HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/19/2002, L-2 - NORTH COUNTY WATER RESOURCES FORUM MEETING FEBRUARY 7, 2002 ' "TINO' AGENDA
DAT a`19-Da ITEM#
LIAISON REPORT C -'� NCIL ❑ CDD DIR
�� I3 ❑ FIN DIR
February 8, 1001 O ❑ FIRE CHIEF
17jORNEY ❑ PW DIR
B-CL-ERK/ORIG ❑ POLICE CHF
To: Council Collea 0 PT HEADS �❑ R�DIR
From: Ken Schwartz 1 TIL DIR
Copies: Ken Hampi George, John Moss ❑ HR DIR
� A 4v C,�o
Re: North County Water Resources Forum meeting February 7, 2002
The agenda called for reporting.the status of three topics: 1. the Nacimiento Project;
2. the Salinas Dam Expansion; and 3 Paso Robles Groundwater Basin Study. All reports
were short and contained no new information.
Discussion centered on the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin Study—"Where do we go
with Phase II?" Frankly,the discussion was repetitive and I could detect no clear
direction which would lead to a conclusion that would allow the potential partners for a
Nacimiento project to have the information needed to make a "go"or"no go"decision.
The same old worries about reliability, water quality,Ag interests m ground water, etc.,
etc. were rehashed yet again.
As the meeting drew to its conclusion, I pointed out that.SLO's interest is obtaining a
firm agreement with any and all parties to obtain our fair and useable share'of Naci water
and to reach that agreement as soon as possible. If potential partners are unable to do so
in the very,very near future, SLO would be forced to abandon its interests in Naci water
and to seek needed water elsewhere. I did not detail the implications of our pull out,but
most in the audience were aware of what those implications included: fall back to raising
the Salinas Dam;abandoning our pre-agreement with respect to ownership transfer of the
dam; and that full cost of building the Naci transmission facilities would become an
obligation to north County communities in the absence of SLO. I did not speak in a
threatening manner,but it seemed to me that a `plain English" statement was warranted
to get the north County bodies energized into action—whatever that action may turn out
to be.
There was a bit of discussion regarding the implications of HCL's threat of assigning
housing unit obligations and the impact that might have on water resources.
My personal observation is that our Council may need to develop a "drop dead"date for
the Naci project and be prepared to move on if it isn't met.