CLEA
FOR THE NATION'S ESTUARIES
PROCEEDINGS
PUBLIC MEETING
ON
WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT
FOR ESTUARIES
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
FEBRUARY 18-19, 1969
VOLUME 2 OF 2
-DILUTION CONTROL ADMINISTRATION • U. S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
PACIFIC SOUTHWEST REGION SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
IT
-------
PROCEEDINGS
PUBLIC MEETING
ON
WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT FOR ESTUARIES
VOLUME 2 OF 2
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FEDERAL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ADMINISTRATION
February 18-19, 1969
State Office Building
San Francisco, California
LIBRARY
;
-------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction ............................. ii
Statements 3rd Reports for the Record
California State Department of Fish arid Game ............ 1
California State Lands Division .................. 96
De.pl.. of the Army, Corps of Engineers, San Francisco District. ... 98
League of Women Voters of California, Inc .............. 102
Fedcaation of Western Outdoor Clubs ................ 106
Leeds, Hill and Jewett, Inc., Consulting Engineers ......... 107
Wesnbay Community Associates .................... 275
-------
11
INTRODUCTION
Volume 2, Proceedings, Public Meeting on Water Quality Management
for Estuaries, February 18-19, 1969, San Francisco, California,
continues the compilation of Statements and Reports for the Record
of this public meeting. The Foreword of Volume 1 describes the con-
cept and intent of the National Estuarine Pollution Study.
-------
STATEMENTS AND REPORTS
FOR THE RECORD
-------
-1-
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - RESOURCES AGENCY RONALD REAGAN, Governor
DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME
1416 NINTH STREET
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA 95814
G. Ray Arnett - Director
March ik, 1969
Mr. Irving M, Terzich
Pacific Southwest Region
Federal Water Pollution Control Administration
760 Market Street
San Francisco, California 9^102
Dear Mr. Terzich:
At the public meeting on water quality management for
estuaries held February 18, 1969, we indicated that
we would supplement our oral statement with a written
report. The report is enclosed.
We would appreciate the inclusion of our report into
the transcript of the California meetings.
-------
-2-
WRITTEN STATEMENT BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME FOR THE
PROCEEDINGS OF FEDERAL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ADMINISTRATION
HEARINGS IN CALIFORNIA
This statement is additional information on California's estuarine resource
referred to in the oral presentation made at the hearing in San Francisco on
February 18, 1969. Some of the information is also provided in a report
submitted to the FWPCA through the State Water Resources Control Board,
Division of Water Quality. The latter report basically provided technical
and other factual data as input for a report entitled, "A Profile of State
Programs and Activities Related to the Estuaries of California."
This statement will be addressed to answering those questions provided by
FWPCA as guidelines for presenting information at the hearings:
1. What are the values (aesthetic, personal, recreational, dollar, exc.)
of California's estuarine resource?
The primary concern of the Department of Fish and Game with the estuarine
environment pertains to the ability of an area to support fish and wild-
life. Value assessments of the estuarine environment will therefore be
limited to those attributable to the fish and wildlife resource.
The Department of Fish and Game has an active bay and estuary study and
planning program. At this writing fish and wildlife plans are being
prepared for eleven estuarine areas in California, 10 of which vill be
completed in 1969. These plans will contain documentation of fish and
wildlife values of the estuarine environment. Already completed is a
fish and wildlife plan for San Francisco Bay and Delta prompted by
legislative action in 1965. Summarized below are the fish and wildlife
values of San Francisco Bay and Delta:
The fish and wildlife resource depending upon the San Francisco Bay-Delta
environment now supports 3-5 to 5 million man-days of recreation and an
ocean commercial fishery that lands 5.7 million pounds of salmon. The
resource is compatible with increased use of the Bay-Delta and providing
that we solve the problems of water quality and some other changes in the
environment, its value is expected to about triple in the next 30 years.
A large and varied fish and wildlife resource depends upon the maintenance
of satisfactory environmental conditions throughout the San Francisco Bay
and Delta. Many are migratory species whose populations migrate in or
through the estuary according to long established patterns of seasonal
changes in the environment. Most important is a large and well-used striped
bass (Roccus saxatilis) population that supports a fishery of between 1.5
and 3 million angler-days per year. Most individuals of this population
spend most of their lives in the San Francisco Bay and Delta, although some
adults spend time at sea and many ascend the Sacramento and San Joaquin
rivers above the Delta to spawn.
The largest king salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) stock in the world moves
through the Bay and Delta on its way to spawning grounds in the Sacramento
and San Joaquin River systems. The young produced by this spawning migrate
downstream through the estuary on their way to the sea and ultimately produce
approximately 5-7 million pounds of salmon in a commercial ocean fishery and
187)000 man-days of recreation in the ocean and in the rivers above the Delta.
-------
-3-
-2-
There is also a large American shad (Alosa sapidissima) run through the Bay-
Delta and a growing shad fishery uprtream, a sturreon population and growing
fishery in the bay, a resident catfish and centrarchid fishery in the Delta,
a very important pier and shore fishery in the bay, and an excellent steelhead
(Salmo gairdneri) run and fishery in the Sacramento and American rivers.
Open waters and marshes of San Francisco Bay provide winter environment for
hundreds of thousands of waterfowl and shorebirds. The former provide hunters
with an estimated 135,000 man-days of their sport and both provide some
370,000 man-days of recreation to a growing number of bird watchers. Very
rough estimates of the adult populations of these fish and wildlife have been
made (Table l). They serve principally to document the fact that the fish and
wildlife resources depending on this environment consist of very large numbers
of a vide variety cf species.
We have expressed the value of this resource as man-days of recreation
supported or quantities of a commercial product produced annually (Table 2).
Total recreation days provided by the resource are now between 3.5 million
and 5 million annually. To this must be added the 5.7 million pounds of salmon
landed annually by the commercial fishery. Table 2 is as sound an estimate of
the value of the fish and wildlife resource dependent upon the San Francisco
Bay-Delta as can be made with existing information. We have found no sound
rationale for further defining their true worth. While monetary values have
been placed on fish and wildlife resources, agreement about how to do this is
rare. All attempts fall far short of a realistic description of the value of
these resources to either the individual or to society.
We estimate that in the year 2000, the recreational use of fish and wildlife
depending upon the Bay-Delta environment will have tripled to become from 9
million to 15 million recreation days annually. These predictions are also
listed in Table 2. The striped bass population will remain as the most valuable
portion of this resource. With research, proper environmental control, and
increased rate of exploitation, it will continue to provide more than half of
the total recreation days. Shore and pier fishing is expected to become the
second most important use of the resource as the human population density and
public access to the bay increase. It will support from 15 to 30 percent of
the total recreation days.
The increase in waterfowl hunting may not be great but the number of people
vho obtain value from merely seeing waterfowl and shorebirds in marsh and
shoreline areas and the time they spend there is expected to at least double.
More people will be seeking recreation by fishing for salmon in the ocean, for
salmon and steelhead in the rivers above the Delta, for catfish and centrarchids
in the sloughs of the eastern Delta, and for sturegon in the bay. Providing
the contamination problem can be solved, 210,000 man-days per year will be
spent digging clams and a commercial oyster industry may produce 1.7 million
gallons of oysters.
Our prediction of the future use of these resources is based upon forecasts
of increased human population, and two important assumptions:
Assumption 1: Poor vater quality will not be the environmental
control limiting fish and wildlife populations
or their use.
-------
-3-
Table 1
Ksticiatec of the adult populations o± certain
species of fish and vildliTe dependent upon the
San Frrneisco Bay and Delta environment
Striped bass 2,500,000 to 8,000,000
King salmon 1,000,000
Steelhead 1*0,000 to 60,000
Aircrican shad 2,000,000 to )|,000,000
Sturgeon 9,000 to 16,000 (Han I'aulo T/iy)
Soft-chell clanc 16,000,000 (interticb.l zone)
Littlencck clans h,800,000 (interticial ?onc)
\,Tatcrro-,:]. 200,000 to 1,000,000
Shore birds 100,000 to lf-00,000
-------
—5—
Estimated vac] predicted ^:;e.:/of filch and vJ lu Li:''e recourcer;
of Can Fraijvirjco Bay-Delta expressed .an iho-.ir.ia1 id:; of !:>an~days
of recreation.-/
P> tripod b-or,
Bay pier an-'1
shore fir-bine
shore Ivirc'lr
Calfir*
Salmoii
Arrericnu oln
Steelhe; o
Sturgeon
Ceritrarch-ids
1,500 - 3,ooo
6'tf
505
MO
187
100
73
6
T'^o o ^ ~L "I T >r> "i" *"'
llogli=iM';
2,500
875 - .1,01.0
695
350
177
150
50
32 - 125
200
oa_u. . ;.L~c. rr.jr,ooi'o a Ir.i'^e cor. i^rcxc.J. fa.:./' -ry. '.?. ".>iin[js
atLr 'bv;,- '1 to "ohor-e nail on ::,a",,nid in the [ir^civ1 >nLO"
rn-in^cnc^cc cf proper c^viroiL/cnial co..d:' t:; one. :' . -^he-
Son ?ra/:c.isco Bay-Delta nov average 5«7 K-il3 io/. povnc's
i1 year. Prediction har; b;;cn ::acic that they i.ill jnci'cc.oe
-------
-b-
-5-
This appears to be a reasonable assumption. The very existence of the State
Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Program is good evidence of society's
intention to protect water quality of this estuary from future deterioration
and to examine all possible ways of correcting present problems.
Assumption 2: Major environmental problems posed by water
development and reclamation will be avoided
or solved.
This also appears to be a reasonable assumption. The problems created by
water development and reclamation are largely water quality problems, and it
seems unlikely that the first assumption will be met without also meeting the
second. Significant progress has been made in recent years by development
and selection of the Peripheral Canal water development plan and by the
establishment of the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission
to guide reclamation of the bay. Some major problems have not been solved,
but it is apparent that our society intends to solve them.
Provided the above assumptions are met, the use of fish and wildlife depending
on the San Francisco Bay and the Delta will about triple in the next 30 years.
Included in this statement and appended hereto is a report entitled, "Status
Report on the Coastal Wetlands of Southern California." The report briefly
describes the present knowledge of the wildlife values of these estuarine
areas. In this case, "estuarine" is used in its broadest sense to include
wetlands which may only open to tidal action intermittently.
Also appended is the "Report on Natural Resources of Morro Bay and Proposal
for Comprehensive Area Plan." This report presents the fish and wildlife
values of this relatively unspoiled estuary, however, as with all estuarine
areas in California, documentation of these values is continuing.
Much of this information on value assessments provided above on San Francisco
Bay and in the two appended reports generally applies to the entire estuarine
resource of California. Documentation of estuarine resource values of other
areas now being carried out by the Department will be made available to the
public and interested agencies as it is completed.
A value not to be overlooked is attributable to the scarcity of estuarine
habitat. Since much of this type of habitat has been altered in such a
way as to destroy its value for fish and wildlife, the small amount remaining
has assumed greatly increased value. An estimate given before the House
Subcommittee on Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation during hearings on
H.R. 25 in 1967 showed that nearly TO percent of estuarine habitat in
California has already been destroyed.
Further destruction will most certainly affect the ability of many fish and
wildlife species dependent thereon to survive. Once this type of habitat
has been altered by filling, dredging, etc.. the loss is usually final, in
that man's alterations of this environment are most often irreversible.
2. How have they (estuaries) been damaged by pollution and how much?
If used in its broadest sense, pollution could be interpreted to mean any
act which lessens the value of the estuarine resource to a particular user;
in this case the fish and wildlife resource dependent thereon.
-------
-7-
-6-
The appended report "Status Report on the Coastal Wetlands of Southern
California" gives estimates of the present effectiveness of certain wetland
areas to support wildlife. In most instances these figures show that man's
alterations of the environment has decreased the wildlife carrying capacities
of these areas. Not included in this report are estuarine areas already
completely developed into harbors, marinas, residential areas, etc. Examples
of complete destruction of the natural environment include those habitats
now occupied by Los Angeles Harbor, Harbor Park, San Pedro Harbor and Ballona
Creek in Los Angeles County; Lower Newport Bay and Huntington Harbor in
Orange County; and Mission Bay in San Diego County. These areas once
supported many thousands of acres of marshland valuable to fish and wildlife.
As previsouly pointed out, it has been estimated that nearly TO percent of
California's estuarine habitat has been destroyed.
The loss of habitat to pollution contamination in the San Francisco Bay and
Delta is another prime example of environmental destruction and is summarized
as follows:
a. Contamination:
(l) The existing shellfish resource available for recreational use
(harvest) within the intertidal zone has been fairly well
identified as to locations, species, and densities (abundance).
Approximately 21 million adult softshell and Japanese littleneck
clams have been located in accessible (wading) sites. High
coliform counts make all of these unsafe for human consumption.
If public health standards were met, these resources could
support from 210,000 to 420,000 user-days annually — perhaps
even double both of those figures, if a limit of 50 clams was
not required by each clam digger to make a successful day and
the legal limit were reduced to 25.
(2) Large numbers of clams that could be harvested commercially
also exist in the deeper waters of the Bay. This resource has
been estimated at about 50 million clams or 1,400,000 pounds.
The potential annual commercial harvest is calculated to be
between 800,000 and 1,000,000 pounds. Present prices indicate
such annual production would sell at the retail price of
$600,000. Contamination currently prevents any commercial use.
There is a demand for these clams as evidenced by the
importation of the same species from Washington and Oregon.
Annual shipments to California now total about 1,000,000 pounds,
selling retail at from $.50 to JO cents per pound.
(3) A commercial oyster fishery could materialize as a result of
actions taken to permit public consumption of the existing
clam resources. We have estimated that l.J million gallons
of shucked oysters could be produced annually from the Bay.
This would be a 20 percent increase in the total U. S.
production of oysters. At present wholesale prices of +$3
per gallon the 1.7 million would be worth $5.2 million. This
is a reasonable biological potential. Actual production
would be influenced by social and economic factors.
-------
-8-
-7-
It is interesting to note that before 1900 some 10 to 15
million pounds of oysters were harvested annually from S. F.
Bay. Today, of course, there is no oyster fishery.
b. Other Problems
(l) Commercial shrimp landings in the Bay were ac high as 6.5
million pounds, but in 1965, landings totaled only 10,000
pounds.
(2) At one time the sea otter was abundant in S. F. Bay. Also,
large kelp beds existed. Today there are no kelp beds and
no sea otters.
(3) Each year in the spring there is usually a fish kill involving
striped bass and other fishes in the Carquinez Strait.
Pollution of some sort is the probable cause.
(4) Many fish (striped bass) frequently have "tainted" flesh and
hence not fit for eating. While petroleum wastes are suspect,
a study is underway to determine the exact cause.
In addition to actual loss of habitat by dredging, filling and pollution,
secondary value losses of the estuarine environment are attributable to man's
physical presence. The fact that a freeway, boat harbor or high-rise apart-
ment occupies less than the whole of a particular estuary does not mean that
the remainder can be entirely used by fish and wildlife, Man's activities
certainly can decrease if not entirely eliminate, in many cases, the value of
an estuarine area to wildlife.
3 and k. What do you think the future of our coastal zone should be? What are the
best uses of our estuaries?
The above two questions are closely related and therefore are treated together.
There are many interests in exploiting or using in some manner, the eetuarine
resources of California. More often than not, the various types of exploitation
and uses are in conflict with one another, especially as such uses affect the
ecological balance of the estuarine environment.
The Department of Fish and Game presented, in a statement to the California
Assembly Subcommittee on Conservation and Beaches in 1968? three precepts
to guide use and development of California's shoreline. These precepts can
also be specifically applied to guide the use and development of estuarine
resources and are as follows:
a. Uses of California's estuarine resource should be restricted to
those activities which require the estuaries' resources or
environmental attributes and which cannot be carried on elsewhere.
b. The existing environmental qualities and amenities of each estuary
area should be preserved and, whenever possible, those environ-
mental qualities already lost should be renewed.
-------
-9-
c. Proposed uses that would cause irreversible modification of the
estuarin^ oi.vlror: ,at caculd be approached with extreme caution.
The strict application of these or similar precepts by planners in the
coactal zone would guarantee the continuance of the ecological values
ol the estuarine resource. Future use planning of California's estuarine
reL\,urcc rri.st certainly recognize its ecological values if fish and wildlife
species deper lent thereon are to survive.
5. What system of management—social^ state and federal will best provide for
development and protection of our estuarine resources?
The basis for any system of estuarine preservation must include planning
which considers all interests of the people in the estuarine environment.
A eomprehercive area plan which encompasses not only the estuarine resource
area, itself but -ilso the area within the influence of the resource, should
r-o the basis £~JT proper use and development of California's estuarine
resource.
Such planning can be carried out at any level of government, the selection of
which would depend upon the nature of governments having jurisdiction in the
resource area.
The planning agency could be a county or city planning department having
complete juricdiction over tne use and development of the estuarine resources
in its area, or the planning agency could represent quite a complex cross
rnction of governments, all having a planning interest in the resource area.
Ar. sample of njch an agency is the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Develop-
ment Commission, which was established by the California Legislature to prepare
and submit a plan for San Francisco Bay. The report to the Legislature
recommends that a governmental agency be created to carry out the "Bay Plan."
This plan does include the interests of all the people in the Bay area and in
California. However, in this case any meaningful action to properly plan for
the area had to be initiated by the State Legislature because of the many
levels of governments involved.
Even though the governmental makeup at Morro Bay area was considerably less
than that, of San Francisco Bay, the people requested legislation to
State government to identify the resource values for Morro Bay and to
recommend measures for its protection. The Morro Bay report recommended to
tne Legislature that a comprehensive area plan be developed for the Morro Bay
arei. Cuch a plan is now in process of being prepared by the County of San
•Ar- Obison with input from the California Department of Fish and Game among
otiiors.
On a statewide level, California has taken a big step forward in estuarine
rFsouro<-> -rr terror by virtue of legislation in 1967 establishing the California
Advisory Concussion on Marine and Coastal Resources and requiring the preparation
of a "California Comprehensive Ocean Area Plan." The Resources Agency, among
many otuer state and local agencies, will be a major contributor to this plan.
-------
-1C-
-9-
The State Legislature has also ordered the State Resources Agency to
formulate a plan to provide for the conservation of waterways of the
State possessed of extraordinary scenic, fishery, wildlife or outdoor
recreation values. Waterways, as defined in the Act, are bays, estuaries,
marshes, wetlands, lagoons, streams, channels, lakes and reservoirs.
The above planning actions, whether state or locally sponsored, reflect
public concern over the estuarine resource of our State. We are optimistic
that both San Francisco Bay and Delta and Morro Bay will have benefited
greatly from legislative action requiring long-range planning.
There are other ecologically important estuarine areas in the state in need
of long-range planning. State legislation requiring such planning for the
estuar ine resource applied uniformily throughout the state would be of great
assistance in assuring that the best uses are made of these areas.
This Department, which has been involved in the formulation of comprenensive
planning for San Francisco Bay and Morro Bay and will be a major contributor
to the State's Comprehensive Ocean Area Plan and is now preparing fish and
wildlife species plans together with the necessary documentation of fish and
wildlife values for each estuarine area. These species plans will form a
basis for recognizing the resource values by area planning agencies.
Once fish and wildlife plans have been prepared for an area, implementing
such plans or incorporating them into area plans will be the responsibility
of the local planning agency, be it a BCDC or a local governmental planning
department. In addition to considering fish and wildlife values of the estuarine
resource, each planning gjency should be guided by the three precepts as
previously outlined.
In addition to the area planning initiated at all levels of government, the
following actions should also receive consideration as a means of estuarine
resource management:
a. Establishment of a nationwide "Estuarine System" that protects
important estuaries. States should be encouraged to develop
their own Estuarine Protection Plans.
b. "Open Space" legislation for estuarine areas which would provide
a tax break for private lands in high value areas. Guarantees
should be required that land would remain undeveloped for a
specified period.
c. Legislation at the State level which would stimulate local
planning agencies to formulate comprehensive area plans for
their estuarine areas. Such plans to provide adequate considera-
tion for the natural resource values and subject to state review.
-------
-i :-
-10-
d. Legislation which would provide for Resources Agency review of
any -.reposed dredging or filling operation affecting the
pr.tuai'i'ip resource with power of regulating ouch dredging
and filling. Similar legislation has been effected by several
eastern states with success.
c. Legislative provisions to acquire tliose lands in private ownership
which have high ecological value or compensate the owner for
imposing USP limitations on his property.
Most Irrnortant, however, are efforts which will make available to the public
and planning ^t"?:.c~;pr: factual information from which decisions can be made
that consider the total value of an estuarine area.
-------
-12-
State of California
Resources Agency
Department of Fish and Game
STATUS REPORT ON THE COASTAL WETLANDS
OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
AS OF
FEBRUARY 1, 19^9
-------
-M-
TABLE 01'' COHl'EkTS
Introduction .............................. i
Location Map .............................. 1
SAIITA BARBARA COUNTY
Goleta Slouch ............................. 2
Carpintcria Marsh (El Estero) ..................... h
VENTURA COUNTY
Kugu Lagoon .............................. 5
ORANGE COUNTY
Anaheim Bay, Bolsa Bay, Huntington Harbor ............... 6
Upper Newport Bay ........................... 8
Irvine Ifcrsh .............................. 10
SAN DIEGO COUNTY
San Matco Creek ............ . ............... 11
Santa Margarita River ......................... 12
Buena Vista Lagoon ........................... 1^
Batiquitos Lagoon ........................... 15
San Elijo Lagoon ............................ 16
Los Penasquitos ............................ 18
San Diego Bay ............................. 20
Tia Juana River ............................ 22
OTHER COASTAL WETLANL3
Santa Barbara County .......................... 2k
Santa Maria River
Santa Ynez River
Devercaux Ranch Le.goon
Goleta Pt. Marsh
Ventura County .......................... ... 25
Mouth of Ventura River
Los Angeles County ............... .... ........ 26
Malibu Pt.
San Diego County ............................ 27
San Dieguito (Del Mar)
Aqua nedionda Lagoon
San Luis Rey River
Loma Alta
Mission Bay
Canyon de las Encinas
OTHER COAST4.L WETLANDS
Minimum Information Available ..................... 29
Santa Clara River Ballona Creek
Colorado Lagoon Bixby Slough
Sweetvater Dorainguez Channel
Los Flores Santa Ar.a River
McGrath Lake San Juan Creek
-------
-u-
STATU3 RKPORT ON THE COASTAL WETIAIJDS
OF COUliiFJRN CALIFORNIA
AS OF
FEBRUARY 1, 1969
This report summarizes the Department's present knowledge of the ecological
values, land ownership, and proposed plans for coastal wetland areas in
southern California. The Dspartment's current bay and estuary study and
shorebird study as completed, will update the information presented here.
The Department's present bay and estuary study program in southern California
includes Goleta Slough, Pt. Mugu, Anaheim Bay, Upper Newport Bay and Los
Penasquitos Lagoon. As studies on these areas are completed, other areas of
high priority will be included in the program. However, the fact that an
area is not now included in the study program does not preclude the Departnent
from taking appropriate action to preserve the area's ecological integrity
from an immediate threat. Reviews are made of proposed projects that may
affect an estuarine area. Measures to protect and enhance the fish and wild-
life resources within the project area are recommended.
In addition to the Doparti-ont of Fish and Game, there are a number of other
state and federal agencies concerned with the use and develop.-out of coastal
wetlands and are carrying out various studies and investigations. In brief,
they include;
1. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, U. S. Department of the
Interior
This Bureau has been assigned the responsibility of implementing
the provisions of H. R. 25, the Estuarine Bill, which was enacted
in 1968. The new law requires the Bureau to inventory and study
the estuarine resource of the nation and recommend measures for its
preservation. Congress has requested a report by January 1970. The
Department of Fish and Game will be a major contributor of data con-
cerning California to the Bureau's study.
2. Federal Water Pollution Control Administration
A study of estuarine pollution is now being conducted by this agency.
A report to Congress of FWPCA findings on estuarine pollution prob-
lems along with recommendations is to be submitted by November 19^9-
The Departnent of Fish and Game has provided much information for the
FWPCA study.
3- California Department of Parks and Recreation
Their long range plans call for acquisition of ecological areas to
represent various natural environments throughout the State. This
would include coastal wetlands. The Department is now in the pro-
cess of classifying the entire coastaline into various types of
beach. In addition a detailed land ownership of the coast is being
prepared. The emphasis of this particular study is on recreation
use areas of the beach. However, ecological data for all estuarine
areas supplied by the Department of Fish and Game will be included
in the coastline study report.
2/13/69
-------
-15-
H. Sl-vte Lands Divir.lon
The Division in responsible for administering the state-owned tide
and subperced lan-lr, along California's coastline. Much of this type
of land, valuable to fish and wildlife, has already been grc.nted to
local agencies for development. However, for those lands still in
rtate ov.y-rrhip, the Division has recently requested various state
agencies to list the types of uses that would be most dancing to
the resource they are concerned with which are found on such lands.
The Department of Fish and Game will request that all coastal wet-
land important to fish and wildlife be preserved in a natural condi-
tion.
5. Wildlife Conservation Board
Th" WiHlife Cor.".'>rvr.tion Board has made previous purveys of coastal
acc:-ir;s (R. G. SUirges, 1957) and southern California lagoons
(L. H. Carpelan, 1960).
The Board is actively interested as a capital out') / source in pre-
serving key coastal wetlands for ecological reserves and public
access a,.J recreation by acquisition end limited development. They
hnv^ r.tr'te and federal funds at their corimand to accomplish this
goal. Til/- hoard has state funds in the form of $7^0,000 annually
frou. the state's share of pnri-mutuel revenues derived fro-n wagers
on horr.ern.r»ing and federal funds from thn Land and Water Conservation
Act.
(', F!1" source:; A.:tney
Is a result of Legislation in l-96j, the Governor was fivcn the task
r." prer.">rinc a Cornprehc-rsive Ocean Area Plan which v,-; 11 include the
cnar.tal wtlands resource. Development of the plan vill be coordi-
nated by TCOR (intera^oncy Council on Ocean Resoiv ~-:-s) and the
Resource.- Acency will be a inajor contributor to the plan. No dead-
line has been sei_~£©r~~thc completion of the plan.
In 19^3, the Protected V.'aterways Act assigned the Resources Agency
the responsibility of identifying water-ways in California having
outstanding scenic, wildlife, fishery or recreational qualities and
preparing a plan for the preservation of such waterways. Bays,
estuaries, marshes and wetlands are defined as waterways in the
Act. A report identifying such waterways and recommending means for
their preservation is due to the legislature by January 8, 1971•
Following are brief summaries of each coastal wetland in Santa Barbara, Ven-
tura, Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties. Those areas of lesser
iMrnrt.-.nce were treated in less detail and are grouped at the end under the
heading, 'V/ther Coastal Wetlands."
ii
-------
SOUTifl'MI CALIFORNIA COASTAL WETLAI1D3 LOCATION MAP
-16-
1 Santa Maria River
2 Sauta Ynez River
3 Devercaux Ranch Lagoon
!«• Goleia Point Marsh
5 Goleta Slough
6 Carpintcria Marsh
7 Ventura River
8 Mugu Lagoon
9 Malibu Point
10 Anaheim Bay, Bolsa Bay and Huntingtcr, F.vrbor
11 Upper Newport
12 Irvine Marsh
13 San Mateo Creek
llf Santa Margarita River
15 San Luis Rey River
16 Lorr.a Alta
17 Buena Vista Lagoon
18 Aqua Hedionda Lagoon
19 Canyon de las Encinas
20 Batiquitos Lagoon
21 San Elijo Lagoon
22 San Dieguito
23 Los Penanquitos Lagoon
2U Mission Bay
25 San Diego Bay
26 Tia Juana River
-------
-17-
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
Goleta Slouch
The Area
Goleta Slough is located between the Santa Barbara County Airport and the
Pacific Ocean and is almost totally owned by the City of Santa Barbara. The
march area comprises about 250 acres. During the wet mouths, almost the
entire area is flooded—the water backing up behind the sand spit at the
mouth of the lagoon. Flood waters break the barrier each year allowing
tidal retion in the lover part of the lagoon. The upper half of the marsh
is diked off and tide gates prevent tidal waters from entering this section.
Therefore, this area becomes dry during the summer end remains so until the
first fall rains. Mosquito abatement is the reason given for controlling
the water.
WildlifeValues
Over 75 specie; of birds have been identified on Goleta Slough. Ducks and
cootr havr bf:T r^coi. !>T: in the higher/I numbers. Shorebird use is also
substantial. It is estimated th"t the area receives about ^50,000 bird
days use annually. The major loss of marsh habitat can be attributed to
construction (filling) of the airport. Because of the airport and other
alterations of the nnrsh its effectiveness to support wildlife has been
reduced by 50 percent.
Human Use
Hunting is not allowed on the marsh and there is very little fishing activity.
The area's greatest prt^rfi^l i~ for ncT^rpvorriative unes such as birdwatch-
ing, photography and ecological (nature) study. Grammar schools, high schools,
colleges and nature groups all utilize the natural values of the marsh. The
University of California at Santa Barbara alms has 12 classes in the biology
department which use the ir.n^sh as a nature1.! laboratory. The members of the
Aurhihnn Society in Santa Eaibara (250) make about 10 trips each year to the
marsh. A number of high schools and grammar schools utilize the marsh in
their biolorcy studies.
1. Corps of Engineers original proposal to channelize the lagoon has been
modified—the channel will end at the upper end of the marsh area.
2. City of Santa Barb^^a - The mcyor has a plan for developing the slough
into a recreation lake. The city council has not adopted this plan as
yet. The city is also considering developing the area into a golf course.
3- Division of Highways - The Division has plans to extend the Ward Memor-
ial Freeway to serve the University of California at Santa Barbara. The
2/13/69
-------
-18-
right-of-vay will cross the slough. The Department of Fish and Game has
been negotiating with the Division of Highways to mitigate the loss of
habitat.
Goleta Slough is one of the eleven high priority coastal wetlands areas
included in the Department's estuarine study and planning program.
-------
-19-
Carpinteria Marsh (El Estero)
The Area
Carpinteria Marsh is located 10 miles south of Santa Barbara, between the
City of Carpinteria and the Pacific Ocean in Santa Barbara County. The
estuary supports a 200-acres salt marsh. At low tide mud banks and flats
are exposed, ideal for feeding shorebirds. The predominate vegetation is
pickleweed with small amounts of alkali bulrush and cattail in the south-
eastern portion of the marsh, influenced by freshwater from Franklin Creek.
The main channel is kept clear of sand and mud to allow tidal action and to
permit flood flows to readily pass through the marsh.
The entire marsh is privately owned. One hundred and thirty-five acres is
owned by the Title Insurance and Trust Company. The Company is composed of
10 landowners. Another 38 acres is owned by the Sandyland Protective Associ-
ation, composed of a number of individuals. The members of the Company and
the Association have formed their respective groups for the purpose of pre-
serving the marsh in its present state as a buffer from urban encroachment.
Wildlife Values
In excess of 120 species of birds have been seen on the marsh. From November
to May the marsh has received an estimated 170,000 bird days use. El Estero
is one of the three remaining marshes of major importance in Santa Barbara
and Ventura counties. The marsh area has not been appreciably altered by man
to date and still remains virtually 100 percent effective in supporting wild-
life.
Human Use
Very limited because the area is entirely privately owned and patrolled. The
marsh now serves as a buffer against encroaching developments and provides
privacy to the residential development along the shoreline.
Action to Preserve Area
The Department has been negotiating with some of the landowners who have con-
sidered deeding the land to the Department. However, before this can be
accomplished all owners in the trust companies must agree to this action. As
yet unanimous approval to such a proposal has not been obtained.
The county has recently developed an approved master plan which shows the
Carpinteria Marsh area as a marina. If Department negotiations fail, it is
likely that the area will eventually be developed in accordance with the
county's plan.
This area was not included in the Department's estuarine study because of the
ongoing negotiations to place the area in public ownership.
2/13/69
-------
-20-
VENTURA COUNTY
Mugu Lagoon
The Area
Mugu Lagoon is located 17 miles south of Ventura and 50 miles north of Los
Angeles and is within the boundary of the Point Mugu Naval Air Station. This
federally owned area is one of the few true estuaries in California. Approxi-
mately 2,100 acres of the area can be classed as marsh, being subjected to
varying degrees of tidal action. Of this acreage about 250 acres is inundated
at all tunes comprising the deeper channels.
Wildlife Value£
It is estimated that in excess of 120 species of birds are utilizing the rnarsh.
More observations will have to be made to identify all the species which utilize
this area and to determine bird days use. The effectiveness of this lagoon in
supporting fish and wildlife has not been appreciably reduced. Most of the
developments have been made on high ground. It is estimated that area retains
about 80 percent of its wildlife supporting capability.
Human Use
The lagoon has been used by the Navy to study porpoises and sea lions. Also
various universities, colleges and high schools have used the area for research
and study of the estuaririe environment.
Waterfowl hunting is permitted, but limited to base personnel, both military
and civilian. Detailed regulations to control hunting on the base are issued
each year.
Proposed Developments
The Division of Highways is planning to improve or realign Highway 101A. This
improvement will probably involve lands within the marsh. Highways plans
should be closely monitored.
Close liaison should also be maintained with the Navy to keep abreast of any
plans they or others may have for the area.
Preservation Measures
The Department has prepared a Wildlife Management Plan for the base which
states that the primary fish and wildlife objective is the preservation of
the, marsh habitat. If the lagoon is no longer of military use, every effort
will be made to retain the area in public ownership.
2/13/69
-------
-21-
ORANGE COUOTY
Anaheim Bay, Bolsa Bay, Huntington Harbor
The Area
This coastal wetland complex is located immediately southeast of Long Beach.
Those areas now designated as Anaheim Bay, Bolsa Bay and Huntington Harbor
were once part of a large estuary having its opening to the sea at the present
location of Anaheim Bay. Huntington Harbor still is connected by channel to
Anaheim Bay. However, a large part of Bolsa Bay has been cut off from the
main channel by a road fill.
The complex contains about 5>000 acres of marsh and tidelands in various
stages of alteration by man. Only about 2,800 acres exist in an unaltered
condition. Marshlands within Huntington Harbor, for all practical purposes,
have been completely destroyed by a marina and residential development.
Marshlands in Bolsa Bay (Bolsa Chica) comprise about 1,200 to 1,500 acres
and are crisscrossed by roads to the oil and gas wells dotting the area.
The main part of the unaltered marsh, Anaheim Bay, is contained within the
Naval Weapons Station. Even though these lands are in federal ovmership,
their undeveloped status is not safe because of constant public pressure to
displace the Navy.
Wildlife Values
Over 150 species of birds have been seen on the area. Of this number, about
100 species are seen regularly on the marsh. It is estimated that the area
receives 720,000 duck days use annually, most of which occurs during the
period mid-September to mid-March. Several hundred ducks are resident,
utilizing the area year around. Shorebird use is greater than duck use. It
is estimated that shorebird use is "three million days use annually. The
decrease in effectiveness of the area to support fish and wildlife is esti-
mated to be 50 percent. Only a remnant of undisturbed marsh still exists.
A 6'tO-acre block of this marsh is on Navy property. However, the adopted
freeway through the marsh and the Orange County marina will further reduce
this to about half its present size.
Human Use
Use of the area is now mainly limited to nonappropriative users. However,
at one time the area supported one. of the finest end most exclusive waterfowl
hunting clubs in the nation, but which eventually yielded to urban growth.
Duck hunting continues on some of the marsh but is very limited. The area
is also used by sport fishermen, but on a limited scale as the Navy is highly
selective in granting fishing permits.
Planned Developments.
The Orange County Department of Parks and Recreation has obtained a portion
of Anaheim Bay from the Navy for development of a marina park now under
2/13/69
-------
-22-
con^truction. In addition there is continued public pressure for complete
removal of the Navy base. The County Parks and Recreation Department is
seeking another parcel from the Navy for development.
An adopted freevay route through the Anaheim marsh will further reduce its
size and effectiveness for wildlife. However, the acreage to be filled for
the freeway has not been calculated.
Huntington Harbor is being fully developed with bulkheads eliminating all
marshland.
The southern portion of Bolsa Chica includes oil pumping operations which
have preserved a portion of tte imrsh in a near natural condition. However,
land developers are continuing in their attempts to obtain these lands. A
Division of Highways map designates this area as "Proposed Bolsa Chica
Marina."
Orange County has considered construction of an offshore marina in front of
Bolsa Chica State Beach and at some point opening a channel into the Bolsa
Chica marsh. This is p^rt of a large complex involving Bolsa Island (arti-
ficial) for electrical power and desalting purposes, in addition to a cause-
way, expansion of state park parking facilities, etc.
Preservation Measures
This complex is one of the 11 priority areas selected for study by the
Department. The fact that a pert of the area is in federal ownership allows
some time for completing a plan of action before ths land status is apt to
change. A fish and wildlife plan for the Navy base is now being prepared.
-------
-23-
Upper Newport Bay
The Area
Newport and Upper Newport Bay are located within the greater Los Angeles
metropolitan area in Orange County. The Upper portion of the bay is approxi-
mately 1,500 acres in size, the majority of which is open water. There are
approximately 600 acres in marsh or tidelands. Several islands in the 3-5
mile-long channel comprise the majority of the marsh. Ownership of the Bay
is divided between the Irvine Company and State Lands granted to Orange County.
Wildlife Values
Sample bird counts taken in January-February 1968 revealed & high of 37,000
birds on the area, at one time. From the several counts taken during this
period it is calculated that the area supports about 3-jj- million birds during
the period September to mid-March. Another one million bird days use is
estimated for the remainder of the year bringing the annual total to l\~ mil-
lion bird days use. The Department has classified 82 species utilizing the
area during a four-month period, however, it is thought that the species list
would include as ;nany species as listed for Anaheim Bay vhich number 158.
The Upper Bay has remained relatively undeveloped, thereby maintaining most
of its supporting value for fish and wildlife.
Human Use
Human use of the resources is limited to nonappropriative uses such as bird-
watching and photography. Even though there is no legal access to much of
the Bay shore, access over Irvine Company lands to the Upper Bay has not been
denied. No quantitative assessment of use has been made by the Department.
Proposed Developments
The immediate threats to the Upper Bay are the planned developments by Orange
County and the Irvine Company which will be made by a proposed exchange of
lands between the County and the Irvine Company who own or control all land
around and within the Bay.
The proposed developments will completely destroy the marsh and tidelands
upon which numerous shorebirds are dependent upon for food and cover. Loss
of this habitat will displace the shorebirds now living in Upper Newport
Bay. The open water would still be utilized by waterfowl as a resting area,
however, the total numbers of birds utilizing the Bay would be reduced to a
fraction of the numbers now present. The clapper rail, now considered an
endangered species would be displaced from another segment of its critical
habitat.
Preservation Measures
Upper Newport Bay, including the Irvine or San Joaquin Marsh to the east of
the Bay, is included in the Department's bay and estuary studies and planning
2/13/69
-------
-24-
progrfiin. Apparently at this time there is. still a question regarding the
finality of the land exchange. On this basic the Department is proceeding
with its studies to docu.,out the fish and wildlife values of the Bay. There
is also considerable local intorest in preserving the Bay from University
people and local conservation groups such as "Friends of Newport Bay."
The County in a hearing before the State Lands Commission has agreed to clear
its plans for Upper Newport Bay with the Resources Agency.
-------
-25-
Irvine Marsh
The Area
The marsh is located within the Newport Bay drainage in Orange County,
approximately one-half mile easterly from the Newport back bay. It is
approximately 150 acres in size and is composed of a series 6f open water
ponds and a marsh. The marsh Vegetation includes willows, bacchari's, tree
tobacco, cattail and tules. Annual flooding of the ponds by the duck club
is the source of water. The land is owned by the Irvine Company.
Wildlife Values
The San Joaquin Marsh is one of the richest wildlife areas in Orange County.
Fall and winter populations of waterfowl have included daily numbers of 5,000
to 10,000 ducks and 200 to 300 geese. The area supports at least 360,000
duck days use annually.
Many of the same species occurring on Newport Bay can also be observed on the
San Joaquin Marsh. In addition to the water-associated species, pheasants,
valley quail, rabbits, raccoons and deer live in the Marsh. Many bird species
nest in the Marsh.
Human Use
The Marsh is presently operated by the San Joaquin Gun Club as a waterfowl
hunting area, comprising the major use of the wildlife resource. Birdwatchers
can observe the birdlife of the Marsh from its outer edges.
Development Plans
The Irvine planning staff has designated this area as a wildlife preserve.
Soil tests show that the peat soils would be too costly to prepare prior to
any building on the area. The company may be willing to sell the property
as a wildlife area. The University has indicated an interest in administrat-
ing the Marsh as a natural area and is attempting to purchase it.
However, though no plans have been made public, the area could be easily
dredged for an extension of Upper Newport Bay, an excellent site for a marina.
This may be considered if the Irvine Company-Orange County land exchange in
Newport Bay is consummated.
The area is included within the Upper Newport Bay study area of the Department's
bay and estuary program.
2/13/69 10
-------
-26-
SAN DIEGO COUNTY
San Mateo Creek
The Area
The last 2,000 feet of San Mateo Creek before it enters the ocean could bo
classed as a lagoon. It is located at the northerly boundary of Camp Pendle-
ton and is now federally owned. The lagoon and marsh total about 125 acres
most of which is densely vegetated with tules and willows. San Kateo Creek
only flows intermittently during the rainy season. The sandbar at the mouth
of the creek ic rarely breached. Surfing conditions in this area are considered
to be some of the best in California.
Wildlife Values
The Department has not made any bird counts in this area or otherwise docu-
mented the wildlife values. Because of the dense vegetation, the area would
be quite valuable to the secretive shorebird species such as rails and galli-
nules. The area has been traversed by a railroad and a freeway which has
reduced the original riparian habitat by about 20 percent to 25 percent.
Human Use
The area is within Camp Pendleton and has been used under a lease or permit
by a surfing club.
Planned Developments
The Department of Parks and Recreation has planned a park for the entire
lagoon and marsh area (San Onofre Project). A drawing dated December 3, 1968
shows the entire area east of the railroad tracks developed for camping and
parking. The vegetation between the tracks and the ocean is shown as remain-
ing undisturbed. The San Onofre project is budgeted for 1970-71. If the
area is developed as shown on the preliminary general development plan, much
of the area's value to wildlife will be destroyed.
Preservation Measures
The Department of Fish and Game has requested that the park plans be altered
to protect and preserve a portion of the area for wildlife.
2/13/69
-------
-27-
Santa Margarita. River
The,' Area
This wetland area is located about two miles north of Ocee.nside on Camp
Pendleton Marine Corps Base. The lagoon, freshv,rater ponds and marsh total
about 800 acres, all of which is in federal ownership. The slough area
extends inland from the ocean about one mile. Across its mouth, the lagoon
is more than a mile wide. It is blocked from the ocean by a sandybeach
which is breached only infrequently during flood flows in the Santa Margarita
River. The lower portion of the wetland area has been used by the marines as
a heavy equipment training ground. These maneuvers have eliminated the
vegetation on about 300 acres of land located between the freeway and the
ocean. Two sewage treatment plants serving portions of Cajnp Pendleton dis-
charge secondary effluent directly into the lagoon, presently amounting to
about 250,000 gallons per day; but this volume will be substantially reduced
or eliminated in the future. A plan whereby effluent will be pumped upstream
in the Santa Margarita River for ground water recharge, as part of the overall
waste water reclamation program of Craip Pendleton, is being studied at the
present time.
Wildlife Values
It has been roughly estimated that the coastal wetlands of the entire Marine
Base supports about one million bird days use of all water-associated species.
Most of this use would occur on the Santa Margarita River area. Bird counts
have been scheduled to be made by the Audubon Society and other interested
groups during the fall, winter and spring of 1968-69. The loss of vegetation
on about 300 acres of coastal wetland has certainly decreased the ability of
the area to support wildlife, however, the sewage effluent discharged into
the lagoon has probably enhanced the original condition of the area as a
whole by providing a stable source of water.
Human Use
Public use is restricted to surf-fishing by permission. If the area is
developed for wildlife as proposed, overlooks for viewing the marsh and its
birdlife will be provided for public use. The lagoon is presently visible
to the public from Interstate Highway 5 and from the railroad.
Proposed Developments
The Department has prepared plans for improvement of the Santa Margarita
wetlands, which have been included in Camp Pendleton1s budget request. A
major part of the plan calls for the rejuvination of the 300-acre area now
denuded of vegetation. There are no known proposed plans to develop the
area for purposes other than wildlife with the exception of possible con-
struction of holding basins, upstream of theiiarsh for disposal of sewage
effluent. There is, however, increasing local pressure to force the Navy to
abandon its existing port alongside Oceanside Harbor and develop a new harbor
at the Santa Margarita mouth. The city would then occupy the existing Navy
port.
2/13/69 12
-------
-28-
Preservation Measures
Tbe Department has requested that Military Services preserve all coastal
wetlands located on military lands. The Department has prepared a fish and
wildlife plan for Camp Pendleton which included proposals for the preserva-
tion and enhancement of coastal wetlands.
13
-------
-29-
Bucna Vista Lagoon
The Area
The lagoon is located immediately north of the City of Carlsbad and about 33
miles north of San Diego in San Diego County. A 7H-acre portion of the
lagoon is ouued by The Nature Conservancy with plans to lease it to the
Department of Fish and Game. Possible acquic&ion of an additional 65 acres
is being explored that would add to the jh~a.cre portion owned presently by
The Nature Conservancy. The two parcels mentioned above are mostly open
water. This is one of the few freshwater lagoons remaining on the Pacific
Flyway. The water depth varies from a few inches to six feet. A few low
islands and a minimum shoreline provide vegetation, feeding, nesting and
resting areas for land and shorebirds. A sandbar forms an ocean beach across
the mouth of the lagoon, breached only infrequently by high tides or flood-
waters. The present water source consists of annual watershed runoff, and
agricultural waste water. Additional sources of water may be needed to main-
tain the lagoon in dry years.
Wildlife Values
The wildlife values of the lagoon are nationally known and have been recorded
in documents and literature over a period of years. Nearly 200 species of
birds use its land and water environs. In 1950 a study for the Wildlife Con-
servation Board reported "concentrations of 60,000-70,000 ducks use the
lagoon." Recent developments requiring the filling of the marsh lands in
the upper part of the lagoon have to some extent decreased the wildlife-
carrying capacity of the lagoon. It is estimated that the lagoon has lost
about 25 percent of its original value for wildlife to commercial development.
Human Use
This is one of the foremost birding areas in southern California. Easy
access from the freeway, bisecting the area has encouraged high use by pass-
ing tourists. The area is proposed to be designated as an Ecological Reserve.
Regulations for ecological reserves limit use of such areas to nonappropria-
tive uses except that fishing and scientific collecting by permit is allowed.
Planned Developments
The land presently in private ownership with the exception of the Palomar
Savings and Loan propoerty, will eventually be developed (filled). A 35-acre
parcel at the upper end of the lagoon has been offered for sale to conserva-
tion interests for an exorbitant price. The Department may, in the future,
improve the wildlife capacity of the lagoon by constructing additional
islands.
2/13/69
-------
-30-
Batiquitos Lagoon
The Area
Batiquitos Lagoon is located in San Diego County about 27 miles north of San
Diego and three miles couth of Cnrlnbad. The lagoon is approximately ^75
acres in size. The area can be classed as a seasonal marsh since mpst of it
becomes dry in the summer. In appearance, the lagoon resembles a sterile
salt flat for most of the year. When inundated, the lagoon resembles a
lake, although its actual depth may be only a few inches. During the dry
period, several ponds usually remain in the westerly end of the lagoon near
the Pacific Coast Highway, Santa Fe Railway, and Interstate Highway 5, all
of which traverse the section near the coast. The lagoon extends inland
for about lH,000 feet and has a maximum width of 2,800 feet and an average
width of 1,700 feet. The bar blocking the lagoon from direct tidal inter-
change is rarely breached; only the action of extreme high tides, storms,
runoff or deliberate removal of sand by man results in outflows or inflow
of water. The lagoon is privately owned, the major portion of which is
owned by Metcalf Properties and the Rancho La Costa Corporation.
Wildlife Values
Very little data has been gathered to document the wildlife value of this
area. However, it is reasonable to assume that this area would get consid-
erable use during the winter months from migrating waterfovl and shorebirds.
With few exceptions, the species recorded for Buena Vista Lagoon in San
Diego County would also apply to Batiquitos Lagoon. The entire lagoon is still
in a natural condition other than being traversed by a railroad and two highways.
Human Use
No use figures have been compiled for this area. The area, if preserved for
wildlife, would serve public best as an area for birdwatching, photography
and nature study rather than for consumptive uses.
Planned Developments
A multimillion dollar residential development is now under construction
easterly of the lagoon and overlooking it. The Metcalf Properties at the
seward end of the lagoon have been evaluated by a harbor enginerring con-
sultant firm for possible development as a marina and residential complex.
The engineering report made in 1963 points out that development of the area
into a marina will be quite costly because of the necessity to raise or
remove the old Highway 101 bridge to allow boats access to the sea.
As time elapses the demand for waterfront properties will make the proposed
development feasible.
Preservation Measures
This area is not presently under study and planning by the Department but
will be treated as studies are completed on other bays and estuaries.
2/13/69 15
-------
-31-
San Elijo Lagoon
The Area
San Elijo Lagoon is located three miles north of Del Mar and 22 miles north
of San Diego in San Diego County. The marsh and lagoon at the lower end of
Escondido Creek is approximately 500 acres in size and extends inland about
2^ miles. The marsh vegetation is supported by sewage discharge from Cardiff,
Solano Beach and Escondido. In the near future Cardiff and Solano Beach will
discharge their effluent into the ocean and Escondido plans to reclaim its
effluent. The marsh cannot be maintained at its present size without the
sewage discharges or other source of water. The mouth of the lagoon is
normally blocked by a sandbar maintained by wave action. The bar is broken
to permit drainage of the lagoon and tidal interchange only by extremely
high tides, ocean storms, heavy or sustained runoff from inland sources or
deliberately by man. Most recent openings have been as the result of planned
breaching of the bar. The property of the lagoon is entirely in private
ownership.
Wildlife Values
The upper end of the lagoon supports a duck club which is still active. A
bird species list has been compiled by members of the Audubon Society and
appears in a report "The Eutrophication of San Elijo Lagoon" published by
the Resources Agency and San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Boa7-d.
Periodic counts made on the area indicate that waterfowl and shorebirds
utilize this area most heavily during the fall of the year. For complete
documentation of the wildlife values of this area, more studies are needed.
However, because of the large size of San Elijo Lagoon and the lush vegeta-
tion it supports, this area is one of the finest wildlife areas in San Diego
County. Since San Elijo lagoon has been virtually unaltered by man it still
retains about 90 percent of its effectiveness to support wildlife.
Human Use
The lagoon and its wildlife are now enjoyed by nearby residents, beach visitors
and the millions who traverse it via highway. Duck hunting is still enjoyed
on a duck club at the upper end of the lagoon.
Planned Developments
The Cardiff Development Company of Newport Beach has planned a marina resi-
dential complex for the lagoon. The mitigate for wildlife losses, the Com-
pany has agreed to set aside one hald an acrea as a wildlife preserve. Appar-
ently the existing marsh habitat now intensely used by waterfowl and shore-
birds has been created artificially by sewage discharges of several communities
into the lagoon. With or without the development of the area by the Cardiff
Company, it has been determined that the lagoon would eventually lose its
wildlife values when the sewage was no longer dumped into the lagoon.
2/13/69 16
-------
-32-
Preservotion Measures
Because of the artificial conditions of the lagoon and the pending plans for
its development, this area has not been included in the Department's estuarine
studies and planning program.
17
-------
-33-
Los Penascmitos
The Area
Los Pennsquitos Lagoon is located 1.5 miles south of Del Mar and about 1?
miles north of San Diego in San Diego County. The acreage of the vetted
portion of the lagoon has varied considerably in the last 10 years,.dependent
upon the sewage discharges and presence or absence of a barrier at the mouth.
In 1958 the wetted portion was about 1? acres. In 1963 it had increased to
about 36 acres, mainly due to increased sewage discharges. In 1968 the wetted
area was calculated at 202 acres. This increase can be attributed primarily
to the fact that the mouth of the lagoon is open permitting tidal action and
secondarily to increased sewage discharges into the lagoon.
The major portion of the marsh including the mouth is owned by the State of
California's Department of Parks and Recreation f.nd is included in the
Torrey Pines State Park. Another sizeable portion of the marsh which adjoins
the State property is owned by the San Diego Gas and Electric Company.
Wildlife Values
Over 70 species of birds have been listed for the marsh. This list, as well
as a detailed listing of all flora and fauna of the area is included in a
"Report on the Biological and Ecological Relationships in Los Penasquitos
Lagoon and Salt March Area of the Torrey Pines State Reserve," by John S.
Bradshaw of the University of San Diego. The report contains so:/;e of the
best data on the fish and wildlife resource obtained for any estuarine area
in California.
Since the mouth of the lagoon has been kept open to tidal action, the fish
and wildlife values have probably increased over what they were 10 years
ago because of the high increase in the wetted area.
Human Use
Since most of the area is within a State park, human use will be limited to
nonappropriative uses, except fishing. Opportunity to view the wildlife
resource in the lagoon fur exceeds the present demand or actual use.
Planned Developments
There are three planned developments which could adversely affect the ecolo-
gical values of the lagoon.
1. A new sewage system will dispose of all effluent in this area through the
San Diego metropolitan sewage system which discharges at Point Loma. When
the new system is completed the present system will be discontinued, end-
ing the contribution of all effluent to the lagoon, and decreasing the
wetted portion at the upper end.
2. Proposed Flood Control Project by Corps of Engineers - The project could
bypass the natural runoff around the lagoon. This project combined with
2/13/69 18
-------
-34-
the sewoge outfrJ.l proposal could cutt off all inflowing fresh water
causing a change in vegetative makeup of marsh and loss of the upper
portion depc-n-lent upon fresh water.
3' Construction of Electric Generating Plant - The proposed plant may
require the filling of a snail portion of the marsh, but more important
would discharge a sufficient quantity of'wanned water to change the
ecology of the marsh. Solutions to this problem are being considered.
Preservation Measures
Los Penasquitos Lagoon is included in the Department's estuarine study and
planning program. In February 1968 a report on the ecology was prepared
for the Department of Parks and Recreation by John S. Bradshaw of the
University of San Diego. This report has added materially to man's knowl-
edge of this logoon. The Department, along with the Torrey Pines Wildlife
Association, will make certain recornnendations to the San Diego Gas and
Electric Co.npany to preserve the present ecology of the lagoon during con-
struction and operation of the proposed electric generating plant. The
Department will also have the opportunity to review the Corps plan and pro-
pose modifications to pi'otect the lagoon.
19
-------
-35-
San Diego Bay
The Area.
Almost the entire tidal portion of the Bay is public ownership; federal, state
and loco,l. A very small portion is privately owir.d rvnd will be developed
into a residential marina complex kno'.m as Coroneto Cays. The Navy.and San
Diego Port District own most of the tide and submerged lands in the Bay. Th3
State owns two small parcels, one of which is leased to a salt company and
the other leased to the Kavy. Both leases run to the 1980*5. Most of the
lands within the bay, subject to tidal action, have been developed (filled)
or will be filled in the near future. The only sizable area having existing
or potential wildlife values, other than water surface, is located in the
southern end of the Bay. This area is now ponded for salt production.
Wildlife Values
The wildlife values for San Diego Bay have not been documented by the Depart-
ment. However, it is believed that bird counts have been made by the Audu-
bon Society and an annual waterfowl count made by Fish and Wildlife Service
personnel. Wildlife values could be considerably ir>.proved by converting
some of the salt pond areas to narsh land.
A study completed recently by Monte N. Kirven of the Museum of natural History,
revealed the importance of South Bay as a nesting area for Elegant Terns.
South Bay ir» one of only two known nesting sites of this species, the other
being P.aza Island in the Gulf of Mexico. South Bay is also inhabited by the
Least Tern which is now on the rare and endangered species list.
Human Use
It is estimated that approximately 75 percent of the marsh surrounding the
bay has been filled reducing the effectiveness of the bay to support wildlife
by approximately 50 percent.
Appropriative use of the wildlife resource is limited to fishing. The major
use of the bird species in the bay will be of a nonappropriative type includ-
ing birdwatching and bird photography.
Planned Developments
The San Diego Port District, the major owner of tidelands in the bay, is
almost finished with their planned filling of tidelands to create land in
the bay. One of the remaining projects requiring fill is located at Chula
Vista. However, before the fill can be made, a layer of mud will have to
be removed. A project of this nature was accomplished in the past by dump-
ing the mud into the Pacific Ocean, however, it proved quite costly. The
Port District has proposed to transport the mud across the Bay to the south-
west shore where a mudflat could be constructed. The Department favors this
concept and is working with the District and the San Diego Museum of Natural
History to design a mudflat for maximum shorebird use.
2/13/69 2°
-------
-36-
Private enterprise is proposing to develop certain areas within the salt poads
in cooperation with the private utility in an effort to grow certain marine
organisms commercially using vc.no. water from the existing power plant as
appropriate.
Preservation Measures
The above mentioned cooperation with the Port District is the first effort
to preserve or enhance the natural values of the Bay. The status of State
property interest in the Bay should be examined. If possible, State pro-
perty should be retained in State ownership and maintained in a natural
condition.
21
-------
-37-
Tia Juana River
The Area
The Tia Juana River estuary is located in the southwest corner of San Diego
County, bounded on the south and west by the Mexico-United States border and
the Pacific Ocean. The wetland area encompasses about 1,000 acres, one of
the largest parcels of true estuarine habitat in southern California.
Ownership of the marsh is both public and private. The Navy's holdings at
Ream Field and Border Field include some marshlands. The State also has
title to some tidelands in the marsh, however, the extent of State ownership
has not been determined. The combined State and federal ownership comprises
only a small portion of the marsh--the majority is in private ownership.
The wetted area is maintained by natural runoff from the Tia Juana River
drainage, sewage effluent and tidal flushing. This is one of the few marsh
areas in southern California subject to continuous tidal action.
Wildlife Values
During the fall, winter and early spring months of 19^7^ members of the
Audubon Society made bimonthly bird counts at established stations in the
estuary. During the seven-month period a total of 9*^7 ducks aiid 131,172
other birds were classified and counted. The area is one of the few tidal
marshes left in California and as such represents an area of major importance
to migrating waterfowl and shorebirds. The area as it presently exists has
not been appreciably altered by man and still retains most of its wildlife
value s.
Human Use
A firearms closure prohibits hunting. Appropriative uses of the area are
limited to fishing and bait collecting. Nonappropriative use opportunity
exceeds present demand.
Planned Developments
A marina residential development is planned for a major portion of the marsh-
lands including the mouth of the estuary which will be dredged out to allow
boat access to the sea. In addition a land exchange between the Navy and
the developer has been proposed. The Navy wants to trade beach frontage
lands adjacent to Border Field for lands owned by the developer adjacent to
Ream Field. The exchange would provide the Navy with a buffer around its
Ream Field operation.
Preservation Measures
The Department has been negotiating with the developer and the City of Imperial
Beach for off-site mitigation of wildlife values lost to the proposed
2/13/69 22
-------
-38-
devclopmont. The city rould provide fxxnds for enhancement of marshland on
Navy property.
The State Department of Purks and Recreation has indicated that it is
interested in obtaining the beach frontage along Border Field from the Navy
for use as a State Park. This is the same area which the Navy proposed to
exchange for lands adjocont to Ream Field.
23
-------
-39-
OTHKR COASTAL WETLANDS
Santa Barbara County
Santa Mar]'a River
The River is located on the Santa Barbara/San Luis OMspo county line about
26 miles south of San Luis Obispo. The marsh area at the mouth of the
River covers about 50 acres. The area is included in the Parks and Recrea-
tion "South Coastal Study." Plane for preserving the area must be coordi-
nated with the Department of Parks and Recreation. Their plans for the area
are scheduled for implementation in about five years (1974).
Santa Yno?. River
Located on Vandenberg Air Force Base, the mouth of the River contains about
100 acres of marsh land. The mouth of the lagoon is opened seasonally during
periods of high water in the river. The Department has dravm up a wildlife
plan for the area on the base. The plan needs to be revised giving additional
management plans for the marsh habitat on the base.
Devereaux Ranch Lagoon
This lagoon is located in the City of Santa Barbara and is the property of
the University of California. Most of the marsh area has already been lost
to urbanization. A portion of the lagoon is now being filled by the Univer-
sity. Even though the remaining area has been designated as a nature reserve,
it would be well to bring to the attention of the Board of Regents the
ecological importance of such areas.
Goleta Pt. Marsh
This area is also the property of the Uniersity of California. It is more
of a small lagoon or lake than a marsh. Its vegetation is influenced by
drainage water from the University more than from the sea. The area has
been designated as a nature reserve by the University.
2/13/69
-------
-40-
Ventura County
Mouth of Ventura River
The area, located adjacent to the Ventura County fairgrounds in Ventura,
contains a small marsh and algoon totalling 10 acres. The mouth of the
river including the lagoon and some marsh is now owned by the county. Also
17.5 acres of river bottom between the freeway and the county park are owned
by the Division of Highways. The Department of Parks and Recreation has
included the Highways land along with several parcels of oceanfront property
in the 1968-69 budget for acquisition as a State park. The county property
will remain in county ownership. The Corps of Engineers is planning a flood
control project for the river. Close contact should be maintained with
Parks and Recreation and the Corps to preserve the wildlife values of this
area.
2/13/69 25
-------
-u-
Los Angeles County
Malibu Pt.
The point at the end of Malibu Creek contains a couple of snail lakes and
some marsh about 15 acres in size. A portion of the point is owned by
Parks and Recreation and another portion is pending acquisition. The two
parcels in Parks o^mership would include most of the important habitat at
the mouth of the creek. Parks and Recreation has proposed to maintain its
present wildlife values. However, a current Corps of Engineers study ir.ay
recommend the lagoon as an ideal site for a small craft harbor. Close
contact should be maintained with Parks and Recreation regarding their
reaction to Corps proposals for the area.
26
2/13/69
-------
-42-
San Diego County
San Dirguito (l)ol Mar)
The In.goon is located adjacent to the Del Mar Race Track. The marsh, most
of which has already been filled, now totals about 150 acres. The area is
privately owned. Sewage effluent plus seasonal runoff supports the marsh.
The opportunity to protecL the remaining wildlife values of this area is
very limited because of the ownership status and planned developments.
Aqua Hcdionda Lagoon
The lagoon is located bct"een Buena Vista and Batiquitos Lagoons within the
City of Carlcbarl. . The piJ.va.tely owned lagoon contains about 3'*-0 acres, 90
of which is marshland. All of the submerged portion of the lagoon is owned
by the San Dieco Gas and Electric Company. Waterskiing is the primary use
of the middle and upper parts of the lagoon. Recreational use of the outer
basin is restricted to fishing from the shore. The area doos not possess
significant wildlife values primarily because it is a deep water lagoon with
a relatively small emount of marsh.
San Luis Rey River
The River borders the City of Oceanside and still possesses about 30 acres
of marsh near the mouth extending inland about one-half mile. Upstream,
the river bottom contains good riparian habitat, the preservation of which
has been included in a recent Corps of Engineers flood control project. A
portion of the riparian vegetation will always be maintained by prescribed
checkerboard clearing of vegetation.
A sandbar at the mouth of the river prevents interchange of tidals except
when the bar is breached during high storm tides, flood flows or by man.
Loma Alta
Located immediately south of Oceanside, the UO-acre marsh area is situated
in the creek bottom. The narrow mouth of the creek is permanently blocked
by a sandbar, breached only during periods of substantial runoff. Periodi-
cally the City of Oceanside drains the slough into the ocean. Wildlife
use has varied, increasing during wet years. The Corps of Engineers is
studying this drainage for flood control needs.
Mission Bay
This area is fully developed as a residential and commercial marina complex.
Most, if not all, wildlife values have been destroyed. Just how much was lost
has not been determined but this will be important from historical standpoint.
The bay was once a major black brant wintering area..
A flood control channel bordering the south edge of Mission Bay, formerly
known as Cudahy Slough,is still providing excellent waterfowl and shorebird
2/13/69
-------
-43-
habitat in its present state. Black brant still congregate and feed where
the channel meets the ocean. There is talk of clearing the vegetation from
this channel to develop it for waterskiing. Any such change should be pre-
vented.
Canyon de las Encinas
This small lagoon is located about four miles south of Carlsbad and 29 miles
north of San Diego. The open water covers about 10 acres. The Corps of
Engineers is studying its flood control needs. This area needs further
investigation.
28
-------
-u-
OTHER COASTAL VffiTLANDS
(Minimum Information Available)
Area Acreage County
Santa Clara River 60 Ventura .
Colorado Lagoon 15 Los Angeles
Sweetvater 100 San Diego
Los Flores 60 San Diego
MaGrath Lake Ventura
Ballona Creek 5°0 Los Angeles
Bixby Slough 200 Los Angeles
Dominguez Channel 100 Los Angeles
Santa Ana River 60 Orange
San Juan Creek Orange
29
-------
-45-
REPORT OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES
OF KORRO BAY
AMD
PROPOSAL FOR COMPREHENSIVE AREA PLAN
Requested by Senate Resolution No. 1?6 in the 1966 First
Extraordinary Session
F/ec ember 1966
EDMUND G. BROWN
GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA
HUGO FISHER
ADMINISTRATOR
THE RESOURCES AGENCY
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
THE RESOURCES AGENCY
DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME
WALTER T. SHANNON, DIRECTOR
Preparation of Report:
James D. Stokes, Planning Officer
Robert W. Lassen, Game Mgmt. Supervisor
Harold Bissell, Marine Biologist IV
Trevenen A. Wright, Game Mgmt. Supervisor
Ray Chapman, Conservation Education
Cliffa Corson, Delineator
-------
-46-
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The following individuals and organizations have contributed much or the
useful information included in this report:
Leonard Penhale, State Park Naturalist, Division of Beaches and Parks
Dr. Aryan I. Roest, Professor, California State Polytechnic College
County of San Luis Obispo
City of Morro Bay
South Bay Civic Association
Morro Coast Audubon Society
Santa Barbara Chapter of the Sierra Club
Arroyo Grande Sport sine ns Club
San Luis Obispo Sportsmens Club
Santa Lucia Sportsmens Club
California Department of Parks and Recreation
California Department of Conservation
California Department of Harbors and Watercraft
California Department of Water Resources
State Lands Division of the Department of General Services
U. S. Army Corps of Engineers
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Department of Fish and Game employees who gathered much of the basic
material are:
Gene L. Gerdes, Wildlife Manager III, Region 3
Russell Goodrich, Warden, Region 3
Harold G. Orcutt, Marine Biologist IV, Marine Resources Operations
Walter A. Dahlstrom, Marine Biologist III, Marine Resources Operations
Daniel J. Miller, Marine Biologist III, Marine Resources Operations
Tom Jow, Marine Biologist III, Marine Resources Operations
-------
-------
-AS-
TABLE OF COIITEliTS
List of Figures
Index to Appendices
Letters of Transmittal
Senate Resolution
Introduction
Summary
Recommendations
Page
v
v
vi
viii
1
3
PART I - Resources
A. Description of Area
B. Ecology
C. Habitat
D. Fisheries
E. Wildlife
F. Land Status
G. Harbor
6
7
8
9
9
10
12
PART II - Uses
A. State Park
B. Sport Fishery
C. Hunting
D. Scientific and Educational
E. Boating
F. Urban
13
1U
15
15
16
17
-------
-49-
G. Industry 17
H. Esthetic and Scenic 20
I. Other 21
PART III - Conflicts in Use 23
PART IV - Development and Implementation of a Comprehensive Plan
A. Planning Method 26
B. Organization for Comprehensive Area Planning 31
C. Implementation 3^
D. Plan Maintenance 36
IV
-------
-50-
LIST OF FIGURES
Page
1. Planning Task Force - Morro Bay Area 33
2. Work Flow Chart 35
INDEX TO APPENDICES
1. Land Statue
2. Wildlife Habitat
3- Clam Locations
U. Oyster Allotments
-------
State of California
Memorandum
The Resources Agency
To : Honorable Huge Fisher
Administrator of Resources
Resources Build"'nc
Ikl6 Ninth Street
Sacramento, California 9581^
Date: December 23, 1966
From : Department of Fish and Game _ Deputy Director
Subject: Report of Natural Resources of Morro Bay and Proposal fru Comprehensive
Area Plan
Attached is the "Report of Natural Resources of Morro Bay and
Proposal for Comprehensive Area Plan."
This report is ior your consideration and further submission
to the Secretary of the Senate in compliance with Senate
Resolution No. 1?6 relating to the preservation of natural
resources in Morro Bay and the surrounding area.
Deput
Attach.
-------
HMOO FISHFR
ADMINISTRATOR
,r •(., "'rent of Conservation
Deportment of fish and Game
Department of Parks and Recreation
Departmnnt of Water R^sourc^s
State Reclamation Board
Statp Water Quality Control Board
Stnte Watpr R.qhts Boo-d
Regional Water Pollution
Control Boards
EDMUND G, BROWN
GOVERNOR OF
CALIFORNIA
-52-
OFFICE OF THE ADMINISTRATOR
RESOURCES BUILDING
1416 NINTH STREET
THE RESOURCES AGENCY OF CALIFORNIA
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA
Honorable J. A. E ^-;.
Secretary cf th" Cer
Statf ^ap^ -1 ?-:ll:!ir..~
Sacramento, C^Ii.'crr.ia
Dear Mr. Eeek:
In accordance "it.-i G^r.ate Resclution ITo. 1?5 we respectfully
submit the attached "Peport of the natural Resources of Morro
Bay and Proposal for Comprehensive Area Plan."
Under separate cover we are seniir.c He copies for distribution
to the Senators.
Sincerely,
Administrator of Resources
Attach.
vi;
-------
-53-
SENATE RESOLUTION I,T0. 1?6
Relative to the preservation of natural resources in Morro Bay
and the surrounding area
(introduced by Senator Fred S. Farr)
WHEREAS, Kor.ro Bay and adjacent marsh areas are of utmost
importance to the people of California because of the fish and
wildlife which inhabit this region throughout the year; and
WHEREAS, The waters of Morro Bay and nearby areas ar" within
the Pacific Flyway and are of the highest importance to preserva-
tion of migratory waterfowl populations; and
WHEREAS, Morro Bay is one of the few remaining locations in
California which still provides habitat for black brant; and
WHEREAS, Nonmigratory waterfowl and shorebirds which inhabit
the Morro Bay area are largely dependent on the nearby marshlands
for survival; and
WHEREAS, The shallow water zones or Morro Bay provide areas
for shellfish culture; and
WHEREAS, Mcrro Bay and nearby areas provide unique scenic
attractions of great esthetic importance to visitors and
residents of the area; and
WHEREAS, The preservation of these fish, wildlife, recreational
and esthetic resources is of great importance to the people of
California, now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate of the State of California, That the
Resources Agency is hereby requested to conduct a study of Morro
Bay and the surrounding area and prepare a plan for the preserva-
tion of the natural resources therein, in cooperation with other
agencies, organizations, and individuals, and to report to the
Senate its findings and the plan on or before the fifth legislative
day of the 196? Regular Session of the Legislature; and be it
further
RESOLVED, Thab the Secretary of the Senate is directed to
transmit a copy of this resolution to the Resources Agency
Administrator.
VI11
-------
-54-
INTRODUCTION
The objectives of this report include:
1. Fulfillment of Senate Resolution Wo.
2. Identification of the natural resource values to be considered
in the development of Morro Bay.
3. Direct attention to the importance of initiating a comprehensive
area plan involving all interests.
U. Suggest actions to develop and implement a comprehensive area plan.
Several planning studies and reports have been completed for Korro Bay.
There are additional planning efforts underway at the present time. Each of
these plans is directed toward one or several interests but none include all
interests.
The Department of Harbors and Watercraft provided planning grant funds
to San Luis Obispo County to study the feasibility of a harbor development
in Morro Bay. One study, by Moffat and Nichols, Engineers, was completed in
I960 and a follow-up report was completed in 1962 by the same organization.
The first report was preliminary in nature and demonstrated the harbor
potential of Morro Bay. The follow-up study updated the first plan and
evaluated the financing possibilities.
In addition, two studies have been completed by the San Luis Obispo
County Planning Department: (l) Morro Bay Harbor General Plan, and (2) Bay-
wood-Los Osos Area Master Plan.
The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers is in the second year of a three-year
study to determine the feasibility of modifying the existing Federal project
-1-
-------
-55-
to prov-'dc £cr improv.-d recreational boating and ccinriercip,l fishing facilities.
Ihe City of Morro iSay has initiated a planning study for haibor develop-
ment in the north cart of the Bay. Federal aid has-been granted for planning
to oe used ^.n part for the harbor plan. Planning consultants have been
retained to accomplish this.
In each of these plans minor attention has been given to the natural
beauty, scenic quality and natural resource values, although these are the
basic values of the whole area. If they are not preserved for future genera-
*•>!*"••, .11 o4hr;' ^In^njr.g is futile.
-------
-56-
SUMMA.RY
Morro Bay and its surrounding area contains natural resource values that
are highly important, not only to the people of Korro Bay but to California
and the nation. The Bay is truly unique and rare because nature has endowed
it with a great variety of fish and wildlife. It is one of the few remaining
unspoiled areas along the California coast that has not lost its natural
endowment. Values closely associated with these natural resources include
scenic beauty, diversified outdoor recreation, scientific and educational
opportunity and other sxicniti?s of the ocean area.
Development plans that have been, or are being, prepared by various
agencies do not give adequate attention to retention of these values. Con-
flicts of use have arisen that are causing concern among all interests. Any
one use that is overdeveloped at the expense of the other uses may cause
irreparable damage to tlie Bay environment.
This has all pointed up the need for a thorough and comprehensive area
plan that will evaluate and consider all interests. The plan needs to be
developed by a representative planning task force headed by San Luis Obispo
County.
A decision-makiag body, such as a "Morro Bay Conservation and Develop-
ment Cotnnission" should be established to resolve conflicts that arise among
proposed users and to assist with solving problems of the Planning Task Force.
The planning group should be encouraged by legislative support and should have
the full cooperation of all agencies and interests concerned. State assistance
and Federal planning funds should be sought to carry out the planning effort.
The plan should be developed and implemented as soon as possible.
-3-
-------
-57-
RECOMMEIIDATIOrrS
Legislative
1. Authorize the organization of State and local groups to proceed with the
orderly development of a comprehensive plan for Morro Bay.
2. Endorse the application of San Luis Obispo County to the State Office of
Planning for Federal planning funds.
3. Establish a "Korro Bay Conservation and Development Commission", a
decision-making body to resolve conflicts and ultimately adopt a
comprehensive plan and submit it to the Legislature. Continue this
group to facilitate maintenance of the plan.
h. Request that all State-owned tide and submerged lands within the Bay be
held from disposal and remain in State ownership until a comprehensive
plan is completed, after which all disposals will be made in conformance
wj Lh the plan.
County jof San Luis Obispo
1. Apply through the State Office of Planning for Federal planning funds.
2. Establish a Planning Task Force, including State and local representatives.
3. Seek public endorsement for planning objectives in the Korro Bay area.
k. Change the Planning Task Force to a Plan Maintenance Committee after
completion of the basic plan.
Planning Task Force
1. Review, analyze and evaluate all existing single-purpose plans.
2. Delineate the planning area.
-------
-58-
3. Develop a comprehensive plan for the uses of the Bay and its resources.
This plan would provide for multiple use with maximum benefits and
minimum costs.
k. Submit unresolved conflicts in uses and planning to the Morro Bay
Conservation and Development Commission for decisions.
5. Submit the proposed comprehensive plan to interested parties for review
and cerement.
6. Submit tue comprehensive fla/i for adoption to the Morro Bay Conservation
and Development Commission.
Morro Bay Conservation and Development Commission
1. Make necessary decisions in plan development.
2. Submit the Morro Bay Comprehensive Area Plan to the Legislature for
information and approval
3- Rely on existing State, county and city organizations and the private
sector for plan implementation.
^. Make plan maintenance decisions aftei the plan has been approved,
Plan Maintenance Committee
1. Provide staff assistance to the Morro Bay Conservation and Development
Commission in evaluating plan modifications.
General Recommendations
1. All appropriate State and local authorities regulate debris and refuse
disposal to protect water quality.
2. Acquire all private tidelands in the southern area of the Bay in public
ownership to insure public access and resource protection.
-------
-59-
PART I
RESOURCES
A. DESCRIPTION OF THE AREA
(See Appendix l)
Morro Bay, a small scenic coastal bay in central San Luis Obispo County,
is the only naturally landlocked harbor between San Francisco and San Diego.
It is formed by the estuaries of Chorro Creek and Los Osoe Creek, and is
separated from Estero Bay by an elongated sand spit. Morro Rock, a volcanic
plug, marks the entrance to the Bay.
Within this relatively small geographic area, almost every type of ocean
shoreline is represented, and there are unique scenic natural features, out•
standing wildlife attractions, and a variety of terrain.
Shoreline
The influencing ocean shoreline extends from Point Buchon north to Morro
Rock and is extremely varied, from Point Buchon to Hazard Canyon it is prima-
rily rocky, backed by steep bluffs. Unique features are the small pocket
beaches and rock formations. From Hazard Canyon north to the tip of the sand
spit, the shoreline is comprised of extensive sandy beach. The four miles of
spit average ^ mile in width and have extensive sand dunes with little vege
tation. Morro Rock, the prominent landmark, is probably the largest offshore
rock on the California coast.
Bay and Marshland
Morro Bay is entered through a narrow opening between Morro Rock and the
sand spit. Breakwaters, a dredged channel, and harbor facilities which
-6-
-------
-60-
surround the entrance, have at this point altered the natural characteristics.
The remaining bay shoreline is relatively untouched except for a small boat
basin in Morro Bay State Park.
The tidal marshlands support a vide variety of grassy vegetation and bird
life, all dependent upon the interaction of ocean water ard fresh water flow
ing into the Bay through Chorro Creek and Los Osos Creek. At high tide, little
land is visible: at low tide extensive mud flats are exposed.
Associated Upland
The upland surrounding the Bay, except for the sand spit, is gently
sloping. Ancient marine terraces are evident, being more prominent south of
Hazard Canyon.
Drainage
Chorro Creek and Los Osos Creek are the principal drainages of the water-
sheds emptying into Morro Bay. Though most of the watershed areas are not
within the environmental limits, the impact of human u?e and development of
those areas has been detrimental to the Bay ecology.
B. ECOLOGY
Morro Bay is a bay-estuary important to the fish and wildlife that are
found in the area. The physical characteristics of associated channels,
shallow waters, tidelands, and adjoining marshes and uplands make it unique
and biologically productive.
The diversity of available water and surrounding land habitats attract
large numbers and a variety of species of migratory wildlife and support many
species of plants and fish.
-7-
-------
-61-
Tidal areas gnd shallow water? perform an important function in assimi
lating wastes from both hun-an and aquatic organisms. The Bay appears to have
the capacity to assimilate the present loads- however, there are indication?
in recent studies that further commercial and recreational developments would
heavily tax the capacity of the Bay.
Future development in and around the Bay must be given careful srrutinty,
if the present quality and beneficial uses of the Bay are to be maintained.
C. HABITAT
(See Appendix 2)
There are about 2,000 surface acres of water in the Bay at high tide. At
mean lower low water, about 1,^00 acres of t~'dal flat are exposed. Eel gra,.r,
an important habitat for waterfowl, which also provides spawning and nursery
areac for a number of fish, grows on the lower portions of this tidal area
extending into deeper water. There are about 335 acres rf eel grass in the
BPy.
Salt marsh, of which there are about 575 acres, is also important to wild
life. Marshlands support a wide variety of vegetation, most of it grasses.
Shallow waters are generally regarded as the most important part of any
bay or estuary. This is where reproduction and growth of many marine plant
and animal species take place.
Surrounding hills of chaparral and tree cover support upland game and
many species of nongame wildlife. A few native Monterey cypress and Monterey
pine dot the area in addition to those planted for major windbreaks. These
trees, along with several kinds of eucalyptus, support a variety of resident
and migratory bird life.
-------
-62-
The -.rotor:: ji 4he 1'ay are utilized for spawning and nursery purposes by
. f-rr.'a halibut, surf perch, and jack smelt, chiefly in areas associated
with eel grass.
California halibut, starry flounder, sand sole, jack smelt, four species
of rer'-n, leopard and horned sharks, sting rays, and skates are the chief
contribute rs tc M.r tport fishery withli. the Pay.
'leal'M;1" population:: of clams are located within the Bay. Gaper, geoduok.
• 111 --r.e 'k nrd ""n; l.:r"tT, 'lame qre the principal species. Their distribution
•-. '? ~~r<' ':-. " n! - • <-1rri ror^r olamr are f^urd along the ocear. side
of the Bay.
The Bay svpr~rtr an oyster industry which depends upon the importation of
oyster seed f^oni Japan, and r.ubGequprt. planting and growing ir, the productive
Rhal]'"'.' vntr-rc: ^1' t'lp r^v. Thir activity has been curt ailed ie<"ently due to 3
limited supply of cyrter rood.
E. WILDLIFE
The primary species of wildlife using the Bay are the migrant water-
associated ! Irdr. Greatest uso ir during the winter months. Eighty-nine
species rf birds have been recorded in and near the Bay during observations
frctn 19^0 to 1957- Fron there accounts, it is possible to get an idea of
relrit'•'" ub'T.J.Tr •"-• ir. : \ ~rr-.nant scecier using the Bay.
I lack brant, ? val.- 'I"" r"^e riri, has been the subject of much more
intensive surveillance. From 1931 t° 19^2, ground counts were made. Froi.;
1950 to the present, aerial counts have been taken.
-------
-63-
Aerial counts are made during the hunting searon Hunting pressures
cause wide variations in the numbers counted. The average number of birds
counted is about 6,000. The largest number of brant counted since 1931 vas
11,800 and the smallest number 1,190.
The eucalyptus trees at Fairbanks Point are the nesting sites for great
blue herons and b]ack-crovned night herons. There trees have been used by
the herons for the last 16 years. About 60 pairs of great blue herons and
about 25 pairs of black-crowned night herons use this grove for nesting
Another nesting site is located in eucalyptus trees fringing the Bay
north of the boat harbor at Cuesta-By-The-Sea. Approximately 50 nests are
in use here. Black-crowned night herons are the dominant inhabitants. Great
blue herons also use this grove.
F. LAND STATUS
(See Appendix l)
Upland areas are mostly privately owned: however, there is substantial
acreage in two parcels of land owned by the State of California Department of
Parks and Recreation, These areas include a large section of bay frontage
and provide ample beach access for public use.
Submerged and tidal areas are included in various grants-in-trust of
lands made by the Legislature to local entities ior specified purposes. There
are three classifications of these lands existing in the Bay.
The State lands Division indicates that neither the boundaries delineated
for the tideland grants nor their location are well defined. They also point
out that certain legal problems need to be resolved and surveys made before
ownerships can be legally established.
-10-
-------
-64-
Appendix 1 delineates the classification of bay lands. The northern-
most portion includes the State's grant-in-trust to the County of San Luis
Obispo. This is a grant which has subsequently been taken over by the City
of Morro Bay.
Of the several plans and studies that have been prepared in recent years,
the one for the northern grant embraces the most intensive developments. These
proposals include: (l) improvements of the harbor entrance and bay channel,
(2) provision for commercial and recreation-oriented facilities, such as a
convention center, to be built on the northern-most point of the sand spit, and
(3) encouragement of tourism as a primary source of income and development of
the Embarcardero lease site area to attract the maximum number of visitors.
Proceeding southward from the line of the city grant is an area which the
State claims to be ungranted tide and submerged lands, out of which two partis
were patented into private ownership in the viciirity of the C-';ate p?rk. 7,'iese
two parcels are roughly outlined on the map and idantified ac T.'.de Land Purvey
No. 2, which contains some 252 acres, and Tide Land Survey !To. 13, containing
approximately 38 acres. Both of these parcels v?re sold in lC72.
South of the ungranted tide and submerged area is the third classification
comprising two parcels at the south end of the Bay which were so]d in the early
1900's. They are noted on Appendix 1 as TMe aac1 Location No. 131 and Tide and
Location No. 220, comprising 538 acres and 28 acres, respectively. Even though
it has been sold into private ownership, those areas "below low tide are still
subject to State claim since they constitute Fubp-.erged lands which, by the
Constitution, may not be alienated.
These submerged and tidal lands are part of the rich productive shaj.H'>rf
water environment, and most of them should be retained for their ecological
values. Citizens of Baywood Park and surrounding areas feel the need for a
-11-
-------
-65-
boat launching ramp which could be located in this general area. Some long-
range plans project the demand for a substantial number of boat berthing
facilities.
G. IIARBOR
Governmental development and maintenance costs for Morro Bay during the
last fev years exceed $7 million. There are, howe/er, additional improvements
needed if the projected boating demands for additional protection, berth?ng
and open water are to be met.
The prcFerit entrance is essentially unprotected from wave action at the
entrance and in the entrance channel. Improvements would provide greater
protection to boaters or. entering and leaving the harbor.
Enlargement of the navigation channel in the city-owned portion of the
Bay ic also planned to relieve toat traffic congestion. Thir change will
reduce tidal currents but will also increase tidal range in the south bay.
Some additional channel realignment is also planned. In the northern
city-owned portion the channel will be shifted away from the waterfront toward
the sand spit. This will provide additional areas for berthing and sea walls
wj11 be placed on the sand spit side to stabilize the channel.
S^me channel changes are also being considered through the State-owned
portion cf the Bay to improve navigation access to the south end of the Bay.
Additional channeling is also being planned through this portion to provide
more boating and sailing areas.
Several exposed sand spit areas are subject to continuous wind erosion.
These areas may require barriers to control the amount of shoaling in natural
and dredged channels. Eve^y effort should be made to provide natural barriers,
such as plants, instead of fence-type structures.
-12-
-------
-66-
PART II
USES
A. STATE PARK
(See Appendix l)
Morro Bay State Park
Morro Bay State Park, acquired in 193^, contains 1,V77 acres of which
more than half is located on the sand spit. Morro Rock is also part of the
State Park. This park provides 125 family campsites, a boat harbor, 25
family picnic units, two organizational camp areas, an l8-hole golf course,
wildlife refuge and a Museum of Natural History. Attendance for 1965 was
estimated to be over 900,000 persons. Lack of potable water has delayed
full development of this unit, which could accommodate up to 600 family
campsites.
The Museum of Natural History on White Point features birds and other
types of natural resource life found in the area. The museum recorded an
average of 1,200 weekly visitors, including 20 organized nature groups com-
ing from as far away as Los Angeles, from June 15 to immediately after Labor
Day, 1965• These groups also included visits on or around the Bay observing
the natural resources.
Montana de Pro State Park
This park, in the process of acquisition, is located south of Morro Bay.
Of the 7,525 acres authorized, ^,4?7 acres have been acquired. The remain-
ing land to be acquired will place additional shoreline in public ownership
-13-
-------
-67-
and will connect this park with Morro Bay State Park at the south end of
Morro Bay.
Montana de Oro State Park has only a few temporary facilities, inasmuch
as the first acquisition occurred in 1965- Total park development is
expected to provide nearly 1,200 family campsites, 500 picnic units, 5 group
or organizational use areas, a marine reserve or study area, extensive rid-
ing or hiking trails and interpretive facilities. Annual attendance at full
development is expected to exceed 2,000,000 visitors. These visitors can be
expected to also make considerable recreational use of Morro Bay itself.
A principal objective in the land use planning for these two date
parks is the preservation of large areas of natural landscape. This preser-
vation is necessary to protect the scenic environment and wildlife habitat
which are considered the principal attractions to the area.
B. SPORT FISHERY
A 1958 survey reported 18 party boats and 3,858 anglers taking 371>COO
pounds of fish (3^1,000 pounds of rockfish). The 1966 estimate is & 50 per-
cent increase.
Depending upon harbor development, a further increase is likely.
Skiff sport fishing in 1959 amounted to 2,38? angler days. This rose
to 3,600 in 196U (included in the skiff fishery is a small commercial fish-
ery for leopard sharks). Shore fishermen expend approximately 5,OCO angler
days annually. Pier fishermen ran up a total of 8,000 angler days during
1958, using about 650 lineal feet of available space. Angling use annually
is 16,600 man days.
Clam digging accounts for 1,500 days annually.
-Ik-
-------
-68-
C. HUNTING
It has "been estimated that 15 hunters per day used the Bay during the
1957-58 and 1958-59 hunting seasons. Estimates during the 1965-66 season
indicate little or no change from these figures. This amounts to 1,875
nunter days in 1957-58 and 1,695 hunter days in 1958-59. The estimated
total kill of black brant was 1,860 for the 1957-58 season. No estimate
could be found of duck kill, but in all probability it would at least equal
the brant kill.
Of significance is the fact that this is the only area, for quite a
distance in any direction, where the public is allowed to hunt waV,rfowl.
The nearest important brant hunting area is in Marin County bays, about 200
airline miles north. The nearest opportunity for duck hunting is about 90
airline miles east at Kern National Wildlife Refuge.
Hunting has proven compatible in multiple-use areas. Designated areas
and time of use, however, may be needed if high concentrations of other
uses develop in places now used for waterfowl shooting.
D. SCIENTIFIC AND EDUCATIONAL
There are considerable biologic, botanic, geologic, and wildlife
resources of scientific and scenic interest.
This area has long been noted for its abundance of bird life. Lesser
known, but also important, are some of the plant communities. The geology
of the region is well exposed. Wildlife habitat, particularly waterfowl
habitat, is of international concern. An underwater marine reserve also
has been proposed for the area.
-15-
-------
-69-
The Museum of Natural History, provided by the Division of Beaches and
Parks, is one of five provided within the State and was located here because
of the existing abundant resources. In addition, the San Luis Obispo campus
of California State Polytechnic College is nearby and has a vital interest
in preservation and interpretation of the natural phenomenon.
The area is also used by other educational institutions as well as
individuals.
E. BOATING
There is little specific data on boating use in Morro Bay.
The Department of Harbors and Watercraft reports that 2,500 boaos were
registered for San Luis Obispo County in 1965 and 2,300 in 1961+.
There are two public boat launching facilities in the Bay; one is
located in the Morro Bay State Park and the other is located at the south-
west end of the City of Morro Bay. The boat ramp in the State Park is
operated by a concessionaire.
The city facility was constructed by the Wildlife Conservation Board in
1962 and is maintained and operated by the city. Reports indicate there
were 16,200 man days' use of the city-operated facility in 19^5-
Further development of recreational boating facilities is being planned
in the city-owne^. portion of the Bay where limited facilities are already
being used to capacity.
Projections for small boat berthing needs in Morro Bay are somewhere
between 1,000 and 2,000.
The projected trailer-boat usage of San Luis Obispo County by 1975 is
12,500. A considerable portion of this projected use will be on Morro Bay.
-16-
-------
-70-
Additioual facilities for launching will be required and are also being
considered for the souiih end of the Bay.
While some additional boating use is justified, care should be exer-
cised that this use does not displace greater long-range values that may be
more important than additional boat stalls or expanded boat operating
waters.
F. URBAN
(See Appendix 1)
Three communities front on Morro Bay. The City of Morro Bay has modi-
fied its bay shoreline almost in its entirety with harbor developments. The
other bayshore communities, Baywood Park and Cuesta-By-The-Sea, occupy promi-
nent sloping beaches on the south shore and have not encroached to any great
degree in the marshlands.
The present human population figures indicate there are about 10,000
people residing in the City of Morro Bay that was incorporated in July of
196U. The two unincorporated communities of Baywood Park and Cuesta-By-The
Sea have an estimated population of U,000.
It is expected that by 1980 the population around Morro Bay will iiicre?,se
to 53,000.
Commercial and sport fishing, tourism and a retired population provide
the main business in the Morro Bay area.
G. INDUSTRY
Commercial Fishery
The Eay is a base for many fisheries. In 1964 the following amount
-17-
-------
-71-
(anci value) of c°veral sppc:'es were landed.
Species Weight (pounds) Value (Dollars)
Albacore 3,800,000 $525,000
Jack mackerel 3,^00,000 67,000
Pacific oysters (meat) 2^3,000 ^3,000
Salmon 39,000 21,000
Sardines 565,000 16,000
Surf Perch 25,000 5,500
All other ppecies 314,000 25,000
Sub Totals 8,386,000 $702,500
In addition, the bottom trawl fishery in 1965 added the following:
Species Weight (pounds) Value (dollars)
Rockfish 900,000 $ ^9,500
Petrale sole 150,000 19,500
Dover sole 150,000 9,000
Animal food 360,000 7,200
(Hake, sablefish,
srrall rockfish, etc.)
Sub Totals 1,560,000 $ 85,200
Totals 9,9^6,000 $787,700
Four or five vessels operate in the trawl fishery. There are two fish
processing plants in Morro Bay, and significant quantities are trucked to a
Santa Barbara processing plant.
Landings will presumably follow the general increase in human popula-
tion unless increased marketing effort or change in consumer preference
result in increased product demand.
The abalcne fishery is a distinct industry. There are seven processing
plants in Morro Bay. Red abalone is the chief species processed. The product
-18-
-------
-72-
is sliced, pounded and fr"~pn.
In 1965 there were "[1 aoalone boats registered; in 1960 there were 66.
In 1966 only about 45 or 50 of this number are operating. In December, 1966,
37 are operating.
Abalone landings in 1964 were 1,100,000 pounds valued at $264,000. In
1965, 1,279,000 pounds were landed at a value of $358,000. In 1966 landings
are about, the paire. It is unlikely that there will be any significant
increase in ccnmercial hardest of abalone in this area. There have been
proposals to change laws new limiting commercial divers to waters deeper
tnan 20 feet. This could result in an increased commercial harvest but may
conflict with sport use. Seme proposals have been maie by industry to cul-
tivate abalone artificially. This could increase production.
One and one-tenth to one and six-tenths million pounds (in the shell)
of giant Pacific oysters are produced annually. This represents about 11
percent of the State's output of oysters. In 1964, 2,400 cases of oyster
seed were planted; in- in 19^5, 1,200 cases were planted.
The Bay contains 12 r>"ter allotments totalinR 958 acres, as outlined
in Appendix 4. Essentially all of the land which is satisfactory for con-
ventional oyster production has been allotted. Newer techniques have been
proposed using culture trays hanging from racks or rafts which would be in
deeper water, at least 2 to 4 f^et at low tide, and conceivably could be
located in about ICO acres of water now unsuitable for clamming or oyster
culture. Iriis coulJ c^Jlict with esthetic, navigational or recreational
uses.
An oyster (or on»lifish) allotment is an area of State water bottoms
granted by the Fish and Game Ccmission to an individual wishing exclusive
•crivileg<=s ^f cuj.tivtin^ shellfish upon such lands.
-19-
-------
-73-
The absolute right to regulate, control, establish, provide for and dis-
pose of oyster beds on the city-county submerged lands is reserved to the
people of the State.
Allotments are granted 90 days following publication of notice in news-
papers of general circulation in the county concerned.
The applicant is responsible for obtaining determination from the State
Lands Commission that there is no infringment upon private water bottoms or
water bottoms owned by or under the jurisdiction of any city or county.
Laws covering the cultivation of shellfish call for a shellfish culti-
vate} 's license, the rent of allotments at the rate of $l/acre/year, and the
payment of a tax of one cent per packed gallon of shucked shellfish.
There is a small market crab fishery. Seven vessels in 1964 and 1965
reported 3,500 pounds landed that were worth $1,^90.
Other Industry
As previously pointed out, Morro Bay industry is built around the com-
mercial and sport fishery, tourism, and a retired community.
There is some shipbuilding in the Bay, and there are industries associ-
ated with boat maintenance and repair, supplies and services.
H. ESTHETIC AND SCENIC
The principal objective in land use planning for these State parks is
the preservation of the large areas of natural landscape (including the Bay).
This preservation is necessary to protect the scenic environment, wildlife
and wildlife habitat which are the principal attractions of the area.
The scenic qualities of the Bay area and the sensitivity of the ecology
are such that minor alterations may have major repercussions. This
-20-
-------
uniqueness makes the area attractive and wanted for its natural contribution.
It is reasonable to believe that public demands for this kind of use will
become greater and greater as other natural areas are changed by developments.
I, OTHER
The water-associated area is used importantly by wildlife for refuge,
resting and feeding.
Eel grass is the principal food of the black brant. Thirty-eight brant
gizzards collected in 19*53-5^ contained only eel grass. In studies on
Humboldt Bay, it was found that the widgeon's main diet also was eel grass.
Since eel grass remains thick and green throughout the winter, it also
offers a year-around cover for fish and small marine animals.
In areas where eel grass has been depleted, it is difficult to re-
establish. Every effort must be made to protect this important marine food
and cover plant.
Animal life is the main food for many birds. Herons and egrets, for
instance, capture free-moving animals such as fish in shallow water. Seme
ducks dive for a variety of invertebrates in deep water. Pelicans and terns
make spectacular dives for their food which they capture in open water. The
exposed tidal flats are the principal feeding areas for the small wading
birds which probe for their food.
Food habits studies in Humboldt Bay and in San Francisco Bay have shown
that mollusks make up 60 to <30 percent of the items eaten by diving ducks.
Similarly, shorebird food diets in San Francisco Bay were found to consist
of 30 to 60 percent mollusks with insects contributing 17 to 25 percent.
The salt marsh provides feeding and resting areas at high tide. Many
-21-
-------
-75-
of the small waders can be found resting in the extensive stands of pickle-
weed. Black brant have also been observed grazing here. These kinds of
uses are heavy at times.
Another principal use is "birdwatching." An undetermined number of
people participate in the activity of identifying and counting the various
species of birds. Field trips to Morro Bay are scheduled frequently by
organized Audubcn Society groups. These groups come to Morro Bay from
throughout the State for the purpose of bird identification.
There are a number of incidental uses that should be recorded because
they exemplify the multiple-use values and further document the importance
of the area to all facets of the population.
Other uses include hiking, building and riding dune buggies (vehicles
"built for use on sandy beaches and spits), and painting. There have been
as many as k-2 artists around the Bay at one time. This interest is further
substantiated by the count of six art galleries in the town of Morro Bay.
All these uses are depend nt on the biological and geological nature
of the areas.
-22-
-------
-76-
PART III
CONFLICTS IN USE
Introduction
In the preparation o- this report, various areas of conflict have been
identified. These conflicts have become apparent during the preliminary
search for information and programming. They represent only a few problem
areas of a broad and general nature. A more comprehensive and detailed
investigation will further identify conflicts of use and development.
1. 1'he future of Morro Bay depends to a large extent on the objectives
established to gaide the pattern of use on and around the Bay. Presently,
there are four or five single-purpose plans prepared or being prepared, a.ll
of which have different soals directing courses of action; none can be con-
sidered comprehensive. Conflicts of use and destruction of our natural
resources will result without a comprehensive plan and cooperative course
of action.
2. The fishery includes interests of clamming, oyster culture, commer-
cial fishing from boats, and sport fishing on and around the Bay. Here, there
appear to be several areas or possible conflict, such as commercial develop-
ment on clam beds, oyster culture structures in or near boat channels, and
excessive boat use of shallow waters.
The commercial fishery may conflict w:th boating, scenic, esthetic,
educational, ecological and biological interests.
3. Industrial, commercial and harbor developments, if allowed without
direction of comprehensive planning, may result in loss of some primary values
which will not be replaceable.
-23-
-------
-77-
^4. Hunting is one use that may conflict with nonhunting use. Where
projected uses are high, additional planning and programming may be needed.
5. Urban developments on the upland areas, particularly in the south
Bay area, can be a detriment to the Bay environment if proper waste discharges
are not planned.
While salt water intrusion is nob generally recognized as a degradation
of the marshland ecosystem, there are some domestic areas of concern. Salt
water intrusion of the Chorro and Los Osos creeks' ground water basins might
develop some real problems in the areas of domestic water supply.
Erosion control is also of primary concern. Conflicts with the biological
and ecological status will occur if soil movement from buildJng sites and sub-
divisions on uplands is allowed to continue.
Chorro Creek and Los Osos Creek have 25 and 8 miles of steelhead habitat.
This represents about 10 percent of the total steelhead habitat available in
San Luis Obispo County.
Clean runoff from upland areas to the Bay is needed to maintain the
migratory fish rvns and to control silt deposition in the Bay.
6. Boating is an important part of the comprehensive plan. At low tide,'
Morro Bay has a surface of only 600 acres. Thus, considering the Bay is
mostly shallow water, there is little room for open water boat use.
Direct conflicts of use will occur if any structures are permitted on
the water surface in areas deep enough for boating. If additional access
boat channels are needed, care must be exercised not to destroy the important
shallow water environments that are important to the biological productivity
of the area.
7. The causes of changes, such as tidal, current, siltation, pollution
and dirt fills, in the Bay ecology stem from increasing human use and
-------
-78-
u <, j ;|..LCM, -,i luCcu. i-erources without i-ecognitiun of long-term impact or
oenefit cf coiiciinated long-range planning.
The uniqueness of the Bay area and the sensitive ecology are such that
. :•. i -t!ierat ons car. nave major repercussions. Abuse of the resource wi]l
result in irrevocable loss.
-------
-79-
PAF.T IV
DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A COMPREHENSIVE AREA PLAN
A_. Planning Method
Introduction
A great many uses are presently being made of Morro Bay and its resource.'
Additional new uses will be proposed as demands are identified or as tech-
nology makes them feasible. Most current uses are unplanned or have been
planned with narrow objectives and for single interests.
As the number of uses and their individual size increase, conflicts
arise, impeding some uses or wasting resources. These problems of conflict
can be solved by the development of a comprehensive area use plan that con-
siders the benefits and costs of each use and then combines them for maximum
net benefits and minimum costs.
The objective of this chapter is to propose a method for developing a
comprehensive plan for the use of Morro Bay. Such a plan is essential to
protect the natural resources of the area, including the environmental amen-
ities and to sustain its economy.
Procedure for Developing a Comprehensive Area Use Plan
The basic steps in developing a comprehensive plan for the use of an
area are:
1. Delineate the area boundary.
2. Establish the objectives of the people in respect to the area.
3. Determine present and proposed uses.
-26-
-------
-80-
i;ev?,j .^ u i.j.a.; t..' regulate the uses for maximum net benefits at
m i i.ii'ium r
Thi L.,f'ij. .•.:.".-:. '. j + :!;• rll be included in the Morro Bay plan has net
b°er. defined. It should include not only the Bay itself, but the surround-
1n>' drninaKC basin, which must be priperly used to prevent erosion and
::LHu! i'.'-!, f.b<-e scenic grea, which nearly corresponds to the drainage basin;
and the ocean shoreline. Roughly speaking, the planning area should extenu
ij TL I,<>r,t Buohcn, in the south, to the beaches nurth of Morro Rock and
extend, inianri a sufficient distance to include the previously defined
Ob j
The iollowing objectives are proposed for the Morro Bay plan. The
broad objective oi this j..ian ii to provide for the use of Morro Bay area
and i t r natun! resoi;rc°p now and in the future for the enjoytnent and
economic benefit of trie people. More specifically, the plan will have the
: - •''L££;'"Lltrir' %ii_HiS natural resources of the Morro Bay area for
ir.t i j n6.iLc_ pnd ec ^Ij^ical values .
Th?- '-b.je:tive, "to maintnin." is a basic necessity if any natural
resource ," to be u.sea j.n whe lulure. The "ecology"' of Morro Bay is
i i.'! rir i',.e , in^'.-l,-.;; It '"i^r^^ro-ir to tamper with any part of it without fully
•j'ViCM-:. f andi"f: the evenr,i;a.l result. Man has the obligation to pass on to
future generations nature's renewable resources.
?. To maintain, the environmental quality and amenity of bhe ocean area.
The second objective, "environmental quality and amenity," proposes
Vr:a<.-- alcng with the progress toward optinum development of the area, a high
-------
-81-
quality human environment be maintained. All of the factors that act on the
senses oi men such as scenic beauty, open space, and clean air are a sig-
nificant part of this environment and are to be preserved for the visitor
as well as for area residents.
3. To provide for the economic, recreational, and scientific use of
the living resources.
The third objective, "economic, recreational, and scientific use,"
covers all the uses that will be made of the living resources of the area.
These are the renewable resources that, if wisely used, can continue
indefinitely. The state of complete development for any segment of this
resource will be reached when the maximum sustainable yield is obtained. The
total allowable use may be divided among the three types of use.
U. To_provide for the economic, recreational, and scientific use of the
area.
The fourth objective, "use of the Morro Bay area," covers the three
types of use but is not directly related to its natural resources. Uses
such as boating, commercial and industrial development, etc. , may not depend
directly upon consumptive use of the resources of the area. They do, how-
ever, require space both on the Bay and on the shore. These uses may con-
flict with other uses or may affect the Bay environment.
Precepts
1. The plan will provide for multiple uses of the Bay area and its
resources.
It is quite possible for many uses to be made of the area. High den-
sity uses should not be allowed to completely crowd out low density uses.
The uses should be related to the demand for their product, and as many
different demands as possible should be satisfied. No use should unduly
-28-
-------
-32-
restrict another.
2. Renewable resources should be utilized on a sustained yield basis.
Renewable resources can last indefinitely if the rate of use does not
exceed the rate of regeneration. There is no purpose in attaining the maxi-
mum allowable yield until there is a demand for that amount of product, but
the maximum sustainable yield should not be exceeded no matter how great
thf> demand.
3. Uses that cause irreversible modifications of the environment require
intense scrutiny.
It is often extremely difficult to forecast the results of a change to
the environment. Proposals that will make irreversible environmental changes
must therefore be thoroughly investigated and weighed. Alternate methods of
attaining the objective should be sought. There must be an assessment of
the betiei'itfa thwt. would accrue compared with the costs of a development and
the segments of the population that would be affected by the costs. Mitiga-
tion for the loss of public resources should be the burden of those caxising
the luss.
''• Preservation, conservation and renewal of environmental quality and
amenity should be sought.
No use of the Bay area or its natural resources should result in a
lowering of environmental nua.1 ity nr>d amenity without replacement in kind or
better. Physical changes should be made in such a way that the environment;;, ~_
quality and amenity remains equal or is improved both at the point of change
and in areas beyond.
5. Uses of the Mcrro Bay area should be restricted primarily to those
types that are dependent on the area's resources and environment.
Projected demands for activities that can only be carried on in Morro
-20-
-------
-83-
Bay or a similar type of environment will equal or exceed the area's capacity.
It is not reasonable to further restrict Morro Bay's use capacity by initi-
ating or augmenting activities that are not related to its environmental
attributes but could be just as easily carried on elsewhere.
Uses of Morro Bay Area
All of the uses that are currently being made of the Morro Bay area and
its resources and all proposed uses must be determined. The current and the
projected demand for each use must also be established.
Comprehensive Plan Development
The objective of comprehensive area planning is the blending of a number
of single-interest plans into one comprehensive plan that provides for maxi-
mum attainment of the several objectives at minimum costs.
The process of forming a comprehensive plan starts with a compilation
of the single-interest plans that provide for the current uses of the area.
Each single-interest plan objective and the program or proposal to attain it
must be clear.
Each of the single-interest plans is analyzed in relation to all the
plans, and the costs and benefits are determined. The total costs and
benefits of all single-interest plans are also determined.
The cost benefit ratio of the unrefined group of single-interest plans
is susceptible to improvement. Different combinations of single-interest
plans and varying magnitudes of individual plan programs will change the
benefits and costs of the comprehensive plan. Different programs for
attaining single-interest objectives may eliminate conflicts or reduce
resource wastes.
The ultimate comprehensive plan is developed through testing varying
combinations of single-interest plans until the overall objectives for the
-30-
-------
area are attained at a minimum cost.
It must be assumed that there will be new proposals in the future and
that the demands fo some existing programs will change. A comprehensive
plan must be flexible, allowing development by logical stages. New pro-
posals must be evaluated in the existing area combination before they are
initiated. Integration of new programs should be done in an orderly fashion.
The evaluation of use programs is a complex economic problem. The
expression of benefits and costs must be done through a common denominator,
normally the dollar. Even though present ability to precisely set dollar
valuer, for all useo i3 unsatisfactory, planning should proceed in this manner.
It is the Mrri:- for ib^erfive plan decisions. A continuous effort to improve
ability in this area should be maintained, and some recognition should be
given to those values which cannot be measured in monetary terms.
B. Organization for Comprehensive Area Planning
Three separate and distinct steps are taken during the process of form-
ing an area plan and putting it in operation. These steps are: (l) develop-
ment of a plan proposal, (2) decision process (adoption), and (3} implementa-
tion of the plan. The steps are taken in order, but step 1, on completion,
changes from plan development to plan maintenance. No single organization
can appropriately take these three steps as each requires a. distinctly
different discipline and authority.
Development of a Proposed Comprehensive Area Plan
Plan development encompasses all of the staff work needed to prepare a
proposal for a decision-making body. The proposed planning area must be
delineated, objectives developed, uses determined, and finally an optimum
-31-
-------
-85-
use program must be prepared.
A precept concerning the plan development is that those organizations
that will be responsible for the implementation of the plan should be deeply
involved in its development.
Preparing a comprehensive plan for any area of significant size
involves the interests of many groups, including private as well as public
interests. This precludes the possibility of forming a planning group
wholly within the State Government, as only a portion of the interests would
be represented.
As the Morro Bay area lies entirely within one county, a solution is
to augment the San Luis Obispo County Planning Department through State
assistance and Federal planning funds and form a planning task force around
that nucleus.
The planning task force should be formed to prepare a comprehensive
plan proposal from the single-interest plans of all interests. Task force
members could come from the State departments of Parks and Recreation,
Fish and Game, Harbors and Watercraft, and Division of State Lands; the
San Luis Obispo County Planning Department, and City of Morro Bay. The
San Luis Obispo County planning officer would act as leader of the task
force (see Figure l).
The various State members would spend whatever time was necessary to
introduce the data and plans of their area of interest, consider problems
of conflict and propose solutions to them, and continuously review the
comprehensive plan as it developed.
The county would provide a fulltime planner until the development of
the comprehensive plan is completed to lay out the work schedule and to
develop the comprehensive plan from the single-interest plans. This county
-32-
-------
PLANNING TASK FORCE, KORRC BAY AREA
-86-
Dept. of
Parks & Rec.
San Luis Obicpo County Planning Director
Dept. of
Fish & Game
[ Plam
Planning Asst.
Bept. Harbors
ana
State
Lands
City of |
Morro Bay
FIGURE 1
-33-
-------
-87-
planner could be financed through a Federal aid grant obtained through the
State Office of Planning.
All interests, private as well as public, would be considered by the
planning task force. Provisions would be made for their participation in the
plan development. In this way involvement of the ultimate users will be
achieved through their single-interest plan development and submission, and
continual association with the planning group would result, in discussing
possible solutions to conflicts between interests.
During the development of the plan, there will be conflicts of interests
and other problems that cannot be resolved within the planning task force.
A decision-making body is needed to resolve such problems as they arise eo
that the plan can proceed and ultimately to adopt the comprehensive plj.n
proposal.
A "Morro Bay Conservation and Development Commission" made up of
representatives of the various interests in the area and including a
representative from the State Legislature, the Resources Agency, and the
San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors could act as a guiding commis-
sion, conduct public hearings, and make the necessary decisions during the
planning process. When the planning task force produces a comprehensive
area plan that is acceptable to the Morro Bay Conservation and Development
Commission, the Commission can then submit it to the Legislature (see
Figure 2).
C. Implementat ion
When a comprehensive area plan has been developed for the Morro Bay
area, it can be implemented by appropriate levels of government and the
-------
/
s N!'
>> w
CM H-
•H C
-p -
C r-
3
J
H pr,
i H
0) CM PH
•« C
M C
O
y
-P
•M c
\
/a
S PH [i.
r^ r
d G
GO
H E~<
^ PH
i
cd
0)
In
cd
(D
-P
cd
CD
C
•r-H
rH
P
a
o
r-H
d)
j>
cu
, ^
M
(U
^
•rH
-P [T |
CJ PH
CU PH
•r-3
£>
O
-p
'+H
cd Pa
T) O
0>
EH
PH
A
Combine
| modified
PH
0
o
-p
w
PH
CO
w
rH 4^
0) 0) CJ
r; CJ -H
4J 0 rH
t_, r^J C|_H
d 0) C!
fc ^ o
CJ
o
p
0
W
^
T
0)
o
?!
T3
0)
M
to
-p
CJ
•H
H
CM
C
O
CJ
to
0)
•M
O
C
CU
PH (3D
EH c£
PH
4)
H-3
d
41
01
-35-
PH
O
O
W -4-3
s.s
•H
rH PH
CM M
C 00
O
to CJ 13
-P 0)
O 0) -rH
• H O CM
r-H 3 -H
c o; o
O >H 6
CJ
-88-
I) CD
o x:
> >>
CM cd
£ w
O O
a n
r<
cd
0) -P
•H ft
> O
a> -r)
c~- oo o. o
GO
PH
EH
to
O
cd
o>
cd
OJ
-P
oi
0)
C
• H
r-H
0)
P
rH
CO
O)
•H
-P
CJ
0)
XI
o
a
o
rH
CD
J>
CD
Q
C\J
cd
0)
CM
O
w
0)
£3
(D
0
•rH
6
S-i
CD
-p
OJ
p
CO
w
OJ
SH
0)
-P
C
•H
0)
r~i
W)
c
•M
w
-P to
0 C
a) co
rH r-H
I — | ft
O
o
ra
-P
CJ
•H
rH
QH
c
o
CJ
r*i
CM
•rH
-P
C
(D
T3
M
LPv
0)
SH
T^ crt
C PH O rH
(D < -P M
00 O -H
CD
o
CvJ
M
PM
•p
C
cu
S
01
CL'
•O
c
: interest plan
03
rH
a
03
cu
Cfi
4)
•H
M
C
CJ
X!
0)
CJ
0
co
cd
-p
50
c
Bay Conservation
jniaeion
• rH
U
§ PH PH h 6
fp M < EH ffl
PQ 00 O PH S
D
/\
-------
-89-
private sector. There is no need for additional organizations.
The State departments would implement their parts of the plan as funds
were made available by the Legislature. Some parts of the plan would not
require funding. The county's major role would be the zoning of the area
to regulate the various uses proposed in the plan. Demands for specific
uses would regulate the implementation process of the private sector.
D. Plan Maintenance
Maintenance of a plan entails gathering the data needed fo.. setting
program priorities and for evaluating current and proposed programs. These
evaluations will lead to plan modification proposals to be submitted to a
decision-making body.
Program priorities must be established annually for budget purposes.
Current programs must be evaluated in order to do this. Proposed new pro-
grams must be evaluated too.
The evaluation of active and proposed programs will lead to recommended
modifications of the original plan.
Organization for Plan Maintenance
The evaluation of plan modifications will entail the use of the same
methods that were used to develop the original plan. The planning task force
can best do the work involved in maintenance. It would not be necessary,
however, to continue with fulltime members, but the planning group could
become a committee instead of a task force and meet as needed to re-evaluate
the plan.
Decision-Making Process - Plan Maintenance
The maintenance of the comprehensive plan will require decisions of
the same type that were made in establishing the original basic plan. In
-36-
-------
-90-
plan maintenance, a short time span is very desirable. The private sector
will be especially appreciative of a system that can quickly give them an
answer concerning a plan modification proposal.
The Morro Bay Conservation and Development Commission should continue as
the plan maintenance decision makers. The San Luis Obispo County Planning
Director would act as the executive secretary, and the plan maintenance com-
mittee under his leadership would do the required staff work.
-37-
-------
-91-
-------
-92-
MORRO ROCK
I
-J M 0 R R 0 HA Y '
BAYWOOD
PARK
C U E S T A
BY THE SEA
APPENDIX 2
WILDLIFE HABITAT
salt marsh ( shore birds
nesting7feeding, resting area )
eel grass ( black' brant
feeding area )
heron rookery
-------
-93-
MORRO ROCK
BAYWOOD
PARK
CU E STA
BY THE SEA
APPENDIX 3
CLAM LOCATIONS
X -GAPER CLAMS
• -WASHINGTON CLAMS
°— GEODUCK CLAMS
o — LITTLENECK CLAMS
• —PISMO CLAMS
A—RAZOR CLAMS
-------
-9A-
N
MORRO ROCK
ALLOTMENT ACREAGES
M 0 R R 0 B/A Y
BAYWOOD
PARK
CU E ST A
BY THE SEA
APPENDIX 4
OYSTER ALLOTMENTS
Oyster Allotment Numbers
:.:.V*: Oyster Beds Being Cultured
— Allotment Boundary
(No Scale )
-------
-96-
,TATE OF CALIFORNIA-STATE LANDS COMMISSION
RONALD REAGAN, Governor
5TATE LANDS DIVISION
600 L STREET
ACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA 95814
April 1, 1969
Mr. Irving M. Terzich
Pacific Southwes', Division
Federal Water Pollution Control Administration
V)0 Market Street
Sar: Francisco, California 9^102
Dear Mr. Trrzich:
Pursuant to the public hearings held on February 13-19 in San Francisco,
regarding "Clean Water for the Nation's Estuaries", the following represents
;,he position of Lhe State Lands Division concerning jurisdiction over tide
and submerged lands lying between the mean high tide lin" and the continental
shelf boundary with -.,he United States. Division 6, Pt. 1, Ch. k, Art. 1,
Section 6301, provides that:
"35ie commission has exclusive jurisdiction over all ungranted
tide lands and submerged lands owned by the State, and of the beds
of navigable rivers, streams, lakes, bays, estuaries, inlets, and
straits, including tide lands and submerged lands or any interest
therein, whether within or beyond the boundaries of the State as
established by law, which have been or may be acquired by the State
(a) by quitclaim, cession, grant, contract, or otherwise from the
United States or any agency thereof, or (b) by any other means. All
jurisdiction and authority remaining in the State as to tide lands
and submerged lands as to which grants have been or may be made is
vested in the commission.
"The commission shall exclusively administer and control all
such lands, and may lease or otherwise dispose of such lands, as
provided by law, upon such terms and for such consideration, if any,
as are determined by iz."
There are many other sections of the Public Resources Code, not set forth
herein, which are applicable to the Division's authority to manage, lease and
otherwise control land under its jurisdiction.
At the present time, the only authorized use of State tide and submerged
lands, including estuaries, bays and inlets, is by permit only. These permits
do not normally require a rental, if for public benefit, but the permit
procedure is now an effective management tool in assuring a minimization of
unauthorized or undesirable uses of these resources.
Some of these lands have been transferred by virtue of legislative
enactment Lo the local political subdivisions of the State of California,
-------
-97-
Mr. Irving M. Terzich - 2 - April 1, 1969
i.e. city, county, harbor district, etc. In those cases, some jurisdiction
has been transferred to those bodies subject to the public trusts for commerce,
navigation and fishery. In almost all cases, the State, through the State
Lands Commission, retains a reversionary interest for any major breach of the
trust.
At the present time, it would be extremely undesirable to fractionalize
the administration and management of portions of the State's holdings by trans-
ferring jurisdiction and control to any agency not vested with complete control
and management of said State tide and submerged lands.
The State Lands Division is currently involved in many aspects of the proper
planning, use, management and control of the subject State lands, ranging from
the advisability of the establishment of marine reserves and extraction of mineral
resources, to the desirability and location of such uses as pipeline easements,
moorings, piers and other structures. The integrity of management and control
vested in one body for all sovereign lands would appear to be the most desirable
course to continue to follow.
If you need any additional information or have any questions about this
matter, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
•• • * ' /
F^,/. HORTIG /
-Executive Officer
cc: N. B. Livermore, Jr.
Secretary for Resources
-------
-98-
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
SAN FRANCISCO DISTRICT. CORPS OF ENGINEERS
100 MCALLISTER STREET
SAN FRANCISCO. CALIFORNIA 941O2
SPNED-RS 2 April 1969
Mr. Irving M. Terzich
Pacific Southwest Region
Federal Water Pollution Control
Administration
760 Market Street
San Francisco, California 94102
Dear Mr. Terzich:
In response to your notice of the public meeting on water quality manage-
ment for estuaries held in San Francisco on 18 and 19 February 1969, in
which three members of my staff attended, the San Francisco District wishes
to submit the following statement for inclusion in the testimony.
This office is involved in the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary in the areas
of water quality and waste disposal, navigation, flood control, maintenance
dredging and sometimes Bay fill. We are also responsible for issuing Depart-
ment of the Army permits related to navigable waters in the Bay system.
Presently, we are preparing a plan of survey for the authorized water quality
and waste disposal investigation of the San Francisco Bay, Sacramento-San
Joaquin Delta (Triple "S" Investigation). This investigation, initiated in
fiscal year 1966, extends through fiscal year 1972.
The objectives of the Triple "S" Investigation, which roughly parallel those
of the State of California's San Francisco Bay-Delta Water Quality Program,
are to:
a. Assist in implementation of the studies recommended in the State's
San Francisco Bay-Delta Water Quality Program final report and initiate
supplemental studies which in the opinion of the District should be included;
b. Finalize various alternative waste water disposal plans which will
meet water quality objectives imposed by the State Water Resources Control
Board and/or FWPCA; and,
c. Define the Federal interest in regional waste water disposal plans
proposed.
Keep Freedom in Tour Future With U.S. Savings Bonds
-------
-99-
SPNED-RS 2 April 1969
Mr. Terzich
One of the studies which the District envisions should be made to supple-
ment those of the State's program is an analysis of the benefits to the
public from the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary. This study would involve
quantifying the present value of the ecological systems and evaluating
future uses of the estuary. Traditional methods of evaluating benefits,
such as assigning values to various types of recreational uses, appear to
be inadequate to estimate the full value of the estuary to the public.
As a part of the Triple "S" Investigation, the San Francisco Bay-Delta
Hydraulic Model has been expanded to include the Sacramento-San Joaquin
Delta. Since the results of the State's program are based largely on
mathematical model studies, this office is of the opinion that the results
of the State's studies, where feasible, should be verified and/or expanded
on the Hydraulic Model. Specifically the District's model could be used to:
a. Verify operation of the Peripheral Canal including releases for
environmental control;
b. Verify required Delta outflow at Antioch to meet the water quality
conditions of the "November 19th, 1965 Agreement;"
c. Evaluate dispersion characteristics of the estuary;
d. Determine feasibility of flow augmentation in various parts of the
estuary for water quality control;
e. Determine the effects of thermal pollution;
f. Evaluate the effects of future navigation projects on the estuary;
and,
g. Explore new methods and/or operations related to disposal of dredged
materials.
It is expected that the model will be verified and ready for use by early
1970.
A major authorized navigation project in the estuary is the San Francisco
Bay to Stockton Deep Water Ship Channel. This project, nearing the con-
struction phase, consists of deepening the existing ship channel to accom-
modate super-tankers and other deep-draft vessels. One phase of this project
is a study being performed by U.S. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife
on the effect of dredge spoil disposal.
-------
-100-
SPNED-RS 2 April 1969
Mr. Terzich
Other authorized navigation studies and projects underway within the estuary
are:
a. Deepening of Oakland Inner Harbor from 30 to 35 feet. This project,
currently in the design memorandum stage, will extend 6.2 miles southward from
the harbor entrance;
b. A Detailed Project Report is currently underway for deepening of Islais
Creek from 35 to 40 feet, and extending the entrance channel and approach area
to new Army Street Terminal. Your office is aware of the problem of disposing
the dredge spoil due to its high coliform count;
c. A report of survey scope is currently underway to deepen the Redwood City
Harbor from 30 to 35 feet to accommodate deep-draft vessels; and,
d. Plans and specifications are underway for the Saucelito Canal Plan of
Improvement, which provides for the deepening of the channel to 8 feet from
Richardson Bay inland for a distance of about 2.3 miles.
The status of small navigation studies (Federal limitation of $500,000 toward
construction of the project) in the estuary are;
a. Reconnaissance reports have been initiated for Mountain View Marina,
Palo Alto Yacht Harbor, Coyote Point Marina, Newark Slough and San Francisco
West Harbor Facilities;
b. A reconnaissance report has been submitted to higher authority for
Gallinas Creek; and,
c. Detailed Project Reports have been submitted or are in progress for Gas
House Cove (San Francisco East Harbor Facilities) and Petaluma River.
Project reports on wave action studies of the San Francisco Marina are scheduled
for completion this fiscal year.
Preconstruction planning is underway for flood control projects on Napa and
Sonoma Creek.
This office represents the Corps of Engineers on the State's San Francisco
Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC). I am sure your staff is
aware of the recent plan developed by the Commission. The Corps actively
participated in the preparation of the plan.
-------
-101-
SPNED-RS 2 April 1969
Mr. Terzich
We appreciate the opportunity to present our views on the San Francisco
Bay-Delta Estuary. Should you wish further information concerning any
projects or studies within the San Francisco District, please let me know.
Sincerely ydurs,
K C. BOERGER
^U _ (Zolonel, CE
District Engineer
-------
-102-
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF CALIFORNIA
I NC
126 POST STREET ROOM 512 SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94108 986-1532
MRS. JOHN 0. AHERN, PRESIDENT
March 13, 1969
STATEMENT ON WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT FOR EBTUARINE AREAS IN CALIFORNIA
The League of Women Voters of the United States supported the passage of H.R. 25
last year as a tool in the protecting of our national estuaries. In California, as
a coastal state, we particularly welcome this study of the effects of pollution on
our bays and coastal waters. The League of Women Voters of California, with its
14,000 members, had studied water problems since 1959. In 1966 after considering
the state's responsibility for water quality control, members agreed to support
high standards for water quality, with responsibility for enforcement at the regional
level under the State Water Quality Control Act. We have urged the state to provide
more adequate budgets and staff, greater enforcement powers, end better coordination
among the agencies responsible for water quantity and quality.
California's estuaries are inestimable in value, ranging from the great economic
benefits of our ports to the recreational attractions of: our beaches and the quiet
haven of lagoons and mudflats for fish and birds. As the most populous state in the
union with 20 million people, and one-half million more pouring in annually, we do
face great pressure on land and water resources. San Francisco and Los Angeles and
San Diego are located on estuaries which have developed into great ports. Near them
are located great marufac :uring and industrial complexes. These estuaries have a
different value from those not yet developed am" will continue to serve as centers
of commerce and industry, but improvements in municipal and industrial waste manage-
ment should in time bring water pollution under control.
During the past two years while California has been establishing water quality
standards rnd policies to meet the requirements of the Federal Water Pollution
Control Administration, the League of Women Voters of California has supported the
program to enhance the qualities of our water. We think Californians want and will
pay for clean water in our rivers, deltas, harbors and along our coasts. There is
no doubt the federal interest has been e stimulant to raising state standards and
objectives of water quality. However, ve see the need for sufficient manpower and
money to implement these legislative goals. Because of the regional boards heavy
workload in formulating and adopting water quality control policies for interstate
and coastal waters, there was a decline in staff inspection for waste discharge
requirement compliance (from 4353 in period 1965-67 to 3028 in 1966-67). Sufficient
staff and money for enforcement are as important as standard setting.
Realizing that there are few remaining undeveloped estuaries in California, we would
like to preserve those undistrubed bays and lagoons for their unique values in
supporting special biota, migratory and resident birds and fish. But the sound of
the bulldozer and boatowner are loud in the land and often drown out the voice of the
conservationist. The federal government might help the state resist some of the
local pressure groups by establishing protected estuaries as it has wilderness
rivers or redwood parks.
In general, we think California has done a good job in controlling pollution since
passing the Dickey Water Pollution Act of 1949, changed to the Water Quality Control
Act in 1965. However the increasing pressures of population, industry and agriculture
increase the waste discharges.
-------
-103-
Statement on Water Quality Management for Estuarine Areas in California 2
LOS ANGELES
Los Angeles harbors for instance, leads all other ports in the Western U.S. in total
tonnage handled. Its beneficial uses have been defined on shipping, yacht anchorage,
industrial cooling and whole fish handling. Long Beach wishes to upgrade the water
quality standards to permit fish life to thrive. Waste waters from nearby oil
refineries (500,000 barrels a day of oil field brines to Into the harbor) and oil
spills help deplete the dissolved oxygen. There is evidence that degraded inner
harbor water continues to degrade higher quality surrounding waters in Long Beach ^
Harbor, Los Angeles outer harbor, and adjacent coastal waters. Aerial inspection
shows discolored water flowing outward from the mouth of Los Angeles Harbor. The
dark waters of Dominguez Channel, with industrial waste from oil companies, as well
as turbid water from Slip 5 and the West Basin, flow into the inner Harbor and from
there into the outer harbor and ocean. The Report of the Los Angeles-Long Beach
Harbor Pollution Control Committee, published in November of 1968 states:
"All waters in this area (Los Angeles Inner Harbor north of Vincent Thomas Bridge)
have failed to meet present objectives for dissolved oxygen some of the time; waters
at the mouth of and in Consolidated Slip, and in Slip 5 have failed to meet the
present objectives most of the time. Waters in the West Basin have not met present
objectives in most instances in the past three years."
The report also states, ''In 1963 and 1964, waters in the Main Channel generally were
meeting present objectives. For the last three years, however, waters have not met
present objr.cfcl'-«s most of the time."
Regarding water transparency, the Report states, i:Tests illustrate the general
reduction in water clarity with increased distance from open ocean." On a 1968
tour of the harbor made by several members of the League of Women Voters, we observed
this condition to be true.
At a recent Hearing of the Water Quality Control Board, divers testified that solid
materials flowing from the Harbor are deposited on the ocean floor as far as four
miles oceanward from the entrance to the Harbor.
The Los Angeles Basin is one of the fastest growing population centers in the United
States. The disposal of wastes produced both by people and industry is becoming
an increasingly difficult problem and the ocean often seems an easy and accessible
dumping ground. What cumulative effects will we see on the ocean plants and life in
the next fifteen - twenty years if the present standards are not raised? And if
there continues to ba more people, more applications to discharge, more industry,
and more dischargers?
It is time now to be concerned with the future of our beaches, for the future of
facilities for boating, fishing, and other water-related sports. A clean and
attractive coast line is a community asset and our growing population will need all
possible recreational facilities, A blighted water-front effects the community as
much as a blighted neighborhood.
Since population and industry in California have tended to concentrate in coastal
communities, 657, of California's sewage and industrial wastes are discharged to
salt water. We must be concerned with the effects of this on our marine environment.
Catalina island, for instance, dumps raw sewage into the ocean. The treated sewage
from our coastal cities is responsible indirectly for the gradual decline of Southern
California's coastal seaweed forests. The sewage supports abnormally large populations
of sea urchins that destroy the young kelp plants before they get a chance to grow.
The Allan Hancock Foundation of University of Southern California completed a
synopsis of the state of coastal biology, geology, chemistry and oceanography in 1965
for the State Water Quality Control Board but did not secure much direct information
-------
-104-
Statement on Water Quality Management for Estuarine Areas in California 3
concerning fhe affects of existing outfalls. Another such survey was recommended
at 15 year intervals and certainly we see the need for more research into tlie e££oct»
on our marine environment. The federal government could help the states with
oceanic research either through grants or by direct studies. The League sees the
need for coordination and continuity in such research planning.
The recent disaster from the oil wells in the Santa Barbara Channel shows us that
we need far more information on what kind of industrial use of our ocean resources
is appropriate and what safeguards the government should require. It seems we need
more exchange of information of this kind between the state and federal government.
The citizen can reasonably expect more sharing of expertise at the different levels
of government involved. Since both the state and nation have interest and responsibil-
ity for the tideland oil development, there should be some institutional mechanism
to provide cooperative planning, development and protection of our coastal zones.
The League also thinks we need further research into the possible effects of thermal
pollution or radioactive poisoning from the installation of a large nuclear
desalination plant at Bolsa Island, near the heavily-populated coastline. Perhaps
the dangers have been over publicized but if so the federal government should
initiate a program of public education,
SAN FRANCISCO BAY
The San Francisco Bay presents one of the most complex estuarine situations in the
world, a large sea inundated valley combined with the drowned mouth of the giant
Sacramento-San Joaquin River systems. Problems of pollution began early--over a
hundred years ago when the placer cuts of the gold country began bringing vast
quantities of silt into the delta and the bay--a process still going on today,
Along with increasing industrial and human wastes, indescriminate dredging and filling
in the region since that time have placed these waters in a position of Jeopardy,
Uiich some scientific authorities believe is now irreversible.
Accurate documentation of modern pollution in the estuarine and bay ststem has been
developed since the establishment of the Regional Water Quality Control Board in
1950. Over the years this Board has exhibited a remarkable ability to persuade
(sottifctimes with the iron fist in the velvet glove) municipal and industrial polluters
fo attempt to solve these problems. (A notable exception to this has been San
Francisco, where the interaction of antiquated storm and sanitary sewers, a
situation until recently largely ignored by politicians and public alike, has
resulted today in an intolerable situation). However, the point is not that small
or major violations occur, but the fact that these waters cannot continue to absorb
wastes— both from the metropolitan area and the agricultural lands draining into
the eastern delta—without potential catastrophic results. As it stands today, the
local Regional Water Quality Control Board seems to be fighting just to stay one step
ahead of disaster.
The uses to which we believe the waters of the Bay Area should be dedicated are water-
related recreation and industry (including shipping and commercial fishing), as well
as the preservation of fish and other forms of vildlife. Dredging has been and will
continue to be necessary, but it should be planned and executed to achieve the
minimum amount of disruption to natural resources and maximum attention paid to the
placement of spoils--issues heretofore considered, but not within the context and
depth of the total ecological scene until the advent of the Bay Conservation and
Development Commission.
However, to achieve the optimum of beneficial uses of water within this area only the
implementation of massive projects such as those soon to be proposed by the Bay-
Delta Study: namely (1) adequate treatment facilities for the agricultural wastes of
the forthcoming San Luis Drain; and (2) a comprehensive regional system for liquid
-------
-105-
Statement on Water Quality Management for EstUarine Areas in California 4
waste disposal. In addition some means must be made available to prevent the further
intrusion of salt water into inland areas. (A sophisticated collection and treatment
system combined with (2) above, suggests a possibility in this area).
Management of this massive estuary has in the past and must continue to involve all
levels of government both in planning, finance and development. Increasing concern
on the local level revolves around fears that our present State water planning may
be geared more to the contract and sale of water rather than to preservation and (
improvement of existing water quality in the Bay Area; that the Federal government
will construct the San Luis Drain without adequate treatment facilities (let alone
spend a much less impressive sum on methods of control sewage from their large naval
vessels in the Bay itself) , Some thoughtful citizens are also concerned about local
recalcitrance to the prospect of developing a regional disposal system, if and when it
is proposed. Meanwhile, one of these days, we may wake up to salt-laden rivers
leading to a dead sea of red algae inside the Golden Gate.
Today the record in California seems to show that we have controlled pollution by
establishing state authority, decentralized through use of regional boards with the
responsibility to coordinate the efforts of all the state and local agencies involved.
The League believes that where localities and states are doing well in managing their
estaurine areas, they should be left in charge, However the experiences of San Diego
and San Francisco suggest the need for a regional plan and regional authority to
effect improvement. If this is not possible, the state should assume the responsibil-
ity for our esniaries and coastal zones. Since the federal government is also
concerned with these watery,perhaps some kind of federal-state commission or inter-
agency commission could be developed. Another federal review of the estuary system
in ten years would indicate whether progress or deterioration has taken place under
state management.
The League of Women Voters of California appreciates the opportunity to present
testimony for this national study of the Federal Water Pollution Control Administratic
We hope the results will be widely publicized and presented to the citizen as well
as to Congress for the sake of public understanding and informed concern with the
future of our estuary systems.
-------
FEDE
OUTDOOR CL
Outdoor Recreation Resources.
-106-
Pf.lFdent:
KENNETH K BALDWIN
P O Box 548, Bozeman, Mont 59715
FRANK FICKEISEN
5436 153rd Ave, Bellevue, Wash 98004
Secretary
MRS BETTY HUGHES
P O 6o> 2067, Carmel, Calif 9392)
Treasurer
MRS KATHFRINE MARTIN
4)r: V ssion Sr V> Pasadena, Calif 91030
MRS EVFlYN FNGEL ..
810', Hampshire St , San Francisco, Calif 941]oMr.
BPocrEvACNs°erv"'lon *"""""<""" Pacific Southwest Region, FWPCA
45341j Un.ven.ty W»y, Seattle, Waih 98105 ?QQ
St**» Vie* Presidents
ARTHUR A RICH, ULAS MUGG, Califor
ROBERT WENKAAA, Hawaii
CYRIL M SLANSKY, Idaho
DR LOREN L KRECK, Montana
LAWRENCE F WILLIAMS, Oregon
JACK E McLELLAN Utah
EDGAR D BAUCH, HELEN LININGER, W.
February 11, 1969
.
M,
MEMBER CLUBS
AIPINE kuAV\ERS
^t-nafrhpe, Washington
ANGOPAS
As'ona Oregon
BERKELEY HIKING CLUB
Berkfclev, California
BOEING EMPLOYEES ALPINE SOCIETY
Seattle Washington
CAUFORN'A ALPINE CLUB
Sfln Francisco California
CASCADE WILDERNESS CLUB
CASCADIANS
Yakima Washington
CHEMEKETANS
Salem, Oregon
CONTRA ^.OSTA HILLS CLUB
Oakland California
CRAG RAfS
Hood Rrver Oregon
DESOMOUNT CLUB
Los Angeles California
HOBNAILERS
Spokane Washington
IDAHO ALPINE CLUB
Idaho Falls, Idaho
INTER MOUNTAIN ALPINE CLUB
Richland, Washington
KLAHHANE CLUB
Port Angeles Washington
MA2AMAS
MONTANA WILDERNESS ASSOCIATION
MOUNTAINEERS
Seattle Washington
MT BAKER CLUB
BeHmrjham, Washington
MT ST HELENS CLUB
long view, Washington
OBSIDIANS INC
Eugene, Oregon
OLYMPIANS INC
Hoquiam, Wash ngton
OSU MOUNTAIN CLUB
Corvallis Oregon
PTARMIGANS
San Francisco, Calif. 9ljl02
Dear Mr. Terzichs
While we thoroughly appreciate being invited to testify at the
rublic hearings on estuarine studies in San Francisco February 18-19>
we are not in a position to be of much help at this point, having
little expertise to offer. We definitely support efforts to identify
and preserve the nation's estuarine areas.
Pollution seems the main problem at this time, particularly in
areas around San Francisco, Monterey Bay, Los Angeies and San Diego
waterway areas, as outfall from commercial plants and sewage of var-
ious degrees enters the waters and tidelands. Filling indiscrimin-
ately without reference to natural values of tidelands and mudflats
is another major problem.
People need to be awakened to the damage being done by both
pollution and filling; evaluations need to be done of what estuarine
areas mean to the total environment so that control of what is put
into them may be based on evidence of what they contribute. Too
many people regard these areas as simply unsightly mudflats or sloughs
of doubtful esthetic value; action to preserve and clean them up must
be predicated upon realization of their place in the total picture of
man's environment and their contribution to it.
Wash.
ngtc
REGIONAL PARKS ASSOCIATION
Berkeley California
RIMROCK MOUNTAINEERS
Coulee Dam, Washington
ROAMER HIKING CLUB
ROCKY MOUNTAINEERS
Secretary
Mis:
SAN ANTONIO CLUB
Alhambra, California
SANTiAM ALPINE CLUB, INC
SEATTLE AUDU8ON SOCIETY
Seattle, Washington
SIERRA CLU8
San Francisco, California
SKAGIT ALPINE CLUB
Mount Vernon Washington
SOUTHEASTERN ALASKA
MOUNTAINEERING ASSOCIATION
Ketchikan, Alaska
SPOKANE MOUNTAINEERS, INC
Spokane, Washington
SUMMIT ALPINE CLU8
Tacoma, Washington
TAMALPAIS CONSERVATION CLUB
San Francisco, California
TRAILS CLUB OF OREGON
Portland, Oregon
WANDERERS
Olyi
Washington
WASATCH MOUNTAIN CLUB
Salt Lake City Utah
WASHINGTON ALPINE CLUB
Seattle, Waih, ngton
WASHINGTON KAYAK CLUB
Spdtfle Wasrvnqton
WY'EAST CUMBERS
Portland, Oregon
-------
-107-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC.
CONSULTING ENGINEERS
120 MONTGOMERY STREET
CABLE SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94104 TELEPHONE
[EFDSHI1L 415-781-6100
March 1, 1968
Honorable Board of Directors
Contra Costa County Water District
2020 Railroad Avenue
Pittsburg, California 9^565
Gentlemen:
We are pleased to transm-'t herewith our Master
Plan Report for warer supply for rhe Contre Costa County
Water District, prepared in accordance with our agreement
dated April o, 1956. A rate study report, also required
by the agreement, is being published concurrently with
but bound separate]-/ from this Report.
Our investigations show that there is an urgent
need for trie proposed Kellogg Unit of the Federal Central
Valley Project, or an alternate thereto, and that every
effort should ;
-------
—1 OS-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC 'LUO
- 2 -
We recommend that the District continue to press
for rapid completion of the feasibility report being pre-
pared by the United States Bureau of Reclamation supporting
the proposed Kellogg Unit, and, assuming that the terms and
conditions presented therein as to water charges are fair
and reasonable, that the District urge authorization and
funding of the Unit by the Congress at the earliest possible
date. We further recommend that the program for improve-
ments to the Contra Costa Canal system proposed herein be
implemented, and that the District begin consultations
immediately with the Bureau of Reclamation to that end.
If it becomes apparent, after consultation with
the various concerned Federal agencies including the
Bureau of the Budget, that there is no reasonable probabi-
lity that the Bureau of Reclamation can construct the
Canal improvements within the required time schedule, the
District should then take steps to implement the improve-
ment program itself, either in its entirety or to the
extent that it cannot be accomplished by the Bureau within
the time limits. In this case, Congressional approval
should be sought for the District to take over ownership
of the Canal system after payout.
We would like to take this opportunity to express
our appreciation of the superior work contributed to this
investigation by the District's engineering staff, who
carried out most of the necessary detailed studies under
our direction. Their competence and cooperation, together
with that of the General Manager and his administrative
staff, were invaluable. We also gratefully acknowledge
the cooperation of the United States Bureau of Reclamation,
the State of California Department of Water Resources, the
District's Treated Water Division, and the many municipal-
ities, industries, and individuals who provided information
and assistance necessary to the investigation.
Very /truly
HARVEY 0
Pres ident
-------
-109-
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY WATER DISTRICT
MASTER PLAIN!
FOR
WATER SUPPLY
MARCH 1968
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC., CONSULTING ENGINEERS
SAN FRANCISCO — LOS ANGELES
-------
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
-110-
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
I . INTRODUCTION
A. AUTHORITY 1
B. SCOPE 1
II . STUDY AREA
A. DESCRIPTION OF AREA
1. CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
a. History 3
b. Geography 3
c. Climate 3
d. Economic Base 14
e. Water Supply Agencies 4
2. CONTRA COSTA COUNTY WATER DISTRICT
a. Formation and Function 6
b. Powers and Limitations 6
c. Service Area 7
d. Present Customers 7
3. STUDY AREA
a. Definition 8
b. Sub-Areas 8
B. LAND USE
1. PRESENT 10
2. FUTURE 10
-------
-111-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
Page
C. POPULATION
1. HISTORICAL 13
2. FUTURE 13
III . WATER SUPPLY
A. PRESENT SOURCES
1. FEDERAL CENTRAL VALLEY PROJECT 21
2. SACRAMENTO-SAN JOAQUIN DELTA 23
3 . GROUND WATER 26
B. FUTURE SOURCES
1. FEDERAL CENTRAL VALLEY PROJECT
a . Contra Costa Canal Unit 27
b. Kellogg Unit 27
2. SACRAMENTO-SAN JOAQUIN DELIA 30
3. POSSIBLE DISTRICT-SPONSORED DROJECTS 33
4. GROUND WATER 33
5 . WASTE WATER RECLAMATION 3U
6 , SALINE 'WATEP CONVERSION 35
I V. WATER REQUIREMENTS
A. MUXICI^nL
1. RESIDENTIAL 37
2. COMMERCIAL AND PUBLIC 38
?. LOSSES 38
4. TOTAL MUNICIPAL REQUIREMENTS 41
11
-------
-112-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC.
Page
B. INDUSTRIAL
1. METHODOLOGY 41
2. PROJECTED REQUIREMENTS 43
3. DISTRIBUTION OF REQUIREMENTS 43
C. AGRICULTURAL 46
D. TOTAL WATER REQUIREMENTS
1. TOTAL REQUIREMENTS 46
2. REQUIREMENTS ON SUPPLY SYSTEM 49
E. PEAK SUPPLY SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
1. CUSTOMER PEAKING FACTORS 53
2. PEAK REQUIREMENTS 53
V. PRESENT SUPPLY SYSTEM
A. BUREAU OF RECLAMATION FACILITIES
1. CANALS 59
2. PUMPING PLANTS 59
3. RESERVOIRS 62
4. LATERALS 65
B. CUSTOMERS' FACILITIES
1. CUSTOMERS' LATERALS 65
2. RAW WATER STORAGE 67
3. OFFSHORE SUPPLY SYSTEMS 68
111
-------
-113-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
Page
VI . SUPPLY SYSTEM DEFICIENCIES
A. SERVICE PROBLEMS
1. WATER QUALITY 69
2. CAPACITY OF FACILITIES 70
3. OPERATING CONTROL 72
4. SYSTEM RELIABILITY 73
B. OTHER PROBLEMS
1. CANAL SAFETY 75
2. MAINTENANCE DEFICIENCIES 75
3. METERING INADEQUACIES
a. Major Customers 77
b. Other Customers 78
4. DRAINAGE INLETS 81
VII . PROPOSED IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
A. NEAR TERM IMPROVEMENTS (TO 1980)
1. CLYDE-MARTINEZ PIPELINE 83
2. DIABLO VALLEY LOOP
a. Water Requirements 86
b. Alternatives Studied 88
c. East Side Improvements 88
d. West Side Improvements 89
3. CANAL ENLARGEMENT
a. Sections 5-9 89
b. Sections 3 and 4 93
c. Sections 1 and 2 93
d. In-line Structures 94
e. Cross Structures 95
f. Section 4 Terminal Structure 96
-------
-1U-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC.
Page
4. PUMPING PLANT ENLARGEMENT 95
5. CANAL SAFETY 97
6. SUPERVISORY CONTROL 98
7. METERING SYSTEM 99
8. PARK AND TRAIL SYSTEM 100
9. SEASONAL BARRIER AT ROCK SLOUGH 101
B. LONG RANGE IMPROVEMENTS (BEYOND 1980) 102
C. IMPROVEMENTS BY BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
1. IMPROVEMENTS TO CANAL 102
2. IMPROVEMENTS TO PUMPING PLANTS 103
3. SUPERVISORY CONTROL 105
4. OPERATING CENTER 105
D. SCHEDULE FOR DEVELOPMENT 106
VIII. COST OF IMPROVEMENTS
A. NEAR TERM 109
B. LONG RANGE Ill
IX. SOURCE WATER COSTS
A. PRESENT 113
B. FUTURE 113
-------
-115-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC.
Page
X. DISTRICT OPERATION OF CANAL SYSTEM
A. PURPOSE OF ANALYSIS 115
B. HISTORICAL 0 6 M COSTS
1. COSTS TO BUREAU OF RECLAMATION 115
2. HYPOTHETICAL DISTRICT COSTS 116
C. FUTURE
1. IMPROVED SUPPLY SYSTEM 122
2. ADDITIONAL COSTS 127
3. TOTAL FUTURE COSTS 127
XI. TREATED WATER SYSTEMS
A. PRESENT SYSTEMS 131
B. FUTURE EXPANSION
1. EXISTING SYSTEMS 131
2. NEW SYSTEMS
a. Byron Sub-Area 133
b. Brentwood Sub-Area 133
c. Islands Sub-Area 134
XII. FINANCING
A. PROCEDURE 135
B. RESULTS OF ANALYSES 137
XIV. CONCLUSIONS 139
XV. RECOMMENDATIONS 147
VI
-------
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
LIST OF TABLES
-116-
Table No. Page
1 5
2
Title
10
11
12
13
11
12
15
16
17
18
19
22
25
15
Climatic Characteristics of
Contra Costa County
Growth of Contra Costa County
Wat er District
Customers of Contra Costa
County Water District
1962 Land Use in Study Area
Projected 1985 Land Use in Study
Area
Historical Population of Study
Area
Projected Population of Contra
Costa County and Study Area
Derived 1962 Population of
Study Area
Derived 1985 Population of
Study Area
Projected Population of Study
Area
Historical Water Use From
Contra Costa Canal
Historical Water Diversions
from Sacramento-San Joaquin
Delta for Use Within District
Projected Availability of High-
Quality Offshore Water
Duty of Water for Commercial
and Public Areas
Projected Municipal Water
Requirements
VI 1
-------
LFFDS HILL AND JEWFTT INC
LIST OF TABLES (Cout.
-117-
Table No. Pae
16
Title
Historical and Projected High-
Quality Industrial Water
Requirements
17
19
Distribution of Hi oh-Quality
Industrial Water Requirements
Projected Agricultural Water
Requirements
Projected Total High-Quality
V,7 a *~ e r Pcquirenents
20
21
SO
bl
Projected High-Quality Water
Diversions From Sacramento-
San J o a q u i n Delta for Use in
S tu dy Are d
Projected Demand c r. Supply
System for ','.' a t e r in Present
District Service Area
Projected Demand on Supply
'lye. t err f j r- '.;ater in T^tal Study
A re a
Anticipated Customer' Peaking
Ratios
57
Peak Day Canal Flows, Contra
Costa Canal
25
60
Characteristics of Contra Costa
Canal
61
Characteristics of Clayton and
V E n a c i o R e1i f t Canals
27
63
Characteristics of Pumping
Plants
28
66
Characteristics of Distribution
Laterals from Contra Costa Canal
29
79
Characteristics of Metering
System, Contra Costa Canal
VI 1 1
-------
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT INC
LIST OF TABLES (Cent . )
-118-
Table Ho. F^age
30 85
Title
31
32
33
35
36
37
38
39
87
92
10 4
107
110
117
119
120
123
40
126
Peak Day Demands on Clyde-
Martinez Pipeline
Projected Demand on Diablo
Valley Loop
Effect of Contra Costa Canal
Modifications
Schedule of Improvements Pro-
posed by United States Bureau
of Reclamat i on
Recommended Development
Schedule for Proposed Improve-
ment Program, Contra Costa
Canal System
Anticipated Costs of Near Term
Improvements, Contra Costa
Canal Sys tem
Historical Operation and
Maintenance Costs for Contra
Costa Canal System
Historical Labor Costs for
Operation and Maintenance of
Contra Costa Canal System
Hypothetical District Labor
Costs for Operation and Main-
tenance of Contra Costa Canal
Sys tem
Hypothetical Total Costs for
District Operation and Mainte-
nance of Contra Costa Canal
System
Estimated Annual Operation and
Maintenance Costs for Diablo
Valley Loop System
IX
-------
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
-119-
LIST OF TABLES (Cont.)
Table No. Page
41 126
Title
42
128
132
Additional Operation and Main-
tenance Costs for Improved
Sys tern
Projected Operation and Main-
tenance Costs for Contra Costa
Canal System
Characteristics of Treated
Water Systems
-------
-120-
LIST OF PLATES
Plate No. Title
1 Water Supply Agencies in Contra Costa County
2 Study Area and Sub-Area Boundaries
3 Anticipated 1985 Land Use
4 Projected Population, Contra Costa County
and Study Area
5 Existing Supply System
6 Proposed Kellogg Unit, Federal Central Valley
Proj ect
7 Requirements for High-Quality Water, Present
District Service Area
8 Requirements for High-Quality Water, Total
Study Area
9 Demand on Overland Supply System Within Present
District
10 Historical Availability of High-Quality
Water at Rock Slough
11 Anticipated Peak-Day Canal Flows
12 Example of Water Orders and Deliveries
13 Proposed Clyde-Martinez Pipeline
14 Proposed Improvements in Diablo Valley
15 Proposed Enlargement of Contra Costa Canal,
Sections 5 through 9
16 Proposed Seasonal Barrier at Rock Slough
17 Proposed Improvement Program, Contra Costa
Canal System
All Plates are bound at the end of the Report.
xi
-------
-121-
LEF.DS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
REFERENCES
1. Report of Central Contra Costa County Committee on
Study of Water Agency Service Area Boundaries.
April, 1962.
2. Contra Costa County Land Use and Circulation Plan -
1985. Contra Costa County Planning Commission.
June , 1963.
3. Appendix B to "Future Development of the San Francisco
Bay Area, 1960-2020." U.S. Department of Commerce.
December, 1959.
4. Future Development of the San Francisco Bay Area
1960-2020. U.S. Department of Commerce.
December, 1959.
5. Report on Feasibility of Water Supply Development,
Kellogg Unit, Central Valley Project, California.
United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of
Reclamation. September, 1967.
6. Residential Water Use Research Project; by F. P.
Linaweaver, Jr., J. C. Geyer, and J. B. Wolff.
Johns Hopkins University. June, 1966.
7. Contra Costa County Water District, Treated Water
Division, Report On Water System. James M. Montgomery,
Inc., Consulting Engineers. October, 1962.
8. 2ommittee Print No. 8. "Future Water Requirements of
Principal Water-Using Industies." United States
Senate Select Committee on National Water Resources.
April, 1960.
9. Water Requirements in the Vicinity of Mountain View
Reservoir; by J. 0. Nelson, District Engineer.
Contra Costa County Water District. January, 1966.
10. Modification of the Contra Costa Canal, Central Valley
Project, Between Clyde and Martinez, California; by
A. J. Hanson and J. E. Cook. United States Department
of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation. March, 1967.
11. Contra Costa Canal Water Requirements in Diablo Valley;
by J. 0. Nelson, District Engineer. Contra Costa
County Water District. January, 1967.
-------
-122-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
I. INTRODUCTION
A . AUTHORITY
This Report has been prepared pursuant to an
agreement dated April 6, 1966, between the Board of
Directors of the Contra Costa County Water District and
Leeds, Hill and Jewett, Inc., Consulting Engineers.
That agreement authorized the Engineers to "direct and
be responsible for the formulation of a Master Plan and
Rate Study" for the District, in order to ensure that
the foreseeable water requirements within the District
will be provided for in an economic, engineeringly
sound, and financially feasible manner.
B. SCOPE
This Report presents the results of studies
leading to:
(l) Determination of future requirements for
high quality water within the present and
potential service area of the Contra Costa
County Water District;
(2) Determination of potential sources of sup-
ply for the District's water needs;
(3) Selection of a plan for modification and
expansion of the existing Contra Costa
Canal system to meet future requirements
for servi ce;
(4-) Recommendations for a financial plan to
enable the District to effect the proposed
improvements;
(5) Determination of the costs which the District
would bear if it were to take over operation
and maintenance of the existing Contra Costa
Canal sys tern.
-------
-123-
LEEDS. HILL AND JEWETT, INC
The Report is primarily concerned with the problems of
raw water supply and the conveyance of raw water. The
problems of treatment and distribution of finished
water within the District's Treated Water Division were
examined in a Master Plan report prepared for TWO by
another firm in 1964.
Analysis of the District's present rate struc-
ture, general recommendations regarding rate structure
policy, and determination of an interim water rate
schedule are presented in a separate report which can be
considered as an addendum to this Report. The Rate
Structure report has been bound separately from the
Master Plan Report, since the District's rate structure
will require review and revision more frequently than
will its long-range master plan for development.
The Master Plan studies and the financial plan
presented in this Report presume that the proposed
Kellogg Unit of the Federal Central Valley Project will
be constructed and in operation within the next seven or
eight years. However, investigations are now underway
of alternative projects which could be constructed by the
District if it develops that this timetable cannot be
realized. If a District-sponsored alternative to the
Kellogg Unit is undertaken, the financial plan presented
in this Report will require revision. The proposed plan
for modification of the distribution system beyond Contra
Loma Reservoir would probably not be affected by a
revision in concept of the source water supply project,
although the plan should then be reviewed.
-------
-124-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC.
II. STUDY AREA
A. DESCRIPTION OF AREA
1. CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
a. His tory . In 184-8, Contra Costa County was
established as one of the original counties forming
California when the State was admitted to the Union.
Subsequently, in 1853, the County was partitioned by the
creation of Alameda County from its southern and eastern
lands.
Contra Costa County was for many years
principally devoted to grazing and agricultural activities
but since the turn of the century it has become increas-
ingly important as a major industrial and urban center,
and now encompasses one of the largest heavy industrial
complexes in the State.
b. Geography. Contra Costa County lies at the
northern extremity of the Diablo Range, and is bounded
by San Francisco and San Pablo Bays to the west, Suisun
and Honker Bays and the San Joaquin River to the north,
and Old River to the east. These waters are subject to
tidal influences from the Pacific Ocean.
The eastern portion of the County lands which
lend themselves to development lie in the flat plains of
the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, the central portion in
the narrow valleys of San Ramon, Walnut, and Mount Diablo
Creeks, and the western portion on the narrow coastal
plains and tidelands fronting on San Francisco Bay.
Separating the central and western portions of the County
are the Berkeley Hills, while Mount Diablo and its foot-
hills lie between the central and eastern portions. A
relatively narrow strip of partially developed land
fronts the northern edge of the County along the
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Suisun Bay.
c. Climate. The climate of the County is
characterized by warm, dry summers and cool, moist winters,
Variations in temperature from one section of the County
to another are the result either of the cooling effects
-------
-125-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
of the Pacific Ocean and neighboring bays, or of topo-
graphic influences. Precipitation occurs almost exclu-
sively during the winter months, and rainfall is
negligible throughout the County during the growing sea-
son from May through September. Irrigation is essential
to the success of commercial agriculture.
The climatic characteristics of Contra Costa
County are summarized in Table 1. In general, tempera-
ture increases and precipitation decreases from west to
east across the County.
d. Economic Base. Contra Costa County is the
center of heavy industrial development in Northern
California. In 1965, total investment in industrial
plant and equipment exceeded $2 billion. Seventeen
different industries each had more than 500 employees,
while an additional 12 industrial plants employed more
than 250 persons each. Major industries represented in
the County include oil refining, steel manufacturing,
paper and paper products, chemicals, and food products
processing and packing. The electronics and aerospace
industries are growing rapidly. While agriculture is
no longer a primary industry, farm income in the eastern
portions of the County still averages about $25 million
annually .
Contra Costa County is a significant West Coast
shipping center. Its wharves presently handle approxi-
mately 62% of all the water-borne shipping of San Francisco
Bay, and 34% of the shipping of all California ocean
ports. The United States Navy maintains a large
installation at Port Chicago, through which substantial
quantities of military materiel pass.
Other transportation facilities include ample
highway access, rail service by three major railroads,
and a public airport adequate for use by light planes.
In addition, the Bay Area Rapid Transit system now under
construction will provide modern, high-speed commuter
service to the hub cities of San Francisco and Oakland
from Richmond, Lafayette, Walnut Creek, and Concord.
Plans call for future extension of the system to
Pittsburg, Antioch, and Brentwood.
e. Water Supply Agencies. Agencies providing
raw water supplies to areas of Contra Costa County for
municipal, industrial, and agricultural purposes are:
Contra Costa County Water District, East Bay Municipal
-------
-126-
TABLE 1
CLIMATIC CHARACTERISTICS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Station
Richmond
Period of Record
Temperature, F
Average
High
Average
Low
66.3 50.0
1951-1960
Average Annual
Average Precipitation,
Annual inches
58.1
1951-1960
22.05
1951-1960
Walnut Creek (2ESE)
Period of Record
71.9 44.9
1949-1960
58.1
1948-1966
19.69
1901-1966
Port Chicago
(Naval Depot)
Period of Record
71.6
43.3
1947-1960
57.5
1947-1960
14.49
1946-1966
Antioch 74.1 47.4 61.5 12.70
(Fibreboard Mills)
Period of Record 1918-1960 1919-1960 1882-1966 1879-1966
Source: U. S. Weather Bureau records.
-------
-127-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
Utility District, East Contra Costa Irrigation District,
and Byron-Bethany Irrigation District. The latter two
agencies supply only agricultural water in their service
areas which are located in the eastern portion of the
County.
These four agencies are delineated on Plate 1,
which shows only that portion of the County lying to
the east of the East Bay Municipal Utility District ser-
vice area; only the eastern boundary of that District is
shown.
2. CONTRA COSTA COUNTY WATEP DISTRICT
a. Formation and Function. The Contra Costa
County Water District was organized May 5, 1936, as the
legal entity to contract with the United States for the
purchase and distribution of water from the Contra Costa
Canal Unit of the Federal Central Valley Project. The
District sells raw water to individual domestic,
industrial, and agricultural water users, to municipali-
ties, and to other public agencies, some of which treat
the water and retail it to individual customers. It is
the objective of the District to ensure the availability
of a water supply to its lands and inhabitants, adequate
in quantity and quality to meet all foreseeable needs,
from either the Federal Central Valley Project or from
some alternative source or both.
Since 1961, when it purchased the facilities of
the California Water Service Company, the District has
also been a purveyor of treated municipal and industrial
water supplies. This function has been carried out
through the Treated Water Division of the District.
b. Powers and Limitations. The Contra Costa
County Water District was formed and operates under the
County Water District Law (Water Code, Division 12).
This law gives broad powers to the District which enable
it to "perform any act necessary to furnish sufficient
water to the District for any present or future beneficial
use..." (Water Code, Section 31020). The District may
undertake the storage, conservation, treatment, and
distribution of water; drainage and reclamation of land;
development and distribution or replenishment of ground
water; provision of service for collection and disposal
of garbage, waste and trash; and acquisition and opera-
-------
-128-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC.
tion of facilities appropriate to the recreational use
of water. The District may plan, construct, and operate
any necessary facilities; may set rates for water
sufficient to yield monies to pay for a portion of or all
costs; may levy taxes to pay a portion of or all costs;
may incur bonded indebtedness of the District as a whole
or of specially defined improvement zones; and may res-
trict or prohibit the wastage of or the use of District
water during periods of emergency caused by drought or
other threatened or existing water shortage for any
purposes other than household uses or such other uses
that may be determined to be necessary. In order to
incur general obligation bonded indebtedness, the
District must obtain the approval of two-thirds of those
voting at a bond election. A majority vote is sufficient
for approval of revenue bonds.
c. Service Area. Originally, the District
contained about 48,000 acres lying along the northern
shore of Contra Costa County and extending into Clayton
and Ygnacio Valleys. Over the years, annexations have
enlarged the District until it now encompasses about
109,000 acres. The present boundary of the District is
shown on Plate 1; the District's historic growth is sum-
marized in Table 2.
d. Present Customers. The Contra Costa County
Water District at present sells raw water to a total of
1,259 different customers, including its own Treated Water
Division. However, by far the greatest portion of total
water sales is delivered to a relatively few major customers
consisting of municipalities and industries which purchase
500 acre feet or more annually each. In the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1967, 91% of the District's total sales
were made to the following 15 customers:
City of Antioch
City of Pittsburg
City of Martinez
City of Pleasant Hill
CCCWD, Treated Water Division
Bay Water Service
Oakley County Water District
Crown Zellerbach Corporation
Dow Chemical Company
Fibreboard Paper Products Corporation
Monsanto Chemical Company
Phillips Petroleum Company
United States Steel Corporation
Shell Chemical Company
Shell Oil Company
-------
-129-
LEFDS, HILL AND JEWETT INC
The remaining customers are primarily agricul-
tural water user-; smaller commercial ctnd industrial
organization^; municipal customers including cemeteries,
golf courses, and schools; and individuals and groups which
divert water directly from the Contra Costa Canal
principally for domestic irrigation purposes. Individuals
of this type are termed "Flat Raters" by the District. Of
these remaining customers, agriculture] users purchased
5 % of the total water delivered by the District in fiscal
year 1967, so tha^ all the other customers combined
accounted for only M-'-o of the District's sales, A summary
of the number of customers in each use category is shown
in Table 3.
The District has sold a snail amount of water-
in the past under special cor. tract to t h *=• Cir-r &f Benicia,
in Solano County. Tlie^-e supplies are ac 1 i v-.- r<,; d through
a 10-inch diameter pireline Carried on t r _• i«t-:icia- Martinez
Bridge. The pipeline was ori^in^lly constructed by the
United States Department of Defense to provide service to
the Benicia Arsenal, which has since been abandoned.
3. STUDY A P F A
a. Definition. The total area considered for
analysis in this .\aster Plan study Is shown on Plate 2.
The area is defined as that portion of ^ h o County lying
to the east of the re corn ended ul: i~ate boundary of the
East Bay Municipal Utility Distrir' , as described in
reference 1, and a line extending from the southeastern
extremity of that recomirended boundary alonp; the- natural
watershed line to the Contra f'cs t a - A 1 amed a County line.
It is considered probable that all of this area may
eventually depend on the District for raw water supplies
for municipal and industrial uses and for some agricul-
tural uses. A substantial portion of the study area
lies within the present District boundaries.
b. SUP-Areas. For purposes of analyzing
population patterns and watc-r requirements, the study
area was divided into 11 sub-area1' 03 shown on Plate 2.
When planning a water supply system serving a
single relatively norr.c aeneous area, it is usually
satisfactory to estimate municipal water requirements by
multiplying anticipated future population by a 'factor
representing ever-all per-capita use. However, for
-------
-130-
TABLE 2
GROWTH OF
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY WATER DISTRICT
Area Within District,
Year Acres
1936 48,000
1950 79,000
1951 79,000
1952 81,470
1953 81,470
1954 82,118
1955 82,223
1956 82,223
1957 82,897
Area Within District,
Year Acres
1958 82,832
1959 95,216
1960 107,488
1961 107,488
1962 107,832
1963 107,966
1964 106,613
1965 108,913
1966 108,914
TABLE 3
CUSTOMERS OF
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY WATER DISTRICT
Type of Customer
Municipal
Industrial
Agricultural
Groups
Flat Raters-''
Number of
Customers—
a/ As of December 1967.
b/ Individuals.
-------
-131-
1 FFDS HILL AND JEWETT, INC
analysis of the Contra Costa Canal, a 4-8-mile long facil-
ity serving a multiplicity of varying uses along its
length, this approach is not satisfactory. It was
necessary to establish study sub-areas which would reflect
to a reasonable extent the distinctly different character-
istics of the various areas served by the Canal.
The boundaries selected for the study sub-areas
were generally determined as the planning boundaries of
municipal water systems, as ultimate city boundaries shown
in land use planning reports, or as natural geographic
boundaries where the other two criteria did not apply or
were n&t appropriate.
LAND
1 . PRESENT
Present land use patterns within the study
area are highly variable, ranging from predominantly
agricultural use in the eastern portion of the area to
the intensely developed residential and commercial areas
of Martinez, Pleasant Hill, and Concord in the west. A
strip of heavy industrial development fronts the
Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers, extending westerly from
Oakley and including areas surrounding Antioch, Pittsburg,
Nichols, and Martinez. Another significant feature is
the United Stater Naval Reservation at Concord. A
summary of the 1962 land use patterns in the study area
is shown in Table 4, as taken from land use survey maps
prepared in that year by the Contra Costa County Planning
Commi s s i on.
2. FUTURE
In estimating the future land use patterns
for the study area, a number of land use plans were
reviewed. The plan which appears to be the most consistent
with current trends, and also is the most likely to be
effectuated through action by the County Board of Super-
visors, is the County Planning Commission's "Land Use and
Circulation Plan - 1985," reference 2. This land use plan
has been accepted as an adequate basis for predicting
future population and municipal water requirements in the
10
-------
trip
^d M
(B X
4 O
O !-•
(B C
3 0.
rt P-
01 3
IP OP
ro
01
o OP
HI 4
rt O
O C
rt M
01 rt
3
rt
O
H-
01
f
O
CO
(B
OP
01
3
O
M
52
I
§
)-•
n>
i
co
O
I
OT
a
CO
w
(B
3
rt
O
O
O.
O
01
£j>
3
rt
P-
O
O
3-
13
P-
rt
rt
CO
cr
r^
OP
s
p-
o
D"
0
t-1
W
O
(B
3
rt
^
Pi
0
O
C
3
rt
^
3
01
^
rt
P-
3
N
CO
tr
1
pi
CB
01
M
,_g
O
rt
0>
CO
rt
C
PL
>
4
(B
01
>
fl>
01
a, ai
(D h->
a.
CD
CO
ID
o
CO
o
ID
OO
cn
co cn co to
KJ
CO
*
to
o
ID
to
o\°
ID
CO
cn
O
cn
cn
ID
O
(D
00
00
01
cn
cn
cn
oo
ID
oo
co
oo
cn
co
(D
cn
cn
W
cn
f
f
o\o
^
XI
CO
p-
a
(D
3
rt
p-
01
^
.p-
^j
CO
O
HJ
n>
cn
cn
0\°
'£
O
O
3
3
IB
^
O
P-
0>
0)
3
a-
c
CO
(B
("}
PI
rt
CB
OP
UD
CD
to
o
G
to
M
CO
3
t)
to
cn
ro
cn
ID
•
cn
to
o cn
cn o
oo
cn
cn
oo
ID
Cn
.p
cn
CO
(D
O
a
CB
-------
5"
O
W
LO
o
1
m
co
en
a
w
§
0-.
m
CJ
rH W
tO TD 0)
•P 0) fc
Of] f \
l—M W
H O <
H
0)
>
0)
Q
en
CO
ID
OO
p*^
O ID
OO 00
m d-
f- r--
CO
H r-
in co
ID CM
d f-
00
rH
CD
O
rH
r^ in CM
en rH co
co (is in
CM CN CO
00
CM
rH
W
'fc
OJ
0,
Si
OP
CO
rH
w
0)
fc
o
d
d"
O
A
rH
in
o
[^
co
P,
rH
O
CO
UD
r.
10
H
H
CO
in
O
r-
CM
CO
CO
O
CO
ID
CO
in
I
I
1
in
CM
00
in
rH
CO
o
00
ID
CO
O
ID
CO 1
rH
ID
m i
CO
in i
H
CO
•H
en co
CM O
ID C—
ID CO
o
H
CO ID
o en
r- co
OO CO
CO CO
tD rH
CN
en H I i I i
en en
rH
1 1 1 1 J- 1
CO
1 1 1 1 CO |
CM
O UD CO d" CM CO
CO CM CM CM d" rH
ID ID CO CO in O
rH f~ ID ID d" CO
CN CM rH
d- d- ID ID H CM
CM d" in c^ en co
ID in d~ en co en
in CM d- CM d- co
d" d CM in d~ en
in en co in rH ID
d m r-H CM CO rH
0)
o
ro
a,
Ul
c
a>
a.
o
c
ro
PL.
-------
-134-
LFTDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
Master Plan study area. To a great extent, the District's
Master Plan for water supply is designed to support the
County's land use and circulation plan.
The pattern of land use in the study area in
year 1985, as projected in the County plan, is depicted on
Plate 3 and summarized in Table 5. The County Planning
Commission's values for industrial land use acreages for
both the 1962 and the 1985 levels of development require
some clarification. At the 1962 level, these represent more
closely the total land holdings of industries in the area
than the actually developed acreages. Similarly, at the
1985 level the figures represent area which would be set
aside for long-term future development as industrial sites,
and do not necessarily indicate the level of industrial
development at that time.
C. POPULATION
1. HISTORICAL
As a guide in projecting the future popula-
tion of the study area and sub-areas, the historical
populations of these areas were first developed by analysis
of United States Bureau of Census data from 1930 through
1960. These historical population data are summarized in
Table 6.
2. FUTURE
As a first step in predicting future popu-
lations, a projection for all of Contra Costa County was
adopted and was split between population within and outside
of the study area. After review of a number of projections
for the County made by various Federal, State, and local
agencies, the United States Bureau of Census Series 2-IV
projection was accepted, reference 3. This projection
most closely approximates actual trends which have develop-
ed since it was made in 1959, and appears to recognize
the area's growth potential. The projected County-wide
population was then distributed within and outside the
study area by consideration of the historical distribution
patterns and by extrapolation of current trends using
data presented in the so-called "2020 Report," reference 4.
13
-------
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT. INC
-135-
The projections of the total population of Contra Costa
portion within the study area are listed
are shown graphically on Plate 4.
County and th
in Table 7 and
In distributing the study area population pro-
jection to the 11 sub-areas, the County Planning Commission's
land use pattern and density criteria were utilized. As
a first step, density factors were developed which fell
within the County Planning Commission's permissible range
and which, when applied to the 1952 land use data, gave a
total study area population matching the population for
1962 extrapolated from the historical trend 1930-1960.
This computation is shown in Table 8. Next, these density
factors were applied to the 1985 land use plan to estimate
the 1985 population in each sub-area and in the total
study ar^a, as shown in Table 9. Only minor adjustments
were necessary to obtain excellent agreement between this
computation of the 1985 population and the corresponding
value estimated as described in the preceding paragraph and
listed in Table 7.
With the aid of this 19;
'bench mark" and
the historical 1930-1960 population data, growth curves
of population were constructed for each sub-area to the
year 2020, with minor internal adjustments being made
so that the total of the curve values matched the
previously estimated study area total. In making these
adjustments, consideration was given to the net area
developable for residential use in each of the sub-areas.
The anticipated future populations projected by this
method for each sub-area are listed in Table 10.
-------
-136-
HISTORICAL POPULATION OF STUDY AREA
a/ Approximate.
Source: U. S. Bureau of Census data.
TABLE 6
Area
Total Study Area
Sub-areas
Martinez
Central County
Nichols
Pittsburg
Antioch
Oakley
Islands
Brentwood
Byron
Nortonville-Somersville
Mt. Diablo-Los Meganos
1930
37,000
9,680
6,060
1,610
9,160
5,500
710
700
2,500
1,080
-
-
1940
45,940
10,870
9,210
2,190
9,520
6,890
730
710
4,570
1,250
-
-
1950
87,560
12,000
31,600
5,680
15,320
13,000
1,280
1,290
5,960
1,230
50£/
150i/
1960
161,130
15,620
85,220
8,570
21,190
19,210
1,630
1,390
6,790
1,310
50!
150!
15
-------
-137-
TABLE v
PROJECTED POPULATION OF
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY AND STUDY AREA
Population In Thousands
Year
1970
1980
1985
1990
2000
2010
2020
Contra Costa
County^/
652
992
1,198
1,428
1,888
2,3142
2,800
Study Area
267
427
527
632
870
1,116
1,356
a/ Source: U. S. Bureau of Census Series 2-IV,
extrapolated to 2020.
16
-------
-• cn CO Co H
O O -F cn
3 -F
Hi Hi
rgfi
1 !-•• H« «3
^ j_j |_i en
.. P. P. O
j. ft ft 3
J W W M
Hi
ft 3
*O ^ *T3 *TJ
J ft ft ft ft
a a HI 3
J ft ft Oi ft
» rt rt 3 rt
+ H-
01 01 H1 01
II O O ^ O
i ft ft ft
a:
rt
a
H-
0>
tr
o
t-'
o
CO
£C
ft
TO
01
3
O
W
5S cd
O <<
^ 4
rt O
0 3
a
H'
|_j
ft
1
CO
0
3
ft
^
CO
^
H-
^—i
|— i
ft
td
t^
ft
3
rt
^
0
O
p.
I-H
M
£
3
P.
M
O >
Oi 3
X rt
H H«
ft O
*< 0
y
Hj
H-
rt
rt
W
tr
§
(W
25
H"
O
O
CO
o
ft
3
rt
4
01
H
0
O
c
3
rt
^
3i
01
rt
a*
ft
N
CO
&
1
0)
^
ft
0)
CO
H
O
rt
01
CO
rt
p.
^
>
ft
0>
£>
••j
a>
0)
oo
cn
oo
H
v
CO
o
ro
-F
^p-
^j
CD
CO
00
00 1
H
*«
j7
CO
ro i
cn
0
ID
CD 1
H
cn
-F
ro
CO
M
,j
ID
cn
-J
0
CD
H-
V
O
cn
ID
CO
CD
-F
CO
cn
0
O
-~i
cn
o
ro
cn
oo
o
CD
to
CO
1 CD
CD
tf
F
CO
1 -F
CO
to
"f
cn
1 CO
ro
v
CO
^J
CD
CO
W
cn
CD
CO
H
ro
ro
^
£
w
CO
oo
-F
H
•-4
I*
00
ro
CD
o as
>i ft
ft rt
03
^
&J
3
P'l 01
i_j ^^
H-
ft
CO
CD
I-1
CO
ro
ro
t)
ft
W \
0
3
W
O
*
C3
(D
3
ca
H-
rt
rt
a-
ft
o
rt
ft
O >
O O
3 4
rt ft
4 01
0) Oq
ft
O
O 0)
W 3
rt O.
0>
p.
O ft
o a
6 M
rt rt
^ Hi
(_. flu
01 O
3 rt
3 O
H- 4
3 M
Oq
O rt
3 01
1
1
1
CO
-J
•F
t-1
CO
-0
o
CD
-F
to
CO
to
V
o
CD
1 1 1 M 1
CD
|-_i
00
1 1 1 CO 1
ro
to
^j
1 1 1 O 1
(-' (-• I-1 KJ
«* >» «• !•
ro -j ~j ro cn
^j co oo oo ro
CO CD CO (-' -F
i_«
CD CO CO CD rO
CO CD CO f CD
CD co H- o ro
cn o cn cn O
to co I-1 ro -F
M o co to co
CD ~J -F 0 -F
ID t-1 CD CO H1
CD CD 00 CO CO
cn
CD
CD
1 -0
l_,
^]
v
O
CD
1 I-1
cn
00
-J
CD
1 CO
(-• CD
ro ro
CD 00
0 ~J
CO
CD »-•
-F -F
cn co
O cn
h-1
to o
ro co
V V
l_l Y-t
CD CO
00 CD
^J
^3
CD
ro
CO
co
00
0
CO
CD
I--
H
CD
cn
-F
cn
}_/
CD
-J
CD
CO
CO
*
cn
CO
^
0 Z
4 ft
ft rt
ca
to
cn
*
CD
H-
I-1
01
3
HO
H ^
h"
ft
w
00
CO
o
to
^d
ft
iltr
w \
o
3
cr)
3:
ft
&
c
3
0
ft
3
ca
H*
rt
^
1 .
CD
1»
^3
cn
CO
^
0 Z
*"i ft
ft rt
ca
CD
CO
CD
cn
TJ
01
E'1^
H-
ft
M
to
00
00
I*
\—l
cn
ro
^
CD
4|tr
0) -^
0
3
CO
SC
H-
TO
^r*
O
ft
3
ca
H*
rt
*3l
ft
ca
!-••
ft
rt
h1'
1 .
ft
01
D
ft
3
ca
H"
rt
^
a
tn
M
O
ID
00
cn
O
>TJ
C
f
co
G
>
>
CD
ro
4 ft
ft rt
r/i
-------
o
•H
•-H P
« a)
P rH
O 3
H Q<
.3-
in
en
r-
o
ro
co
ID
co
00
CO
ID
o
CO
o
in
CO
CM
CN
r-
p
•H
CO
C
Q
x:
bO
•H
W
c
o
^^ 1 ^
0)
a,
CO
0)
•H
• — _ 1 — 1
T)H
e
It)
u,
CO
P CO
2- 0
rH
F^
H
in
^-
rH
rH
0
CN
CN
d-
cn
CO
j-
*
00
00
r-
rH
CM
, — |
o
J^-
m
A
CO
00
o
f-
t-^
00
CN
rH
CO
O
CO
ID
ft
CO
CM
ID
CN
t^
•*
d"
CO
oo
to
r^
in
CO
CM
CM
r-
^
d"
ID
ID
•3"
in
H
ID
CD
J-
«\
d-
00
Ol
00
CO
rH
ID
J^
rH
0
CM
H
in
^
CN
o
•»
rH
0
oo
01
in
CO
CM
r-
in
O
in
CO
in
in
in
in
*
rH
rH
rH
CO
f-
oo
CD
CO
0
CO
rH
f\
rH
to
CN
CN
CN
CN
c-~
0
I-H
CN
CM
^J-
H
CO
55
o
CL,
O
CM
ID
Q
£
M
OS
u
Q
r*l
p
•H
CO
C
0)
Q
OJ
!
P
•H
CO
0)
Q
|
CO
c
o
\ W
d)
P-,
in
CM
_2j-
*«
CN
rH
CO
01
•H
0|-H
E
in
CN
rH
ID
ft
CO
CO
p a>
0) rJ
z o
CO
c
0
0)
P-,
d-
0
CM
C!
rH
CO
in
CO
0
CN
to
Q)
•H
^v. H
fd ('rH
E
m
CO
•P 0)
ro
CN
CO
ID
fk
rH
01
OO
CO
ID
H
f*.
J-
•*
CO
CM
O
o
f
rH
OO
ID
CO
J-
t^
•>
O
rH
CO
CN
H
ft
CO
rH
d"
0
rH
CO
CO
CO
CO
rH
ID
r*>
oo
*«
CO
^
oo
in
oT
n)
-p
ed
E ^3
o
£•4 G
l*H O
•H
"O CO
« CO
C -H
'iQ S
•P O
rQ CJ
O
M
CO C
fc '"H
0 C
•P C
O fO
(0 rH
MH P-
•P -P
•H C
CO 3
C O
0) CJ
(0
T3 P
C CO
(0 O
CJ
0)
be m
t\) ^
Q) 4J
f-i C
0 0
< 0
0)
•p
o
z
a
,c
^-
u
r
c
E
a
b
rt
a
c
t
n:
K
CC
C
r.
b
a;
£
p
M
'
01
b
it
(V
f.
CJ
(t
p
9)
zz
O
CO
o
cn
CN
O
cn
in
CO
cn
CO
O 0)
* h rH
-------
PROJECTED POPULATION OF STUDY AREA
Population In Thousands
-uo-
TABLE 10
Area
Total Study Area
Sub-areas
Martinez
Central County
Nichols
Pittsburg
Antioch
Oakley
Islands
Brentwood
Byron
Nortonville-Somersville3/
Mt. Diablo-Los Meganos3/
267
23
151
12
33
27
3
5
11
2
427
38
219
18
48
48
10
20
20
6
527
49
253
22
57
63
14
31
27
11
632
62
286
26
63
78
18
42
38
19
870
92
354
32
75
106
26
62
75
48
870 1,116 1,356
118
420
36
84
128
32
76
128
94
136
470
39
90
148
36
86
191
160
a/ Negligible.
19
-------
-Ul-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
III. WATER SUPPLY
A. PRESENT SOURCES
1. FEDERAL CENTRAL VALLEY PROJECT
The principal source of high-quality water
supplies for municipal, industrial, and agricultural
uses within the District is the Contra Costa Canal
system. This facility, the first operational unit of the
Federal Central Valley Project, was constructed and is
presently operated by the United States Bureau of
Reclamation. Construction of the Canal system began in
1937, but all features were not completed until 194-8.
Water was first delivered from the Canal in 1940.
The Intak' to the Contra Costa Canal is through
an unlinec section roar miles in length leading from
Rock Slough, a natural channel of the Sacramento-San
Joaquin Delta. Water supplies are lifted by a series of
four pumping plants from the intake channel through a
total of some 120 feet to the beginning of the lined
gravity-flow section, from which point the Canal follows
the base of a range of low hills in a generally westerly
direction to Port Chicago. At Port Chicago, the Canal
turns southward and loops around the Diablo Valley,
passing through the cities of Concord, Walnut Creek, and
Pleasant Hill, and terminating in Martinez Reservoir.
Other canals in the system are the Clayton and
Ygnacio Relift Canals. Water is pumped into these canals
from the main Contra Costa Canal to serve higher lands
in the Clayton and Ygnacio Valleys. The locations of the
various features of the Contra Costa Canal system are
shown on Plate 5 .
The historical use of water from the Contra
Costa Canal system from 1956 through 1967 is summarized
in Table 11. A graphic representation of sales from the
Canal in calendar year 1964, a typical year, is shown on
Plate 5.
21
-------
-142-
TABLE 11
HISTORICAL WATER USE FROM CONTRA COSTA CANAL
Acre Feet
Year
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
Municipal
16,681
20,395
17,410
25,686
24,200
25,736
21,855
20,351
31,274
24,390
32,916
25,751
Deliveries
Industrial
19,716
24,020
25,609
32,628
39,832
41,023
32,974
32,944
43,050
34,662
42,831
36,209
Agricul-
tural
5,057
5,751
3,744
5,968
5,309
7,291
6,687
4,651
6,737
4,864
5,867
4,715
Unaccounted-
for
Water
3,728
3,670
3,700
6,996
7,712
5,173
4,560
5,229
5,513
6,168
6,703
2,941
Total
Diversions
45,182
53,836
50,463
71,278
77,053
79,223
66,076
63,175
86,574
70,084
88,317
69,616
Source: Contra Costa County Water District data.
22
-------
-U3-
LEFDb HJll AND JfWKTT INC
The present water supply contract between the
District and the United States Bureau of P e. clam at i on ,
Contract I 75r-3H01, dated 18 September 1951, provides
that th'. District may purchase up to 86,000 acre feet
annually, excluding system losses, through the Contra
Costa Canal system. As can be seen from Table 11, the
total District demands on the Canal have almost reached
this amount in some recent years. There is no guarantee
that the Bureau will sell the District more than the
contracted amount in any year, and in fact, it is un-
likely that the present Federal Central Valley Project
would have any excess supplies available during a
period of very low water supply such as was experienced
from 1959 through 1961.
2. SACRAMENTO-SAN J0AQUIN_DELTA
Although the Rock Slough intake to the Con-
tra Costa Canal system is a feature of the Sacramento-
San Joaquin Delta, that source of supply to the District
has been treated separately throughout this Report. The
remainder of the Delta supply is described below.
The Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers, draining
the Central Valley of California, join along the north-
ern boundary of the District near Pittsburg. From this
point the waters flow through Honker Bay, Suisun Bay,
and the Carquinez Straits into San Pablo and San Francisco
Bay, and finally through the Golden Gate into the Pacific
Ocean. During certain times of the year, these offshore
waters create a source of supply to several of the
District's major customers.
The reach of this waterway adjacent to the
District from Antioch to Nichols is an area of seasonally
varying water quality, as measured by the chloride ion
concentration. During the winter and spring months,
flood flows from the Rivers predominate and the offshore
waters in this reach have been generally low in chlorides,
being suitable for municipal and industrial purposes.
During the summer and autumn months, River flows are low
and saline waters from the ocean are able to intrude
far into the Delta. During this season, the quality of
the offshore waters from Antioch to Nichols has in most
recent years been suitable only for cooling supplies in
industrial plants which are especially equipped to use
23
-------
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
high -chloride waters for that purpose. In addition to
this seasonal variation, there are daily variations in
offshore water quality due to tidal effects.
The number of days in any year in which the
quality of the offshore waters is suitable for municipal
and industrial purposes is generally termed the "period
of availability." This period varies from year to year,
being primarily dependent on the amount of rainfall and
snowmelt occurring in the Central Valley during the win-
ter months. In years of "wet" hydrologic conditions in
the Central Valley, the spring runoff extends into May
or June, and the period of availability is correspond-
ingly long. Conversely, under "dry" hydrologic conditions
the flood runoffs cease early and the period of availa-
bility is short. Under "median" conditions of water
supply in the Central Valley, the period of availability
of water having a chloride ion content of 100 ppm or
less has historically amounted to 182 days annually at
Antioch .
Besides the general variation in the period of
availability offshore caused by the water supply condi-
tions in the Central Valley, there is a geographic
variation from west to east due to the extent of intru-
sion of ocean waters. Areas in the eastern part of the
Antioch-to-Nichols reach have had a longer period of
availability in any given year than areas In the western
part. For example, the period at Mallard Slough has
historically been only 142 days per year under "median"
water supply conditions, in comparison to the 182 days
for Anti och.
At the present time, a number of industries
located along the shore within the District obtain a
portion or all of their high-quality process water sup-
ply from the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers whenever
the quality is suitable. In addition, two municipal
water supply distributors, the City of Antioch and the
Treated Water Division of the District, divert water
from offshore when it is available in suitable quality.
The estimated production of offshore water
supplies for use within the District from 1956 through
1966 is summarized in Table 12. Although a maximum
chloride ion concentration of 100 ppm has been used in
the examples given above, suitable quality water for any
particular user may under certain circumstances contain
up to 250 ppm chlorides, depending on the customer's
-------
-U5-
HISTOPICAL WATER DIVERSIONS FROM
SACRAMENTO-SAN JOAQUIN DELTA FOR USE WITHIN DISTRICT-'
Year
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
Acre
Municipal and
Industrial
Process Water—
26,331
27,573
36,662
26,930
20,110
25,802
33,136
32,979
30,160
50,346
3 3,000^
Feet
Industrial
Cooling Water-'
1,018,000
1,184,000
1,052,000
1,143,000
1,393,000
1,569,000
1,484,000
1,423,000
1,500, OOOfi/
1,500, GOol/
1,500, DOo!/
Total
(Rounded)
1,044,000
1,212,000
1,089,000
1,170,000
1,413,000
1,595,000
1,517,000
1,456,000
1,530,000
1,550,000
1,533,000
a/ Exclusive of deliveries from Contra Costa Canal.
b_/ High-quality water.
c/ No quality limitations.
d/ Estimated.
Source: Contra Costa County Water District data.
TABLE 12
25
-------
-14.6-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
individual process requirements, the availability of
better-quality water for mixing, and similar factors.
Water of not more than 100 to 150 ppm chlorides, however,
make up the bulk of the high-quality diversions shown in
Table 12.
Water supplies from the Sacramento-San Joaquin
Delta are also used for irrigation purposes in the East
Contra Costa Irrigation District (ECCID) and the Byron-
Bethany Irrigation District (BBID), generally in the
Brentwood and Byron sub-areas. Supplies are pumped to
inland areas, or are siphoned to lands located immediately
adjacent to Delta channels. The ECCID pumping station
is located on Indian Slough, and delivers about 35,000
acre feet annually. The BBID diverts about 40,000 acre
feet annually through its pump intake on Italian Slough.
Diversions of Delta water for irrigation uses
in the Islands sub-area are made by siphoning directly
from the adjacent Delta channels.
3. GROUND WATER
Ground water is not a significant source
of water supply within the District, although it is
substantially the only source for some uses in those
portions of the study area lying outside the District
boundaries.
The District's Treated Water Division until
recently operated 23 wells in four well fields, using
them principally during periods of peak demand. Use of
these wells has been discontinued, since the quality of
the ground water was generally very poor for municipal
uses. There are a number of other wells in private
ownership within the TWO service area; their total an-
nual production is not definitely known but is very
small. A few industries in the study area produce a
small portion of their total water supply from their own
we 11s .
The average quality of ground water supplies in
the Diablo Valley basin ranges from 450 to 2,000 ppm
total dissolved solids. Although the safe annual yield
of the basin has been estimated by the Bureau of Reclama-
tion at about 5,000 acre feet, only a fraction of this
yield is withdrawn, primarily because of the poor quality
of the supply.
26
-------
-147-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
Within the Byron, Brentwood, and Islands sub-
areas, ground water is the main source of domestic water
supply, and is also developed to some extent for irri-
gation purposes . The towns of Byron and Brentwood
operate municipal distribution systems supplied from
ground water. No treatment is provided. Available
chemical analyses of samples from the Brentwood wells
indicate that the ground water in this area is very poor
for municipal uses, having a total hardness of about
400 ppm and total dissolved solids of about 800 ppm.
FUTURE SOURCE:
1. FEDERAL CENTRAL VALLEY PROJECT
a. Contra Costa Canal Unit. As is discussed
in detail in Section VI-A.l, the existing Contra Costa
Canal system, even under present conditions, is not able
at all times to provide water supplies having the
requisite quality for the municipal and industrial uses
to which it is put. If the joint Federal-State Peripheral
Canal, serving the Federal Central Valley Project and the
State Water Project, is constructed as now planned, it is
probable that in many future years only sufficient fresh
water from the Sacramento River will be released into the
channels of the Delta to maintain water qualities
adequate for agricultural uses during the growing season.
Under these circumstances, the Rock Slough intake to the
Contra Costa Canal system will not be able to provide a
firm supply of even minimum quality water for municipali-
ties and industries In the study area.
As will be shown subsequently in Section VI-A,
the design capacity of the Contra Costa Canal is rapidly
being approached, and the Canal will require substantial
modification if it is to continue to function as a part of
the supply system serving the District. Furthermore, the
86,000 acre feet per annum contracted for by the District
under the original Contra Costa Canal Unit service contract
is now all required to meet the District's needs, and an
additional supply must be provided from the Federal Central
Valley Project or some alternate source at an early date.
b. Kellogg Unit. In recognition of the present
unsatisfactory nature of the Rock Slough source for the
Contra Costa Canal system, and of the fact that the intake
27
-------
-US-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
will shortly be rendered almost totally worthless by up-
stream developments causing deterioration of water
quality in the Western Delta channels, the United States
Bureau of Reclamation has proposed the so-called Kellogg
Unit of the Federal Central Valley Project to provide a
firm, high-quality water supply to the District. The
proposed Kellogg Unit is described in detail in refer-
ence 5, and a plan of the Unit is shown herein on Plate 6.
Water supply for the Kellogg Unit would be
drawn from the existing Tracy Pumping Plant intake chan-
nel, and would be pumped through a new Tracy II Pumping
Plant having 800 cfs capacity. From the discharge of
this plant, water would be able to flow either into the
existing Delta-Mendota Canal or through the proposed
Tuway Canal into Herdlyn Reservoir. The Tuway Canal
would have a capacity of 800 cfs, and would be designed
so that this flow could be conveyed in either direction.
The proposed Herdlyn Reservoir would have a storage
capacity of 1,870 acre feet, and would serve as a pump-
ing forebay from which water supplies would be delivered
into Kellogg Reservoir.
The proposed 800 cfs Kellogg Pumping-Generating
Plant would lift water from Herdlyn Reservoir into
Kellogg Reservoir, and would also be capable of generat-
ing power from flows released back from Kellogg Reservoir,
through Herdlyn Reservoir and the Tuway Canal, and into
the existing DeIt a-Men dota Canal.
The proposed Kellogg Reservoir would have a
total storage capacity of 135,000 acre feet, including
an 8,000 acre foot seasonal flood control reservation.
A normal minimum operational pool of 50,000 acre feet
would be maintained for system reliability, water quality
control, and fish, wildlife, and recreation purposes.
The reservoir would be impounded by a main earthfill dam
170 feet in height, and ten supplemental saddle dikes.
From Kellogg Reservoir, water would flow by
gravity through the proposed Contra Loma Canal to the
recently-completed Contra Loma Reservoir. From a point
on this Canal about four miles upstream from Contra
Loma Reservoir, the proposed Laurel Canal would take off
and connect to the existing Contra Costa Canal at Pump-
ing Plant No. 4. This branch would be able to deliver
water into the Contra Costa Canal both upstream and
downstream of the pumping plant. Contra Loma Canal
28
-------
-U9-
IFEDS HILL AND JEWF.TT, INC
would have a capacity ranging from 1,000 to 600 cfs ,
while the capacity of the Laurel Canal would be 300 cfs
at the beginning and 225 cfs at the end. These capaci-
ties may be increased during final design studies.
According to the Bureau's plan of operation,
the quality of water supplies delivered to the District
from the Federal Central Valley Project would be con-
trolled by pumping from the Tracy intake channel when
the water at that point is of requisite quality for muni-
cipal and i;, Juj t r .i al purposes, and storing this water
in Kellogg Reservoir. This good quality water would
subsequently be released through the Contra Loma Canal
into the District's service area for use when the quality
of water in the Delta at Rock Slough is unsatisfactory.
At times when the water quality at Rock Slough is satis-
factory, the Bureau plans to divert supplies from that
source through the four main pumping plants.
According to the Bureau's operation studies,
the proposed Kellogg Unit could be operated to provide
the District with up to 4-40,000 acre feet annually of
water having 100 ppm or less chlorides. However, a
total of only 195,000 acre feet is presently allocated
to the District's service area from the existing Federal
Central Valley Project, including the 86,000 acre feet
now committed under Contract I 75r-3401. Development
of the incremental 245,000 acre feet would require en-
largement of the Central Valley Project through provision
of additional storage, and acquisition of the water
rights necessary to such enlargement by the United States.
The proposed Kellogg Unit would provide substan-
tial benefits to the Central Valley Project as a whole.
The yield of the Project would be augmented by increas-
ing the ability to capture surplus flows in the Delta.
The ability to feed back by gravity from Kellogg Reservoir
into the DeIt a-Mendota Canal and to feed direct from the
Tracy II Pumping Plant into the Canal would greatly in-
crease the reliability of the Bureau's system, and would
obviate '-he need to provide standby pumping capacity at
the existing Tracy Pumping Plant. Finally, the provision
of pumping-generating units at the proposed Kellogg
Pumping-Generating Plant would permit water to be pumped
into Kellogg Reservoir during off-peak hours and released
back through the plant during peak hours when the value
of the power thus generated would be very high. Signifi-
cant power benefits could be developed for the Central
Valley Project by such operation.
29
-------
I H PS HILL AND JPWFTT. INC
-150-
In addition to providing a firm suoply of high-
quaiity water, the proposed Kellogg Unit would bring
a high degree oi reliability to the system serving the
District j'ie to the ability to provide a gravity supply
throughout the service area in case of a power outage
or a breakdown of one of the pumping units. Other
general benefits created by the Unit would include flood
control, fish and wildlife enhancement, and the provi-
sion of outstanding water-associated recreational
opportunities.
2
SACRAMENTO-SAN JOAQUIN DELTA
It is anticipated that the number of days
of availability of high-quality water supply in the
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta between Antioch and Nichols
will be fewer in the future for any given hydrologic
condition in the Central Valley than has been the case
in the past. Some water will continue to be available,
however, for all but very dry conditions.
wat er in
The projected availability of high-quality
the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta at Mallard
bas ed on
Department
obtained
es t imat e
State Water
Slough and at Antioch is shown in Table 13,
data obtained from the State of California,
of Water Resources. These projections were
from studies conducted by the Department to
the effect of the combined operation of the
Project and the Federal Central Valley Project on the
water resources of the State. In these studies, the
historical hydrologic conditions of the 33-year period
1922 through 195U were assumed to be repeated in the
future. In Table 13, the terms "wet" and "dry" refer to
conditions of hydrology that occurred in the wettest and
driest years during this 33-year period, 1938 and 1931
respectively. "Median" refers to the median hydrologic
condition in the period, which occurred in 1936.
The reduction in availability of the offshore
water supply indicated in Table 13 will be caused by
increasing upstream uses of the waters of the Sacramento
and San Joaquin Rivers. One of the largest such users
will be the State of California through the State Water
Project, which will ultimately divert beyond the Delta
some four million acre feet annually which otherwise
would have flowed past Pittsburg. With the completion
30
-------
-151-
TABLE 13
PROJECTED AVAILABILITY OF HIGH-QUALITY OFFSHORE WATER-''
Days per
Location
and
Hydraulic Condition 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020
Mallard Slough
Wet
Median
Dry
190
70
0
170
60
0
168
55
0
166
53
0
165
52
0
Antioch
Wet 205
Median
Dry
198
107
0
195
102
0
19U
98
0
193
95
0
a/ Anticipated number of days per year in which water having
a chloride ion concentration equal to or less than 100 ppm
averaged over the tidal cycle will be available at the
location shown.
Source: State of California, Department of Water Resources.
31
-------
-152-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
of the San Luis Unit of the Federal Central Valley
Project in 1967, the United States Bureau of Reclamation
will now divert more water from the Delta than it has
historically. These diversions will increase still fur-
ther on completion of the proposed East Side Division of
the Proj ect.
The Department of Water Resources has agreed to
provide monetary compensation to the District for its
contribution to the reduction in the offshore availabil-
ity at Mallard Slough, and is presently negotiating
similar agreements with other offshore users. However,
the agreement between the District and the Department
assumes that the District will be able to purchase sub-
stitute water from the Federal Central Valley Project,
with delivery through the Contra Costa Canal system
supplemented by the proposed Kellogg Unit. This cannot
be accomplished for more than possibly a few more years
under the District's present water supply contract and
with the capacity limitations of the existing Canal sys-
tem, discussed subsequently in Section Vl-A.
Under future conditions, with the Federal
Central Valley Project and the State Water Project in
full operation, high-quality water supplies will be
available at all times only in the southeastern part of
the study area, at the Clifton Court Forebay and at the
intake to the Tracy Pumping Plant. Water of quality
desirable for municipal purposes must be provided at
Clifton Court in order for the State to maintain its con-
tractual commitments to State Water Project water
service contractors. In order to meet these commitments
and to minimize the detrimental effects of their export
projects on the Delta, the State and the United States
Bureau of Reclamation plan to construct the Peripheral
Canal. This facility would divert fresh water flows of
the Sacramento River around the eastern edge of the Delta
for delivery at Clifton Court. The Peripheral Canal would
be hydraulically separated from the Delta, but releases
of fresh water could be made to the Delta channels at
certain points .
32
-------
-153-
I F.FDS HILL AND JEWETT INC
3. POSSIBLE DISTRICT-SPONSORED PROJECTS
There are several alternative to the pro-
posed Kellogg Unit which are now being studied for
possible District sponsorship. One of these in oarticular
appears to hold promise of providing for the District's
needs at a unit water cost comparable to, and possibly
lower than, the anticipated cost of water to the District
fron Kellogg. A preliminary report on this project, the
Los Vaqueros Project, will be prepared in the near future.
Sources of water supply for the Los Vaqueros
Project would be limited to either the Federal Central
Valley Project or the State Water Project, or both. The
District could continue to take the 86,000 acre feet
which it now has available to it from the CVP by con-
tract through December 31, 1991. In addition, it is
probable that the District could obtain from the CVP the
full 195,000 acre feet allocated for use in Its service
area, and possibly additional supplies beyond that amount
if the yield of the CVP is augmented in the future by the
addition of new storage units. These supplies would be
taken from the Delta in the vicinity of Clifton Court
Forebay and the Tracy Pumping Plant. It would be desir-
able, from the standpoint of economy, if the supplies
could be pumped through the State's Delta Pumping Plant
and into the California Aqueduct, from which point they
would be diverted into the District's canal serving the
Los Vaqueros Project. However, the supplies could if
necessary be pumped directly through a new pumping plant
constructed by the District.
As an alternative, the water supply for the Los
Vaqueros Project could be obtained from the State Water
Project, being diverted from the California Aqueduct just
downstream of trie outlet works of the Delta Pumping Plant.
By law, the District has a right to purchase all the
water from the State Water Project which it reasonably
needs for its full economic development.
4 . GROUND WATER
Ground water is not expected to be a signi-
ficant source of water supply to the study area in the
future. The principal use of ground water at the present
time is for domestic purposes in certain areas outside
33
-------
-154-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
the District which now have no alternative source of
supply. As alternative sources are made available in
the future, it ir, probaDle that the use of ground water
will be discontinued.
5 . WASTE WATER RECLAMATION
Municipal and industrial waste waters
occurring within the study area are treated and discharged
to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Suisun Bay in
accordance with requirements promulgated by the Central
Valley and San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality
Control Boards. The possiblities for re-use of some of
these waste waters for certain industrial purposes pre-
sents the potential for increasing the firm water supply
available to the District at reasonable cost, for reducing
the cost of water to the industries and the cost of treat-
ment to the waste dischargers, and for increasing the
availability of fresh water supplies in the Delta for
economic benefit to other areas of the State.
The traditional procedure for evaluation of
waste waters as a source of water supply has been to
determine the cost of treating the wastes to the degree
necessary to meet the quality and public safety criteria
required by the potential uses, and then to compare this
cost with that of procuring an alternative fresh water
supply. Where treatment costs for ordinary disposal are
low, the increased costs to upgrade the wastes to usable
quality can be very high in comparison to the cost of new
water from the alternative source. In the study area,
however, it is probable that the requirements for collec-
tion and treatment of wastes prior to disposal in the San
Francisco Bay-Delta system will be substantially increas-
ed in the near future, with an attendant increase in the
costs of treatment. Under these circumstances, a waste
water reclamation system could result in over-all
savings to both the waste dischargers and the industries
utilizing the reclaimed water. Some contribution might
also be sought from the State, since such re-use of waste
waters would make the alternative fresh water supply
available to benefit others. Low-interest financing for
waste water reclamation projects is now available from
the State to qualifying agencies. Some Federal assistance
may also be possible.
-------
-155-
LEFDS HILL AND JEWFTT, INC
A particularly good opportunity for waste water
reclamation appears to exist in the Central County and
Martinez cub-areas. The effluent of the Central Contra
Costa Sanitary District sewage treatment plant is
anticipated to be sufficient in quantity to meet most
of the future water requirements of petroleum refining
industries in those sub-areas, and has a mineral quality
comparable to that of the District's present raw water
supplies developed at Rock Slough. This is because the
source water supply for a significant portion of the
area tributary to the Sanitary District's plant is the
East Bay Municipal Utility District system. The treat-
ment plant is located near the industries so that the
cost of transmission would be small. A study of the
feasibility of reclamation and use of the effluent from
this treatment plant should be undertaken in the near
f u t u r e .
6. SALINE WATER CONVERSION
Desalting of the brackish offshore waters
of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Suisun Bay
presents the potential for an unlimited source of water
for municipal and industrial use in the study area,
although it is not now economically competitive with
imported fresh water supplies. Present estimates of the
cost of desalting brackish water with a plant having
100 mgd capacity are in the order of $70 to $90 per acre
foot at the plant, the actual cost being dependent on
the salinity of the source water, the cost of power, and
a number of other factors. By comparison, as is stated
in Section IX-B, the estimated cost of fresh water from
the proposed Kellogg Unit is about $20 per acre foot at
Contra Loma Reservoir. However, the cost of desalted
water is certain to decrease in the future as the tech-
nology of this new field advances, while the cost of
imported water is equally certain to increase as sources
further and further from the demand area are developed.
In the long view, brackish offshore waters could well be
the next source of supply to be developed after the full
yield of the Kellogg Unit is utilized, and after the
potential for waste water reclamation has been fully ex-
ploited .
35
-------
-156-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
IV. WATER REQUIREMENTS
A. MUNICIPAL
1. RESIDENTIAL
Future residential water requirements in
the study area were estimated following the method
developed recently at The Johns Hopkins University, with
only minor modifications. This method, described in a
publication entitled "Residential Water Use Research
Project," reference 6, differentiates between in-house
domestic use and lawn sprinkling use and thus permits a
recognition of the wide variation in unit "per-capita"
use values between areas having low and high densities
of dwelling units. In general, in-house domestic use
is fairly uniform, with low density (or relatively high-
er value) units using perhaps 25 per cent more water
than high density units. On the other hand, homes in
low density areas typically use from three to four or
more times as much water for lawn sprinkling purposes as
do homes in high density areas.
In applying the Johns Hopkins procedure, a
check was first made against known use in study sub-areas
where records are good. These checks generally showed
a remarkably close correspondence. For example, the
Johns Hopkins procedure applied to the known 1962 resi-
dential density patterns in the Central County sub-area
(practically the same as the present TWD service area)
resulted in a computed over-all unit use of 95 gallons
per capita per day(gpcd), whereas the measured residential
use within TWD in 1962, including canal sales to groups
and associations, amounted to about 92 gpcd.
Over-all unit per-capita use factors were then
determined for each sub-area for 1962 based on the known
residential density patterns, and for 1985 based on the
County Planning Commission's land use and circulation
plan. Between 1962 and 1985, in-house domestic use was
assumed to increase at the rate of 2 per cent annually,
while lawn sprinkling was assumed to remain constant.
Per-capital use factors were interpolated between the
1962 and 1985 values for the intervening years. For use
37
-------
-157-
LEEDS. HILL AND JEWETT, INC
beyond 1985, the factors were extrapolated considering
a 1 per cent annual increase in in-house use to the year
2000 and constant thereafter, and constant values for
lawn sprinkling use. Per-capita use factors computed in
this manner were applied to anticipated future population
to obtain estimated future residential water requirements
in each sub-area.
2 . COMMERCIAL AN_D PUBLIC
Commercial and public water requirements
were estimated for each sub-area for the years 1962 and
1985, based on areas devoted to such uses and applying
unit water demands per acre. Unit demand values adopted
for this purpose are summarized in Table 14. Those for
1962 were derived from actual use records for that year,
while the 1985 values shown represent future "ultimate"
values commonly used for planning purposes. The 1962
values shown in Table 14 are considered to be somewhat
low for many of the categories, since they were derived
by dividing recorded use by total area without consider-
ation of the fact that in some cases portions of the
areas received no water at all.
Total commercial and public requirements
derived as above for 1962 and 1985 were divided by popu-
lation to obtain per-capita values for the two years for
each sub-area. Requirements for the intervening years
were estimated by applying interpolated per-capita
values to population estimates. Requirements beyond
1985 were obtained by multiplying projected future popu-
lation by the 1985 value of per-capita demand, since
the 1985 duties were considered to be maximum values.
LOSSES
Water losses in municipal systems were
taken as 13 per cent of the total of residential plus
commercial and public requirements for all sub-areas
except Central County, for which the loss factors were
those used in the Montgomery report, reference 7.
38
-------
-158-
DUTY OF WATER FOR
COMMERCIAL AND PUBLIC AREAS
Acre Feet per Acre per Year
1962-/ 1985-7
Commercial 1.2 3.0
Public:
Airports and Fairgrounds 0.2 0.4
Colleges 0.5 1.0
Public Green Areas— 1.2 3.0
Schools and Churches 0.5 1.0
Playgrounds and Local Parks 0.6 2.0
a/ Source: Contra Costa County Water District data.
b/ Estimated (ultimate values).
c/ Golf courses, cemeteries, regional parks, etc.
TABLE 14
39
-------
-159-
TABLE 15
PROJECTED MUNICIPAL WATER REQUIREMENTS-7
a/
Area
Martinez
Central County
Nichols
Pittsburg
Antioch
Oakley
Acre Feet per Year
1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020
3,800 7,200 12,800 20,100 25,800 29,700
26,800 43,400 60,800 78,400 91,400 100,500
1,600 2,800 4,300 5,700 6,400 6,900
4,500 7,500 10,700 13,500 15,100 16,200
4,100 11,300 18,100 25,100 29,800 34,000
500 1,700 3,300 5,100 6,300 7,000
Sub-total
CCCWD Service Area
41,300 73,900 110,000 147,900 174,800 194,300
Islands
Brentwood
Byron
700 3,000 6,900 11,000 13,400 15,200
1,900 3,800 7,800 16,000 27,300 40,800
300 1,100 4,100 11,000 21,600 36,800
Total Study Area
44,200 81,800 128,800 185,900 237,100 287,100
a/ Does not include requirements of the Nortonville-Somersville
or Mt. Diablo-Los Meganos sub-areas, which are negligible.
40
-------
-160-
I.EEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
4. TOTAL MUNICIPAL REQUIREMENTS
Total municipal water requirements estimated
by the foregoing methods are summarized by decades in
Table 15.
INDUSTRIAL
1. METHODOLOGY
As a first step in predicting future high-
quality industrial water requirements in the study area,
a comprehensive survey was conducted of industries with-
in the District which now use or could require raw
water supplies. "High-quality" water is that having a
chloride ion content sufficiently low as to be suitable
for the process requirements of the various industries.
This survey obtained current information on land usage,
employment, storage facilities, degree of recirculation,
and peaking requirements as well as historical water usage
from 1964 through 1966, and each industry's estimate of
its water needs in 1970 and 1980. Reported historical
water usage encompassed supplies having a chloride ion
content up to a maximum of 250 ppm, although most of the
"high-quality" water contained not more than 100 to 150 ppm
chlorides. These data, and data obtained from a similar
survey in 1963, provided the basis for projecting future
requirements.
In the survey, it was found that the recorded
intake of high-quality water by the District's major
industrial customers represents only about 17 per cent of
the total gross water requirement of those industries.
This rate of recirculation is well above the national
average. Were it not for this high degree of water con-
servation, water requirements within the District would
be much higher than they are at present. For instance,
with no recirculation, industrial requirements for
high-quality water would have amounted to more than
250,000 acre feet in 1966.
41
-------
-161-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
For convenience in analyzing the results of
this survey and in making projections, the industries
were grouped according to the United States Bureau of
the Budget Standard Industrial Classification (SIC)
system. It was found that 98.8 per cent of the total
high-quality industrial water requirement within the
study area at present is used by industries falling into
the following five major SIC categories:
Group 20 - Food and Kindred Products
Group 26 - Paper and Allied Products
Group 28 - Chemicals and Allied Products
Group 29 - Petroleum Refining and Related
Industries
Group 33 - Primary Metal Industries
An extensive review of the literature and
reports on industrial growth and water use was carried
out. The most important single source of this type of
information is Committee Print No. 3, "Future Water
Requirements of Principal Water-Using Industries," pre-
pared by the United States Senate Select Committee on
National Water Resources in 1960, reference 8. The
Select Committee investigation, now being updated in
certain aspects, is the most thorough study of its type
ever undertaken, projecting national and regional water
requirements on a co-ordinated economic basis. Antici-
pated growth trends are presented for the major SIC
categories, nationally, regionally, and for certain
metropolitan areas, to the year 2000.
A number of interviews were conducted with the
management of the larger industrial water users in the
District, which produced important information for use as
a guide in the selection and adjustment of trends of water
requirements.
The basic procedure followed in developing water
requirement projections for the five major SIC groups was
first to plot the historical use and establish a trend
line. In carrying the historical trend forward to the
year 1980, substantial weight was given to the projections
made by the individual industries for their own water
requirements. Projections beyond 1980 were based on his-
toric trends and changes in trend patterns predicted in
re ference 8.
-------
-162-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
It is recognized that the technology of indus-
trial water supply and the economics of water use are
changing rapidly, and that the factors affecting the
choice of location for industrial growth are also vary-
ing, so that projections of industrial water requirements
50 years into the future can be regarded as no more
than indicators. Nevertheless, such projections must be
made and must be as rational as possible in view of the
long-range nature of the major water resource development
projects which will be undertaken to satisfy those
requirements.
2. PROJECTED REQUIREMENTS
The historical and projected industrial
water requirements for the major industrial groups, as
estimated by the foregoing procedures, are summarized in
Table 16.
In order to obtain an estimate of the total in-
dustrial high-quality raw water requirement in the study
area, an increment was added to account for uses not
falling within the five major SIC groups previously
listed. This increment represents water supply to smal-
ler satellite industries which supplement the basic
industries. In a fully-developed industrial community,
the total of these smaller uses normally amounts to about
10 per cent of the total of all uses. At the present
time in the District, the amount is only about 1.1 per cent
It was assumed that this percentage would increase stead-
ily with time, reaching 10 per cent by the year 2010, as
shown in Table 16.
DISTRIBUTION OF REQUIREMENTS
The distribution of anticipated industrial
high-quality water requirements to the various sub-areas
was made considering the existing locations of industries
and the location of lands available for industrial
development. This distribution is summarized in Table 17
-------
-163-
TABLE 16
HISTORICAL AND PROJECTED HIGH-QUALITY
INDUSTRIAL WATER
REQUIREMENTS
Thousands of Acre Feet per Year
Other Industrial
Requirements
Year
1960
1964
1965
1966
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
2020
5 Major
SIC Groups
58.7
67.1
68.5
72.8
93.6
122.2
149.0
176.5
204.5
231.2
% of Major
SIC Groups
.85
1.19
1.17
1.10
2.5
3.0
5.5
8.0
10.0
10.0
Total
.5
.8
.8
.8
2.4
3.5
8.0
13.7
20.9
23.6
Total
Requirements
59.2
67.9
69.3
73.6
96.0
125.7
157.0
190.2
225.4
254.8
Note: Historical information shown above developed from
Contra Costa County Water District records.
-------
-164-
DISTRIBUTION OF
HIGH-QUALITY INDUSTRIAL WATER REQUIREMENTS
Thousands of Acre Feet per Year
TABLE 17
Area
Martinez
Central County
Nichols
Pittsburg
Antioch
Oakley
1970
14.8
19.2
3.5
16.2
40. 0
2.3
1980
22.9
24.3
7.3
18.9
47.7
4.6
1990
26.5
28.8
9.6
21.7
64.3
6.0
2000
30.4
34.0
12.5
24.4
81.7
7.1
2010
33.8
39.2
16.3
27.3
100.1
8.5
2020
37.2
43.2
19.5
29.6
115.7
9.4
Sub-total
CCCWD Service Area
96.0
125.7
156.9
190.1
225.2
254.6
Islands
Brentwood
Byron
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.1
0
0
0.1
0
0
0.2
0
0
0.2
0
Total Study Area
96.0
125.7
157.0
190.2
225.4
254.8
-------
-165-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
C. AGRICULTURAL
Estimates of future agricultural water
requirements within the study area prepared by the United
States Bureau of Reclamation were accepted for use in
this study, and were distributed between sub-areas based
on current use data. These requirements are summarized
in Table 18. The projection of future agricultural
requirements did not include the portions of the Brentwood
and Byron sub-areas now served by the East Contra Costa
Irrigation District and the Byron-Bethany Irrigation
District, respectively, since it was assumed that these
agencies would continue to meet demands for agricultural
water within their service areas. Also, the projection
of future requirements excluded areas which can readily be
served by individual pumping directly from the Delta
channeIs.
The principal agricultural demand which is
anticipated within the District would be that of the Lone
Tree-Deer Valley service area of the proposed Kellogg Unit,
The additional area which the Bureau of Reclamation
proposes to irrigate from the Kellogg Unit is shown on
Plate 6. Although there is some question as to the like-
lihood of this area actually being devoted to agricultural
purposes in the future, the Bureau's estimate of water
needs in the area were accepted for study purposes, since
the needs would be practically the same even if the area
is eventually developed for residential purposes. The
total demand in the Lone Tree-Deer Valley area was
distributed between the Antioch and Brentwood sub-areas
in proportion to its area lying within each.
D. TOTAL WATER REQUIREMENTS
1. TOTAL REQUIREMENTS
A summary of the projected total high-
quality water requirements to the year 2020 is shown in
Table 19, for the study area and within the present
District boundaries. These requirements are shown graph-
ically on Plates 7 and 8.
-------
-166-
TABLE 18
a/
PROJECTED AGRICULTURAL WATER REQUIREMENTS-
Area^
Central County
Antioch
Oakley
Acre Feet per Year
1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020
1,500 00000
800 3,300 4,800 4,600 4,600 4,600
2,000 900 400 000
Sub-total 4,300 4,200
CCCWD Service Area£/
5,200 4,600 4,600 4,600
Brentwood
1,800 12,500 18,800 18,400 18,400 18,400
Total Study Area
6,100 16,600 24,000 23,000 23,000 23,000
a/ Does not include the agricultural water requirements of:
1. The portion of the Brentwood sub-area served by the East Contra
Costa Irrigation District.
2. The Byron sub-area, which is served by the Byron-Bethany Irrigation
District in the western portion and irrigated by individual
pumping from the Delta in the eastern portion.
3. The Islands sub-area, which is irrigated by individual pumping from
the Delta.
b/ There is no anticipated agricultural use in the Martinez, Nichols,
~" Pittsburg, Nortonville-Somersville, Mt. Diablo-Los Meganos sub-areas.
£/ Excluding the portion of the Lone Tree-Deer Valley lying within the
~~ Brentwood sub-area.
47
-------
TABLE 19
PROJECTED TOTAL HIGH-QUALITY WATER REQUIREMENTS
Thousands of Acre Feet per Year
-167-
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
2020
Present
CCCWD Service Area:
Municipal
Industrial
Agricultural3./
Total
41.3
96.0
4.3
141.6
73.9
125.7
4.2
203.8
110.0
156.9
5.2
272.1
147.9
190.1
4.6
342.6
174.8
225.2
4.6
404.6
194.3
254.6
4.6
453.5
Total Study Area:
Municipal
Industrial
Agricultural
Total
44.2
96.0
6.1
146.3
81.8
125.7
16.6
224.1
128.8
157.0
24.0
309.8
185.9
190.2
23.0
399.1
237.1
225.4
23.0
485.5
287.1
254.8
23.0
564.9
a_/ Excludes Lone Tree-Deer Valley agricultural demands in
Brentwood sub-area.
48
-------
-168-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
2. REQUIREMENTS ON SUPPLY SYSTEM
As was discussed previously in Section III-B.2,
it is anticipated that the availability of high-quality
water supplies in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta between
Antioch and Nichols will be less in the future than it
has been in the past. As a result, it is possible that
some of the present users of the offshore supply, includ-
ing the City of Antioch, may cease to use their offshore
diversion facilities in the future, taking their full
supplies, including replacement water for their offshore
entitlement, from the Contra Costa Canal. New industries
locating in the District will probably not construct off-
shore production facilities for high-quality water. The
District's Treated Water Division is expected to continue
to pump with its Mallard Slough facilities when high-
quality water is available offshore, because of the fairly
large storage capacity of Mallard Reservoir and because of
the low cost of pumping into this low-elevation facility.
The effect of this reduction in the availability
and use of offshore water supplies will be to place an
increasing proportion of the total annual water requirement
on the overland supply system, which will include the
Contra Costa Canal system and the Kellogg Unit. The
projected future diversions of high-quality water from
the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta for use within the study
area are listed in Table 20. These diversions were esti-
mated considering the factors discussed in the preceding
paragraph and the anticipated future availability of high-
quality water at various points between Nichols and Oakly.
These latter data were based on estimates made by the
Department of Water Resources and summarized in Table 13.
The balance of the total District and study area
water requirements, except for certain agricultural needs
to be provided for by other agencies, is shown in
Tables 21 and 22. These requirements must be provided
through the overland supply system. An additive of
5 per cent of the net requirements listed in Tables 21 and 22
was included to allow for unavoidable losses in the system.
After construction of the Peripheral Canal, the entire
annual study area requirement except for the agricultural
uses mentioned above, must be provided through the over-
land supply system during dry hydrologic conditions in
the Central Valley. The projected demand within the pre-
sent District service area for high-quality water from
the overland supply system, including losses, is shown on
Plate 9 for wet, median and dry conditions in the Valley.
-------
TABLE 20
PROJECTED HIGH-QUALITY WATER DIVERSIONS
FROM SACRAMENTO-SAN JOAQUIN DELTA
FOR USE IN STUDY AREA a/
Thousands of Acre Feet per Year
-169-
Hydrologic
Condition
Wet
Median
Dry
Municipal
21.0
11.5
1.4
Industrial
37.7
29.2
17.8
Total
58.7
40.7
19.-2
1980
Wet
Median
Dry
28.3
12.8
0
24.2
13.3
0
52.5
26.1
0
1990
Wet
Median
Dry
30.7
12.9
0
29.2
17.3
0
59.9
30.2
0
2000
Wet
Median
Dry
38.0
14.4
0
38.4
19.0
0
76.4
33.4
0
2010
Wet
Median
Dry
44.5
16.9
0
45.9
23.0
0
90.4
39.9
0
2020
Wet
Median
Dry
50.6
18.7
0
52.9
25.6
0
103.5
44.3
0
a/ Excludes diversions from Rock Slough and diversions
for irrigation in areas served by East Contra Costa
and Byron-Bethany Irrigation Districts and by
individual pumping from Delta channels.
50
-------
PROJECTED DEMAND ON SUPPLY SYSTEM
a/
FOR WATER IN PRESENT DISTRICT SERVICE AREA±>
Thousands of Acre Feet per Year
-170-
TABLE 21
Hydro-
logic
Year Condition
1970 Wet
Median
Dry
Agricul-
Municipal Industrial tural
20.3
29.8
39.9
58.3
66.8
78.2
4.3
4.3
4.3
82.9
100.9
122.4
Losses Total
4.2
5.1
6.1
87.1
106.0
128.5
1980
Wet
Median
Dry
45.6
61.1
73.9
101.5
112.4
125.7
4.2
4.2
4.2
151.3
177.7
203.8
7.6
8.9
10.2
158.9
186.6
214.0
1990
Wet
Median
Dry
79.3
97.1
110.0
127.7
139.6
156.9
5.2
5.2
5.2
212.2
241.9
272.1
10.6
12.1
13.6
222.8
254.0
285.7
2000
Wet
Median
Dry
109.9
133.5
147.9
151.7
171.1
190.1
4.6
4.6
4.6
266.2
309.2
342.6
13.3
15.5
17.1
279.5
324.7
359.7
2010
Wet
Median
Dry
130.3
157.9
174.8
179.3
202.2
225.2
4.6
4.6
4.6
314.2
364.7
404.6
15.7
18.3
20.2
329.9
383.0
424.8
2020
Wet
Median
Dry
143.7
175.6
194.3
201.7
229.0
254.6
4.6
4.6
4.6
350.0
409.2
453.5
17.5
20.5
22.7
367.5
429.7
476.2
a/ Excludes Lone Tree-Deer Valley agricultural demands in Brentwood
sub-area.
51
-------
TABLE 22
PROJECTED DEMAND ON SUPPLY SYSTEM
FOR WATER IN TOTAL STUDY AREA a/
Thousands of Acre Feet per Year
-171-
1970
Hydro-
logic
Wet
Median
Dry
23.2
32.7
42.8
58.3
66.8
78.2
Agricul-
Year Condition Municipal Industrial tural
a/
6.1
6.1
6.1
Sub-
Total
87.6
105.6
127.1
Losses
.4.4
5.3
6.4
Total
92.0
110.9
133.5
1980
Wet
Median
Dry
53.5
69.0
81.8
101.5
112.4
125.7
16.6
16.6
16.6
171.6
198.0
224.1
8.6
9.9
11.2
180.2
207.9
235.3
1990
Wet
Median
Dry
98.1
115.9
128.8
127.8
139.7
157.0
24.0
24.0
24.0
249.9
279.6
309.8
12.5
14.0
15.5
262.4
293.6
325.3
2000
Wet
Median
Dry
147.9
171.5
185.9
151.8
171.2
190.2
23.0
23.0
23.0
322.7
365.7
399.1
16.2
18.3
20.0
338.9
384.0
419.1
2010
Wet
Median
Dry
192.5
220.2
237.1
179.5
202.4
225.4
23.0
23.0
23.0
395.0
445.6
485.5
19.8
22.3
24.3
414.8
467.9
509.8
2020
Wet
Median
Dry
236.5
268.4
287.1
201.9
229.2
254.8
23.0
23.0
23.0
461.4
520.5
564.9
23.1
26.0
28.3
484.5
546.5
593.2
a/ Exclusive of agricultural water demands in areas served by
East Contra Costa and Byron-Bethany Irrigation Districts and
by individual pumping from Delta channels.
52
-------
-172-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC.
Although there are expected to be substantial
diversions from offshore in the future under wet and
median water supply conditions, the period of availability
of high-quality water offshore will extend into the
summer months only in very wet years. The capacity of
the overland supply system must be sufficient to meet
the demands placed upon it during peak periods. Since
the District's peak demands occur during the summer
months of July, August, and September, it is evident that
only in years of "wet" hydrologic conditions in the Central
Valley will the potential peak demands on the supply
system be alleviated by the availability of high-quality
water offshore.
E. PEAK SUPPLY SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
1. CUSTOMER PEAKING FACTORS
In order to analyze the capabilities of
the present Contra Costa Canal, and of possible improve-
ments to the Canal or of additional facilities, to meet
the water requirements of the study area, it was
necessary to estimate peak flow requirements. In doing
this, an analysis was made of the historical peak demands
of each of the major customers, based either on data in
the District records or on the reports of the individual
customers' consulting engineers. Consideration was
given to the present availability of customer raw water
storage, and whether or not such storage is likely to be
provided in the near future. Based on this analysis,
factors were adopted for the probable future ratio between
peak day demand on the conveyance facility and the aver-
age annual daily demand for each municipal customer, the
SIC categories of industrial customer, and for agricul-
tural uses. These factors are listed in Table 23.
2. PEAK REQUIREMENTS
To derive peak flows used in analysis of
the supply system, the customer peaking factors described
above were applied to the projected annual water require-
ments for each customer by decade, and the results were
summarized by section of the present Contra Costa Canal.
This procedure is approximate only; in assuming that all
53
-------
-1
TABLE 23
ANTICIPATED CUSTOMER PEAKING RATIOS-/
Peaking
Customer Ratio
Municipal:
Martinez 2.0
Pleasant Hill 2.5
District, Treated Water Division 1.6
Bay Water Service 2.5
Pittsburg 2.5
Antioch 1.6
Oakley 2.5
Industrial 1.2 to 3.8
Agricultural 4.0
a/ Defined as ratio between peak day demand and
average annual daily demand.
-------
-m-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC.
peaks would accumulate on the same day, no credit is
taken for possible diversification of demand pattern be-
tween the various users and classes of use. However,
flow requirements for Canal losses and the effects of
operating errors have been ignored. It is assumed that
these simplifications are compensating so that the peak
flow values derived are comparable to those that will
actually be realized in the future if total annual demands
develop as projected in this study.
Peak day flow requirements in the Contra Costa
Canal estimated according to the foregoing procedure are
summarized by decade for each section of the Canal in
Table 24, These requirements can be expected to occur
in years of median and dry hydrologic conditions in the
Central Valley; only in wet years, when high-quality
water may be available offshore during the summer months,
might the peak demands on the overland supply system be
less than those listed in the table.
The peak flows shown in Table 24 are for the
present District service area only, and do not include
demands in the Byron, Brentwood, and Islands sub-areas.
A supply system serving the entire study area would need
to have capacity to meet requirements in those sub-areas
as well as demands shown in Table 24.
55
-------
-176-
LEFDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC.
V. PRESENT SUPPLY SYSTEM
A. BUREAU OF RECLAMATION FACILITIES
1. CANALS
The canals in the Contra Costa Canal system
constructed and operated by the United States Bureau of
Reclamation are the main Contra Costa Canal and the
Clayton and Ygnacio Relift Canals. These features, shown
on Plate 5, are the main components of the supply system
serving the present District service area.
The Contra Costa Canal is 47.67 miles long
over-all. The first 3.95 miles consists of unlined earth
section forming the intake channel diverting from Rock
Slough, with the balance being concrete lined. As shown
on Plate 5, the Canal is divided into 25 separate flow
sections, the characteristics of which are summarized in
Table 25. The side slopes are at 1^:1 in the lined sec-
tions and 3:1 in the earth sections. Bottom slopes in
the lined sections range from 0.125 foot per thousand in
Section 3, to 0.4 foot per thousand at the terminus. The
Canal is eequipped with 43 check structures, of which 26
are used for operations, and eight wasteways. Total
Canal storage amounts to about 280 acre feet at normal
operating level.
The Clayton and Ygnacio Relift Canals are 4.85
and 5.17 miles in length, respectively. The characteris-
tics of these canals are summarized in Table 26. The
Clayton Canal draws from the main Contra Costa Canal at
mile 28.39 in Section 10, and the Ygnacio Canal takes out
of the main Canal at mile 35.27 in Section 12.
2 . PUMPING PLANTS
There are four pumping plants at the upstream
end of the main Contra Costa Canal, and a plant serving
each of the Clayton and Ygnacio relift canals. The
characteristics of these pumping plants are listed in
Table 27. At each of the plants on the main Contra Costa
Canal, space is available for installation of a sixth pump
to bring the total pumping capacity up to the full design
carrying capacity of the Canal.
59
-------
TABLE 25
-177-
CHARACTERISTICS OF CONTRA COSTA CANAL
Section^/
2b/
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
Location
From
Mile
0.04
2.73
3.98
7.08
11.45
12.50
16.51
20.31
23.26
26.56
29.12
32.34
35.31
37.88
39.44
40.72
41.57
43.37
44.08
44.45
45.28
46.23
46.69
47.01
47.55
To
Mile
2.73
3.95
7.04
11.45
12.50
16.49
20.31
23.25
26.56
29.12
32.34
35.31
37.85
39.44
40.72
41.57
43.37
43.97
44.45
45.08
46.00
46.48
46.88
47.20
47.67
Design
Capacity,
cfs
328
328
350
320
291
269
256
225
204
190
172
155
140
125
114
102
93
87
67
59
46
37
30
25
22
Bottom
Width,
ft.
24.0
24.0
7.0
7.0
7.0
7.0
7.0
6.0
6.0
6.0
6.0
6.0
6.0
6.0
6.0
5.C
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
4.0
4.0
4.0
3.0
Height of
Lining,
ft.
6.5S/
6.5£/
9.37
7.81
7.50
7.25
7.10
6.81
6.17
5.98
5.56
5.24
4.88
4.6H
4.36
4.25
4.08
3.96
3.5U
3.21
2.87
2.67
2.44
2.29
3.00
a_/ Side slopes are 3:1 in Sections 1 and 2 and
1*5:1 in Sections 3 through 25.
b_/ Earth sections.
£/ Design flow depth.
Source: U. S. Bureau of Reclamation data.
60
-------
CHARACTERISTICS OF CLAYTON AND
Location
Section
Clayton
Canal £/
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Ygnacio
Canal V
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
From
Mile
0.28
1.27
2.61
3.42
3.71
4.31
4.55
4.76
0.01
0.16
1.38
1.73
2.72
3.45
3.78
4.64
4.91
To
Mile
1.18
2.61
3.42
3.71
4.30
4.54
4.75
4.85
0.05
1.38
1.73
2.71
3.45
3.78
4.38
4.83
5.17
Type of
Lining
Concrete
Concrete
Concrete
Concrete
Concrete
Concrete
Concrete
Concrete
Concrete
Asphaltic-
Concrete
Asphaltic-
Concrete
Asphaltic-
Concrete
Asphaltic-
Concrete
Asphaltic-
Concrete
Asphaltic-
Concrete
Earth
Earth
YGNACIO RELIFT CANALS
Design
Capacity,
cfs
38
36
32
26
21
15
11
11
30
30
26
22
18
14
9
9
9
Bottom
Width,
ft.
4.00
4.00
4.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
5.00
2.50
2.50
2.50
2.50
2.50
2.50
3.00
3.00
-178.
TABLE 26
Height of
Lining,
ft.
2.62
2.58
2.42
2.42
2.21
1.75
1.54
3.00
r> /
1.87-'
2.58
2.42
2.25
2.00
1.75
1.33
1.12S/
1.24^X
a/ Side slopes are 1^:1 in Sections 1 through 7 and are vertical in
Section 8. Begins at Contra Costa Canal Section 10 (Mile 28.39) and
ends at Galindo Creek.
b_/ Side slopes are 1%:1 in all sections. Begins at Contra Costa Canal
Section 12 (Mile 35.27) and ends at Contra Costa Canal Section 13
(Mile 37.66).
c/ Design flow depth.
Source: U. S. Bureau of Reclamation data.
61
-------
-179-
LEEDS HILL AND JEWETT, INC
Electric power for pumping is provided by
facilities of the Federal Central Valley Project. A
power line extends from the Bureau of Reclamation's
primary switching yard at Tracy to Contra Costa Canal
Pumping Plant Number 3, and from this point power is
distributed to the other plants, including the Clayton
and Ygnacio Pumping Plants, through a 69 KV system.
The United States Naval Reservation at Concord is also
served by this system.
3. RESERVOIRS
Reservoir storage on the Contra Costa Canal
system is provided in Martinez and Contra Loma Reservoirs.
Other raw water storage in the service area is owned by
the District or its customers.
Martinez Reservoir is the terminal facility of
the Contra Costa Canal, and was included in the original
construction program. The reservoir provides about 268
acre feet of storage at maximum water surface elevation 66.
The normal operating range of the reservoir is from
elevation 45 to 66, with an active storage of 232 acre
feet. Under the original concept of the Canal system,
Martinez Reservoir was designed to capture terminal flows
caused by operating errors. The reservoir is now also
being used to meet the peak demands of the customers
which are served directly from it.
Contra Loma Reservoir, completed in November 1967,
was originally intended as a feature of the proposed
Kellogg Unit, and ultimately will have the principal
purpose of re-regulating the flows of the proposed Contra
Loma Canal. It is located at mile 11.6 on the Contra Costa
Canal, and can be filled from the Canal through a 21 cfs
capacity pump intake. The outlet works releasing into the
Canal have a capacity of 900 cfs. The reservoir has a
total capacity of 2,4-57 acre feet at maximum water surface
elevation 211, including 535 acre feet of flood control
storage. The operating pool, between elevation 205 and
169, provides 1,671 acre feet of active storage.
62
-------
|o
c
(
1
u
1
1
1
t-
1
J
•
1
<
A
3
(->•
0
0)
P1
rt
•*
&•
p-
3
A
•
«
y
p.
o
p-
01
rt
§
co
rt
Oi
oq
(D
•
<
fl>
S
P-
O
Oi
(-•
•a
»s
o
*o
(0
(-•
h--
at
4
•
>
j--
P-
o
3
(C
CO
rt-
01
Oq
(0
(D
X
0
A
»
A
S1
5
ca
rt
O
P«
H
A
o
3
O
O
3
rt
>J
Oi
O
O
CO
rt-
Bl
O
01
g
H
•
f
O
O
I
rt
§
O
§
rt
2
01
o
O
o
0)
rt-
Oi
O
s
rt-
O
rt-
Oi
O
O
3
O
O
CO
rt
01
O
8
rt
O
O
CO
rt
01
O
01
01
to
CO
OI
IS)
CO
CO
(0
00
o
en
en
oo
en
ro
CO
(0
-4
O
O
Oi
rt-
i p.
-O
3
(O
O>
O
i-h
CO
ro
co
coll-' ro enlt-' to ro enl
Hroro
enHroro
OI|H to to
s=l
P- A
rt 4
CO
COH
oltn
(01 CO
.
MH en
rol co
(0
f
110 en co P1
CO O
p-
o --a co
o o en
CO
p*
0
p. CO
0 -J CO P-
o o en o
H
O --J CO
o o en
0
Hi
CO
o o
Hi Ol
*o
G 01
3 O
p. p.
rt rt-
W <<
V
O
O
(O
O
O
-P ^1
O CO
oo f ro
O en en
o o o
en co (->
o o en
o o o
f ro H
o en ro
o o en
-P IO M
o en ro
o o en
oo
00
en
oo
(0
en en
to o
co co co
•P co co
en en en
ro ro ro
rt •
ta-
IP"
CO
•
-J
-J
CO
00
en
o
ro
o
CD
10
u>
ro
CO
00
ro
1C
leal
f
-------
-181-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
4. LATERALS
The Bureau of Reclamation constructed seven
laterals extending service from the Contra Costa Canal to
lands devoted to irrigated agriculture, and two laterals
for industrial water service. The laterals total some
14.8 miles in length, and consist of asbestos-cement or
reinforced concrete pipe of varying diameter. Each later-
al contains a number of turnouts providing service to
individual customers or groups of customers. The charac-
teristics of the laterals are summarized in Table 28, and
their locations are indicated on Plate 5. Although the
Bureau constructed the laterals as part of the Contra
Costa Canal system, the District is responsible for repay-
ment as well as operation and maintenance.
CUSTOMERS' FACILITIES
1. CUSTOMERS' LATERALS
All customers, except for those served from
the nine Bureau-owned laterals described above, have their
own facilities for taking delivery of water from the
Contra Costa Canal. Customers' laterals vary in size from
36 inches to 3/4 inch in diameter, depending on individual
needs .
There are 17 privately-owned laterals serving
major municipal and industrial customers. These vary in
size from 10 to 36 inches in diameter and extend up to
two miles from the Canal. Appurtenances at the headworks
of the laterals usually include a screening box or trash-
rack, and booster pumping is not uncommon.
A number of the smaller municipal customers, con-
sisting mainly of golf courses, schools, nurseries, and
cemeteries, divert water through small gravity systems or
hydropneumatic systems composed of a pump, pressure tank,
and pressure pipeline. Laterals range in diameter from
2 to 8 inches. Most customers of this type are located
relatively near the Canal.
Agricultural customers' facilities consist for
the most part of portable sprinkler irrigation systems,
usually supplemented by a small booster pump. The typical
system is capable of delivering 240 gpm.
65
-------
-182-
TABLE 28
CHARACTERISTICS OF DISTRIBUTION LATERALS
FROM CONTRA COSTA CANAL
Inside
Design Flow Pipe Diam. Total No. of
(cfs) (inches) No. of Turn-
a/ Primary Length First Last First Last Turn- outs in
Lateral Use (feet) Sec. Sec. Sec. Sec. outs Service
5.3 £/ 5,607 5.1 2.0 21 15 65
6.2.b/ £/ 7,920 7.9 2.0 21 12 11 11
~~ 1,425 2.1 12 4 4
7.lk/ £/ 13,451 9.0 2.0 27 12 16 15
1,889 3.6 12 2 2
7.3 £/ 11,022 10.4 2.3 27 12 15 13
9.1 £/ 8,445 12.2 4.3 21 15 88
14.0 d/ 8,285 4.5 4.5 15 15 21
25.6 £/ 9,116 19.0 11.2 27 24 22
36.6 £/ 6,495 6.8 3.6 24 15 10 7
Y-2.6 c/ 4,791 4.6 2.0 21 12 86
a/ Number refers to Canal mile post as measured from beginning of Contra
~ Costa Canal, except for Lateral Y-2.6 which extends from the Ygnacio
Relift Canal 2.6 miles downstream from the Ygnacio Pumping Plant.
b/ This lateral bifurcates into two pipelines.
c/ Irrigation.
d/ Industrial.
65
-------
-183-
IFI.DS HILl ANDJEWI.IT INC
Customers in the Groups and Associations cate-
gory take water from the Canal through 47 separate
systems, with the membership in each Group largely dic-
tating the size of the diversion lateral. Memberships
vary from 3 to 460 persons, and diversion laterals vary
in diameter from 2 to 12 inches. Hydropneumatic systems
are usually employed.
Individuals diverting directly from the Canal
for domestic irrigation generally take water through
small hydropneumatic systems having pipe sizes running
from 3/a to 2 inches in diameter. Individuals of this
type are known as "Flat Raters." Property belonging
to these individuals is in almost all cases located ad-
jacent to the Canal.
2 . RAW WATER STORAGE
The main raw water storage in the study
area, aside from the Bureau's Martinez and Contra Loma
Reservoirs, is provided by the City of Antioch, and by
the District's Treated Water Division at Mallard Reser-
voir. These facilities are shown on Plate 5. Some
industries have small amounts of raw water storage.
The City of Antioch reservoir has a total capa-
city of 735 acre feet at full water surface elevation 163,
and is used by the City primarily to store water produced
from the San Joaquin River. An intake from the Contra
Costa Canal is located at mile 10.5 A 200 horsepower
pumping unit at the intake can deliver up to 14.5 mgd
either into the reservoir or directly to the City's water
treatment plant. As part of a water system modernization
program now being undertaken by the City, a new intake
is under construction at Canal mile 10.8. This intake
will include a pumping station having an initial capacity
of 25 mgd, with provision for' future expansion to 40 mgd.
Mallard Reservoir has a capacity of 2,980 acre
feet at full water surface elevation 33. The reservoir
was originally designed so that this capacity could be
approximately doubled by increasing the height of the
embankments 1C feet. Further increase in capacity could
be achieved by excavating from within the existing reser-
voir area. Water from the Contra Costa Canal is delivered
to Mallard Reservoir by gravity through a 30-inch turnout
located at mile 26.3. The reservoir is also used to store
water produced from Mallard Slough.
67
-------
LITDS HI I 1 AND JEWETT, INC
The District's Treated Water Division also has
12.3 acre feet of storage located at the Ygnacio Treat-
ment Plant, Canal mile 37.7. Other raw water storage in
the District's service area totals about 130 acre feet,
most of which belongs to one industrial customer.
3. OFFSHORE SUPPLY SYSTEMS
The City of Antioch and the District's
Treated Water Division divert a portion of their raw
water supplies from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta when
it is available in suitable quality. The locations of
their offshore supply systems are shown on Plate 5.
The City of Antioch diverts its offshore supplies
through a 400 horsepower pumping unit and an 18-inch
diameter pipeline 16,500 feet in length leading to the
City's raw water reservoir. The system is capable of
producing from 6.0 to 6.5 mgd. The TWO system consists
of a pumping station at Mallard Slough having a total
installed capacity of 750 horsepower in three units, and
a 33-inch diameter pipeline leading to Mallard Reservoir.
This pipeline consists of 2 H , 0 0 0 feet of reinforced con-
crete pipe, and 15,500 feet of mortar-lined welded steel
pipe .
In addition to the municipal systems described
above, several of the major water-using industries in the
District whose plants are situated on the waterfront
develop some of their high-quality raw water needs from
offshore. During extended periods of availability, these
plants may produce virtually all of their needs from the
offshore supply. A number of plants use large quantities
of offshore water for cooling purposes, but the chloride
ion content of the supply is not of importance in these
cases because the cooling systems are constructed of
materials able to withstand high concentrations of chlor-
ides. Some industries also use the offshore supply for
washdown, waste dilution and fire protection. Chloride
levels are of little importance for these uses.
68
-------
-185-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
VI. SUPPLY SYSTEM DEFICIENCIES
A. S_ERVICE PROBLEMS
1. WATER QUALITY
The present Contra Costa Canal system, a
Federally owned facility, is not able to provide water
supplies having mineral quality at all times suitable to
the purposes for which the water is used. Usually there
are two periods during the year when the quality of
water available at Rock Slough falls below acceptable
levels for municipal and industrial uses. The first of
these occurs in the winter, when runoff in the San Joaquin
River flushes drainage water accumulated from the previous
irrigation season into the Delta channels. Historically,
the chloride ion content of Rock Slough water pumped into
the Contra Costa Canal system has exceeded 100 ppm for an
average of about 80 days during the winter season. The
second period of poor quality water occurs during the
summer months, when the low inflow in the Sacramento and
San Joaquin Rivers to the Delta permits saline water from
San Francisco Bay to intrude into the Delta channels.
The upper limits of chloride ion concentration
and total dissolved solids content recommended by the
United States Public Health Service for municipal water
supplies are 250 pprn and 500 ppm, respectively. How-
ever, the Contra Costa County Water District would pre-
fer to deliver water containing not more than 100 ppm
chlorides as a reasonable upper limit, in order to
protect industrial customers from substantial economic
penalties caused by the use of high-chloride process
water, and to prevent detriments to domestic consumers
due to hard water. The historic availability of water
in the Contra Costa Canal, expressed as a function of
chloride ion concentration, is shown on Plate 10. As
can be seen from this Plate, water containing 100 ppm
or less chlorides has been available at Rock Slough
only 65 per cent of the time. Furthermore, several
instances have occurred in the past when the chloride
ion concentration has risen even above the Public
Health Service recommended limit of 250 ppm. Chlorides
at Rock Slough exceeded this value for 23 days in 1961
and 28 days in 1959, when the maximum historical value of
374 ppm was experienced. Situations such as this are
likely to occur with increasing frequency in the future
69
-------
-186-
Hill AND Jl WITT INC
during periods of low runoff in the Central Valley, as
Federal and State export projects divert more and more
water away from the Delta, and particularly after the
Peripheral Canal is in full operation. Increasing irri-
gation development in the San Joaquin Valley will also
aggravate these quality problems.
Contract I 7r,.r-3401 between the District and
the Bureau of Reclamation for delivery of water through
the Contra ^osta Cana.l does not provide quality object-
ives or guaiantees, except that the District is not
required to accept and pay for any water having a chlor-
ide ion concentration in excess of 250 ppm. When this
contract was written it was contemplated that most of
the Canal water would be used for agricultural purposes,
which could tolerate reasonable shortages and poorer
quality water. However, due to the radically different
pattern of development in the District from that
anticipated in the 193O's, the provision of Contract
I 75r-3U01 regarding water quality is of little or no
value, since it does not recognize the need for a
municipal water supply agency to make water of suitable
quality available to its customers 100 per cent of the
time .
At present, the only measurements of the quality
of Canal water made on a daily basis are tests for
temperature, chlorides, and total dissolved solids on
samples taken at Pumping Plant No. 1. Complete chemical
analysis of Canal water Is made only on a monthly basis.
No bacteriological analyses are made at all. For proper
control, chemical and perhaps bacteriological analyses
should b^ made on samples taken frequently at the intake
to the Canal, at Contra Lona and Martinez Reservoirs, and
possibly at a point in the Canal about mid-way along its
length. The results of these tests should be made avail-
able to all of the District's customers who desire them.
The precise 3xtent of a desirable water quality testing
program should be the subject of a detailed study.
CAPACITY OF FACILITI!
When the Contra Costa Canal was originally
designed, the selected design capacity for each of the
various reaches was predicated on large agricultural
requirements, which at that time were projected to be
the principal demands on the facility. However, these
agricultural needs have failed to materialize. Instead,
70
-------
I TFDS HILL AND JFWTTT INC
-187-
es are delivered to a relatively
rge industrial and municipal customers
widely spaced
1 :> not operat
sections being required to deliver
water tnan designed for, and others
intervals. Conse-
ng as originally
on Plate
Lhis
in
re
i n d i c a t e d
shows tli at
:i ounce a in the
10 21 , most of
o a t .. t M a j t i n e z
i n d 4. bit 11e or no
• - - , • -..'her sections.
• a T. tic! r a t •' d pear, day flows
".'it-' r re:, FT. t des ign capacity
; r. u-•;.-• •-n ''ai-ie l';» and un
i a • , ,; i t n o u '. improvements,
d'~C-\: . .- . . ' .' ' • - f ' - - ;::d '» wcul 1 probably
exceeded .-•/ l'.-,''/j, ',;-t:. tbojo o., beef ions ^ through 9
ng exceeded in 1 • /.. ana c t >-> r . A._.,o jhown on Plate 11
t :i e I-'1''-' en: li.stai_eu cate main pumping
n t: as • : .- ; e d in I --.; '_ e C 7 . I e , iL i 1 o w r 3 q i: i r e n e n t s in
^lons ~ -^nd * ..ro_. Id •::-, c -d ' - - •: car ac: ties as early
1971 , ,-• 1 t b o u t i:. ', al i m L 'ji, •_ : : • t '; u n 1 1 s .
s ; t u a r ^ o n
r d (- i' t a T; n a
a . i ; i1-; cue e d
far ,-, norf cf
present peak d e ma n a s in the Martinez
some reduction in required peak del
reaches is being achieved cy draw in
Martinez Reservoir. Some Increase
capacity of this portion of tne Can
August, 1966, when temporary '' :j i d c b
structed cy the Bureau of Re clamat!
to Sta: 2487+00. This sidetcarding
containing soil-cement mix, stacked
other to a height of about one i c o t
the existing lining. The sideboard
have increased the carrying capacit
Canal to about 37 cfs; however, a 1
conducted r y the Bureau indicated f
operating conditions, an average f ^
could be obtained in the reach afte
is less than the estimated average
Reservoir occurring In the peak mon
delivery capacity into Martinez Res
augmented by 1970 In order to avoid
s at the t e r m i n a1
v,r h e r c the d e s i g n
C'm '- 3 cfs to 22 cfs.
at needed to meet the
sub-area, although
ivery rates in these
i- on storage in
in the carrying
al was achieved in
oarding" was con-
on from Sta, 2435+00
consists of sacks
on top of each
above the top of
ing was expected to
y ^ t this reach c f the
9 -day c o n v e y a n c e test
hat , even under ideal
o w ': i o n 1 y 27.4 cfs
r s1 a e b c a r d i n g . This
demand at Martinez
Thus the
ervoir must be further
restrictions on service
71
-------
-188-
I EEDS HILL AND JEWETT, INC
3. OPERATING CONTROL
The Contra Costa Canal system Is now being
operated following a procedure which may be called the
"pool balance" method. A desirable water level is estab-
lished for each of the 25 sections of the Canal, with the
Increase or decrease in Canal storage being known for each
Increment of departure of the actual water level from the
desirable level. Readings of the water level in each of
the 25 pools are usually made four times each day by Bureau
of Reclamation operating personnel, and the total change
in system storage for the day is calculated. Also, the
Bureau is informed of anticipated demands for the ensuing
24-hour period by the District, based on water orders re-
ceived from its customers. A pumping schedule is then
set for the 2Li-hour period, which is calculated to meet
the anticipated demands and to return the Canal storage
to its desirable level.
There are a number of problems which prevent the
"pool balance" method from providing efficient operation
of the Canal. Although the range in capacity of the units
available at the four main plants provides some flexibility
in meeting the 24-hour pumping schedules, it is usually
necessary to pump for short periods of time at rates well
above the average 24-hour schedule in order to approxi-
mate the desired total amount of flow as closely as
possible. This procedure creates flow surges in the
system which complicate the problem of accurately deter-
mining pool storage.
Customer demands are based on water orders which
are placed by municipal and industrial customers on a
two-week basis. These orders represent the customers'
estimates of their probable average flow requirements for
the period. The requirement for a two-week advance order
was imposed by a District regulation which became effect-
ive January 1, 1967. Prior to that time there was no
consistent method of estimating customers' water needs in
advance. The new regulation requires each customer to
estimate his average daily rate of delivery over the order
period, and also requires the customers to notify the
District at least 24 hours in advance of changes in their
orders.
72
-------
-189-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
Although the water ordering system has improved
operations since it was instituted, the procedure still
gives only a poor prediction of the actual daily demands
on the Canal. As an illustration of this, deliveries to
one of the District's major industrial customers for the
month of August, 1967 are shown on Plate 12, which also
shows that customer's water orders for the month.
Another significant operating problem is created
by the fact that many of the District's major customers
have come to regard the Contra Costa Canal as a large
reservoir rather than as a supply conduit of limited
capacity, and have been taking their deliveries at widely
fluctuating rates of flow. For example, one major muni-
cipal customer, which has no raw water storage of its own,
operates its treatment plant on an eight-hour shift basis
with the plant being shut down 16 hours a day. The
result is that when that customer is taking water from
the Canal, its average demand rate is three times higher
than would be the case if the deliveries were uniform
over a 24-hour period. This type of peaking operation
robs the Canal of capacity which could be used to meet
larger total District needs assuming these needs were all
leveled to the extent reasonably possible.
Tne result of these conditions is that the
ability to meet customer demands now depends to a great
extent on the ability to use a portion of the Canal to
store water which can be drawn down during peak demand
periods and refilled during off-peak periods. This in
turn reduces the capacity of the Canal to transport
flows along its length. As the total demands within the
District increase in the future, more and more of the
Canal capacity will be required to transport flows, and
less and less will be available for storage to meet
fluctuations in demand. As this occurs, the effect of the
operating problems described above will be intensified
unless corrective measures are taken.
SYSTEM RELIABILITY
At the present time, all water delivered
through the Contra Costa Canal system must pass through
a series of four pumping plants, as described in
Section V-A.2. These pumping plants are subject to
mechanical failure or electrical power outage, which
could affect one or all of the pumping units.
73
-------
-190-
IEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC.
Historically, unscheduled power outages have
been an infrequent occurrence. Only three outages have
been recorded, the longest occurring on September 23,
1964, and lasting about 6^ hours. This outage was
caused by an accident in which a truck collided with one
of the poles in the transmission line between the Tracy
switchyard and Pumping Plant Number 3. It can be antici-
pated that this type of accident will occur more
frequently in the future as the eastern portions of the
study area become more urbanized.
Although there have never been any interrup-
tions in service due to mechanical failure of a pumping
unit, the likelihood of such a failure is constantly
increasing as the capacity of the pumping plants is
approached.
Another possible cause for interruption of ser-
vice is a failure of the Contra Costa Canal itself. Two
such failures have occurred in the past, in 1952 and 1955.
The 1952 break was due to a landslide in Section 12
near Galindo Creek, causing a three-day service inter-
ruption. The 1955 failure occurred in Section 20 and
was also caused by landslides. In both cases, service
was restored by installing large diameter corrugated metal
pipe in the breaks ,
At the present time the only emergency storage
available to the Canal system is the 1,671 acre feet of
active storage in Contra Loma Reservoir, which can
provide about three days' peak supply at the year 1970
demand level. This facility is capable of gravity service
downstream from its connection with the Contra Costa
Canal at the head of Section 5, and can back feed in
Section 4 as far as Pumping Plant Number 4- if withdrawals
in this Section are not too great. However, with present
pumping equipment, it would take about 4-0 days to refill
the reservoir once emptied. Canal customers in Section 3
have no emergency protection whatsoever, except for the
water contained in this section at the time of service
interrupt ion.
Some additional protection is available to the
City of Martinez and the industries drawing from the
268 acre foot Martinez Reservoir, but Bureau of Reclamation
criteria limiting the rate of drawdown in this reservoir
are such that it can provide only about six hours' supply
on the peak day at the 1970 demand level.
-------
-191-
LEEDS, HILL ANP JEWETT, INC
In contrast to this situation, the East Bay
Municipal Utility District now has some 157,000 acre
feet of terminal raw water storage capable of providing
gravity service to all parts of the District, and has
plans to add about 97,000 acre feet more. The storage
reservoirs of the San Francisco Water Department in the
Bay Area contain almost 240,000 acre feet of water which
is available for emergency gravity supply.
OTHER PROBLEMS
1. CANAL SAFETY
Canal safety has been a persistent problem
ever since the Contra Costa Canal first went into opera-
tion in 1940. Since that time, 41 persons have lost
their life by drowning in the Canal.
In the early 1950's drownings increased in fre-
quency of occurrence, and in July 1954 the District
embarked on a program of surveillance and public education
designed to lower the drowning rate. A Canal patrol of
deputy sheriffs was formed, and a comprehensive program
involving dissemination of literature aimed at awakening
and maintaining public awareness was undertaken.
As a result of this program, the rate of drowning
in proportion to the total population within the District
has been substantially reduced over-all and within every
age group. However, the group least affected has been
very young children, especially those of pre-school age.
Of the 15 drownings occurring since the District's safety
program was initiated, 10 were children under nine years
of age, and of these, six were pre-school aged children.
An important factor affecting safety is the fact
that the Contra Costa Canal was not fenced when it was
constructed, and that fences have been added subsequently
only in localized areas. Even these fences are now in-
adequate in preventing access to the Canal, especially
by children. The primary reason for this is that the
fences are not maintained by filling holes which develop
beneath them, through which children can enter the right-
of-way. Also, cross-fencing the Canal is not complete, so
that in many areas children can simply walk around the
end of the right-of-way fence.
75
-------
-192-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
The United States Bureau of Reclamation, which
constructed the Canal to serve an agricultural area, has
taken the position that it is not responsible for fencing
since the Canal preceded urban development. The District
has also disclaimed responsiblity on the grounds that it
is neither the owner of the Canal nor responsible for
operation and maintenance. It is apparent, however, that
complete and adequate fencing of all open waterways is
the only means by which continued loss of the lives of
small children by drowning in the Canal can be effectively
reduced.
Safety devices are provided at many points in
the Canal in the Diablo Valley area, particularly at siphons
These devices include ladders, grates, and floating life
lines. However, 18 siphons on the main Canal, primarily
upstream of Clyde, do not have grates, and 10 do not have
floating lifelines. In addition, there is a need for
more escape ladders by which persons can get themselves
out of the Canal should they fall in.
2. MAINTENANCE DEFICIENCIES
The present maintenance procedures being
followed for the Contra Costa Canal are deficient in
some respects compared with standards desirable for a
municipal supply system. Treatment of the Canal sur-
face and right-of-way for weed control should be carried
out frequently enough that weeds cannot develop to an
unsightly stage. The esthetic appearance of the Canal
would be greatly improved by landscaping at frequently-
used public road crossings.
Adequate surface maintenance is difficult under
present conditions because only about 5% of the total
Canal, from mile 4- to mile 7, has an access road on both
sides. Maintenance would also be enhanced if operating
personnel could remotely control gates along the access
roads from their automobiles, instead of having to leave
the cars and open the gates by hand as at present.
76
-------
-193-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
Positive measures should be undertaken to guard
against the accidental introduction into the Canal of
toxic materials, particularly at road crossings. One
such incident occurred in 1965 when a truck loaded with
bulk fertilizer fell into the Canal while the driver was
opening a gate. The Canal could be provided with a rein-
forced concrete cover sufficiently far upstream and down-
stream from road crossing to ensure that a highway
accident will not result in pollution of the District's
water supply.
Bridges crossing the canals in the Contra
Costa Canal system are in various ownership, including
the Bureau of Reclamation, the State of California,
Contra Costa County, and cities and private individuals.
Some of the wooden bridges in private ownership are not
being properly maintained. Measures should be taken to
ensure that all bridges crossing the Canal are adequately
maintained.
3. METERING INADEQUACIES
a. Major Customers. As was stated in Section
II-A.2, about 91% of the District's total water sales
are made to only 15 major customers. Thus, the manner
in which sales to these customers are measured, and the
accuracy of measurement, are of prime importance to the
District.
The 15 major customers at present take their
water supplies from the Contra Costa Canal through a
total of 20 different turnouts. The location, size,
and ownership of each of these turnouts is indicated in
Table 29. Also shown in Table 29 is the location of
the meter for each turnout, and the meter ownership,
maintenance schedule, type of meter output, and identi-
fication of the party responsible for reading each
meter.
A number of the 20 major meter installations
are owned by the customers and located in the customers'
plants. This situation is satisfactory as long as the
District has free access to each meter, and can ensure
the accuracy of the readings. At the present time, how-
ever, in more than half the installations, the District
relies on its customers to read the meters and to main-
tain them in good operating condition. As a matter of
77
-------
-194-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
good business practice, the District should be the party
responsible for all meter reading and maintenance. The
Directors have recognized this and adopted a regulation
on January 1, 1966, which provides that all service
connections for municipal or industrial purposes instal-
led after that date shall be equipped with a meter owned,
operated, and maintained by the District. The principles
of this regulation should be made to apply also to all of
the 20 meter installations listed in Table 29, at least
with regard to the operation and maintenance of those
installations. As the meters now owned by customers wear
out, they should be replaced by District-owned meters
located at the head of the laterals.
Meters maintained by the District are dismantled
and thoroughly cleaned, inspected, and repaired if neces-
sary on an annual schedule. Accuracy of these meters is
maintained by a semi-annual calibration and a weekly
manometer check performed at the time the meter is read.
This schedule of maintenance should be rigorously extended
to all of the 20 major meter installations.
The type of meter output varies among the major
installations, including circular charts, strip charts,
and totalizers. The output is generally satisfactory
for the present method of operation of the Contra Costa
Canal system and for the type of rate structure which
the District now has. However, as will be' discussed in
Section VII-A.7, the capabilities of the metering equip-
ment in improving the operation of the Contra Costa Canal
system need to be more fully exploited.
b. Other Customers. The District's smaller
municipal and industrial customers and the groups and
associations drawing from the Contra Costa Canal for
domestic irrigation supplies are mainly metered, whereas
flat rate sales to individuals for domestic irrigation
and to agricultural users are estimated on the basis of
area served. These procedures satisfactorily account
for the relatively small amount of water involved.
78
-------
to
o
H
ID
00
01
in
H H H
-P CO tO
H O
ID 00
CD Ol -P
CO NJ
13
it
DC
n ii
2
n
M a
a A
H-
O
01 O rt
3 H, ^
rt !-••
f 0)
Ol M
rt
0)
CO O f
H O O *-3
II II II II
•-J CO O t~>
O rt H- Ol
rt 4 4 rt
01 H- O A
H-O C 4
i_ife ^« Oi
N O OJ !-•
4 O C
rt 3" 4
*£
CO
t-f*
A
H
I-1
O
y
A
3
H-
O
01
t->
2
3
co
0)
3
rt
O
O
JJ*
§
H-
J— •
O
f\
§
o
£y*
H-
H
CO O **1 *^1
A O Cr tr
M 9 A A
tr* t?*
O N O O
H. A Q> 0»
M I-1 4 4
M Q* Q-
A
01
O
Zf
C
CO
*
CO
rt
A
A
M
1
TJ
-5'
A
2
r"
l^i
M
G C
CO CO
• •
co co
rt rt
A A
A A
f— 1 }— 1
•"1*
|J
(-•
*t3
CO
*tJ
A
rt
3
A
3
*"T*
»J
M
H-
•0
CO
*^d
(D
1
(D
3
w w
fll fll
yj iv
<< <<
* *
Ol Ol
rt rt
A A
4 4
O 0
O O
*x3 X?
fi) fu
3 3
2i 2
0 p
tO M
TJ
CO
01
3
rt
a
H-
M
H
O
Ol
>u
x-
M
A
O
O
C
3
3g*
Qi
rt
A
O
H-
CO
rt
> T)
t^ M*
H- rt-
H« rt
o w
O D'
•31* C
Fj
0Q
M M
O CO 01
CO rt rt
Ol Ol A
-r • 4
CO 01
O 00 I-1
r-*
-f
00
O
O O
CO 0> O
rt rt £
i * °
A to
4 01
•
CD
!-• M
0 4?
*fl t^
*-3
o o
g g
rt rt
O O
(D (D
4 4
1 1
7\ 7\
3 3
O O
§ S
M
•-J
CO
ID
CO
O
O
f O
Ol O
rt ^
• O
|— 1
•P
•
O
M
Ol
p"]
£•*
o
0
o
f.
O
Annua
H
M
?0 Ql
(0 ^J
CO rt
4 3
•< A
O N
4
O
e
CO
§
A
4
to
o
a
C"*
o
o
o
§
I
M
M
f
00
o
o
o
e
CO
§
A
l&
'>«
CO
CD
*Tj
O
g
rt
A
G
3
|
M M
-P -P
00 rO
o en
O en
O O
C C
CO CO
*i *i
I ^*
" ^^
O) CO
o> o
^0 *fl
o o
c c
CO CO
rt rt
0 0
3 3
(D (v
4 4
C G
3 3
o r>
gg
M M M
-O -4 ~J
CO (O tO
10 00 00
•f + -r
CO CD CD
O 0 O
0 O O
c c e
M CO W
iii
A A A
444
!-• (-• 10
IO CO -F
t> a a
f t-
o o o
coo
woo
rt a: *
goo
A
c > >
O fll Ol
§ ""* H
M M
CO Q) CO
rt rt in
01 A M
• 4 +
Ol to
ID M CO
M
+
-4
00
O O
f O C
01 O W
10 A
en 4
•
CD
r-1 CO
00 O
tr1 a
H f
o o
c o
w o
A
*
3=3"
X 3
o 5
§ M
222
H M K>
O O H
H -O j
O
C
CO
rt1
A
4
CO
o
a
tr1
o
o
o
o
£
M
2 2
1- (-•
to co
00 00
en -P
o o
H H
to to
a a
IT" f
H 0
*3 O
0|
W >
?B
§g
g H
H
O
H.H
G-6
CO A
A |0l
V.
f
~ 0 H
CO O C
rt Ol 4
Ol rt 3
rt H- O
H" O C
O 3 rt
3
Q
IS
4 A
W 4
V Ol
a*
*•» TJ CO
H. H- !-••
3 *O N
n A A
D* H
A (-•• O
CO 3 ft)
v^ A
?K
O A
Ql rt
rt A
H« 4
S i»
O
A A
1 rt
CO A
3- 4
H-
3
CO 01
o H.
3*32
(tt rt A
DJ A rt
C 3 A
M 01 4
A 3
O
A
o
O
H O O
O O o
>-3O HHO OCOO
O O O
|» H
A ><
O -6
-------
-198-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC.
The anticipated peak day demands which would be
placed on a pipeline from Clyde to Martinez Reservoir
are shown in ^able 30. These demands were determined as
described in Section IV-E.2, and were derived from
Table 24. The potential peak demand of 3 cfs for the
City of Benicia is not listed in Table 30 since it is
probable that this area will have a supplemental source
of supply in the future and the City will then need its
connection to the District only for emergency service.
For purposes of selecting the desirable size
of the Clyde-Martinez pipeline, the capability of
Martinez Reservoir in meeting part of the peak load is
taken into account as shown in Table 30. As demands on
the pipeline approach its design capacity in the future,
Martinez Reservoir should be operated partly as a peaking
facility. During the early years after installation of
the pipeline, this type of operation would not be required,
Kith a rate of drawdown not exceeding two feet per day,
the limit allowable under current Bureau operating cri-
teria, a flow rate of 14 cfs could be released from
storage in the reservoir when the water surface is at
the maximum elevation 66 feet. With the water surface
at normal operating elevation 57, the maximum permissible
discharge rate would be 11 cfs. This latter value has
been adopted for study purposes.
The proposed route of the Clyde-Martinez pipe-
line1 is shown on Plate 13. The total length of the
pipeline would be approximately 25,300 feet. With the
minimum available head between normal water surface
elevation 107 in the Canal at Clyde and maximum water
surface elevation 66 in Martinez Reservoir, the peak day
demand on the pipeline shown in Table 30 for year 2020
could be provided by gravity through a 72-inch diameter
pipe. However, the most economical means of providing
the necessary capacity would be to construct a 60-inch
diameter pipeline initially, and then to install a
booster pumping plant about half way along the line when
increased capacity is required in the future. The booster
plant would probably not be needed until about year 2000.
However, as stated in Section III-B.5, there is a pos-
sibility that the effluent from the Central Contra Costa
Sanitary District's treatment plant, located in
this area, could be used to meet a part of the industrial
water requirements now served from Martinez Reservoir.
If this re-use of reclaimed waste water could be initiated
before the need for the booster plant develops, the
installation of the plant might be deferred for a number
of years and perhaps indefinitely.
-------
PEAK DAY DEMANDS ON CLYDE-MARTINEZ PIPELINE
Cubic Feet per Second
-199-
TABLE 30
1980 1990 2000 2010 2020
Martinez Reservoir
Municipal Demand
Industrial Demand
West Side Loop
Municipal Demand
Public Area Irrigation 6
20
50
5
6
35
58
5
•5
56
66
5
6
71
74
5
6
82
81
5
6
Total Demands
104 133 156 174
Less: Effect of Drawdown
in Martinez Reservoir 11
11
11
11
Demand on Pipeline
70
93 122 145 163
85
-------
-200-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC.
The Treated Water Division of the District is
now in the process of increasing the diversion capability
from Contra Costa Canal to Mallard Reservoir to 116 cfs.
A 48-inch diameter pipeline has already been constructed
from the Bollman Treatment Plant, now under construction
on the south side of the reservoir, to a point near the
northeast corner. The increased delivery capacity could
most economically be provided from this point back to the
Canal by combining with the proposed Clyde-Martinez
pipeline. Thus, as shown on Plate 13, the new pipeline
should be 81 inches in diameter from the Contra Costa
Canal takeout to the intersection with TWD's 48-inch line,
and 60 inches in diameter from that.point on to Martinez
Reservoir, with provision made for future installation
of a pumping plant on the east bank of Walnut Creek. At
the design stage, careful consideration should be given
to the type of transition structure to be provided
between the Contra Costa Canal and the Clyde-Martinez pipe-
line. Consideration should also be given to the possi-
bility of increasing the available head on the line through
use of an altitude control valve at the Martinez Reservoir
terminus.
2. DIABLO VALLEY LOOP
a. Water Requirements. Estimates of future
requirements for raw water service from the Contra Costa
Canal system in the reaches between Clyde and the
Martinez Reservoir were based on a report prepared by the
District, reference 11. Categories of water use in
this area include municipal, agricultural, industrial,
public area irrigation, and domestic irrigation. The
estimated annual water demands in Diablo Valley developed
in reference 11 are summarized in Table 31; these values
are compatible with the anticipated total water demands
in the study area described in Section IV of this report.
In order to estimate the needed size of improve-
ment works, annual design demands were converted to peak
flow rates in cubic feet per second. In doing this,
consideration was given to the possibilities of scheduling
certain of t^e deliveries for off-peak hours, and to the
generally agricultural nature of many of the uses which
would permit some restrictions in service during critical
periods.
86
-------
-201-
TABLE 31
PROJECTED DEMAND ON DIABLO VALLEY LOOP
Design Water
Contra Costa Requirement,!./
Canal Section acre feet per yea:
10 257
Clayton Relift 966
11 1,031
12 650
Ygnacio Relift 2,063
13 59U-
15 784
16 47
17 1,591
18 50
19 157
20 55
21 120
22 27
23 53
2H 40
25 10
a/ From Centra Costa County Water District data,
~ reference .11.
87
-------
-202-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
b. Alternatives Studied. Two possible alter-
natives were studied for future service to the area and
disposition of the present Contra Costa Canal in the
reaches between Clyde and the Martinez Reservoir. One
possibility would be to maintain the existing Canal in
service with complete fencing to provide adequate safety,
and the other would be to replace the Canal with a pipe-
line system. A comparison of the costs of these
alternatives, including the present worth values of
future operating and maintenance costs, showed that the
most economical solution would be to replace the Canal
with a pipeline system. The significant consideration
in this comparison was the operation and maintenance
costs; although the pipeline alternative would require
a greater capital expenditure initially, the savings
in operation and maintenance costs would more than off-
set this.
c. East Side Improvements. The recommended
plan for future raw water service in Diablo Valley is
shown on Plate 14. Along the east side of the Valley,
the existing Contra Costa Canal would be maintained in
its present condition within the boundaries of the
United States Naval Reservation, since safety is not a
problem in this area. Downstream from the Reservation,
the Canal would be filled in and and the right-of-way
would be available for improvement as a green belt for
public use. Raw water service would be provided through
a system of pipelines laid in the filled Canal.
Between the Navy base and Galindo Creek, flow
would be by gravity through a 42-inch diameter pipeline,
with an overflow and wasteway into Galindo Creek. A
new pumping plant would lift the water from this point
through a 30-inch diameter pressure pipeline into a
small storage reservoir near the existing Ygnacio Pump-
ing Plant. This reservoir would maintain service
pressure during periods of peak demand, and could also.
provide a recreational opportunity. From this reservoir,
termed Ygnacio Reservoir, service would be provided
along the present Canal alignment through a 12-inch pipe-
line terminating at Walnut Creek, and along the align-
ment of the Ygnacio Relift Canal through a pipeline
ending at Pine Creek. The latter would consist of 24-inch
and 12-inch diameter pipe, as shown on Plate 14. The
portion of the Ygnacio Canal beyond Pine Creek would be
abandoned.
-------
-203-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
The Clayton Relift Canal would be maintained in
its present condition within the boundaries of the Navy
property as far as the Mount Diablo Creek siphon. From
that point onwards to Galindo Creek, the Canal would be
replaced by a 6-inch diameter pipeline providing gravity
flow .
The existing Clayton and Ygnacio Pumping Plants
would be dismantled under this recommeded plan of im-
provement. A new 45 horsepower pumping unit would be
installed at the Clayton plant, properly sized to provide
the required service.
d. West Side Improvements. Requirements on the
west side of the Diablo Valley would be met by pumping
from Martinez Reservoir. A new pumping plant, located
below the Reservoir, would contain three 150-horsepower
pump units, one of which would be held on standby. Water
would be pumped into a 1 million gallon storage tank on
Shell Hill, from which point service would be provided
along the existing Canal alignment through a pipeline
terminating at Walnut Creek. This pipeline would be 24
inches in diameter as far as the Pleasant Hill turnout,
and would vary from 16 inches to 10 inches from that point
on to Walnut Creek, as shown on Plate 14. As on the east
side, the existing Canal would be filled in and the
right-of-way made available for a green belt for public
use .
3. CANAL ENLARGEMENT
a. Sections 5-9. As was stated in Section VI-A.2
of this Report and shown on Plate 11, it is anticipated
that without improvements, water delivery requirements
would exceed the design carrying capacity of the reach
of the Contra Costa Canal from Section 5 through Section 9
by about 1975. Three alternative methods of augmenting
the delivery capacity of these sections were studied:
(1) Enlarge the existing Canal flow section
by extending the sides at a 1^ ; 1 slope until the
full flow depth is increased by four feet. Modi-
fy Canal structures as necessary to realize the
full increased carrying capacity of the enlarged
sect ion.
89
-------
-204-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWEIT, INC.
(2) Maintain the existing Canal as it is
at present, and construct a parallel pipeline
in the Canal right-of-way to carry future re-
quirements. The parallel pipeline would be
constructed in two stages.
(3) Replace the Canal by constructing a
pipeline in th>/ Canal right-of-way having suffi-
cient capacity to meet demands through about
year 2000. Immediately after this pipeline is
in service, fill existing Canal. Subsequently,
construct a second-stage pipeline in the filled
section to meet demands beyond year 2000.
Each of these alternatives was studied consider-
ing requirements with and without provision of a 12,000
acre foot reservoir above the Canal at the end of Section 8.
This reservoir, termed the Nichols reservoir, could pro-
vide peaking ability which would have the effect of
deferring the need for augmentation of facilities upstream
therefrom, and could also provide some emergency storage
protection for customers downstream from it. Also, the
pipeline alternates were studied considering both gravity
flow conditions and the use of booster pumps.
Of these alternatives, that of enlarging the
Canal section was found to be by far the most economical.
It was also found that the Nichols reservoir would not
permit enough deferral of construction costs in the
Canal enlargement to justify its estimated $7 million cost
for that purpose alone. The reservoir would provide
emergency storage only against the occurrence of Canal
failure downstream from Contra Loma Reservoir, and would
provide protection only to customers that already have a
degree of emergency storage available to them. It was
thus concluded that construction of Nichols reservoir is
not warranted for near-term purposes, although a smaller
reservoir at the site may be desirable in the future for
emergency storage.
A general cross-section indicating the enlarge-
ment recommended for the Contra Costa Canal in Sections 5
through 9 is shown on Plate 15. A four-foot increase in
flow depth was found to be generally necessary to provide
the required increase in carrying capacity. Further studies
at the pre-construction design level may indicate that an
increase of less than four feet may be appropriate in some
areas .
90
-------
-205-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
In the fill sections of the existing Canal, the
top of the roadway embankment is generally not less than
2Jg feet above the top of the Canal lining. In cut sections
this distance is greater, averaging in excess of five
feet. Thus, after enlargement, the flow section would
mostly be either in natural ground or in embankment con-
structed as part of the original Canal. The passage of
time since its construction should have brought this
embankment to a relatively well-consolidated state. How-
ever, further studies at the pre-construction design level
may indicate that some portions of the embankment may
require additional consolidation.
Discussions with several local contractors indi-
cated that the most feasible procedure for construction
of the enlargement would probably be through creation of
a 16-foot access roadway continuously on both sides of
the Canal at a height of from seven to eight feet above
the existing lining, as shown on Plate 15. These roads
would provide for maximum ease of access of men and equip-
ment during construction, and would also permit improved
surface maintenance of the Canal right-of-way after
enlargement. After completion of the roads, grading
equipment could readily trim the Canal slopes to the de-
sired configuration. A shotcrete lining, reinforced with
with wire mesh, would then be applied in the enlarged
flow section from a rig riding on the bench at the top of
the existing lining. Construction in this manner would
eliminate the need for specialized equipment and would
minimize cost. Toe drains would be provided where
necessary to ensure stability of the enlarged Canal embank-
ments. New fencing would also be provided, as is dis-
cussed in Section VII-A.5.
The increased Canal flow section, enlarged in
this manner, would permit continued service through the
Canal from Contra Loma Reservoir to Clyde until about
1992. At that time, increased capacity would have to be
provided at existing siphons so as to realize the full
effect of the enlargement. These and other required
structural modifications are discussed in paragraph (d),
below.
After structural modifications, the capacity of
the Canal in Sections 5 through 9 would meet the peak
demands expected to be placed on it through the year 2020.
The anticipated effects of the proposed enlargement and
modifications are summarized in Table 32 and shown on
Plate 11.
91
-------
-206-
TABLE 32
EFFECT OF CONTRA COSTA CANAL MODIFICATIONS
Carrying Capacity
Present After Modification, cfs
Design WithWithYear 2020
Canal Flow, Section Structural Peak Demand,
Section cfs Enlargement Modifications cfs
5 291 i+55 715 676
6 269 440 695 676
7 256 480 620 615
8 225 415 585 505
9 204 510 565 474
92
-------
-207-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
b. Sect!ons 3 and U. As is shown on Plate 11,
it is anticipated that the present design carrying
capacity of Sections 3 and 4 of the Contra Costa Canal
would be exceeded by about 1973, if improvements were not
provi de d.
After the Kellogg Unit or alternate is construc-
ted, service through Sections 3 and 4 will no longer
present a problem. As is shown on Plate 6, the Laurel
Canal will conduct water supplied from Kellogg Reservoir
via the Contra Loma Canal to a terminus at Pumping Plant
Number 4 of the Contra Costa Canal. From that point,
water will flow westerly to meet service demands in
Section 4, and easterly back through Section 3 to meet
demands in that section. Requirements in the remainder
of the Contra Costa Canal system will be supplied by
deliveries from Kellogg into Contra Loma Reservoir and
thence into Section 5 of the Contra Costa Canal, enlarged
as described above. Thus, the entire present capacity
of Sections 3 and 4 can be used to meet peak demands in these
sections, without having to transfer water through to
meet downstream demands.
At the present time, the schedule of construction
of the proposed Kellogg Unit is not known, although it
is unlikely that the project can be completed before 1975.
If Kellogg is not delayed unduly, Sections 3 and 4 can
probably be operated for a few years beyond 1973 by en-
croaching on Canal freeboard and, if necessary, by meeting
part of the summer day peak flows by releasing from
storage in Contra Loma Reservoir. Neither of these
measures are recommended operating procedure in any but
emergency circumstances. If Kellogg is delayed beyond
about 1976 it will be necessary to enlarge Sections 3 and 4.
c. Sections 1 and 2. There are no demands at
the present time on Sections 1 and 2 of the Contra Costa
Canal, the unlined intake sections, nor are any demands
anticipated in the future. After the Kellogg Unit is
completed, the Bureau of Reclamation proposes to continue
to operate the Rock Slough intake when water of suitable
quality is available at that point, since the pumping
requirements would be less than for water delivered through
Kellogg Reservoir.
It is possible that water of suitable quality for
municipal and industrial purposes will be available so
rarely at Rock Slough after the Peripheral Canal is con-
93
-------
-208-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC.
structed and the State Water Project and the Federal
Central Valley Project become fully developed, that the
amount of water diverted from that source would not
justify the maintenance costs of the main pumping plants
and Sections 1 and 2. Furthermore, as will be explained
in paragraph (f), below, there are physical problems
which would limit the amount of water which could be
pumped from Rock Slough into the enlarged Section 5 of
the Contra Costa Canal without extensive modifications
to the system. These considerations may make the con-
tinued use of the Rock Slough intake infeasible for even
a portion of the long range supply to the study area.
The delivery capacity of Sections 1 and 2 is
controlled by the water level in Rock Slough and the rate
of pumping at Pumping Plant Number 1. The capacity in
these sections should normally not present an operating
problem, unless the flow velocities become high enough
to cause bank erosion. If this occurs, the flow cross-
section of the intake channel may have to be enlarged
by widening and deepening.
d. In-line Structures. Structures which are
located in the Canal flow section and affect the flow of
water are termed in-line structures. These include
checks, siphons, turnouts, trashracks, and wasteways.
Most of these structures would require modification con-
currently with Canal enlargement.
There are 12 check structures in the Contra
Costa Canal between Sections 5 and 9. All of these
would have to be enlarged to accommodate the increased flow
depth of the Canal. In addition, the gates in the check
structures would be motorized so as to be compatible with
the proposed supervisory control system described later
in this section of the Report. Also, when the Canal is
enlarged, stilling wells would be installed at each check
structure to accommodate the water level sensing units
which would be provided as part of the supervisory control
system.
The inlet and outlet transitions at eight exist-
ing siphons would be heightened to be compatible with the
enlarged Canal section. As mentioned previously, the
capacity of these siphons would have to be increased by
about year 1992 in order to realize the full effect of the
proposed Canal enlargement. This would be accomplished
by adding a second barrel to each of the siphons. The
transition sections and approach channel modifications
-------
_ 209—
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
required for these second barrels would, however, be
installed at the same time as the Canal enlargement, and
would then be sealed with bulkheads until the second
barrels are added. A third barrel would be needed at the
Los Medanos siphon.
Nine new siphons would be required at road cross-
ings where the modification of existing bridges or
construction of new bridges to accommodate the enlarged
section would not be practicable.
There are 22 existing turnouts in Sections 5
through 9 which are not now in use and from which service
is not expected to be needed in the future. These turn-
outs would be plugged, since leakage through them is in
some instances creating a hazard to the stability of the
Canal embankment. Each of the 21 existing turnouts which
are in use would be modified to remove all hardware from
within the Canal flow section and to provide for individual
slide gates, trashracks, and meter pits.
Trashracks would be provided across the enlarged
Canal just upstream from the transition into the proposed
Clyde-Martinez pipeline, and in the existing Canal in the
Diablo Valley loop just upstream of the proposed 42-inch
gravity pipeline beginning at the U.S. Naval Reservation
boundary. These trashracks would be of the self-cleaning
type to reduce maintenance costs.
There are two existing wasteways which would
have to be modified to serve the enlarged Canal, the Los
Medanos wasteway at the end of Section 5 and the Nichols
wasteway at the end of Section 8. The capacities of
these facilities would be increased consistent with the
increase in capacity of the respective main Canal sections.
The wasteways would be provided with motorized gates so
that they can be operated remotely through the proposed
supervisory control system.
e. Cross Structures. Structures crossing the
Contra Costa Canal include bridges, culverts, and over-
chutes. Bridges would be raised in most instances, or
replaced by siphons where raising would not be a practi-
cable solution. Culverts and overchutes providing drainage
of the right-of-way would be modified or added new as
necessary to be compatible with the enlarged Canal. In
order that the general surface drainage around the Canal
be conveyed to a culvert or overchute rather than discharg-
ing directly into the Canal, a system of interceptor and
conveyance ditches would be provided.
95
-------
-210-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
f. Section 4 Terminal Structure. A structure
would be required to physically separate Sections 4 and
5 after enlargement of the Canal and construction of the
Kellogg Unit, so that water supplies released from Kellogg
could pass into Section 5, at a substantially higher
water surface level than in Section 4, without backfeeding,
Gates would be provided so that backfeeding could be
accomplished if desired.
As mentioned previously, the Bureau of Reclama-
tion proposes to use the Rock Slough intake to provide a
portion of the supplies to the study area even after the
Kellogg Unit is constructed, so as to minimize total
system pumping costs. However, this could only be
accomplished with the existing facilities when the re-
quired water level in the enlarged Canal downstream of
Contra Loma would be equal to or less than the maximum
attainable water level at the terminus of Section 4.
This situation would occur less and less frequently in
the future. The alternative would be to enlarge the Canal
through Sections 3 and 4 or TO construct a fifth main
pumping plant to lift the Rock Slough supplies over the
terminal barrier at Section 4. The feasibility of either
of these alternatives should be carefully examined before
they are undertaken.
4. PUMPING PLANT ENLARGEMENT
As was stated in Section VI-A.2, the present
installed capacities of the four main pumping plants in
the Contra Costa Canal will be exceeded by 1971 unless
new units are provided. Each plant is capable of receiv-
ing one new pump unit in addition to the five presently
installed. This unit should have the ability to bring
the total capacity of each plant up to the carrying
capacity of the Canal section into which it discharges,
and in addition to provide excess capacity to meet peak
demands prior to the time the Kellogg Unit is operational,
as described previously in the discussion of augmentation
of Sections 3 and 4. For this purpose, the new units
should have a capacity of 10Q cfs each. In order to
avoid encroaching on the Canal freeboard in Sections 3
and 4 except when absolutely necessary, the new units
should also be capable of delivering only 50 cfs each at
good efficiency. This could be accomplished by provision
of variable-speed prime movers. A further advantage of
being able to produce either 50 cfs or 100 cfs through
the new units would be that these capacities closely
parallel the capacities of the largest and smallest units
96
-------
-211-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
now installed at each main pumping plant. Thus, during
off-peak months, the new units could provide standby
capability well matched to the existing configuration of
the system.
In addition to the installation of new pumping
units, some modernization of the existing electrical
control equipment and substations at the pumping plants
should be undertaken. However, investments for such
modernization should be held to the minimum necessary to
ensure reliable service over the coming 10-year period,
in view of the uncertainty as to the long-range utility
of the Rock Slough intake and the main pumping plants.
5. CANAL SAFETY
Improved fencing should be provided through-
out the Canal to effectively prevent access to the
waterway by unauthorized persons, in order to lessen the
problem of Canal safety described in Section VI-B.l.
Such fencing will be required on both sides of the Canal
from Section 3 through Section 9.
The type of fencing arrangement recommended is
shown on Plate 15. In the enlarged Sections 5 through 9
of the Canal, the fence should be located at the break
in slope of the berm at the top of the new lining; it
should be similarly placed on the berm above the existing
lining in Sections 3 and 4. Throughout the Canal an
asphalt surface should be placed beneath the fence,
covering the berm and up the embankment slope to a point
about one foot above the bottom of the fence, as shown
on Plate 15. This arrangement would reduce the problems
of weed control along the berm and around the fence, and
would eliminate the possiblity of wash holes being formed
beneath the fence through which small children could find
access to the Canal.
The fencing should consist of 72-inch chain link
fence. Gates with locks should be provided as necessary
at structures for access by operating personnel, and also
at all points where escape ladders are provided in the
Canal. The fence should be brought continuously across
the Canal at all structures in order to provide complete
enclosure of all water surfaces. Insofar as possible,
the fencing program should be aimed at making the Canal
as inaccessible to small children as possible.
97
-------
-212-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC.
In addition to fencing, Canal safety should be
improved through provision of means by which adults who
fall into the Canal can get themselves out. Escape
ladders should be placed on the lining both upstream and
downstream of all structures, and at other locations
where frequent access to the Canal is probable. Under
no circumstances should the spacing between ladders
exceed % mile. Grates should be placed over the intake
to all siphons and culverts. Floating lifelines should
be placed across the Canal just upstream of the siphon
and culvert inlets.
Installation of fencing and safety devices in
Sections 3 and 4 of the Canal should be undertaken immedi-
ately. In Sections 5 through 9, installation of safety
features should be deferred until after the proposed
Canal enlargement has been completed.
6. SUPERVISORY CONTROL
After the Contra Costa Canal has been modi-
fied and improved as described previously, a supervisory
control system should be operational which would permit
remote operation of the entire Canal system from a
single operations center. Components of the supervisory
control system would include telemetering equipment to
provide information on water level, inflow, outflow, and
similar data at Contra Loma, Ygnacio, and Martinez
Reservoirs and at the Shell Hill tank; and equipment to
permit remote operation of all motorized checks and
wasteways, inlet and outlet works to reservoirs, and
pumping plants in the system. Development of the super-
visory control system may take place over a period of
time, with initial facilities perhaps being required as
early as 1970. Remote operating equipment should not,
however, be installed at the existing four main pumping
plants in the Contra Costa Canal unless it becomes apparent
in the future that substantial use will continue to be
made of these plants after the Kellogg Unit is completed.
Water level sensing units would be provided in stilling
wells constructed at each check structure, which would
relay information on water levels in the system canals.
Gate openings at the check structures would similarly be
relayed to the operations center.
98
-------
-213-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC.
An important component of the supervisory control
system would be information on flow rate to each of the
District's major customers. Equipment should be instal-
led which would provide the operations center with data
as to the status of each of the 20 present turnouts to
the major customers, and of any similar principal turn-
outs which may be added in the future. Such equipment
may be included as a part of the proposed new metering
equipment described later in this section of the Report.
A supervisory control system of the type des-
cribed briefly above would greatly improve the operating
problems discussed in Section VI-A.3 and would permit
much closer operating control on the water supply system
as a whole than is possible under present manual proce-
dures. In addition, operation and maintenance costs for
the system would be greatly reduced from present levels.
The supervisory control system should be capable of being
expanded to include operation of the proposed Kellogg
Unit.
A detailed analysis of the type of control system
and the individual components to be employed is beyond
the scope of this Report. An investigation of this type
should, however, be undertaken as soon as possible. The
supervisory control systems now being installed in the
Bureau of Reclamation's Tracy Pumping Plant and Delta-
Mendota Canal and in the Department of Water Resources'
Delta Pumping Plant and California Aqueduct should be
reviewed as to their effectiveness after they have begun
operation.
During the interval prior to completion of the
supervisory control system and other Canal system improve-
ments discussed herein, present Canal operating procedures
should be reviewed to determine possible methods of
improving service.
7. METERING SYSTEM
As discussed previously in Section VI-B.3,
the District's present metering system is generally ade-
quate for the purposes it now serves, with some exceptions
of meter reading and maintenance. However, in the case
of the facilities serving the 15 major customers,
improvements should be provided which would permit the
meters measuring flow to these customers to become integral
components of the proposed supervisory control system
described above.
99
-------
-214-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
A companion report to this Master Plan Report
analyzes the District's foreseeable financial requirements
and proposes a rate structure for water sales. The pro-
posed rate structure for the District set forth in that
report would be of the "demand-commodity" type, wherein
a major customer's monthly bill would be a function not
only of his total water use but also of the peak flow
rate at which he would receive his supplies. The objec-
tives of such a rate structure would be to more equitably
distribute the cost of water supply among the customers,
and to encourage customers to reduce peaking on the Canal
system as much as possible.
In order to institute a demand-commodity rate
structure, additional equipment would be required for the
metering system. Such equipment could readily be combined,
at little additional cost, with the improvements which
would be necessary for the supervisory control system.
Although a detailed investigation of the type
of equipment which would be required for the proposed
improvements to the metering system is not within the
scope of this Report, the improvements would generally
include telemetry, recording, and display at a control
center of the diversions by major customers. An investi-
gation of the improvements needed should be undertaken
in the near future, since the demand-commodity rate
structure must be put into practice at an early date if
it is to be effective in reducing peaking on the Canal.
For conservatism in planning, the proposed improvements
to the Canal system have been scheduled in this Report
without consideration of the possible effects of the
metering system in reducing Canal peaking.
8 . PARK AND TRAIL SYSTEM
The East Bay Regional Park District has in-
dicated an interest in developing the right-of-way of
the improved Contra Costa Canal system as a complex of
recreational parks and trails, to be integrated into an
over-all Contra Costa-Alameda County trail system now being
established by the Park District. Types of use proposed
would include bicycling, hiking, and horseback riding.
The right-of-way would be improved with plantings of
shrubs and trees, with the objective of creating a scenic
green belt. Such a system would be extremely desirable
if public safety could be ensured in those areas adjacent
to the enlarged open Canal, and provided that the quality
of Canal water could be effectively protected.
100
-------
LEEDS HILL AND JEWETT, INC ~
The Park Eistrict has indicated that it would
take responsibility for all right-of-way development and
maintenance, including development of all necessary sup-
porting facilities; would be responsible for patrol of
the trail system and for the safety of ail recreation
users as well as its own employees; and furthermore
would assume all liability for injuries to such recrea-
tionists and employees. Su^n conditions would be
necessary prerequisites to an agreement permitting
recreational use of the Canal system right-of-way.
It is probable that the park and trail system
would be developed first along the filled portion of the
Canal in the Diablo Valley Loop, with development along
the enlarged Canal upstream from Clyde occurring at a
lat er date.
9 . SEASONAL BARRIER AT ROCK SLOUGH
As was mentioned in Section VI-A.l, one of
the two periods in the year when the quality of water in
the Delta at Rock Slough frequently falls below desirable
limits for municipal and industrial purposes occurs in
the winter, when the chloride ion content of Rock Slough
water has exceeded 100 ppm for an average of about 80
days each year. In this period, the quality of the water
along the north shore of the District is usually good,
due to heavy fresh water inflows in the Sacramento River
which prevent brackish water from San Francisco Bay from
intruding into the Delta, and which dilute the poor-
quality flows in the western reaches of the San Joaquin
River. Thus the chloride ion content of the offshore
waters is usually lower during this period than that of
the District's supplies at Rock Slough. In order to
take advantage of this situation, it is proposed that a
connection be made between Section 2 of the Contra Costa
Canal and Fox Slough, as shown on Plate 16. Fox Slough
is tributary to Dutch Slough, which frequently contains
better quality water during the spring than does Rock
Slough.
Under the proposed plan, the existing fish screen
at the head of Rock Slough would be replaced by a control
facility containing slide gates and tidal flap gates, and
a new facility containing similar control features
would be installed at the interconnection with Fox Slough.
101
-------
-216-
LEF.DS HILL AND JEWETT, INC
At times when Fox Slough water would be desirable, this
latter control facility would be open, and flows would
enter the intake channel for pumping into the Canal
system, with some flushing into Rock Slough being permit-
ted through the tide gates. At other times, supplies
would be drawn directly from Rock Slough as at present.
This facility would provide interim improvement
of water quality in the Contra Costa Canal system in the
years prior to completion of the Kellogg Unit, but may
not be needed after that time. It should therefore be
installed as soon as possible in order to provide maximum
benefit.
B. LONG RANGE IMPROVEMENTS (BEYOND 1980)
Improvements now foreseeable which will probably
be required on the Contra Costa Canal system after year
1980 have already been mentioned briefly in the discussion
of near term improvements. These include possible instal-
lation of a booster pumping plant on the Clyde-Martinez
pipeline and provision of additional barrels on the siphons
in Sections 5 through 9 of the Canal.
Further consideration should be given to the
need for additional emergency storage within the District
service area as the water use within this area increases
in the future. Although the expenditures necessary to
provide for some limited storage at the Nichols reservoir
site, or alternate sites, would be substantial, future
system reliability may require the provision of such storage
C. IMPROVEMENTS BY BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
1. IMPROVEMENTS TO CANAL
The United States Bureau of Reclamation is
contemplating a number of improvements to the Contra
Costa Canal system in an effort to relieve some of the
current operating problems and to reduce operating costs
Much of the Bureau's program is identical to that pre-
viously described in this Report, although some aspects
of it are believed to be either unwarranted or premature
if undertaken at the present time. A schedule of the
102
-------
-217-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
improvements proposed by the Bureau, and the anticipated
expenditure through fiscal year 1970 are shown in Table 33
The total cost of the Bureau's program would amount to
about $1.4 million.
Included in the planned improvements to the
Canal are provision of motorized gates at eight of the
check structures upstream from the Clyde turnout, provi-
sion of motorized facilities at Los Medanos and Nichols
wasteways, and installation of a seIf-cleaning trashrack
to replace an existing manually-maintained trashrack near
mile 26. Installation of the motorized checks has been
completed. These facilities would be integrated into a
supervisory control system which would improve operational
control of the Canal and reduce operating costs.
The motorized checks recently installed by the
Bureau in the existing Canal will not be suitable for
use in the enlarged Canal, and the proposed motorized
wasteways and seIf- cleaning trashracks would not be com-
patible either. It is therefore recommended that further
work on these improvements be deferred until after the
Canal is enlarged.
2. IMPROVEMENTS TO PUMPING PLANTS
Improvements planned by the Bureau for the
four main pumping plants in the Canal system are:
installation of a sixth unit having 70 cfs capacity at each
plant; replacement of existing obsolete and unsafe
electrical control equipment; construction of new elec-
trical substations at each pumping plant in order to
accommodate the planned new pumping units and remedy
existing low voltage problems; and structural modifica-
tion of the pumping plants to provide a passage between
pump bays so as to guarantee against a trashrack becoming
plugged and starving a pump.
New units should be installed in Pumping Plants
1 through 4 in the near future; however, these should be
variable-speed units capable of operating efficiently at
capacities of 50 and 100 cfs. Because the desirability
of maintaining the main pumping plants in service after
the Peripheral Canal goes into operation is not certain,
investments in new electrical equipment should be kept to
the minimum necessary to ensure system reliability and
103
-------
-218-
TABLE 33
SCHEDULE OF IMPROVEMENTS
PROPOSED BY
UNITED STATES BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
Anticipated Expenditure, Dollars
Proposed Improvement
Motorize checks 1-8
Motorize wasteways
Self-cleaning trashrack
Install new pump units
Replace electrical control equipment
New electrical sub-stations
Interconnection of pump bays
New shop and service building
Remote control checks 1-8
Remote control pumping plants 1-4
Remote control Contra Loma Reservoir
Martinez Reservoir telemetry
Stilling wells at checks 1-8
New operations building
Total
60,745
Fiscal
Year
1968
60,745
156,200
136,100
Fiscal
Year
1969
11,800
85,000
60,000
40,000
88,600
38,000
19,000
22,300
87,500
Fiscal
Year
1970
200,700
305,000
60,745 353,045 452,200 505,700
Grand Total
1,371,690
Source: U. S. Bureau of Reclamation data.
104
-------
-219-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
safety. Interconnection of the pump bays guards only
against the unlikely occurrence of plugging of one of the
trashracks, and should not be undertaken until the
remaining life of the pumping plants is known with more
certainty.
3. SUPERVISORY CONTROL
In order to reduce Canal operating costs,
the Bureau proposes a complete supervisory control system.
This would include remote control of eight of the 12 checks
and the two wasteways upstream of Clyde, the four main
pumping plants, and Contra Lorn a Reservoir inlet and out-
let works. Telemetering equipment to relay inflow,
outflow, and water level data from Martinez and Contra
Loma Reservoirs to an operations control center would also
be included. Construction of stilling wells would be
required at each of the eight check structures in order
to accommodate water surface level sensing units in the
control system.
The supervisory control system now contemplated
by the Bureau for installation in the existing Contra
Costa Canal system would not be extensive enough to
accommodate the type of operation which will be required
in the future after completion of the Kellogg Unit, the
Clyde-Martinez pipeline, the Diablo Valley Loop, and
the Canal enlargement in Sections 5 through 9. Any
control facilities installed should be compatible with a
future, more extensive, system.
4. OPERATING CENTER
In order to more centrally locate the opera-
ting force, to improve inadequate facilities for operations
headquarters, and to provide a location for the proposed
supervisory control system, the Bureau plans construction
of a new operations building and subsidiary shop and
service buildings at a site just below Contra Loma Dam.
In view of the inadequacies of the present shop and main-
tenance buildings at Pumping Plant Number 4, and the need
to undertake certain portions of the supervisory control
system and metering system improvements in the near future,
the new operating center should be constructed as now
105
-------
-220-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC.
scheduled. However, since the District will probably be
taking over responsibility for operation and maintenance
of the Canal system in the near future, as discussed in
Section X of this Report, it should have the right to full
review and approval of all details of the proposed faci-
lities prior to construction. Full consideration should
be given in the design of the operating center to future
District operating needs, esthetic requirements of the
Contra Loma site, and potential visitation by the public.
D. SCHEDULE FOR DEVELOPMENT
The recommended schedule for development of
the proposed improvement program is summarized in Table 34
Those aspects of Bureau's modernization program which
would be suited to the overall development plan are in-
cluded in this table. Stages I and II of the Canal
Safety program listed in Table 34 refer to improvements
in Sections 3 and 4 and to those in Sections 5 through
9 of the Canal, respectively. Similarly, Stages I and II
of the Park and Trail System refer to developments along
the Diablo Valley Loop and along the enlarged Canal,
respectively.
The proposed improvement program for the Contra
Costa Canal system is shown schematically on Plate 17.
106
-------
-221-
TABLE
Year of
Complet ion
1968
RECOMMENDED DEVELOPMENT SCHEDULE FOR
PROPOSED IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
CONTRA COSTA CANAL SYSTEM
1. USER Modernization Program
a. Motorize checks.
b. New control equipment at Pumping Plants 1
c. New substations at Pumping Plants 1 and 4.
1969
1. USER Modernization Program
a. New shop and service building.
b. New operations building.
c. New pump units at Pumping Plants 1-4.
2. Seasonal Barrier at Rock Slough
3. Canal Safety - Stage I
1970
1. Clyde-Martinez Pipeline
2. Metering System Improvements
1971
1. Diablo Valley Loop Improvements
2. Park and Trail System - Stage I
1975
1. Canal Enlargement, Sections 5-9
2. Canal Safety - Stage II
3. Supervisory Control System
1976
1. Park and Trail System - Stage II
After
1980
1. Clyde-Martinez Booster Pumping Plant
2. Siphon Enlargement, Sections 5-9
107
-------
-222-
1 EFD5, HILL AND JEWETT, INC.
VIII. COST OF IMPROVEMENTS
A. NEAR TERM
The anticipated capital costs of the various
features of the improvement program proposed for near
term development are summarized in Table 35. Cost esti-
mates shown for features of the Bureau of Reclamation's
modernization program were taken from Bureau data, except
for the cost of the new pumping units at Pumping Plants
1 through u. The costs for these units shown in Table 35
are for units with two-speed drive motors capable of
delivering 50 and 100 cfs at design operating head.
Cost estimates taken from Bureau data are be-
lieved to include additives of 25% for contingencies and
25% for engineering, which includes Regional and Denver
Office costs. For1 other items shown in Table 35, including
the proposed pumping units, factors have been added
amounting to 151 for contingencies and 12% for engineering
and administration, based on probable District costs.
The value of $66,000 indicated for improvements
to the metering system is largely for equipment needed
to incorporate the major customers' meters as part of the
supervisory control system. The proportion of this
amount which would be incurred specifically for the pur-
pose of instituting a demand-commodity rate structure
amounts to only about $10,000. No cost estimate has been
made for a complete supervisory control system. The
amount which the Bureau has scheduled for such a system
totals $450,600, including remote control of the checks
and wasteways upstream of Clyde, the four main pumping
plants, and Martinez Reservoir; and telemetry from Martinez
Res ervoir.
The value shown in Table 35 for the cost of en-
largement of the Canal from Section 5 through Section 9
includes allowances for all necessary structural modifi-
cation and cross - drainage, and also includes provision
for a trashrack upstream of the intake to the Clyde-
Martinez pipeline, stilling wells at the check structures,
and motorizing of wasteways. The cost of trashracks in
the Diablo Valley Loop system are included in the total
cost estimate for that improvement.
109
-------
-223-
TABLE 35
ANTICIPATED COSTS OF NEAR TERM IMPROVEMENTS
CONTRA COSTA CANAL SYSTEM
Dollars
Item Cost—
USER Modernization Program:—
Mr.i-rizf O.eokc J22,000£/
Control Equipment at Pumping Plants 1-4 156,000
Substations at Pumping Plants 1 and 4 136,000
Shop and Service Building 40,000
Operations Building 88,000
Pump Units at Pumping Plants 1-4 250,000
Sub-total 792,000
Seasonal Barrier at Rock Slough 96,000
Canal Safety - Stage I 354,000
Clyde-Martinez Pipeline 1,546,000
Metering System Improvements 66,000
Diablo Valley Loop Improvements 2,700,000
Canal Enlargement, Sections 5-9 6,250,000
Canal Safety - "tage II 935,000
Supervisory Control System d_/
Park and Trail System g/
Sub-total 11,947,000
Grand Total 12,739,000
a/ Includes 15% contingencies and 12% engineering, except for USER
modernization program which is believed to include larger additives,
All costs are estimated at 1967 price levels.
b/ Source: U. S. Bureau of Reclamation data, except for pumping units,
£/ Includes $61,000 already expended in fiscal year 1967.
&/ Not estimated.
e/ Not an expense of the Contra Costa County Water District.
110
-------
-224-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC.
B. LONG RANGE
Costs for anticipated long range improvements
have not been analyzed in detail. Addition of second
barrels to the siphons from Section 5 through Section 9
of the Canal is estimated at about $575,000. A booster
pumping plant on the Clyde-Martinez pipeline would probably
require about 1,500 horsepower installed capacity to meet
all future needs to the year 2020 if reclamation of waste
water in the area cannot be achieved. A plant of this
size would cost about $475,000, including engineering and
contingencies. Costs quoted above are for 1967 price levels
111
-------
-225-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC.
IX. SOURCE WATER COSTS
A. PRESENT
Under the terms of the District's contract
with the United States Bureau of Reclamation,
Number I 75r-3401, the District may purchase up to 86,000
acre feet annually from the Central Valley Project for
delivery through the Contra Costa Canal, at the rate of
$10.00 per acre foot for municipal and industrial water
supplies and $3.50 per acre foot for agricultural water
supplies. These rates will apply during the term of the
contract, which expires December 31, 1991, unless the
contract is re-negotiated by mutual consent before that
date .
B. FUTURE
The draft of the feasibility report support-
ing the proposed Kellogg Unit, now being reviewed at the
Washington level, indicates that the water rates to the
District from the project would be $10.00 per acre foot
for municipal and industrial water deliveries up to
86,000 acre feet, and $18.00 per acre foot for deliveries
over 86,000 acre feet up to 195,000 acre feet. Rates
for agricultural water deliveries would be $3.50 per
acre foot in the area served by the existing Contra Costa
Canal, and $10.00 per acre foot in the additional area
to be serviced by the Kellogg Unit. The rates for muni-
cipal water deliveries beyond 195,000 acre feet have not
been indicated, but would probably be greater than those
quoted above. The increase would be necessary to pay
for the District's share of the costs of the additional
storage units required in the Federal Central Valley
Project system.
The repayment rates quoted above were derived
from studies conducted by the Bureau of Reclamation based
on the construction and operating cost estimates for the
Kellogg Unit set forth in the draft of the feasibility
report. These estimates were in turn determined using 1962
levels for wages and prices. According to information
113
-------
-226-
LEEDS. HILL AND JEWETT, INC
received from the Regional Director, Region 2, United
States Bureau of Reclamation, by letter dated January 19,
1968, these tentative rates will be revised upward in
the final report to be submitted to the Bureau of the
Budget and to Congress. Information obtained from the
Bureau of Reclamation in February 1968, indicates that
the current estimated cost of the Kellogg Unit is
$77.6 million.
It is considered probable that the charges for
water from the Kellogg Unit will be substantially greater
than hitherto estimated. However, definitive information
is not available from the Bureau of Reclamation at this
t ime .
An updated repayment analysis was made for the
purposes of this Report, in which all capital costs were
escalated to year 1973, assuming construction of Kellogg
would begin in 1971 and end in 1975. Annual operating
cost estimates were escalated to year 1976, the assumed
first year of operation of the facility. For this analy-
sis, it was assumed that use of the Rock Slough intake
would be discontinued upon completion of the Kellogg
Unit. Energy costs for pumping water supplies at Kellogg
were increased to reflect this assumption. For a conser-
vative analysis, it was assumed that no new irrigation
would develop, and that all costs of Kellogg allocated
to the irrigation function would have to be repaid by the
District through municipal and industrial water sales, and
would bear interest at the rate of 3^% annually.
It was found that a water charge of about $24
per acre foot would have to be assessed on all deliveries
in excess of 86,000 acre feet in order to repay all costs
of the Kellogg Unit within 50 years at 3^% interest.
This charge would include $2 per acre foot to repay the
costs of upstream storage facilities in the Federal Central
Valley Project necessary to make 195,000 acre feet annual-
ly available to the District. For conservatism, this
analysis was carried out assuming that water purchases
from the CVP would be equivalent to those shown in
Table 21 for "wet year" cnditions of offshore water supply
in all years; i.e. assuming minimum sales of water from
the Canal system within the present District service
area. If water sales under "median year" conditions are
assumed, the water charge for repayment would need to be
only about $20 per acre foot, and the figure would be $17
per acre foot under "dry year" conditions.
-------
-227-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
X. DISTRICT OPERATION OF CANAL SYSTEM
A. PURPOSE OF ANALYSIS
The United States Bureau of Reclamation has
indicated its intention to transfer the responsibility
for the operation of the Contra Costa Canal system to the
District, probably effective as of the date of completion
and initial operation of the proposed Kellogg Unit.
District responsibility would encompass all facilities
downstream from the outlet works of Kellogg Reservoir.
This transfer would be desirable, since properly coordi-
nated operation is difficult under the present arrangement
whereby the Bureau operates the Canal but the District is
responsible for distribution system operations, water
sales, and orders. This situation inevitably results
in operating difficulties and delays, and in unnecessary
duplication of effort. A procedure which would be more
efficient and responsive to customers' needs could be
attained if one agency were to be responsible for all
operations .
In order to estimate the economic effect of the
transfer, an analysis has been made of the probable cost
to the District of assuming responsiblity for operation
and maintenance of the Contra Costa Canal system. The
assumption has been made that the District would operate
the system in essentially the same manner as the Bureau
has in the past, but that some additional costs would be
incurred due to needed improvements in the operation.
It has also been assumed that the District would be able
to purchase pumping energy from the Federal Central Valley
Project at the rate of 0.25 cents per kilowatt-hour
currently charged to the Contra Costa Canal Unit.
B. HISTORICAL 0 £ M COSTS
1. COSTS TO BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
In order to estimate the costs which would
be incurred by the Contra Costa County Water District in
operating and maintaining the Contra Costa Canal system
in the future, the historical OEM costs incurred by
115
-------
-228-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
the United States Bureau of Reclamation were examined.
These historical costs from fiscal year 1958 through 1966
are shown in Table 36, separated as to the Canal itself
and the main pumping plants. The Canal portion includes
0 6 M costs for the Ygnacio and Clayton Relift Canals and
Pumping Plants .
The historical Bureau total labor costs were
broken down into estimated components for Contra Costa
Canal system base operating personnel, costs for tempo-
rary labor and specialty labor provided from Tracy, and
supervision and engineering costs from Tracy. This
breakdown, shown in Table 37, was based on detailed data
for hours and costs by each category for fiscal years
1958 and 1961 and on data on hours for each category for
fiscal year 1967, applied to recorded total costs for
the other years .
2. HYPOTHETICAL DISTRICT COSTS
In reconstructing the historical operation
and maintenace costs from 1958 through 1966 as they would
have been if the District had been responsible for 0 £ M
rather than the Bureau of Reclamation, the first step
was to determine the labor costs which the District would
have incurred. An analysis was made of the duties in-
volved for each job classification included in the Contra
Costa Canal system base operating staff, and the annual
salary which the District would have to pay to fill each
position was estimated by comparison with typical wage
rates now paid by various local, County, and State
agencies. Fringe benefits and overtime pay allowances
were similarly analyzed. This comparison indicated that
for base labor costs in 1967, the District would have to
pay about 20% more than the amount budgeted by the Bureau
of Reclamation. Annual leave and certain other fringe
benefits would, however, be greater under the Bureau's
salary scale. The hypothetical base labor costs which
the District would have incurred from 1958 through 1966
were therefore derived by multiplying the estimated
historical Bureau costs for base and temporary labor by
a factor of 1.2.
116
-------
-230-
HISTORICAL LABOR COSTS FOR
TABLE 37
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
OF CONTRA COSTA CANAL SYSTEM
Dollars
Fiscal
Year
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
Tracy Division Costs
Base
130,321
153,018
157,349
161,224
166,107
164,428
185,525
170,836
173,596
Temporary
1,700
1,500
700
600
1,900
3,300
5,600
6,900
7,700
Specialty
4,100
8,400
13,200
17,400
14,600
14,300
14,700
13,500
12,000
Supervision
5,200
8,100
10,200
12,800
16,500
19,700
24,400
26,500 •
26,000
Total
Costs
141,321
171,018
181,449
192,024
199,107
201,728
230,225
217,736
219,296
Source: U. S. Bureau of Reclamation data.
Breakdown of costs by category of labor known for 1958 and 1961;
estimated for other years from known total costs.
119
-------
-231-
TABLE 38
HYPOTHETICAL DISTRICT LABOR COSTS
FOR OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF
CONTRA COSTA
CANAL SYSTEM
Dollars
Fiscal
Year
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
Base
Labor
158,400
185,400
189,700
194,200
201,600
201,300
229,400
213,300
217,600
Contract
Labor
8,200
16,800
26,400
34,800
29,200
28,600
29,400
27,000
24,000
Super-
vision
5,200
8,100
10,200
12,800
16,500
19,700
24,400
26,500
26,000
Total
Labor
Costs
171,800
210,300
226,300
241,800
247,300
249,600
283,200
266,800
267,600
Total
Costs
Chargeable to
Canal
110,400
135,600
140,800
137,500
140,000
152,200
187,300
175,500
168,600
Pumping
Plants
61,400
74,700
85,500
104,300
107,300
97,400
95,900
91,300
99,000
Percent
Charged
to Canal
64
64
62
57
57
61
66
66
63
Average
62
120
-------
LEEDb, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
Specialty labor principally includes highly
skilled electricians and mechanics for maintenance of the
large pumping units. The Bureau of Reclamation can
retain a number of employees of this type and assign them
to work as needed throughout the Central Valley Project
system. For maintenance of the Contra Costa Canal system
alone, however, the District would have to obtain this
type of labor from private contractors and would therefore
have to pay greater overhead costs and profit in addi-
tion to direct salary costs. The District's hypothetical
specialty labor costs were estimated at twice the actual
costs incurred by the Bureau. District supervisory costs
were taken as equal to historical Bureau costs.
The estimated total labor costs which the District
would have incurred from 1958 through 1966 if it had been
responsible for operation and maintenance of the Contra
Costa Canal system are set forth in Table 38. Based on
analysis of detailed Bureau labor cost data for 1958 and
1961, and on the relationships between Bureau costs and
District costs described above, the total hypothetical
District labor costs were distributed between those
chargeable to Canal 0 S M and those due to pumping plant
0 £ M, as shown in Table 38.
Costs for motor vehicle operation which the Dis-
trict would have incurred in operating and maintaining
the Contra Costa Canal system from 1958 through 1966 were
estimated from an analysis of recorded mileage logged by
Bureau vehicles and the average charge per mile used by
the District's ireateu water Division to fuj-iy amortize
all costs. It was found that the District's costs for
motor vehicle operation would be 40% higher than those
reported by the Bureau. District charges for other equip-
ment rental were estimated at twice those reported by the
Bureau, based on hourly usage logged by the Bureau and
unit rental rates quoted by local construction equipment
rental agencies.
Tne estimated costs to the District for materials
and supplies were taken as 10% more than the Bureau's
recorded costs, and the District's costs for contracts
and miscellaneous services were estimated at 10% less than
the actual costs incurred by the Bureau. District admin-
istrative costs were estimated at 75% of the historical
Bureau Regional and Denver Office costs. It was assumed
that the District would be able to purchase power from
the Federal Central Valley Project at 0.25 cents per kilo-
watt-hour, the same rate now charged by the Bureau against
the Contra Costa Canal Unit.
121
-------
-233-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC.
The estimated total costs for operation and main-
tenance of the Contra Costa Canal system which the Dis-
trict would have incurred had it been responsible for
0 S M during the period 1958 through 1966 are summarized
in Table 39. As estimated, these costs would have averaged
16% greater than actual Bureau costs for Canal 0 £ M,
and 22% greater for Pumping Plant 0 6 M. The total
combined District costs would have been 18% more than
Bureau costs, on the average. Costs for power in the
Canal portion of Table 39 are for the Clayton and Ygnacio
Pumping Plants.
It should be stressed here that this comparison
of historical costs is for study purposes only, and does
not reflect the future costs which the District would bear
on takeover of operation and maintenance. It is highly
desirable that the District take responsibility for 0 & M
of the Canal system at the proper time, in order to pro-
vide the best possible service to its customers and to
eliminate duplication between the present activities of
the District and the Bureau.
C. FUTURE COSTS
1. IMPROVED SUPPLY SYSTEM
It is probable that the United States Bureau
of Reclamation will continue to operate the Contra Costa
Canal system until the Kellogg Unit is completed and in
operation, although improvements in the operating proce-
dures will be required. By that time, the proposed
improvement program for the Canal system presented in
this Report should have been completed. These improvements
would have a significant effect on the operation and
maintenance costs of the system. In estimating the
future 0 S M costs of the improved system, separate con-
sideration was given to the enlarged Canal upstream from
the TWD turnout, the Diablo Valley Loop, and the Clyde-
Martinez pipeline.
The enlarged Contra Costa Canal upstream from
the TWD turnout would require operation and maintenance
as at present. The increased size of the flow section
would not significantly affect 0 S M costs. This reach
of the Canal, including Sections 1 through 4, is 26.4 miles
in length, or about 46% of the total 57.7 miles of the
122
-------
oooo o ooo o
oooo o ooo o
10 o m t-~ in co r^ m 3-
oooooooo
oooooooo
rH rH in I-H
-------
-235-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT. INC.
Contra Costa, Clayton, and Ygnacio Canals. For study
purposes, the future 0 6 M costs of this reach, occurring
after completion of the Diab-lo Valley Loop, have been
estimated at 50% of the costs for total Canal 0 6 M, ex-
clusive of power.
The United States Bureau of Reclamation proposes
that operation of the four main pumping plants and the
Rock Slough intake be continued after completion of the
Kellogg Unit, diverting supplies from that source when
available at suitable quality levels. In this case, the
costs for Puuping Plant 0 & M would continue to be incur-
red, except that power costs would be reduced proportion-
ately to the reduction in total annual diversions. If
the pumping plants were abandoned, these costs could be
avoided. In that case, however, energy costs for the
Kellogg Unit would be increased over the Bureau estimates
due to the increased amount of pumping into Kellogg
which would be required.
Operation and maintenance costs of the proposed
Diablo Valley Loop system would be much lower than would
be the case with continuation of the present open canal
system. These costs would include maintenance of pumping
plants, storage facilities, and 7.9 miles of open canal
to be retained in service in the United States Naval
Reservation; energy costs for pumping; and replacement
costs. These estimated annual costs are summarized in
Table 40, at 1967 cost levels.
Maintenance costs for the Clyde-Martinez pipeline
are conservatively estimated at $500 per mile, or about
$2 ,500 annually.
The program for system improvements presented
in which this Report proposes a supervisory control system
which would permit remote operation of the entire Canal
system. Supervisory control would greatly reduce opera-
ting costs for the portion of the Canal system through
Section 9, and would also have some effect in reducing
such costs in the Diablo Valley Loop system. The degree
to which these operating costs would be lowered cannot,
however, be foretold at present.
125
-------
TABLE 40
TABLE 41
-236-
ESTIMATED ANNUAL OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE COSTS FOR
DIABLO VALLEY LOOP SYSTEM £/
Dollars
Operation and Maintenance
a. Canals
b. Pipelines
c. Right-of-Way
d. Pumping Plants
e. Storage Facilities
Replacements
Pumping Energy
Total
Annual Cost-
78,500
a/ Without supervisory control system.
b/ At 1967 unit cost levels.
ADDITIONAL OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE COSTS
FOR IMPROVED SYSTEM
Dollars
Annual Cost—''
1. Motorized Gates and Checks
2. Supervisory Control System
3. Surface Right-of-Way
H. Landscaping
5. Water Quality Testing
Total
a/ At 1967 unit cost levels.
126
-------
-237-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
2 . ADDITIONAL COSTS
Some additional costs would be incurred in
operation and maintenance of the improved Canal system
as proposed in this Report, due to upgrading of certain
aspects of maintenance and to maintenance of new equip-
ment installed under the improvement program. These
would include costs of maintaining the proposed motorized
checks and the supervisory control system; improved
maintenance of the surface right-of-way, including new
landscaping; and the costs of an expanded water quality
testing program. These estimated additional costs are
summarized in Table 41. Although additional costs are
shown for operation and maintenance of motorized gates
and checks and for the supervisory control system, the
net effect of these facilities would be to reduce total
system 0 5 M costs.
3. TOTAL FUTURE COSTS
In estimating the total future costs of
operation and maintenance of the Canal system, it was
assumed that the Bureau of Reclamation would continue to
operate the system until completion of the proposed
Kellogg Unit, and that thereafter the District would be
responsible for operations. Historical trends of Bureau
costs for Canal 0 6 M and for Pumping Plant 0 £ M were
extended forward through year ly"/5, the assumed last
year of Bureau operation of the system. Power costs at
the main pumping plants were similarly extrapolated.
For purposes of this analysis, it was assumed that the
use of the Pock Slough intake and Pumping Plants 1 through
4 would be discontinued after completion of the Kellogg
Unit .
The projected operation and maintenance costs
for the Contra Costa Canal system through 1976 are listed
in Table 42. After 1971, the scheduled completion date
for the Diablo Valley Loop, the projected costs for
0 6 M of the Contra Costa Canal were reduced by 50% in
order to reflect only the estimated costs for the Canal
upstream from the TWO turnout. Operation and maintenance
costs for the Diablo Valley Loop system and additional
costs for the improved system were taken from the data
shown in Tables 40 and 41, escalated forward from 1967
levels at the annual rate of 4 per cent of the 1967 costs.
Canal 0 S M costs for the year 1976, the assumed first
127
-------
-238-
TABLE 42
PROJECTED OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE COSTS
Year
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
Main
Pumping
Plants
l-4£/
93
96
99
102
106
109
112
115
118
0
FOR
Contra
Costa
Canal^/
231
236
241
246
252
128
131
134
136
161
CONTRA COSTA CANAL SYSTEM
Thousands of Dollars
Diablo Clyde-
Valley Martinez Additional
Loop£/ Pipeline Costs!' Power—'
29
33
38
42
45
94 3 49
97 3 52
100 3 55
104 3 58
107 3 57 0
Total
353
365
378
390
403
383
395
407
419
328
Annual increase after 1976 = 5% x $328,000 = $16,400
a/ Use of Rock Slough intake and Pumping Plants 1-4 assumed to be
discontinued after completion of Kellogg Unit.
b/ Reflects 0 £ M costs only for Canal upstream from TWO turnout after 1971.
c_/ From Table 40, escalated forward from 1967 cost levels at 4% annually.
d/ From Table 41, escalated forward from 1967 cost levels at 4% annually.
128
-------
-239-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
year of District operation, were taken as 16 per cent
greater than they would have been in that year under
Bureau operation, based on the comparison between histor-
ical Bureau costs and hypothetical District costs
discussed previously in this Section.
Total costs to the District for operation and
maintenance of the improved Canal system were assumed to
escalate beyond year 1976 at a uniform rate equivalent
to 5% of the 1976 total. This increase rate is compar-
able to that experienced in the past by the District's
Treated Water Division for labor costs.
Estimation of the effect of the proposed super-
visory control system in reducing 0 & M costs would
require detailed analysis, and is beyond the scope of
these studies. The reduction could be substantial; how-
ever, for conservatism, it has not been considered in
this analys is .
129
-------
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC.
XI. TREATED WATER SYSTEMS
A. PRESENT SYSTEMS
Most of the treated water consumed within
the boundaries of the District is treated and purveyed
by the seven large municipal water service agencies
listed in Section II-A.2. Some of the important
characteristics of these agencies' systems are listed
in Table 43.
There are four groups and associations, serving
a total of 22 customers, which treat Canal water for do-
mestic use. A few individuals in the eastern portion
of the County also treat water from the Canal for use in
their homes. It is probable that all of these will
eventually be served by the municipal service agencies
as the agencies expand their service boundaries in the
future.
B. FUTURE EXPANSION
1. EXISTING SYSTEMS
It is anticipated that the existing munici-
pal water service agencies will continue to expand
their systems as necessary to meet the growing demand
for treated water in the study sub-areas which they serve,
as shown in Table 43. The District's Treated Water
Division is now completing the new Bollman Treatment
Plant located at Mallard Reservoir. This facility will
have an initial rated capacity of 50 mgd, with capability
for future expansion to 250 mgd. The cities of Antioch,
Martinez, and Pleasant Hill are also presently involved
in major expansion and modernization programs.
131
-------
-241-
TABLE 43
CHARACTERISTICS OF
TREATED WATER SYSTEMS
Rated Total
Capacity of Finished
Service Agency
Oakley County Water District
City of Antioch
City of Pittsburg
Bay Water Service
Treated Water Division
of CCCWD
City of Pleasant Hill
City of Martinez
Number
of
Services^-
530
6,600
6,000
2,350
33,000
1,710
6,000
Treatment
Plants ,
MGD
4.3
10.0
6.0
2.7
31.0
1.9
14.0
Water
Storage ,
MG
0.4
2.5
6.3
1.1
27. 5~]
2.oJ
4.0
Sub-Area
Located
In
Oakley
Antioch
Pittsburg
Nichols
Central
County
Martinez
a/ As of 1967.
Source: Contra Costa County Water District data.
132
-------
-242-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC.
2 . NEW SYSTEMS
a. Byron Sub-Area. Demand for municipal water
service in the Byron sub-area is not expected to grow to
the point where a treated surface water supply would
be justified in lieu of expanded ground water production
until after 1980. When the demand for surface water
supply does materialize, the source could probably be
direct from Clifton Court Forebay or from Herdlyn Reser-
voir rather than from Kellogg Reservoir so as to avoid
the necessity of pumping the supply to elevation 300.
A new water district or an improvement district within
Contra Costa County Water District could be formed
serving treated water north to the vicinity of Marsh
Creek Road or Indian Slough, from a treatment plant loca-
ted near Clifton Court or Herdlyn Reservoir.
As an alternative, treated water could be de-
livered to the Byron sub-area from a treatment plant
located in the vicinity of the existing Marsh Creek flood
detention structure on Marsh Creek Road. This treatment
plant would draw its raw water from Kellogg Reservoir,
and would supply both the Byron and Brentwood sub-areas.
This system could be operated through an improvement
district of the Contra Costa County Water District.
Final selection of the appropriate method of providing
treated water service in the Byron sub-area must await
feasibility-level studies.
The requirement for treated surface water service
in this area may be accelerated by the development of a
planned resort community in the Byron Tract between Clifton
Court and Indian Slough. Plans for this community call
for more than 12,000 medium- to low-density residential
units at full development, which could have a water
requirement of as much as 8 mgd on a summer weekend.
The current plan proposes a ground water supply initially,
but is extremely doubtful that this source could meet
the needs of the community for domestic water at full
development.
b. Brentwood Sub-Area. There is already suffi-
cient demand to justify provision of treated surface water
supplies in the Brentwood sub-area, and it can be expected
that the City of Brentwood will request such service as
soon as surface supplies are available from the Kellogg
Unit. Treated water service in this area could be
served by formation of an improvement district within
the Contra Costa County Water District.
133
-------
-24.3-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
The most likely location for a treatment plant
serving the Brentwood sub-area would be adjacent to the
proposed Contra Loma Canal in the vicinity of Deer Creek
or Sand Creek. Water treated at this location could be
delivered by gravity to the City of Brentwood and other
portions of the sub-area at low elevation, and could be
pumped into the Lone Tree-Deer Valley area when residen-
tial development occurs there.
As an alternative, treated water could be de-
livered to the Brentwood sub-area from a treatment plant
located at Marsh Creek. This plant could also serve
the Byron sub-area, as mentioned previously. Selection
of the appropriate method of providing treated water
service in the area should be the subject of a feasibility-
level study.
c. Islands Sub-Area. It can be anticipated
that a sizeable resort community will develop in the
Islands sub-area in the foreseeable future, particularly
around the periphery of Bethel Island and along Dutch
Slough and Sand Mound Slough. Treated water service from
surface supplies will probably be required in that area
before 1980. Such service could be provided either by
an extention of the Oakley County Water District facili-
ties or through the system to serve the Brentwood sub-
area when such is constructed.
134
-------
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC.
XII. FINANCING
A. PROCEDURE
Studies were carried out to determine the
charges which would have to be levied per acre foot of
water supplied from the Federal Central Valley Project
in order to repay the anticipated costs of the proposed
improvement program for the Canal system, together with
associated operation and maintenance costs. Two
approaches were examined: (1) assuming the Bureau of
Reclamation would construct all of the improvements; and
(2) assuming that the District would finance and construct
all improvements except those listed in Table 35 as part
of the Bureau modernization program, which would be
constructed by the Bureau. It should be noted that the
Canal system is Federal property, and that the consent
of the United States would have to be obtained in order
for the District to carry out improvements thereon.
In these studies, the following assumptions
were made:
(1) Water purchases from the CVP were taken
from Table 21 assuming "wet year" conditions
of offshore water supply in all years; i.e.
assuming minimum sales of water from the
Canal system within the present District ser-
vice area .
(2) After initial operation of the proposed
Kellogg Unit, assumed to be in year 1976,
revenues to repay the improvement program for
the Canal system would be generated only on
the first 86,000 acre feet of water sold each
year. Revenues from water sales beyond this
amount would be needed to repay the costs of
the Kellogg Unit allocated to the District.
(3) The costs of the improvement program for
the Canal system would include not only those
costs shown in Table 35, but also the presently
outstanding balance due on the Contra Costa
Canal and the cost of the recently-completed
Contra Loma Dam and Reservoir.
135
-------
-245-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
(4) The new water charges needed to repay the
improvements would become effective starting in
1970 .
(5) A "storage charge" of $2 per acre foot would
be assessed by the Bureau to repay the costs of
storage facilities in the Federal Central Valley
Project. This charge would be in addition to
charges levied to repay the improvements.
(6) The estimated cost of any improvements
undertaken by the Bureau would bear additives
amounting to 25% for contingencies and 25% for
engineering and administration. Costs of
improvements undertaken by the District would
include 15% for contingencies and 12% for
engineering and administration.
(7) Costs would be escalated from the 1967 levels
shown in Table 35 to levels at the various times
at which the improvements would be required, as
shown in Table 34, at a uniform rate equivalent
to 6 per cent of the 1967 costs.
(8) Obligations to the Federal Government would
be repaid within 50 years from the time the
facilities for which the costs were incurred
were completed, and would bear 3%% annual inter-
est .
(9) Costs financed by the District through the
sale of revenue bonds would be repaid within
35 years from the time incurred, with interest
at 5%% annually.
(10) The District would be responsible for future
0 £ M costs of the Canal system after 1976.
Anticipated future 0 S M costs used in the studies
were as shown in Table 42.
The costs of the supervisory control system
proposed in the improvement program were not considered
in the financial analysis, nor were the effects of such
a system in reducing future expenditures for operations.
Further study would be needed to determine the required
components of a desirable control system, the cost of the
system, and the expected savings in operating expenses.
It is probable that these expenses could be substantially
lowered, with a resulting reduction in the water charge.
136
-------
-246-
LEEDS, HIU. AND JEWETT, INC.
. The District is at the present time financially
indebted to the United States for the construction cost
of the recently-completed Contra Loma Dam and Reservoir,
and for the presently outstanding balance due on the
Contra Costa Canal. The final cost of Contra Loma has
not yet been determined, but it will amount to about
$4.5 million. This figure includes a substantial sum for
acquisition of recreational lands adjacent to the reser-
voir, which would not be an obligation of the District.
According to studies conducted by the Bureau, the unrepaid
balance on the Contra Costa Canal at the end of fiscal
year 1966 was about $10.6 million. These values have
been used for the present purposes of this Report,
although a careful review of the Bureau's analyses must
be made before the District officially accepts them.
Their use herein does not imply District acceptance. It
was assumed that these existing obligations would be
repaid in 50 years from the present date, at an interest
rate of 3%% per annum.
B. RESULTS OF ANALYSES
The analyses of the two methods of repayment des-
cribed above indicated that whether the Bureau or the
District financed the proposed improvements to the Canal
system would make little difference to the required water
charge. In the first case, interest costs would be lower
and the repayment period would be longer, but the initial
capital costs would be higher. The reverse would be true
in the case of the District financing and constructing
the improvements. Under Bureau sponsorship, a water
charge of about $25 per acre foot on the first 86,000 acre
feet purchased annually from the CVP would be required
to repay all costs of the improvement program, including
the $2 storage charge. This charge would be about $26 for
the case of District sponsorship.
In Section IX of this Report it was stated that
a repayment charge of from $17 to $24 per acre foot on
all water supplies in excess of 86,000 acre feet per
annum received by the District through the proposed Kellogg
Unit of the Federal Central Valley Project would probably
be sufficient to repay all costs of the Unit reasonably
allocable to the District, including a $2 storage charge.
For practical purposes, it may be desirable to combine
the repayment of the Kellogg Unit and the improvements
137
-------
-247-
LEEDS HILL AND JEWETT, INC
to the Canal system, assuming the Bureau of Reclamation
would undertake construction of both. In this case a
single water charge could be applied by the Bureau to all
deliveries from the CVP, which would be adequate to repay
Kellogg, the Canal system improvements as defined pre-
viously, and all operation and maintenance costs, within
50 years at 3V4% interest. An overall charge of from $20 to
$25 per acre foot would accomplish this, depending on the
assumed availability of offshore water supply. Under
"median year" conditions of offshore supply, the repayment
charge would be $22 per acre foot. Further charges
would probably have to be assessed on deliveries in
excess of 195,000 acre feet per annum in order to repay
the costs of increased storage in the CVP system which
would be properly chargeable to the District.
It should be pointed out that the water charges
quoted in the preceding paragraphs are comparable to the
$10 per acre foot now charged to the District by the
Bureau for municipal water supplies, and are not to be
confused with the water rates which the District sets on
sales to its customers. These rates would be higher
than the figures quoted above, to cover District operating
expenses. Furthermore, if the District were to finance
the improvements to the Canal system, bonding requirements
might dictate water rates to customers somewhat higher
than the water charges quoted above, at least during the
earlier years of bond repayment.
It should further be stressed that all of the
water charges quoted above, and also those quoted in
Section IX for source water costs, were derived from re-
payment analyses which were based on the assumption that
water use would be limited to the present District service
area. This was a conservative assumption, to establish an
upper limit to probable water charges. To indicate the
range within which the actual charges would fall, a repay-
ment analysis of the combined Kellogg Unit and the improve-
ments to the Canal system was made, assuming Bureau
construction of both, but with water use in the entire
study area. This analysis showed that a water charge of
from $17 to $21 per acre foot would be required for repay-
ment, as against the range of $20 to $25 quoted above.
138
-------
-248-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC.
XIV. CONCLUSIONS
1. In recent years, the demand for water from the Contra
Costa Canal system has approached the 86,000 acre
feet which the United States Bureau of Reclamation
is obligated to provide from the Federal Central
Valley Project under the terms of its present contract
with the District.
2. Although some high-quality supplies will be available
in the future from the offshore waters in all but
very dry hydrologic conditions in the Central Valley,
the number of days of availability of these supplies
in any year will be markedly fewer than has been the
case in the past, particularly after the Peripheral
Canal is in full operation.
3. The demand for water from the Contra Costa Canal
system, including losses, is expected to reach 476,000
acre feet annually within the present District ser-
vice area by the year 2020, under dry-year conditions
of no availability of high-quality water from offshore
Under median-year conditions of offshore water supply,
the year 2020 demand from the Canal system within the
District would amount to about 4-30,000 acre feet.
4. The water demand figures for the total potential
District service area, corresponding to those quoted
above for the present District, are estimated at
593,000 and 547,000 acre feet under conditions of
dry- and median-year offshore availability, respect-
ively .
5. The present Contra Costa Canal system is not able to
provide water supplies having mineral quality at all
times suitable for municipal and industrial purposes.
Historically, the chloride ion content of the supplies
available at Rock Slough has exceeded the District's
desired upper limit of 100 ppm 35 per cent of the
time, and has reached as high as 374 ppm.
6. After construction of the Peripheral Canal, and as
the Federal Central Valley Project and the State Water
Project reach full development, the Rock Slough intake
to the Contra Costa Canal system will not be able to
provide a firm supply of even minimum quality water
for municipal and industrial uses.
139
-------
-24.9-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
7. The District has reached an agreement with the
Department of Water Resources under which the Depart-
ment will provide monetary compensation for the
reduction in availability to the District of high-
quality water at Mallard Slough caused by the opera-
tions of the State Water Project. Monies paid under
this agreement would be used to purchase substitute
supplies from the Federal Central Valley Project.
Such substitute deliveries cannot be made for more
than possibily a few more years under the District's
present water supply contract with the Bureau of
Reclamation and with the capacity limitations of the
existing Contra Costa Canal system. In recognition
of this situation, the agreement was predicated on
the assumption that the proposed Kellogg Unit would
be constructed in the near future.
8. Under future conditions with the Federal Central
Valley Project and the State Water Project in full
operation, high-quality water supplies will be avail-
able at all times in the southeastern part of the
study area in the vicinity of Clifton Court Forebay
and the intake to the Tracy Pumping Plant.
9. The proposed Kellogg Unit of the Federal Central
Valley Project would solve the problem of water sup-
ply to the District by making available up to 440,000
acre feet annually of water having 100 ppm or less
chlorides. Of this amount, 195,000 acre feet is now
allocated to the District from the existing Federal
Central Valley Project; more storage units would have
to be added to the Project to develop the remaining
245,000 acre feet or more which the Kellogg Unit
could deliver. It may prove necessary to somewhat
increase, during final design studies, the selected
capacity of the Contra Loma and Laurel Canals above
those now proposed by the Bureau of Reclamation, in
order that the Kellogg Unit may fully satisfy the
projected year 2020 requirements.
10. An excellent opportunity to substantially increase the
high-quality water supply available to the District
exists through reclamation of the effluent discharged
from the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District's
sewage treatment plant.
140
-------
-250-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC.
11. Desalting of the brackish offshore waters of the
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Suisun Bay presents
the potential for meeting the District's long-range
needs for water supply, although it does not now
appear to be economically competitive with conventional
surface supplies or with waste water reclamation.
12. The existing design capacity of the Contra Costa
Canal will be exceeded in Sections 3 and 4 of the
Canal by about year 1973, barring occurrence of wet-
year conditions of offshore water supply which would
reduce the summer peak demands on the Canal system.
The design capacities of Sections 5 through 9 will
be exceeded beginning about 1975.
13. The present installed capacities of the four main
pumping plants will be exceeded by about year 1971
except under wet-year conditions of offshore availa-
bility .
14. Only in very wet years, when the availability of
high-quality water offshore will extend into the
summer months of peak demand, will the offshore avail-
ability reduce the peak flow requirements on the
Contra Costa Canal system in the future.
15. The ability to deliver water into Martinez Reservoir
must be substantially increased by no later than year
1970 in order to avoid restrictions on service to
customers taking water supplies from the reservoir.
16. If operating criteria recently adopted by the Bureau
of Reclamation limiting the permissible rate of draw-
down in Martinez Reservoir are adhered to, it will
be necessary to improve control of Canal waters to
increase delivery capacity into Martinez Reservoir in
order to avoid curtailment of service to customers
receiving supplies therefrom as early as this year
(.1968) .
17. Except for the recently completed Contra Loma Reser-
voir, which can provide only about three days' peak
demand, the existing Contra Costa Canal system has no
emergency storage to protect the District against
failure of one of the main pumping plants or other
accidental outage.
141
-------
-251-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC
18. Improvements to the Contra Costa Canal system must be
undertaken in the near future if the system is to
continue to provide adequate and reliable water ser-
vice. These improvements should include:
(a) Construction of a pipeline from the the
Canal at Clyde to Martinez Reservoir;
(b) Filling the Canal downstream from the south-
ern boundary of the United States Naval Reservation,
and providing limited raw water service in Diablo
Valley through a system of pumping plants and pipelines
constructed in the Canal right-of-way;
(c) Enlarging the Canal flow section from the
beginning of Section 5 to the Treated Water Division
turnout ;
(d) Augmenting the capacity of the four main
pumping plants on the Canal by addition of a sixth
pump unit at each plant.
19. The proposed Kellogg Unit would provide a substan-
tial degree of reliability to the water supply system
serving the District through the ability to deliver
water supplies by gravity throughout the service area
in case of a power outage or mechanical failure of
a main pumping plant.
20. The proposed Kellogg Unit must be in operation no
later than 1976 in order to avoid the necessity of
enlarging Sections 1 through 4- of the Contra Costa
Canal, reconstructing the four main pumping plants,
and installing new pump units having increased capa-
city. The Unit should be in operation much sooner
than that in order to minimize potential hazards to
the District due to: CD the necessity to operate the
Canal system beyond its design capacity; (.2) the lack
of adequate emergency storage in the Canal system;
and (3) the lack of a sure supply of high-quality
wat er.
21. Some improvement in the quality of water supplies
delivered through the Canal system during the winter
months could be attained through construction of
barriers which would permit the supplies to be drawn
from Fox Slough rather than from Rock Slough at cer-
tain times .
142
-------
-252-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC.
22. The United States Bureau of Reclamation is undertaking
a program of short-term improvements to the Contra
Costa Canal system. This program is not compatible
in all respects with the over-all improvement plan
proposed in this Report .
23. The present method of operation of the Contra Costa
Canal system is not working well, due principally to:
(1) inability to react rapidly to changes in delivery
rate to major customers; (2) widely fluctuating rates
of withdrawal by some major customers; and (3) flow
surges in the Canal caused by non-uniform pumping.
2^. The Contra Costa Canal system suffers from a number N
of inadequacies from the standpoint of safety, right-
of-way maintenance, and cross-drainage. The existing
metering system is also deficient in certain respects.
25. If the District had operated the Contra Costa Canal
system in the period 1958 through 1966, the costs to
the District for Canal 0 6 M and for Pumping Plant
0 6 M would have averaged 16% and 22% greater,
respectively, than the actual costs reported by the
Bureau for this period. Total combined District costs
would have been 18% greater than actual Bureau costs.
26. Service to the District's customers would be greatly
improved and duplication of effort between the District
and the Bureau would be eliminated if the District were
to take over responsibility for operation and mainten-
ance of the Contra Costa Canal system. These factors
would justify a moderate increase in the cost of
operating the system.
27. Implementation of the improvement program proposed in
this Report for the Canal system would result in an
over-all reduction in system operation and maintenance
costs. However, if the District were to take over the
responsibility for 0 6 M, some additional costs would
be incurred due to upgrading of certain aspects of
the maintenance program.
28. A supervisory control system, coupled with improvements
to the District's present metering system, could
greatly improve the operation of the Contra Costa
Canal system, and would probably reduce operating costs
for the system by a substantial amount.
-------
—253—
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC.
29. The costs of improvements to the Canal system proposed
in this Report through year 1980, including those
portions of the Bureau program which are compatible
with the over-all improvement plan, are estimated to
total some $12.7 million at 1967 price levels, assum-
ing the District constructs all improvements not
included in the present Bureau program. This total
includes allowances for engineering costs and contin-
gencies .
30. Assuming financing and construction by the District,
a water charge of about $26 per acre foot on the first
86,000 acre feet received from the Federal Central
Valley Project would probably be required to repay all
costs of the improvements to the Contra Costa Canal
system proposed in this Report, together with District
0 6 M expenses of the improved system, presently out-
standing costs of the Contra Costa Canal and Contra
Loma Reservoir, and a $2 per acre foot charge towards
repayment of the costs of existing storage facilities
in the CVP. These costs would all be repaid within
50 years of the time incurred, with interest at 3^%
annually. The water charge would be about $25 per
acre foot in the case of Bureau financing and construc-
tion.
31. The present Contra Costa Canal system is the property
of the United States. As such, the consent of the ,
Federal Government would have to be obtained before
the District could finance and construct any of the
improvements proposed in this Report.
32. A water charge of about $24 per acre foot on deliveries
from the Federal Central Valley Project in excess of
86,000 acre feet annually would probably be sufficient
to repay all costs of the proposed Kellogg Unit rea-
sonably allocable to the District, including operation
and maintenance costs and a $2 per acre foot storage
charge. These costs would be repaid within 50 years,
with annual interest at the rate of 3%%, even assuming
the minimum annual water deliveries within the present
District service area forecast in this Report. If
deliveries through Kellogg corresponding to median-
year conditions of offshore water supply are assumed,
a water charge of $20 per acre foot would probably
be sufficient; the corresponding figure would be $17
per acre foot under dry-year conditions of offshore
supply.
-------
-254-
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC.
33. If the Bureau of Reclamation were to undertake both
the Canal system improvements and the proposed
Kellogg Unit, a water charge of from $20 to $25 per
acre foot on all supplies taken from the CVP would
probably be adequate to repay both, together with
presently outstanding capital costs, 0 6 M costs,
and the $2 per acre foot storage charge. Under
median-year conditions of offshore water supply,
the required repayment charge would be $22 per
acre foot. An additional storage charge of unknown
magnitude would have to be levied on deliveries in
excess of 195,000 acre feet, in order to repay costs
of additional storage in the Central Valley Project
allocable to the District.
34. There will be a need for treated water service from
surface supplies in the Brentwood, Byron, and
Islands sub-areas in the foreseeable future. These
areas are now outside the boundaries of the District
35. For the Brentwood and Islands sub-areas, the source
of surface supplies will probably be the proposed
Kellogg Reservoir. For the Byron sub-area, it may
be better to take supplies directly from the Clifton
Court Forebay, or from Herdlyn Reservoir.
145
-------
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC.
XV. RECOMMENDATIONS
1. The District should expend every effort to see that
the feasibility report supporting the proposed
Kellogg Unit is completed by the United States Bureau
of Reclamation and submitted to Congress at the
earliest possible date.
2. If the terms and conditions as to prospective water
charges to the District presented in the feasibility
report are reasonable, the District should consult
with the Bureau of the Budget and the appropriate
Congressional committees to ascertain the prospects
of authorization and funding of the Kellogg Unit in
time for it to be operational no later than 1976.
3. The program for improvements to the Contra Costa
Canal system proposed in this Report, shown schemati-
cally on Plate 17, should be implemented in accordance
with the development schedule set forth in Table 34.
4. The District should meet immediately with representa-
tives of Region 2, United States Bureau of Reclama-
tion, in an effort to reach agreement on the program
for Canal system improvements. Following this,
meetings should be held in Washington with represen-
tatives of the Bureau of Reclamation, the Bureau of
the Budget, and the appropriate committees of Congress,
to ascertain the prospects of gaining authorization
and funding as necessary to ensure that an acceptable
schedule of development for the improvements can be
reali zed.
5. If it becomes apparent that there is no reasonable
probability that the Bureau can construct the im-
provements to the Canal within the required time
schedule, the District should then take steps to
implement the improvement program itself, either in
its entirety or to the extent that it connot be
accomplished by the Bureau within the time limits.
In this case, Congressional approval should be sought
for the District to take over ownership of the Canal
system upon completion of payout.
1H7
-------
—256—
LEEDS, HILL AND JEWETT, INC.
6. The District should take over operation and maintenance
of the entire Contra Costa Canal system, but not until
the proposed Kellogg Unit or alternate thereto is con-
structed and in operation. District responsibility
for 0 £ M should encompass all facilities downstream
from Kellogg.
7. The District should urge the Bureau of Reclamation to
take all necessary steps to ensure that Martinez Reser-
voir and the Canal system can be so operated as to
meet the demands of customers served from the Reservoir
during the period prior to completion of the Clyde-
Martinez pipeline.
8. The District should request the Bureau of Reclamation
to increase the contractual limit on water supplies
to be made available to it from the existing Contra
Costa Canal Unit of the Federal Central Valley Project
from the present 86,000 acre feet to at least 160,000
acre feet annually. This will permit continued ser-
vice through the improved Contra Costa Canal system
during the period prior to completion of the proposed
Kellogg Unit or alternate thereto.
9. The District should be prepared to expand its service
area to encompass the Brentwood, Byron, and Islands
sub-areas, and to form improvement districts for
service of treated water for municipal and industrial
use within those sub-areas when and if desired by
their residents.
10. The District should in the immediate future undertake
the following studies:
(a) an investigation of the feasibility of recla-
mation and use of the effluent from the Central Contra
Costa Sanitary District sewage treatment plant;
(b) an investigation of incorporation of a super-
visory control system into the Contra Costa Canal
system, and of the facilities needed for improved
metering of water use by its major customers; and
(c) an investigation of the requirements for the
water quality testing and control program.
148
------- |