Department of Water Resources
A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
April 18, 2007
5. Agencies, Programs, People
Guest Opinion: Casitas board to consider appeal -
Farm Bureau looks at water issues - Siskiyou Daily News
Guest Opinion: Casitas board to consider appeal
By Bill Hicks, of Ventura, is on the board of directors for Division 1 of the Casitas Municipal Water District
In the early 1950s, the federal government and people of western
The lake holds about 250,000 acre-feet of water when full. We are about 90 percent full now. The lake provides not only great recreational opportunities (fishing, camping, hiking, bird-watching, etc.), but is habitat to more than 400 different species. It is also listed as one of the lakes that provides a "flyaway haven" for migrating geese and other birds.
In the late 1990s, the steelhead trout was listed as an endangered species. This listing, while noble in intent, has led to a confrontation between the district and the federal government over who pays for the extra water that will be needed to help the fish recover. Casitas gets about half the water in the lake by diverting water from the
The project was engineered for these diversions to fill the lake. The government has given us a "biological opinion" that says Casitas must now take 3,200 acre-feet less then our normal diversions.
Based on a 20-year drought forecast from the 1940s and 1950s, that actually happened, we have determined that our "safe yield" is around 20,000 acre-feet per year. The requirement limiting these diversions upsets our safe yield calculations and could lead to severe reductions in water availability in the future.
About five years ago, Casitas was forced to build a fish ladder around the Robles Diversion Dam. The ladder cost around $9 million to build. Casitas ratepayers paid about half of this amount. Cal Trout, a sport fishing and environmental group out of
To date, we (Casitas) have spent more than $10 million in efforts to help the fish. We think there have been confirmed sightings of about 10 fish that may be steelhead or rainbow trout.
To complicate things more, Matilija Dam is going to be decommissioned in the next few years. No one I have talked to knows for sure where all of the silt behind the dam will go. Our chief engineer thinks it could have an adverse effect on the Robles Diversion Dam. It could also harm any fish that may be in the river.
All of the board agrees that complying with the order to help the fish is necessary. What we don't agree on is who should pay.
Because of this, the prior board filed suit against the government, asking that the government participate in this cost. A federal judge has ruled that the government's limiting of water from the river to the lake is a "regulatory taking," rather than a constitutional property right, which makes it more difficult to win a judgment.
The question before us now is should we appeal this decision. An open meeting will be held Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the
http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2007/apr/17/casitas-board-to-consider-appeal/
Farm Bureau looks at water issues
Siskiyou Daily News – 4/17/07
By Donn Brannon, staff writer
YREKA – Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Jim Patterson attended the April 12 meeting of the Siskiyou County Farm Bureau.
“I hope to develop a long term relationship with the ranchers in the valley,” Jim said. “There is a lot of pressure on the people along the Klamath and a good deal of speculation as to where the farm bill is and where it is going. The conservation aspects of the bill has support from the agricultural and the environmental community.”
Water was the chief subject of concern for the evening.
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Sam Wakim, a member of the North Coast Water Quality Control Board, made a special appearance to present the farm bureau members with information concerning AB 1580, a bill introduced by Assembly member La Malfa; the bill would create a watermaster district to be known as the Scott and Shasta Valley Water District.
Establishment of the
It was proposed and voted that a letter in support of AB 1580 be drafted and sent to Assemblyman La Malfa.
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Wakim reminded the bureau members that the water quality meeting in
Montague Irrigation District president, Rex Houghton said.
“We will be there. You’ll know we’re in
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Houghton said two items to be taken up by the board were petitions, one to deny the Karuk tribe’s request that the board order Pacific Corp, operator of Copco and Irongate dam, to submit a report of waste discharge and/or issue waste discharge requirements.
The second petition of interest is one submitted by Felice Pace requesting that the board order the Montague Irrigation District, operator of Dwinell Reservoir to submit a report and/or issue waste discharge requirements.
Rosie Scott in a report on goals said that the bureau was nearing their goal of enlisting four new members. New voting members Norman Fiock Jr., Rosie Scott and Brandi Fisher were approved as were sustaining members Terri Mazingo and Patricia Whitman.
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Two prospective members, Pete Scala and Leonard Gordon attended the meeting and participated in the discussions. #
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