HomeMy WebLinkAboutF-2. Azusa Water Supply Update Information Item
Presented 1 121I14-
F-2
11011‘USA
INFORMATION ITEM
TO: HONORABLE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE AZUSA UTILITY
BOARD
FROM: GEORGE MORROW,DIRECTOR OF UTILITIES 4‘
DATE: JANUARY 27,2014
SUBJECT: AZUSA WATER SUPPLY UPDATE
The new water year began October 1, and rainfall to January 15, 2014 is 2.03 inches, measured
at the Pasadena powerhouse.This is 23.8%of average. If no rain falls in January the average will
be 18.1%of normal. Calendar year 2013 was the driest in recorded history.
Upper San Gabriel Valley MWD replenishment delivery to the River was turned on November
21,but ended December 20; resumption of water delivery has not been scheduled. Currently, the
North Pit of the Canyon Basin is 15 feet below overflow and dropping at 1 foot per week; the
South Pit is 38 feet below overflow and dropping 1 foot a week.
River inflow to San Gabriel Dam is currently 10.0 cfs. The Pasadena Conduit is delivering 12 cfs
of water from San Gabriel Reservoir to the Committee of Nine Canal. (The normal level of
conduit deliveries is 30 to 60 cfs.)
The amount of water behind Morris Dam is 8,223.2 AF, and the amount of water behind San
Gabriel Dam is 2,428.8 AF. Cogswell Dam is very low, at 59.5 AF. The maximum capacity of
all three reservoirs is 83,478 AF; the current combined storage is 10,711.5 AF, 12.8 percent of
capacity, including minimum pool. Usable Committee of Nine storage remaining above
minimum pool is 1,200 AF.
Statewide, water availability conditions are similar to our local conditions, if not worse, in some
locations.Last spring, the State Water Project allocation for San Gabriel Valley MWD, our local
supplier, was set at 35% of their full allotment of 28,800 AF. So far, it appears that the final
allocation for the upcoming year will be significantly lower unless rainfall increases and
snowpack in the Sierras is normal or better. The current preliminary allocation is set at 5%which
translates to 1,440 AF of the full allotment of 28,800 AF. The water content of the snowpack in
the Northern Sierras is 11% of normal to date and in the Southern Sierras the snowpack is 32%
of normal. Sierra runoff is necessary to supply water to the State Water Project.
UB-50
Water Supply Update
January 27,2014
Page 2
Around the State, reservoir levels are faring no better than the snowpack. San Luis Reservoir, an
important storage reservoir currently has 149 thousand acre feet less in storage that it had at this
time last year. Oroville Reservoir has 1.2 million acre feet less, and Lake Shasta has 1.63 million
acre feet less this year. Locally, Diamond Valley Lake has 105 thousand acre feet less than last
year. Both Lake Mead and Lake Powell, important Colorado River storage reservoirs, are both at
less than 50% capacity. Metropolitan Water District continues to say they have enough stored
water to last through one bad winter,but without rain,next year could be difficult.
Continued water conservation is extremely necessary to reduce demand. Without rain, the
recovery will be slow. USG-3 was turned off December 20 and resumption of water deliveries is
not scheduled at this time.
Prepared by: Chet F. Anderson P.E.,Assistant Director-Water Operations
UB-51