02-27-2023 BPU RPT 12 - Laserfiche WebLink

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W A T E R E N E R G Y L I F E RIVERSIDE PUBLIC UTILITIES Board Memorandum P U B L I C U T I L I T I E S BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES DATE: FEBRUARY 27, 2023 SUBJECT: AUTHORIZATION TO MARKET AND OBTAIN PROPOSALS FOR THE SALE OF SURPLUS STORED GROUNDWATER ISSUE: Consider an authorization for staff to market through a Request for Proposal (RFP) process the City's stored groundwater in the San Bernardino -Bunker Hill Basin available to Riverside through the 1969 Judgment. RECOMMENDATION: That the Board of Public Utilities direct staff to market through a Request for Proposal (RFP) process the City's stored groundwater in the San Bernardino -Bunker Hill Basin available to Riverside through the 1969 Judgement. BACKGROUND: Riverside has adjudicated groundwater rights to extract and export water from the San Bernardino Basin Area (SBBA). Riverside's export rights are 55,263 acre-feet per year (AFY). It represents 22.49% of the total water rights of the basin and includes additional extraction rights of 1,719 AFY granted from Riverside's participation in the initial Seven Oaks Dam Conservation Project. Riverside can benefit and further increase its extraction/export rights if it participates in additional groundwater recharge projects. The project titled Enhanced Recharge projects are considered part of basin "New Conservation" projects as defined by the Western Municipal Water District of Riverside County, et al., v. East San Bernardino County Water District, et al. Judgment issued in 1969 (1969 Judgment). New Conservation Projects are significant to Riverside because it gives the City additional groundwater rights for the water recharged into the groundwater basin by the Project, and importantly, permits Riverside to pump and produce the water in subsequent years. Conversely, the City does not have the ability to store water not produced as part of its 55,263 AFY extraction right based on a five-year average production history. San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District (Valley) and Western have agreements to complete the Enhanced Recharge projects which builds additional percolation basins to recharge water released from the Seven Oaks Dam. Valley is the lead agency to complete the projects. Riverside and Western already have the following agreements to support Riverside's participation in these "New Conservation" projects.