Department of Water Resources Role in Water Transfers

1
California Water Transfers 101

• Department of Water Resources Role in Water
  Transfers

2
What is a Water Transfer

• A change in the way water is allocated
• Expand use to new areas
• Allows alternative use without extensive
  additional facilities
• Instream Flow (W.C. 1707)
• From a water right perspective
• Change in POU, POD, Purpose of Use
• Cannot increase the amount or season
• Follow the water not the trades

3
DWR as Operator of the SWP

• Check for possible injury issues related to water
  transfers effects on the SWP
• Responsible for meeting inbasin demands and Delta
  Standards in coordination with the USBR for the
  CVP
• Provide appropriate System-wide credits for water
  transfers through adjustments in COA accounting
• Provide available pumping capacity in the Delta
  for water transfers (see W.C. 1810)

4
Water Transfers- Making Sure the Check Clears the
Bank
Deposit 5
840
Costs 1
60
400
120
500
Withdrawal 4
5
Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta (Delta)
6
Some General Policies on Water

• Water belongs to the people of the State
• A water right is a usufruct right
• Prohibition against waste or unreasonable use
• Water rights can be lost through non-use
• To transfer water the transferor must have
  underlining rights to the water (water right or
  contract right)
• Water transferred legally cannot be not lost

7
Types of Transfers

• Surface Water
• Stored Water
• Reduction in Direct Use of Surface Water
• Crop Idling
• Water Conservation
• Alternative Source of Water ( e.g.groundwater not
  directly connected to the surface system)
• Groundwater

8
Three Rules Related to Water Transfers

• No injury to any legal user of water (Water
  Code 1702, 1706, 1727, 1736, 1810)
• No unreasonable effects to fish or wildlife
  (Water Code 1727, 1736, 1810)
• No unreasonable economic impacts to overall
  economy of the county from which the water is
  transferred. (Use of SWP - Water Code 1810)

9
Agricultural Water UseWithout water conservation
20
5
Diversion 15
CU7
Return Flow 8
13
Deep percolation to salt sink - 1
10
Agricultural Water UseWith water
conservation(No change in consumptive use)
20
10
Diversion 10
5
CU7
3
13
Deep percolation to salt sink - 1
Return Flow 8
11
Agricultural Water UseWith water
conservation(With change in consumptive use)
20
7
Diversion 13
CU5
Return Flow 8
15
Deep percolation to salt sink - 1
12
Groundwater Substitution Transfers(With
Groundwater Pumping)
20
10
Diversion 10
5
18
CU7
Return Flow 8
Deep percolation to salt sink - 1
13
Local Economic Effects

• Focuses mostly on crop idling or shifting
• Some positive aspects in todays crop market
• Focus on dry years (about 1/3 of years)
• If fallowing greater than 20 - hearing
• Effects on local economy related to farming
• Reinvestment in local economy
• Farm jobs and services related to lost jobs

14
DWR Principles Related to Water Transfers

• Local Leadership
• Assuring Adequate Local Water Supplies
• No Injury to Legal Users
• Protection of Fish and Wildlife
• Economic Effects
• Water management strategies designed to avoid
  unreasonable county-wide economic impacts.

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Summary

• Water Transfers are working
• Water Transfers that work best are those that
• avoid injury to water users
• address fish and wildlife issues
• sensitive to economic issues
• Economic issues evaluated in EWA EIS/R
• Long-term water transfers are in our future
• Environmental Water Account (EWA)
• Waterfowl refuges
• Instream flows
• Water supply urban users and permanent crops