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[Water_news] 5. DWR'S CALIFORNIA WATER NEWS: AGENCIES, PROGRAMS, PEOPLE - 4/4/08

Department of Water Resources

California Water News

A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment

 

April 4, 2008

 

5. Agencies, Programs, People

 

IMPERIAL IRRIGATION DISTRICT ISSUES:

Garcia bill could split IID - Imperial Valley Press

 

CALIFORNIA WATER PLAN MEETING ANNOUNCED:

YC hosts water plan workshop; Important Northern California resource in demand for growing state - Marysville Appeal Democrat

 

WATERMASTER ISSUES:

Watermaster district may not be welcome - Red Bluff Daily News

 

ISABELLA DAM STUDY:

Isabella Dam collapse study about to go public - Bakersfield Californian

 

RESIGNATION:

Water manager resigns his post - Antelope Valley Press

 

 

IMPERIAL IRRIGATION DISTRICT ISSUES:

Garcia bill could split IID

Imperial Valley Press – 4/4/08

By Brianna Lusk, staff writer

 

The power of separating water and energy at the Imperial Irrigation District could soon be in the hands of Coachella Valley voters.

A proposed bill by Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia, R-Cathedral City, wants the two entities of the district split.

To read AB 2564, visit:

http://www.ivpressonline.com/docs/ab2564.pdf


That decision would be made by ratepayers outside the IID.

Garcia said the spot bill that was amended to include such a vote is a direct result of IID’s inaction.

“This has nothing to do with who owns the assets. It has to do with who pays the bills,” Garcia said Thursday. “This is about their refusal to address the issues.”

Garcia and IID officials have been at odds for the last month after a meeting in January sparked contention over energy service in the Coachella Valley.

About 60 percent of the district’s energy customers are located outside Imperial County.

IID board President John Pierre Menvielle said the legislation is “irresponsible and reckless.”

“This would pit ratepayers in the Imperial and Coachella valleys against each other. Even worse it would place Imperial Valley’s water rights, which underpin its energy operations, at extreme risk,” Menvielle said.

Growing concerns among consumers and the water code under which IID operates is what has fueled this bill, Garcia said.

Without a planned resolution to provide energy in the Coachella area in site, action must be taken now, Garcia said.

“It allows voters within the service territory to have a say and allows the agencies and municipalities and counties to decide what they want the future to be,” Garcia said.

The bill calls for a vote among ratepayers in both valleys to create a separate utility district.

If both areas agree to create a separate utility, one utility would serve the entire area.

If a majority of Coachella area voters wanted a separate district but Imperial County voters were against it, a utility would be formed to serve the Coachella area.

If a majority of the voters in the Coachella area are against forming a separate utility, the district would not have to take any action.

Though the bill does not name IID specifically, it does aim to change the water code, which could also affect other irrigation districts that operates similarly to IID.

James Hanks, an IID director, said the bill amounts to a “Pandora’s box.”

“It doesn’t seem to me at this stage she’s put a lot of thought into the collateral damage she’s going to cause,” Hanks said.

Hanks said it may be a good time to do a business case study on the Coachella assets to determine how to move forward.

“I’m against splitting energy and water,” Hanks said.

But he would not rule out selling off the Coachella assets if that’s what those ratepayers wanted.

“I’m opposed to selling it off up there unless they’re talking about putting people on the board. We put everything on the table if they’re going to go in that direction,” Hanks said.

On Friday Garcia met with local business leaders and residents in a meeting at the El Centro Chamber of Commerce. A few hours earlier, she met in what some have called a closed-door session with the Imperial County Farm Bureau and other members of the agricultural community.

Garcia said she was not aware the meeting was closed to the public and similar topics were discussed.

Menvielle has alleged the Imperial Group, a group of local farmers and landowners, is behind the effort to separate energy and water.

The group wants control of the water, he has said.

Garcia said the legislation is not about going after the Valley’s resources.

“Water is the lifeblood of Imperial County. I know that,” Garcia said. “I have no special agenda. I’m not going to get dragged into that fight either.”

In the next few weeks, a preliminary hearing will be scheduled and Garcia said it is critically important that she hears from IID between now and then.

“I’m begging them to call me. If it turns out they have another solution, I’m happy to drop the legislation,” Garcia said.

IID spokesman Kevin Kelley said while Garcia is maintaining the onus is on IID to contact her office, the way in which this issue was brought about was anything but cordial.

“How you have a meaningful dialogue after she’s issued an ultimatum … that being, you do this on your own or I’ll do if for you,” Kelley said.

Menvielle said the board would be willing to work something out to prevent legislation but not at the detriment to ratepayers from Coachella and Imperial Valley.

Hanks said the current legislation is the beginning of a resource war.

“This is the energy version of the QSA (Quantification Settlement Agreement),” Hanks said. #
http://www.ivpressonline.com/articles/2008/04/04/local_news/news02.txt

 

 

CALIFORNIA WATER PLAN MEETING ANNOUNCED:

YC hosts water plan workshop; Important Northern California resource in demand for growing state

Marysville Appeal Democrat – 4/4/08

By John Dickey, staff writer

 

State planners are in the midst of creating a new plan to juggle one of the state's most precious resources.

 

This week they headed to Yuba City to host a regional workshop Wednesday for the California Water Plan, Update 2009.

 

Tito Cervantes, who heads the California Department of Water Resource's Land and Water Use Section, said the task of updating the plan, first prepared in 1957, is being done with more public input on issues such as conserving water.

 

"There's a lot of information," said Cervantes, who grew up in Yuba City. "We need to do a better job on why things have changed, what's happening."

 

A growing state may seek more of Northern California's water —particularly the Sacramento River watershed, the largest of the state's water-producing regions which includes Colusa, Sutter and Yuba counties.

 

"More people are going to be looking to Northern California, because they have more water for the future," said Cervantes.

 

In a normal precipitation year, about a million more acre-feet of water moves out of the region than comes in, thanks to the water stored in Shasta and Oroville reservoirs.

 

The plan which looks out to 2050 is being revised as global warming is being studied for its possible affect on state water supplies. Millions more people will be living in California. And flooding has become a higher profile issue, prompting some to call for Oroville Reservoir to step up its flood-control operations.

 

More water conservation could be a big part of the updated water plan which is in a draft stage now, according to a Maxwell-based farm and agribusiness group which sent a representative to the Yuba City workshop.

 

Ashley Indrieri, executive director of the Family Water Alliance, said the draft plan calls for a 10 percent to 15 percent cut to agriculture.

 

Indrieri said if agriculture is to cut its water usage, the same cuts should be made to urban and environmental users —cuts that she said were not being proposed.

 

"I think the burden needs to be distributed," Indrieri said.

 

The Family Water Alliance did like the draft plan's call for additional water storage, said Indrieri.

 

About 40 people participated in Wednesday's meeting, including a number of water districts, a tribal representative from the Colusa Indian Community Council and the Family Water Alliance.

 

The 2009 update marked the first time that tribal representatives attended regional meetings.

 

The plan's update is expected to be finished in late 2009, revising the 2005 plan. #

http://www.appeal-democrat.com/news/water_62322___article.html/plan_california.html

 

 

WATERMASTER ISSUES:

Watermaster district may not be welcome

Red Bluff Daily News – 4/3/08

By Rebecca Wolf, Assistant Editor

 

A program designed to fairly distribute water among landowners will be moving from the hands of the state into the hands of landowners, if they want it.

 

The newly formed Shasta-Tehama County Watermaster District is still looking to have directors appointed, but Tehama County residents may pass on the idea, according to Shasta County Farm Bureau President Henry Giacomini.

 

In a presentation of the new watermaster district Giacomini gave the Tehama County Board of Supervisors Tuesday, he asked the board to appoint a director for the Digger Creek area, but said some water rights holders have expressed interest in not being part of the district.

 

"They may decide that they don't need a watermaster," he said.

 

The program was established in 1924 to stem violence between neighboring landowners over water rights. It was designed to ensure water is distributed according to established water rights as determined by the courts.

 

Digger Creek is the only watershed area in Tehama County that would fall under the watermaster district, because it was the only one with watermaster services under the California Department of Water Resources.

 

Water rights holders on Hat, Burney, North Fork Cottonwood and North Cow creeks in Shasta County are also part of the watermaster district. There are roughly 34 landowners in the Digger Creek area the district would apply to.

 

Sen. Sam Aanestad, who authored the Senate bill to create the district, has touted the watermaster district as a cost-effective, local alternative for enforcing and protecting water rights. The district will assume the services that were previously provided by the Department of Water Resources.

 

District directors will be made up of representatives from each creek area and charged with establishing the district budget and providing information and processes for diverters in the district.

 

The Shasta County Board of Supervisors will appoint the other directors and two members at large. After the district is established, directors will be replaced by districtwide elections.

 

Giacomini said if Digger Creek rights holders decide not to participate, the district board will be reduced in size.  #

http://www.redbluffdailynews.com/news/ci_8796087

 

 

ISABELLA DAM STUDY:

Isabella Dam collapse study about to go public

Bakersfield Californian – 4/4/08

By James Burger, staff writer

 

Detailed information about flooding that would follow a collapse of the two dams at Isabella Lake will be shared with the Kern County Board of Supervisors Tuesday.

 

Kern County Fire Chief Dennis Thompson said the information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is an update to earlier draft estimates of where water would go if the two dams on the lake above Bakersfield collapsed.

 

The ongoing Corps study will show how fast water would travel, where it would go and how deep it would get in locations between the town of Lake Isabella and Bakersfield.

 

“It helps confirm some of the data from the earlier study — but in more detail,” Thompson said.

 

He said the information will be “instrumental in our putting together the necessary evacuation plans.”

 

Thompson wouldn’t release the report Thursday, saying it wasn’t finished.

 

The inundation information will be available to the public on the county’s Web site, Thompson said. #

http://www.bakersfield.com/102/story/406711.html

 

 

RESIGNATION:

Water manager resigns his post

Antelope Valley Press – 4/3/08

By Alisha Semchuck, staff writer

 

PALMDALE - Dennis La-Moreaux, general manager of the Palmdale Water District, has resigned his position after more than 19 years with the agency, with the board agreeing to pay him $350,000.

 

Four members of the district's board of directors announced the resignation during a special meeting Wednesday night after coming out of closed session. Agency attorney Tim Gosney said board members met in closed session to discuss one case, and no reportable action was taken under the Ralph M. Brown Act, the law that mandates how public agencies must conduct meetings.

 

Director Raul Figueroa was absent, but spoke to an Antelope Valley Press reporter earlier by telephone.

 

"I would have liked to have been there," said Figueroa, who had a prior commitment. "Unfortunately, I had already planned this. I informed (the board) I wouldn't be there this week. Apparently they decided to have a special meeting."

 

Figueroa said he would have preferred to attend because he's "usually the voice of the other side," voting in opposition to many of the board majority decisions.

 

"I question a lot of their actions. We've been dealing with this how many months? It's going into the fourth month now, and all of a sudden they have to do something this week."

 

Though Gosney said the board took no reportable action in closed session, he said the directors instructed him to inform the public about what transpired with La­Moreaux.

 

After a series of negotiations, Gosney said LaMoreaux on March 26 signed an agreement to resign but had a seven-day period to revoke that decision. Now that the seven-day period has ended, the agreement is considered final, the attorney said.

 

Gosney said the water district will pay LaMoreaux $350,000 - $250,000 for breaking his contract and $100,000 that was owed him.

 

"At the previous board meeting," Gosney said, the board voted in closed session "four in favor, one abstention" on the agreement. He said Figueroa abstained from the vote.

 

Gosney said the vote was not a reportable action until the agreement became final.

 

The attorney called the agreement a "standard settlement and release."

 

LaMoreaux requested one provision, he said, and that was for the board to consider adoption of a resolution of appreciation.

 

The resolution states that the board "recognizes Dennis D. LaMoreaux … for his over 19 years of public service."

 

It goes on to state that he has dedicated 19 years to the district, five years as assistant general manager, and more than 13 years as general manager, "serving the over 100,000 residents of the district by fulfilling the district's mission of a healthy, safe and enhanced quality of life through watershed stewardship and comprehensive management of water resources."

 

Furthermore, the resolution states that the district embraces and recognizes "Dennis' hard work and achievement … having received numerous accolades from the district ratepayers and coworkers, and specifically recognizing Dennis' work on Littlerock Dam and Reservoir Restoration project."

 

Although board members voted 4-0 to approve the resolution, only Director Linda Godin signed the document.

 

Directors Dick Wells, Dave Gomez and Jeff Storm sat silently for most of the meeting, despite comments from some members of the public who protested their actions.

 

Asked why he didn't sign the resolution, Storm responded that he doesn't think he ever has signed a resolution.

 

"We voted on it. Suffice to say that."

 

Palmdale resident Desmond Kester questioned how the board could rid the agency of LaMoreaux and at the same time issue a resolution of appreciation for his work.

 

"That's called shoving it … and having the public appreciate it," Kester said.

 

"We won't have any language like that," Wells said.

 

"Under the Brown Act, I'm allowed," Kester shot back.

 

"You may have forced Mr. La-Moreaux to go along with you," Marta Williamson Kester said. "But we're not going along with you. You don't deserve one stinking dime from the public."

 

When Wells sought to respond, Williamson Kester retorted, "You don't interrupt me."

 

"Every time you interrupt me, I get to start my time over again." Under water district policy, speakers have three minutes of uninterrupted speaking time.

 

"We're not going to tolerate any more of your shenanigans."

 

She also pointed out that the resolution stated "all the reasons" why LaMoreaux "should have never left. You guys just don't have the brains to be in those seats."

 

Joseph Yore said he didn't understand how the board could contract with Bob Toone, the former Palmdale city manager, to serve as interim general manager. "He's not qualified for this job. I don't care what you pay him."

 

Gary Cope told the board what was most upsetting is that no one ever "heard a reason" why they wanted to oust LaMoreaux. Also, he called the resolution of appreciation "hypocritical and illogical … (and) downright stupid."

 

Former board member Hal Macy said afterwards that he hadn't attended meetings for several years but returned after the board placed LaMoreaux on paid administrative leave on Dec. 26.

 

"I think it's very unfair for the board to take this kind of action without giving just cause," Macy said.

 

"I think it's very improper. Every person is entitled to know why such an action is taken against" him or her.

 

"The board has been informed several times of their responsibilities to the ratepayers. But, apparently they chose not to listen to the public on these issues," Macy said. "Therefore, I think a recall is in order." #

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