A/GVWC Board of Directors Meeting Minutes, November 1, 2008

AGV Watershed Council

Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

Minutes of November 1, 2008

A meeting of the board of directors of the Atascadero / Green Valley Watershed Council was held on November 1, 2008, at 345 Montgomery Drive in Sebastopol, beginning at 10:20AM. Directors Jean Redus, John Roberts, Stephen Fuller-Rowell and Bob Burke were present. Kent MacIntosh of Trout Unlimited was present for part of the meeting.
Financial Report. John reported that the Council has a total of $728.09 in its general account.

Green Valley Creek at Martinelli Ranch. Kent MacIntosh of Trout Unlimited reported on his observations on a single lane bridge recently constructed over Green Valley Creek on the Martinelli Ranch off Martinelli Road, the site of the restoration efforts by Richard Miller, Larry Hanson, Kimberly Burr, John Roberts and others. Kent expressed concern that some soil or silt had been disturbed during the construction process and would likely cause sedimentation downstream after substantial rainfall. John was familiar with the site and expressed his concerns as well. The Department of Fish and Game and Trout Unlimited apparently had been involved in review of the bridge construction. It was agreed that the board should investigate the project, in conjunction with the landowner and the DFG.

New Grading Ordinance. John reported on a meeting he and Kimberly Burr and Larry Hanson attended with representatives of PRMD, County Counsel and the Agriculture Commission to discuss the draft Grading, Drainage and Vineyard and Orchard Site Development Ordinance recently proposed for adoption by the Board of Supervisors. The draft ordnance consists of 135 pages and would amend many different parts of the County Code. The public was given until September 26, 2008 to submit comments on this legislation.

Urban Water Management Plan Litigation. The California Urban Water Management Planning Act declares that "[a] long term, reliable supply of water is essential to protect the productivity of California's business and economic climate" as well as its environmental quality. The Sonoma County Water Agency, like other major purveyors of urban water, is required by such Act to prepare an Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) every five years to assess available ground and surface water supplies and determine whether they are sufficient to meet projected water demands. After the 2005 UWMP had been adopted by the Water Agency, the Sonoma County Water Coalition and 14 other groups, including the Watershed Council, sought judicial review of the Plan, alleging that it: failed to accurately inventory and allocate ground and surface water resources; overstated water supplies; understated water demands; and threatened to induce unsustainable urban development throughout the area that will outpace water supplies. The 2005 Plan claims that Sonoma County has adequate ground and surface water supplies for substantial urban growth. Stephen reported that on October 28 the Superior Court Judge hearing the petition had ruled in favor of virtually all of the claims made by the petitioners. The judge agreed with the Water Coalition that the 2005 Plan was seriously deficient. The judge ruled that the Plan ignores or understates many severe constraints on future water supply, and that SCWA violated the Act in the following respects:

The SCWA failed to coordinate with relevant agencies as required by the Act; The Plan fails to include the degree of specificity required by the Act; The Plan fails to adequately consider environmental factors, specifically, the effect of changed water flows during period of water shortfalls on the salmonids, and other potential implications of the Endangered Species Act; The Plan fails to adequately address the effect of recycled groundwater on the availability of water supply in the future; and The Plan fails to quantify with reasonable specificity the scope of water demand management measures which are relied upon to address the anticipated water shortfalls.

The superior court therefore set aside the Plan, and directed SCWA to acknowledge and address the potential water shortages facing Sonoma County before unsustainable urban growth deprives existing and future agricultural, urban, and recreational uses of essential water supplies. An article about the ruling had appeared on the front page of the Press Democrat on the day of the board meeting, which can be found here and the ruling itself is posted on the web site of the Sonoma County Water Coalition.The directors commended Stephen for having recognized the serious deficiencies in the 2005 Plan early on, in time to request judicial review, and also for having borne the primary burden of pursuing the litigation, with the help of legal counsel.

Creek Cleanup. Jean reported on the very success creek cleanup in Graton and its environs that took place on October 25. Great quantities of trash were removed from the Atascadero and at other locations on Green Valley Road.

New Web Site for Illegal Trash Pick-up. Bob reported on a new website, http://www.keepsonomaclean.org , where anyone can report illegal dumping. The site, created by four County agencies, provides a wealth of information, in addition to the reporting function. The agencies got a grant from the State Integrated Waste Management Board to establish a multi-point program to reduce and hopefully eliminate illegal dumping in the County. The agencies are the Environmental Health Division of the Department of Health Services, and the Department of Transportation and Public Works, Roads and Integrated Waste. In addition, the County's Information Services Department and the Community Oriented Policing and Problem Solving Unit (COPPS) of the Sheriff's Department complete the line-up of agencies. Now residents of the Watershed have a quick and convenient way to report trash that has been dumped along our roads or in our creeks. Thanks to our tax dollars being put to work, such trash will be collected and properly disposed of after it is reported. Now all we have to do is educate the public to "take responsibility for our own actions" and cease the illegal dumping and littering.

Invitation to Victor of Supervisor Race. All residents of the Watershed are aware of the Fifth Supervisorial District that is being vigorously contested, with the election only four days hence. The role of the Fifth District Supervisor in pursuing the well being of the watershed and its inhabitants is obvious. We believe that the role of the volunteers who make up the membership and board of the Watershed Council in pursuit of that goal is more modest, but also important. Accordingly, Bob moved, Stephen seconded, and the directors decided unanimously that the board invite the candidate who will be chosen by a majority of the voters to represent the District to meet with us after the election, to explore how we can work together for the common benefit of all stakeholders in the watershed. Jean was given a draft form of invitation, which she was asked to send off today, so it would be received by the candidates before Election Day.

The meeting adjourned at 12:40

Respectfully submitted,

Bob Burke
Secretary

AGV Watershed Council	Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
Minutes of November 1, 2008


A meeting of the board of directors of the Atascadero / Green Valley Watershed Council was held on November 1, 2008, at 345 Montgomery Drive in Sebastopol, beginning at 10:20AM. Directors Jean Redus, John Roberts, Stephen Fuller-Rowell and Bob Burke were present. Kent MacIntosh of Trout Unlimited was present for part of the meeting. Financial Report. John reported that the Council has a total of $728.09 in its general account. Green Valley Creek at Martinelli Ranch. Kent MacIntosh of Trout Unlimited reported on his observations on a single lane bridge recently constructed over Green Valley Creek on the Martinelli Ranch off Martinelli Road, the site of the restoration efforts by Richard Miller, Larry Hanson, Kimberly Burr, John Roberts and others. Kent expressed concern that some soil or silt had been disturbed during the construction process and would likely cause sedimentation downstream after substantial rainfall. John was familiar with the site and expressed his concerns as well. The Department of Fish and Game and Trout Unlimited apparently had been involved in review of the bridge construction. It was agreed that the board should investigate the project, in conjunction with the landowner and the DFG. New Grading Ordinance. John reported on a meeting he and Kimberly Burr and Larry Hanson attended with representatives of PRMD, County Counsel and the Agriculture Commission to discuss the draft Grading, Drainage and Vineyard and Orchard Site Development Ordinance recently proposed for adoption by the Board of Supervisors. The draft ordnance consists of 135 pages and would amend many different parts of the County Code. The public was given until September 26, 2008 to submit comments on this legislation. Urban Water Management Plan Litigation. The California Urban Water Management Planning Act declares that "[a] long term, reliable supply of water is essential to protect the productivity of California's business and economic climate" as well as its environmental quality. The Sonoma County Water Agency, like other major purveyors of urban water, is required by such Act to prepare an Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) every five years to assess available ground and surface water supplies and determine whether they are sufficient to meet projected water demands. After the 2005 UWMP had been adopted by the Water Agency, the Sonoma County Water Coalition and 14 other groups, including the Watershed Council, sought judicial review of the Plan, alleging that it: failed to accurately inventory and allocate ground and surface water resources; overstated water supplies; understated water demands; and threatened to induce unsustainable urban development throughout the area that will outpace water supplies. The 2005 Plan claims that Sonoma County has adequate ground and surface water supplies for substantial urban growth. Stephen reported that on October 28 the Superior Court Judge hearing the petition had ruled in favor of virtually all of the claims made by the petitioners. The judge agreed with the Water Coalition that the 2005 Plan was seriously deficient. The judge ruled that the Plan ignores or understates many severe constraints on future water supply, and that SCWA violated the Act in the following respects: The SCWA failed to coordinate with relevant agencies as required by the Act; The Plan fails to include the degree of specificity required by the Act; The Plan fails to adequately consider environmental factors, specifically, the effect of changed water flows during period of water shortfalls on the salmonids, and other potential implications of the Endangered Species Act; The Plan fails to adequately address the effect of recycled groundwater on the availability of water supply in the future; and The Plan fails to quantify with reasonable specificity the scope of water demand management measures which are relied upon to address the anticipated water shortfalls. The superior court therefore set aside the Plan, and directed SCWA to acknowledge and address the potential water shortages facing Sonoma County before unsustainable urban growth deprives existing and future agricultural, urban, and recreational uses of essential water supplies. An article about the ruling had appeared on the front page of the Press Democrat on the day of the board meeting, which can be found here and the ruling itself is posted on the web site of the Sonoma County Water Coalition.The directors commended Stephen for having recognized the serious deficiencies in the 2005 Plan early on, in time to request judicial review, and also for having borne the primary burden of pursuing the litigation, with the help of legal counsel. Creek Cleanup. Jean reported on the very success creek cleanup in Graton and its environs that took place on October 25. Great quantities of trash were removed from the Atascadero and at other locations on Green Valley Road. New Web Site for Illegal Trash Pick-up. Bob reported on a new website, http://www.keepsonomaclean.org , where anyone can report illegal dumping. The site, created by four County agencies, provides a wealth of information, in addition to the reporting function. The agencies got a grant from the State Integrated Waste Management Board to establish a multi-point program to reduce and hopefully eliminate illegal dumping in the County. The agencies are the Environmental Health Division of the Department of Health Services, and the Department of Transportation and Public Works, Roads and Integrated Waste. In addition, the County's Information Services Department and the Community Oriented Policing and Problem Solving Unit (COPPS) of the Sheriff's Department complete the line-up of agencies. Now residents of the Watershed have a quick and convenient way to report trash that has been dumped along our roads or in our creeks. Thanks to our tax dollars being put to work, such trash will be collected and properly disposed of after it is reported. Now all we have to do is educate the public to "take responsibility for our own actions" and cease the illegal dumping and littering. Invitation to Victor of Supervisor Race. All residents of the Watershed are aware of the Fifth Supervisorial District that is being vigorously contested, with the election only four days hence. The role of the Fifth District Supervisor in pursuing the well being of the watershed and its inhabitants is obvious. We believe that the role of the volunteers who make up the membership and board of the Watershed Council in pursuit of that goal is more modest, but also important. Accordingly, Bob moved, Stephen seconded, and the directors decided unanimously that the board invite the candidate who will be chosen by a majority of the voters to represent the District to meet with us after the election, to explore how we can work together for the common benefit of all stakeholders in the watershed. Jean was given a draft form of invitation, which she was asked to send off today, so it would be received by the candidates before Election Day. The meeting adjourned at 12:40 Respectfully submitted, Bob Burke Secretary