Santa Cruz Water Rights Project

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Water rights control how the Santa Cruz Water Department operates. Because they were granted more than 50 years ago, they are out-of-date with current needs and lack flexibility that would ensure the Water Department can provide supply reliability, protect fish populations and partner with neighboring water agencies to improve regional water supply reliability.

Guide to the Santa Cruz Water Rights Project (SCWRP)

Guia Comunitaria

Project update, January 31, 2022: A San Lorenzo Valley Water District (SLVWD) protest of our State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) water rights petitions is in the process of being dismissed after successful completion of a resolution agreement between the City and SLVWD. Staff are now meeting with SWRCB representatives to lay out the strategy for final water rights petitions approval and hope to have that completed by the end of calendar year 2022.

donna swrcb

Picture: Former Santa Cruz Mayor, Donna Meyers, giving testimony at the State Water Resources Control Board on the Santa Cruz Water Rights Project

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Santa Cruz Water Rights Overview

The City is working with the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to revise the City's decades-old water rights. Revising the water rights will provide more options for where and how the City can use its existing appropriative rights. Specifically:

Improve the flexibility with which the City operates the water system so the community’s drinking water needs can be met while providing flow conditions that are protective of coho salmon and steelhead.

Provide protective flow conditions for coho salmon and steelhead within all streams from which the City diverts water, as agreed to with state and federal regulators.

Improve the City’s limited water storage through passive recharge of regional aquifers (via water transfers and exchanges), and active recharge of regional aquifers (via aquifer storage and recovery (ASR)).

Allow underground storage of surface water in groundwater basins for water supply and to protect groundwater quality from seawater intrusion.

Remove potential operational constraints on the City’s existing diversions.

Allow additional time for the City to fully reach beneficial use under existing water-right permits at Felton.

Improve fish screening at Felton and Tait Diversions, and improve fish passage at the Felton Diversion.

Address reliability and operational deficits at Tait Diversion and the Coast Pump Station.

Implement state policy favoring integrated regional water management by involving the City and other local agencies in "significantly improving" the "reliability of water supplies" by "diversifying water portfolios, taking advantage of local and regional opportunities, and considering a broad variety of water management strategies".

Project Timeline

November 2018 - Initial Study/Notice of Preparation were released for a 30 day public review period. Two public scoping meetings, in Santa Cruz and Ben Lomond, were held during the public review period.
February 2021 – California State Water Resources Control Board publicly noticed the City’s water rights petitions for change for a 30 day public review period.
June/July 2021 - Draft Environmental Impact Report was released and circulated for a 45 day public review period. Two additional public meetings were conducted.
November/December 2021 - Final Environmental Impact Report was made publicly available. The Final Environmental Impact Report was certified by Santa Cruz City Council on December 14.
2022 - Expected action by California State Water Resources Control Board on the City's water rights petitions for change

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Links

Environmental Review links:

https://www.cityofsantacruz.com/Home/Components/BusinessDirectory/BusinessDirectory/126/2089

Central California Coast Coho Recovery Plan:

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/resource/document/recovery-plan-evolutionarily-significant-unit-central-california-coast-coho

Central California Coast Steelhead Recovery Plan:

https://media.fisheries.noaa.gov/dam-migration/2016-multispecies-recovery_plan-vol4.pdf

California State Water Resources Control Board Water Rights Information:

https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/waterrights/board_info/

Watershed background links:

http://www.cityofsantacruz.com/government/city-departments/water/watershed/majors-watershed