06-04-10 BPU RPT 11 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

W A T E R I E N E R G Y I l I E E RIVERSIDE PUBLIC UTILITIES Board Memorandum P U B L I C U T T I I T T F $ BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES DATE: June 4, 2010 ITEM NO: 11 SUBJECT: AUTHORIZATION TO CONDUCT A GREENBELT WATER IRRIGATION RUNOFF CONSERVATION STUDY AND APPLY FOR A GRANT TO OFFSET A PORTION OF THE STUDY COSTS ISSUE: Consideration of adopting a resolution to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to apply for a grant funding agreement with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, committing to the legal and financial obligations of the grant. RECOMMENDATIONS: That the Board of Public Utilities recommend that the City Council: 1. Approve the estimated expenditure of $80,000 to conduct a greenbelt water irrigation runoff conservation study; 2. Appoint the City Manager, or his designee, as the authorized representative to apply and sign the United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) WaterSmart Grant Funding Agreements and any amendments thereto; and 3. Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager, or his designee, to prepare, submit, and sign applications for grant funding for the United States Bureau of Reclamation WaterSmart Reclamation Project. BACKGROUND: Riverside Public Utilities (RPU) is proposing to study methods of conserving irrigation water used in the green belt agricultural area served by the Gage Canal Company (Company). The Gage Canal began operations in 1888 and made a significant contribution to Riverside's 1890's boom in agricultural and residential development. The general area currently served by the Company is approximately 5,200 acres northwest of the Gage Canal and southeast of Victoria Avenue and Washington Street within the City limits. The general configuration of parcels within the Greenbelt is rectangular,40-acre lots separated into four 10-acre blocks. The predominantly citrus groves are irrigated through gravity fed surface furrow irrigation. An estimated 11,700 ac-ft/yr of pumped groundwater is delivered to the irrigation shareholders through both RPU and Company operated facilities. Inherent in furrow irrigation is tail water runoff. This runoff is significantly reduced through drip or micro- sprinkler irrigation. However,the capital and energy cost of drip irrigation can be prohibitive. RPU intends to study and compare various methods of conserving irrigation water used within the Greenbelt area, including 1) repair and improvement to the existing gravity furrow system; 2)conversion of gravity furrow systems into a pressurized drip irrigation system; 3) construction of a tail-water recovery system to treat and return the captured water to the canal for reuse (or alternatively for groundwater recharge); and 4) conversion of the gravity canal system to a pressure delivery system.