Chino Basin
Improving Water Supply
Reliability
Presented by
Ken Manning, CEO
Chino Basin Watermaster
Outline
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Chino 101
The Almost 2004 Basin Plan
The New Maximum Benefit Paradigm
Some Chino Basin Stats
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About 220 square miles in area
Contains about 6 million acre-ft
Pumpers
– 24 appropriators (cities, districts, etc)
– ~300 overliers (mostly ag)
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Current pumping is about 180,000
acre-ft/yr
Some Chino Basin Stats
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Basin was adjudicated in 1978
Watermaster is interest-based
– Nine-member board
– Pumper committees
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Safe yield is managed at 140,000
acre-ft/yr
The Almost 2004 Basin
Plan
Regulatory Environment in Late
2002
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New Objectives were proposed based
on SWRCB Executive Order 68-16 (non
degradation objectives) ~ ambient
quality in 1973.
The operating concept from
Executive Order 68-16
“1. Whenever the existing quality of water is
better than the quality established in policies
as of the date on which such policies become
effective, such existing high quality will be
maintained until it has been demonstrated to the
State that any change will be consistent with
maximum benefit to the people of the State, will
not unreasonably affect present and anticipated
beneficial use of such water and will not result in
water quality less than that prescribed in the
policies.”
Regulatory Environment in Late
2002
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Regional Board was planning to
amend the Basin Plan to incorporate
the new non degradation-based TDS
and nitrogen objectives.
Regulatory Environment in Late
2002
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There would be no assimilative capacity
RWQCB would require mitigation for
imported water recharge if TDS in
imported water exceeds the objective
Recycled water would have to be
desalted prior to recharge
Optimum Basin Management
Program (OBMP)
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Court Ordered – February 1998
OBMP was completed in August 1999
“Peace” Agreement that implements
the OBMP – July 2000
OBMP Program EIR – July 2000
Court Approval of OBMP and Peace
Agreement – September 2000
Optimum Basin Management
Program (OBMP)
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The OBMP in unprecedented in scope
Currently in the eigth year of
implementation
Various parties to the Peace Agreement are
implementing the OBMP
Present Value Cost of OBMP
– Year 2000 – over $400 million
– Year 2008 – TBD but substantially >$400 million
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Peace II Court Approved December 07