East Bay Municipal Utility District Issues

Guided by a strategic planning process, some key issues for East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) to contend with in the coming years include:

Finding innovative water supply resources

EBMUD is exploring the feasibility of two desalination projects to use ocean or bay water as a possible supplemental water supply source. One joint project would build one or more regional facilities to be used by at least four agencies in the San Francisco Bay Area. Another would use recovered steam to power an on-site desalination facility at an industrial food processor.

Nearly 30 years in the making, EBMUD and the Sacramento County Water Agency (SCWA) are cooperating on the Freeport Regional Water Project. When operational in 2010, the project will provide EBMUD a much-needed 100 million gallons per day of Sacramento River water during dry years to supplemental existing water conservation programs.

Collaborating with other agencies on future water-use decisions

EBMUD supports the protection and enhancement of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and San Francisco Bay estuary and their tributaries, including ecosystem enhancements, water quality improvement and optimized water management. The district works with a variety of agencies and organizations to encourage the implementation of legislation, regulations and specific projects that will lead to balanced improvements in these areas.

Backed by support from the California Department of Water Resources, the Mokelumne River Water Forum is a collaborative effort of Mokelumne River stakeholders, including EBMUD, to address the differing interests within the Mokelumne River basin and provide opportunities for participants to work together to improve water supplies for all in an environmentally sensitive manner. Stakeholders are currently developing agreements on how this group would best operate.

Furthering environmental protections for water-related resources

EBMUD will continue aggressive protection of the Mokelumne River, its primary water supply source, including the area downstream of its main water supply reservoir. A 1998 Joint Settlement Agreement between EBMUD, the California Department of Fish and Game, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service built upon EBMUD’s Lower Mokelumne River Management Plan to improve conditions for aquatic and riparian resources. The Salmon Spawning Habitat Improvement Project is a joint effort among these same agencies to improve Mokelumne River spawning habitat and improve in-stream production of fall-run Chinook salmon.

Incorporating water conservation best practices in new development

For more than 30 years, EBMUD has relied on one of the most comprehensive water conservation programs in the state to reduce demand on limited water supplies. When new home developments are imminent, EBMUD intends to build on its recent success with an 850-home development in Contra Costa County. A landmark agreement with the developer resulted in weather-based irrigation controllers for each home, water budgets for each lot and limitations on turf use, including use of recycled water for large irrigated fields and common areas.