Department of Water Resources
A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
August 22, 2008
5. Agencies, Programs, People –
Locals claim water district's pumping operation is drying up wells
The Hanford
Meeting to field questions on river use
Mojave Daily News- 8/22/08
Thermalito district has a new manager and a new name
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Locals claim water district's pumping operation is drying up wells
The Hanford
They stood elbow to elbow, they spilled out into the hall and they meant business.
Worried farmers and property owners inundated an office room at
A newly-formed organization called the Kings River Area Property Owners, with Netto CEO James Netto as its chairman, hosted the meeting, which was a preliminary attempt to figure out what to do about the district operation they say is responsible.
Called the Apex Conjunctive Use Project, the district's operation is pumping water out of a recharge area near the Kings River close to
The operation is designed to bank water during wet years, floods and off-season flows for pumping during the summer months.
"We're saving water, getting extra water during flood releases," said Don Mills, general manager for the district.
But while the project may be benefiting some users, it's sticking in the craw of landowners closer to the river.
According to James Netto, four district pumps came on a couple of months ago to suck as much as 15,000 gallons per minute out of the ground.
Since then, he said, two residential wells and four farm wells in the area have gone dry.
"Everything was supposed to be really fine. (But) we have wells going dry," Netto said.
Netto is worried that the district is planning to increase its pumping operation.
"We don't have the first (impact) figured out yet," he said.
The packed room of farmers and private well users Wednesday provided evidence many others are also concerned.
So much so, that many signed up to give $10 per acre of land they own to the Kings River Area Property Owners to fund possible legal action against the district.
One of the most eager to sign up was Joe Elliott, who owns three acres of land on
Elliott said one of his wells went dry early Tuesday morning.
And he's convinced that the Apex Project is the culprit.
Brad Johns, president of Hugh Johns Inc., which farms 620 acres in the Burris Park area, went so far as to call for the firing of Mills and the replacement of all the members of the district's board of directors.
Netto said that's not what the organization is seeking.
"We want to preserve the watershed along the
Netto said he is concerned that the district is pumping too much water out of the area.
Netto said he's in favor of the project if it's a "win-win" for everybody, but not if it comes at the expense of Kings River Area Property owners, which he says now numbers some 60 property owners.
With possibly more on the way.
People like Mike Kuckenbaker, who owns 20 acres on
Kuckenbaker said he wants to "find out what's happening."
"I've got a domestic well that's only got a little bit of water in the bottom of it," he said.
Mills said in a phone interview that the district is working with the Kings River Area Property Owners to determine if the drop in their well levels is due to drought or is directly connected to pumping.
"If some of it is our fault, then we're going to address that," Mills said.#
http://www.hanfordsentinel.com/articles/2008/08/21/news/doc48adab49d0e75098772019.txt
Meeting to field questions on river use
LAUGHLIN - Well owners will get a chance Monday to get information on a federal attempt to further regulate Tri-state well water.
The Bureau of Reclamation will hold a meeting Monday in Laughlin to answer public questions on a proposed rule concerning the use of the
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The rule would determine which wells in the lower
BOR's lower Colorado Region Director Lorri Gray said the primary goal is to legalize the use of well water so it can be accounted for.
BOR estimates there are 9,000 to 15,000 acre feet of water being unlawfully used. Most of that can be legalized through new contracts between the well owners and the BOR, Gray said.
BOR spokeswoman Ruth Thayer said there are about 5,900 wells so far that have been inventoried by the BOR with the inventory about 80 percent complete. Most of those wells would be considered illegal by the proposed rule. The department stills needs to gather information in the
BOR estimates there are about 16,000 total wells from Hoover Dam to the
District 2 Sup. Tom Sockwell said there was already a study done about eight years ago to determine whether the water in the aquifer is considered groundwater or part of the
Property owners already must get permits from the Arizona Department of Water Resources to drill a well. If the well produces more than 35 gallons a minute that well must be recorded with the state, Sockwell said.
State Rep. Nancy McLain of
BOR has not determined what the fees would be for well owners in
The department will gather public comments for 60 days before finalizing the rule. The four meetings next week are informational only. The process could take months if not years, Thayer said.
Written comments can be submitted to the BOR by Sept. 15 by e-mail or through the regular mail. To submit e-mails go to the Web site www.regulations.gov and use docket ID. BOR-2008-0001. Comments can also be mailed to the BOR, Attn: BC00-1000,
Copies of the map and other information on the proposed rule can be found on the BOR Web site at www.usbr.gov/lc/ region/programs/ unlawfuluse .html.#
http://www.mohavedailynews.com/articles/2008/08/22/news/top_story/top1.txt
Thermalito district has a new manager and a new name
By MARY WESTON, Staff Writer
THERMALITO -- With a new name and a new manager, Thermalito Irrigation District tackles the old issues of providing water and sewer service in a growing community, and new issues of cleaning up after the fire in Concow.
Jayme Boucher became general manager after Gary Alt retired at the end of June. Along with promoting a new manager, the board changed the district's name to Thermalito Water and Sewer District.
Boucher has worked at the district for 16 years, first part time as a senior at Las Plumas High School and a freshman at
When he was offered a full-time job, Boucher accepted, and he has been there ever since. He worked his way from laborer to beginning and senior utility worker, to treatment plant operator, to general foreman and finally to general manager.
Along the way, Boucher acquired all the certifications and attended all the training needed by providers of water and sewer service.
His goal as general manager sounds simple -- to successfully manage TWSD while continuing to provide the people of Thermalito with high quality domestic water and wastewater services.
"I am confident in my ability of achieving my goal as general manager, but I will not be solely responsible for the achievements I am yet to bring to the district," Boucher said.
Boucher said he had a great mentor in former manager Gary Alt, and he has good staff and board members to support him.
The new name Thermalito Water and Sewer District better reflects the services the district now offers, Boucher said, as the district no longer provides irrigation.
Boucher outlined some priority projects, but since he came on board, the fire in Concow has created new issues.
Recently, Boucher has been working on a plan to clean up the district-owned property around
The lake stores up to 8,200 acre-feet of water for the district, which is piped into
Some of the district's 275 acres of land around the lake burned, and now they are embarking on a cleanup plan.
They are working with Soper Wheeler Inc. to log the burned areas. Boucher said the burned trees can be used for lumber now, but if left too long, the trees will decompose or be damaged by insects.
Boucher said they have also been working with nearby property owners who were affected by the fires.
"TWSD wants to do our part to help in the cleanup of the fires," Boucher said.
Other district priorities include working on a sewer master plan and continuing work on inflows and infiltrations into district sewer pipes.
TWSD is one of three water and sewer districts that belong to the joint powers authority served by the local wastewater treatment plant -- Sewerage Commission-Oroville Region.
The city of
Inflows and infiltrations (I/Is) are breaks or broken areas in infrastructure where surface water or ground water can enter the sewer system.
All older sewer systems have I/Is, but the extra water takes up capacity in sewer lines and at sewage treatment plants. I/Is have become an issue with the JPA as the sewer plant operates close to capacity, and new growth is slated.
The Thermalito district has been working three to four days a week with a camera truck and device that photographs the inside of sewer lines, Boucher said. They identify places where water can enter the system and repair them.
Boucher said he would like to build cooperative relationships between all the members of the JPA and other entities involved in providing water and sewer service in the area.
"I appreciate the opportunity I have been given, and I look forward for years to come to being part of Thermalito Water and Sewer District, " Boucher said.
Boucher and his wife Shareen have two children, Kaylee, 7, and Braydon, 3.#
http://www.chicoer.com/news/oroville/ci_10273052
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