HomeMy WebLinkAbout7 public hearing-Martis Valley GroundwaterAgenda Item # 7
PUBLIC HEARING
To: Board of Directors
From: Steven Poncelet
Date: April 06, 2011
Subject: Public Hearing Regarding the District's Intent to Update the Martis
Valley Groundwater Management Plan
1. WHY THIS MATTER IS BEFORE THE BOARD
This item involves conducting a Public Hearing to receive oral and written comments
from members of the public regarding the District's intent to update the Martis Valley
Groundwater Management Plan (GMP).
2. HISTORY
The District has always been concerned with maintaining long-term water supply and
water quality for our community. The Board last adopted a GMP in 1995. The
opportunity exists to both update this document and to greatly improve our
understanding of how the aquifer functions. This includes better information on the
sustainable yield of the aquifer, how changes in the built environment may be
impacting the aquifer, and how climate change may be impacting our long term water
supply and quality.
The Board approved the FY09 budget which included $150,000 for a study of the
Martis Valley aquifer and an update of our GMP. The District was able to partner with
Placer County Water Agency (PCWA) and Northstar Community Services District
(Northstar CSD) to expand the funding for this effort to a total of $250,000. The Board
adopted a Memorandum of Agreement for development of the Martis Valley GMP and
groundwater model with PCWA and Northstar CSD at the July 21, 2010 Board
meeting. The agency partners secured an additional approximately $500,000 in grant
funding from the Bureau of Reclamation for Desert Research Institute (DRI) modeling
services and integration of a climate change model. The total project funding is now
approximately $750,000.
In late 2010, PCWA, the lead agency, issued a Request for Proposal to hire a
consultant to manage the development of the Martis Valley aquifer model and to
develop a GMP and associated public outreach. At their February 7, 2011 Board
meeting, a contract was awarded to Brown and Caldwell, with local Truckee sub-
contractor Balance Hydrologics.
Brown and Caldwell has begun work on the GMP and associated public outreach.
The State of California has specific requirements for the development of GMP's.
Included in the State requirements is that the District must hold a public hearing, and
adopt a Board resolution to announce the intention to update the GMP. The District
must also hold a second public hearing, and a Board resolution to adopt the final
GMP. At the March 16, 2011 Board meeting, the Board directed Staff to schedule the
initial public hearing to receive public comment at the April 6, 2011 Board meeting.
3. NEW INFORMATION
Brown and Caldwell is developing a final project workplan and an agency partner kick-
off meeting was held on March 21, 2011. The development of the Martis Valley aquifer
model and GMP and associated public outreach is expected to take approximately two
years. Key next steps include:
• Public Hearing on the District's intent to update our GMP (April 6, 2011 Board
meeting);
• Creation of a Stakeholder Working Group which would include a technical
advisory committee;
• Development of a project website available to the public; and
• Kick-off of the Martis Valley aquifer modeling effort by DRI
The District posted public notice for the Public Hearing in the Sierra Sun on March 18,
2011 and March 25, 2011. A copy of the public notice is attached (See Attachment
A).
4. FISCAL IMPACT
Sufficient funds exist within the approved FY11 budget for this project. There is no
fiscal impact associated with this Public Hearing.
5. RECOMMENDATION
Conduct the Public Hearing and receive comments.
Steven Poncelet
Public Information & Conservation Manag
Michael D. Holley
General Manager
Attachment A
PUBLIC HEARING
NOTICE OF TRUCKEE DONNER PUD BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MEETING AGENDA ITEM FOR A RESOLUTION OF INTENT TO UPDATE
ITS MARTIS VALLEY GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
Truckee Donner Public Utility District will hold a public hearing in accordance with California
Water Code Section 10753.2 to review and consider a Resolution of Intent to update its
Martis Valley Groundwater Management Plan. The public hearing will be held April 6, 2011
at 6:00 p.m. at the regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors located at 11570
Donner Pass Road, Truckee, Ca. The public is invited to comment on the TDPUD's intent as
described.
The reasons for updating the Martis Valley Groundwater Management Plan are to reflect
current water resources planning in the region, to reflect the latest information and
understandings of the underlying groundwater basin, and to update the plan in partnership
with adjacent water purveyors in an effort to work collaboratively and align policy. The plan
will be updated in partnership with Northstar Community Services District and Placer County
Water Agency. In addition to updating the groundwater management plan, a computer model
of the groundwater basin will be developed, which will assimilate available data and enhance
understanding of the basin.
The Agency and its partners intend to prepare, adopt, and implement this updated
groundwater management plan in cooperation with the general public and stakeholders.
For more information please contact Barbara Cahill at (530) 582-3909 or
barbaracahill(a)_tdpud.org.
Barbara Cahill, Deputy District Clerk
TRUCKEE DONNER PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT
11570 Donner Pass Road — P. O. Box 309
Truckee, CA 96160
(530) 587-3896