CALIFORNIA: HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE Rural Water Association Assists Subdivision Committee Background Location: Hidden Valley Lake is a subdivision of 7,500 located in Lake County, California. Water Supply: Hidden Valley Lake Community Services District (HVLCSD or CSD) is the Public Water Supply (PWS) for Hidden Valley Lake. It uses ground water. The district has added a new well in the past two years, due to a collapsed casing. The new well was drilled approximately 20 feet from the old well. Source Water Assessment: This source water protection plan was completed in December 2002, in advance of the source water assessment. Priority Contamination Threats Major threats to the town's water supplies include abandoned wells, above ground fuel tanks and storage tanks, agricultural wells, airports, cement plants, Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), engine repair facilities, farms, ranches, orchards, bus fleets and terminals, gas stations, golf courses, gravel mining, high density septic systems, historic landfills and waste water ponds, parks and maintenance facilities, pesticide applicators: agricultural, RV campgrounds, and RV and vehicle storage. Local Team and Developing the Protection Plan The Hidden Valley Lake Steering Committee developed the source water protection plan in cooperation with the California Rural Water Association, an affiliate of the National Rural Water Association. Management Measures Hidden Valley Lake CSD continues to maintain high standards in the quality of drinking water provided and in source water protection; they constantly seek innovative environmental measures to aid in protecting their drinking water source. As an example of their forward-thinking motivation they began a Project of Ecosystem Management Delivery of Groundwater to Putah Creek for Summer Flow Enhancement for Sustainability of Wldlife Fish and other Aquatic Species in Southeastern Lake County. In 2000, the Project won the Statewide Environmental Award from the Association of California Water Agencies. In 2004, the CSD won the Watershed Award given by California Rural Water Association for their continued work on this project. Most recently the CSD has been awarded a grant in the amount of 1.2 million to restore the pipeline involved with the Ecosystem Management Delivery of Groundwater to Putah Office of Water (4606M) 816F10004 January 2010 ------- Creek for Summer Flow Enhancement for Sustainability of Wildlife Fish and other Aquatic Species in Southeastern Lake County Project. Hidden Valley Lake CSD also continues with other protection measures: • Work with Lake County Environmental Health Department to draft and enact wellhead protection. The wellhead protection ordinance has been discussed with Lake County, but not implemented. • After review of the wellhead protection zone, CSD has filed an application with the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) to expand its boundaries to take in the entire Coyote Valley groundwater basin. All mapping, utility service review and public hearings have been completed, and CSD is waiting for an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to finalize new boundaries. Primary reason listed in LAFCO application was protection of Coyote Valley groundwater basin. • The district has held numerous public meetings with the general public, Board of Supervisors, County planning staff with a focus of Coyote Valley water basin protection management. • CSD educates residents, schools, and businesses of the potential impact of storm water runoff on their drinking water sources. • Outreach initiatives include educating residents of the Hidden Valley Lake Association subdivision about storm water runoff issues, through means such as mailings and stenciling storm drains, and educating residents of wellhead protection zones about activities that can impact drinking water quality. • CSD surveys property owners in the wellhead protection zones as to their knowledge of abandoned wells in their area. The district has discussed with surrounding property owners the proper well abandonment procedures. • The Hidden Valley Lake Source Water Protection Plan will be updated to reflect the 2004 construction project which includes: Well 4 replaces Well 1. Tank#1 has an additional 500,000 gallon steel tank. Tank#4 has an additional 500,000 gallon steel tank. All pressure zones were re-equipped with new pressure reducing stations. All three water booster stations were replaced with new buildings, equipment and SCADA system controls; pump stations were designed and built for subdivision build out. Contingency Planning Measuring Program Results Office of Water (4606M) 816F10004 January 2010 ------- For further information, contact: Belinda Green California Rural Water Association 1112 I Street, Suite 200, Sacramento CA 95814 (800) 833-0322 belinda@cwo.com Office of Water (4606M) 816F10004 January 2010 ------- |