Meeting Minutes

 October Steering Committee

Thursday, October 24, 2002 – 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Friant Learning Academy, Town of Friant

1.      Welcome and Introductions  

Karla Fullerton, Chair called the meeting to order at 6:10 pm and welcomed everyone. Introductions were made.  Handouts for the meeting were provided, (see list)   

2.      Agenda  

Due to a scheduling conflict – the presentation from Phil Desatoff was postponed.  There were no other changes.  

3.      Review and Approval of Minutes  

The minutes were reviewed and approved as written.  

4.      Watershed Presentation – Phil Desatoff (postponed).  Al Steele from Department of Water Resources was invited but unable to attend.  

5.      Assessment Planning  

Terry Sandridge gave a report on the meeting held on 10/8 at the North Fork Mill site.  Participants were Sandridge, Middleton, and Haze:  

1. Assessment Report Organization – The majority of the time was devoted to reviewing a possible way to organize the assessment components.  A Table of Contents was developed as an outline for the components.

2. Sources for Information – The remainder of discussions revolved around how to obtain information from various sources – in particular as related to soils.

Karla led discussions with the Steering Committee related to the work session held on 10/22 at the Pizza Factory, Friant.  Participants at that session were: Fullerton, Carlton, Topping, Zane, Middleton, Boyd, Brown and Haze:  

1. Approach – Karla indicated that the majority – if not all research will be literature based.  There may be some additional “new” research.  Jeff Roberts indicated that gathering economic information will be important.

2. Groundwater – Information will be very difficult to secure.  Phil Desatoff, Fresno County and Al Steele, Department of Water Resources will be valuable resources.  Dave Hopelain and Claude Rust of Eastern Madera Co. (EMC) Water Oversight Subcommittee will be leading the effort to secure useful information.  Dave elaborated on the work being performed by the EMC in the Oakhurst area.

3. Watershed Assessment Report Format – The group reviewed the 1^st draft of the Table of Contents as an outline of the report’s organization.  This reflects the suggestions as provided by Karen Brown and a couple of watershed reports based on the Oregon model.  It was noted that this study will have less emphasis on fisheries and channel habitat types.  Climate was added as an assessment component.  It was also noted that gaps in information would be identified in Section 9 of the report.

4. Priority of Assessment Components – The group reviewed the list and determined that priority would be given to the following:

1.      Groundwater – Levels, flows and qualities

2.      Surface Water Quality

3.      Wells and Septic Systems

4.      Water Quantity – Use and Needs

5.      Surface Water Levels and Flows

It was requested that Steve Haze devote as much of his effort in supporting these sections of the assessment activities.

5. Priority of Watersheds in Study Area – It was discussed whether a particular watershed should be given a higher priority than others based on limited resources and time.  There are three major watersheds, Cottonwood, Big Sandy and Finegold.  Additionally, there is the main drainage of the San Joaquin River between Kerchoff and Friant with smaller streams that covers significant areas as well.  The sense of the committee was that many assessment components such as fuels and fire history can cover all of the watersheds – and that gaps in information can be noted for areas that would require additional effort.

6. Responsibilities – Dawn Carlton volunteered to be responsible for the assessment related to the surface water quality.  Jeff agreed to be responsible for Economic/Business information and Tourism.

7. Type of Assessment – The group reviewed the assessment components to determine what would be just a “snap-shot” or baseline of current conditions – or include historical information that may provide what the trend may be out into the future.  For example, Water Quality would be a snapshot based on a literature search of fairly recent tests performed – whereas Fuels and Fire History may include a trend.  The preference conveyed by the Steering Committee for each component is to be added to the Assessment Activities and Timeline worksheet.

8. Use of Forms – There is the potential to use Oregon Watershed forms as a way to identify relevant data to collect and for summarizing findings.  Steve Haze is to place the forms on the Millerton watershed program’s web-site and provide a complete set of forms to those who have responsibilities for the assessment components.

4.      Other Business –  

1. Madera Co. Groundwater Study Proposal – Steve Haze passed out the letter of support dated October 4^th, that was authorized by the Steering Committee to be provided to Elissa Brown, Madera County Grant Writer.  As a restatement, the request of support was for a groundwater Study proposal to be submitted to the California Department of Resources under AB303 for the Oakhurst area in eastern Madera County.  The date for submittal by Madera County to DWR was October 24^th.  Dave Hopelain, who serves on the committee involved with the proposal, gave a brief overview of the purpose of the study – and current events in the Oakhurst area.

2. Upper San Joaquin River Basin Storage Investigation (USJRBSI), CALFED – There was a Stakeholder meeting on October 18^th in Los Banos.  Denis Prosperi conveyed that there was a possible new storage site above Temperance Flat on the San Joaquin River.

3. Education – Karla suggested that Chuck Peck give a presentation on Grazing and Biodiversity.  If Phil Desatoff is unavailable, this could be done at the next meeting.

5.      Announcements

1. Upper Finegold Watershed Planning Grant – Steve Haze announced that the Sierra Foothill Conservancy’s proposal was one of thirty statewide finalists for Proposition 13 funds officially approved by the State Water Resources Control Board on October 17^th.  It will probably take 12 months for the project to start.  This grant will allow for more a more in depth study of the upper Finegold Creek and the potential collection of information from field studies.

2. Water Discussion – Lloyd Carter announced that there was to be a panel discussion with himself and Paul Betancourt, President of the Fresno County Farm Bureau at Fresno City College on Wednesday, November 6^th.  He will provide Steve Haze additional information to distribute.

6.      Adjournment – The meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:30 pm.  Next Steering Committee meeting for November and December due to the holidays:

Thursday, December 5, 6:00 to 8:00 pm.  Friant Learning Academy, Town of Friant

Steve Haze suggested that the Steering Committee look at rescheduling on a recurring basis the meetings to the 2^nd Thursday of each month beginning in January.  This would reduce the number of meetings occurring at the same time.  The Coarsegold Resource Conservation District Board of Directors meeting occurs on the same day.  They would like to actively participate.  Steve will send out an email to see if the change can be accommodated.  

Tentative Agenda  

1.      Welcome / Introductions

2.      Review Agenda

3.      Review and Approval of Minutes

4.      Watershed Presentation by Phil Desatoff, Geologist – Fresno County (or Grazing and Biodiversity by Chuck Peck, Sierra Foothill Conservancy)

5.      Assessment Planning

6.      Other Business

7.      Announcements

8.      Adjournment  

Attendance – (15)

Steering Committee

§    Lloyd Carter, California Save Our Streams

§    Karla Fullerton, Fresno County Property Owner

§    Ed Martinazzi, Madera County Property Owner

§    Joe Middleton, Madera County Water Oversight Committee/EMC

§    Chuck Peck, Sierra Foothill Conservancy

§    Denis Prosperi, Madera County Water Oversight Committee

§    Terry Sandridge, Sierra Resource Conservation District

§    Bart Topping, Madera County Property Owner

§    Alita Warner, Finegold Valley Land Owners Association (Alternate)

§    Burke Zane, Sierra Club

Technical Advisory Committee Liaisons

§    Steve Juarez, Department of Fish and Game

§    Jeannine Koesher, State Parks and Recreation

Assessment Team

§    Dawn Carlton, Biologist

Others in Attendance –

Hand-outs –

§    October Steering Committee Meeting Package with Agenda

§    Draft Steering Committee meeting minutes of September 26^th.

§    Contact list for Steering Committee and Technical Advisory Committees

§    Watershed Assessment Activities and Timeline Worksheet

§    Watershed Assessment – Table of Contents – 1^st Draft Outline – 10-23-02

§    Water Facts – Ground Water in Fractured Hard Rock, Dept. of Water Resources

§    Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) – Checklist of Assessment Component Summary Products

§    OWEB – General Watershed Characteristics, Land Use Summary Form, Annual Peak Flow Summary Form