San Lorenzo Valley Water District Reaffirms Stage 2 Water Restrictions Due to 'Severe Drought' Designation in Santa Cruz County

  With Santa Cruz County receiving less than 40% of its average rainfall this past winter, the San Lorenzo Valley Water District’s Board of Directors reaffirmed the ‘Stage 2 Water Shortage Emergency (Ordinance 106) restrictions at the May 6th, 2021 Board of Directors meeting.

 Boulder Creek, CA, May 13, 2021 — With Santa Cruz County receiving less than 40% of its average rainfall this past winter, the San Lorenzo Valley Water District’s Board of Directors reaffirmed the ‘Stage 2 Water Shortage Emergency (Ordinance 106) restrictions at the May 6th, 2021 Board of Directors meeting. The District is requesting a voluntary reduction of outdoor usage by 10%-20%. Many customers have already reduced their water usage, but others can further conserve. 

Under the Stage 2 Water Shortage:

•             Customers must limit watering days to twice per week before 10 a.m. or after 5 p.m., customers can select the two days per week (the District requests customers to avoid watering on Saturdays & Sundays).

•             Hoses must be equipped with a shutoff nozzle.

•             Potable water cannot be used to wash down hard or paved surfaces.

•             Swimming pools cannot be initially filled or drained and refilled.

•             Restaurants can only serve water to customers upon request.

•             Hotels and motels must offer patrons the option to forgo daily laundering of linens. 

Water usage typically increases significantly on holiday weekends, and on the warmest summer days. These peak water use times will strain the water system and the District requests customer to be especially conscious of water use during these periods. 

The District is offering customers incentives to conserve, including free water saving devices, rebates for water saving appliances, and free water-wise water audits (including a ‘Do it yourself’ kit). A summary of these offerings are listed on the back of this letter. 

“It is really important to conserve water this year, following the loss of the District’s surface water infrastructure sources to the 2020 CZU Lighting Complex fire. Maintaining full water storage is critical with impending fire danger, loss of surface water sources, and the looming drought. Operationally, the District is making sure it is maximizing water conservation through the pursuit of an aggressive Leak Detection and Water Loss program, tightening up old/aging infrastructure.” said Rick Rogers, District Manager. 

You can find detailed information about how the Stage 2 Water Shortage Emergency affects residential, and commercial accounts on our website at: https://www.slvwd.com/conservation/pages/drought-information. 

About the SLVWD

The San Lorenzo Valley Water District was established in 1941 as an independent special district. The District is governed by a five-member Board of Directors, elected at-large from within the District’s service area. 

A special district is a local government agency formed by voters to perform a needed service, such as water or sewer. The District’s boundaries comprise approximately 60 square miles and 190 miles of pipeline. 

The District currently provides service to approximately 7,900 residential, commercial, and institutional connections. The District relies on both surface water and groundwater resources, including nine currently active stream diversions, one groundwater spring, and eight active groundwater wells. The District owns, operates, and maintains two water systems from separate water sources. These sources are derived solely from rainfall within the San Lorenzo River watershed. 

The District owns, operates, and maintains a wastewater system in Boulder Creek’s Bear Creek Estates, which serves approximately 56 homes. 

Website: slvwd.com

Phone: (831) 338-2153

Fax: (831) 338-7986

Emergency Numbers:

After-hour emergencies: (831) 338-2153 

Address:

San Lorenzo Valley Water District

13060 Hwy 9

Boulder Creek, CA 95006 

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
The Buzz PR, LLC.
Salinas, CA
(831) 747-74555
https://www.slvwd.com

San Lorenzo Valley Water District Gets Information on Groundwater Levels and Goals for Future Groundwater Levels in Santa Cruz County at Santa Margarita Groundwater Agency Meeting

With the rainy season behind us, the focus of San Lorenzo Valley Water District is now on future groundwater levels as we head into the drier summer months.

Boulder Creek, CA, May 19, 2020 — With the rainy season behind us, the focus of San Lorenzo Valley Water District is now on future groundwater levels as we head into the drier summer months.

For the District groundwater is the primary source of drinking water for residents from June through October when surface water flow is low during drier months. Rainfall is the main source of recharge to the basin and surface water flows. The groundwater basin is shared by users, including the District, Scotts Valley Water District (SVWD), and Mount Hermon Association, as well as local businesses and residents using private wells.

The Santa Margarita Groundwater Agency (SMGWA) at its Board of Directors meeting in April held an informational session that centered on groundwater levels and the agency’s goals for future groundwater levels. The District is one of three member-agencies that make up the SMGWA, along with the SVWD and the County of Santa Cruz.

The session examined the Santa Margarita Basin and its four primary aquifers: Santa Margarita aquifer, Monterey formation, Lompico aquifer and Butano aquifer. The session identified the unique characteristics of each aquifer and its particular set of users.

• The aquifer closest to the surface is the Santa Margarita. It is about 100 feet thick, on average, and is the most vulnerable to fluctuations in climate conditions. That means it recharges the fastest during periods of rainfall, but also depletes the most quickly during dry times or when lots of pumping occurs. The District and most private well owners draw water from this aquifer.

•The next aquifer down is the Monterey formation, which is not a true aquifer and a very few wells pump from it. It is a clay layer found in limited areas of the basin.

•The third layer down, the Lompico aquifer, is a main source of supply for local water districts. It is generally found around depths of 500-700 feet below the surface.

•Finally, the Butano aquifer is deepest and occurs at around 1,000 feet below the surface of the valley floor. Currently, only the Scotts Valley Water District extracts water from this aquifer.

The aquifers aren’t evenly deposited throughout the basin, according to Georgina King of Montgomery & Associates, who gave the presentation to the SMGWA. Rather, the underground bowl-shaped basin supports varying levels and depths of each aquifer in different areas. The deeper layers are exposed to the land surface in the upgradient of hillsides, which are the principal recharge zone for these aquifers.

Evaluating groundwater levels is one of the state-required elements of the Sustainable Management Criteria (SMC) in the Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP). As a required element of the GSP, the SMGWA board must set minimum thresholds for groundwater levels in the basin as well as measurable objectives to ensure the basin’s sustainability. The board provided input on the significant and unreasonable conditions that will be used to develop a draft qualitative statement for board review.

The SMGWA’s board meeting was held April 23, included time for public comment and participation on each agenda item, and was conducted via all-remote, web- and phone-based access due to the Santa Cruz County Shelter-in-Place Order response to the coronavirus outbreak.

If you are interested in learning more about the SMGWA or the District’s involvement visit www.https://smgwa.org/. The next SMGWA Board of Directors meeting will be held on May 28th at 5:30 p.m. The meeting Agenda and any supplementary materials will be made available www.https://smgwa.org/ as they are generated by staff. Due to the circumstances regarding the ongoing shelter-in-place orders all Agency meetings will be held in an exclusively remote-access format until further notice.

About the San Lorenzo Valley Water District
The San Lorenzo Valley Water District was established in 1941 as an independent special district. The District is governed by a five-member Board of Directors, elected at-large from within the District’s service area. A special district is a local government agency formed by voters to perform a needed service, such as water or sewer. The District’s boundaries comprise approximately 60 square miles and 190 miles of pipeline. The District currently provides service to approximately 7,900 residential, commercial, and institutional connections. The District relies on both surface water and groundwater resources, including nine currently active stream diversions, one groundwater spring, and eight active groundwater wells. The District owns, operates, and maintains two water systems from separate water sources. These sources are derived solely from rainfall within the San Lorenzo River watershed.

The District owns, operates, and maintains a wastewater system in Boulder Creek’s Bear Creek Estates, which serves approximately 56 homes.

Website: slvwd.com
Phone: (831) 338-2153
Fax: (831) 338-7986
Emergency Numbers:
After-hour emergencies: (831) 338-2153

Address:
San Lorenzo Valley Water District
13060 Hwy 9
Boulder Creek, CA 95006

About the Santa Margarita Groundwater Agency
Santa Margarita Groundwater Agency (SMGWA) is a Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) that was formed as a Joint Powers Authority in June 2017. It has three member-agencies: Scotts Valley Water District (SVWD), San Lorenzo Valley Water District (SLVWD), and the County of Santa Cruz (County) and is governed by the Board of Directors comprising of two representatives from each member agency, one representative from City of Scotts Valley, one from City of Santa Cruz, one from Mount Hermon Association (MHA) and two private well owner representatives. The Board of Directors holds monthly meetings that are open to the public. The staffing support and funding for the agency is provided by the member agency.

Under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act of 2014, overdrafted groundwater basins need to be sustainably managed by a GSA through the development of a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP). The GSP must be completed by 2022, and the basin must reach sustainability by 2042.

The three agencies, SVWD, SLVWD, and Santa Cruz County, are committed to working with each other and engage other stakeholders in forming a GSA and developing a GSP after the state approves the boundary modification request.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.slvwd.com

Schipper Design Grant Program Now Open to Monterey County, Santa Cruz County and San Benito County Nonprofit Agencies

San Juan Bautista-based Schipper Design is inviting nonprofit agencies in Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties to apply for Creatives for Community grants.

San Juan Bautista, CA, December 25, 2018 — San Juan Bautista-based Schipper Design is inviting nonprofit agencies in Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties to apply for Creatives for Community grants.

“As we approach our third year of Creatives for Community, we are excited by the response we have had in the past and the overall success of the program,” said Kathy Schipper, Creative Director of Schipper Design. “We want to encourage any and all non-profits to bring us your marketing or design opportunity for 2019. We look forward to the engagement year after year.”

Creatives for Community is the brainchild of Schipper and stems from years of collaboration with nonprofits and her firm belief that nonprofits are an essential part of a healthy community, and deserve to have marketing materials equal to their for-profit counterparts.

“Here at Schipper Design, when we set out to give back to the community, we play to our strengths,” said Schipper. “The Creatives for Community grant program is one way of helping our local communities by doing what we do best — design. I want to invite other creative agencies around the county to participate and offer grants as well.”

Over the past two years, 20+ nonprofits from Monterey County, Santa Cruz County and San Benito County applied for the grant. One nonprofit from each county was chosen — Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade, Homeless Services Center, and R.E.A.C.H. San Benito Parks Foundation were among some of the organizations selected.

In this yearly program, each nonprofit receives 30 hours of graphic design time and personalized attention from the design and account management staffs. Schipper takes the lead in creative direction, but otherwise steps aside, thus promoting leadership-building among the account managers and allowing for unique relationships to form between designers and the clients.

To apply for the Creatives for Community grant, applications open on Jan. 1, 2019, and closes Feb. 28. Send an email to info@schipperdesign.com to receive an application.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.schipperdesign.com

Lifespan Launches a New Service: Well Being Program

In celebration of Lifespan’s 35th anniversary, a free class called “Where is the Joy? Putting Joy Back in your Life as you Age” will be presented on Thursday, June 28th.

Santa Cruz, CA, May 16, 2018 - Lifespan, a specialized aging care agency founded in Santa Cruz County 35 years ago, announces a new service. The Well Being Program recognizes that as people age many become socially isolated, losing the ability to pursue past or new activities that might bring them joy. Often they become disconnected from their community, family, and friends.

Too often social isolation, reduced mobility, or relocation to a new community can diminish access to activities which have brought enjoyment and fulfillment to a person’s life. Lifespan hopes to help local elders reengage and find joy again through its new Well Being Program.

The intent of this program is to increase engagement, sense of fulfillment, connection, and joy in life regardless of age or perceived changes in ability. At the outset a Lifespan professional meets with the elder to explore her or his desires which may include renewing or exploring a creative outlet, connecting with family members or old friends, pursuing a spiritual path, or participating in outings into the community. Once personal goals are identified, a specialized Personal Assistant from Lifespan is matched with the individual and the two can embark on planning activities.

In celebration of Lifespan’s 35th anniversary, a free class called “Where is the Joy? Putting Joy Back in your Life as you Age” will be presented on Thursday, June 28th from 5 pm– 6:30 pm at La Posada Senior Residence, 609 Frederick St., Santa Cruz. Attendees will learn how to create a richer life as they age through reengaging with old passions, exploring new interests, and reconnecting with old friends, family, or new experiences. To attend the class, RSVP to Marci@Chatterboxpublicrelations.com.

The featured speaker will be Cathy Cress, MSW, who is a leading national expert in aging life and geriatric care management. Cress is a well-known authority on the baby boomer generation and the aging family. Her book, Handbook in Geriatric Care Management is in its 4th edition. She earned her MSW from UC Berkeley and now consultants on aging issues, including life enrichment.

About Lifespan
Lifespan is a comprehensive aging care management agency dedicated to providing the highest quality of care in the home or setting of one’s choice.

Lifespan’s goal is to maximize the health, safety, comfort, and independence of its clients through compassionate person-centered care. Since 1983 Lifespan has provided all-inclusive home care and professional geriatric care management services to adults in need of assistance. A leader in aging care services, Lifespan is one of the very first organizations to provide this combination of care on the West Coast, and still the only agency of its kind in Santa Cruz County.

Lifespan’s professional care management is provided by registered nurses and master’s level social workers who conduct assessments of client strengths and unmet needs then help the client and family decide on a plan of care. In addition, care managers can coordinate a variety of resources and work with health care providers, fiduciary agents, and other professionals to make sure that all needs are met as conditions change. Lifespan also offers medication set-up and managements by RNs.

Home care aides provide the important support with activities of daily living such as light housekeeping, shopping, laundry, meal preparation and clean up, personal hygiene, mobility, and medication reminders. They also provide protective supervision for persons with cognitive impairment. Care up to 24/hours per day is offered based on staffing availability. All home care aide services are supervised by the professional care manager RNs and social workers to ensure optimal care.

Lifespan is in full compliance with the 2015 California Home Care Services Consumer Protection Act, under the auspices of the California Department of Social Services, which specifies that all employees meet criteria as registered home care aides. This includes thorough screening, criminal background clearance (fingerprinting) by both the Department of Justice and FBI in addition to verifying initial and ongoing professional training. Employees of all levels are covered by Lifespan’s general liability bond and worker’s compensation policies.

There are more than 2 million professional home care workers in the U.S. providing care and support to aging adults and persons with disabilities in home and community-based settings. The home care workforce has doubled in the past 10 years and the population of those 65 and older is expected to double to 88 million by 2050, making the role of professional aging care professionals that much more critical.

Lifespan
600 Frederick St.
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
lifespancare.com
(831) 469-4900
info@lifespancare.com

State of California Home Care Organization License # 444700001.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.lifespancare.com