TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Bruce Moe, City Manager
FROM:
[Department Head's First and Last Name, Department Director]
[Manager/Supervisor]
[Drafter/Author]
SUBJECT:Title
Consideration of the Annual Water Supply and Demand Assessment Pursuant to Water Code Section 10635 (Public Works Director Lee).
RECEIVE AND FILE ASSESSMENT
Body
_________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council receive and file the Annual Water Supply and Demand Assessment.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
There are no fiscal implications associated with the recommended action.
BACKGROUND:
The City’s water supply is sourced from treated imported water from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) and locally pumped groundwater. Specifically regarding imported water, the City currently relies on a blended portfolio of State Water Project (SWP) and Colorado River supplies.
In 2018, the California Legislature enacted a law mandating urban water suppliers to bolster drought resilience and enhance communication regarding water shortage response measures. Pursuant to California Water Code §10635, all urban water suppliers are obligated to formulate and adopt a water shortage contingency plan as an integral component of their urban water management plan. This legislation also necessitated urban water suppliers to conduct an annual assessment of water supply and demand (Annual Shortage Assessment) for submission to the Department of Water Resources (DWR) by July 1, 2022, and subsequently on every July 1st. The Annual Shortage Report encompasses details concerning projected shortages, activated shortage response measures, compliance and enforcement measures, as well as communication strategies delineated in the respective Water Shortage Contingency Plans (WSCP) of each supplier.
In March 24, 2023, Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-5-23, which reduced emergency drought requirements from the statewide Level 2 demand reduction to lesser requirements but did not immediately terminate California State Water Resources Control Board water conservation emergency regulations. In addition, the executive order allows urban water suppliers to apply stricter water conservation measures. The City still follows Stage 2 of the demand reduction structure of its WSCP, which mandates the reduction of water usage at 10-20%.
DISCUSSION:
The Department of Water Resources (DWR) conducted its annual snow survey in April 2024. The April measurement is critical for water agencies as it’s considered the peak snowpack for the season and marks the transition to spring snowmelt into the state’s rivers and reservoirs. This year, the survey reported a record setting snow-pack at a 110 percent of the average of the same location, indicating a significant increase from January of this year. However, despite the replenishment of reservoirs due to winter storms and record snowpack, groundwater basins are experiencing slower recovery. Consequently, the state has upheld its conservation stance and urges Californians to integrate water conservation as “a way of life,” given the anticipated continuation of fluctuations between wet and dry conditions.
Staff has completed the City’s Annual Shortage Assessment utilizing DWR guidance worksheets, Urban Water Management Plan demand projections, and current water supply projections. This year, the assessment findings were consistent with previous years; there is no technical water supply shortage in Manhattan Beach for Fiscal Year 2024-2025.
Because there is no supply shortage in Manhattan Beach, staff recommends that the City Council receive and file the Annual Water Supply and Demand Assessment. Nonetheless, in alignment with state policy advocating water conservation to become a way of life in California and in anticipation of stricter regulations to be issued by the state in summer 2024, staff also recommends that the City maintain Stage 2 of its established drought restrictions.
PUBLIC OUTREACH:
No public outreach was conducted in preparation for recommending this approval.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The City has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the action is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines the activity is not subject to CEQA. Thus, no environmental review is necessary.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed this report and determined that no additional legal analysis is necessary.
ATTACHMENT:
1. Annual Water Supply and Demand Assessment