PAJARO VALLEY WATER MANAGEMENT AGENCY
36 BRENNAN STREET  WATSONVILLE, CA 95076
TEL: 831) 722-9292 FAX: 831) 722-3139
email: [email protected]  http://www.pvwma.dst.ca.us
WATER QUALITY AND PROJECT OPERATIONS
COMMITTEE MEETING
Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency
36 Brennan St., Watsonville, California 95076
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Time: 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
MEETING #32 MINUTES
Meeting Attendees:
Dale Huss
Rosemarie Imazio
Brian Lockwood
Jesus “Chuy” Martinez
Warren Koenig
Mary Bannister
Belinda Platts
Mike Wagner
1. Welcome and Introductions. Dale called the meeting to order at 3:05 p.m.
2. Public and Member comments. Dale & others discussed the extensive flooding of Watsonville
Slough and the Beach Road area caused by a combination of high tides, river flows and the fact that
the river mouth is closed by a sand bar. The recommendation from the WQ&POPs committee is that
the PVWMA Board of Directors writes a letter to the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors to
state the problems associated with this: seawater contamination to prime agricultural land, health
hazards associated with flooding, and potential detriment to the groundwater basin.
3. Review and Accept Minutes of Prior Meeting. Dale moved approval – Rosemary seconded; the
minutes of the Water Quality and Project Operations Committee meeting #31 were approved.
4. Current Operations Update. Chuy gave the operations update: In 2011, 2,748 AF of water were
delivered, and of this total 1,968 AF was recycled water, representing ~72% of the total water
supplied. Mike described this year’s maintenance program at the Recycled Water Facility, which is
scheduled to begin this week. The plant will be offline for approximately six weeks. It may be
possible to continue operating the plant in a reduced capacity during this time (max flow might be
around 2,000 gpm). The Committee has directed Mike to begin maintenance ASAP. Mike noted the
cost of materials is set to go up and the Agency might consider purchasing additional supply at the
lower price prior to the price jump taking effect. Chuy updated the Committee on the status of the
demand survey: not all surveys have been returned, however, there are three new customers which
may take up to an additional 300 AF. Belinda summarized her analysis of the growers survey: it
might take well failure or contamination by saltwater prior to growers increasing delivered water
usage.
5. Discuss Strategy to Increase Supplemental Water Deliveries. Belinda will put together some
conceptual models of cost of pumping scenarios (groundwater production vs delivered water).
Educate potential customers of how the system works. Get to the point where water orders can be
placed online. Rosemary and Dale both agree that the cost is the bottom line. Beyond cost, a well
may need to fail before some growers switch to delivered water. Generate some FAQ sheets
regarding delivered water, groundwater, soil samples. Dale recommended the Agency direct
Belinda to summarize existing data into a summary. The Agency offers the required backflow
devices at wholesale prices (roughly 40% less than retail), plus Agency staff maintain the devices.
6. Water Quality Update. Brian presented water quality results. Since April 1st 2009, staff has
collected 252 water quality samples from turnouts. The long-term average concentration of selected
constituents is as follows: Total Dissolved Solids – 622 mg/L; Chloride – 105 mg/L; Sodium – 96
mg/L; Nitrate as NO3 – 23; SAR – 2.57; E.C. – 1.05 dS/cm. Brian also presented the results of a
CDS source water analysis. Warren inquired about fluctuations in nitrate concentration. Dale and
Belinda noted that in CSIP average chloride concentration is 225 to 250 mg/L and there are more
strawberries than ever.
7. Discuss and Plan for February 24th Grower Meeting. Rosemary recommends completing a
strong outreach program ahead of the meeting to encourage owners and growers in the delivered
water zone to attend. Dale emphasized that we need to get non-customers the meeting. Under
Project Operations Update, speak to: Number of Water Orders per Year, Number of Acres Irrigated
with Supplemental Water per Year, how operations work in general. Draft a letter to encourage
greater participation: address cost benefits, water quality benefits, Agency staff servicing valves –
plan to mail letter to the Committee with the agenda and minutes, and mail to growers after February
committee meeting.
7. Discuss Future Water Quality and Project Operations Committee Agenda Items. February
Grower’s Meeting.
8.
Next Meeting: Tuesday, February 21, 2012, at 3:00 p.m. Growers Meeting tentatively scheduled
for March 23, 2012.
9.
Meeting Adjourned at 4:20 p.m.