The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 10241989 - WC.2 W o. a THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Adopted this Order on October 24,' 1989 , by 'the following vote: AYES: Supervisors Powers, Fanden, Schroder, McPeak, Torlakson NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None ------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------ SUBJECT: Water Related Issues The Board received the attached report dated October 24, 1989 from the Water Committee (Supervisors Sunne McPeak and Tom Torlakson) , related to various water issues. Board members commented on potential levee problems caused by ground squirrels and the appropriateness of using Water Agency funds for eradication purposes. Supervisor McPeak recommended that the ground squirrel issue be deferred until a joint meeting could be held by the Fish and Wildlife Committee and the Agriculture Department on the matter. Supervisor Torlakson commented on the impact of squirrel damage to flood control levees and recommended that use of Flood Control funds for eradication be explored. Board members being in agreement, IT IS ORDERED that Recommendations #1, #2 and #4 on the attached report are APPROVED. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Fish and Wildlife Study Committee and Agriculture Department are REQUESTED to hold a joint meeting to review the matter, and prepare a detailed report to the Board on the problems caused by the ground squirrels. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the County Administrator is REQUESTED to review potential funding sources for ground squirrel eradication purposes, including use of Flood Control funds. cc: Community Development County Counsel Water Committee Paul Kilkenny, CDD Agriculture Department County Administrator I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of 1 an action taken end entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervl rs on the date shown. �ppp ATTESTED: --. PHIL BATCHELOR, I)cr,of the Board of upervisors and County Administrator Deputy ° WC2 TO- BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FROM: Water Committee Contra Supervisor Sunne McPeak and Supervisor Tom Torlakson Costa DATE-. Cry nt October 24, 1989 `/lJlrll Ily SUBJECT; Water-related Issues SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Direct the Community Development Department to monitor legislation related to water conservation _ landscape regulation. - 2. Direct the Community Development Department to receive comments on the preliminary draft Water Conservation Landscape ordinance, submit a revised draft with comments received to County Counsel, and report back to the Water Committee at their next scheduled meeting. 3 . Authorize Chair to sign a letter to the Agricultural Commissioner indicating that Water Agency funds will not be used for ground squirrel eradication purposes. 4. Authorize the Water Committee to officially monitor the discussions regarding participants in the Los Vaqueros Reservoir project, and support in concept the issues raised in the September 28, 1989, letter to Ed Seegmiller from Supervisor Sunne McPeak. FINANCIAL IMPACT None. REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION/BACKGROUND 1. The Water Committee wishes to be aware of water conservation landscape legislation which may impact our County water conservation landscape efforts. 2. On July 24, 1989, the Board directed the Community Development Department to work with County Counsel on preparation of a Water Conservation Landscape Ordinance based on revised landscape guidelines. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES SIGNATURE; RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE SIGNATURE(S1: Supervisor Sunne McPeak Supervisor Tom Torlakson A ON OF BOARD ON APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED .OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS 1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE UNANIMOUS (ABSENT AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TARN AYES: NOES. ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT; ABSTAIN: OF SU VISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. cc: Community Development (Orig.. Dept. ) ATTESTED County Counsel PHIL BATCHELOR, ERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND CO Y ADMINISTRATOR BY DE M382/7-83 A preliminary draft ordinance was prepared and discussed at the Water Committee meeting of October 16 , 1989. The Contra Costa Water District, the East Bay Municipal Utility District and the Building Industry Association representatives expressed concerns regarding the draft ordinance. In an effort to incorporate these concerns, the Water Committee requests that comments be submitted to the Community Development Department through October 24, 1989, and the draft ordinance be revised prior to submission to County Counsel. 3 . During their meeting of October 16, 1989, the Water Committee determined that ground squirrel eradication would not be an appropriate use of Water Agency funds, and does not recommend use of these funds for this purpose. The Water Committee felt that Water Agency funds would be better spent on water quality and water availability issues associated with the Bay-Delta hearings. 4. The Water Committee has indicated concern regarding the recent participation of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in the Los Vaqueros Reservoir Project. Bureau participation should be monitored to insure that the Los Vaqueros Reservoir will not be used as a method by which to export additional water south. Additional exports would be contrary to the purpose under which the voters approved the Los Vaqueros Reservoir Project. RG: jl32 :wat2 .brd SUNNE WRIGHT McPEAK Board of Supervisors Supervisor, District Four Contra 2301 Stanwell Drive COSta Concord, California 94520 I ' (415) 687 - 8663 COu' " / September 28 , 1989 Mr. Ed Seegmiller General Manager Contra Costa Water District 1331 Concord Avenue Concord, CA 94520 Dear Ed: The purpose of this correspondence is to comment on the September 18 , 1989 , letter to you from United States Bureau of Reclamation Regional Director Lawrence Hancock regarding Los Vaqueros Reservoir. The prospect of participation by the Bureau of Reclamation in Los Vaqueros Reservoir must be examined very carefully by the Contra Costa Water District before making a final decision. I have carefully reviewed the ballot language for the Los Vaqueros Reservoir measure and related implementing resolution. As .you know, I was directly involved in the development of the ballot language and proposed the wording that assures Los Vaqueros " . . . shall not be operated in conjunction with a Peripheral Canal or to increase the export of Delta water from Northern California without subsequent voter approval . . . " In fact, I originally proposed language that would prohibit increases in exports out of the "Bay-Delta region, " and the district staff preferred the term "Northern California. " While there is a need to carefully define "Northern California, " please bear in mind that the controlling language prohibits Los Vaqueros Reservoir from being used to increase "export of Delta water" to any place for any purpose. Further, in all meetings in which I have particiapted regarding Los Vaqueros Reservoir, I 've never heard mentioned that the Bureau of Reclamation might be considered as a partner. Therefore, USBR participation presents an extraordinary situation. It is incumbent upon the CCWD to impress upon the USBR that their participation in Los Vaqueros would require the Central Valley Project to limit its exports out of the Delta to current levels. If the federal government is willing to Mr. Ed Seegmiller September 28, 1989 Page 2 accept this condition with an ironclad agreement, then you can accomplish a major goal we've long advocated. Also, the USBR participation is Los Vaqueros would require CVP compliance with the objectives of the implementing resolutions , including protection of the Bay-Delta Estuary fisheries, wildlife, and ecology. Therefore, discussions with USER officials should begin with the negotiations regarding their willingness to provide additional safeguards for the Bay-Delta Estuary which should involve significant increases in spring flows and no increase in total export levels. This is a unique opportunity to make progress in better managing our water resources but only if the CCWD maintains a strict interpretation of the voter authority. I urge you to initiate an immediate dialogue with Congressman George Miller to assist you in negotiations with the USBR. I also would be willing to assist you in working to achieve an acceptable agreement with the USBR that is consistent with the intent of the Los Vaqueros ballot measure. And I recommend the CCWD submit the matter of USBR participation in Los Vaqueros to full public hearings if you are able to successfully negotiate an agreement as outlined above. Please let me know how I and the county can be helpful to the CCWD in addressing this matter. Sincerely, Sunne Wright McPeak SWM:ksm CC: CCWD Board of Directors Congressman George Miller United States Department of the Interior A. BUREAU OF RECLAMATION MID-PACIFIC REGIONAL OFFICE �■ 2800 COTTAGE WAY IN REPLY SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA 95825-1898 REFER TO: MP-720 SEP 1 8 1989 WI'R-4.000 Mr. Ed Seegmiller General Manager Contra Costa Water District PO Box H2O Concord CA 94524 Subject: Los Vaqueros Project Participation (Water District) Dear Mr. Seegniller: The purpose of this letter is to express to you our commitment to participate in your Los Vaqueros Project. Our staffs are in the process of developing a contract to formalize the conditions of our participation. We will be examining only two scenarios for our storage in Los Vaqueros. The first will be to develop sufficient storage to make our Delta-Mendota Canal deliveries out of Los Vaqueros during the months that are critical to the Delta fisheries. Pumping at the Tracy Pumping Plant can be eliminated during this time, reducing or eliminating impacts to the Delta fisheries due to pumping. The second scenario involves utilizing storage in Los Vaqueros such that the reservoir levels at Shasta Reservoir can be stabilized for recreation uses, thereby reducing the impacts to this segment of the local econally. We hope to develop an operation schene that will meet the objectives of both of these scenarios. We look forward to working with you on this project. If you have any questions, please contact Richard Johnson of my staff at (916) 978-4957. Sinc rely, LF. Hancock Rezicna} Director