AMADOR RESOURCE CONSERVATION DISTRICT
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING
MAY 20, 2004

Meeting called to order: 7:00 pm
Present at roll call: Directors Cannon, Jerauld, Port. Absent:Peters. Also Bob Long , NRCS, Lola Blevins, Dick McCleery, Valerie Klinefelter, Ron Klinefelter, Mike Boitano.
Approval of Agenda: Under Miscellaneous Matters items 3 and 4 were moved to the top of the agenda. Port moved to approve agenda as amended. Jerauld second. All ayes.
Oral Communications: None Emergency Items: None Consent Agenda: Warrants: none.
Approval of minutes: Jerauld moved to approve minutes of April 15, 2004. Port second. All ayes. Correspondence: County auditor reported a balance of $6,156.90.
Miscellaneous Matters:
1. ARCD Involvement with CSRC&D Council. The Board discussed ARCD membership in the Central Sierra Resource Conservation and Development Council. Dick McCleery and Valerie Klinefelter answered questions about the CSRC&D and said ARCD membership would benefit both entities. Port moved that the ARCD join the CSRC&D. No second. Item placed on agenda for next meeting.
2. Watershed Sub-Coalition Working Group. Agricultural Commissioner Mike Boitano told the Board that the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board, under pressure from a lawsuit and legislative action, has rescinded the waiver for waste discharge permits for agricultural irrigators. Irrigators must now either obtain a discharge permit, obtain an individual conditional waiver from the RWQCB, or participate in a Coalition Group to implement a watershed program. The Sacramento Valley Water Quality Coalition has been formed to allow irrigators a cooperative option to the expense of individual compliance with the new regulations. Ducks Unlimited, and the Northern California Water Association among others have invested a lot of resources to set up the Coalition. The Coalition area has been divided into 10 sub-watersheds. The Amador-South Sacramento sub-watershed includes most of Amador County and the portion of Sacramento County in the Cosumnes watershed.
The Coalition will meet the requirements of the RWQC and is requiring local entities to take responsibility for implementing the watershed program in the sub-watersheds. Sacramento County is attempting to form a joint powers authority for their area. Currently, the Agricultural Commissioner has taken responsibility for Amador County but he feels that another entity such as the ARCD, the Grape Growers, the Farm Bureau, or the Jackson Valley Irrigation District would be more appropriate for this purpose. Implementation of the watershed program would entail working with the Coalition to compile a list of participants, informing participants about the watershed program, possibly monitoring water quality in our watershed, and collecting fees from participants to fund this work. Currently about 25 irrigators have signed up to participate in Amador County. There is a sub-watershed meeting scheduled for May 24 in Elk Grove and the JVID will be discussing the Coalition at their meeting on June 2.
The Board discussed the pros and cons of ARCD involvement with the Coalition and will consider it at the next meeting. Port will attend the May 24 and June 2 meetings, and send more information to the Board
3 . Director Vacancy. Port moved that the ARCD recommend to the Board of Supervisors the appointment of Lola Blevins to fill the vacancy on the ARCD Board. Jerauld second. All ayes.
4. Scholarship. The Board reviewed the candidates for the Dick Mangum Memorial Resource Conservation Scholarship. Port moved that Sara Lowrey receive the scholarship. Jerauld second. All ayes.
5. Sierra Nevada Conservancy. Port reported that both bills were passed out of Assembly Appropriations but Leslie’s bill was amended to remove requirements for local approval of Conservancy actions. No action.
6. Change of ARCD meeting time. Tabled to next meeting.
7. Farm Tour. Tabled to next meeting.
8. ARCD website. Lola Blevins reported that a website would cost $30 for set up and $180 per year through Volcano. Domain name registration would cost $30 per year or $100 for 5 years. Jerauld moved to authorize expenditure of $210.00 for the website. Port second. All ayes. Blevins will set up the website.
9 Earth Team. Bob Long asked Board members to record their volunteer hours with the NRCS Earth Team.
10. Sutter Creek Riparian Habitat Restoration Project. The Board Has received a request for endorsement of this project. The Board was generally favorable but felt more information is needed. Tabled to next meeting.
11. Agricultural Building Exemption Project. Cannon reported that several counties exempt agricultural structures in Ag zones from complying with Building codes and recommended that ARCD request the Board of Supervisors to implement this policy in Amador County. Jerauld di not think this matter is appropriate for ARCD. Tabled to next meeting.
12. NRCS report. Long reported that an agricultural engineer has been hired for the region.
13. Meeting adjourned at 9:19 pm.

Directors

Steve Cannon, President
Lola Blevins, Vice Pres
Dan Port, Treasurer
Carole Marz

Associate Directors

Robert Long, Sutter Creek
Donald Jardine, Supervisor, Alpine Co.
Mario Biagi, Supervisor Amador Co

NRCS Partners
Amy Rocha
Diana Waller
Mike Grinstead