Approve Temporary Well Sharing, Water Line, and Access Easement Agreement with PAI Hawk Creek Ranch LLC to purchase up to 80 acre-feet (AF) of water as needed for the Wild Wings CSA property for the purposes of irrigation during Summer/Fall 2022. (No general fund impact) (Echiburu/Villa)

Approve Temporary Well Sharing, Water Line, and Access Easement Agreement with PAI Hawk Creek Ranch LLC to purchase up to 80 AF of water as needed for the Wild Wings CSA property for the purposes of irrigation during Summer/Fall 2022.

The Wild Wings County Service Area (CSA) is a rural community that depends on two groundwater wells to provide potable drinking water to its 338 residences: Pintail (primary well for residential/domestic use) and Canvasback (used primarily for irrigation).  The Canvasback well is used primarily for irrigation due to State of California, Department of Drinking Water maximum arsenic contaminant levels.  Due to the drought conditions, Canvasback went dry in June 2021. The County was able to replace the Canvasback pump to serve the community in an emergency if the Pintail well fails for any reason, but required an additional water supply for irrigation purposes.  The County entered into a Temporary Well Sharing, Water Line, and Access Easement Agreement, approved by the Board of Supervisors on September 13, 2021, to provide a supplemental water source for irrigation in the Wild Wings CSA through December 2, 2021 to preserve Canvasback for backup domestic use in the event Pintail failed.   After consultation with Supervisorial District 3, Manager of Natural Resources, County Counsel’s office, and the Wild Wings CSA Advisory Board, this option was determined to be the best option with the least potential impact on groundwater resources while longer-term solutions are evaluated.  The County ended up purchasing 30 acre-feet (AF) of water from the neighboring property owner for $260 per AF in 2021, which was less than the 35 AF originally estimated due to conservation efforts and improved groundwater levels after the harvest season ended.  

To address the long-term water supply needs for the Wild Wings CSA, the County has secured grant funding to drill a new well to provide an additional domestic water supply for the Wild Wings community.  However, the new well will likely not be completed until 2023 and based on current water levels and continued extreme drought conditions, the Wild Wings CSA may not have sufficient well water to irrigate the CSA Property through the Summer of 2022 while preserving Canvasback for emergency domestic use.  As a result, the County has negotiated a new temporary well sharing agreement with the neighboring property owner to provide an alternative irrigation water supply for Wild Wings from June 1, 2022 through November 1, 2022 at the same price of $260 per AF up to a maximum of 80 AF with the understanding that the County's right to draw water from the Well during the term of the temporary agreement is subject to the neighboring owner's priority use of the well for irrigation of its property. If approved, the County will transport the neighboring well water to the CSA Property via the Moore Canal instead of an above-ground water line. 

In addition, the County and the Wild Wings community are stepping up conservation efforts and enforcement to minimize the need for such supplemental water.  The Wild Wings CSA has conserved 20% as compared to 2020 usage.  The Board also declared a Level 3 drought response on April 12, 2022 (Resolution No. 22-46), which limits property owners to watering just two days per week, among other mandatory conservation measures, with a goal of achieving a 30% reduction in water use.

County Counsel, Wild Wings CSA Advisory Committee, Division of Natural Resources, Yolo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District