Minutes of the ISD and RD830 Special Workshop Meeting March 19, 2014

MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL WORKSHOP MEETING

OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE

IRONHOUSE SANITARY DISTRICT

AND

TRUSTEES OF RECLAMATION DISTRICT 830

 

March 19, 2014

 

The Ironhouse Sanitary District (ISD) Board of Directors and the Trustees of RD 830 met in special session on Wednesday, March 19, 2014.

 

The place of meeting was the Ironhouse Sanitary District Office at 450 Walnut Meadows Drive, Oakley, California.  The meeting was called to order by RD 830 President Tom Williams at 3:05 p.m.

 

1.         Call to Order

 

            Roll Call was taken:

 

ISD Members present:           David Contreras, David Huerta, Chris Lauritzen, Michael Painter and Doug Scheer

RD 830 Members present:     Tom Williams, Mark Haefke, and Jenny Skrel

 

Members absent:                    None 

 

Staff/Consultants present:      Susan Walde, District Secretary

Fred Etzel, District Council

Dave Dal Porto, Ranch and Levee Superintendent

Joe Mueller, Environmental/Process Compliance Manager

Nate Hersey, MBK Engineers

Kevin Tillis, Hultgren Tillis

 

Interested Parties:                   Lauren Bisnett, DWR

Francis Chang, Sacramento, CA

Jacoblen Quirk, DWR

                                                Geoff Shimley, DWR

                                                Preston Good, DWR

                                                Linus Paulus, DWR

Julie Mitchell, Oakley, CA

                                                Wally Young, Antioch, CA Bradford Island, CA

                                                Karen Cunningham, Bradford Island, CA

                                                John and Alice Evans, Oakley, CA

                                                Dawn & Chris Gulick, Sherman Island, CA

                                                Kay Dower, Antioch, CA

                                                Ed Hultgren, Concord, Ca

                                                Miki Tsubota

                                                Bob Amerine, B.I.M.I.D.

                                                Ron Bernal, City of Antioch

                                                Karyn Cornell, Brentwood. CA

                                                Jennifer Quallick, Brentwood, CA

                                                Amy Dawson, Antioch, CA

                                                Jim Dawson, Oakley, CA

                                                Paul Beard, Oakley, CA

 

            Pledge of Allegiance – was led by Director Lauritzen

                                                                       

2.        Approval of Agenda – M/S J. Skrel, M. Haefke and the Board of RD 830 voted to approve the agenda.

 

3.         Public Comment:  Communications from the public on subjects not on the agenda.  There were no comments from the public.

 

 

4.         Receive Information from the Department of Water Resources Staff Regarding the Need for a Rock Barrier at False River between Jersey and Bradford Island. (Discussion and direction to ISD staff.)

Mr. Williams stated the purpose of this meeting is for the Department of Water Resources to review the project and is asking for the two Districts to consider signing the proposed lease Agreement between DWR and ISD and RD 830 relating to installation of “leaking” (low permeability) rock barriers in False River between Jersey Island and Bradford Island. The Board was informed by DWR on the critical nature of the on-going drought in California, of the Governor’s Emergency Drought Proclamation, and the immediate need to install Emergency Drought Salinity Barriers (EDSB) in three locations, including West False River, to limit salinity intrusion in the western and southern Delta to preserve drinking water supplies for agencies such as Contra Costa Water District and others. 

The following items were distributed and made available for anyone interested.

            -2014 Drought Emergency Temporary Rock Barriers Draft Document

            -2014 Operations and Monitoring Plan for the Temporary Barrier at the Head of Old River

            -Protecting Water Supplies and Delta Water Quality with Emergency Drought Barriers

-Draft Terms of Proposed Lease Agreement between DWR and ISD and RD 830 relating to installation of rock barriers in False River.

 

Deputy Director Paul Helliker of the Delta and Statewide Water Management California Department of Water Resources gave a power point presentation on the current reservoir conditions model results for the Temporary Barriers in the Delta.  Staff of DWR gave great detail of the condition and purpose of the barriers.

Director Lauritzen asked about the removal of the barriers and was told they will be removed by November of 2014.

Mr. Williams asked about the consideration of Dutch Slough and it was determined that False River was the best location.

Director Painter asked if this barrier would be considered to stay or is it only a temporary levee.  It also is his understanding that the sheet piles will be a permanent structure. 

Director Contreras asked why the sheet piles are left in place. Is it believed it is safer for the levee to be left in place?  They are planning to fill any voids with rock and leave the sheet piles.

Kevin Tillis stated the District needs to buttress the levee first and near the vertical slop put in a large toe berm. 

Mr. David Mraz of DWR stated that Jersey Island is one of the critical eight western islands.  DWR has put an agreement into place to ballast berms in place.  He stated there is opportunity to extend the agreement to build the levees. 

Mr. Williams addressed the fact that on an ongoing basis if the drought continues, where the rock will be stored in the interim. 

Discussion was held on the water quality at Jersey Island and the modeling DWR has created of the salt intrusion.  Historic saltwater intrusion data was shown as a comparison from 19777-78 Emergency barriers and the drought barriers of 2009.

Leah Orloff of Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) gave a presentation on the water quality at the City of Antioch.  Their prospective is the barriers are very necessary for customers to get quality drinking water.  CCWD have four intakes inside the delta and stated the water quality of the water is variable for water use.  She showed her concern of the water modeling by DWR that effect CCWD’s intakes.  She feels DWR modeling is under estimated of what actually may be.  We are in a dire situation this year and need the barriers for water quality.  She hopes to help DWR to address local concerns.

Ron Burnell of the City of Antioch stated that the City has water quality concerns.  They have been pumping and blending with water from CCWD. 

Comments from the Public –

Kay Dower of Antioch, voiced her concerns to DWR regarding why they don’t shut off the pumps to the south pumping water out and help stop the infusion of salt water.

Karen Cunningham, a ranch and land owner voiced her concern as the same as Kay Dower.  She also stated that she attended the meeting of RD 2059 regarding Bradford Island.

Amy Dawson of Antioch proposed reviewing proposing the barriers vs shutting down the pumps.

 

Linus Paulus of DWR stated to the Board and the public in attendance that DWR is here to address the Board on land barriers, and they saw the need for more information.  So, they came more prepared and will have information in the future at a planned open meeting of the public.

DWR addressed the concerns of staff and the consultants regarding data on the flows and will work on having more information available and will have this information posted online.

Roger Bacon of Bradford Island addressed his concerns of the flows at Fisherman’s Cut and stated they will increase five times.  He stated they will be putting a ramp at Steamboat and would they consider having ramp access for Bradford and feels this would be beneficial for people in Oakley as well.

Mr. Paulus stated that they will look into the velocity and will look into a boat ramp at False River as well.

Chris Lauritzen as a Marina owner asked how the barriers are going to effect the water Hiaasen upstream of the barriers

The Division of water ways is addressing the water Hiaasen issue and DWR will look at this issue as well.

Dave Dal Porto asked about the EC levels in the graph?  Mr. Paulus stated that water withdrawals effect the EC levels and they change from summer to fall.

Darlene from Sportsman Yacht Club asked what farmers were to benefit in the Delta.

Chris from Sherman Island voiced concerns about the fish passage and asked about a Frank’s tract dam at three mile slough vs water quality improvement project. 

DWR stated that this is a complete different project and this project to protect our water quality.

Director Lauritzen stated that he doesn’t believe this project is temporary.  If this goes well, he feels we will be considering a levee with a permanent gate. 

Paul Helliker of DWR responded that this is not part of the plant and that this is a temporary project. 

After addressing the concerns of the Board of ISD, the Board of RD 830, staff, consultant and the public in attendance, DWR thanked everyone for attending today’s workshop and hopes to have more information available soon.

 

 

 

5.         Adjournment

 

President Huerta adjourned the special meeting of the Board at 5:10 p.m. to the Regular Meeting on Tuesday, April 1, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. for Regular Session in the Ironhouse Sanitary District offices at 450 Walnut Meadows Drive, Oakley, California.