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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 06111985 - WC.2 Contraj TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Costa FROM: WATER COMMITTEE Couny DATE: June 10, 1985 SUBJECT: Water Committee Report - Little Frank ' s Tract, PGandE, and Department of Fish and Game Funding Specific Requests or Recommendations & Background & Justification RECOMMENDED ACTION 1. Authorize the Chairwoman to sign the attached letter to Governor Deukmejian supporting a $1,000,000 appropriation for reconstruction of the levees of Little Frank 's Tract. 2. Authorize staff, in conjunction with the Fish and Wildlife Study Committee, to make a presentation on behalf of the Board at the June 19, 1985 Hearing expressing the need for PG.andE to mitigate its impacts and to require PGandE to meet all requirements listed in the 1983 permits concerning fishery mitigation measures for their two Contra Costa County powerplants. 3. Authorize staff to send a letter on behalf of the Board to the Director of the Depart- ment of Fish and Game, as recommended by the Fish and Wildlife Study Committee, withholding endorsement of his proposal to restructure the funding of the Department pending additional information on accountability of current and future funds. 4. Direct the Community Development Department to list possible "surface water banking" reservoirs in Contra Costa County and to report to the Water Committee the process for incorporating potential reservoir sites into the County General Plan. 5. Authorize the Chairwoman to sign a letter to Assemblyman Tom Bates requesting informa- tion on a proposed bill that would create a commission to develop solutions to Bay/Delta water issues. FINANCIAL IMPACT None. REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION/BACKGROUND 1. The County has received a letter from Assemblyman Philip Isenberg requesting support for funding of reconstruction of the levees at Little Frank's Tract in the Delta. The Legislature has approved $1,000,000 of funding from the Parklands Bond Act which was passed by the voters in 1984. The funding for the reconstruction is currently awaiting action by Continued on attachment: X yes Signature: Recommendation of County Administrator Recommendation of Board Committee Approve Other: Signature(s): Action of Board on: June 11 , 1986 Approved as Recommended OtherX The Board amended Recommendation 4 by adding: Direct Community Development Department to check with County water agencies regarding any plans for recharging ground water aquifers and indentifying any specific sites they may be considering. Vote of Supervisors I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN X Unanimous (Absent ) AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE Ayes: Noes: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON DATE SHOWN. Absent: Abstain: DBOcl 7jun85 wc.bo.ltl .franks.t6 Attested June 11 , 1986 Orig. Div. : Community Development PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK cc: County Administrator OF THE BOARD AND COUNTY Fish & Wildlife Study Committee (via CDD) ADMINISTRATOR By DE LEff i the Governor. Assemblyman Isenberg has asked that letters be sent to the Governor asking him to retain funding in the budget for the reconstruction of Little Frank' s Tract levees. Little Frank 's Tract is a valuable educational and recreational facility to residents of Contra Costa County and the entire Delta. Little Frank's Tract also protects adjacent islands from wave action which could adversely affect the integrity of adjacent island levees, all of which are in Contra Costa County. 2. The County has received a notice from the Central Valley and San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control Boards concerning a public hearing to be held on June 19, 1985 at 1:30 p.m. in the Board of Supervisors Chambers of Contra Costa County concerning alleged violations by PGandE of permit requirements concerning fishery mitigation for their two power plants in Contra Costa County. The permit was issued June 23, 1983 at a joint meeting of the two Regional Boards in Concord. Staff made comments at the hearing which supported the basic conditions of the permit, but raised some concerns about the ability to monitor the effectiveness of the permit requirements. The notice for the June 19, 1985 public hearing alleges several violations of the permit requirements and the Regional Boards will consider referral to the Attorney General of the permit violations. Since the power plants are located within Contra Costa County, and the Board has diligently fought for the protection of striped bass and other fishery species, it is appropriate for the Board to take a position that PGandE should fully mitigate all fishery impacts and that the permit requirements of the 1983 permit should be fully enforced. It is appropriate for the Fish and Wildlife Study Committee to review staff's testimony before it is presented to the Regional Boards. 3. The Board referred a letter dated May 3, 1985 to the Fish and Wildlife Study Committee concerning a plan proposed by the Director of the Department to increase fish and game license fees and to restructure future funding of the Department. The Department of Fish and Game proposes to separate non-game activities from game activities which are funded by fishing and hunting license fees. Non-game functions would be mostly funded by the State's General Fund. The Department is also proposing increasing license fees, some of them substantially, such as the fishing license increasing from the current $13.75 to $19.00 in 1986. The Fish and Wildlife Study Committee recommends support of the concept of separating non-game from game funds but recommends that the Board withhold endorsement of the total proposal until additional information is forthcoming concerning how funds will be accounted for in the future. There is evidence that funds have been mismanaged in the past and that no increase in license fees should be allowed until guarantees are made that funds will be spent appropriately. It is appropriate that staff convey these recommendations to the Director of the Department of Fish and Game. 4. The County has stated its support for the concept of off-stream storage of water, or water banking, as a way of increasing the amount of available water. There are several sites in Contra Costa County that have been proposed for surface water storage, such as the Los Vaqueros Reservoir. In order to preserve future options, it may be appropriate to designate future reservoirs in the County General Plan. In addition to state and federal projects, local water districts, such as the Contra Costa Water District and the East Bay Municipal Water District should be contacted for any projects they may have planned. 5. The Water Committee has been notified that Assemblyman Tom Bates is circulating a draft of a proposed bill which would create a commission with "project-definition" power to address Bay/Delta water issues. This type of bill would have a great impact on statewide water matters, especially if the bill is sponsored by a legislator from the Bay/Delta region. It is appropriate for the Board to request a copy of the proposed bill from Assemblyman Bates. Water Agency Contra Board of supervisors T c (Ex-Officio Governing Board) ~ Costa Tom Powers County Administration Building,North Wing tst District P.O. Box 951 County Nancy C. Fohden Martinez,California 94553.0095 l 2nd District Robert I. Schroder 3rd District Sunne Wright McPeak . 4th District Tom Torlakson 5th District June 10, 1985 SA III/32 The Honorable George Deukmejian Governor, State of California State Capitol Sacramento, CA 95814 Dear Governor Deukmejian: The Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa County authorized this letter be sent to you concerning funding of levee reconstruction at Little Frank's Tract, in Contra Costa County in the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta. The Legislature has approved a $1,000,000 appropriation to reconstruct the levees at Little Frank ' s Tract which were damaged by flooding. The money comes from the Parkland' s Bond Act, which was approved last year by California voters. Little Frank ' s Tract is a very valuable educational and recreational area which is used extensively by people in Contra Costa County and others _ throughout the Delta area. Little Frank 's Tract is unique in that it provides a wilderness area that is accessible to many people, because of its proximity to urban areas. Another major concern is that the levees of Little Frank' s -Tract also protect levees of adjacent, larger islands. With Little Frank's Tract flooded, wave action is allowed to be built up, such that erosion is occurring on adjacent island levees. Unless Little Frank's Tract is repaired, expensive flooding damage could occur on adjacent islands. Since the reconstruction of the levees at Little Frank' s Tract will benefit educational , recreational, and flood control concerns, and that the money will be coming from a bond act passed overwhelmingly by the voters, the Board of Supervisors urges you to concur with the Legislature and keep the $1,000,000 in the budget for the reconstruction of levees at Little Frank' s Tract. If you need any additional information or have any questions, please contact Paul Kilkenny or Dave Okita of the Community Development Department at (415) 671-4295 Very truly yours, Nancy C. Fanden Chairwoman Board of Supervisors DBOcl haz.l .deuk.t6 cc: County Legislative Delegation