NCSD Half Truth #4: "Santa Maria has plenty of water"
NCSD often makes statements like "Santa Maria has plenty of water".
This is not true.
There are no studies that conclude there is extra water that can be pumped in Santa Maria to support new development
Scalmanini clearly states: TMA TG 2010 Annu page 38:
"Finally, beyond components of the overall monitoring program, the most notable
recommendation for additional investigation is that the City of Santa Maria continue with its
efforts to secure additional SWP entitlement, in a timely manner consistent with progress as it
occurs in its Water Sales Agreement with the Nipomo CSD, in order to be able to comply with
the provisions of the Stipulation regarding importation and use of SWP water in the SMVMA if
the Water Sales Agreement becomes operational. Santa Maria should then complete its analysis
of the availability of surplus water in the SMVMA (surplus to all the needs in the SMVMA),
logically from the additional SWP entitlement, whereby some can be exported beyond the
SMVMA. Coincident with the preceding, Santa Maria should also complete its analysis of the
sources, pumping locations, and potential impacts of additional groundwater pumping, if any,
that would be exported beyond the SMVMA."
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Scalmanini clearly states: TMA TG 2009 Annu page 37:
Beyond components of the overall monitoring program, the most notable recommendation for
additional investigation is that the City of Santa Maria continue with its efforts to secure
additional SWP entitlement, in a timely manner consistent with progress as it occurs in its Water
Sales Agreement with the Nipomo CSD, in order to be able to comply with the provisions of the
Stipulation regarding importation and use of SWP water in the SMVMA if the Water Sales
Agreement becomes operational. On the same matter, Santa Maria should complete its analysis
of the availability of surplus water in the SMVMA (surplus to all the needs in the SMVMA)
whereby some can be exported beyond the SMVMA. Coincident with the preceding, Santa
Maria should also complete its analysis of the sources, pumping locations, and potential impacts
of groundwater pumping that would be exported beyond the SMVMA.
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Scalmanini clearly states: TMA TG 2009 Annu page 37:
Beyond components of the overall monitoring program, recommendations for additional
investigation that derive from this first annual report most notably include:
Investigation of the commitments in the Stipulation to comply with the MOU between
the City of Santa Maria and the Nipomo CSD for delivery of water from Santa Maria
to Nipomo, notably to support the assumption that there is surplus water in the
SMVMA that can be exported to the NMMA, to analyze the impacts related to
groundwater that will be part of an export from the SMVMA, and to resolve the
apparent conflict between the Stipulation and the MOU with regard to minimum
importation of SWP water and its use within the SMVMA.
___2009_0610_TMA_TG_2008_Report_hearing_transcript.pdf____________________5.8__mb
___2009_0610_TMA_TG_2008_Report_hearing_presentation.pdf__________________1.9__mb
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1997 Engineer's Report, Special Assessments for Ground-Water Management, Santa Maria Valley Water Conservation District Special Improvement District No.1, Scalmanini
1997 Engineer's Report, Special Assessments for Ground-Water Management
NCSD and other Purveyors all put on hydrologic experts at trail in 2003 that claimed the basin was overdraft
NCSD, Robert Beeby
GSWC, Terry Foreman
Guadalupe, Donald S. Moors
Santa Maria, Wanger (but he "stopped looking for overdraft" the day before his deposition and did not testify)
No landowner experts at trial claimed the basin had a surplus
2009 Draft Santa Barbara County Report, Santa Maria Section
2009 Draft Santa Barbara County Report, Santa Maria Section
2008 Groundwater Report, Santa Barbara County, Public Works
2008 Groundwater Report, Santa Barbara County Page 77:
Page 73, History and Analyses
" The Basin is best described by Worts (1951), Miller and Evanson (1966) and SBCWA (1977, 1994). As one of the largest agricultural and historically important oil producing coastal valleys of California, this basin has been studied extensively. Modern exploration began in 1888 when the area’s geological features were mapped by the State mineralogist in conjunction with the University of California Geology Program and the USGS. Beginning in 1903 the area grew rapidly in response to oil development, and in 1907 the first comprehensive report on the area was published. USGS Bulletin 322 focused mainly on the basin geology and included some mention of water resources. Water resources examined in that particular report were limited to water diversions from surface runoff of winter and springtime river flows and perennial springs, and from artesian wells in the western part of the basin as groundwater pumping had yet to be developed. Examination of the basin continued to be focused mainly on oil until 1931 when Lippincott established baseline hydrologic conditions for consideration of federal and state funding toward flood control and water conservation projects.
In 1946 USGS Bulletin 222 concluded that a 12,000 AF annual overdraft existed within the basin. The period of the most comprehensive evaluation of the basin began in 1947 and continued until 1966 with work by Worts, Miller and Evanson. Using data from this period, the Perennial Yield of the basin was determined to be 70,000 AF (revised from 57,000 AF) and the annual overdraft to be about 20,000 AFY. In 1976 the Toups Corporation was hired by the City of Santa Maria to perform a thorough Water Resources study of the basin. This report concluded that in 1976 the average annual overdraft of the basin was 6,000 AF and projected to be 25,000 AF by the year 2025 without the procurement of additional water sources. The USGS completed a report in 1976 (USGS WRI 76-128) focusing on the water quality of the basin, specifically in regard to increasing nitrogen levels. This report listed the calculated average annual overdraft to be 10,000 AF.
Using updated data and climate trends, a 1977 SBCWA comprehensive report of the basin determined an average annual overdraft of 20,000 AF and projected it to grow to 30,000 AF by the year 2000. In 1985 the USGS produced report 85-4129 which focused on recharge of the basin. In 1991 the Water Agency with the help of Boyle Engineering produced the report “Santa Barbara County Growth Inducement Potential of State Water Importation” which considered the growth inducement potential at the water purveyor level. The report serves as an analysis of 1990 water supply conditions as well as a projection for the 21st century. This report calculated the annual average overdraft to be about 37,000 AF in 1990 without State Water and about 15,700 AF in the year 2000 with the implementation of State Water. In 1994 the Water Agency assembled the “Santa Maria Valley Water Resources Report” which updated and organized information from previous reports and studies of the basin. This report presented no new information but provided a comprehensive overview of water resources and served as a precursor to a water management plan for the basin.
In 1997 the Santa Maria Valley Water Conservation District (SMVWCD) hired Luhdorff and Scalmanini Engineers to do a report entitled “Special Assessments of Groundwater Management”. The 1996 voter approved proposition 218, required such a report before new assessments could be levied on property owners. This report stated that the hydrologic conditions of the basin imply a long-term stability comprised of periodic groundwater level declines and recoveries, as opposed to an average annual overdraft. Luhdorff and Scalmanini were again hired by the SMVWCD to expand their investigation of the basin and in March 2000 they released a report utilizing a numerical flow model to establish an up-to-date Perennial Yield of the basin based on the most recent recharge and discharge conditions. This report concluded that the basin was essentially in balance, relying on a base study period of 1968 to 1989.
In 2001 SBCWA was commissioned by the Santa Barbara County Administrators Office to update the 1991 “Santa Barbara County Growth Inducement Potential of State Water Importation” report as part of the strategic scan of resources the County was developing (the title of this report is “Santa Barbara County Water Supply and Demand Comparisons 2002 Update”). Analyses generated for this report show that a 2,368 AF groundwater overdraft existed (Ahlroth, 2002) and under current trends of usage and climate a slightly higher overdraft will exist by 2020. The reduction in overdraft from previous SBCWA analyses is mainly due to State Water importation. This analysis is a model result quantifying all inputs and outputs from the basin and using a 1943-1999 base period. The results of this modeling effort are supported by water level readings made throughout the basin by the County and USGS.
In order to resolve the conflicting conclusions of historic studies and reports, the SBCWA hired Hopkins Groundwater Consultants Inc. to perform an independent evaluation of the methodologies and conclusions of SBCWA’s work. Hopkins concluded that the overdraft is indeed somewhere between 2,000 and 3,000 AF per year and that the SBCWA methodologies, including use of the SBCWA Santa Maria Valley water budget model (SMVWBM) to assess basin conditions, are both effective and comprehensive. This assessment also confirms that the importation of State Water has taken considerable pressure off of the groundwater resources in this basin.
Picture of 2005 pumping depression at Santa Maria's well field from page 78:
Links to the reports:
2005 Santa Barbara County Report
Executive Summary, Introduction, Conclusions (716 KB)
Climate and General Trends (48 KB)
State Water Project (125 KB)
South Coast Groundwater Basins (1,575 KB)
Santa Ynez River Watershed Groundwater Basins (3,890 KB)
San Antonio Groundwater Basin (774 KB)
Santa Maria Groundwater Basin (1,967 KB)
"In 2001 SBCWA was commissioned by the Santa Barbara County Administrators Office to update the 1991 “Santa Barbara County Growth Inducement Potential of State Water Importation” report as part of the strategic scan of resources the County was going through (the title of this report is “Santa Barbara County Water Supply and Demand Comparisons 2002 Update”). Analyses generated for this report show that a 2,368 AF groundwater overdraft exists (Ahlroth, 2001) and under current trends of usage and climate by 2020 a slightly higher overdraft will exist (the reduction in overdraft from previous SBCWA analyses is mainly due to State Water importation). This analysis is a model result quantifying all inputs and outputs from the basin and using a 1943-1999 base period. The results of this modeling effort are confirmed by water level readings made throughout the basin by the County and USGS. Due to the conflicting conclusions and significance of such previous work SBCWA hired Hopkins Groundwater Consultants Inc. to perform an unbiased evaluation of the methodologies and conclusions of SBCWA work on this basin. Hopkins concluded the overdraft is indeed somewhere between 2,000 to 3,000 AF per year and that the SBCWA methodologies, including use of the SBCWA Santa Maria Valley water budget model (SMVWBM) to assess basin conditions, to be both effective and comprehensive. It should be noted that a overdraft of 3,000 AF per year lies in the “gray area” of groundwater calculations and as well as previous work which implies the basin is in surplus or balance, is a function of climate, which nobody really can predict. In all the analyses of groundwater conditions, the parameter of “base period” of climate is the dominant variable, and by using different “base periods” the analysis shows a range deficit or surplus conditions. Certainly, the importation of state water takes considerable pressure off of the resource of groundwater in this basin."
2003 Santa Barbara Water Report on Santa Maria
2003 Santa Barbara Water Report on Santa Maria
2002 Hydrogeological Review of Santa Maria Valley Groundwater Basin Water Budget Models, Hopkins
2002 Hydrogeological Review of Santa Maria Valley Groundwater Basin Water Budget Models
2002 Santa Barbara County Water Supply and Demand Comparisons, Ahlroth
2002 Santa Barbara County Water Supply and Demand Comparisons
2002 Santa Barbara County Groundwater Report, Santa Barbara County Public Works, Water Resources Department, Water Agency Division, Robert Almy
2002 Santa Barbara County Groundwater Report
2001 Santa Barbara County Water Groundwater Report
2001 Santa Barbara County Water Groundwater Report
2000 Development of a Numerical Ground-Water Flow Model and Assessment of Ground -Water Basin Yield Santa Maria Valley Ground-Water Basin, Scalmanini
2000 Santa Barbara County Water Resources Report
Viewing Information (53kb)
Errata (17kb)
Title Page and Contents (72kb)
Introduction, Setting, History (254kb)
Water Supplies - Groundwater (493kb)
Water Supplies - Surface Water, SWP, Desal, Water Quality (416kb)
Water Delivery & Oversight, Water Use (172kb)
Water Supply Enhancement(250kb)
Regulatory Framework (116kb)
Glossary (96kb)
1997 Engineer's Report, Special Assessments for Ground-Water Management, Santa Maria Valley Water Conservation District Special Improvement District No.1, Scalmanini
1997 Engineer's Report, Special Assessments for Ground-Water Management
1996 PUC testimony, Stetson ... Masnada,
1994 Santa Maria Valley Water Resources Report, Santa Barbara County Water Agency
1994 Santa Maria Valley Water Resources Report
1992 Santa Maria Groundwater Basin Analysis, Santa Barbara County Water Agency, Ahlroth
1992 Santa Maria Groundwater Basin Analysis, Santa Barbara County Water Agency
1991 Santa Barbara County Growth Inducement Potential of State Water Importation, Boyle Engineering
1991 Santa Barbara County Growth Inducement Potential of State Water Importation
1991 Report to the City of Santa Maria, Long-Term Water, Water Advisory Committee
1991 Report to the City of Santa Maria, Long-Term Water
1988 A Summary of the Santa Maria Valley Water Problems and Alternatives, White Paper
1988 A Summary of the Santa Maria Valley Water Problems and Alternatives
1985 State Water Project Alternatives, DWR in cooperation with Santa Barbara County
1985 State Water Project Alternatives
1977 Adequacy of the Santa Maria Groundwater Basin, Santa Barbara County Water Agency
1977 Adequacy of the Santa Maria Groundwater Basin
1976 Santa Maria Valley Water Resources Study, Toups Corporation
1976 Santa Maria Valley Water Resources Study
1970 Sea-Water Intrusion: Pismo-Guadalupe Area, Department of Water Resources (DWR Bulletin 63-3)
1970 Sea-Water Intrusion: Pismo-Guadalupe Area
1970 Sea-Water Intrusion: Pismo-Guadalupe Area Plate 1
1970 Sea-Water Intrusion: Pismo-Guadalupe Area Plate 2a
1970 Sea-Water Intrusion: Pismo-Guadalupe Area Plate 2b
1970 Sea-Water Intrusion: Pismo-Guadalupe Area Plate 3
1970 Sea-Water Intrusion: Pismo-Guadalupe Area Plate 4
1966 Utilization of Ground Water in the Santa Maria Valley Area, California, USGS Miller and Evenson
1966 Utilization of Ground Water in the Santa Maria Valley Area, California
1966 Utilization of Ground Water in the Santa Maria Valley Area, California (djvu format, see www.lizardtech.com)
1966 Utilization of Ground Water in the Santa Maria Valley Area, California plates (djvu format, see www.lizardtech.com)
1955 Santa Maria Project, California Definite Plan Report, Hydrology Appendix, US Department of the Interior
1955 Santa Maria Project, California Definite Plan Report, Hydrology Appendix
1952 Santa Maria Project, California Department of Public Works
1951 Ground Water in the Cuyama Valley 1948-51, USGS Worts paper 1110-B
1951 Ground Water in the Cuyama Valley 1948-51
1951 Ground Water in the Cuyama Valley 1948-51 Plate 1
1951 Ground Water in the Cuyama Valley 1948-51 Plate 5
1951 Geology and Ground-Water Resources of the Santa Maria Valley Area,California, USGS Worts
1951 Geology and Ground-Water Resources of the Santa Maria Valley Area
1951 Geology and Ground-Water Resources of the Santa Maria Valley Area (djvu format, see www.lizardtech.com)
1951 Geology and Ground-Water Resources of the Santa Maria Valley Area color plates (djvu format, see www.lizardtech.com)
1950 USGS Wells in Santa Barbara County, USGS Paper 1068
1950 USGS Wells in Santa Barbara County (djvu format, see www.lizardtech.com)
1931 Water Conservation and Flood Control of the Santa Maria River, Lippincott
1931 Water Conservation and Flood Control of the Santa Maria River