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Definitions

Export to Lower Area: Water diverted from surface streams in the Upper Area or produced from Upper Area groundwater that is conveyed by pipeline or other conduit through the Whittier Narrows for use by the Lower Area.  The Judgment provides that the maximum credit for exported water in the determination of Usable Water shall not exceed 23,395 AF. 

Long-Term Accounting (LTA): A Long-Term Accounting shall be made from time to time but not sooner than at the end of 15 Water Years, nor later than 25 Water Years after the last such accounting.  A Long-Term Accounting shall be made sooner than said 25-year period whenever the average annual rainfall in the San Gabriel Valley for a period of 15 Water Years or more after the last such accounting is at least 18 inches but not more than 19 inches.

Lower Area:  The San Gabriel River and Rio Hondo drainage area located below Whittier Narrows

Lower Area Entitlement:  98,415 AFY adjusted for annual rainfall in the San Gabriel Valley and the corresponding entitlements shown in Table A of the Judgment.

Makeup Water: Water of usable quality for groundwater recharge which is either (a) required to be delivered to Lower Area under terms of paragraph 5 of the Long Beach Judgment, or (b) designated by the delivering party as a delivery to Lower Area in advance satisfaction of some possible future delivery requirement under the terms of paragraph 5 of the Long Beach Judgment.

Narrowest Section:  A line drawn between the Puente Hills on the southeast and Merced Hills on the northwest representing the narrowest constriction through the Whittier Narrows for groundwater to pass as Subsurface Flow from the Upper Area to the Lower Area. See “Map of Whittier Narrows” for the Narrowest Section line.  

Recycled Water (formerly known as Reclaimed Water): Water recycled from sewage generated in the watershed of the San Gabriel River System above Whittier Narrows.

River Watermaster Water Year:  October 1 to September 30^th 

Subsurface Flow:  All water which passes as groundwater through Whittier Narrows at the line of Narrowest Section.  Also known as underflow.

Surface Flow:  All water other than Export to Lower Area and Subsurface Flow, which passes from Upper Area to Lower Area through Whittier Narrows.

Upper Area:  The San Gabriel River and Rio Hondo drainage area located above Whittier Narrows

Unusable Surface Flow:As determined in accordance with Exhibit B of the Judgment, water in the San Gabriel River or Rio Hondo originating from the Upper Area which is not captured for groundwater recharge and leaves the Montebello Forebay as lost to the ocean. 

Usable Water: The sum of Surface Flow, Subsurface Flow and credited Exported to Lower Area water, less the sum of Lower Area Replenishment Water, Recycled Water, Make-up Water, and Unusable Surface Flow. 

Whittier Narrows:   The geologic constriction located south of El Monte and north of Pico Rivera