California Water

City Planning

California Water Systems

A tour of the California water system was conducted as a cooperative effort between the University of California, Divison of Agriculture and Natural Resources www.waterresources.ucr.edu and the Department of "Medi Ambient" of the Generalitat of Catalonia. The purpose of the tour was to highlight the similarities between Catalonia and California and to view first hand the California water experience.  The tour was of particular interest to Spain where the north is relatively moist and the south, where a majority of the population resides, does not have sufficient local or regional water supplies to meet the growing demand. It is a tour that would be appropriate for any region of the world needing to improve the efficiency of water management for agricultural, environmental and urban use. 

The tour was designed around three themes. First, successful water planning, policy development and policy implementation requires the involvement of all stakeholders and transparent communication. Second, urban water managers who seek to acquire additional water supplies from the agricultural sector must understand in institutional and scientific basis of agricultural water use. Third, advanced water reuse technology provides opportunities to stretch developed water supplies. 

Phase one was devoted to a tour and review of issues surrounding the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and consideration of some of the problems of agricultural water management. The challenge of managing the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta focuses on many of the same issues as does the management of the Ebro River Delta in Catalonia. Agricultural uses of deltaic lands, flood control, preservation of fish and wildlife and the problems of maintaining adequate flows in seasons were among the topics of discussion.

 Phase two, the group visited the Panoche Water and Drainage District where the challenge is irrigation management under saline conditions. This is a problem faced in semi-arid areas around the world, including Spain. Panoche District Manager Dennis Falaschi characterized the water quality issues and highlighted various management options including: adoption of closed conduit irrigation technologies; improving water management; blending drain water with fresh water; drain water reuse and the utilization of desalting technology. 

Phase three was a visit to the UC Kearny Agricultural Research Center where Dr. Dave Goldhamer provided an overview of the joint UC/Catalonia project on the deficit irrigation of trees and vines. This work has demonstrated how yield levels can be maintained during drought periods and will have important practical application to the culture of trees and vines in both Spain and California. The Minister inspected an experimental plot that has been the focus of much of the collaborative work between IRTA and UC researchers. 

Phase four, the group visited Arvin-Edison Water Storage District south of Bakersfield to inspect one of the world's most sophisticated conjunctive use programs. Arvin- Edison acquires water in wet years and stores it underground for use in dry years. This conjunctive use program also provides water supplies to areas of the District that do not have access to surface water. The agreement between Arvin- Edison and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which includes arrangements for groundwater storage and water exchange, was highlighted. This agreement benefits both the agricultural users in Arvin-Edison and the urban users in the great Los Angeles complex and is an excellent example of how urban and agricultural water users can work together for mutual benefit. 

The final phases of the tour were spent in southern California where the focus turned to urban water issues and included a visit to Orange County Water District (OCWD) where General Manager Bill MilIs provided a thorough briefing and led a tour of the District' s various water reuse regimes. The tour of Water Factory 21 and the briefing on the new reuse facilities demonstrated the most advanced wastewater treatment technologies. Barcelona, Catalonia's largest city, has recently embarked upon an extensive wastewater reuse program. At the Los Angeles Metropolitan Water District, the topics of discussion included the problems of matching urban supply and demand, inter basin water transfers and appropriate pricing policies. At the West Basin Municipal Water Districts, there was a discussion of water reuse and production of water of different qualities for different industrial uses. 

The tour was coordinated by UC Associate Vice President Henry Vaux,Jr., Dr. John Letey, Director of the UC Center for Water Resources , Serghio Guillen of the California Department of Water Resources, coordinated the tour. Participants from Catalonia included the Conseller of the Department of public works, Sr. Felipe Puig, and the Director of Catalonia Water Agency, Sra. Marta Lacambra.

http://www.waterresources.ucr.edu