The Drought: Impacts on the California Community Colleges CCFC September 2015 Susan Yeager – CCCCO Bob Chase – DGS Chet Whidom – DSA Fred Diamond – Citrus CCD Joe Fullerton – San Mateo CCD

Agenda • Drought/Water Conservation • DSA

• California’s Drought Impact and Intervention – Fred Diamond/Citrus CCD • San Mateo CCD – Joe Fullerton

2

DROUGHT / WATER CONSERVATION

Drought – State of Emergency • Governor’s Executive Order B-29-15 – 25% reduction in potable urban water usage through February 2016 – 2013 as base year

• Chancellor’s Office Water Survey – Sent to districts in April 2015 – Mixed results – Continued emphasis on water conservation efforts – Districts need to track potable water usage 4

Drought – State of Emergency • 2015-16 Budget Act – Scheduled Maintenance – Replacement of water intensive landscaping with drought tolerant landscaping, synthetic turf, provided that the turf is used only in nonathletic areas, and other non-plant materials. – Drip or low-flow irrigation systems – Building improvements to reduce water usage. – Installation of meters for wells to allow for monitoring of water usage. 5

Water Conservation Measures • Xeriscaping • Installing reclaimed water systems

• Removing turf and replacing with drought tolerant plantings • Installing water monitor controllers for irrigation systems • Installing low flow and waterless fixtures 6

Water Conservation Measures • Decreasing frequency and duration of irrigation cycles • Adding diatomaceous earth to athletic fields to increase water retention • Capping water fountains • Eliminating an additional 20 percent of remaining turf and replacing with xeriscaping 7

2015-16 SM Water Conservation in FUSION • Water Conservation projects entered in FUSION – Maximum project budget = $634,000 – Create a Project Funding Proposal • Describe the water conservation project in the scope section • “Other” Project Type category

8

Water Efficiency Program Template • Developed by San Mateo CCD • Blank template for districts to complete

• Communicates district commitment to water conservation • Designed to continually identify information gaps • Guides Program implementation for staff, faculty, students, and the community 9

DSA LANDSCAPING / IRRIGATION

California’s Drought Impact and Intervention Fred Diamond Director of Facilities & Construction Citrus College

Drought Impact Statistics

Surface water…  Surface

water flows decline  Affects hydropower, recreation and habitat  California Water Science Center statistics show stream flows that are BELOW previous ALL-TIME record lows  With surface water diminishing, reliance upon groundwater increases

Lake Oroville

July 20, 2011 vs. August 19, 2014

Lake Shasta

August 30, 2014

Folsom Lake

Drought Impact Statistics

Groundwater…  Groundwater

is affected by ALL surface water features  Groundwater plays a crucial role in sustaining streamflow between rain events  Hydrologists estimate the average groundwater contribution to streams is between 40 and 50 percent

Statistics Groundwater…  Groundwater

is commonly used as a potable water supply source  The Central Valley aquifer extends for about 400 miles over the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys…avg. 2,500’ deep  California’s BIGGEST reservoir  When groundwater is removed, it reduces the aquifer’s capacity

Central Valley Subsidence

Central Valley Subsidence

Breaking News… …Over a period of eight months last year…land near Corcoran in the southern San Joaquin Valley sank more than 13 inches…

…not really Breaking News

…we’re pumping at record levels

Where does it all go?

…more importantly; what do we do?

Facing Challenges

What do we do…more you say?  Most

of us have already been reducing for several years  My campus building space is growing  My occupant load is growing  My plant inventory is stressed and dying  The “water” gatekeepers are all around

Keys to Overcoming

Best Management Practices  Documentation 

Viable records: Improvements & Strategies

 Communication 

Keep your stakeholders informed

 Effective 

& Practicable Means

Continue with proven implementation of water-wise features

Documentation  Master 

Plan Integration

Implementation Plan

 Sustainability  

Sustainable Bldg. Practices § 7.4 Water, Sustainable Landscaping, et al. § 7.7

 Strategic 

Plan Integration

Objectives Integration

Project Specific Activities and Measureable Outcomes

 Informal Documentation of Specific Projects

Communication  Annual

Report to the Board of Trustees  Sustainability updates to Committees  Internal Reports to staffers  

   

Train staffers to understand the need Propagate ideas and collaboration Realize measures previously unseen Foster creativity Gain insight Garner teamwork

Effective & Practicable Means …Plumbing

 The

obvious BMP’s...

Changing to water-wise devices is a necessity!  Create 

a standard specification

Coordinate with your design team

Effective & Practicable Means …Irrigation  The

obvious BMP’s...  Smart Controls…  Clock…time & duration  Atmosphere…wind, rain & evaporation  Soil…type, density and moisture content  Exposure…sun & environmental conditions  Plant…native and drought tolerant species  Maintenance…is crucial to limit waste

Citrus College Landscaping 

Azusa Pacific University Campus

Citrus College Campus

Synthetic turf is used at over 50% of turf area.  Reduced irrigation.  Dormant program.  Tolerant planting.

Creative Solutions  Utilize

and implement BMP’s  Scheduled Maintenance funding may now be used for synthetic turf replacement (not applicable for athletic fields)  Utilize local rebates  Utilize local grant funds or programs 

Citrus College Case example

Thank You…