Statement of Water Problem and Objectives

By Lee Yarborough

The water crisis is now defined, policy parameters are known, multiple complex proposals for solution must be weighed. The Water Board repesentative will have to be capable of understanding complex technical issues and the broad concerns of all the citizens and organizations in the District and be able to work with them toward solutions. I belive my experience and ability meets that criteria.

Knowledgeable people have come to the conclusion after decades of controversy that the need for a water supply solution is at a crisis. If nothing is done: 1) State Water Resources Control Board Order 95-10 could require Cal Am to cease and desist from diverting approximately 10,700 acre feet of water from the Carmel Basin, and 2) Superior Court Order mandated limits on the Seaside Basin could mean elimination of 70% of the water now delivered by Cal Am from that source. Our communities on the Monterey Peninsula are already the lowest average annual consumption franchise in the Cal Am system! Conservation measures, although critical, have already made the bulk of savings possible. Unless new supplies of water are generated it will be impossible to deliver adequate water. There are several desalination and reclaimed water programs being pursued. The Monterey Peninsula Water Management District, working with the jurisdictions, finalized their estimates on present and future water needs of the Peninsula area. I favor any solution that can replace the loss of 10,730 acre-feet of water from the Carmel River Basin and 3370 acre-feet of water from the Seaside Basin to sustain our existing system and provide water for lots of record and remodels. I also support a phased approach that will allow for future water needs based on the certified general plans of the District's jurisdictions. Cal Am recently got approval for a pilot desalination plant in Moss Landing. With this plant in place, Cal Am and interested parties will be able to see actual results of production and measure needed for environmental mitigations for a larger, permanent plant. Some project or combination of projects must be chosen and completed in the next few years, or long-term water rationing is likely to be unavoidable for this community. I hope to employ knowledge and experience gained in my career as a Civil Engineer and Administrator to help further efforts to a solution will result in reliable water sources that can be implemented as quickly as possible in the most responsible and economical manner.