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Friday's Internet Edition, 06:09 AM, September 03, 2010.
RMCSD clarifies questions about water plan
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Photo by Sheri Barile
Rancho Murieta Community Services District Board of Directors and district staff meet Aug. 18 to discuss updates to the Integrated Water Master Plan. Shown (from left) are Suzanne Lindenfeld; General Manager Ed Crouse; directors Betty Ferraro, Bobbi Belton, Steven Mobley and Richard Taylor; Paul Siebensohn; Chief Greg Remson and Darlene Gillum. (Director Robert Kjome was absent.)
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By Sheri Barile
River Valley Times Reporter
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The Rancho Murieta Community Services District Board of Directors met on Aug. 18 to discuss its Integrated Water Master Plan (IMWP) and respond to questions raised in recent weeks about the district’s handling of drought planning.
CSD General Manager Ed Crouse opened the discussion by reviewing an administrative draft of the IMWP update and concluded with assurances that the water supply for RM is adequate, even in a drought scenario, and that planning by CSD is sound.
He announced that a statement from the district had been drafted, refuting allegations made by Janis Eckard, a RM resident who has publicly criticized Crouse’s handling of drought planning. The statement is being mailed out to residents and can be accessed at www.rmcsd.com. A link, titled Resident Letter, Aug. 18 appears on the home page. (Announcement of this response by Crouse appeared in the Aug. 25 RVT).
“Bottom line is we’re not running out of water,” Crouse said. “We’re going to have enough water for the existing residents and future residents.”
Amid the ongoing criticism, former board President Richard Brandt has expressed concerns about the district’s 50% drought conservation rate in the IMWP. He wrote a letter to Crouse and the board on Aug. 12, which provided a detailed history of CSD policy and developer disputes and agreements. His letter can also be accessed in the Aug. 18 board packet posted on the CSD website.
Brandt addressed the board at the Aug. 18 meeting to reiterate his belief that sufficient planning to avoid the 50% conservation rate still needs to be done. He also expressed support for both Crouse and Eckard, who was also present at the meeting.
“I’ve told (Eckard), first of all, I don’t know if you’re right on any of these issues,” Brandt said. “Second of all, you’re probably not. And third, you’re not crazy, at least from my perspective on the standpoint of the emergency policy, which is not to plan for 50%. You, Janis Eckard, have a legitimate concern."
Brandt continued, “I’ve also talked repeatedly to Ed Crouse. He’s told me what he’s doing, and I think he’s doing exactly the right thing from the standpoint of seeking groundwater. That, in my view, is the most important thing that the board should be concerned about, and for all I know all the numbers you’re getting are absolutely correct.”
Eckard continued her questioning of the IWMP when Lisa Maddaus, principal engineer with Brown and Caldwell, provided a review of the administrative draft. Eckard asked about the evaporation/seepage rates used, system loss rate, the use of flashboards in the reservoirs and whether a 70% usage reduction (combining the 50% drought conservation with 20 x 2020 compliance) is achievable.
The administrative draft IWMP was scheduled to be posted on the CSD website as of today for public comment through the end of this month.
Crouse summarized the draft for the board before submitting it for their input prior to public comment. He said that Maddaus has recommended an additional 300 acre-feet supply contingency for drought-related emergencies such as the three-year event that occurred in the mid-to-late 70’s. He also said that climate change conditions call for this kind of contingency.
President Bobbi Belton asked Maddaus to address any global warming impact that might be factored into the IWMP. Maddaus responded that it is a valid concern. “When we look back we are seeing evidence of change and lower availability of water supply,” she said. “I expect that trend to continue, so to completely disregard it, I think, would be shortchanging the planning effort.”
Director Betty Ferraro commended Maddaus for including this insight. “I just don’t want the public to feel that what Lisa and her report is giving us is that we have all the water in the world – that we don’t have to worry about it,” Ferraro said. “We do need to look into augmentation for the future. It’s something that we cannot disregard, in my point of view.”
Crouse said that augmentation strategies are being considered. “Augmentation will be needed when we reduce conservation (rates), as well as if we build in contingency factors and consider climate change scenarios,” he said. “Augmentation supplies we’d consider are new wells, new reservoirs and recycled water to offset demand.”
In other business, the board opened a timed public hearing on the placement of delinquent accounts on the Sacramento County tax rolls for collection. There was no public comment on the matter and the board voted unanimously to transfer the delinquent accounts to the county.
The board also adopted two ordinances: one amending the district code in regard to community facilities fees, and one amending the board of directors rules and procedures.
In two separate motions, the board voted to adopt and rescind district policies. Directors adopted policies for an employee suggestion review panel and district credit cards. They rescinded antiquated policies for the use of wheel lock and RMA-CSD gate procedures.
The next meeting of the CSD Board of Directors will be held on Sept. 15 at 5 p.m.
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