1 00:01:00,720 --> 00:01:11,040 I just forget the a two. Hey, you're the boss. I don't care. Well, I see Mr. Hitchie. I believe it is walking in right now. So I don't. 2 00:01:18,510 --> 00:01:26,370 I thought we're all supposed to meet at the reservoir. We can only violation of brown act. We can only have two people meet. Okay. 3 00:01:51,470 --> 00:01:56,770 It's five 4 00:02:13,570 --> 00:02:15,610 o'clock. We're going to get started. 5 00:02:15,610 --> 00:02:24,130 And first, I just wanted to remind the commissioners to turn on your microphones when you speak so that those on Zoom can hear. 6 00:02:25,090 --> 00:02:28,110 I wanted to thank our guests for being here. 7 00:02:28,150 --> 00:02:32,610 They're interested in their contribution to the meeting and thank you for the commissioners attendance as well. 8 00:02:33,230 --> 00:02:35,290 With that, we'll go to the roll call. 9 00:02:35,910 --> 00:02:36,510 Vanessa? 10 00:02:39,660 --> 00:02:42,660 Commissioner Castro is absent. 11 00:02:43,260 --> 00:02:43,940 Commissioner Nino? 12 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:45,380 Present. 13 00:02:45,380 --> 00:02:47,280 Commissioner Scaglioti. 14 00:02:47,560 --> 00:02:47,840 President. 15 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:49,380 Commissioner Grohling. 16 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:50,300 President. 17 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:52,980 Commissioner Adessa is absent. 18 00:02:53,820 --> 00:02:54,700 Commissioner Garcia. 19 00:02:55,080 --> 00:02:55,360 Here. 20 00:02:56,060 --> 00:02:57,460 Commissioner McCullough. 21 00:02:57,840 --> 00:02:57,980 Here. 22 00:02:58,660 --> 00:03:02,000 Okay, so we have five commissioners present. 23 00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:06,660 We do not have quorum, so we cannot make any actions or motions today. 24 00:03:07,200 --> 00:03:07,460 Thank you. 25 00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:08,900 Thank you for that, Vanessa. 26 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:12,440 Please accept my humblest of apologies. 27 00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:20,100 I'm already out of order because we were to begin with the pledge of allegiance, so we will, we will, if you indulge me then we'll do that now. 28 00:03:20,840 --> 00:03:21,860 Ready, salute. 29 00:03:22,740 --> 00:03:35,200 I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. 30 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:36,160 The 31 00:03:41,220 --> 00:03:50,560 next item is to approve the certificate of posting which we are not able to do without our forum, so we're going to move that to the next meeting. 32 00:03:52,060 --> 00:03:59,460 From there, we will go to our regular agenda, improving the minutes of May 18th, of May 8th meeting. 33 00:04:00,300 --> 00:04:01,500 We'll move that to our 34 00:04:04,030 --> 00:04:05,310 skipped one. 35 00:04:09,350 --> 00:04:11,870 Okay, thank you for keeping me straight. 36 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:18,760 So we will go to public comment, is there any items for public comment? 37 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:25,800 We do have Ms. Elias Illinus and if you'd like to make a comment on Zoom, please press star 9 or the raised hand icon. 38 00:04:26,340 --> 00:04:28,840 Thank you, good afternoon, Mr. Chair and commissioners. 39 00:04:29,720 --> 00:04:37,580 I am here to request that in a future agenda, not too far out into the future that you request. 40 00:04:38,320 --> 00:04:49,740 I'll report to come before you with regards to how many property owners have cleared out their waterway area that was affected by the floods. 41 00:04:50,300 --> 00:04:57,260 And those that were actually not affected either upstream or downstream, we don't know when the rain season is going to come. 42 00:04:57,620 --> 00:04:59,600 We know that the county has spent a lot of money. 43 00:04:59,600 --> 00:04:59,920 We're getting... 44 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:16,180 I have to wait for the refund from FEMA. So I personally would like to know if there are property owners out there actually cleaning out so that it could prevent flooding for next year and the year after that. So thank you. 45 00:05:19,260 --> 00:05:32,580 Thank you very much. So we can put that on our next agenda to discuss. Thank you. I have no further public comment. Thank you very much from there. 46 00:05:32,580 --> 00:05:37,980 We will go to our regular agenda and approval of the minutes of the May 8th. 47 00:05:37,980 --> 00:05:39,980 We'll have to wait for the next meeting for that. 48 00:05:40,820 --> 00:05:44,840 From there, we will go to an update on the same Yusto Reservoir. 49 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:52,920 I think it might be best to start this agenda item with a little history of where we are, 50 00:05:53,360 --> 00:06:01,960 and how we got here, and I'm hopeful that Mr. Wittrie can talk to us maybe five or ten minutes about what's going on with. 51 00:06:01,960 --> 00:06:28,660 Yes, he was a very culminating commissioner, Scalliode and I met with him and a few other representatives and they really did a beautiful job and were very informative and really seemed to care about the reservoir and I really appreciated his time with that so if you could just give us five to 10 minutes about is a real important item I believe and the more people know about it I think that's a good place to start. If you could do that that would be great. 52 00:06:28,660 --> 00:06:34,160 right now. You bet right now at the microphone if you if you would thank you. 53 00:06:35,720 --> 00:06:37,920 My ptsd for me to the microphone over here for a little bit. 54 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:42,540 Sorry, it's been a bit since I've had this podium over here. Hello, my name is Steve 55 00:06:42,540 --> 00:06:45,460 Wittrie. I'm the new general manager for the same new county water district with 56 00:06:45,460 --> 00:06:49,860 those of you who aren't aware. I've been in the role over there since January of 57 00:06:49,860 --> 00:06:55,480 this year. Replacing Jack Attaneo who was there for a number of years. I'm not new to 58 00:06:55,480 --> 00:07:00,340 community for those of you who don't know me. I've been living here in Hollister for since 59 00:07:00,340 --> 00:07:05,900 1997. It's a public works director for actually City Engineer for Hollister for a number 60 00:07:05,900 --> 00:07:10,680 of years. I was a public director here at the county San Benito. I actually started as 61 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:15,780 a public works director in 2009, which was one year after the reservoir actually closed. 62 00:07:16,260 --> 00:07:20,920 So in the first hand, how the reservoir closing impacted residents of San Diego County. 63 00:07:21,700 --> 00:07:26,160 And, like I said, since January this year, I've come back to work here in the community 64 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:26,720 where I live. 65 00:07:27,420 --> 00:07:33,660 So where we're at with the eradication process, and I think that that's where we're at 66 00:07:33,660 --> 00:07:38,360 just a little bit of history, 2008 muscles were found in the reservoir. 67 00:07:39,420 --> 00:07:41,280 There are a lot of studies that have happened since then. 68 00:07:41,960 --> 00:07:47,080 There's been a study commission by the USPR to look at how the United States Bureau of 69 00:07:47,080 --> 00:07:50,400 Reclamation, to look at how that muscle could be eradicated. 70 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:53,000 for those of you who are, you know, a little history once again. 71 00:07:53,560 --> 00:07:58,240 We are still the only water body west of the Mississippi that has this particular muscle 72 00:07:58,240 --> 00:07:59,460 in its confines. 73 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:01,280 So we're blessed with that. 74 00:08:02,780 --> 00:08:06,780 We believe that somebody who was voting somewhere else in the United States brought their 75 00:08:06,780 --> 00:08:12,000 boat into the reservoir and infected it, and that's where we fully – we have the muscles. 76 00:08:14,140 --> 00:08:19,900 The only place that – we're not the only place in America to have these muscles, they 77 00:08:19,900 --> 00:08:25,540 are pretty prevalent on the east coast. The only place that has eradicated the muscle from 78 00:08:25,540 --> 00:08:31,940 their confines is a small lake in Virginia, I believe. It's a little bit different than 79 00:08:31,940 --> 00:08:37,980 our lake because that particular lake is out of a stone quarry and is very rigid, nothing 80 00:08:37,980 --> 00:08:42,900 goes in and out. Our system here is a little bit different, as you guys may or may not know. 81 00:08:43,420 --> 00:08:48,800 We have about 10,000 acre feet of storage up there, which equates to about 30 million gallons 82 00:08:48,800 --> 00:08:55,320 of water. The water is used today even with the muscles in it for agricultural use. It's actually 83 00:08:55,320 --> 00:09:00,860 used to supply the city of Hollister and the St. Slope County water district service areas for 84 00:09:00,860 --> 00:09:05,840 their drinking water. It's treated at the Salt and West Hills plant in spite of the muscles being 85 00:09:05,840 --> 00:09:15,060 prevalent in it. Over the last eight years or so, six, eight years, the district has operated the 86 00:09:15,060 --> 00:09:17,620 reservoir in a way that controls the spread of it. 87 00:09:17,920 --> 00:09:22,780 We have not eliminated the muscles, but we've actually controlled it, we believe, and 88 00:09:22,780 --> 00:09:27,640 it's not expanded to become a nuisance to our overall system on occasion. 89 00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:35,940 We still have issues with it, but it's not anything that requires dramatic shutdowns of large 90 00:09:35,940 --> 00:09:37,060 valves and things of that nature. 91 00:09:37,200 --> 00:09:41,760 We exercise our valves and the way we operate the level of the reservoir goes up and down 92 00:09:41,760 --> 00:09:49,780 and that seems to create areas where in oxic and oxic zones, oxygen and rich zones and 93 00:09:49,780 --> 00:09:55,260 areas without oxygen, it helps to reduce the ability for the muscles to breed. 94 00:09:55,980 --> 00:09:57,540 So we've kept them under control. 95 00:09:57,540 --> 00:09:59,960 So, where we're at right in this... 96 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:28,260 That's kind of the history and please ask questions if there's something that pops up. Where we're at right now is recently during COVID, 2019, the Bureau completed an eradication plan, identifying that the way that they could, backing up a little bit. The actual facility itself is owned by the US Bureau of Reclamation, the water districts, indicating where the operators under contract with the USBR to operate that facility. But the ownership is actually USBR. 97 00:10:28,260 --> 00:10:34,020 So, any plan for a medication to that facility has to be approved by the U.S. 98 00:10:34,080 --> 00:10:34,320 BR. 99 00:10:35,000 --> 00:10:36,920 They have come up with a plan that may work. 100 00:10:38,720 --> 00:10:43,180 It basically uses podash solution and what they want to do, what they're recommending 101 00:10:43,180 --> 00:10:48,340 to do or what their solution would be, would be to lower the level of the reservoirs as much 102 00:10:48,340 --> 00:10:53,840 as possible and then they would basically truck in podash and the podash would be put out 103 00:10:53,840 --> 00:10:56,900 and barges, and it'll be dropped and mixed into the water 104 00:10:56,900 --> 00:10:59,660 within the reservoir, and then what would have to happen 105 00:10:59,660 --> 00:11:01,700 is that water would then have to be circulated 106 00:11:01,700 --> 00:11:04,940 into the sanitary kind of water distribution system. 107 00:11:05,500 --> 00:11:08,260 Just for background, once again, to tell the whole story. 108 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:11,420 The reservoir is not the only place that has the muscles. 109 00:11:11,800 --> 00:11:13,820 The muscles are also within our distribution system. 110 00:11:14,580 --> 00:11:17,580 So our distribution system is about 92 miles of pipelines 111 00:11:18,110 --> 00:11:21,300 that go from basic cost of the fruta to San Juan Batista 112 00:11:21,300 --> 00:11:22,960 and several networks between there. 113 00:11:22,960 --> 00:11:24,440 It's about 92 miles. 114 00:11:25,620 --> 00:11:31,920 There have been times that we have actually when the, it's called bifurcation, when the water 115 00:11:31,920 --> 00:11:35,760 source that we get from San Luis Reservoir at Casader Fruta is not available. 116 00:11:36,400 --> 00:11:43,260 And we actually charge the system, feed water from San Luis Reservoir to the northern part 117 00:11:43,260 --> 00:11:44,040 of the county as well. 118 00:11:44,180 --> 00:11:48,520 So we've actually taken that water and pushed it this way to support agriculture and municipal 119 00:11:48,520 --> 00:11:49,280 uses as well. 120 00:11:49,280 --> 00:11:55,260 So the belief in our understanding is, is that, and the proof that we have some shells 121 00:11:55,260 --> 00:12:00,900 every now and again, is that we do have the zebra muscle is in the majority of our system 122 00:12:00,900 --> 00:12:01,460 as well. 123 00:12:01,860 --> 00:12:05,800 But I can say through operational techniques, we're able to keep it under control. 124 00:12:07,740 --> 00:12:13,620 So back to the eradication process, what it would take is lowering the operating level of 125 00:12:13,620 --> 00:12:16,940 reservoir as much as possible, and then we would put the pod ash in there. 126 00:12:16,940 --> 00:12:25,900 According to the study, the amount of podash would be equivalent to about 2% of the nation's 127 00:12:25,900 --> 00:12:27,400 total usage of podash. 128 00:12:28,060 --> 00:12:34,280 It's a lachiously large amount, a lachiously large amount, I don't know if you say that online, 129 00:12:34,420 --> 00:12:37,380 but it's a lot of podash that we would have to have that doing. 130 00:12:38,620 --> 00:12:43,480 There's been some estimates based upon their total estimate for the project that would probably 131 00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:48,380 take about a year to a mass that amount in our area so we can actually begin the 132 00:12:48,380 --> 00:12:48,800 impatriation. 133 00:12:48,920 --> 00:12:53,260 It would be a two-year process to put this into play if that's something that was to 134 00:12:53,260 --> 00:12:53,720 go forward. 135 00:12:55,080 --> 00:12:58,280 The podash would be put into the reservoir, like I mentioned. 136 00:12:58,800 --> 00:13:05,160 It has to sit in there for about 45 days to ensure that it could eradicate the muscles and 137 00:13:05,160 --> 00:13:10,760 the villagers, the little eggs and digots, whatever, not a biologist, so I apologize to those 138 00:13:10,760 --> 00:13:18,060 to wire biologists to actually completely kill the muscle. 139 00:13:19,500 --> 00:13:24,260 Once it's at for 45 days, then that byproduct could be used for agricultural purposes, 140 00:13:24,660 --> 00:13:27,600 and hopefully it has been eradicated. 141 00:13:28,660 --> 00:13:35,760 That cost is estimated, it was just recently estimated, again, at $6.28 million, between 142 00:13:35,760 --> 00:13:38,780 six million dollars, depending on how that could work, 143 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:42,320 depending on the parameters and supply market things 144 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:45,920 like relations with COVID and other kinds of situations. 145 00:13:46,640 --> 00:13:48,640 I'm tap dancing a little bit, so I apologize for that. 146 00:13:49,020 --> 00:13:51,200 But it's about six, eight million dollars for that. 147 00:13:53,600 --> 00:13:55,620 The problem that we also have to face 148 00:13:55,620 --> 00:13:59,980 is that this kind of medication has never been done on the scale. 149 00:14:00,760 --> 00:14:03,780 And it's never been done with a distribution system. 150 00:14:03,780 --> 00:14:07,780 The lake in Virginia was a standalone lake where they took it out of. 151 00:14:08,220 --> 00:14:15,000 So our lake has a distribution system which is problematic as well, which if we consider 152 00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:23,800 that the initial infestation was a fairly small amount of water that brought that species 153 00:14:23,800 --> 00:14:29,540 into the reservoir, if we don't get 100% eradication within a year, it may come back. 154 00:14:30,060 --> 00:14:34,800 And that becomes problematic for trying to look at how we would spend those dollars. 155 00:14:36,200 --> 00:14:42,220 The other thing which I'm not sure if it's in the Bureau of Estimate of the $6 to $8 million 156 00:14:43,580 --> 00:14:46,520 is we have connections to agriculture. 157 00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:49,800 We have over a thousand connections to various parcels. 158 00:14:49,960 --> 00:14:52,240 Blue valve system, you guys are all aware of the Blue valve system, I believe. 159 00:14:53,460 --> 00:14:59,980 we may have to actually retrofit each one of those connections as part of our process because 160 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:29,980 As we want to make sure that those critters that are flushed out don't come back in. And if you picture the interworkings of a valve or press reducing remeter, there's crevices and things like that that might catch something, and if something stays there, it infiltrates the whole system and we're back at square one. So, I don't want to sound like I'm negative on this, but I just want to give the realities of the chances of success for a complete eradication are pretty low. 161 00:15:30,700 --> 00:15:36,600 for ultimately. Now, one of the things that we were talking, and I say, we, it was a meeting 162 00:15:36,600 --> 00:15:42,160 with the Bureau, actually, it was your first in here yet. No. So we're talking about, I don't 163 00:15:42,160 --> 00:15:46,640 want to talk for him for a little bit, but there may be other ways to define a win and maybe 164 00:15:46,640 --> 00:15:52,600 other opportunities that may open that may not include boats on the water, but maybe they include 165 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:56,900 some of the kind of operation parameters that may be around it. And actually, I'll step aside 166 00:15:56,900 --> 00:16:01,720 for a minute. Do you want to see a few words that I don't know what I can add but you haven't. 167 00:16:01,900 --> 00:16:12,980 Okay, so here's what we have. Let me see what else I can say to this. I think that we 168 00:16:12,980 --> 00:16:16,940 at the district are committed to try to find a solution. I think that the Bureau was trying 169 00:16:16,940 --> 00:16:21,800 to find a solution that makes sense but I think that in order to actually have something happen 170 00:16:21,800 --> 00:16:26,060 it's going to take all of the partners between the Bureau, between the district and between 171 00:16:26,060 --> 00:16:31,160 I mean a county because the county ultimately has to reopen that as a facility. 172 00:16:31,480 --> 00:16:35,340 Looking back at one of the documents and I haven't studied it immensely, but there is 173 00:16:35,340 --> 00:16:37,760 an agreement for the park to be up there and be open. 174 00:16:38,720 --> 00:16:43,640 And the county has some responsibilities and liabilities that go along with that. 175 00:16:44,380 --> 00:16:51,260 So in order to, if we can't eradicate it, is there a way to enjoy it like we have several 176 00:16:51,260 --> 00:16:59,260 For reservoirs in the western states and Guaga mussels, they're there, but people are able to enjoy some of those reservoirs in some fashion as well. 177 00:16:59,960 --> 00:17:03,620 And maybe there's a way to look at something that's short of what it used to be. 178 00:17:04,500 --> 00:17:11,500 And there's still a way to open it for maybe bird watching, maybe some of the kind of other, I'm just going to say short fishing. 179 00:17:11,660 --> 00:17:18,860 I don't know some other way to enjoy the facility that does not involve a full blown return to use how it used to be. 180 00:17:19,560 --> 00:17:36,460 And the only thing that I would add to that process, the however that goes forward, I would support any kind of public process that this commission wanted to go for, the county wanted to work towards to make sure that the public had a say to what that I'm going to call an alternate win might look like. 181 00:17:36,800 --> 00:17:38,100 So we're here to assist, we're here to help. 182 00:17:38,660 --> 00:17:43,460 We said the bureaus here, and we're here for any other questions to follow up. 183 00:17:44,960 --> 00:17:48,520 Any other questions or any comments by the commission? 184 00:17:49,240 --> 00:17:55,380 On the funding, Steve, for that project, is that part of the bureau's responsibility, too, as a fall solely on you? 185 00:17:56,020 --> 00:17:59,380 So where it is, it falls to the bureau first. 186 00:18:00,080 --> 00:18:06,160 And then what the bureau will do is there'll be some debate, I won't look this way. 187 00:18:06,160 --> 00:18:11,540 There will be some debate, but it will fall to the bureau first, they will incur the 188 00:18:11,540 --> 00:18:16,280 cost, and then what they would likely do is they will put that cost back on the district 189 00:18:16,280 --> 00:18:20,920 through what they call a CAPEX or large capital project that comes back to our particular 190 00:18:20,920 --> 00:18:21,380 users. 191 00:18:22,580 --> 00:18:28,680 So in all likelihood in some fashion without a grant or something, that cost eventually would 192 00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:33,520 be borne by the district and by the residents of the community at some point in time. 193 00:18:33,520 --> 00:18:41,240 The initial cost, the initial investment would be done through the Bureau, but it's very likely that cost ultimately we fall back to the residents. 194 00:18:44,610 --> 00:19:02,610 Mr. Wittry, if there was a situation in place where there were boats there and they never left the property, rental boats, and people could shorefish, birdwatch, rent a boat that never left the property, would that pose any problems that you can envision? 195 00:19:03,190 --> 00:19:20,130 It could and I think that it that's why we have to look to what kind of process would be there to ensure that that the villagers or the muscle doesn't migrate to the facilities at keeping the votes there would go great length towards that. 196 00:19:21,310 --> 00:19:26,510 Fisherman being fishermen sometimes they'd like to have their own gear even though the gears provided they might bring stuff in. 197 00:19:26,510 --> 00:19:31,450 If something was attached to that fishing gear, be it an ad being something like that and then they took it to another body of water 198 00:19:31,450 --> 00:19:36,470 Certainly, they could they could infect that's not to say there couldn't be a protocol a 199 00:19:36,470 --> 00:19:42,810 Wash station a some kind of a check-in check-out station that could be beneficial to that 200 00:19:42,810 --> 00:19:50,050 It just becomes to what level of risk ultimately the community really is willing to take you know 201 00:19:50,870 --> 00:19:54,190 I was actually just talking with with with one of the board members was running a little late today 202 00:19:54,190 --> 00:19:59,970 And you know the example was when when someone comes to Monterey the coast over here and they pick up 203 00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:29,700 There are shells along the entire perimeter, as we saw up there. And being families going up there, somebody may collect shells and they may collect something that's alive because they're there. And then they may put that somewhere that they shouldn't just because they're getting rid of it. Is that a long shot? Probably, but it could happen, but it's trying to understand what that risk is and how to control that risk and what's an acceptable risk. 204 00:20:29,700 --> 00:20:35,520 I mean, it's a long shot to have that actually happen to get it somewhere, but it could happen, and it's what does the risk look like. 205 00:20:35,620 --> 00:20:43,940 And that's where I think that public process, that community process, trying to figure out what the risk is, what an acceptable level of risk is. 206 00:20:44,500 --> 00:20:45,400 Sure, sure. 207 00:20:45,860 --> 00:20:49,720 Sorry, Chair, Congresswoman Lofgren is on Zoom. 208 00:20:50,260 --> 00:20:51,840 She is a limited time, so. 209 00:20:52,560 --> 00:20:53,700 Okay, thank you, Vanessa. 210 00:20:55,260 --> 00:20:58,300 Perhaps now we can hear from Congresswoman Lofgren. 211 00:20:58,300 --> 00:21:03,260 Well, thank you so much for letting me join you this afternoon. 212 00:21:05,500 --> 00:21:10,060 As soon as the redistricting process concluded, it kind of surprised all of us. 213 00:21:10,580 --> 00:21:15,560 I started coming down to the new parts of the district to see what people were interested in. 214 00:21:16,060 --> 00:21:26,400 And one of the things that people talked to me right away was this reservoir and how much they hope to be able to use it again for recreational purposes. 215 00:21:26,400 --> 00:21:36,440 And so that's on my list of how do I help make this happen since so many of our mutual constituents desire that Jimmy 216 00:21:36,440 --> 00:21:46,080 Panetta who was still representing your area last year and I sent a letter to the Bureau of Reclamation pursuing eradication. 217 00:21:46,800 --> 00:21:49,420 And Jimmy and I are going to continue to partner on this. 218 00:21:49,420 --> 00:22:01,280 We sent another letter this March and we just got an answer from the bureau a couple of weeks ago and I believe it's been made available to each of you commissioners or thought we certainly will do that. 219 00:22:02,120 --> 00:22:10,000 I don't disagree with the presentation that you've just been given on the technical issues. I think it's it's quite accurate. 220 00:22:10,000 --> 00:22:16,080 But the big issue of course is whether it's possible, but then secondarily the funding. 221 00:22:16,720 --> 00:22:25,780 Because, you know, we were exploring how do we get or help get the funds for the eradication. 222 00:22:25,960 --> 00:22:33,080 And unfortunately, what we discovered was under federal law, it's the water district that's 223 00:22:33,080 --> 00:22:40,380 on the hook or the eradication costs. So, you know, I am very eager to work with you to see if 224 00:22:40,380 --> 00:22:49,860 there's any way we can explore either grants or some other cost sharing. But as the law is today, 225 00:22:50,740 --> 00:22:59,900 the cost would go to the local, to the locals and it's a lot of money. So I don't know as you've 226 00:22:59,900 --> 00:23:08,560 been discussing whether there's a safe way to utilize this wonderful resource without 227 00:23:08,560 --> 00:23:13,560 complete eradication. That's something that Congressman Panetta and I would be happy 228 00:23:13,560 --> 00:23:18,700 to work with you on with the Bureau. I guess, you know, the final word is we want to make 229 00:23:18,700 --> 00:23:25,120 sure that we're doing everything we can to support your efforts and understanding how 230 00:23:25,120 --> 00:23:31,460 disappointed local residents are that they don't have this recreational resource available to 231 00:23:31,460 --> 00:23:37,700 them now. So that's really the only report I have. I'm looking forward to working with each of you 232 00:23:37,700 --> 00:23:43,740 and all of you as we move forward on this and thanks for letting me participate in your meeting this 233 00:23:43,740 --> 00:23:44,240 afternoon. 234 00:23:49,100 --> 00:23:55,720 In the letter from the Department of Interior Bureau of Reclamation, excuse me, 235 00:23:55,720 --> 00:24:03,320 It says in 2022, Reclamation made funds available for an updated the cost estimate for the 2019 plan. 236 00:24:03,760 --> 00:24:11,240 I'm assuming Congresswoman that that was just for the study, not for the treatment, I guess is what I'm hearing from you. 237 00:24:12,060 --> 00:24:20,380 Correct, and then they're currently estimating around 6.8 or up for eradication. 238 00:24:20,380 --> 00:24:28,180 and as your water district presenter noted, they've never tried to eradicate a body of water 239 00:24:28,180 --> 00:24:35,020 this big. This is much more complicated than they've ever been undertaken in the United States. 240 00:24:35,200 --> 00:24:40,440 So there's no guarantee it would work and the expenses are quite high, but that doesn't mean 241 00:24:40,440 --> 00:24:45,880 that we shouldn't continue to explore the opportunities, understanding that we've got to come up with 242 00:24:45,880 --> 00:24:50,240 the source of funding if we're going to try and get into an eradication program. 243 00:24:52,300 --> 00:24:53,560 Thank you very much. 244 00:24:54,880 --> 00:24:59,400 I guess, Mr. Woodry, my question is, without full eradication, 245 00:24:59,400 --> 00:24:59,560 And 246 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:29,980 We co-exist with the muscles in a situation. I understand that people could take shells or, you know, take something in their net. However, as you've mentioned, there's 92 miles, whereas the pipelines right now, that have these muscles in them that are distributing them throughout the county theoretically. And, you know, if we are, so we aren't risk today with 92 miles and hundreds or thousands, I guess, of outlet points. So while I certainly acknowledge your 247 00:25:29,980 --> 00:25:35,740 risk, it just seems like there's an unbelievable benefit to our county, to our community, to 248 00:25:35,740 --> 00:25:40,860 our future, that there's risk in everything, and could there be ways to mitigate that risk 249 00:25:40,860 --> 00:25:44,440 without a full eradication, which seems unlikely? 250 00:25:45,180 --> 00:25:51,640 Yeah, and I think that there, that honestly is probably the path to pursue, is try to figure 251 00:25:51,640 --> 00:25:57,600 out how to, how to have security as in place for that facility that it can be utilized in 252 00:25:57,600 --> 00:26:07,280 some fashion where there's the boats to stay on or some other way that is managed where on-site personnel could manage that facility. 253 00:26:07,900 --> 00:26:16,680 And the caveat here, I can't speak for the county proper, but the county is the one who actually has that right to have that park up there. 254 00:26:17,140 --> 00:26:21,420 We are not equipped as a water district to police fishing activities and things of that nature. 255 00:26:21,420 --> 00:26:27,540 It would be something that I would hope that our partners with the county could step up and and do that portion of it. 256 00:26:28,560 --> 00:26:35,520 If I have to jump off the commissioners, I've got my staff on this call. 257 00:26:36,180 --> 00:26:41,800 But let me just pledge this, if there is anything I can do to help call on me and let me do it. 258 00:26:41,920 --> 00:26:47,380 If we need interface with the with the bureau, I'll do that. 259 00:26:47,380 --> 00:26:50,620 And I look forward to being your partner. 260 00:26:50,780 --> 00:26:55,120 I can't guarantee results, but I can guarantee my best efforts to help. 261 00:26:56,000 --> 00:26:56,880 Thank you very much. 262 00:26:57,000 --> 00:26:58,060 We appreciate that sentiment. 263 00:26:58,780 --> 00:26:59,320 Thank you. 264 00:27:02,540 --> 00:27:03,880 Thank you very much, Steve. 265 00:27:03,980 --> 00:27:07,580 You've been wonderful and very informative, and we really appreciate you. 266 00:27:08,900 --> 00:27:12,720 Now there would be some risk to the water district. 267 00:27:13,060 --> 00:27:19,040 The water district could be conceived, could have a concern about doing this, 268 00:27:19,040 --> 00:27:24,620 Yes, because of the risk, the additional risk from opening, even if it was to onsite voting and fishing and so forth. 269 00:27:25,040 --> 00:27:34,800 Do you think that that's something that the water district could see, could get behind even though there would be an additional risk to them? 270 00:27:36,240 --> 00:27:48,480 I can't speak for the board, of course, but I think that there would have to be some pretty strong language that put the county into that risk factor, probably more than the district itself. 271 00:27:49,040 --> 00:27:54,160 one of the things that, you know, to put my district hat on is, and you know I remember 272 00:27:54,160 --> 00:27:59,180 the community, and I love the things up there, but to put the district hat on, the facility 273 00:27:59,180 --> 00:28:06,340 operates as it's intended, we are able to use it to supply water, it's under control 274 00:28:06,340 --> 00:28:12,580 and it meets our purpose right now. To take more risk for this, I'm very willing to be 275 00:28:12,580 --> 00:28:17,580 a partner to try to assist that, but I don't know that the district is ready to take risk 276 00:28:17,580 --> 00:28:20,300 beyond what it currently has with our system. 277 00:28:20,920 --> 00:28:23,940 I think that we're very willing to work with the county. 278 00:28:24,620 --> 00:28:28,940 The county does have that agreement in place with the Bureau to operate a park facility up there. 279 00:28:29,060 --> 00:28:34,780 And it was a county that actually closed it because of the risk to other water bodies. 280 00:28:35,700 --> 00:28:38,780 So I think that's a conversation where all of us have to be in the right room. 281 00:28:39,260 --> 00:28:41,800 But I can tell you from the water district perspective, 282 00:28:42,180 --> 00:28:45,400 we're really not looking for additional risk on this particular issue. 283 00:28:45,400 --> 00:28:52,280 But I think as a member of the community, I think that the way to work through this isn't some kind of a partnership. 284 00:28:52,780 --> 00:28:56,880 And understanding where the risk may lie and try to minimize it as much as possible. 285 00:28:57,560 --> 00:29:02,240 Just to convey some of the conversation that we were having while we were up inside is other facilities have 286 00:29:02,240 --> 00:29:04,120 built washing things and things like that nature. 287 00:29:04,560 --> 00:29:13,240 It costs money and it may be a more gate fee to get into the park, but if it allows people to get into the park to fund some kind of those measures. 288 00:29:13,240 --> 00:29:17,720 Maybe that's part of how that risk is handled or mitigated. 289 00:29:18,600 --> 00:29:20,220 Thank you very much, Mr. Wittry. 290 00:29:23,850 --> 00:29:29,010 I'm hopeful that we could hear from Darryl Good from the Bureau, and any thoughts you 291 00:29:29,010 --> 00:29:33,730 might have or observations or hopes or dreams or anything you'd like to discuss Darryl. 292 00:29:35,330 --> 00:29:39,170 I'm not sure what more I could add to what the district manager has said, so I'm willing 293 00:29:39,170 --> 00:29:40,270 to answer questions. 294 00:29:40,630 --> 00:29:45,830 If you'd like me to go into a little bit more detail about the eradication plan, I'd 295 00:29:45,830 --> 00:29:49,890 be happy to do that, but I think he's covered the issues well. 296 00:29:50,930 --> 00:29:56,350 The Bureau of Reclamation obviously is not in a liability concern with the situation 297 00:29:56,350 --> 00:29:59,430 because it is going to be on the commission and on the 298 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:27,420 Law to authority to take care of that, and as what's already been mentioned, the bureau reclamation through perhaps the BIL or bilateral infrastructure law could assist with getting things, but it's all on repayment stuff. So, somewhere as it's already been mentioned, it's going to come back to the community to pay that. So, I'll open up the door and say, what more could I answer for you all? 299 00:30:31,140 --> 00:30:41,380 So on this eradication plan, did you guys go the vice versa of what damages will be to the ecosystem when you do this eradication plan? 300 00:30:41,900 --> 00:30:42,400 I don't understand. 301 00:30:43,020 --> 00:30:46,460 So there's fish and there's a lot of wildlife that drinks from that water. 302 00:30:47,200 --> 00:30:51,300 There's a white notice of bald eagles now, fishing at the water hole. 303 00:30:52,480 --> 00:30:58,260 So we do the potash, and we lower down the water system, what's that going to do to the wildlife around? 304 00:30:58,860 --> 00:31:07,760 We've done an environmental assessment, but we are not in the position to say that it's not going to harm the environment. 305 00:31:08,280 --> 00:31:09,780 Obviously, it's going to kill the muscles. 306 00:31:10,020 --> 00:31:11,140 That's what we're trying to do. 307 00:31:11,140 --> 00:31:15,240 I understand that but the thing is at the same point we don't want to kill any off any other 308 00:31:16,260 --> 00:31:24,060 Animals this is pot ash. Yeah, we are putting it in in a significant quantity, but it is apparently you are you said 2% 309 00:31:24,740 --> 00:31:26,280 Of the of the American 310 00:31:27,440 --> 00:31:29,440 production of pot ash. Yeah 311 00:31:30,900 --> 00:31:35,980 That's a lot of pot ash. It's a lot of pot ash. Yes, it's a 12% it would be at a 12% 312 00:31:35,980 --> 00:31:42,480 and mixture in the water, that's a small body of water compared to the lake or the land is. 313 00:31:42,820 --> 00:31:43,040 Correct. 314 00:31:45,830 --> 00:31:51,550 So is it going to harm the eagles? Is it going to harm the cats and all the other animals in the area? 315 00:31:52,190 --> 00:32:00,530 It's going to be held in the reservoir for 45 days. Once we get that into the reservoir, then it goes into the distribution system. 316 00:32:00,530 --> 00:32:05,770 We hopefully address the receiver muscles in the distribution system. 317 00:32:05,790 --> 00:32:11,730 A minimum of 45 days is it going to continue to harm the environment after that? 318 00:32:12,110 --> 00:32:13,370 Our estimation is no. 319 00:32:14,310 --> 00:32:18,070 But during that 45 days, we're trying to kill muscles. 320 00:32:18,350 --> 00:32:20,890 We are impacting the environment. 321 00:32:21,830 --> 00:32:25,850 I can make, I believe, the environmental assessment is out and available. 322 00:32:26,390 --> 00:32:28,250 And I can make that available to. 323 00:32:30,510 --> 00:32:31,190 Okay. 324 00:32:33,620 --> 00:32:35,320 Anything else for Mr. Good? 325 00:32:36,940 --> 00:32:43,080 Yes. Did you guys look at any other alternatives besides Potash or? 326 00:32:43,400 --> 00:32:45,340 We did in the environmental assessment. 327 00:32:45,580 --> 00:32:48,540 We did not put that together in an estimate. 328 00:32:48,880 --> 00:32:55,400 The estimate that we have for the $68 million is the Potash treatment because of discussions 329 00:32:55,400 --> 00:33:07,560 with the district and others, this was the selected alternative, and that's the one that was brought forward to a feasibility or estimating level of design. 330 00:33:11,140 --> 00:33:12,140 Okay, commissioners. 331 00:33:12,160 --> 00:33:17,980 How much water capacity is in that when you're doing that 2% volume, are you talking about doing it full or half full or? 332 00:33:18,360 --> 00:33:26,340 Yeah, no, we would take the reservoir in the estimate the intent was to take the reservoir down to elevation five. 333 00:33:26,340 --> 00:33:33,560 44 I believe, 455, at down to elevation 455, and would be treated at that level. 334 00:33:34,680 --> 00:33:42,100 I'm not off the top of my head, I'm sorry, I'm not aware of it, off the top of my head, 335 00:33:42,220 --> 00:33:48,460 what kind of quantity is left in the reservoir at that point, but it's relatively at a low level. 336 00:33:50,300 --> 00:33:55,840 And then the shoreline would be treated so as to address those that are on the 337 00:33:55,840 --> 00:34:00,180 a fringe of being in the water and those that are out of the water. 338 00:34:00,340 --> 00:34:01,120 With the pot ash? 339 00:34:01,320 --> 00:34:01,500 Yes. 340 00:34:05,560 --> 00:34:16,280 Mr. Good, would you have an opinion on the better route to go with the bureau in the event that we wanted to coexist with the muscles? 341 00:34:16,580 --> 00:34:23,180 We as a community, as a county, and I guess there's concerns to other neighboring water districts and so forth. 342 00:34:23,280 --> 00:34:29,180 It might be Mr. Wichries nodding his head because I'm sure he's heard about that from neighboring water districts. 343 00:34:29,180 --> 00:34:42,400 I would prefer to see nothing happen, does the Bureau have any opinion on that, would it be better to leave it alone, would it be better to try to do the treatment, or would it be better to try to co-exist? 344 00:34:42,800 --> 00:34:46,280 And I know you can't speak for the Bureau, do you have any opinion, anything that you can speak to that? 345 00:34:46,680 --> 00:34:56,840 I do very to tell you the truth, I did not know anything about this project up until about three days ago, so I can tell you what's in the eradication plan. 346 00:34:56,840 --> 00:34:59,700 Okay, so we thought of natural predators. 347 00:35:01,140 --> 00:35:08,880 I did do a little bit of research on my own about that. There are stuff that in Europe that develops 348 00:35:08,880 --> 00:35:30,000 or is a predator of the zebra mussels, they are not here in North America. So, like, there are certain species of birds and certain species of fish that are natural predators, correct? Crabbs does what I read. And then, of course, competitors, the quagga mussels and others that are in the very 349 00:35:30,000 --> 00:35:31,940 various different water bodies and ducts. 350 00:35:32,140 --> 00:35:36,160 So all you're really doing is just putting complication upon complication. 351 00:35:37,040 --> 00:35:40,800 Or I said birds, ducts, or one of the list. 352 00:35:41,080 --> 00:35:47,000 I did not see that, but again, like I said, I've done some very basic research of my own. 353 00:35:48,160 --> 00:35:49,160 Thank you very much. 354 00:35:49,380 --> 00:35:50,600 Mr. God appreciate your being here. 355 00:35:55,350 --> 00:35:58,070 Is that appropriate for Mrs. Salinas to approach? 356 00:35:58,650 --> 00:35:59,310 Please do. 357 00:36:00,170 --> 00:36:01,250 Yes, you bet, public comment. 358 00:36:06,480 --> 00:36:11,100 Thank you. Although you say you've only, your presenter here has only had three days. 359 00:36:11,240 --> 00:36:17,260 I'm a little, I'm questioned, I questioned the fact that he wasn't prepared to answer 360 00:36:17,260 --> 00:36:19,540 some questions specifically. 361 00:36:22,400 --> 00:36:28,940 What are the environmental ramifications? That's really important. 362 00:36:30,000 --> 00:36:34,120 You know, you should have had an answer for that and maybe he should have read the report 363 00:36:34,120 --> 00:36:37,780 And I'm sorry, I don't mean this is just the way I am, so you don't know me. 364 00:36:37,940 --> 00:36:41,160 But you need to be prepared for these answers, and you're not. 365 00:36:41,400 --> 00:36:43,980 And what is the environmental damages that it can cause? 366 00:36:44,600 --> 00:36:53,160 Now, I have for years, I've stated the San Husto is therefore one reason and one reason only. 367 00:36:53,740 --> 00:36:55,900 And that's for ag, we're cultural use. 368 00:36:57,320 --> 00:37:03,260 Recreation came seconds, and it continues to do its job with regards to agriculture. 369 00:37:03,260 --> 00:37:10,740 I could care less and I can tell you probably 85% of this community, they don't even know it exists. 370 00:37:11,580 --> 00:37:18,380 Then there's that other percent that they know it exists and they've never been there and they don't have any interest in going there. 371 00:37:18,900 --> 00:37:24,060 There are some very small percentage who will use it or have used it and will use it. 372 00:37:24,060 --> 00:37:29,120 Okay, so $68 million, we don't have it. 373 00:37:29,520 --> 00:37:35,760 And I remember Congressman Panetta talking to Mark, a supervisor, Mark Medina a few years ago, 374 00:37:35,880 --> 00:37:39,140 and said, oh yeah, we can do this, but you're going to have to pay us back. 375 00:37:39,940 --> 00:37:43,060 Well, we don't have the money, San Bernardo County is a pretty poor county. 376 00:37:43,200 --> 00:37:48,160 I don't care whether it's the water district, the county, whatever district it is, we don't 377 00:37:48,160 --> 00:37:52,500 have the funds and what do they do, they're going to go back and they're going to ask the public. 378 00:37:53,140 --> 00:37:56,240 You're going to have to pay it and it's going to be a rate increase. 379 00:37:57,260 --> 00:38:02,440 So the only suggestion that I have with regards to, how do we live with it? 380 00:38:02,880 --> 00:38:04,340 It stays the way it is. 381 00:38:04,900 --> 00:38:06,160 It doesn't cost us any money. 382 00:38:06,680 --> 00:38:14,480 And if you want it to become some kind of a park where it can be used by a very small majority of population. 383 00:38:15,180 --> 00:38:19,380 Is it really feasible to get something out there for 384 00:38:19,380 --> 00:38:23,580 are contracting to someone because it's not the county that's going to do it. 385 00:38:23,900 --> 00:38:32,120 You're going to contract for someone to have possibly, the only thing that I can think of right now is renting kayaks, right? 386 00:38:32,700 --> 00:38:36,940 So they stay there, the paddles and the kayaks will stay there. 387 00:38:37,780 --> 00:38:40,400 And then they get cleaned up and they whatever it is. 388 00:38:40,600 --> 00:38:44,100 I don't know if the air hits them for so many periods of time. 389 00:38:44,100 --> 00:38:46,880 that this muscle, the eggs, or whatever, die or not. 390 00:38:47,520 --> 00:38:54,220 But let's not spend money on something that does not have to happen. 391 00:38:54,900 --> 00:39:00,300 Right now, I understand that we're going to get more water from San Luis Dam and 392 00:39:00,300 --> 00:39:03,740 we need those places to hold water and it's going to be San Hustodam. 393 00:39:04,340 --> 00:39:07,620 I mean, so keep it, keep it the way it is, save money. 394 00:39:07,840 --> 00:39:08,080 Thank you. 395 00:39:12,620 --> 00:39:14,100 Anyone else for public comment? 396 00:39:14,100 --> 00:39:21,320 If you have a public comment in Chambers, please provide a speaker card and on Zoom, please press star 9 or the raised-hand icon. 397 00:39:21,640 --> 00:39:22,180 It 398 00:39:25,600 --> 00:39:27,100 looks like I have no other public comment. 399 00:39:28,740 --> 00:39:30,220 Thank you very much. 400 00:39:31,720 --> 00:39:43,920 We'll close that item and we'll move on to item 4c on your regular agenda update on the selling of Fox Pellet at the Renaissance Fair in 2022. 401 00:39:46,200 --> 00:39:52,860 and we will, if I could call up Jared Strauss from the California Fish and Wildlife to give us an update on that. 402 00:40:00,000 --> 00:40:12,440 I don't believe that he is present. We can move it to the next meeting. And we'll move that to the next meeting. From there, we'll go to Commissioner reports. Are there any commissioner reports? 403 00:40:15,740 --> 00:40:17,740 From there, we'll go to agency reports. 404 00:40:20,740 --> 00:40:33,340 And Jared Strauss, we'll move him to the next meeting. The San Benito County Sheriff's Office. I believe we have Mr. Kinesz on Zoom. 405 00:40:39,160 --> 00:40:46,060 just want to report on in regards to the mayor want to grow is that are going on in the county. 406 00:40:47,260 --> 00:40:54,320 We've hit with fishing wildlife and with the help of Santa Clara as well. 407 00:40:55,420 --> 00:41:00,560 We've had we've hit three grows in approximately the last month, maybe month and a half. 408 00:41:01,420 --> 00:41:09,180 The last grow was as of earlier last week, and it was an embankment warrant. 409 00:41:10,220 --> 00:41:15,460 It was a licensed hemp grow, which samples were taken, and it was later determined to 410 00:41:15,460 --> 00:41:21,180 be hot plants, meaning that they were marijuana, so we're currently in the middle of that. 411 00:41:21,200 --> 00:41:22,540 It's an ongoing investigation. 412 00:41:23,940 --> 00:41:28,240 But yeah, over the last month, we've hit three grows. 413 00:41:28,660 --> 00:41:33,620 We've been doing multiple flyovers, and we have a couple other targets within the county. 414 00:41:36,380 --> 00:41:39,400 Any questions for Mr. Canes for 415 00:41:42,560 --> 00:41:43,760 your service, Mr. Canes. 416 00:41:44,640 --> 00:41:45,340 Thank you. 417 00:41:47,310 --> 00:41:52,990 If anyone else in chambers or online is here from one of the agencies, please feel free to come to the podium. 418 00:42:04,860 --> 00:42:08,140 All right, Steve Luke, county engineer, good evening commissioners. 419 00:42:08,140 --> 00:42:15,280 I was here to listen in on the discussion regarding San 420 00:42:15,280 --> 00:42:19,940 Gisto Reservoir and also to provide a brief update regarding some 421 00:42:19,940 --> 00:42:25,220 levy repairs and debris removal for Pachaco Creek. 422 00:42:26,160 --> 00:42:33,220 So regarding the Reservoir, the county would absolutely be 423 00:42:33,220 --> 00:42:37,360 unbored with reopening that Reservoir to the public. 424 00:42:37,360 --> 00:42:44,440 and I do oversee the park's department as well with the caveat that at this point we 425 00:42:44,440 --> 00:42:53,880 have to study the risks involved but I think if we limited equipment and use such as 426 00:42:55,020 --> 00:43:04,140 paddle boats or whatnot to equipment that stays and remains in that vicinity and not allow 427 00:43:04,140 --> 00:43:10,020 to go off site at a minimum at the beginning if we all decide all the agencies 428 00:43:10,020 --> 00:43:13,680 that that's appropriate and I think the county would be unbored with that 429 00:43:13,680 --> 00:43:21,960 and then if we want to open ourselves to other risks based on corning with all 430 00:43:21,960 --> 00:43:26,920 the agencies especially the water district and the bureau then we just have to 431 00:43:26,920 --> 00:43:32,940 you know assess those risks before proceeding obviously but at a minimum I think 432 00:43:32,940 --> 00:43:37,300 if the equipment boats and whatnot stayed on site, that probably means there would not 433 00:43:37,300 --> 00:43:42,620 be fishing initially, but at least the public would be allowed to access a site, maybe 434 00:43:42,620 --> 00:43:45,500 do some cattle boating, and not take any equipment off site. 435 00:43:46,100 --> 00:43:48,860 I think that might be a good first step, but we'll have to see. 436 00:43:49,200 --> 00:43:56,820 It sounds like it's a big undertaking to draw down, bringing the pot ash and $7 million 437 00:43:56,820 --> 00:44:01,300 and that might be a bit of a process, so I think we should start the discussion, at least 438 00:44:01,300 --> 00:44:06,080 the discussion to open up the reservoir to the public and so I'll coordinate with Mr. 439 00:44:06,220 --> 00:44:11,600 Witchry in that regard but I'll pause there for questions and any more comment on the 440 00:44:11,600 --> 00:44:14,320 reservoir before I talk about the Pacheco Creek. 441 00:44:17,750 --> 00:44:19,030 Any questions or comments? 442 00:44:23,060 --> 00:44:28,840 So I think on the prior meeting one of the commissioners requested sort of an update on the clean-up 443 00:44:28,840 --> 00:44:35,660 and efforts for the Pacheco Creek which for those folks in our where it's over near Frager 444 00:44:35,660 --> 00:44:40,040 Lake and Shore Road kind of parallel shore road and it's perpendicular to 445 00:44:40,040 --> 00:44:44,080 San Felipe Road and we had some levy breaches with the recent storms out 446 00:44:44,080 --> 00:44:50,640 there. We the county have been working with the Pacheco stormwater district to 447 00:44:50,640 --> 00:44:57,780 essentially reactivate it. It's been inactive for approximately three decades and 448 00:44:57,780 --> 00:44:59,620 And during that time, 449 00:45:00,760 --> 00:45:05,380 There hasn't been a lot of maintenance in the creek for better or for worse. The particular 450 00:45:05,380 --> 00:45:09,760 stormwater district for those that aren't familiar with it, it's actually a district that 451 00:45:09,760 --> 00:45:15,360 was formed by the local landowners in the area, and it's a self-governing district where 452 00:45:15,960 --> 00:45:24,440 those landowners essentially gave each other rights to clean out Pacheco Creek, and for 453 00:45:24,440 --> 00:45:31,260 different reasons over the past decades, those efforts have dissipated and ceased. 454 00:45:32,480 --> 00:45:37,420 So unfortunately, Creek's pretty much overgrown with vegetation and silt at this point. 455 00:45:38,000 --> 00:45:44,340 One of the local farmers, ranchers, mentioned to me that his property in the 90s, there was 456 00:45:44,340 --> 00:45:50,440 approximately 13 feet from the top of the bank to the bottom of the channel, and in that 457 00:45:50,440 --> 00:45:54,820 area when I walked it, there was approximately three feet from the top of bank to the channel 458 00:45:54,820 --> 00:46:00,020 because of all the silt and debris that's built up over the years. So it's less quite 459 00:46:00,020 --> 00:46:08,640 a bit of capacity, obviously. And so where we're at with FEMA, FEMA did acknowledge that 460 00:46:08,640 --> 00:46:12,880 the particular, particular storm are district is an active agency. It's called a special 461 00:46:12,880 --> 00:46:20,420 district. Therefore, they're, they're able to be, they qualify for reimbursement. We're 462 00:46:20,420 --> 00:46:27,660 FEMA, and where it's at is the debris removal is one effort that we've segregated, and 463 00:46:27,660 --> 00:46:31,880 the levy breaches, and those repairs are a separate effort that we've segregated with 464 00:46:31,880 --> 00:46:32,160 FEMA. 465 00:46:33,720 --> 00:46:39,180 The debris removal, we're hoping that FEMA will acknowledge that it's purely because of 466 00:46:39,180 --> 00:46:40,140 the recent storm events. 467 00:46:40,800 --> 00:46:45,460 There's at least five extremely large piles of debris in addition to just all the vegetation 468 00:46:45,460 --> 00:46:46,920 that exists in the creek. 469 00:46:46,920 --> 00:46:53,980 It's hard to even walk through it quite frankly because there's so much vegetation there and silt build up 470 00:46:53,980 --> 00:46:57,880 But there's also five large debris piles and one of them definitely 471 00:46:59,540 --> 00:47:06,640 Impacted the one of the major levy breaches the debris pile is probably as tall as a ceiling and half as big as this room 472 00:47:07,220 --> 00:47:07,940 It's pretty 473 00:47:09,280 --> 00:47:15,940 It's a large debris probably but at that so we're trying where we're at with that is I'm reaching out to contractors. I need to get three quotes 474 00:47:17,140 --> 00:47:20,980 Let's just say hypothetically it costs $100,000 per pile, 475 00:47:21,220 --> 00:47:23,640 so that's $500,000 to clean up those debris piles. 476 00:47:24,620 --> 00:47:29,900 The tricky part is the way the reimbursement works is you do the work 477 00:47:29,900 --> 00:47:32,420 and you get reimbursed for debris removal. 478 00:47:33,080 --> 00:47:36,820 The district right now I think had $40,000 or $50,000 in their account. 479 00:47:38,120 --> 00:47:43,060 And so I think there's discussions or there will be discussions perhaps 480 00:47:43,060 --> 00:47:47,860 the county can give the district alone to do the debris clean up and but 481 00:47:47,860 --> 00:47:53,820 that's beyond my pay grade so so right now there's not the funding level to 482 00:47:53,820 --> 00:47:57,880 do any of that debris removal but we're working we're having those 483 00:47:57,880 --> 00:48:02,340 discussions and then for the levy breach there's at least four locations one of 484 00:48:02,340 --> 00:48:06,460 them is pretty extensive the levy when I was there was about 12 feet high it went 485 00:48:06,460 --> 00:48:10,840 down to approximately four feet and then there is essentially almost no levy 486 00:48:10,840 --> 00:48:15,100 there. We've built it up a little bit. A local property owner has just with 487 00:48:15,100 --> 00:48:21,740 soil import. So we're on a separate track trying to work with FEMA to we have a 488 00:48:21,740 --> 00:48:25,680 site visit schedule for August 24th with FEMA site team. They're going to come to 489 00:48:25,680 --> 00:48:32,420 the creek, observe the levy breaches, and see if our cost estimates are about 490 00:48:32,420 --> 00:48:39,740 right to restore those locations. And then again, I have to sort of come up with 491 00:48:39,740 --> 00:48:41,500 that funding in some respect. 492 00:48:41,980 --> 00:48:47,480 So the good news with having FEMA in the state involved is if they obligate a project, 493 00:48:47,480 --> 00:48:52,320 they'll essentially approve the project, which means, for example, if we say we need 494 00:48:52,320 --> 00:48:57,100 half a million for the debris removal, and they acknowledge that the storms caused all 495 00:48:57,100 --> 00:49:04,100 the debris removal, they'll say, okay, you're obligated to be reimbursed, half a million 496 00:49:04,100 --> 00:49:05,580 dollars minus 6%. 497 00:49:05,580 --> 00:49:07,260 So what's just called half a million dollars? 498 00:49:07,260 --> 00:49:12,740 Therefore, if we do the activity to remove the debris, they will reimburse us. 499 00:49:12,800 --> 00:49:13,820 That's when we get obligated. 500 00:49:14,340 --> 00:49:17,680 With the levy breaches, it's a little trickier because there's construction involved 501 00:49:17,680 --> 00:49:18,660 in some of the things. 502 00:49:19,520 --> 00:49:23,120 And that, like I said, could be maybe 1.5 million plus or minus. 503 00:49:23,400 --> 00:49:25,020 We'll wait and see what FEMA's team says. 504 00:49:25,460 --> 00:49:32,040 But we've had five meetings, both of those efforts, with FEMA, we're on meeting number six 505 00:49:32,040 --> 00:49:34,920 next, this Friday, excuse me, at one o'clock. 506 00:49:34,920 --> 00:49:39,760 and so those efforts are ongoing and I'll pause there for questions. 507 00:49:42,390 --> 00:49:44,130 What's the time frame for? 508 00:49:44,950 --> 00:49:49,010 So I would love to say yes. 509 00:49:49,370 --> 00:49:53,010 That's absolutely the goal for both those activities before winter. 510 00:49:53,110 --> 00:49:57,070 Like I said, we're working one of the local property owners that 511 00:49:57,070 --> 00:49:59,730 where the breaches occur, they're already restoring 512 00:50:00,000 --> 00:50:29,220 Some of the levy today, as it's already occurred, some of the levy has been restored. As far as the debris removal, once we have the three quotes, and FEMA obligates that, that could be another month or so, but then we have to come up with some kind of funding agreement, somehow, to utilize half a million dollars, let's just say hypothetically, to have those debris piles removed. And big picture wise, 513 00:50:29,220 --> 00:50:35,540 as we would, this is everyone knows, we would apply it for another grant the county has to do a study of the whole area 514 00:50:36,120 --> 00:50:45,140 to try to come up with a game plan to improve the creek, build a parallel creek. I don't know, we're going to have to explore options. 515 00:50:46,020 --> 00:50:56,700 What they did in Monterey is they actually, instead of maintaining the Salinas River, they actually built parallel, a parallel tributary adjacent to the river. 516 00:50:57,280 --> 00:51:00,460 and when they did that, they got very specific permits 517 00:51:00,460 --> 00:51:03,900 to clean out that parallel tributary in that way. 518 00:51:04,820 --> 00:51:06,600 They didn't have to go through the permitting process 519 00:51:06,600 --> 00:51:09,180 to try to permit the existing waterway 520 00:51:09,180 --> 00:51:11,980 and so we might have to go through something like that. 521 00:51:12,140 --> 00:51:14,300 But that process will know in about three months 522 00:51:14,300 --> 00:51:16,560 if we received the funding to do the study 523 00:51:16,560 --> 00:51:18,600 of the whole drainage area. 524 00:51:19,540 --> 00:51:22,000 And as far as the levy breaches, again, 525 00:51:22,240 --> 00:51:26,100 that might occur, I'd say, in three-ish, four months 526 00:51:26,100 --> 00:51:29,800 if we find the $1.5 million, if that's what it cost, 527 00:51:30,780 --> 00:51:33,540 but it's a little bit more of a funding issue 528 00:51:33,940 --> 00:51:35,560 that we're trying to work with right now, so. 529 00:51:39,110 --> 00:51:39,990 Any other questions? 530 00:51:41,690 --> 00:51:42,570 Any public comment? 531 00:51:51,300 --> 00:51:55,400 I'm just wondering, can you get a fire permit 532 00:51:55,400 --> 00:51:57,340 on a burn day to get rid of some of that debris? 533 00:51:58,680 --> 00:52:00,420 Would that be more economical? 534 00:52:01,760 --> 00:52:03,480 Just thinking out what the box here? 535 00:52:07,000 --> 00:52:08,540 Yes, so to answer the public comment, 536 00:52:08,540 --> 00:52:17,200 we've explored two options. Both options require us or include removing the debris from the 537 00:52:17,200 --> 00:52:22,720 channel as a first step in case we get some storms sooner rather than later. And the two options 538 00:52:22,720 --> 00:52:30,220 we've looked at is chipping the debris and then taking it to our landfill, which the county 539 00:52:30,220 --> 00:52:36,480 owns. And then the second option is coordinating with Cal Fire for burning the piles. And it has 540 00:52:36,480 --> 00:52:41,020 been allowed in other jurisdictions I've been told I don't know by Cal Fire but in California 541 00:52:41,600 --> 00:52:44,440 they've allowed burn piles for the similar type of activity. 542 00:52:47,760 --> 00:52:55,420 Steve could you put some sort of a timetable on when some of those decisions might be made. 543 00:52:56,060 --> 00:53:00,880 When that I know I know you don't know I know that's what you can tell me but you know just 544 00:53:00,880 --> 00:53:06,380 just so that we can kind of have an idea of what happens going forward. 545 00:53:06,520 --> 00:53:09,680 I know that Commissioner Scalio is worried about the rains coming and being back in the 546 00:53:09,680 --> 00:53:12,220 same position, so discounting your best guess. 547 00:53:15,000 --> 00:53:24,100 If I had the decisions over the county's loan activities to the district, I could probably 548 00:53:24,100 --> 00:53:25,700 give you a better answer to that question. 549 00:53:25,860 --> 00:53:27,500 I think those conversations are just beginning. 550 00:53:27,500 --> 00:53:32,420 I mean, matter of fact, the meeting after this, I think that trustee board, 551 00:53:32,780 --> 00:53:34,760 we're actually having a meeting with Pacheco Stormwater District. 552 00:53:35,040 --> 00:53:40,640 They'll be sitting, there's three trustees, they'll be sitting where you are in about seven minutes. 553 00:53:40,920 --> 00:53:44,240 But they still have to coordinate that with the county. 554 00:53:44,460 --> 00:53:48,660 So I think it's going to be a little bit more of a funding issue, 555 00:53:49,020 --> 00:53:53,080 coordination, and I don't want to guesstimate really on those timelines, 556 00:53:53,080 --> 00:53:57,480 because my super people above me would be upset with me, I think. 557 00:53:57,920 --> 00:54:01,240 Really appreciate you being here and you're working services county. 558 00:54:01,440 --> 00:54:02,240 Thank you very much. 559 00:54:02,460 --> 00:54:02,920 Thank you. 560 00:54:07,680 --> 00:54:09,060 Future agenda items. 561 00:54:09,160 --> 00:54:12,340 We have a future agenda item that we discussed earlier. 562 00:54:13,300 --> 00:54:16,860 If there's anything else from the commissioners, any future agenda items? 563 00:54:18,300 --> 00:54:24,860 There was a part of the item about the Fox Pilts. 564 00:54:24,860 --> 00:54:31,320 That's a bobcat, just clarification on the minutes. 565 00:54:31,620 --> 00:54:35,600 Okay, clarification item on the minutes of bobcat pelt's from 2022. 566 00:54:36,160 --> 00:54:36,860 Thank you, Robert. 567 00:54:39,750 --> 00:54:41,530 Thank you from that point. 568 00:54:41,750 --> 00:54:43,610 We will go to move to adjournment. 569 00:54:44,270 --> 00:54:47,950 I can't move it because we don't have a quorum, but anyway, we will adjourn.