OCSD Permit 21214 for Diversion of Use of Water, Petition for Extension of Time Addendum to the 2001 OCSD Water Project Connection to Camp Meeker System

The Occidental Community Services District (OCSD) is seeking an extension of time to comply with Term 6 of Permit 21214, which originally required the beneficial use of 0.16 cubic feet per second (72 gallons per minute) of water from the Russian River by December 31, 2021. This permit, issued in 2008, governs OCSD’s water diversion rights under Application 31257 and is subject to Term 13, which mandates that diversions cease when Russian River flows fall below 140 cubic feet per second, necessitating an agreement with Sonoma Water for supplemental supply during low-flow periods. The requested extension pushes the compliance deadline to December 31, 2031, to allow sufficient time for water use to align with the district’s evolving demand profile, particularly due to the potential future connection of the Union Hotel, which currently draws water from a separate public system but could switch to OCSD at any time. Historical usage data, which showed peak demand at approximately 27 gallons per minute, is no longer considered predictive, as it does not account for this unknown future load. An updated 2016 Source Capacity Planning Study, prepared by Brelje & Race, revised OCSD’s projected maximum daily demand to 50,300 gallons per day (35 gallons per minute) for the existing customer base, including a conservative estimate for Union Hotel’s potential full reliance on OCSD, and projects a buildout demand of 57,800 gallons per day (40 gallons per minute). These figures remain under the 72-gallon-per-minute allowance permitted under Term 5, and OCSD does not anticipate reaching the full authorized diversion rate. The extension is not for additional water rights or infrastructure changes but to maintain the permit’s validity while ensuring compliance with environmental thresholds and the requirement to demonstrate beneficial use prior to conversion to a license. The 2001 Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration remains the foundational environmental document, with this submission acting as an addendum to update the project description in accordance with CEQA guidelines. All activities are regulated under California state oversight through the State Water Resources Control Board and Sonoma County as the lead agency, with no federal procurement elements, financial pricing, contract clauses, or commercial delivery terms involved in the process.