[Water_news] 2. DWR'S CALIFORNIA WATER NEWS: SUPPLY - 5/15/07

Department of Water Resources

California Water News

A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment 

 

May 15, 2007

 

2. Supply

 

Outside St. Helena, few water worries

Napa Valley Register – 5/15/07

By John Waters Jr., for the Register

 

Even as several North Bay communities, including St. Helena, have created measures to conserve their water, most cities in the county are in good shape for now.

Calistoga city officials last week said Calistoga has easily enough water for this year, and could survive a reduction of as much as 50 percent -- if need be -- next year.

Napa city officials have also expressed confidence the water supply, much of which comes from the State Water Project, will be adequate for this year.

American Canyon gets its supply from the State Water Project, which this year is benefiting from a heavy snowpack in the Sierra Nevada from the winter of 2005-06. The dry winter that just passed, however, may portend smaller State Water Project allotments in the future.

 

Yountville did the political work to secure a water supply in recent years, building a well for emergency use and gaining rights to a supply from Rector Reservoir, which is owned by the California Department of Veterans Affairs.

Last week, Calistoga Water Systems Superintendent Warren Schenstrom presented the mostly good news for his city at a Calistoga City Council meeting.

Schenstrom's report stated that Calistoga, which contracts for about 1,625 acre-feet of water annually, only used about half that amount in 2006.

The State Water Project is one of two sources of the city's water, the other being the locally owned Kimball Reservoir, which is at 90 percent of its capacity. Last year's water demand locally was met in equal parts from the state's water project and from the reservoir.

In his report, Schenstrom noted Calistoga has received only 24 inches of rain so far this year, compared to up to 40 inches in a normal year.

Schenstrom said providing water for Solage, the city's newest and largest resort development, has been the concern of residents who fear the project could rob Calistoga of its existing water surplus.

But Schenstrom concluded that Calistoga has enough water for existing customers and for limited growth.

"It is important to note that the water demands from all approved development projects, including the Solage project, have already been accounted for within the Growth Management, Standby and Other Allocations category," he said.

Schenstrom's report added that Calistoga is managing the design of a 1.5 million gallon water tank for the top of Mt. Washington. That tank's design is expected to be completed this year and will be in service by the end of 2008.

In late March, the St. Helena City Council instituted water restrictions, allowing residents of homes with even-numbered addresses to irrigate and water their lawns on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, while those with odd-numbered addresses may water on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. No watering is permitted on Mondays. #

http://www.napavalleyregister.com/articles/2007/05/15/news/local/iq_3947209.txt

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