ADOPTED BOARD ACTIONS 4:30 p.m. 1. INVOCATION Director Kimberly Cox gave the invocation. 2. CALL TO ORDER, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND ROLL CALL Chairperson Ventura called the meeting to order at 4:33 p.m. PRESENT: ABSENT: CONSULTANTS: STAFF: OTHERS: Chairperson Jim Ventura, Vice Chairperson Beverly Lowry, Director Kimberly Cox, Director Carl P. Coleman, Director Richard Hall, Director Mike Page, and Director Doug Shumway None Bob Wagner, Watermaster Engineer, and Bill Brunick, Legal Counsel General Manager Kirby Brill, Watermaster Services Manager Valerie Wiegenstein, Director of Basin Management and Resource Planning Lance Eckhart, Senior Data Analyst Jeffrey Ruesch, Senior Watermaster Technician David Seielstad, and Executive Assistant Michelle Doyle Twelve Visitors 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA ACTION #0936: Director Shumway made a motion to approve the agenda. Director Hall seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 4. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION Ms. Ellen Johnson, Baja Subarea, requested a future discussion by the Watermaster on the issue of Stipulators who have been ramped down and are now pumping less than 10 acre-feet of water. Ms. Alisa Ellsworth, Department of Fish and Wildlife, spoke in support of a recommendation for an additional 5% Rampdown for the Baja Subarea. She added that the funding provided by the Biological Resources Trust Fund will continue in the upcoming year.
Page 2 CONSENT CALENDAR 5. ADOPT ACTIONS OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF JANUARY 27, 2016 6. ACCEPT BILLS FOR PAYMENT 7. ACCEPT WATERMASTER FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ENDING JANUARY 31, 2016 8. ACCEPT PERMANENT TRANSFERS OF BASE ANNUAL PRODUCTION RIGHT A. Jerry Cunningham to Hesperia Water District (10 acre-feet in the Alto Subarea, price paid, $4,700.00 per acre-foot) B. Carl E. Ross Living Trust to Western Rivers Conservancy (10 acre-feet in the Alto Subarea, price paid, Included with Property) C. Quigg and Company, Inc. to Newberry Springs Recreational Lakes Association (81 acre-feet in the Baja Subarea, price paid, $500.00 per acre-foot) D. Richard Reeves to Newberry Springs Recreational Lakes Association (224 acre-feet in the Baja Subarea, price paid, $500.00 per acre-foot) ACTION #0937: Director Cox made a motion to approve the items on the Consent Calendar. The motion was seconded by Director Lowry. The motion passed unanimously. NEW BUSINESS 9. CONSIDER PROPOSED RECOMMENDATION FOR FREE PRODUCTION ALLOWANCE FOR WATER YEAR 2016-17 Mr. Wagner reviewed information provided in the REVISED staff report distributed at this meeting as well as supporting documentation included in the agenda packet. A PowerPoint presentation was also given on this item. Mr. Chuck Bell, Este Subarea Advisory Committee, spoke on the increase of pumpers pumping outside of the Judgment and steps being taken to notify new property owners of the Adjudication and Water Rights. He also spoke regarding Biological Resources Trust Funds and the potential for a recharge basin in the Este Subarea. Director Page, Director Cox, Director Ventura, Director Hall, and Mr. Brunick discussed the issues faced with title companies not accepting water rights in their policies and County well permits. Mr. Eckhart reviewed the process in which the Mojave Water Agency is notified by the San Bernardino County Health Department following the issuance of a Well Permit.
Page 3 Mr. Brunick added legal background on Well 14 in the Oeste Subarea with regard to the Antelope Judgment. ACTION #0938: Director Hall made a motion to authorize staff to circulate the proposed recommendation for Free Production Allowance for Water Year 2016-17 by March 1, 2016 and set a public hearing to receive comments and adopt the recommendation at the regularly scheduled meeting on March 23, 2016. The motion was seconded by Director Shumway and unanimously approved by the Watermaster. 10. CONSIDER REQUEST FOR AUTHORIZATION TO CIRCULATE THE DRAFT WATERMASTER BUDGET AND ASSESSMENT RATES FOR WATER YEAR 2016-17 Ms. Wiegenstein reviewed information provided in the staff report included with the agenda packet. She also noted that it was determined by Kathy Cortner, Watermaster Treasurer, to modify the accounting methods previously used in order to better illustrate Mojave Water Agency staff time spent fulfilling the administrative functions of the Mojave Basin Area Watermaster. Mr. Brill added that this is still maintaining the financial separation as required by the Judgment as well as better utilization of staff time. ACTION #0939: Director Hall made a motion to authorize staff to circulate the draft budget and assessment rates by March 1, 2016 and set a public hearing to receive comments and adopt the proposal at the regularly scheduled meeting on March 23, 2016. The motion was seconded by Director Cox and unanimously approved by the Watermaster. 11. EXECUTIVE OFFICER REPORTS REPORTS A. STATUS OF MOJAVE WATER AGENCY S GROUNDWATER STORAGE ACCOUNTS BY SUBAREA B. DRAFT WATERMASTER ANNUAL REPORT FOR WATER YEAR 2014-15 The preceding reports were reviewed by Ms. Wiegenstein. 12. ENGINEER REPORTS A. GRAPH SHOWING HISTORIC ANNUAL BASE FLOW AT THE LOWER NARROWS GAGE AND DIRECT MEASUREMENTS BY USGS Mr. Wagner reviewed the report included in the agenda packet.
Page 4 B. GRAPH SHOWING LOWER NARROWS DIRECT MEASUREMENTS AND PROJECTED BASE FLOW, VVWRA DISCHARGE AND PROJECTIONS FOR ALTO MAKE-UP OBLIGATION Mr. Wagner reviewed the report included in the agenda packet. C. UPDATE ON REQUIRED WATERMASTER REPORTING FOR THE SUSTAINABLE GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT ACT (SGMA) Mr. Brill introduced this item as well as provided background on the new State mandate. Mr. Wagner reviewed information provided in a PowerPoint presentation. 13. LEGAL REPORTS - Mr. Brunick noted nothing to report. 14. DIRECTORS REPORTS - There were no reports. OTHER BUSINESS 15. DISCUSSION ITEMS FOR NEXT OR FUTURE AGENDAS Director Cox asked for the anticipated date in which Ms. Johnson s request regarding minimal producer status for stipulators in the Baja Subarea will be addressed. Mr. Brill responded that the actual date is unknown at this time but will be addressed with Legal Counsel and brought back to Watermaster at the earliest possible date. Director Ventura requested a discussion regarding water purchases which may change the status of a stipulator and the Watermaster s role in this process. Director Hall requested that staff address the issue when information is available regarding impending transducer between Los Angeles County and San Bernardino County. 16. CLOSED SESSION: LITIGATION; GC 54956.9(A). CITY OF BARSTOW, ET. AL V. CITY OF ADELANTO ET. AL, RIVERSIDE COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT, CASE NO. 208568 The Watermaster Board went into closed session at 5:49 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 6:36 p.m. with no reportable action noted by Mr. Brunick. 17. ADJOURNMENT Chairperson Ventura adjourned the meeting at 6:37 p.m. Approved: March 23, 2016 Joanne James, Secretary
Page 5 Attachments on-file: Item No. 8 Signed Documentation Item No. 9 Signed Documentation (Revised) PowerPoint Presentation, FPA Recommendation for Water Year 2016-17 Item No. 10 Signed Documentation Item No. 12C PowerPoint Presentation, Sustainable Groundwater Management Act 2014 (SGMA) Sign-in Sheets