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Yahoo!With the recent rains, many locals may wonder how we’re doing for water. The rest of the state is in the third year of drought—are we okay? Well, yes and no. Lake Cachuma, our main South Coast source of water, is relatively full compared to other California reservoirs, but is still 10 feet lower than it was at this time last year. That translates to a difference of more than 30,000 acre feet, an amount that could supply the Goleta Valley for two years. Cachuma did see a small uptick in volume in recent days and more storm systems seem to be on the way.
Another of our sources, State Water, is in worse shape. The Department of Water Resources has already told localities to expect, at most, 15 percent of their state water allotment this year. Water experts forecast this figure will be revised downward in coming weeks. Why? Well, for one thing, the snowpack that supplies the water is well below normal, and for another, court rulings to protect endangered fish in the Sacramento Delta have caused a severe reduction in the pumping of water. This has created a situation that the Association of California Water Agencies calls a “climatic and judicial drought.” An alarming combination.
For many parts of the state, and even parts of this county, State Water is a primary supply and long-term reductions may have a devastating effect. For us in the Goleta Valley, State Water is a relatively small part of our supply, but it has often acted as the “fill-in” source that assures we have all we want.
George Relles
Goleta Water District
The agency that handles our water is the Goleta Water District, serving the valley from the edge of the City of Santa Barbara all the way to El Capitan on the Gaviota Coast. I decided to see what they’re doing in the current water situation. You may recall my September 2008, column on the three seats up for grabs in the then-imminent Goleta Water District election. Lauren Hanson, Larry Mills, and Bill Rosen won those seats, to join directors Bert Bertrando and Jack Cunningham on the governing board. Bertrando was elected board president and he and the new board have been operating at full tilt since their first meeting in December.
As I learned in talking to Bertrando, another key water source is the aquifer below our feet. This groundwater basin holds the water that the district calls our drought buffer. “We’re very fortunate to be living above this particular geological formation—not every community has such a natural reservoir to rely upon,” Bertrando said. With our mountain creeks running down to the valley floor and on to the ocean, we have a water system that percolates through the ground, “recharging” this underground supply. Since storage is one of the huge problems the state faces as it deals with drought—where can you keep enough water to tide you over?—an underground basin is a very good thing to have.
Last year, the Goleta Water District began a project to update its computer model of the groundwater basin. A two-dimensional model will now be three-dimensional, offering an even better handle on the basin’s characteristics.
This year, the district will embark on a Groundwater Management Plan to take this new information and put it to use. And the District wants us to participate. As Bertrando puts it, “I believe that the more we involve the public, the more effective our efforts will be.”
To that end, the first public meeting on the groundwater management plan will take place on March 11. District staff, board members, and representatives of La Cumbre Mutual Water Company, which shares the basin, will join the public in a workshop led by nationally recognized hydrogeologist Dr. Steve Bachman. It’s the beginning of a one-year process and should be interesting to anyone concerned about our water. It takes place Wednesday, March 11, 7 p.m., at the Goleta Union School District Administration Building, 401 N. Fairview Ave., across from the Goleta Public Library.)
In addition to the Groundwater Management Plan, the district uses a number of planning tools, all of which will be increasingly important as climate change and statewide drought continue to stress our water supplies. In my opinion, none is more important than the concept of conservation.
As you can imagine, the district is already increasing its efforts to talk conservation. For most of us, saving gallons of water may be easier, and certainly less expensive, than buying gallons of water, so we need to listen up. As the district’s conservation specialist, Misty Williams, points out, “We have great staffers who’ll come out to your home and give you a free conservation checkup to make sure you don’t have any leaks, and help you spot problems with your sprinklers and other water systems. We can give you a free rain sensor, too.”
The district will play a big part in Supervisor Janet Wolf’s Green Gardening Day at La Sumida Nursery, March 7. Watering your yard and plants, as we know well, uses a lot of water. This event, featuring TV’s Garden Wise Guys, Owen Dell and Billy Goodnick, will offer some great info about the right plants for our semi-arid clime. There’ll be a composting how-to, raffles, refreshments, and lots of tips on wise watering strategies. That’s Saturday, March 7, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., at La Sumida Nursery, 165 S. Patterson.)
The district will also be sharing water conservation tips at the Home Improvement Expo at Earl Warren Showgrounds on March 7 and 8. And in April the district will be at both Earth Day festivals: the one in Goleta on April 11 at Stow Grove Park, and the one in the City of Santa Barbara on April 19 at Alameda Park.
How else can you stay informed about your water district? The GWD holds monthly board meetings and regular committee meetings which the public is invited to attend. The board meetings are on the second Tuesday of the month, 7 p.m., at the GWD offices, 4699 Hollister Ave. at Puente.
The district’s Web site is being updated to provide better information about meetings, agendas, and minutes; and a way to track ongoing projects, like the Groundwater Management Plan. (Check out www.GoletaWater.com.) You can also be put on an email list to receive regular notice of upcoming meetings. (Write to Info@GoletaWater.com.) As Director Hanson put it, “We’re doing everything we can to make it easy for the community to take part, and we welcome that.”
It looks like the Goleta Water District is stepping up to challenges facing Goleta’s water supply.
The adult human body is about 60 percent water. Let’s all do what we can to stay informed on how we can keep our respective bodies “topped off” with a clean, safe, dependable supply.
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I remember the Drought of the Late 80's. We watered our lawn and vegetable garden with Rinse water from the washing machine, let the dirt build-up on the car until a little rain fell and then we washed our cars on the front lawn in swim trunks on and bio-degradable soap. Took a shower in less then 10 minutes and while the water was getting warm. Treasured ever drop we could drink of that percious liquid.
Ah.......Those were the days.
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dou4now (anonymous profile)
February 26, 2009 at 11:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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