that Andy’s support for County staff will limit the length of time it takes for this plan to be completed and recommended by the committee, reviewed by the Planning Commission and adopted by the Board of Supervisors.  At the meeting of the planning area advisory committee in December 07, the timeline indicated that adoption of the Catheys Valley Community Planning Area Plan should be adopted no later than August 2008.      

Water Study

                 Water is a critical resource.  The past two years at our Fair booth, we have made informal inquiry of residents and found a high percentage who report problems with well depths, water quantity and quality.  While this is anecdotal, it is indicative that the problem will only worsen as our population increases.  Scientific data is needed.  Information is available from a past study (1979) as well as from data from well logs in ensuing years.  A review of this material would provide a base line of past and current conditions.  A prospective study of well depths and production would tell us what level of development can be sustained and in what areas of our county.  Voluntary participation would provide the input on quality and quantity of water available, well depths then, now, and in the future, and perhaps of the age and sources of the water we are using.  We hope to enlist the Board of Supervisors as the sponsoring governmental entity, and MERG may be able to attract grant money to pay at least part of the costs.  Without such a study, misdirected development may create serious problems. 

Integrated Regional Water Management Plan

    Several members of the MERG Board have attended conferences on Prop. 84 Integrated Regional Water Management Planning (IRWMP) grants.  These grants do not require the active involvement of local governing boards.  For example, in Kings County the project proposal was developed by ranching interests.  On March 9, 2007 a conference was co-convened by the Cosumnes Amercian Bear Yuba IRWMP, the Sierra Nevada Alliance (SNA), Mountain Counties Water Resources Association and the Sierra Nevada Conservancy.  Administrators from the CA State Resources Agency and the Department of Water Resources set the stage with a discussion of Propositions 50 and 84, the amount of funding available, and the future of water funding in California.

             According to the California Department of Water Resources web site, “the Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Program is intended to promote and practice integrated regional water management to ensure sustainable water uses, reliable water supplies, better water quality, environmental stewardship, efficient urban development, protection of agriculture, and a strong economy.”  A competitive grant process makes funding available to encourage development of integrated regional strategies for management of water resources.  According to SNA documents, “A successful IRWMP

grant proposal can help attract state and other funding to fund regional projects.”

             Section 79562.5 of the California Water Code establishes that grants shall be used for projects that address the major water related objectives and conflicts of the watersheds in the region covered by the plan, including water supply, groundwater management, ecosystem restoration, and water quality elements. 

 

Speakers

                 We are grateful to those who come to our meetings to inform us about their areas of expertise, and to help us understand complex issues.  In 2007 we benefited from the knowledge of Ted Selb of the Merced Irrigation District, who not only attended our meeting but arranged for a tour of the facilities at Exchequer Dam; Ken Schmidt, hydrologist from Fresno, who has a particular experience and interest in foothill water problems; Dana Hertfelder, public works director, who provided information or our road situation; Sarah Windsor, a local property owner, who spoke to us on dredging in our small streams and laws related thereto; Barbara Milazzo with a report on recycling instruction and activities in our schools; Barry Brouillette, a local realtor, who described a project for clustering homes on a large parcel; Ed Johnson, former Planning Director, who has promoted a mediation service in our county; Holly Warner and Jeannie Habben, watershed coordinators for Madera and Mariposa Counties, described their efforts to maintain and improve our surface waterways; and Steve Engfer and Dana Hertfelder conducted a tour of the composting facility for us.  Our thanks to them all. 

             In 2008, we hope to meet with most of the candidates for the Board of Supervisors.  Those up for reelection are Dianne Fritz in District 4 and Lyle Turpin in District 2.  But, there also is a vacancy in District 5 as Bob Pickard is retiring.  Declared candidates are Tom Phillips, former Sheriff Jim Allen, and Yosemite Deputy Superintendent Kevin Cann. We will also meet with Marilyn Lidyoff about economic vitality in Mariposa County; Dana Hertfelder to update us on the composting facility.

Photo/Joseph FitzGerald

 

A beautiful scene of a spring morning past at Pendola Gardens.