carmel River or its tributaries for injecting or percolating water into local or regional groundwater aquifers. The stored water would subsequently be withdrawn during high demand periods to meet shortfalls 'in supply. In essence, the groundwater basin acts as a seasonal storage and/or drought reservoir to balance variations *in supply availability with variations in demand.

 Three groundwater basins have been identified as potential locations for groundwater development components: Carmel Valley Deep Fractured Bedrock, Seaside Basin, and Tularcitos Creek Basin. At a minimum, each of these components would require wells and pipelines to extract and convey the groundwater to the Cal-Am distribution system. River diversion, water treatment, injection, or percolation facilities would also be used.

 Preliminary Component Characterization ( April 3, 2000)

 Exhibit 1: Summary of Component by Category and Location

 

Ground Water Development

1. Carmel Valley Deep Fractured Bedrock

 This component is best characterized as a CGP project because it would rely on natural recharge of the groundwater basin. Under this component, water would be pumped out of the deep fractured rock formations beneath Twin Cities Ranch area into a collector system. A 6-inch pipeline would connect the well collector system to the Cal-Am distribution system. A small water treatment plant constructed along the pipeline route would be used to treat the groundwater.

 2. Seaside Basin ASR 

The Seaside Basin ASR component would use the Carmel Valley Filter Plant diversion facilities and a combination of existing and new extraction wells to divert water from the Carmel River and the Carmel Valley Aquifer. After diversion from the river, water would be treated and conveyed, through a series of existing and new pipelines, pump stations and water tanks, to injection sites *in Seaside near Fort Ord. The same wells used for injection would later be used to extract the ASR water and pump it to connection points within the Cal-Am distribution system.

 3. Tularcitos Creek Basin ASR

 The Tularcitos Creek Basin ASR component would divert water from the creek into large shallow ponds in the Tularcitos Valley during winter months when flows are high. The water would then percolate into the Tularcitos Creek groundwater basin. In the following summer the water would be pumped out of the basin and conveyed, via pipeline, to the Carmel Valley Filter Plant where it would be treated and enter the Cal-Am distribution system.

 Desalination

 A desalination plant would treat seawater from the ocean, or brackish water pumped from beneath the coastal dunes, using a reverse osmosis process to produce drinking quality water. Three locations have been identified as potential sites for construction of desalination facilities: Marina, Moss Landing, and Sand City. All components would require facilities to convey and treat the water, to dispose of the reject brine concentrate, and to convey the treated water into the Cal-Am distribution system.

 4. Marina

 The Marina Desalination component would intake seawater through collector wells along the Monterey Bay coast dune sands. The desalination plant would be located adjacent to or within the boundaries of the Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency (MRWPCA) wastewater treatment plant. Reject brine would be discharged, via pipeline, into the MRWPCA outfall and/or injection wells (reverse collector wells) along Monterey Bay. 

5. Moss Landing

 The Moss Landing Desalination component would intake seawater from the existing Moss Landing Power Plant cooling water system. The desalination plant would be located adjacent to or within the power plant boundaries. Reject brine would be conveyed back to the power plant's cooling water outfall for discharge into Monterey Bay.

 6. Sand City 

The Sand City Desalination component would intake seawater through collector wells along the Monterey Bay coast dune sands. The desalination plant would be located in the industrial area of Sand City. The reject brine would be discharged, via pipeline, to injection wells (reverse collector wells) along Monterey Bay.

 Importation

Water importation for this project is defined as the act of obtaining water from entities outside of the Carmel River and Seaside Basins. Importation components include water from the Central Valley Project, Humboldt Bay in northern California, and the Salinas River Basin. The mechanisms for delivery range from a network of diversion structures and pipelines to a water vessel transport system. These strategies offer a one-to-one replacement of Cal-Am's unauthorized diversions on the Carmel River by providing a new water source to the system.

 7. Central Valley Project (CVP)

The Central Valley Importation component would obtain water from northern California through the Central Valley Project (CVP) via the San Felipe Division. Bringing a water supply from the San Felipe Division to Monterey would require construction of the planned Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency (PVWMA)  import pipeline. The import pipeline would connect to the San Felipe Unit Santa Clara Conduit and deliver water along its route to the terminus at the Highway 1 crossing of the Pajaro River. A pipeline would then be needed to convey the water to the Cal-Am distribution system on the Monterey Peninsula.

 8. Humboldt Bay

The Humboldt Bay importation component would import water from the Mad River in Humboldt County, California. The water would be transported in large floating water bags. These bags would be towed from the supply source to the user, in this case using ocean-going tugboats to tow a string of water bags from Humboldt Bay to Monterey Bay, a distance of approximately 750 miles. This component would require the development of on- and off-shore facilities somewhere in the Humboldt Bay as well as the Monterey Bay, South of the Salinas River. Off-shore facilities would be needed for docking the water bags and transferring the water from the bags to a pipeline. The on-shore facilities would include a water treatment plant, a storage facility, pump station, and a transmission pipeline to connect to the existing Cal-Am distribution system.  

9. Salinas Valley

 The Salinas Valley importation component would divert water from the Salinas River through facilities proposed as part of the Salinas Valley Water Project (SVWP). The river water would be conveyed to seasonal storage and treatment facilities 'in Monterey and Seaside. Water would be withdrawn from the seasonal storage facilities during summer months to meet Cal-Am demands.

 Legal Strategies

 This category focuses on measures that can be taken to legalize Cal-Am's diversions from the Carmel River or legalize a new diversion from the Salinas River by obtaining additional water rights from the SWRCB. The right to water from the Carmel and Salinas Rivers is alleged to stem from Pueblo or Table 13 water nights that are not formally recognized by the SWRCB, or "perfected," but could be recognized *in the future. If either of these two water rights mechanisms were perfected in the future, Cal-Am legally would be entitled to additional water, thus off-setting its unauthorized diversion from the Carmel River.

 10. Pueblo Rights/Carmel River

 This component would legalize a portion of Cal-Am's existing diversions off of the Carmel River by acquiring a legal right to appropriate Carmel River water, pursuant to pueblo water rights. As a successor in interest to the pueblo of Monterey, the City of Monterey would have to pursue pueblo water nights with the SWRCB. A pueblo water fight entitles a municipal successor to a Spanish/Mexican pueblo to the water lying within the boundaries of the historic pueblo. The amount of water available from pueblo water rights is limited to the amount that may be put to reasonable and beneficial uses within the present boundaries of the successor city. No additional facilities would be required to implement this component.

 11. Pueblo Rights/Salinas River

 This component would provide an additional source of supply by acquiring a legal night to appropriate Salinas River water, pursuant to pueblo water nights. As a successor in interest to the pueblo of Monterey, the City of Monterey would have to pursue pueblo water nights with the SWRCB. This component would divert water from the Salinas River through facilities proposed as part of the SVWP (these would be the same facilities as those described in the Salinas Valley importation component). The river water would be conveyed to seasonal storage and treatment facilities in Monterey and Seaside. Water would be withdrawn from the seasonal storage facilities during summer months to meet Cal-Am demands.

 12. Table 13 Water Rights

 This component would legalize a portion of Cal-Am's existing diversion from the Carmel River by acquiring a legal right to appropriate Carmel River water, pursuant to Table 13 of SWRCB Decision 1632. The amount of Cal-Am's reservation under Table 13 is 2,964 AF, which can only be appropriated for in-basin uses. The supply would be diverted using existing infrastructure along the river. 

Reclamation

 Reclamation of storm water and Title 22³ treated wastewater could provide a source of water supply for some of the large irrigation customers within the Seaside aquifer and the Cal-Am service area. The components in this category would require facilities for storm water or wastewater collection, water treatment, seasonal storage, recycled water distribution, and customer connections.

 Three reclamation alternatives have been identified as potential sources of water for the Monterey Peninsula: Carmel Area Wastewater District (CAWD)/Pebble Beach Community Service District (PBCSD) Recycled Water Project Expansion, Expansion of the Salinas Valley Reclamation Project (SVRP), and Local Storm Water Reclamation.

 13. CAWD/PBCSD

 This component consists of an incremental expansion of CAWD/PBCSD recycled water project. The existing sanitary sewer would be used for wastewater collection. The wastewater would be recycled at CAWD's wastewater treatment plant along the south bank of the Carmel River, approximately 2,200 ft. west of highway 1. New seasonal storage and possibly new recycled water distribution facilities would have to be constructed for this project.

 The increase in yield from this facility would possibly be used to serve existing irrigation customers in Pacific Grove. If sufficient yield is available, recycled water could be provided to new customers in Pacific Grove as well.

 14. SVRP Expansion

This component consists of an incremental expansion of the SVRP. The existing sanitary sewer would be used for wastewater collection. The recycled water would be produced at the MRWPCA wastewater treatment plant northeast of Marina. New seasonal storage and recycled water distribution facilities would have to be constructed for this project.

 During the irrigation season, the incremental increase in yield from expansion of this facility would be distributed to serve existing irrigation customers in Seaside, Del Rey Woods, and Pacific Grove. If sufficient yield is available, recycled water could be provided to the new customers as well.

 15. Storm Water

 Included in the Local Storm Water Reclamation Component are several potential small-scale storm water reclamation projects that could be implemented within small drainage basins in Carmel, Pebble Beach, Pacific Grove, Monterey, and Seaside. During storm events, runoff would be collected within the storm drain collection system and would be conveyed to seasonal storage facilities. During the irrigation season, the stored storm water and open channels would be treated and distributed to serve existing irrigation customers in Pacific Grove. If sufficient yield is available, recycled water could be provided to the new customers in Pacific Grove as well.

 CONCLUSION

 The remainder of this Component Characterization report presents a preliminary description of the 15 Plan B components. For each component, information is provided to overview the component (including source of supply, required facilities, operational scheme, and firm capacity), as well as a facility description (including diversion and conveyance, treatment, storage, and distribution facilities).

 ³ California Code of Regulations, Title 22 ß60301.