WaterSMART: Water Recycling and Desalination 

Planning, FY 2023 

San Luis Obispo County 

Flood Control 

and 

Water Conservation District
Table of Contents 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

1.0 Technical Proposal & Evaluation Criteria ......................................................................... 1 

1.1 Executive Summary ..................................................................................................... 1 

1.2 Project Location ........................................................................................................... 2 

1.3 Technical Project Description ....................................................................................... 3 

1.4 Evaluation Criteria ..................................................................... ................................... 6 

2.0 Project Budget. ............................................................................................................... 21 

2.1 Funding Plan and Letters of Funding Commitment .....................................................21 

2.2 Budget Narrative .......................................................................... ............................... 22 

3.0 Environmental & Cultural Resources Compliance .......................................................... 25 

4.0 Required Permits or Approvals ....................................................................................... 25 

5.0 Statements ..................................................................................................................... 25 

5.1 Overlap or Duplication of Effort Statement ..................................................................25 

5.2 Conflict of Interest Disclosure Statement ....................................................................25 

6.0 References.............................................................................................................. REF-1 

Official Resolution ...................................................................................................................... A 

Stakeholder Agency Resolutions & Letters of Project Support ................................................... B 

Mandatory Federal Forms .......................................................................................................... C 

Unique Entity Identifier & SAM Registration ......................... ...................................................... D 

WaterSMART: Water Recycling and Desalination Plann ing, FY 2023 

San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District I l 
Li'st of Figures and Tables 

LIST OF FIGUR·ES 

Figure 1. Project Location .......................................................................... .-.................................... 2 

Figure 2. DESAL Plan Phases ........................................ ~ ........................ , ........................................ 3 

Figure 3. Sah Luis Obispo County DAC Map......................... , ........................................................ 17 

LIST OF TABLES 

Table 1. Grant Tasks Schedule ................................. , ....................................................................·11 

Table 2. Summary of Non-Federal and· Federal Funding Sources ...................... , ......................... 21 

Table 3. Total Project Budget Proposal.. ........................................................................................ 21 

Table 4. Total Project Cost Table ............................................................................ · ...................... 22 

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WaterSMART: Water Recycling and Desa1ina-tio-n Plan.ning, FY 2023 

San Luis Ob•ispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District ii 
	


Acronyms & Abbreviations 

ACRONYMS & ABBREVIATIONS 

AF Acre Feet 

AFY Acre Feet per Year 

BAY OEL TA Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta 

BOARD San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors 

COUNJY San Luis Obispo County 

CVP Central Valley Project 

CWAT Countywide Water Action Team 

DAC Disadvantaged Community 

OESAL PLAN Desalination Executable Solution and Logistics Plan 

DISTRICT San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water 

Conservation District 

OWR Department of Water Resources 

FY Fiscal Year 

IRWMP Integrated Regional Water Management Plan 

MWR Master Water Report 

NOFO Notice of Funding Opportunity 

NWP Nacimiento Water Project 

PROJECT Desalination Executable Solution and Logistics Plan 

RMS Resource Management Strategy 

RWIRP Regional Water Infrastructure Resiliency Plan 

SB COUNTY Santa Barbara County 

SWP State Water Project 

SWRCB State Water Resources Control Board 

USSR/ United States Bureau of Reclamation 

RECLAMATION 

WRAC Water Resources Advisory Committee 

WaterSMART: Water Recycling and Desalination Planning, FY 2023 

San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District ii i �
	


Technical Proposal & Evaluation Criteria 

1 .0 T echnkal Proposal & Evaluation Criteria 

This funding application for the Desalination Executable Solution and Logistics (DESAL) Plan 

(Project) prepared by the San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District 

(District), is submitted to the United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR or Reclamation) under 

the Department of the Interior in response to the WaterSMART: Water Recycling and 

Desalination Planning Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO - R23AS00076) Fiscal Year (FY) 23. 

A t,ardcopy document is being submitted due to difficulties with registering with the System for 

Award Management (SAM). The District is working with SAMs staff to resolve the issue but 

won1t have an active account and Unique Entity Identifier until after the application deadline. 

Date: 02/28/2023 

Applicant: San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District 

City, County, State: San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo County, California 

1 .1 Executive Summary 

The District ts advancing development of the DESAL Plan, that when complete will contain 

balanced recommendations related to responsibly advancing the implementation of a regional 

desalination project that will benefit the people, economy, and environment in San Luis Obispo 

County (County or Region). The District has an important role in ensuring the County's water 

supplies are adequate and able to respond to, and accommodate, change while continuing to 

meet the many various water use needs. In the County1 existing conditions and future 

projections indicate that water security is decreasing as demands increase and available 

supplies and their reliability decrease. Ongoing water s~pply efforts in the County include 

conservation, stormwater capture, surface water and groundwater optimization and/or 

expansion, State Water Project (SWP) and Water Management Tools, recycled water, produced 

water from oil extraction operations, cloudseeding, and regional resiliency. However, these 

efforts are not enough to overcome long-term shortages or to be relied upon to sustainably 

meet future needs. Competition for existing water supplies, particularly those that depend on 

precipitation, in the County and across the State Is anticipated to increase with new regulations 

related to groundwater/surface water interactrons and m1nimum sustainability thresholds, 

water quality, environmental flow, climate change, and housing directives. A new, drought 

proof, local water supply will be necessary to sustain the County long-term. Desalination is the 

longest-term and most resilient strategy since it leverages a renewable, almost inexhaustible 

resource that would not be diminished by insufficient rainfall or water conservation efforts. 

Recognizing that a desalination project will take time to plan, permit, and construct, the District 

has developed a five-phase approach to developing a DESAL Plan and project. The District is 

respectfully requesting $548,410 from Reclamation to leverage District funds and support 

implementation of DESAL Plan ''Phase 2.A~ Development Phase". Phase 2.A specifically includes 

developing and implementing the public and stakeholder engagement process, developing 

ranking criteria for alternatives, identifying and analyzing project concept alternatives, 

developing a short-list of projects to further pursue, and preparing a feasibility Study 

documenting the Phase 2.A work that is aligned with the requirements of Reclamation's 

WaterSMART: Water Recycling and Desalination Planning, FY 2023 

San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District I 1 �
.

Technical Proposal & E,valuation Cr.lterla 

FeasibilityStudy Directives and Standards WTR 11-01. DE5AL Plan Phase 2.8 will indude 

additional analysis of the short-listed projetts and selection of a preferred project to 

implement. Phase 2.A tasks will be completed within the 24 month grant eligible cost per:iod 

(10/31/20is·). The proposed planhing efforts are not'for a project on a Federal facifity and 

won't involve Federal land, but-will provide a benefit to Feder.al water supplies as detailed in 

S.ection 1.7.2 Evaluation Criterion 2. 

1.2 Project location 

·rhe County is located on the Padfic coast, approximately halfway between the metropolitan 

ar:eas of Los Angeles anQ San Francisco. The.C:ounty is bordered by Monterey County to the 

north, Kern Cour.1ty to the eas(, Santa Barbara eouoty to the south, and 100 miles of Pacific 

coastline to the-west (County of San Luis Obispo, 20~3). The Region encompasses a total ar:ea ,of 

3,304 squar.e mlles..The Distr-ict's. boundary is co-terminus with the County. The County's 

boundary effectively links land use and water management planning efforts within the co.ntext 

of the same physical, political, environmental, s9cial, and economic boundaries needed to 

facilitate active stakeholder involvement at the local and regional levels. Figure 1 shows lhe 

Countywide project location and regional water resources and infrastructure. 

A 

N 

Legend 

§ City Limits 

□ 0WR Bulletin 118 

Groundwater Basins. 

l:ocal'Tteated Stale Water 

Dlst,ributioi:i Pipeline 

(Sl.OCFCWCb) 

.., Chorro Valley Pipeline 

- Lopez Pipeline 

Local Raw Water,Plpeline 

- Lopez1

Pipeline 

- Nacimiento Pipeline 

- Wlale Rock Pipeline 

--Salinas Pipeline 

'State Water Project.{SWP) 

Infrastructure 

• CA Aqueduct Main Canal 

- coastal Branch Aqueduct 

Figure 1. Project Location 

Desalination opportunities and challenges throughout-the County will be investigated as pa_rt of 

the DESAL Plan. Desalination opportunities will pr:imarily focus on ocean and brackish source 

waters along the County's coast, but source alternatives thr:oughout the County will be 

consider~d and analyzed. The District will engage with regional partners and stakeholders 

Water-SMART : Water R~cycling and Desalination Planning, FY 2023 

Sa.n Lujs Obispo County Flood Control and Wate.r Conservation District I 2 

Page 27 of 124 
	


Technical Proposal & Evaluation Criteria 

throughout the County to ensure that regional impacts and benefits are considered as 

alternatives are vetted and as a short-list of projects is selected to further pursue. In addition, 

the County will engage with Santa Barbara County (SB County) to discuss opportunities for 

water exchanges that derive from a desalination plant in the County and that may be mutually 

beneficial to the County and communities located in the northern portion of SB County. The 

District has asked SB County and water purveyors within the County t-o adopt resolutions 

agreeing to participate in development of the DESAL Plan. 

1.3 Technical Project Description 

The communities within the County and northern SB County have been confronted with 

multiple recent exceptional droughts, severe declines in groundwater and surface water levels, 

and limitations on imported water supplies. Over the past decade, the San Luis Obispo County 

Board of Supervisors (Board) has expressed interest in desalination as a water supply 

opportunity and, on November 16, 2021, the Board identified water resilience and desalination 

as a top priority. Desalination is a drought proof solution for current and projected water supply 

imbalances caused by strained supplies, increased demand, and could be scalable such that its 

capacity could be expanded as future needs increase. The new supply could leverage existing 

regional water infrastructure to facilitate partnerships and exchanges to maximize the benefit 

of a new desalination plant. Desalination projects take time to plan, permit, and construct. 

Factors that contribute to the feasibility of a desalination project include, but are not limited to, 

permitting, cost, funding, community support, and environmental protection. 

The District has coordinated with the Countywide Water Action Team (CWAT), an informal 

working group of staff from entities across the County with water supply planning 

responsibilities, to create a 5-phase approach to develop a desalination project, 

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Figure 2. DESAL Plan Phases 

The District has completed Phase 1: DESAL Plan Agreement Phase, getting Board direction on 

October 18, 2022 to proceed on the path to a desalination project, obtain resolutions from 

agencies agreeing to be evaluated in the DESAL Plan, develop this scope of work, establish a 

WaterSMART: Water Recycling and Desalination Planning, FY 2023 

San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District I 3 �
Technica·I Proponi &. Evaluat1on Cr.lter-la 

prelimihar,y stakeholder and ,publit>engagemeli\t process; and pursue gra,:it,opportunities. lihe 

scope'ot·work the,Distritt is seel<ing.funding:a·ssistance underthis NOF.O:is.for DESAL Plan Phase 

i ,A:-Oevelopmer:it Phase; where1a consultantwill be eng~ge·d4to~wor1< with the District, 

participating,ag~n"cies,-the public, and various sta.k~holder-S'to-develop a-short-list·of 

desalination proj~cts.to fur.ther pursue, andtidentifying next steps for·Phase 2.8. Phase 2.e,a·nd, 

subsequent phases include selecting a preferred project.and n1akiQg it a reality. lihe P)'lase 2.A 

wor" will be doc·umerited'in,a report t_t:iat is,alignedwit_h Recla~ation's.Feasibility 

r;equiremehts. 

l.3.l E_llglbllity- onq Applicant Cotegpr.f 

As a water distriGt located in California, the District is eUgibleto pu"fsue tundirig•through this 

N0F0. T<he Distri_ct is.pursuing f1Jnding:under H.1ndi~g.Group I.The Distr.ict1is-committed to,a 

cost-share of·$548;410 (50%-of'the .total eligible proje<at costs $·1,096,820}.:,Expel"!ses will be 

covered dir:ectlyby·the E>ist~ict-o~from .other-non-F.ederal funding.soureaes secur.ea for-the 

project a·s fur.th.er det~iled in the P.t:ojett Buqget·section. 

On October 18, 202-2, t~e District·Board autbo_r.ized1Distr:ict-staff to,pr:oceed·.with develop.ing the· 

E>ESA~ Plan in.coordination with other·partkipating·wate·r:-purve_ylng agencie~ and stakeholders 

a_n:d authorized the Oirector•of Publi£'Works.to pursue.,gratits,tt> offset project c;osts. The 

Oetober 18, 2022 Resolution along-.Withthe Di~tricfs 0raft ResolutioAr au!horizing the Distrieat 

to,enter: into a funding agreement with Reclamation.should funds' be.-awarded through this 

NOFO,.ar:e•pr;ovided as·attachment-s."The Draft Resolution,will t>e.fipalized and provided within 

60 days of'the application submittal deadline due-to the timing of Board mee_tin·gs. 

1 .3-.2 GoalsOesalihation1 is1a -drought proof solution for q.1rrent-and projected wate.r supply'imbalances. lihe 

'0ESAL Plan ·Phase.2.A,has,th~ followil'!g•goals to.advance desalinatiol'il due diligenc;e efforts. 

• Develop andioimplemeot stakebolder e11gagement proe;ess that·provides a rai)ge of 

inputs,and viewp_oint s 

•· fdentify, analyze, and·scree·n desalination t:iroject concept-alternatives 

• Rank·and. select<a short-list•ofoptimal desali,nation pr:ojects 

• Oevelop·scope.for subsequent DESAL.Plan phas·es 

• Prepare•a Feasibility Study·docu.mentihg the;O_ESAL Plan Phase 2':A wor:k an..d· is 

alignecfwit_h Reclam;;ttioi')' sFeasit'>ility,Study requirements 

lihg. OESAL Plan goals are,anticipated to.evolve. as the.project proceeds \n ·accordance With 

findings ·at ead'I milestone_. 

1.3.3 Approach· 

Tbe·following-reflects the E>lstrict:'s planr1ed,appr.oaeh for completing PJiase 2 .. A oftbe DESAL 

Plan. 

Task·l, - Project·Manage~ent 

T~is task involves coordi~ation with District staff-and other admiriistr.ative efforts associated 

with the,project. 

w ·aterSMART; Water Recycling. and Oe_salinatjon Pl:anni,ng, F-Y 202-3 

San Lui's Obispo (;ounty. F·lood Contr,c>"l and Water Conservat_i"on Distr.ict I 4 

Page 29 of 124 
	


Technical Proposal & Evaluation Criteria 

Task 2 - Stakeholder Engagement 

This task involves developing a stakeholder engagement plan that describes the purpose and 

approach to DESAL Plan stakeholder engagement. Activities would include periodic meetings 

with District staff, the CWAT working group, and DESAL Plan stakeholders engaged to provide 

input ta the project at key milestones. Potential stakeholders include those who may 

participate in development of a desalination project~ including those who may directly or 

indirectly benefit, those who may be impacted, and those with a role in reviewing, permitting, 

approving and/or funding a project. This task also includes presentations on project progress at 

key milestones during consultations with decision makers, regulators, and during public 

meetings of the District's Water Resources Advisory Committee, Board of Supervisors, 

purveyor's Boards/Councils, and other organizations. 

Task 3.a - Develop Vetting and Ranking Criteria and Method 

This task includes coordination with stakeholders to establish criteria that will be used to 

analyze, vet, and rank the concept alternatives that made it through rough screening. Criteria 

will be based on feasibility, technical, environmental, economic, climate change, underserved 

community impacts, and institutional requirements, as well as public acceptance, reliability, 

multi-benefits, and grant potential. The criteria and method will be developed to meet USBR 

Feasibility Study requirements. 

Task 3.b - Identify Concept Alternatives 

This task involves identifying and engaging the stakeholders to develop and describe concept 

alternatives. Alternatives include, but are not limited to: 

• Direct delivery to near-coastal communities only 

• Direct delivery to near-coastal communities with inland investors to free up existing 

supplies currently goihg to near-coastal communities 

• Onshore and offshore facility options 

• Co-located facility and new site options 

This task includes reviewing studies, reports, and collecting information and data to understand 

available technologies, alternatives, opportunities, and constraints. Descriptions of concept 

alternatives will include, but not be limited to, ·locations, partnerships, institutional and 

financial arrangements, energy access, technology options, and mitigation considerations. This 

task will include a screening analysis to identify which options are most feasible to be carried 

forward for more detailed evaluation. This task also includes a desalination supply source risk 

assessment. 

Task 4 - Vetting, Ranking and Selection of a Short-List of Projects to Further Pursue 

This task includes coordination with stakeholders to vet the -concept alternatives against the 

criteria in accordahce with the method developed in Task 3.a. Because projects will likely 

involve partnerships, it is anticipated that this process will be iterative in nature and 

negotiations may result in modifications to the initial method for selecting a short-list of 

preferred projects. 

WaterSMART: Water Recycling and Desalination Planning, FY 2023 

San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District I 5 �
Technical Pr:oposal & Evaluation Griterla 

Task 5 - Develop Scope·for OESAL Plan Phase 2.B 

This task includes developing the scope, schedule, and budget for implementing the DESAL Plan 

Phase 2.B to identify e preferred project. The scope•may include defining agreements, 

establishing the need for special studies and/or a desalination pilot program, permitting 

consultations, etc. 

Task 6- DESAL Plan Phase 2.A Feasibility Study 

Document work in Tasks 1 to 5 in a report. the report will addr:ess Reclamation's Feasibility 

Study 0i.rectives al)d Standards WTR 11-01 requirements applicable to the work completed in 

Tasks 1 to 5. However, the feasibility stady is not anticipated to be fully compliant with 

Reclamation requirements beca_use the Distr:ict does not.anticipate selecting one prefer.red 

project as part of the DESAL Plan Phase 2.A scope. 

1.4 Evaluation Criteria 

1.4.1 Evaluation Criterion 1 - Protect Planning arid Analysis 

Subl':dlerion No. I a ,_ Water Recydin~ Neet:ls and (")_ppofHmities 

J . Deot hb_(} the woblems and Re'Bds. in me p'l'QJect area. 

With cyt:licat droughts, declining groundwater levels, deg¥adation of gr:oundwater quality, and 

the limited availability of surface water supplies, it is important for all entities in the County to 

effectively ma·nage·available water resources to protect the public health anq safety, maintain 

viable ecosystems, avoid seawater intrusion, and allow for sustai_nable agriculture. Water 

related needs are diver$e in the County, ·in terms of scale, cost, timing, geogr.aphy and 

stakeholder priorities. Many water supply efforts have been completed or are under way to 

address existing depleted water supplies, ongoing r~siliency issues, and future needs. However, 

var-ious studies indicate the need to evaluate desalination with a range of water supply 

alternatives and demand management programs for communities with long--term water supply 

issues. 

Th~ County's 2012 Master Water Report (MWR). included a County-wide, land use-based water 

supply and demand analysis that identified current.or projected supply deficiencies and 

potential water supply strategies to address deficiencies, including but not limited, to local and 

regional supply pr'ojects, .coAservation, recycled·water, and,desalination. However:, water user:s 

in the County have reduced per-capita water use·by 30% since 2009 and are meeting State 

water use efficienGy goals and limited new supplies other than recycled water 1emain. "Fo 

implement one of the recommendations ofthe MWR, the RegionalWate'r Infrastructure 

Resiliency Plan (RWIRP) was developed. The RWIRP was completed in 2021 and provides an 

updated supply and demand analysis and resiliency ris_k evaluatiQn, which determined a 

number of agencie$ h~ve elevated resiliency risk and s_u'pply deficiendes, especially when 

considering drought and climate change. The RWIRP identifies mitigation opportunities te meet 

short-term needs and recommends evaiuation of long-term resiliency concepts, including. 

desalination, to meet long-terf1l needs. 

WaterSMART: Water R~c.ycling and Desalination Planning, FY. 2-02-3 

San Lui's Obi'spo CouAty Flood Control and Water Conservation District I 6 

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Technical Proposal & Evaluation Criteria 

The County is pursuing early engagement with other agencies to ensure a comprehensive 

understanding of existing infrastructure deficiencies and opportunities from the outset, 

informing the widest range of conceptual alternatives for consideration. To address this need, 

on June 7, 2022, the Board approved working with stakeholders to update the countywide 

MWR. This effort will compliment desalination project planning efforts by providing up-to-date 

information on supply/demand imbalances and information on short-term water supply 

strategies such as conservation, recycled water, and groundwater management. It is important 

to first optimize the use of existing water supplies and there are other separate efforts 

currently underway to explore and develop those options. However, since they may only be 

sustainable in the short-term, it is important to pursue a long-term solution for water supply, 

such as desalination. 

2. Describe the current and pro;ected water supplies and demands in the project area, 

include a di5cussion on supply and demand imbalances. Additional consideration will be 

given to proposals that exp/o,n how the problems and needs In the area may be 

impacted by climate change, and/or if supply ond demand projections will include 

climate change ,nformat,on. 

Out of 41 suppliers, the RWIRP determined the following numbers of suppliers have less than a 

5% surplus of supply for meeting: existing demand (12 suppliers), future low range demand 

projections (17 suppliers) and future high range demand projections (28 suppliers). When 

considering drought conditions and climate change impacts to supply, even more suppliers 

have less than a 5% surplus of supply for meeting: existing demand (14 suppliers), future low 

range demand projections (20 suppliers), and future high range demand projections {30 

suppliers). The potential supply deficit is up to 5,800 AFY depending on future demand and use 

of existing and alternative supplies. 

Furthermore, the California State Water Resource Control Board's online Drinking Water Needs 

Assessment Dashboard {California State Water Resource Control Board, n.d.) shows that of 71 

water systems evaluated in the County, 12 are failing, 3 are at-risk, and 6 are potentially at-risk 

when considering criteria for water quality, accessibility, affordability, and technical, managerial 

and financial capacity. This translates to 20,566 people served by water systems that have a 

Safe and Affordable Funding for Equity and Resilience (SAFER) status of potentially at-risk or 

worse. More specifically, when looking at the Accessibility Risk Level category, there are 24 

systems in the medium or high-risk scoring categories serving 31,476 people. Accessibility Risk 

Indicators used in the methodology to calculate risk scores include consideration of exposure to 

climate change impacts by using the California Department of Water Resources' (DWR) Drought 

and Water Shortage Risk Scoring Tool and Water Shortage Vulnerability Tool for Self-Supplied 

Communities (State Water Resources Control Board, 2022). 

3 Describe how the planning activities will investigate potential uses and markets for 

reclaimed or desalinated water (e.g., environmental restoration, fish and wildlife, 

groundwater recharge, municipal, domestic, industrial, agr,culturol, power generation, 

and recreation). 

As described in Task 3, a regional desalination project would consider both direct delivery to 

near-coastal communities based on local supply needs and direct delivery to near-coastal 

WaterSMART: Water Recycling and Desalination Planning, FY 2023 

San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District I 7 �
Technical Proposal & Eva.luatlon Criteria 

communities with inland partners to free up existing suppfies currently going to near-coastal 

communities. Existing infrastructure that could facilitate exchanges with inland participants is 

shown in Figure 1 and includes participants in the Nacimiento Project, State Water Project 

Coastal Branch, and Lope2 Project as well as supplemental supplies for groundwater 

sustainability agencies, which include municipal, domestic, industrial, and agricultural users. 

~nvironmental and fish and wildlife uses from the Lopez Project may be identified in the Arr.oyo 

Grande Creek Habitat Conservation Plan and co(Jld be met via exchange with desalination. Also, 

desalinated water could be recharged in locat groundwater basins for storage or provide in-lieu 

groundwater recharge where desalinated water replaces pumping of groundwater. 

4. Describe the ~qur1⁄2e wot~r-that will be Mnsid_er-er;J foe rtie proje<:.t, 1nt.10.dlng. lawti.on,. 

ca[]Otities, existing fl0ws, (reatme.nt·P,'QCes.ses~ ond-quant1t1es vf impo,red water 

ovoilable tu meet the new recloir:ned, 1etytle,d or desolintl,ted wpt~t d?mo,;,ds, 

Task 2 and Task 3 will teview available data and engage stakeholders to understand available 

technologies, alternatives, opportunities, and constraints for implementing a desa1ination 

project. Task 3 includes ·a rough screening analysis to identify which desalination options are 

most feasible to be carried forward for more detailed evaluation. As part of this analysis, the 

District will consider all potential sources of water, fully vet regional opportunities, and build off 

prior desalination analysis that has been conducted within the County. 

In 2015 the District prepared the San Luis Obispo County Desalination Opportunities Summary 

Report which summarized opportunities and challenges of desalination as a water supply for 

the County. Sources of water identified in the report included seawater and brackish water 

from both surface and subsurface sources. The Pacific Ocean is the primary surface water 

source considered for desalination within t~e County. While ocean water practically provides an 

inexhaustible source, the marine environment is susceptible to adverse conditions at the intake 

and outfall structures and surrounding areas. To mitigate environmenta) impacts from open 

water intakes "and outfalls, subsurfate wells could be used to rnllect wat€r from the ocean or 

other saline surface water. These wells, galleys, or other structures are located under.neath the 

seafloor, within the beach, under an inland sea, bay or estuary, or another configuration. 

Although an inta.ke may be subsurface, the level of salinity encountered can be either 

categorized as seawater or brackish water as determined by the total dissolved solids 

concentration. Locations that are farther inland from the beach may be a mix of ocean water 

and groundwater, providing a less saline water source to improve treatment cost effectiveness. 

Other potential sources for desalinated water may include brackish groundwater or inland 

surface waterbodies, bays and estuaries. The identification and investigation of brackish water 

sources is important for any given project to consider as lower energy is required to desalinate 

sources with lower salinity. During the ana1ysis of inland wells, it will be .important to consider 

any impacts t9 the fresh grouocfwater. 

The DESAL Plan will further investigate source water alternatives identified in the 2015 report 

and will identify both ocean and brackish waters as potential sources--including their locations. 

Desalination opportunities previpusly identified for the County include expanding existing 

desalination facilities, co-locating a new facility at an existing industrial site, and locating a 

desalination facility at a new site. The following list includes potential locations for desalination 

WaterSMART: Water Recycling and Desalination Planning, FY 2023 

San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District I 8 

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Technical Proposal & Evaluation Criteria 

opportunities in the County: 1) expansion of the Morro Bay Desalination Facility; 2) expansion 

of the Cambria Emergency Water Supply Project; 3) expansion of the Diablo Canyon Power 

Plant desalination facility; 4) co-location at the South San Luis Obispo County Wastewater 

Treatment Plant; 5) co-location at the Nipomo Mesa Refinery; 6) co-location at the Morro Bay 

Power Plant; and 7) a new facility at the Estero Marine Terminal. 

As part of the District's investigation, a desalination supply source risk assessment will be 

developed which will evaluate the vulnerability of each of the water supply sources to climate 

change, natural disaster, maintenance shutdowns and failures, and regulatory, environmental 

and water rights challenges. 

Sub1:Herlo11 No I b hofuollon of ProJecl Ahe·11a1lve~ 

1 Descrtbe the ob1ect1ves chat al/ alternatives will be designed to meet. What other water 

supply alternatives and project alternot1ve .. w,/1 be investigated? 

Implementing water supply strategies and achieving water resources sustainability requires 

broad consensus on what the water supply related conditions are and what they need to be. 

Defensible data and sound analysis are critical to support any decision to invest in additional 

infrastructure and associated administrative costs. A regional desalination project may be an 

appropriate solution for the County to address water supply issues when integrated with the 

communities' goals and strategies. However, the feasibility for a desalination project depends 

on the various needs of water managers, decision makers, and the general public. Desalination 

must be compared with a range of water supply alternatives and approaches to demand 

management that exist to assist County communities with long term water supply issues. As 

part of the DESAL Plan, stakeholders will collaborate to define objectives that all alternatives 

need to meet. At a minimum, alternatives will need to be economically and environmentally 

sound projects that will diversify the regional water supply portfolio and ensure a long-term, 

verifiable, reliable, and be a sustainable supply that meets current and future agricultural, 

urban, and environmental demands. 

The District is actively investigating water supply alternatives besides desalination for 

implementation in the County which include conservation, stormwater capture, surface water 

and groundwater optimization and/or expansion (Nacimiento Water Project optimization, 

Lopez Water Project spillway raise and optimization, and Salinas Dam transfer and spillway 

raise), State Water Project and Water Management Tools, recycled water, produced water from 

oil extraction operations, cloudseeding, and regional resiliency. These supply alternatives will 

be investigated separately from the DESAL Plan as part of the District's current MWR Update 

for comparison with desalination. However, these efforts are not enough to overcome longterm shortages or be relied upon to sustainably meet future needs. 

The DESAL Plan will proceed concurrently with other regional water supply analysis to identify 

and advance a long-term project for the County that can provide a new, drought proof, local 

water supply to help sustain the region. Relying on water sourced from precipitation is 

challenging due to the County's relative geographic isolation, energy and right of way 

requirements, and the fluctuating supply availability year to year. Recycled water projects 

provide a great opportunity for expanding purveyors water supply portfolio's; however, they 

WaterS M ART: Water Recyc ling and Desalination Planning, FY 2023 

San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District I 9 � 
Technical Proposal & Evaluation Crlter.la 

are dependent on wastewatedtows that-are impacted by water availability and conservation 

efforts. 

2. lk~ffibe how t>h_P. pT<1nnif}g oCt.i,flities wi/1 de.ve.li::ip,P(O)e:ct oltern'9ti1<es (wote.r:svp~y 

,sourc~s, reu~~ strqF~f1ie.s, or t(eotm~nt·techoologiesl that hove..Mrn. o_r will be. 

invest)"Qoteq, 

As·previously noted, the District :is already investigating water supply PfQjects-outside:of 

desalination, and'the DESAL Plan wifl. foCL!S on investigating alternative desalination projects 

tjiat:will consjder saline and brac~ish water sources, treatment technologies, a·nd final uses. A 

desalination project in the County cou1d potentially benefit various agencies, both dir.ectly and 

indirectly, by leveraging existing regional:supply and infrastructure. lihe 'DESAL,Pian Will be most 

robust .if all local agencies are willing to join the exploratory efforts to see what kind of value 

there may be for their·agency. The 0ESAL Plan and any resi.Jifing project will benefit from wide 

interest and involvement from the local water purveying agencies and their communities. 

Therefore, a first step the District has taken was to reach out to those water purveying agencies 

to adopt resolutions agr_eeing to be evaluated and participate in development of the DESAL 

.Plan. As of February 2023,. 14.agencies have submitted .resolutions or a letter of support (that. 

are attached and ~escribed in Evaiuation Criterion 5.3). Task·2 include·s stakeh·otder 

engagement activities thatwill bring all interested participants to the· table to deveto_p ·proje_ct 

alternatives. Task 3.a includes establishing criteria that will be used to analyze, vet·and rank the 

concept alternatives that made it through rough screening. Criteria will be based on,feasibi!ity 

and·technicat, envir-onmental, economic,.and institutional requirements, as well as public 

acceptance, reliability, multi-benefit. and grant potential, etc. Con~pt.alternatives· will •be 

vetted .rgainst the criteria In accordance with the method deveioped. It is anticipated· thatthis 

process·will be Iterative in nature and negotiation~ may resulrin modifications to the-initial 

method for·selecting.a short-list of preferred projects. 

Task' 3.b ·invalves engaging stakeholders to develop-and descr.ibe concept a·ltematives. 

Altemative·s include, but.are not limited to: 

• Direct delivery to near-coastal communities only 

• Direct delivery to near-coastal cor;nmunities with Inland partlci'pants to fr:ee up 

existii,g:suppties-currently going to near-coastal.communities 

• Onshore and offshore facility options 

• Co~located facility and new site options 

The Distr.ict will teview studies and reports and collect infor.m·ation and data to:under:stand 

available technologies, alternatives, opportunities, and constraints. Descriptions of concepti 

cilternatives will include, but not be limited to, locations, partnerships, institutional and 

financiat·ar-rangeme11ts,•energy access, technology options and mitigation considerations. A 

rough screenrng analysts will be ·conducted to identify which options are most feasible to be 

carried forwar.d for more detailed evaluation. The District will leverage past desalillation 

investigations conducted in the County and build off of1:hose efforts, including the 2015 

Desalination Opportunities Summary Report prepared by Distrfct staff, which described seven 

,potential.sites and two previous studies (2008 South County .Desalination Study and 2007 

Nipomo CSD Desalination Study) and identified severaJ implementation challenges. 

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San Lu.is Obispo County Flood Cootrol and Water Conservation District j 10 

Page 35 of 124 
	


Technical Proposal & Evaluation Criteria 

3 Provide a general descr,pt1on of the selected pro1ect, including pro1ect features, benefits, 

anticipated costs, and analyses conducted 

The goal of the DESAL Plan is to ultimately provide balanced recommendations related to 

responsibly advancing the implementation of a regional desalination project that will benefit 

the people, economy and environment in the County. This grant funded scope (DESAL Plan 

Phase 2.A) will identify, vet, and analyze concept alternatives; rank and select a short list of 

optimal desalination projects to further pursue; develop a scope for Project Development 

Phases; and prepare a report that documents Phase 2.A work aligned with applicable 

Reclamation Feasibility Study requirements. Task 4 includes selection of a short list of projects 

that will be further pursued during a subsequent phase of the DESAL Plan. Once the short•listed 

projects are further analyzed and vetted then a preferred project will be selected for 

implementation. 

4 Include a preliminary schedule showing ma1or tasks, milestones, and dates for the 

plannmg, design, and construction activities related to the project. 

Key schedule milestones for the DESAL Plan grant-funded scope are summarized in Table 1. The 

overall program schedule was shown in Figure 2. 

Table 1. Grant Tasks Schedule 

Tasks 

Task 1 - Project Management 

Task 2 - Stakeholder 

Engagement 

Task 3 - Develop Vetting and 

Ranking Criteria and Method & 

Identify Concept Alternatives 

Task 4 - Vetting, Ranking and 

Selection of Short-List of 

Preferred Projects 

Task 5 - Develop Scope for 

DESAL Plan Phase 2.8 

Task 6 - Phase 2.A Feasibility 

Study 

• Assumed Start Date: October 31, 2023 

2023 2024 

I 

2025 

1.4.2 Evaluation Criterion 2 - Stretching Water Supplies 

1. Describe the potential for the pro1ect to reduce, postpone, or eliminate the development 

of new or expanded non recycled water supplies. 

WaterSMART: Water Recycling and Desalination Planning, FY 2023 

San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District I 11 �
Technical Proposal & Evaluation Criterl.a 

On March 16, 2021, the Board received a presentation on the various water supply efforts in 

the County, including conservation, stormwater capture, Nacimiento Water Project 

optimization, Lopez Water Project spiflway raise and optimization, Salinas Dam transfer and 

spillway raise, State Water Project and Water Management Tools, recycled water, produced 

water from oil extraction operations, cloudseeding, and regional resiliency. While many of 

these efforts ar:e in the planning and/or implementation phases and will help extend the 

County's water supply, they are not enough to overcome long-term shortages or be relied upon 

to sustainably meet future needs. 

The District is pursuing ear:ly engagement with other ager:icies to ensure a comprehensive 

understanding of existing infrastructure deficiencies and opportunities from the outset, 

informing the widest range of conceptual alternatives for consideration. To.address this need, 

on June 7, 2022, the Board approved working with stakeholders to update the Countywide 

MWR. This effort will compliment desalination project planning efforts b_y providing up-to-date 

information on supply/demand imbalances and information on short-term water supply 

strategies such as conservation, recycled water, and groundwaler management. It is important 

to first optimize the use of existing water supplies and there are other s·eparate efforts 

currently underway·to explore and develop those options. However, since they may only be 

sustainable in the short-term, it is important to pursue a long-term solution for water supply, 

such as desalination. 

Desalination is adrought proof solution for current and projected water supply imbalances 

caused by strained alternative supplies and increased demand. Desalination could be scalable 

such that its capacity , ould coonge as future needs change. Ther.efore, if deemed appropriate, 

desa·lihation could be scaled to potentially redute, postpone, or eliminate the development of 

new or expanded existing non-recycled water supplies. 

2. J)e.sc..ribP the, po(;tJ.nt!al /or the pro{e,r..t to rillev1ate prns.sure on f'Xi:.t1ng wote.r suμp/,e!, 

and/orfacilities. F'leose describe tit" ei1stmg wa_tet supp(les, 1cJ.e.nt1fy th<' .~UP.fJtws anrJJw 

fadlit,es lhdt w,tt be impacted and explain how l ht>v wr/1 be rmpocted b.y the Project, 

including ·quo1Jfificati<1ns whtrm oppf1r.ablc. 

As discussed in the previous section, desalination could be scaled, whith could alleviate 

pressure en existing water supplies and/or facilities that will be impacted by the Project. 

E)tjsting water supplies and facilities impacted by the· Project are described in the previous 

section and in responses to Evaluation Criterion 1. The RWIRP quantifies a potential supply 

deficit of up to 5,800 AfY dependjng on futute demand and use of existing and alternative 

suppjies. 

In addition, a desalination project has the potential to reduce imported water demands which 

would directly benefit the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Bay-Delta) system flows, habitat, and 

ecosystems. In the Bay-Delta, 300% more water is-allocated to varieus uses than is actually 

available for use each year. There is no solution for correcting these allocation issues; however, 

every effort to reduce demand from these syst-ems will have a beneficial impact and reduce 

pressure on these supplies. Because implementation of the DESAL Plan has the potential to 

reduce imports from the Bay-Delta, it in turn will positively affect Federa·I Water Projects such 

as the Central Valley Project (CVP). Overseen by US(3R, the CVP has long-term agreements to 

WaterSMART: Water Recycling and D~salination Planning, FY 2023 

San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District I 12 

Page 37 of 124 
	


Technical Proposal & Evaluation Criteria 

supply water to more than 250 contractors in 29 California counties. CVP deliveries provide an 

average of 5 million AF of water for farms, 600,000 AF of water for municipal and industrial 

uses, and water for wildlife refuges and maintaining water quality in the Bay-Delta (United 

States Bureau of Reclamation, 2023). 

3. Describe the potential for the project to make water available to address a specific 

concern. Explain the specific concern and its severity. Also explain the role of the proJect 

being investigated in addressing that concern and the extent to which the project will 

address it. Specific concerns may include, but are not limited to: Water supply shortages; 

Water supply reliability; Groundwater depletion; Water quality issues, Natural disasters that 

may impact water supply infrastructure, Heightened competition for water supplies, Availability 

of alternative supplies: lncreas,ng cost of water supplies. 

The Project would address most of the specific concerns listed in question 3 above. The 

previous section and responses to Evaluation Criterion 1 describe how the Project could 

address the concern of water supply shortages. 

Responses to Evaluation Criterion 3 address the concerns of water quality issues and 

groundwater depletion. Furthermore, the County has three groundwater basins designated as 

critically overdrafted basins by the state and 12 basins with potential seawater intrusion issues 

that can be potentially mitigated with desalination. 

Heightened competition and reliability concerns for existing water supplies (particularly those 

that depend on precipitation) in the County and across the State is anticipated to increase with 

new regulations related to groundwater/surface water interactions and minimum sustainability 

thresholds, water quality, environmental flow, climate change, and housing directives. A new, 

drought proof, local water supply will be necessary to sustain County supplies long-term. 

Desalination is the most resilient strategy since it leverages a renewable, almost inexhaustible 

resource that would not be diminished by insufficient rainfall or water conservation efforts. 

4 Describe the potential for the project to help create additional flexibility to address 

drought. Will water made available by the project be,ng Investigated continue to be 

available during periods of drought"? To what extent Is the water made available by the 

pro1ect being investigated more drought resistant than alternative water supply options ? 

Explatn 

The U.S. Drought Monitor currently characterizes the County as Abnormally Dry to Moderate 

Drought due to extensive precipitation in January 2023. However, groundwater basins in the 

County will require multiple above average precipitation years to recover unprecedented low 

levels, indicated by the U.S. Drought Monitor's characterization of the County in November 

2022 as Severe Drought and Extreme Drought. 

Desalination is the most resilient strategy since it leverages a renewable, almost inexhaustible 

resource that would not be diminished by insufficient rainfall or water conservation efforts. 

Potable reuse of recycled water can provide similar resilience and is expected to be maximized 

across the County prior to implementation of desalination. Across the County, there are 18 

public wastewater treatment systems and 11 currently generate effluent that directly offsets 

potable water use with approximately 2,050 AFY of beneficially reused effluent used for 

WaterSMART: Water Recycling and Desalination Planning, FY 2023 

San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District I 13 �
Technical Proposal & Evaluation Cri,teria 

groundwater recharge, irrigation, seawater intrusion barriers.and retycled water uses in the 

County. In additiorr, multiple communities are actively pursuing indirect potable reuse projects 

that are projected to create·an additional 4,600 AFY of water for groundwater replenishment .. 

The potable reuse projects are accounted for in supply and demand projections. 

1.4.3 Evaluation Criterion 3 - Environmental and Water Quality 

L Describe tt,e pqtent1affor the proJe.cr to i'mprova rhe quality qfsurface water or 

grooodwoter. 

Protecting the quality of water resources in the County is an imperative objective of advancing 

any desalination project. Through Phase 2.A of the DESAL Plan (which is the scope of this grant), 

the District will consider alternative locations to site desalination project(s) as well as potential 

beneficial uses for desalination water. A key consideration of the alternativ.e evaluation criteria 

will be the potential impacts on the qllality of surface water and groundwater. It is anticipated 

that projetts that recharge groundwater basins, maintain or form a barrier to seawater 

intrusion, and/or increase surface flows will score higher under this criterion. The high-quality 

product water of desalination will have a positive benefit on the quality of any water body 

should that be the selected project to implement. In addition, a project that uses brackish 

groundwater as a supply source may provide a direct benefit to the basin by removing salts and 

other potential contamiQants through extraction and the desalination treatment process. 

Project alternatives may not only directly improve the quality of surface water or groundwater 

but could also provide an indirect benefit by reducing existing demands on both local surface 

water and grouncjwater supplies as well as SWP water that will allow more water to remain In 

these natural surface water" systems and protect water qua·lity. 

2. De5cribe the potentialfor the p,-oJecl to 1m1xov.e efflue.nt quolity bejj-Dnd l~vels Qece5~·ary 

fo meetStare or Federal dis~horge r0quiramcnts-. 

This question is primarily directed toward recycled· water projects rather than desalinatipn 

projects. However, to protect the water quality of any locations that may receive the 

discharges, treatment processes will be designed to meet or exceed all regulatory 

requirements. The permitting process will be complex due to stringent mitigation measures and 

water quality limitations associated with desalination; and efforts to engage regulatory 

agencies will occur early on in the planning phase to ensure effluent limitations are understood 

and that any future projects are designed to meet or exceed those requirements. 

J. Describe the potent,i'alfor the. pro1ecl to fr:nprov.~ flow r-ofldf.t,dm 1n a natural sueem 

channel 

4. J)escr-ibe•1he potential for the proJec.,t"to re!itore or en/Jana~ he1/;)1tn~/or~on- lis~ed.{1sh 

andwddl1f e .species. 

Responses to questions 3 and 4 are combined as environmental impacts are another key factor 

that will be considered as part of the alternatives evaluation criteria. Improved flow conditions 

in natural stream channels could result from reductions in surface water used by local water 

purveyors and/or from discharge of desalination product water to stream channels (potentially 

for mitigation purposes). The County relies primarily on five reservoirs for surface water 

.supplies - Lake Nacimiento, Whale Rock Reservoir, Lopez Lake/Reservoir, Santa Margarita 

WaterSMART: Water Recycling and Desalination Planning, FY 2023 

San Luis Obispo Count y Flood Control and Water Conservation District I 14 

Page 39 of 124 
	


Technical Proposal & Evaluation Criteria 

Lake/Salinas Reservoir, and Chorro Reservoir - and any decrease in the use of water from these 

sources that may be offset by desalinated water would result in higher reservoir levels, 

improved flows, and enhanced habitat conditions for wildlife within the watershed. 

In addition, the District has an annual allocation of 25,000 AF of water from the SWP. The SWP 

and Reclamation's Central Valley Project (CVP) are jointly operated under a coordinated 

operating agreement (COA). The COA provides that either SWP or CVP water may be used for 

deliveries so any deliveries to the County by the SWP is essentially the same as a delivery made 

by the CVP. Desalinated water has the potential to offset the use of SWP water which would 

have a direct benefit to the Bay-Delta system and CVP water that would benefit the San Joaquin 

River and Sacramento River watersheds. Reductions in surface water use would help to 

improve in-stream flows and enhance habitat locally, in the Bay-Delta ecosystems, and the 

Central Valley Basin for non-listed species. Maintaining adequate surface water flows is 

important because habitats, species, and water quality suffer when flows are altered greatly 

from natural conditions (California Department of Water Resources, 2018). 

Finally, the DESAL plan will consider benefits from a desalination project on groundwater 

supplies directly from recharge or offset pumping, or indirectly from improving/maintaining 

lake releases which could increase groundwater levels in the County. Higher groundwater levels 

would increase water levels in groundwater dependent ecosystems and ultimately Improve 

flow conditions. 

S Describe the potential for the pro1ect to prov1dP water or habitat for federally listed 

threatened or endangered species 

As discussed above, environmental impacts are a key factor that will be considered as part of 

the DESAL Plan alternative evaluation criteria. The use of desalinated water to offset surface 

water and groundwater demands would potentially increase stream flows and enhance habitat 

for federally listed threatened and endangered species. Threatened species include South 

Central California Steel head, Red-Legged Frogs, Tidewater Goby, and potentially many more 

that will be considered during the alternative analysis. Offsetting SWP supplies would make 

water available to support federally endangered and protected fish species in the Bay-Delta 

which include Delta Smelt and Chinook Salmon. Furthermore, offsetting CVP supplies would 

make water available to support federally endangered and protected fish species in the Central 

Valley Basin. Reducing pressure on existing water supplies and improving flexibility to return 

streams and rivers to their more natural patterns will more closely mimic natural conditions 

which will provide threatened and endangered native species a better chance of outcompeting 

invasive species. 

1.4.4 Evaluation Criterion 4 - Department of the Interior Priorities 

Ult1h.,le C hui1ge 

1. Pleose prov,de 5pecif1c detatls and examples on how che pro1ect w1/f address the Impacts 

of climate change and help combat the climate crts,s. 

Desalination is a top resilient supply strategy for the County since it leverages a renewable, 

almost inexhaustible resource that would not be diminished by climate change, insufficient 

rainfall, or water conservation efforts. As described in Evaluation Criterion 1, existing supply 

WaterSMART: Water Recycling and Desali nation Planning, FY 2023 

San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District I 15 � 
Technical Proposal & E-valuati"on Criteria 

accessibility and deficits indicate that many agencies in 'the County have elevated resiliency risk 

and supply deficiencies when considering non-desalinated supplies' vulnerability to drought 

and climate change. The only other-supply that could have similar resiliency is potable reuse 

which is also being explored in the County. 

As part of the District's investigation, a desalination supply source risk assessment will• be 

developed which will evaluate the vulnerability of each of the water supply sournes to climate 

change, natural disaster, maintenance shutdowns and failures, and regulatory, environmental 

and water rights cha-llenges. A Aew, drought proof, tocal water supply will be necessary to 

sustain the County long-term. ~esalination can help meet County objectives .by diversifying the 

regionar water supply por-tfolit> and ensuring a long-t~rm, verifiable, reliable, ·and s.ustainable 

supply .to meet current and future agricultural, urban, and environmental demands. 

In addition, the District's investigation will consider energy sources ·and potentially integrated 

desalination production with new clean energy projects planned in the County, such as t~e 

Morro Bay Wind Energy Area. The Department of the Interior, in coordination with the 

Department of Defense, identified a 399-square-mile area northwest of Morro Ba.y as a location 

that will support three gigawatts of offshore wind. In December 2022, the Department of the 

Interior's Bur.eau of Ocean Energy Management announced three leases for the Morro Bay 

Wind Energy Area. 

2. Does this propased project str-eagtl:ren water s.uppJy ~t.!st.:ainobili(y to incr.co':..l?- res1/l'(mc-C' 

(o clf'moce c;ftonge? DoeJ the prDposed pro1ect wntr.ibu.~ tn cflm_e,re c.hon(Jt' r<:51/iency in 

pth?Jr ways not described above? 

As described in the Gov~rnor's March 2~, 2022, Executive Order (N-7-22), California is in a state 

of emergency due to extreme and expanding drought conditions. California has most recently 

had three years of drought and has been setting records for both heat and dryness over the 

past year. Research has shown that the past two decades rank as the driest 2i-year period in 

1,200 years, surpassing the severity of megad(.oughts that were previously considered worstcase scenarios (Nature Climate Change, 2022). With rising temperatures; erratic rain patternst 

and the fact that almost all water supply sources are impae::ted by climate (e.g., surface water 

supplies, imported supplles, groundwater basins), existing supplies throughout the County have 

and will decr~ase accordingly. While supply availability declines, potential future scenarios 

indicate an increase in water stress and demand due to changing hydrologic behavior and 

projected regulations (e.g., enforcement of groundwater/surface water inter-action regulations, 

increasing environmental flow requirements, decreasing availability and reliability of existing 

water supplies, enforcement of housiAg mandates, increased water quality requir.ements, etc.). 

Lack of water has severe impacts on communities, the environment, the economy, agriculture, 

etc. and desalination is the only climate-independent, almost inexhaustible water resource. 

Disod'vontoged or Underserved Comrnunit-ie~ 

1. Wit/ the f)r.oposed pro1ect serve-01 benefit o dis(Jdv.onr..aged or histo11cal/y ander:serve.d 

communi-ty? 

2 Please. cfe5cribe in dPtail how the community i".s- disadvanrage..d 

WaterSMART: Water Recycling and Desalinati.on Ptanning, FY 2023 

San Lu is Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District I 16 

Page 41 of 124 
	


Technical Proposal & Evaluation Criteria 

3. If the proposed proJect Is providing benefits to on underserved community, provide 

information to demonstrate that the community meets the definition in E.0. 13985. 

The County has seven identified Disadvantaged Communities (DACs). The County's DESAL Plan 

is a Countywide project, where the entire County is analyzed from a watershed and water 

system perspective. Due to this, approximately 31% of the project area population is 

designated as a DAC through use of the DWR DAC Mapping Tool as shown in Figure 3. 

"',;;:.,\ IKO 

_.., 

~ '"'"·· 

lnl/1023. 6 '1"06 PM 

GiJ~ OAcf. t'oall'l~1- o .... ,~ ~ • -~Pw<n lM:5 n,, . ~ t O..:,.,.voH~ • BbilO.O..-o1:.ac.s 10tl• l021>t 

l'na,,:,rt~~- •~Y-~ \..C.,?01'• ~ Oal.al«llll.t.t'__, C,..ta,,_1--,~ 

$0,l,C• 144J.20J1 

- D,t.(;1, {"41.201 t,C,1«J.t1 

JDAe:..,,, .. ,?OJ,J 

- o.c .Cf,,lr:tQ;). 1'2-tltt 

.S0,11,C'l\oL.MT~) 

- Q.t.Ctl4'10J• f&Jt.);I/ 

O e,...,,.,.,, c.,.... 

1677,791 .. .. .. 

c-"-· ~ c...... !CA&. 0-~ '"'° ...uJ1iU-\. LAO...a.-"'--__,...._, . .... ...,.f."" 

~ Ul'-9 ~J ..,_f/l ~ C:---0-­

- ~ ~ ~ - ,._~ - o-i. 

I,; '-C,lil,l\""4)1t .,.._:.O--.-. Lo,\~C..-..~ -<n~.r..CL -•fl'-- ............... CAA.,;'"1U~ ~-"'-"'-- 0-.<1-.-~w- .. ....,_.~ \ ,._..~..._...,._..~_.•-- -.-~ 

-­ Figure 3. San Luis Obispo County DAC Map 

Tribal Benefits 

1. Does the proposed project directly serve and/or benefit a Tribe? Will the project Improve 

water management for an Indian Tribe? 

2. Does the proposed project support Tribal resilience to climate change and drought 

impacts or provide other Tribal benefits such as improved public health and safety by 

addressing water quality, new water 5upplies, or economic growth opportunities? 

The District's efforts to advance the DESAL Plan and implement a project will not directly 

benefit a Tribe as the County does not have any tribal lands; however, the project has the 

potential to provide indirect benefits to Tribes. California Native American Tribes are all 

Indigenous Communities of California, which are on the contact list maintained by the Native 

American Heritage Commission, including those that are federally non-recognized and federally 

recognized, and those with allotment lands, regardless of whether they own those lands. Native 

American Tribes are sovereign nations and the District will coordinate with Tribes on a 

government-to-government basis. The District maintains an open policy to continually invite 

WaterSMART: Water Recycling and Desalination Planning, FY 2023 

San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District I 17 �
Technical Proposal & Evaluation Criteria 

and encoμrage collaboration with Tribes. Letters to local Native Americ.an Tribes will be sent to 

invite them to engage during the various DESAL Plan processes and encourage their 

participation during both plan development and impfementation. Local Native American Tribes 

and any tribes in surrounding counties that have members living in San Luis Obisp0 County will 

be contacted via mail, email, and telephone. In addition, all potential desalination sites will be 

vetted for potential impacts to locations that are culturally sensitive and ongoing 

communication with Tribes will occur as part Qf Califor.nia Environmental Quality Act AB 52 

Consultation, which will be part of a future project phase. 

A benefit of advancing a regional desalination project is that dependence on imported surface 

water supplies may be reduced. Two-thirds of California's water originates in, the Sierra Nevada 

mountains, eventually flowing through the Bay-Delta, where it is delivered to more than 27 

million Californians and about 750,000 acres of farmland (California Department of Water 

Resources, 2023). A reduction in imported water has the potential to reduce impacts to Tribes 

relying on surface water supplies that are used to provide SWP and CVP water. In addition, 

Tribes that rely on SWP or CVP water as part of their supply may also benefit from a reduced 

demand by the County on a supply which is already strained by climate change, natui:al 

disasters, environmental regulations, and increasing demands. 

1.4.5 Evaluation Criterion 5 - Watershed Perspective and Stakeho.lder Involvement 

J.. Wilf the propC'l,se-<fproject il':nplf'mr>.,nt a regional orsl ate w9te1 pion nr an {tJtfi_gr'otgd 

re~urce,monagemenrpl_on? 'fxp1afn, 

Yes, the County 2019 Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (IRWMP) includes 

desalination as a resource management strategy (RMS). An RMS is defined b 'y DWR as a project, 

program, or policy that local agencies can implement to manage-water related resources to 

meet integrated plart objectives (San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation 

District, 2019). Desalination can help meet IRWMP objectives by diversifying the regional water 

supply portfolio and ensuring a long-term, verifiable, reliable,. an,;! sustainable supply to meet 

I 

I I • current and future agricultural, urban, and environmental demands. 

The DESAL Plan aligns with California's Water Resilience Portfolio, finalized in July 2020, which 

is a blueprint for equipping California to cope with more extreme droughts, floods, and rising 

temperatures, while addressing long-standing challenges that include declining fish 

populations, over-reliance on groundwater and lack of safe drinking water in many 

communities. State goals and actions are organized into four categories: 1) maintain and 

diversify water supplies, 2) protect and enhance natural ecosystems, 3) build connections, and 

4) be prepared. 

The DESAL Plan also aligns with the California Water Code Section 85021- a statewide policy to 

reduce reliance on the Bay-Delta to meet California's future water supply needs through a ' ' ' 

statewide strategy of investing in improved regional supplies, conservation, and water use 

efficiency. Each region that depends on water from the Bay-Delta watershed shall improve its 

regional self-reliance for water througti investment in water use efficiency, water recycling, 

advanced water technologies, local and regional water supply projects, and improved regional 

coordination of local and regional water supply efforts. 

WaterSMART: Water Recycling and Desalination Planni ng, FY 2023 

San Luis Obispo County Flood Control an.d Water Conservation District I 18 

Page 43 of 124 
	


Technical Proposal & Evaluation Criteria 

In addition, the DESAL Plan aligns with the State of California's goals and the Governor's May 

2019 Executive Order to achieve water resiliency using a multi-benefit/ portfolio water 

management solution - benefiting the environment, strengthening partnerships and utilizing 

the best technology for improved climate-resiliency. 

2. Will the proposed pro1ect help meet tile water supply needs of a forge geographic area, 

region, or watershed? Explain. 

Yes, when complete the DESAL Plan will contain balanced recommendations related to 

responsibly advancing the implementation of a regional desalination project that will benefit 

the people, economy and environment throughout the County which encompasses a total area 

of 3,304 square miles. Throughout development of the DESAL Plan, the District will engage with 

regional partners and stakeholders to ensure that regional impacts and benefits are considered 

as alternatives are vetted and a project is selected for implementation. The District will 

collaborate with the Water Resources Advisory Committee (WRAC), which is an advisory body 

made up of citizens and governmental representatives, including elected officials, appointed by 

the District's Board to advise the Board on water resource policies and programs in the Region. 

The WRAC has 37 members representing county supervisorial districts, cities, community 

service districts, resource conservation districts, water management agencies, water purveyors, 

institutions, and at-large individuals and organizations for agricultural, development, and 

environmental interests. The WRAC offers an ongoing stakeholder forum to provide input and 

recommendations to the District Board during DESAL Plan development and implementation. 

In addition, the District is collaborating with SB County officials to identify opportunities for a 

wider ranging program that could provide water supply benefits that extend into the northern 

portion of SB County. 

1 Wt/I the proposed prCJject promotP collaborative partnerships to address water related 

issues? Explain Describe stakeholder involvement In the project planning process. 

Yes, stakeholder outreach and early engagement are critical to the success of the DESAL Plan 

and a desalination project for many reasons. One reason is that it takes time to build a broad 

coalition and public buy-in, both of which are hecessary to obtain future permits. Another 

reason for early engagement is to ensure comprehensive understanding of existing 

infrastructure deficiencies and opportunities from the outset, informing the widest range of 

conceptual alternatives for consideration. To address this need, on June 7, 2022, the Board 

approved working with stakeholders to update the Countywide MWR. This effort will 

compliment desalination project planning efforts by providing up-to-date information on 

supply/demand imbalances and information on short-term water supply strategies such as 

cohservation, recycled water, and groundwater management. It is important to first optimize 

the use of existing water supplies and there are other separate efforts currently underway to 

explore and develop those options. However, since they may only be sustainable short-term, it 

is important to pursue a long-term solution for water supply, such as desalination. 

The key stakeholders in a desalination project are water agencies because they are tasked with 

supplying water to customers and potentially investing in such a project. The regional 

infrastructure and/or supply associated with these agencies may also be needed both directly 

WaterSMART: Water Recycling and Desalination Planning, FY 2023 

San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District I 19 � 
Technical Prop,osal & Evaluation Critesria 

and indirectly to make a project feasible. It follows that the DESAL plan, and any resulting 

project, will be most robust if there is wide interest and involvement from the local waterpurveying agencies and their communities. Therefore, a first step that has already been taken 

by the District was asking those water-purveying agencies to adopt resolutions agreeing to be 

.evaluated and participate in development of the DESAL Plan. DESAL plan participants currently 

include: City of Arroyo Grande; Atascadero Mutual Water Company; Avila Beach CSD; Cambria 

CSD; Golden State Water Company; Los Osos CSDr City of Morro Bay; Nipomo CSD; City of Paso 

Robles~ San Miguel CSD; San Miguelito Mutual Water Company; Santa Barbara County; City of 

San Luis Obispo; and Templeton CSD. The District will then. work with designated staff frorn 

those agencies to draft a scope of work for developing the DESAL Plan and approach for 

involving the full spe<;trum of stakeholders, from regulatory agen<;ies to the general public. 

In addition to local stakeholders, the DESAL Plan will require involvement from regulating 

agencies, including the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), Calif.prnia Coastal 

Commission (CCC), Califoroia Department of Fish and Wildlife, Central-Coast Regional Wat~r 

Quality Control Board1 State Land Commission, and National Marine Fisheries Servi~e. 

It should be noted that on August 11, 202-2, Gov·ernor Newsom released a publication called 

Caljfornia's Water Supply Strategy that discusses how the "... State will help streamline and 

expedite permitting to provide clarity andto further desalination projects. By June 2023, the 

SWRCB, CCC, the·DWR, and other state entities w_ill develop criteria for siting of desalination 

facilities along the coast and r.ecommend new standards to facilitate approval." 

The District has a histor; of collaborating with their neighbors and local communities to achieve 

worlting solutions. The DESAL Plan wiH prioritize improving dialogue and relationships with 

persons and entities within and bordering the County and expanding lines of cmmmunication 

witl:l state natural resource offices, water authoriti~s, tribes, and local communities. 

4. Will -the pr'<JposedpJpject in~luqe pub.Ii<! outr.f'..,a(!JJ aQ_d opportunf.ties for (hfl publi~· /'o 

le,QrQ. about. lhe proje.ct? fap.1oin, 

Yes, a communications and outreach plan will be developed, which includes formal and 

informal communication. Throughout development of the DESAL Plan, local stakeholder 

engagement and public involvement is anticipated to be faciiitated by public meetings of the 

WRAC, where regular updates and-opportunities for input will be provided. Public and 

stakeholder involvement will ·be integrated into the decision-making process in a manner that 

ensures education, awareness, balar,ced opportunity to participate, and clear communication 

conduits. Public and stakeholder involvement facilitates overall assimilation of information to 

achieve a more water-aware culture that moves beyond traditional alliances to a more 

comprehensive vision which is realistic in relation to the watersheds in which we live and the 

water resources we share. It is important to recognize barriers to involvement such as remote 

community locations and limited staffing capacity of regiona.I agencies so efforts ·can be made 

to overcome them. The District is fully committed to public engagement throug.t,out the 

planning phase to ensure transparency and keep community members informed and public 

outreach will continue to be an important component as development of the DESAL Plan 

advances. 

WaterSMART: Water Recycling and Desalination Planning, FY 2023 

San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District I 20 

Page 45 of 124 
	


Project Budget 

2.0 Project Budget 

2.1 Funding Plan and Letters of Funding Commitment 

On November 16, 2021, the District Board of Supervisors made Desalination planning a budget 

priority. On October 18, 2022, the District Board of Supervisors authorized staff to proceed 

with developing the DESAL Plan and authorized the Director of Public Works, or Oesignee, to 

pursue grants to offset project costs. Preliminary costs of $50,000 for personnel costs and 

project scope/grant application development have been included in the Fiscal Year 22/23 

budget, and full DESAL Plan costs Will be approved in June 2023 for Fiscal Year 23/24. 

Budget Proposal 

Table 2. Summary of Non.federal and Federal Funding Sources 

Funding Sources 

Non• Federal Entities 

Amount 

San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District 

Non• Federal Subtotal 

$548,410 

$548,410 

REQUESTED Reclamation Funding $548,410 

Table 3. Total Project Budget Proposal 

Budget Item 

Description 

Personnel 

Engineer IV (Yl) 

Engineer IV (Y2) 

Engineer II (Yl) 

Engineer II (Y2) 

Division Manager (Yl) 

Division Manager (Y2) 

Fringe Benefits 1 

$/Unit 

$ 62 

Quantity Quantlly 

Type Total Cost 

200 Hours $ 12,356 

$ 67 200 Hours $ 13,344 

$ 41 300 Hours $ 12,318 -------- --

$ 44 300 Hours $ 13,305 ---------------------

$ 77 175 Hours $13,519 

$ 80 175 Hours $13,925 

Engineer IV 46% 400 Hours $5,438 

-------------- Engineer II 45% 600 Hours --------------- Division Manager 52% 350 Hours 

$5,189 

$7,420 --------------------------------

Travel 

Stakeholder Meetings $ 0.655 450 Mileage $ 295 

WaterSMART: Water Recycling and Desal ination Planning, FY 2023 

San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District I 21 � 
Project 84dget 

Budget Item :O.t_Jantity $/Unit Description Type 

lotal .Cost 

Contractual ------ Consultant (TBD) --- - • -- - -- --

$900,000 1 - ---· --- ----- -· Lump sum ., __ - $ 900,000 

lndireGt 

De minimis 10% $997;108 Lump sum $99,711 

Total Estimated Project Costs 1,096,820 

1. Fringe Benefit percentages were applied to the employee•cost over two years-and a(count for salar.y increases.in 

year 2 .that are shown under the Personnel heading. 

Table 4. T 6tal Projt1d Cost Table 

,SQur~ Amqunt 

C.ost to be reimbursed with the requested Federal funding $548,410 ---- - •• - - Cost to be, paid by the applicant $548,410 -• 

Value of third-party contrib~tior:is N/A ---,....-- - - TOTAL project cost $1,096,820 ... - ·•------~ --.. -----·~·----.....--- - , .. 

. 2.2 Budget Narrative 

PersonheI 

Compensation and wages are,s.t,own in TaQle -3'. The primar.y project manager is the Engineer·IV 

position,.curr:ently held:by Angela Ford, Water Resources Supervising Engjne~r. ThE: project 

manager responsibilities include preparing subco11tracts, managing subcontractors, stakeholder 

coordihation, coo,pleting reports, and. preparing/reviewing deliverables. The District estimates 

400 hour:s of project manc!,gement for the DESAL Plan over the length of the Project. at a rate of 

$62/h.our the first year and $67 the second year. The houdy rate for year two includes-El 3% 

increase which is the average annual increase in compensation for all employees and tne 

specific person~-s anticipated compensation step increase. The hourily rat~ is for the,person 

cur.renffy assigned. Compensation ·rates are consistently applied to federal and non-federal 

activities. 

The District's Engirteer II is responsible for supporting the project manager:. It is estimated that 

the Engineer'II wi!I spen_d approximately 600 hours per year supporting the DESA!c Plan over the 

length of the Project at a rate of $41/hour the first year·and $44/hour the second year. The 

hourly rate for year two includ~s a 3% incfease which is the avera~e annual increase in 

compensation for all employees and the specific person's anticipated cornpertsation step 

increase. The hourly rate is for the person currently assigned. Compensation rates are 

consistently applied to Federal and non-Federal activities. 

WaterSMART: Water Recycling and Des a 1-i n-ation P-lanning-, FY 2023 

San Lui·s Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservatio-n District I 2·2 

Page 47 of 124 
	


Project Budget 

Management oversight for the Project is the District's Division Manager position. Management 

support includes ensuring the project is being developed in accordance with District Board of 

Supervisors' policy. The District estimates that the Division Manager will spend 350 hours on 

the DESAL Plan project for an estimated total of $13,519 the first year and $13-,925 the second 

year. The hourly rate for year two includes a 3% increase which is the average annual increase 

f n compensation for all employees. The hourly rate is for the person currently assigned and the 

person is at the top compensation step already. Compensation rates are consistently applied to 

Federal and non-Federal activities. 

Fringe Benefits 

Fringe benefits include health insurance which includes dental and vision, life insurance, 

retirement contributions which include social security and Medicare, and other benefits like 

workers' compensation, state unemployment insurance, and employee assistance programs. 

Rates and calculations are provided in Table 3, and are 46% of the employee's total cost on the 

project over two years for an Engineer IV, 45% for an Engineer II and 52% for a Division 

Manager. 

Travel 

Expenses for traveling for project supervision is included in Table 3 and Includes a 0.655/mile 

cost for an estimated 15 meetings at an average of 30 miles round trip. 

Equipment 

No equipment costs are anticipated for preparing the DESAL Plan. 

Supplies 

No supply costs are anticipated for preparing the DESAL Plan. 

Contractual 

Contract expenses include planning, public 01.1treach, and program management. Activities 

includes stakeholder outreach and coordination, regulatory outreach, conceptual layouts, cost 

estimating and preparing reports and other deliverables. The contractual cost estimate ts based 

on similar planning efforts the District has conducted. 

Construction 

No construction costs are required for preparing the DESAL Plan. 

Other 

Other expenses associated with the DESAL Plan include the following assumed reporting 

requirements for the grant which are accounted for in personnel and contract costs: 

• Semiannual Financial Reports 

• Annual Performance Reports 

• Final Performance Report 

WaterSMART: Water Recycling and Desalination Planning, FY 2023 

San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District I 23 � 
Project Budget 

Indirect Costs 

A 10% de minim is. rate was applied to the modified direct cost to account for indirec-t costs 

associated with clerical, administrative and other costs accounted for in th� 'District's 

accounting system. 

Total Costs

20. Of this, the District is 

committed to a e;ost share of $548,410 (50% of the total eligible project <msts). Expenses will be 

covered directly by the District and/or from other non-federal funding sources secured for the 

pr:oject. 

The total eligible cost of the DESAL Plan under this NOFO is $1,096,8

We respectfully request $548,410 from .USBR unde"r this NOFO. This represents 50% of the 

eligibte Federal cost share. Please see Table 2 for the Proportion of Non-Federal Funding. 

WaterSMART: Water Ret;ycli ng a(ld Desalination P lanning, FY 2023 

Sa n l1,1is Obispo County Flood Co ntrol and W.ater Conservatio n District I 24 

Page 49 of 124 
	


Environmental & Cultural Resources Compliance, 

Required Permits or Approvals & Statements 

3.0 Environmental & Cultural Resources Compliance 

Environmental and cultural resources compliance is not required for the pre-construction 

activities proposed for the grant. The Project will not complete CEQA-plus environmental 

documentation as part of the grant funded work. If an EIR were to be prepared, it would be 

prepared as a "CEQA-Plus" document to satisfy National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) 

requirements to be considered for federal funding, Because the EIR would be prepared to 

include sections required under NEPA, federal agencies could use this EIR and other NEPArequired supporting documents as a basis for decision making for the proposed action. 

4.0 Required Permits or Approva.ls 

No permits or approvals are required for the pre-construction activities proposed for the grant. 

The Project will require permits and approvals that will be identified during the grant funded 

work. 

5.0 Statements 

5.1 Overlap or Duplication of Effort Statement 

The proposal submitted for consideration under this program does not in any way duplicate any 

proposal or project that has been submitted for funding consideration to any other potential 

funding source-whether it be Federal or non-Federal. 

5.2 Conflict of Interest Disclosure Statement 

In accordance with 2 CFR §1402.112, the District is providing a statement that no actual or 

potential conflict of interest exists at the time of this application submission. 

WaterSMART: Water Recycling and Desalination Planning, FY 2023 

San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District I 25 �
Refere·ntes 

6.0 References 

Bureau of Reclamation. (2023, February 6), California-Great Basin. Retrieved from 

https://Www .usbr.gov /mp/cvp/ 

California Department of Water Resources. (2018, July 9). A Beginner's Guide to the 

Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta . . Retrieved from .http;//sacdeltaguide.atavist.com/ 

California Department of Water Resources. (2023, February 6). Delta Conveyance. Retrieved 

from https://water.ca.gov/deltaconveyance 

California State Water Resource Control Board. (n.d.). Drinking Water Needs Assessment 

Dashboard. Retrieved from 

https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/drinking_ water /certlic/drinkingwater /2022 .html 

County of San L~is Obispo. (2023, February 5). About the County. Retrieved from 

https://www.slocounty.ca.gov /Depa rtmen ts/County-Administrative-Off ice r / About-theCounty.aspx 

Nature Climate Chan~e. (2022, March). Rapid intensification of the emerging southwestern 

North American megadrougt in 2020-2021. Retrieved from 

https://www.nature .com/a rticles/s41558-022-01290-z .epdf 

New York Times. (2023, January Mi). Despite Rain Storms, California Is Still in Drought. 

San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District. (2019). San Luis Obispo 

County 2019 Integrated Regional Water Management Plan. 

State Water ~esources Control Board. (2022). 2022 Drinking Water Needs Assessment. 

'United States Bureau:of Reclamatiefn. (2021, February 8). Central Valley Project. Retrieved from 

USBR.gov: https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index/php 7id=506 

WaterSMART: Water Recycling and Des a Iination Planning, FY 2-023 

San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District I REF - 1 

Page 51 of 124 
	


Official Resolution 

Official Resolution 

• October 18, 2022 Resolution is attached which authorizes District staff to proceed with 

developing the DESAL Plan. 

• Due to the timing of the Board meetings, the executed Official Resolution authorizing 

the Director of Public Works, or Designee, as the authorized representative to prepare, 

review, approve and file an application and execute agreement(s) for the U.S 

Department of Interior Bureau of Reclamation WaterSMART: Water Recycling and 

Desalination Planning Funding Opportunity will be provided within 60 days of the 

application deadline (April 29, 2023). A copy of the Draft Resolution is attached. 

WaterSMART: Water Recycling and Desalination Planning, FY 2023 

San Luis Obispo Co unty Flood Control and Water Conservation District J A �
	


DocuSlgn Envelope ID; 49AF91D6-8697-463D•B968•7BED22C11886 

RESOLUTION NO. 11383 (2023 SERIES) 

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS 

OBISPO, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO 

PARTICIPATION IN THE SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY REGIONAL 

DESALINATION EXECUTABLE SOLUTION AND LOGISTICS (DESAL} 

PLAN 

WHEREAS, adequate water for the people, economy, and environment in San 

Luis Obispo County, including the City of San Luis Obispo, is needed in perpetuity; and 

WHEREAS, limitations surrounding use of the existing water supplies are 

increasing in the San Luis Obispo region, including limitations on groundwater use and 

transfers, limitations on surface water diversion, emergence of existing pollutant 

awareness, and State policies that lead to water system consolidation mandates; and 

WHEREAS, water use efficiency practices, low impact development. stormwater 

capture and recycled water programs have been implemented to help extend the limited 

water supplies but are insufficient to overcome regional long-term shortages and cannot 

be relied upon to sustainably meet future additional needs and maintain a reasonable 

quality of life ih the San Luis Obispo region; and 

WHEREAS, despite Statewide conservation efforts which have reduced per capita 

consumption from 231 gallons per day to 146 gallons per day over the last 25 years in 

California1. and the City of San Luis Obispo's current per capita water use rate is 97 

gallons per day, San Luis Obispo County remains highly vulnerable to water shortages 

due to its isolated location and dependence on rainfall; and 

WHEREAS, the future reliability of existing water supplies and infrastructure that 

depend on rainfall, such as groundwater and surface water reservoirs and streams, will 

be affected by changing hydrologic patterns, land use, environmental regulations, 

population growth, and aging infrastructure; and 

WHEREAS, water-purveying agencies in the County of San Luis Obispo, including 

the City of San Luis Obispo, are best positioned to develop and utilize water supply 

projects that will reduce dependence on groundwater and surface water; and 

WHEREAS, due to proximity to the ocean, and future water supply quantity, 

quality, and reliability needs, the 2019 San Luis Obispo County Integrated Regional Water 

Management Plan and 2012 Countywide Master Water Report identify desalination as a 

water resource management strategy to pursue; and 

WHEREAS, while desalination can provide a local and reliable water supply for 

decades to come, desalination projects take a long time to plan for, permit, finance, and 

construct; and 

1 https;//www.ppic.org/publication/water-use-in-california/ 

R 11383 �
DocuSign Envelope ID: 49AF91 D6-8697-4630·8968-7BED22C 118B6 

Resolution No. 11383 (2023 Series) Page 2 

WHEREAS, the San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation 

District intend~ to develop the DESAL Plan over the next several years via a public 

process that, when complete, will ultimately contain balanced recommendations related 

to responsibly advancing the implementation of a regional desalination project that will 

benefit the people, ~conomy and environment in the County, including the City of San 

Luis Obispo; and 

WHEREAS, the San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conserv.ation 

District will be the lead agency and contract adrninistrator for tt.ie DESAL Plan and is 

requesting tnat water-purveying agencies that wish to be evaluate this source during the 

developmenr·of the DESAL Plan adopt resolutions approving participation; and 

WHEREAS, the City of San Luis Obispo's participation enables the County of San 

Luis· Obispo to include the City of San Luis Obispo as a potential J:>artner ih the planni_ng, 

evaluation, and development of the regional OESAL Plan, and any future commitment~ 

and actions by the City beyond participation in the development of the DESAL Plan would 

be subject to the full and independent discretion of the City Council; and 

WHEREAS, the City of San Luis Obispo's participation in the development of the 

regional DESAL Plan is consistent with General Plan Water and Wastewater Element 

Goal A.2.1 to "ensure a long-term, reliable water supply to meet both current and future 

waler demand associated with development envisioned ·by the General Plan" and Policy 

A.2.2.1 (Multi-source Water Supply), which states that the "City shall utilize multiple water 

resources to meet its water supply needs" because the purpose of the DESAL Plan is to 

provide a local, reliable, and sustainable water supply for the San Luis Obispo region 

including the City of San Luis Obispo; and 

WHEREAS, the City of San Luis Obi.spa's participation in the development qf the 

regional DESAL Plan is consistent with General Plan Water and Wastewater Element 

Program A.-2.3.1 to "work cooperatively on regional water issues and water resource 

planning." 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City .of San Luis 

Obispo as that: 

SECTION 1. The City of San Luis Obispo wishes to be included in the 

development of the DESAL Plan and to be evaluated as a potential partner in .such a 

regional desalination project in the future in order to inform our decision makers and 

constituents. 

SECTION 2. The Utilities Director, or their designee, of the City of San Luis Obispo 

is hereby authorized and directed to participate in the development of the DESAL Plan, 

and to bring forward related recommendations for City Council consideration. This action 

does not authorize any funding towards preparation of the DESAL Plan. 

R 11383 

Page 79 of 124 
	


OocuSlgn Envelope ID: 49AF9106-8697-4630-B968-7BED22C11886 

Resolution No. 11383 (2023 Series) Page 3 

SECTION 3. Environmental Determination. The subject action is statutorily 

exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to CEQA 

Guidelines Section 15262 (Feasibility and Planning Studies), becausethe action is limited 

to the City's participation in planning and evaluation efforts associated with the 

development of the DESAL Plan and would not result in any physical change to the 

environment, does not commit any funds to any physical improvements or investments, 

and does not create any new water supplies for the City or region that are known at this 

time that could reasonably and foreseeably induce growth. 

Upon motion of Council Member Pease, seconded by Council Member 

Shoresman, and on the following roll call vote: 

AYES: Council Member Francis, Pease, Shoresman, and Mayor Stewart 

NOES: Vice Mayor Marx 

ABSENT: None 

The foregoing resolution was adopted this 10th day of January 2023. 

Mayor Erica A Stewart 

ATTEST: OocuSlgnod by: 

Jell,, ..... \\ ,.,..._lt- ~ B9aBADBF9C76436 

Teresa Purrington 

City Clerk 

r;~ 

APPROVED AS TO FORM: 

~ 784AEA5BC1i8C44F 

J. Christine Dietrick 

City Attorney 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF. I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the 

City of San Luis Obispo, California, on 1112 2/ 023 I 10: 45 AM PST 

OoeuSlg

ju.},,.,._ '1~~-lt--

ntd by: 

~ B98BADBF9C711436 

Teresa Purrington 

City Clerk 

R 11383 �
ALEX PADILLA CALIFORNIA 

(202) 224-3553 

PADILLA.SENATE.GOV tinittd ~tarts ~matt 

WASHINGTON, DC 20510 

COMMITTEES: 

BUDGET 

ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS 

HOMELAND SECURITY AND 

GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS 

JUDICIARY 

RULES AND ADMINISTRATION 

 

 

 

 

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 4 W 685 4 45 W88 8 4 64 869 4 86 4 4 46 6 Th H 644 DS S8 

 

 486 4 64 869 W88 8 

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ALEX PADILLA CALIFORNIA 

(202) 224-3553 

PADILLA.SENATE.GOV tinittd ~tarts ~matt 

WASHINGTON, DC 20510 

COMMITTEES: 

BUDGET 

ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS 

HOMELAND SECURITY AND 

GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS 

JUDICIARY 

RULES AND ADMINISTRATION 

 

 

 

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COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO 

GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY 

Blafne Reely Director 

The Honorable Camille Touton 

Commissioner 

Bureau of Reclamation 

1849 C Street, NW 

Washington, DC 20240-0001 

February 22, 2023 

Subject: WaterSMART Water Recyclrng and Desalination Planning Grant 

Endorsement, Desalination Executable Solution and Logistics (DESAL) Plan 

Dear Commissioner Touton: 

I write this letter in strong support of the application by the San Luis Obispo County Flood 

Control and Water Conservation District (District) for Federal funding from the WaterSMART 

program for Water Recycling and Desalination Planning, administered through the United 

States Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Department of the Interior. The District Is requesting 

funding to support the planning and outreach efforts that will support development of the 

Desalination Executable Solution and Logistics (DESAL) Plan. When complete, the DESAL Plan 

will contain balanced recommendations related to responsibly advancing the 

Implementation of a regional desalination project that will benefit the people, economy and 

environment in San Luis Obispo County (County}. 

In the County, existing conditions and future projections indicate that water security Is 

decreasing as demands increase and available supplies and their reliability decrease. Over 

the past decade, the District Board of Supervisors (Board) has expressed interest in 

desalination as a water supply opportunity and, on November 16, 2021, as the statewide 

drought continued, the Board identified water resilience and desalination as a top priority. 

Desalination is a drought proof solution for current and projected water supply imbalances 

and could be scalable such that its capacity could be expanded as future needs Increase. 

Factors that contribute to the feasibility of a desalination project Include, but are not limited 

to, permitting, funding, community support, and environmental protection. The District has 

coordinated with the Countywide Water Action Team (CWAT), an informal working group ,of 

staff from entitles across the county with water supply planning responsibilities, to create a 

5-phase approach to develop a desalination project. The District is nearing the end of Phase 

1: DESAL Plan Agreement Phase, after getting Board direction to proceed on path to desal, 

obtaining resolutions from agencies agreeing to be evaluated In the DESAL Plan, 

developing/vetting the project scope of work, establishing a stakeholder and public 

engagement process, and seeking/pursuing grant opportunities. The scope of work pursuing 

County of San Luis Obispo Government Center 

1055 Monterey Street I San Luis Obispo, CA 93408 I (P) 805-781 -5000 I (F) 805·781 5023 

1nfo@s!ocounty.ca.gov I slocounty.ca.gov �
Federal funding is Phase 2: DESAL Plan Development Phase, where a consultant is engaged 

to work with the Distrfct, participating agencies, the public, and various stakeholders (e.g., 

permitting agencies) to identify the most optImal desalination project and next steps for 

making it areality. 

The DESAL Plan has the following goqls, w.hich are anticipated to evolve a.~ the project 

proceeds in accordance 'A!ith findings at each milestone: 

Identify, vet and analyze concept alternatives 

Rank' and select optimal desalination project(s) 

Develop scope for Project Development Phases 

A new, droug_ht proof, local water stipply will be necessary to sustain the County long-term. 

Desalination is the longest-term and most resilient strategy since it leverages a renewable, 

almost Inexhaustible resource that would not be diminished by in_s_ufficienr rainfall or water 

conservation efforts. The funding request included in the District's application is critical for 

the project's success. District funding wfll be leveraged, and potential state and federal funds 

will be pur.sued, to.take the next critical steps for the DESAL Plan. 

I support the effortsbeing undertaken by the District to advance the DESAl Plan and improve 

water sustainability for the region. 

Slncerely, 

If there are any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me at 805-781-4206 (Office) or 

80S-280-1051 (Cell). email Is 111(• lj - · j .,• • 

COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO 

Blaine T,. Reely, Ph_D, PE 

Director - Groundwater Sustainability 

County of San Luis Obispo Government Center 

1055 Monterey Street I San Luis Obispo. CA 93408 I (Pl 805-78"1-5000 I (F) 805·781 -5023 

info@slocounty.ca.gov I '>locounty.ca.gov 

Page 103 of 124 
• •• ••• . • . • . • . • . 

Golden State 

Water Company A Subtidi11y of Ame,k1n St, tu W1tet Compo1 ny 

November 29, 2022 

John Diodati 

Public Works Director, SLO County 

976 Osos Street, Ste. 207 

San Luis Obispo, CA 93408 

Dear Mr. Diodati, 

Re: Letter of Support for Participation in the Desalination Executable Solution and Logistics 

(DESAL) Plan 

Over the past decade, the County of San Luis Obispo Board of Supervisors (Board) has expressed 

interest in desalination as a water supply opportunity and, on November 16, 2021, as the 

statewide drought continues, the Board identified water resilience and desalination as a top 

priority. 

Desalination is a long-term, resilient strategy since it leverages a renewable, almost 

inexhaustible resource that would not be diminished by insufficient rainfall or water 

conservation efforts. Desalination is a drought proof solution for current and projected water 

supply imbalances caused by strained alternative supplies, increased demand and could be 

scalable such that its capacity could be expanded as future needs Increase. 

On October 18, 2022 the Board approved staff to proceed with developing the DESAL Plan in 

coordination with other participating water-purveying agencies and stakeholders. The Board 

authorized the Director of Public Works, ordesignee, to pursue grants to offset project costs 

and return to the Board of Supervisors for grant award approval. County staff has coordinated 

with the Countywide Water Action Team (CWAT), an informal working group of staff from 

entities across the county with water supply planning responsibilities, to develop a five-phase 

approach to developing a DESAL Plan and project. 

Golden State Water Company is in support of the development of the DESAL Plan, wishes to 

participate in the informal working group, and to be evaluated as a potential partner in such a 

regional desalination project in the future in order to inform our decision makers and 

customers. 

Sincerely, 

.,..,...,,wo-ii,, ... ,, 

Mark Zimmer ~"';<',.,,"_,~, ... ,.,,, 

- Mark Zimmer 

General Manager, Coastal District 

�	
Golden 

State Water Company 

Cc: Dave Schickling, Vice President of Operations, Golden State Water Company 

Toby Moore, Water Resource Manager, Golden State Water Company 

2330 A Street, Suite A, Santa Maria, CA 93455 Tel: (805) 349-7407 Fax: (805) 349-7617 www.gswater.com 
JIMMY PANETTA 

191 H D ISTRICT, C ALIFORNIA 

I"'~ ....__ ,: 

l 

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... . ''-',.,; ... 

<ltongress of tbt illnittb ~tates 

J,ouse of £.epresentnt0.1e1' 

Wnsbtnoton, :ZS~ 20515 

February 23, 2023 

The Honorable Camille Touton 

Commissioner 

Bureau of Reclamation 

1849 C Street, NW 

Washington, DC 20240-0001 

Dear Commissioner Touton: 

I write in strong support of the application submitted by the San Luis Obispo County Flood Control 

and Water Conservation District (District) for a WaterSMART Water Recycling and Desalination 

Planning grant. This grant will support planning and outreach efforts aimed at developing the 

Desalination Executable Solution and Logistics (DESAL) Plan. The DESAL Plan will contain 

balanced recommendations related to responsibly advancing the implementation of a regional 

desalination project that will benefit the people, economy, and environment in San Luis Obispo 

County (County). 

Reliable projections that indicate water security is decreasing as demands increase and available 

supplies and their reliability decrease. Over the past decade1 the District Board of Supervisors 

(Board) has expressed interest in desalination as a water supply opportunity. On November 16, 

2021 , as the statewide drought continued, the Board identified water resilience and desalination as 

a top priority. Desalination is a drought-proof solution for current and projected water supply 

imbalances and could be scalable so capacity could be expanded as future needs increase. 

Factors that contribute to the feasibility of a desalination project include, but are not limited to, 

permitting, funding, community support, and environmental protection. The District has 

coordinated with the Countywide Water Action Team (CWAT), an informal working group of 

staff from entities across the county with water supply planning responsibilities, to create a 5-phase 

approach to develop a desalination project. The District is nearing the end of Phase 1: DESAL 

Plan Agreement Phase, after getting Board direction to proceed on path to desalination, obtaining 

resolutions from agencies agreeing to be evaluated in the DESAL Plan, developing and vetting the 

project scope of work, establishing a stakeholder and public engagement process, and seeking and 

pursuing grant opportunities. The scope of work pursuing federal funding is Phase 2: DESAL Plan 

Development Phase, where a consultant is engaged to work with the District, participating 

agencies, the public, and various stakeholders (e.g., permitting agencies) to identify the most 

�optimal 	
 desalination project and next steps for making it a reality. 

WASHINGTON, OC O FFICE 

3 04 CANNON HOUSE O FFICE BUILDING 

WASHINGTON, DC 20515 

P HONE 202- 225 -2861 

FM 202-225-6791 
The DESAL Plan has the following goals, which are anticipated to evolve as the project proceeds 

in accordance with findings at each milestone: 

·• Identify, vet, and analyze concept alternatives; 

• Rank and select optimal desalination project(s); and 

• Develop scope for Project Development Phases. 

A new, drought-proof, local water supply is necessary in San Luis Obispo County. Desalination is 

appears to be the longest-term and most resilient strategy because it leverages a renewable and 

almost inexhaustible resource in the Pacific Ocean. The funding request included in the District's 

application is critical fot the proje<;f s success. 

I support the efforts being undertaken by the District to advance the DESAL Plan and improve 

water sustainability for the region. Please •givethis application your highest consideration, and do 

not hesitate to contact me about any ques.tions on this matter. 

Sincerely, 

Jimmy Panetta 

U.S. Representative 

19th Congressional District, California 

Page 107 of 124 
COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION 

AND INFRASTRUCTURE 

COA~T GUARO AIID MARITIME. TRANSPO~UT10N, R•Nk1NG MEMBER 

AvtA110P4 

HlGHWAVS AND I RANSIT 

COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES 

STRATEGIC FOIICES 

T ACTIC.\L AJR ,.,_0 L• ND fORCB 

COMMITTEE. ON AGRICULTURE 

GENERAL FARM co-oornES, f!JSK 

MIINAGEMEIH, AN0 CREOll ~alub '19. Q!arbajal 

24t1J munnct, ( alifornrn 

February 24, 2023 

The Honorable Camille Touton 

Commissioner 

Bureau of Reclamation 

1849 C Street, NW 

Washington, DC 20240-0001 

SUBJECT: WaterSMART Water Recycling and Desalination Planning Grant 

Endorsement, Desalination Executable Solution and Logistics (DESAL) Plan 

Dear Commissioner Touton: 

I write in strong support of the application submitted by the San Luis Obispo County Flood Control 

and Water Conservation District (District) for a WaterSMART Water Recycling and Desalination 

Planning grant. This grant will support planning and outreach efforts aimed at developing the 

Desalination Executable Solution and Logistics (DESAL) Plan. The DESAL Plan will contain 

balanced recommendations related to responsibly advancing the implementation of a regional 

desalination project that will benefit the people, economy, and environment in San Luis Obispo 

County (County). 

It is my understanding that reliable projections indicate water security is decreasing as demands 

increase and available supplies and their reliability decrease. Over the past decade, the District 

Board of Supervisors (Board) has expressed interest in desalination as a water supply opportunity. 

On November 16, 2021 , as the statewide drought continued, the Board identified water resilience 

and desalination as a top priority. Desalination is a drought-proof solution for current and projected 

water supply imbalances and could be scalable so capacity could be expanded as future needs 

increase. 

Factors that contribute to the feasibi lity of a desalination project include, but are not limited to, 

permitting, funding, community support, and environmental protection. I understand the District 

has coordinated with the Countywide Water Action Team (CW AT), an informal working group of 

staff from entities across the county with water supply planning responsibilities, to create a 5-phase 

approach to develop a desalination project. The District is nearing the end of Phase 1: DESAL 

�Plan 	
Agreement Phase, after getting Board direction to proceed on path to desal, obtaining 

resolutions from agencies agreeing to be evaluated in the DESAL Plan, developing/vetting the 

project scope of work, establishing a stakeholder and public engagement process, and 

2B I Rueu,m House OfflCf BUILDING 

W A5H1NGTON, OC 20515 

(202) 225 l601 

125 f De. La Guerra St., 

Suitel038 

Santa Barbara CA 93101 

(805) 730 1710 

141 1 h\AR§H St., SUITE 205 

S,N Luis 0 81SPO, CA 01 

j805) 546 8 348 

CARBAJAL.HOUSE.GOV 
seeking/pursuing grant opportunities. The scope of work ·pursuing federal funding is Phase 2: 

DESAL Plan Development Phase, where a consultant is engaged to work with the District, 

participating agencies, the public, -and various stakeholders (e.g., pennitting agencies) to identify 

the mo~t optimal desalination project :and next steps for making it a reality. 

The DESAL Plan has the following goals, which are anticipated to evolve as the project pr.:oceeds 

in accordance with findin&s at.each milestone: 

• Identify, vet, and' analyze concept alternatives 

• Rank and select optimal desalination project(s) 

• Develop scope for Project Development Phases 

A new, drought-l)roof, local water supply is necessary in San Luis Obispo County. Desalination is 

the longest-tenn and most resilient strategy because it leverages a renewable, a lmost inexhaustible 

resource ~ the Pacific Ocean. The funding request included in the Drstrict's application is critical 

for the project' s success. 

I support the efforts being u_ndertaken by th_e District to advance the DESAL Plan and improve 

water sustainability for the region, consistent with all relevant rules and regulations. Thank you 

for considering-this application for a WaterSMART grant. 

Sincerely, 

~O.tl.f 

Salud Carbajal 

Member of Congress 

Page 109 of 124 
ALEX PADILLA 

110• l J• J\IPi-1 

I •JI lfhl 1,h 

WASHINGTON. DC 20510 

February 22, 2023 

The Honorable Deb Haaland 

Secretary 

U.S. Department of the Interior 

1849 C Street NW 

Washington, DC 20240 

Dear Secretary Haaland, 

I am writing this letter to express my support for the grant application of San Luis Obispo 

County Flood Control and Conservation District (The District) to the United States Department of 

the Interior's WaterSMART Water Recycling and Desalinization Planning grant (Planning Grant) 

to draft a plan for a desalinization water project in San Luis Obispo County. This grant will 

support planning and outreach efforts aimed at developing the Desalination Executable Solution 

and Logistics (DESAL) Plan. The DESAL Plan wil1 contain balanced recommendations related to 

responsibly advancing the implementation of a regional desalination project that will benefit the 

people, economy, and environment in San Luis Obispo County (County). 

It is my understanding that reliable projections indicate water security is decreasing as 

demands increase and available supplies and their reliability decrease. Over the past decade, the 

District Board of Supervisors (Board) has expressed interest in desalination as a water supply 

opportunity. On November 16, 2021, as the statewide drought continued, the Board identified 

water resil.ience and desalination as a top priority. Desalination is a drought-proof solution for 

current and projected water supply imbalances and could be scalable so capacity could be 

expanded as future needs increase. 

Factors that contribute to the feasibility of a desalination project include, but are not limited 

to, pennitting, funding, community support, and environmental protection. I understand the 

District has coordinated with the Countyw.ide Water Action Team (CWAT), an informal working 

group of staff from entities across the county with water supply planning responsibilities, to create 

a 5-phase approach to develop a desalination project. The District is nearing the end of Phase 1: 

DESAL Plan Agreement Phase, after getting Board direction to proceed on path to desal, obtaining 

resolutions from agencies agreeing to be evaluated in the DESAL Plan, developing/vetting the 

project scope of work, establishing a stakeholder and public engagement process, and 

seeking/pursuing grant opportunities. The scope of work pursuing federal funding is Phase 2: 

DESAL Plan Development Phase, where a consultant is engaged to work with the District, 

participating agencies, the public, and various stakeholders (e.g., permitting agencies) to identify 

the most optimal desalination project and next steps for making it a reality. 

�	


~OMMo n HS 

8UOGET 

ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WOR~S 

HUMHANIJ s ~,uR1 I Y ANO bOVERNMENTAL AffAIRS 

JUOICIAR~ 

HULES AND AOMINIS lfl.t.T10N 
AlEX PADI LLA co,,,0.111 n ff:$ 

BUOGfT 

f.NVIAONMFNT • NO PIJ9l1C Wt)RKS 

ltlnitcd $totes iScnatc HOME:lANOSECURlfV ANU 

GOV£Af'JMEN1"Al. AFFAIRS

JUOIClAAY 

rtlJLES ANO AQM INJSTRA f10N WA$HINGTO!'I. DC 20510 

The Planning Grant works to implement programs to increase water supply to areas that 

experience drought conditions. The Central Coast ofCalifornia, where San Luis Obispo County 

is located, routinely experiences severe drought conditions that threatens the regions agricultural 

economy and puts in peril the viability ofmuch ofthe population. Developing the DESAL Plan 

will create a framework to provide a reliable wat~r source for the area and stabilize the economy 

of the region. 

For all the aforementioned reasons, I respectfully request your full and fair consideration 

ofThe Districts grant application consistent with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations. 

Please ~eep. my office informed ofthe status ofthis application, and if I can be offurther 

assistance, do not hesitate to contact my Senior Field Representative, Margaret Arechiga, at 

(559) 509-0222. Thank you for your attention and consideration. 

Respectfllny submitted, 

ALEX PADILLA 

United States Senator 

Page 111 of 124