-October 7,2023-
For the first time in its long history, the coastal community of Los Osos may soon have the opportunity to bring in a water source that isn’t dependent on their limited underground supply. Unlike many local towns, this community of 18,000 has no dam or reservoir upgradient or agreement to bring in outside reservoir water like San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles Arroyo Grande or Santa Maria and most others.
The news is that the Los Osos Community Service District (LOCSD) is planning to build a 2.5 mile pipeline to Morro Bay (the Chorro Valley (CVP)) to tap into the State Water Project or other sources that will help replenish Los Osos groundwater, says Ron Munds,CSD manager.
Proposed pipeline will run near famed bear statue on So Bay Blvd
During wet years and based on supply, the LOCSD could receive unused allocations of State Water Project water through the CVP to offset pumping in the Los Osos Groundwater Basin or for an emergency water reserve. It is anticipated that state water could provide up to 200 acre-feet per year (AFY) of water supply. The intertie is anticipated to enhance the reliability and resiliency of the LOCSD’s water supply and guarantee a dependable and robust supply, especially in the face of climate change and persistent drought conditions suggest Munds.
Los Osos urban water use is about 1,000 AFY with agriculture using an additional 1,000 AFY east of the community.
“Some people say this project could be growth inducing but we are looking at the issue of resilience – a buffer supply to help us keep sea water out by reducing our pumping” maintains the veteran water manager.
Goal: Operational in 2026
According to a just released environmental document there is a potential for construction of the pipeline and intertie to both the water source and the Los Osos water system to begin sometime in 2025 and be operational by 2026.
Pipeline construction would take place from Los Osos to Highway 1 along South Bay Blvd.The project would coordinate with plans to replace the Los Osos Creek Bridge set for 2025, slightly east of the existing alignment.
Depending on the amount of water received by the intertie in Los Osos, pumping would be reduced at other LOCSD wells in the Los Osos Groundwater Basin to mitigate seawater intrusion.
The Los Osos CSD has been working to provide a secondary supply of water to the community since 2021. In March 2023, the Board approved the release of a Request for Proposal for the environmental work for the Water Resiliency Intertie Project. The District contracted with SWCA Environmental Consultants to perform the work. SWCA completed the Constraints Analysis in July 2023. There were no major constraints identified so SWCA was directed to complete the Initial Study (IS) and proceed with the work on the Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND). The draft MND has been completed and was made available for public review on September 27, 2023. There is a 30-day public comment period which will end on October 27th. Staff will bring the IS/MND to the Board for review and consideration for approval most likely at the December Board meeting.
Water Resiliency Project Components
There are two components to the project being considered, one being the pipeline and the second securing additional water for the community. The following is a summary of the components.
Intertie Pipeline.
Staff and District Engineer had several meetings with County and City of Morro Bay staff to discuss the project alignment and the challenges that may be encountered during design and construction. Wallace Group considered the escalation in the cost of labor and material when developing the cost estimate. As recent history shows, it’s hard to predict costs too far into the future because of supply chain issues and inflation. The estimated cost of the pipeline in 2022 dollars is $8 million.
Munds says once the project is certified by the Board in December, he will set out to look for grants to pay for the construction. Failing that, Munds says both S&T and Golden State Water,the two other purveyors in town, have said they would help pay for it with costs passed on to ratepayers.
State water supply could reach Los Osos
Water Supply
The State Water Project is undergoing some significant changes both at the State and local levels. Reservoirs are brimming as the State has instituted new water management tools, which make it easier to purchase and sell water in the system. Additionally, the County holds approximately 14,000 acre-feet of un-allocated water, which the Board of Supervisors has indicated needs to be allocated in the near future to remove the property tax burden from properties not benefitting from the project.
These changes, plus the willingness of some State Water subcontractors wanting to sell some of their excess allocation, provide the District a unique opportunity to secure water for the community. Inquiries and negotiations on multiple fronts are complicated but staff is confident that there will be water available as the separate prospects unfold.
Next Steps
The following are the next steps if the Board decides the intertie pipeline project should move forward.
• Send a correspondence to the County expressing the District’s interest in acquiring State Water.
• Continue negotiations to secure water, preferably Table A water, which is a more assured and
reliable water contract.
caption: