HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/17/2002, CLR 1 - LIAISON REPORT- NORTH COUNTY WATER FORUM Converted Document Page 1 of 2
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September 5, 2002 MEETING AGENDA
DATE ITEM#�h
To: Council Colleague4- rth
From: Kenneth SchwaSubject: Liaison Reportounty Water Forum
The North County Water Forum resumed meeting after taking the summer off on Thursday September
5t`. The meeting began as usual with status reports being provided on the Nacimiento Project,the
Salinas Reservoir Expansion,and the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin study. The primary topic for the
meeting was a presentation by County Planning staff on the County's Resource Management System.
The Nacimiento project is now reported to have a final and complete project description for use in the
EIR.An economic impact analysis of the project on the surrounding communities has been authorized
by the Board of Supervisors. The Financial Advisor for the project is beginning work on the cost impact
analysis that will be very important information to the agencies participating in the project. The
projected schedule for release of the Draft EIR for the Nacimiento Project remains November 2002.
John Moss provided a brief update on the Salinas Project. While no work is currently underway with the
Salinas Project,John did advise the forum that the downstream fisheries analysis has been completed It
determined that no viable habitat for steelhead existed downstream due to the small dams and resulting
impoundments on the river and their effects on migration,water temperature, and predatory species
(bass, etc.)found in the impoundments. This satisfied the condition of the City's water rights permit for
downstream fisheries analysis,but is certainly not all the fisheries work that will need to be done if the
City decides to proceed with the project.
The Paso Robles Groundwater Basin study final report will be available on the County's web site in
October. The final report will be presented to the Board of Supervisors on October 0. Phase ll of the
report is going to be recommended to the Board on Oct. 8tha s well and is intended to focus additional
study an groundwater quality,demand projections and modeling, and additional analysis of those areas
of the basin with declining water levels.
The presentation on the County's Resource Management System(RMS)was provided by John Hand of
the County Planning Department. The RMS is a reporting and information toll of the County that
evaluates five critical resources in the County(Water, Sewage Treatment, schools,roads and???). The
RMS is presented to the Board of Supervisors annually and uses a Level of Severity(LOS)rating
system for each of the resources.
The presentation by Mr.Hand to the Forum focused only on the water resource of the North County,i.e.
Paso Robles Basin.Based on the recent Paso Robles Groundwater Basin analysis,which identified a
perennial yield of around 94,000 acre feet and a current demand of around 82,000 acre feet, and,
demand not projected to approach the perennial yield of the basin until 2020,no LOS is currently
assigned to the basin. For water resources,LOS 1 (lowest initial concern)is based on projected demand
equaling perennial yield within a 9-year time frame. The presumption or basis of this LOS criteria is a
presumption that if a problem is noted,the County would be able to take action to rectify the situation
within that time frame. Based on our own experience, 9 years is likely not a sufficient time frame to
complete a water supply project or otherwise rectify a deficiency. A motion was made by John Moss
that the Forum recommend to the Board of Supervisors that they reconsider their LOS criteria. The
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motion failed to get the unanimous support required under the bylaws of the forum to be passed. The
reasons for its failure were concerns that changing the LOS may cause inappropriate restrictions on
development by signaling a problem prematurely.
The next meeting of the forum will be Thursday October 3rd and the agenda will be discussing the work
of the County Water Resources Advisory Committee and their recommendations for prioritization of
water issues within the County that should be included for study in the County's upcoming financial
plan.
If you have any questions regarding the forum,please feel five to call John Moss at x205.
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