HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 02101987 - WC.2 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FROM: WATER COMMITTEE
DATE: FEBRUARY 2, 1986
SUBJECT: WATER HYACINTH, GATED BARRIER, AND
OREGON/CALIFORNIA TRANSMISSION LINE
Specific Request( s) or Recommendation( s) & Background & Justification
RECOMMENDED ACTION
1. AUTHORIZE the following actions concerning the water hyacinth problem in
the Delta:
A. REQUEST the County Department of Agriculture to continue to monitor
the ongoing water hyacinth control program in the Delta.
B. AUTHORIZE the Chair to sign a letter on behalf of the Board to the
Board of Supervisors of Stanislaus and Merced Counties requesting
their participation in a hyacinth control program for waterways in
their counties that are identified as breeding grounds for hyacinths
in the entire Delta.
C. AUTHORIZE County staff to send a letter to the State Department of
Boating and Waterways encouraging them to better anticipate problems
for spraying on windy days by starting earlier in the morning when
there is less wind. Also, suggest purchase of an airboat if needed
for increased level of hyacinth control and to continue to implement
safeguards previously agreed upon to prevent water contamination.
2 . AUTHORIZE the Chair to sign a letter to the Delta Advisory Planning
Council acknowledging receipt of their request for Board support of a
gated saltwater barrier in the Delta, and to AUTHORIZE the Community
Development Department to contact the Department of Water Resources to
determine the status of their investigation of the gated barrier.
3 . REQUEST the Community Development Department to submit proposed comments
on the Oregon/California Power Transmission Line Project to the Board of
Supervisors prior to responding.
FINANCIAL IMPACT - None
REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION/BACKGROUND
1. For several years, the State Department of Boating and Waterways has
conducted a water hyacinth control program consisting of spraying
Continued on attachment: _X_yes Signature:
Recommend of County Administrator Recommend of Board Committee
Approve Other:
Signature( s)
Supervisor Tom Torlakson Supervisor Sunne Wright McPeak
Action of Board on: Approved as Recommended i,-'-Other
Vote of Supervisors I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
Unanimous Absent AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE
S Ayes Noes BOARD OF SUPERV ORS ON DATE SHOWN.
� Absent 3T7 Abstain
DBOcl--L9 :hyacinth.t2 Attested lo, /197
Orig.Div. : Community Development PHIL BATCHELOR',
cc: County Administrator CLERK OF THE BOARD, AND
Agriculture Department COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
By
DEPUTY LER
rbicides on the plants as they emerge in the spring. Last year, the
ontrol program was hampered by a large number of days in which spraying
was not allowed because of high winds. The water hyacinth problem has been
increasing in the western Delta near Lake Sherman and Antioch. Contra
Costa County was involved in developing the control program and insuring
that adequate safeguards were established to protect water quality. It is
appropriate for our County to continue to be involved in the program so
that the rapidly growing hyacinths do not further infest the Delta,
resulting in significantly higher costs in the future.
2. The County has adopted a position in support of further investigation of
a gated barrier located west of the Delta. The Department of Water
Resources is currently studying this proposal. It is not appropriate for
the County to take a position on the proposed barrier until the studies by
the Department of Water Resources are complete. The Delta Advisory
Planning Council submitted a letter to the Board of Supervisors requesting
support for the study of this proposal.
3 . A draft EIR/EIS for the Oregon/California Transmission Line Project has
been issued. The Community Development Department is preparing comments on
behalf of the County. The Water Committee concerns are focused to Delta
related issues, but the Water Committee acknowledges that Contra Costa
County, as a whole, will have other concerns. The Water Committee is
concerned that the draft EIR does not fully acknowledge the potential for
Delta levee failure impacting the proposed transmission lines. If the
transmission lines are placed in the Delta, they should be considered
beneficiaries of Delta levee protection and, therefore„ be assessed for
repairing and maintaining Delta levees. The Committee is also concerned
that if the power lines degrade property values in the area, the value of
the Delta will be lowered and, therefore, efforts to preserve the Delta may
be hampered. The Committee is also concerned that the alternatives are not
evaluated in enough detail to determine the reliability of flood protection
on the various islands and the stability of various levees.
DBOcl
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