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San Diego County Water Authority General Manager Issues Statement on Colorado River Conditions and Sustainability

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June 14, 2022 – Sandra L. Kerl, general manager of the San Diego County Water Authority, issued the following statement on U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Touton’s testimony today before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on the severity of the drought on the Colorado River and need for near- and long-term innovation and investment:

“The water situation across the state and Southwest is dire, as historically dry conditions exacerbated by climate change shrink water storage levels at Lake Mead and Lake Powell and threaten the loss of power generation. One look at the river system today communicates as no words can, how devastating these impacts are and the need for all parties – the seven Basin states, federal government, tribal nations and our neighbor to the south, Mexico – to make the kind of changes needed to ensure that this precious resource will be available for future generations.

“Two decades ago, after experiencing severe drought and shortages in our own local water supplies, the Water Authority Board of Directors and San Diego County ratepayers made the difficult decision to simultaneously invest in the largest water conservation program in the West, while reducing per capita local water consumption by more than 40%. It hasn’t been easy, but the fruits of our labor have been realized by dramatic increases in efficiency in agricultural production in Imperial County and by securing a highly reliable water supply for San Diego County. Importantly, land was not fallowed, people did not lose their jobs and all environmental impacts were fully accounted for.

“San Diego’s water conservation agreement with the Imperial Irrigation District was made possible by legislation passed decades ago in Sacramento that can be a model for how to sustain environmental, agricultural, and urban water needs while using significantly less water. Under the leadership of Governor Newsom and with Adel Hagekhalil now at the helm of the Metropolitan Water District, the state and all Southern California are poised for innovation and to build on this successful model.

“Our public policy must be focused first on making conservation and reclamation work, and on recognizing that that it will cost money. We cannot succeed with policies that unintentionally fail to connect the benefits of conservation to the ratepayers who foot the bill.

“The Water Authority is fully committed to working together with all parties to promote innovation and to the long-term sustainability of our most precious resource, and to protecting the human right to water. Our collective success is vital to our communities, farms, environment and the economy.”

— Sandra L. Kerl, General Manager, San Diego County Water Authority

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SWA Governing Board Approves $72.7M Budget For Fiscal Year 2022-23

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Chula Vista, Calif. – The Sweetwater Authority (Authority) Governing Board approved the $72.7M budget for fiscal year (FY) 2022-23 at its June 8, 2022 meeting.

The FY 2022-23 Budget provides a balanced approach to maintaining the Authority’s financial condition. The Authority’s volumetric, or commodity rate used to fund operations, will increase by an inflationary index and will be offset by use of reserve funds to minimize the impact to rate payers.

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SWA Remains in Drought Level 1 of Drought Response Plan; Adds Additional Restrictions

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Chula Vista, Calif. – On June 8, the Governing Board (Board) of Sweetwater Authority (Authority) voted to implement additional drought measures to encourage additional water conservation. A full list of the demand reduction levels can be found on the Authority’s website at www.sweetwater.org/drought.

On May 24, 2022, the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) adopted a new regulation to guide the state in reducing water demand and to improve conservation.

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Vista Irrigation District Declares Level 2 Water Conservation Condition

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Vista, Calif. —  Vista Irrigation District board of directors has declared a Water Supply Response Program Level 2 Water Conservation condition, which requires residents and businesses to implement more stringent mandatory water use restrictions beginning June 18, 2022.

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Vista Irrigation District Board Appoints Peter Kuchinsky II To Fill Division 3 Vacancy

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Vista, Calif. —  The Vista Irrigation District (District) board of directors approved, by a unanimous vote, the appointment of Peter Kuchinsky II as the new representative for division 3 at a special board meeting. Division 3 encompasses central and northeast Vista and unincorporated areas of the county of San Diego.

He immediately fills the seat that became vacant when Paul Dorey passed away. Kuchinsky’s appointment as a director will last until the November 2022 election.

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Padre Dam Announces New CEO/General Manager

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June 7, 2022 – Padre Dam Municipal Water District’s Board of Directors unanimously appointed Kyle Swanson as the new CEO/General Manager for the District. Swanson’s tenure as CEO/General Manager began on June 2, 2022 following the retirement of prior CEO/General Manager Allen Carlisle.

“I am excited about this opportunity to serve both the organization and the community as the new CEO / General Manager for Padre Dam Municipal Water District.  I look forward to sustaining the health of the District, providing the opportunity for employees to succeed in their roles within the organization and achieving the numerous goals and initiatives before us to ensure Padre Dam continues providing the highest quality of service to our customers,” commented Kyle Swanson.

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A view of the FPUD Water Reclamation Plant on Alturas Road, prior to the the estblishment of Marine Corps Base Pendleton. Photo: Tom Rodgers/FPUD

Fallbrook Public Utility District Celebrates 100 Years of Service

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The Fallbrook Public Utility District on June 5, celebrated its 100th year of providing water and sewer service in Fallbrook. From its first years serving 800 customers, the utility district, or FPUD, now supplies water to more than 35,000 residents in North San Diego County.

The Fallbrook community celebrated FPUD’s centennial on June 4. Photo: Fallbrook Public Utility District

The public celebrated the centennial with an old west themed community celebration on Saturday, June 4, including water games and hands-on water/science labs for kids; antique tractors and vehicles; and activities led by North County Fire Department and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. A crowd of 1,200 residents took part in the celebration.

One hundred years of service

A mural depicting the Fallbrook community. Photo: Courtesy Fallbrook Historical Society

In 1922, the tiny Fallbrook Public Utility District consisted of 500 acres and was incorporated on June 5 to serve water from local area wells along the San Luis Rey River.

Fifteen years later, in 1937, the Fallbrook Irrigation District voted to dissolve, and a portion of the former Irrigation District became a part of FPUD, increasing FPUD’s footprint to 5,000 acres. Responding to the growth, FPUD developed additional groundwater supplies from the San Luis Rey and the Santa Margarita rivers.

As Colorado River water became available in 1948, water consumption gradually increased.

Customer service has always been a priority. This photo dates to the 1950s. Photo: Fallbrook Public Utility District

Customer service has always been a priority. This photo dates to the 1950s. Photo: Fallbrook Public Utility District

Significant expansions of the service area took place in 1950 when FPUD annexed the last remaining portion of the Fallbrook Irrigation District and in 1958 when the area to the north of town on both sides of the Santa Margarita River was annexed to the District. By 1959, FPUD was consuming 10,000 acre-feet per year. (An acre-foot is about 326,000 gallons, or enough to serve the annual needs of 2.5 typical four-person households for one year).

The use of Santa Margarita River water ended in 1969 when floods destroyed the district’s diversion works. One year before the floods, the U.S. federal government agreed to develop a dam and reservoir project on the river for FPUD and the U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. It was the culmination of 17 years of water rights litigation in the U.S. vs. Fallbrook case. The federally sponsored project was known as the Santa Margarita Project.

Imported water supports community development

When water became available in the 1920s, avocado trees were planted. By 1985, the region reached a peak of 88,000 acres of avocados. Photo: Fallbrook Historical Society

In 1978, FPUD began receiving water supplied by the California State Water Project, further supporting the area’s business, agricultural, and residential development.

FPUD’s footprint grew by 11,789 in 1990 when voters in the DeLuz Heights Municipal Water District to the northwest of FPUD decided to dissolve their 17-year-old district. Its entire service area was annexed to FPUD.

FPUD’s scope of operations grew once again in 1994 when the Fallbrook Sanitary District was dissolved, and FPUD assumed sewer service responsibilities within a 4,200-acre area of downtown Fallbrook.

Water supply from Santa Margarita River

In November 2021, FPUD celebrated the launch of the Santa Margarita River Conjunctive Use Project, some 70 years in the making. The district now receives approximately 50% of its water needs from the river. It was made possible by settling a lawsuit filed against FPUD in 1951 by the federal government over rights to the river.

Fallbrook is well-known for its high-quality agricultural crops, led by avocados and citrus. But according to the Fallbrook Historical Society, before the formation of FPUD, agriculture had to withstand drought conditions. Bee farming was widespread, followed by olives and cattle ranching.

When water became available in the 1920s, avocado trees were planted. By 1985, the region reached a peak of 88,000 acres of avocados. The Fallbrook area also supports commercial nurseries growing flowers, palms, cactus, and plants.

Planning for the next century

Imported water permitted Fallbrook to thrive. This view of Main Street is from 1984. Photo: Fallbrook Historical Society

Today after 100 years, the District provides imported and local water and sewer service to 28,000 acres. About 30% of the water is used by agriculture. FPUD also produces about one and one-half million gallons of recycled water daily to irrigate nurseries,  playing fields, landscaped freeway medians, homeowners associations, and common areas.

(Editor’s note: The Fallbrook Public Utility District is one of the San Diego County Water Authority’s 24 member agencies that deliver water across the metropolitan San Diego region.)

Public Encouraged to Learn About Our Marine Environment Through Video Series on World Oceans Day

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SAN DIEGO – Ahead of World Oceans Day this Wednesday, June 8, the City of San Diego is encouraging the public to learn about local coastal waters through a series of videos that describe the diverse work of its Ocean Monitoring Program in studying the effects of regional wastewater treatment processes on the marine environment.

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Elementary School Poster Contest Winners Illustrate The Importance of Water

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Chula Vista, Calif. – Last week, twenty local elementary school students were named winners of the Sweetwater Authority (Authority) “Water is Life” Poster Contest. The yearly contest gives K-6 students the chance to demonstrate how water is a precious and essential resource. By creating water-related art, students enhance their understanding of the importance of water.

Over one hundred students from four schools within the Authority’s service area submitted posters for this year’s contest. Of the twenty selected winners, six students will have their artwork submitted to the Metropolitan Water District’s regional contest for the chance to be featured in the agency’s 2023 art calendar.

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Big Event Marks FPUD Turning 100 Years Old

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Fallbrook, Calif. – Fallbrook Public Utility District has been providing water and sewer service in Fallbrook for nearly 100 years. Now thanks to a unanimous vote by the San Diego Local Agency Formation Commission, or LAFCO, the process is moving forward for the district to be able to provide additional community services under the umbrella of parks and recreation services, streets, and street lighting.

The Fallbrook Public Utility District turns 100 years old on June 5.

The district is celebrating its anniversary with a huge, open-to-the-public event June 4, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., to mark a century of supplying water to more than 35,000 residents in Fallbrook.

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