HomeMy WebLinkAboutClosed session document
From:Pickett, Andy
To:Alpert, Bruce;Bennett, Robin;Clerk of the Board;Connelly, Bill;Cook, Holly;Cook, Robin;Hironimus, Patrizia;
Kimmelshue, Tod;Lucero, Debra;Paulsen, Shaina;Pickett, Andy;Reaster, Kayla;Ring, Brian;Ritter, Tami;
Sweeney, Kathleen;Teeter, Doug
Cc:Loeser, Kamie
Subject:Closed session document
Date:Monday, October 11, 2021 9:40:41 AM
Attachments:WRC Goals Expectations - Closed Session 10-12-21.docx
Board Members,
Tomorrow we will have our new Director of Water and Resources Conservation, Kamie Loeser, in
closed session to discuss goals and objectives. I am sending you ahead of time the document we will
use to guide the conversation.
I look forward to a good discussion.
Andy
A. Pickett
Chief Administrative Officer
County of Butte
25 County Center Drive, Suite 200, Oroville, CA 95965
T: 530.552.3310
Department of Water and Resource Conservation
Draft Strategic Planning Guidance Document
Prepared By: Kamie Loeser, Director
Date: October 11, 2021
PURPOSE
The Department of Water and Resource Conservation (Department or WRC) is seeking to clarify
expectations from the Board of Supervisors (BOS) regarding:
1.Roles and responsibilities of the staff and Water Commission;
2.Project priorities and goals; and
3.Reporting to and informing the BOS.
Depending on the BOS’s review, discussion and input pertaining to the Department’s Key Initiatives
described further below, the Department poses the following questions:
1.How does the Board see the Department’s role in each of the GSAs?
2.Should key initiatives and projects come from the Board, from staff and Water Commission, or a
combination thereof?
3.When it comes to project development, grant development and acquisition or other similar
initiatives, how early/often do we solicit input from and report to the BOS?
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
In 2011, the Department prepared a 2011-2015 Strategic Plan, which included a description of the
Department’s Mission, Vision, Values and Priorities for 2011-2015. The purpose of the Strategic Plan was
to outline the actions and priorities of the Department for five years.
The 2011-2015 Strategic Plan identified six Goals with specific Action Items, either ongoing, short-term,
long-term or tied to the General Plan 2030. The six Goals were:
Goal 1: Utilize the State Water Project Table A Allocation.
Goal 2: Support solutions to ensure the sustainability of community water supplies.
Goal 3: Produce data, information and analyses on water resources.
Goal 4: Protect and manage groundwater resources.
Goal 5: Protect local water resources through partnerships, cooperation and leadership on a
regional and statewide basis.
Goal 6: Advance water resources education and knowledge.
Many of the Action Items associated with these six Goals have been initiated, are ongoing, or still in the
planning process. In addition, although not finalized or formally adopted, in 2019 staff, in coordination
with the Water Commission, began the process of updating the Strategic Plan to incorporate the more
recent activities of the Department. The activities that are applicable within the framework of the
existing Strategic Plan include:
Implementing the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA).
Preparing for and mitigating the effects of drought conditions and climate change.
Addressing local and regional water resource issues.
Supporting the protection of area of origin, county of origin, water right priorities and local
water resource management authority.
CURRENT DEPARTMENT ACTIVITIES
Provided below is a general list of ongoing Department activities:
Department Administration
Water Commission
Drought Response – Director Chairs Drought Task Force, EOC Planning
SGMA Implementation
Table A Allocation Administration
Water Updates to the BOS
Interdepartmental Coordination
State and Federal Policies
Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM)
Grant Acquisition and Administration
Water-Solutions Newsletter (monthly)
KEY INITIATIVES
The Department is seeking to clarity roles and responsibilities as well as BOS reporting preferences in
order to more adequately manage the Department’s activities, assess resource deficiencies and needs,
and identify opportunities to pursue that are in alignment with the Department’s mission and vision.
Role in GSAs - Vina JPA/GSA, Wyandotte Creek JPA/GSA, Butte GSA/BAB
Determine the Department’s role in the ongoing participation in each of the GSAs and implementation
of the GSPs. Provided below is an overview of the Department’s activities associated with SGMA
implementation and GSA coordination.
1.SGMA Implementation
a.Administration of GSP consultant contracts
b.Participation of Vina GSA, Wyandotte Creek GSA, and in the Butte Subbasin as a GSA
c.Development of GSPs
Department of Water and Resource Conservation
Draft Strategic Planning Guidance Document 2
i.Adoption of GSPs - December 2021
ii.Annual Reports - April 2022
2.GSAs Coordination
a.GSAs Funding, Financial Management, Grant Acquisition
b.Intra-basin Coordination
o Butte Subbasin (comprised of 11 GSAs) Cooperation Agreement - Intra-basin/BAB
Coordination, Butte County GSA Management
o Vina GSA - Member Agency and SHAC Coordination, RCRD GSA Coordination,
JPA/GSA Management
o Wyandotte Creek GSA - Member Agency and WAC Coordination, JPA/GSA
Management
c. Inter-basin GSA Coordination
o Within Butte County between Vina, Wyandotte Creek and Butte Subbasins
o Outside Butte County within NSV Region
3.GSPs Implementation and Management - *Note: The JPAs for the Vina and Wyandotte Creek
GSAs state that the GSAs will not hire employees.
a.Coordination and Implementation of Projects and Management Actions, and addressing
Data Gaps
b.Monitoring, Compliance, Enforcement
c.Preparing Annual Reports and 5-Year Updates
Data Management System
Maintain the existing monitoring data as well as the information that will be gathered as part of each
GSP’s implementation. The DMS will allow the GSAs to share data and store the necessary information
for annual reporting.
GSPs and HCM Data Gaps Projects
Assessment of monitoring network, monitoring conditions relative to the applicable
sustainability indicators
Updating and Maintaining the DMS
Refining the Subbasins’ model and water budgets
Well/Groundwater Monitoring
Drought Data
Department of Water and Resource Conservation
Draft Strategic Planning Guidance Document 3
Role of the Water Commission
Clarify reporting processes with regard to Water Commission responsibilities. Per Resolution No. 97-08,
the purpose of the Water Commission is to:
Advise the Board of Supervisors on water matters;
Assist in the development of water policies;
Perform all tasks delegated to it pursuant to the ordinance titled “An Ordinance to Protect the
Groundwater Resources in Butte County” - Chapter 33;
Monitors state and federal legislation and water policy and inform the Board of Supervisors
regarding the same by wayof summary reports;
Reviews the concerns of the water industry and water users in Butte County;
Define problems relating to water issues and recommend solutions to the Board of Supervisors;
Acts as a liaison between local water agencies and the Board of Supervisors; and
Responsible for collecting and disseminating technical information and for creating and
maintaining a library of water documents which shall be available to the public.
Example Water Commission initiatives:
Near-term
o General Plan Update / Water Element Ad Hoc Committee, established at 10/6/21
meeting
o Interface with PID regarding the Paradise Options Study: Infrastructure projects (i.e.,
Miocene Canal, Chico Intertie, Magalia Dam Raise)
Medium- and Long-term
o GSPs Projects and Implementation (particularly regarding groundwater monitoring and
reporting requirements per Chapter 33)
o Ag/Water Education Initiatives (i.e., Ag Irrigation Efficiency)
General Plan Update
Water Element (refer to near-term role of Water Commission/Ad-Hoc Committee)
Resource Conservation District
Should the Department be interfacing/collaborating with the RCD more for project development, grant
applications, etc.?
Teaming Opportunities for grant acquisition, integrated watershed management
Paradise Options Study: Voluntary Agreements projects (i.e., fish flows and habitat protection)
Department of Water and Resource Conservation
Draft Strategic Planning Guidance Document 4
Drought Emergency Response and Long-term Preparedness
The County’s Drought Plan establishes the Drought Task Force (DTF) to monitor hydrologic conditions
throughout the water year and report the findings to the Water Commission and the Board of
Supervisors annually in non-drought situations and biannually, quarterly, or monthly as a drought
progresses. Currently, the Department serves as the Chair Drought Task Force.
How can the Department further County drought response? i.e., water conservation measures/policies
PIDOptionsStudy
Determine how much participation/monitoring by Department and role of the Water Commission.
There are currently 23 potential options identified in the Paradise Options Study to be further evaluated
for their technical, economic, financial, regulatory, environmental, and legal feasibility. Among the
Options that may warrant Department and Commission review and input include:
Water Transfers (in-County and out-of-County)
Infrastructure (Miocene, Chico Intertie, Magalia Dam Raise)
Voluntary Agreements - Environmental/Fish Uses
NEXT STEPS
Based on the Board’s discussion and input, the Department would, in coordination and collaboration
with the Water Commission, conduct the following:
1.Solidify the County’s role with each GSA and determine process for implementation to ensure
compliance with SGMA.
2.Update the Strategic Plan’s Goals and Objectives for the next 5 years, incorporating Action Items
identified as part of the General Plan Update process. The intent is to clearly identify what
projects and key initiatives the Department will be pursuing and prioritizing them over the near-
term and long-term.
3.Initiate project start-up, review, and reporting processes to the Board. The intent is to increase
transparency and obtain early input and buy-in from the Board, without being onerous.
Department of Water and Resource Conservation
Draft Strategic Planning Guidance Document 5