In May 2009, the State Board adopted a Recycled Water Policy to move aggressively towards a sustainable water future by encouraging local and regional water agencies in the direction of clean, abundant, local water for California. The Policy emphasizes the need to increase the reuse of recycled water, expand water conservation efforts, improve infrastructure maintenance, and additional capture of stormwater, including dry-weather urban runoff. The South Orange County Wastewater Authority (SOCWA) led the regional stakeholder effort to develop the SNMP for South Orange County, specifically for the San Juan Creek Watershed. As a part of a team, our groundwater experts performed the technical analyses and design of the SNMP. The work performed included:
- Characterization of the groundwater resources of the study area to determine the complexity of salt and nutrient management planning needed
- Identification of current recycled water reuse, the recycled water reuse, and stormwater capture goals of the stakeholders, and future groundwater and stormwater projects
- Development and use of methodologies to evaluate existing groundwater quality and assimilative capacity
- Identification of sources of salt and nutrient loading in each hydrologic sub-area of the watershed
- Estimating historical and future irrigation return flows and associated TDS and nitrate concentrations from historical and projected land use and period-appropriate irrigation and fertilizer practices
- Modeling of future groundwater quality to demonstrate how much assimilative capacity will be used up in meeting the recycled water and stormwater goals of the stakeholders
- Performing antidegradation analyses to support expanded recycled water reuse
- Preparing a report documenting the technical findings, assessing regulatory compliance concerns, and developing an implementation plan to manage salts and nutrients in the San Juan Creek Watershed
Team Spotlight
Samantha Adams
Groundwater Business Sector Leader
Samantha Adams
Groundwater Business Sector Leader
“I’m passionate about the environment and water. My work is a meaningful contribution to environmental stewardship with particularly challenging issues to solve in California. I have grown to love consulting work because of the diversity of clients I succeed in helping. While the challenges are similar, they all have unique and interesting problems. That makes every day unique and exciting.
The Upper Temescal Valley Salt and Nutrient management Plan (SNMP) for both Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District and Eastern Municipal Water District, is a project I began in 2013 and it has finally completed. The Regional Board approved a basin plan amendment to incorporate into the new management plan. I am really proud that I could lead a team that provided a very creative regulatory solution and saved our clients a lot of money. I enjoyed being part of the team that negotiated the solution with regulators and led the technical work, which contributed to the evolution of the methods over time. I also led the successful stakeholder process.”
Mark Wildermuth. PE
Principal III
Mark Wildermuth. PE
Principal III
“At this point in my career, what excites me the most, what revs me up in the morning, is working with younger talented staff on really important groundwater management problems. While my grey hair often puts me in a teaching mode, their youth and enthusiasm really elevate my spirit.
My greatest accomplishment was being able to lead the development and implementation of the 2000 Chino Basin Optimum Basin Management Program. This program is responsible for: the sustainable management of one of the largest groundwater basins in southern California serving agricultural and municipal water users and about a million people; development of innovative management strategies; providing over $1 billion in benefits; and attracting $100s of million in grant funding.”