Page 35 - Beaumont Basin Watermaster - DRAFT 2016 Annual Report
P. 35
Section 3
Status of the Basin and Administration of the Judgment
Since the completion of the previous report, Watermaster is in the process of conducting
additional groundwater studies, expected to be completed by early 2015, that may be used to
address some of the recommendations from previous years including:
The development of a methodology to account for new yield from capturing local
stormwater in the basin.
The development of a methodology to account for groundwater storage losses in the
basin resulting from the spreading of additional water sources.
The development of a methodology to account for recycled water recharge.
In preparing this annual report and through the review of previous annual reports, we have
identified a number of issues/activities that should be considered by the Watermaster to
ensure accurate accounting of production, transfers, recharge, and storage. It should be
noted that many of the recommendations provided in this section have been previously
documented in prior annual reports. Our recommendations are as follows:
Develop a protocol to increase the accuracy and consistency of data reported to the
Watermaster. Watermaster should identify a person and/or entity to be the central
repository for data collection, transfer, and exchange. This person/entity shall be
responsible for the collection and distribution of all groundwater production, water
level, groundwater recharge, and water quality information. Quality control of the data
in its various forms including checks for errors, omissions, and inconsistencies
between the reporting agencies and/or parties should be part of this process.
Develop a policy to account for transfers of water that may result when an
Appropriator provides water service to an Overlying Party. Section 7 of the Rules and
Regulations, Adjustments for Rights, provides initial guidelines to execute this
transfer; however, it needs to be enhanced in the following areas: a) data
requirements to complete the transfer, b) review process by Watermaster, c)
schedule for completion so that proper accounting of transfers can be given and
documented in the annual report.
As indicated earlier, Watermaster should revisit the Rules and Regulations to ensure that its
activities are consistent with the requirements of the Judgment. The following inc
onsistencies between guidelines provided in this document and current Watermaster
activities were identified:
Watermaster has not conducted a meter maintenance program, as required under
Section 3.1 of the Rules and Regulations, to make sure groundwater production is
reported accurately. Individual parties may or may not maintain and calibrate their
production meters at acceptable intervals.
Under Section 3.2 of the Rules and Regulations, producers producing in an excess of
th
10 ac-ft/yr. should report on a monthly basis by the 15 day of the ensuing month
while those producing less should file on an annual basis by the 15 of July. This
th
Beaumont Basin Watermaster 2016 Annual Report – DRAFT – August 2017 3-14
