MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Transcription

1 Post Office Box 151 Bakersfield, CA Tel: (661) Fax: (661) MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Date: Thursday, Time: 8:30 A.M. Location: Kern County Water Agency, 3200 Rio Mirada Dr., Bakersfield, Ca GENERAL DIRECTORS AND ALTERNATES PRESENT Jeevan Muhar, Arvin-Edison WSD Mark Mulkay, Kern Delta WD Kim Brown, North Kern WSD By phone Eric Averett, Rosedale-Rio Bravo WSD Jason Gianquinto, Semitropic WSD Robert Kunde and Michael Blaine, Wheeler Ridge-Maricopa WSD Jeff Siemens, Olcese WD Dan Munn, Shafter Wasco ID GENERAL DIRECTORS ABSENT Steve Collup, Arvin-Edison WSD Joe Lutje and David Cosyns, Henry Miller WD Skye Grass and Steve Dalke, Kern-Tulare WD Pete Kaiser, Kern Delta WD Roger Riley, Shafter-Wasco ID Dick Diamond, North Kern WSD Jim Nickel, Olcese WD Dan Bartell, Rosedale-Rio Bravo WSD Rick Wegis, Semitropic WSD ASSOCIATE MEMBERS PRESENT Tim Ashlock, Buena Vista Coalition Greg Hammett, Westside Water Quality Coalition ASSOCIATE MEMBERS ABSENT Dave Hampton, Cawelo WD Coalition OTHERS PRESENT Nicole Bell, KRWCA Manager John Schaap, David Halopoff, Velvet Gaston and Hilary Reinhard, Provost & Pritchard

2 Ernest Conant, Young Wooldridge, LLP Joel Kimmelshue, Land IQ - By phone Chad Taylor, Todd Groundwater By phone Dennis Tristao, JG Boswell Doug Gosling, Young Wooldridge, LLP Roy Pierucci, Rosedale-Rio Bravo WSD Patty Poire, Grimmway Farms George Cappello, Grimmway Farms Robbin Hamilton, Paramount Citrus Beatris Sanders, KCFB Don Collins, Kern Delta WD Dennis Johnston, Johnston Farms Todd Turley, South Valley Farms Tim Holtermann, Holtermann Farms Justin Salters, Chevron KRWCA Board Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 5 1. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Eric Averett called the meeting to order at 8:35 a.m. 2. PUBLIC COMMENT None 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion was made by Director Michael Blaine to approve the minutes of the 11/6/2014 BOARD Meeting with the correction that he was not in attendance. Director Blaine also moved to approve the minutes of the 11/18/2014 GAR Technical Committee Meeting. Upon second of both motions by Director Jeevan Muhar, each vote was unanimously carried. 4. TREASURERS REPORT a. Accounts Payable/Accounts Receivable - Mr. Robert Kunde reviewed the accounts payable with the Authority Board. A motion was made by Director Michael Blaine to pay the open accounts payable in the amount of $116, Upon second by Director Mark Mulkay the motion was unanimously carried. b District Cash Call Summary (anticipated refunds) - The Summary was provided to the Districts within the Treasurers Report Handout. 5. UPDATE ON SOUTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY WATER QUALITY COALITION Special Activities Agreement/s (CV-Salts and Antidegredation) - Ms. Bell reported that the group has come to an agreement on representation for CV-Salts (legal representation and membership) and Antidegradation. The agreement/s will have a different title due to the MOU and will have a budget of $80,000. The Budget will be split as follows:

3 Page 3 of % Buena Vista Coalition, 12.5% Tule Basin Water Quality Coalition, 25% Kaweah Basin Water Quality Association, 25% Kern River Watershed Coalition Authority and 25% Kings River Watershed Coalition Authority. Ms. Bell and Casey Creamer (Kings) will be working with Bill Thomas to develop an agreement for CV-Salts and Anti-degradation Policy representation. Ms. Bell can now work with the Executive Committee and Kings River Watershed Coalition Authority to develop a shared legal representation agreement for items not being covered through the SSJVWQC or Special Agreement such as discussed above. 6. REPORT OF PROVOST & PRITCHARD CONSULTING GROUP a. Groundwater Quality Assessment (GAR) Progress Report Mr. Halopoff reviewed Sections 10 and 11 of the GAR. The groundwater vulnerability analysis methodology and identification of high vulnerability areas (Section 10), and the high vulnerability area prioritization parameters and preliminary prioritization results (Section 11) were presented. Based on the presented groundwater vulnerability analysis methodology, 212,967 irrigated acres within the KRWCA were identified as high vulnerability. A preliminary high vulnerability prioritization map was also presented to the Board. Mr. Halopoff reported that the 90% Draft GAR would be circulated to the Board in December for their review, and that approval of the GAR for submittal would be requested at the January board meeting. The GAR is to be submitted to the RWQCB February 4, b. Sediment Discharge and Erosion Assessment Report (SDEAR) Presentation Ms. Reinhard reviewed a presentation on the SDEAR. The SDEAR is to determine which irrigated agricultural areas are subject to erosion and may discharge sediment that may degrade surface waters. The SDEAR methodology, identification criteria, and resulting identified irrigated parcels were presented to the Board. There was discussion regarding how intermittent streams that did not discharge to a prevalent surface water body were to be addressed. It was noted upon review of the 90% draft report, the KRWCA could provide direction on more work to be undertaken to review such lands. Provost & Pritchard reported that the 90% draft report, along with the requirements of the SDEAR, requirements for Members identified in the SDEAR, and the draft Sediment Discharge and Erosion Control Plan (SDECP) would be circulated to the Board for review. c. Comprehensive Groundwater Quality Management Plan (CGQMP) Progress Report Mr. Schaap reviewed a presentation regarding the Comprehensive Groundwater Quality Management Plan. The purpose, requirements, timeline, and outline of the CGQMP was discussed. Mr. Schaap also discussed the East San Joaquin and the Kings CGQMPs. d. Surface Water Monitoring Plan Comment Letter from CVRWQCB John Schaap briefly discussed the 12/2/14 Surface Water Monitoring Plan (SWMP) Review letter that was received from the RWQCB. A revised SWMP was requested by 2/2/15, addressing the RWQCB comments. Mr. Schaap noted that an extension would be requested so that

4 Page 4 of 5 more time could be taken in reviewing the requests with the KRWCA board. Mr. Schaap noted that a memo with some analysis and recommendations would be prepared and distributed to the board, to guide further discussion. 7. KRWCA MANAGER REPORT/ILRP PROGRAM UPDATE a. Request for Reduction in Fees for growers who signed up with Buena Vista Coalition instead of KRWCA Ms. Bell explained to the Board that the Buena Vista Coalition had enrolled 4 growers with land (nearly 1500 acres) that is located within the KRWCA Boundary Area. She sought guidance from the Board as to what fee to charge since these growers had not timely filed with the KRWCA. It was discussed that since the growers had timely applied to the Buena Vista Coalition that the late acreage fees would not be charged. It was noted that the growers would still need to complete the Post Deadline Application Process through the CVRWQCB. Director Michael Blaine made the motion to only charge the $6.50/$7.50 fee as appropriate as the growers had timely filed with the Buena Vista Coalition. Upon second by Director Jeevan Muhar the motion was unanimously carried. b. CVRWQCB Ms. Bell reported on the following items: i. Approved Revisions to the TLB General Order (Managed Wetlands, Farm Evaluation Reporting, NMP Summary Reporting) ii. Farm Evaluation Template Approved iii. NMP Template-Anticipated Approval 12/31/14 iv. Enforcement action is taking place and fines imposed in other counties c. Bay Delta Initiative (BDI) Grant application KRWCA submitted a Grant Application through NRCS in partnership with KCFB and North West Kern RCD. $500,000 was requested. d. Meeting Attendance Ms. Bell attended the following meetings: i. 11/11, Pesticide Workgroup Meeting ii. 11/13, WSPA Groundwater Issues Meeting iii. 11/17, Kern Groundwater Authority Meeting iv. 11/18, KRWCA GAR Technical Meeting v. 11/20, KCFB Meeting ii. 11/24, Region 5 Coalition and Commodity Group Nitrogen Management Plan (NMP) Meeting with RB Staff iii. 12/1, Ag Meeting with Pamela Creedon and Adam Lamputz, CVRWQCB iv. 12/4-12/5, CVRWQCB Board Meeting e. Grower Outreach and Education Meetings Scheduled from 4:00PM to 6:00PM: i. February 17, McFarland ii. February 18, Wasco iii. February 25, Kern Ag Pavilion

5 Page 5 of 5 f. Tulare Lake Basin Coalition Fees Chart A Fees Chart handout was provided 8. ATTORNEYS REPORT Ernest Conant reported that there was no new information to report regarding the open Petitions and that there were items to be discussed in closed session. 9. CLOSED SESSION At 10:50 a.m. the Board convened into closed session to discuss the listed items. No action was expected. At 11:05 a.m. the Board adjourned the closed session and returned to a public meeting. It was reported that no action was taken. a. Potential Litigation - Government Code Section (b) (c) i. One Item b. Pending Litigation - Government Code Section (a) i. California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, et al. v. California Region Water Quality Control Board, Central Valley Region, et al (Alameda SC # RG ) ii. Petitions filed by the Kern River Watershed Coalition Authority, et al. with the State Water Resource s Control Board regarding the Eastern San Joaquin General Order and the Tulare Lake Basin General Order. 10. OLD OR NEW BUSINESS a Meeting Schedule - The Board discussed options for the 2015 Meeting Schedule. Director Michael Blaine moved to hold KRWCA Board Meetings on the 1 st Thursday of each month at 1:00 PM, unless otherwise noted. Upon second by Director Dana Munn the motion was unanimously carried. 11. ADJOURN There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 11:15 a.m.