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RM resident airs concerns about CSD water plan
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Photo by Sheri Barile
Resident Janis Eckard addresses the Rancho Murieta Association Board of Directors on July 20 with concerns about the community’s water supply in a drought scenario and allegations that RM Community Services District has manipulated studies to facilitate development.
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By Sheri Barile
River Valley Times Reporter
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Rancho Murieta Community Services District was called into question by resident and development watchdog Janis Eckard over the data and practices used in developing its Integrated Water Master Plan (IWMP). Her criticisms were aired at the July 20 meeting of the Rancho Murieta Association Board of Directors, where Eckard gave a 28-minute presentation. (For full coverage of the RMA meeting see related story in this issue).
Eckard gave her presentation to RMA after being limited to 10 minutes while presenting at a CSD board meeting in June. Her full presentation at RMA focused on concerns that the Integrated Water Master Plan adopted by CSD in 2006 misrepresented actual water supply, paving the way for further development of RM.
(Editor's Note: At the July 21 meeting of the CSD board, President Bobbi Belton said that a response to Eckard’s accusations is forthcoming. River Valley Times expected a response by CSD at their recent meeting, but since this did not transpire, we will now aggressively seek statements from General Manager Ed Crouse and President Belton. RVT is committed to giving both sides of this issue. Full coverage of the July 21 CSD board meeting will be in the next issue).
Eckard's presentation included photographs taken in January of dry riverbeds along the lower Cosumnes River and dry lakebeds in Calero and Chesbro lakes. She referred to the photos to illustrate her belief that water supply in Rancho Murieta is not sufficient to survive a severe drought scenario, even without further development.
Citing exclusion of critical information and the use of multiple conflicting studies, Eckard accused CSD of manipulating the 2006 IWMP to show that RM had sufficient water supply for additional development. “Due to this manipulation, if the approved projects move forward (and there is) a severe drought condition, I’m convinced RM residents could run out of more than landscape water, but drinking water as well,” she said.
In addition, Eckard criticized General Manager Ed Crouse for a perceived lack of cooperation and transparency in responding to requests for data. “Ed Crouse notified me that, under the California Public Records Act, the CSD is not required to provide the requested data,” she said. “Ed Crouse may be within the legal limits of the law but, in my opinion, this is further evidence of stonewalling.”
Eckard also said that Crouse had provided her with inaccurate data for total water usage, which was noticed when she attended a June 18 CSD workshop on the IWMP. She said that as of July 20, the error had not been corrected.
“While my calculations are accurate to the fullest extent of the information which was provided by CSD, if there are inaccuracies, I’m convinced this is because the CSD continues to hide the ball by withholding data, or as occurred last month, providing incorrect data,” Eckard said.
To support her assertion that CSD altered data to benefit developers at the expense of residents, Eckard cited two water studies completed for CSD by Giberson and Associates approximately 20 years ago. She said the first study revealed that the district could only provide water for 1,800 equivalent dwelling units in a severe drought scenario. That was in May 1989.
“In October 1989, the CSD issued a Draft District Staff Policy Statement that increased the dwelling number to 2,400,” Eckard said. “Then, by February 1990, Giberson and Associates provided the CSD with a new study that showed sufficient water supply for 3,951 EDU’s. Rancho Murieta’s water supply was not increased between studies and has not been expanded since.”
Eckard went on to say that the multiple studies occurred due to a dispute between CSD and Murieta South developers and that the resulting agreement called for an aggressive, 15-month water reduction rate of 50% during a severe drought scenario.
“That’s the mandatory shut-off of all exterior water,” Eckard said. “The almost $59 million in (resulting landscaping) losses is residential alone.”
Eckard also accused CSD of further altering the updated 2010 IWMP. “Due to citizen requests, the county ordered an independent review as an initial update to our community’s master plan. This study exposed missing data. The CSD numbers won’t work if the new study includes the missing information,” Eckard said.
Some of the missing information Eckard cited includes 45 lots that have been removed from the existing service area, as well as 13 EDU’s that all have existing water rights. She also stressed that the current water supply capacity of 3,206 EDUs omits existing drought-pumping restrictions and assumed a conservative one-year event in a drought scenario.
Eckard also said CSD inflated water availability numbers in the updated plan through the use of flashboards (temporary boards inserted to increase the depth of the lakes). She cited a California Department of Public Health statement that advises that using flashboard capacity is not an acceptable practice to use when planning any community or new development.
Editor’s Note: RVT reported on the statements made by Janis Eckard as they were presented at the open RMA meeting. RVT makes no claims as to their accuracy regarding the accusations made toward CSD. Again - we will report on any related developments as they occur, including any response from CSD.
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