HomeMy WebLinkAbout11 Public Hearing- Martis Valley Groundwater Mngmt Plan Process Agenda Item # 11
TRUCKEE DONNER
ACTION
To: Board of Directors
From: Steven Poncelet
Date: March 16, 2011
Subject: Consideration of Setting a Public Hearing Date to Begin the Martis
____Valley Groundwater Management Plan Process
I. WHY THIS MATTER IS BEFORE THE BOARD
The Board is responsible for the long-term stewardship of our water supply. Studying
the Martis Valley aquifer and having an up-to-date Groundwater Management Plan
are important tools for effective stewardship of our water supply.
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 Groundwater Management
Plan 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 water quality, 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 Groundwater Management Plan. 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 Groundwater Management Plan 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 20101 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 Groundwater Management Plan and associated public outreach. At their
February 7, 2011 Board meeting, a contract was awarded to Brown and Caldwell, with
local Truckee sub-contractor Balanced Hydrologics.
3. NEW INFORMATION
Brown and Caldwell has begun work on the Groundwater Management Plan and
associated public outreach. The State of California has specific requirements for the
development of Groundwater Management Plans. 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 Groundwater Management Plan. The District
must also hold a second public hearing, and a Board Resolution to adopt the final
Groundwater Management Plan. Staff is recommending that we hold the initial public
hearing and that the Board consider adopting a Resolution for the intention to update
the Groundwater Management Plan at the April 6, 2011 Board meeting.
Brown and Caldwell is developing a final project workplan and schedule. The
development of the Martis Valley aquifer model and Groundwater Management Plan
and associated public outreach is expected to take approximately two years. Key next
steps include:
• Agency partner kick-off meeting with Brown and Caldwell and DRI on March 21,
2011
• Public notice and hearing on the Districts intention to update our Groundwater
Management Plan
• Creation of a Stakeholder Working Group which would include a technical
advisory committee
• Development of a project website available to the public
• Kick-off of the Martis Valley aquifer modeling effort by DRI
4. FISCAL IMPACT
Sufficient funds exist within the approved FY11 budget for the project.
5. RECOMMENDATION
Authorize staff to:
• Schedule a public hearing for the April 6, 2011 Board meeting
• Advertise a public notice for the public hearing
Steven Poncelet
Public Information & Conservation Manager Michael p. Holley
General Manager