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 Plan Integration

Sustainable Bldg. Practices § 7.4

Water, Sustainable Landscaping, et al. § 7.7

Strategic 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

Synthetic

turf is used

at over

50% of turf

area.

Reduced

irrigation.

Dormant

program.

Tolerant

planting.

Azusa

Pacific

University

Campus

Citrus College Campus

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…