Nacitone Watersheds Group

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Background

Why a Watersheds Management Plan?

Is this a Community-driven Process?

Responsibilities of the Steering Committee

How to Provide Your Input 

BACKGROUND:

What is the NACITONE Watersheds Management Plan ?

A community-based Management Plan Steering Committee has formed to direct the use of a $487,000 grant obtained by the Monterey County Water Resources Agency. The committee will produce the non-regulatory, guidance document with public input and will be used by public officials, agencies, community groups and others to base decisions on the best available information documented in the Plan.

Monterey County Water Resources Agency (Water Agency) obtained a grant from the Regional Water Quality Control Board in partnership with San Luis Obispo County Departments of Planning and Public Works, Fort Hunter Liggett, Camp Roberts, and others to develop a watersheds management plan.  The Steering Committee is made up of local landowners, homeowners, farmers, ranchers, and others.  They will work with a Technical Advisory Committee and the rest of the community to craft a non-regulatory, guidance document, a NACITONE Watersheds Management Plan. 

 

WHY WAS A WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLAN INITIATED?

Monterey County Water Resources Agency (Water Agency) is responsible for managing the two dams as one system to provide groundwater recharge downstream and flood storage capacity in the reservoirs.  There are also other organizations working in and around the lakes that are concerned for the long-term health and functioning of these resources.  There are also growing communities around the lakes that have an interest in the long-term protection of these resources.  However, there is no single location where all existing information about these resources can be found.  A watershed management plan is an information source that can help plan a future with human uses the community wants and needs while also ensuring long-term existence of the resources that make those uses possible.

 

YES - THIS A COMMUNITY DRIVEN PROCESS

Originally, the Monterey County Water Resources Agency (Water Agency) had moved ahead.  After hearing from a few community members, they agreed to meet and discuss a better approach.

Five community meetings were convened and attended by people from both watersheds before the grant was awarded to the Water Agency.  Individuals volunteered, or were nominated by their peers, to form a Watershed Steering Committee which represents critical interest areas in these watersheds. 

Private landowners/residence representatives have 51% of the decision making power on the Steering Committee if needed.

Responsibilities of the Watershed Steering Committee

  • Draft and adopt critical process documents (Vision statement, Ground Rules, Meeting Schedule, Process Plan, Table of Contents for the Plan)
  • Guide the preparation of the Watershed Management Plan by working closely with the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and Plan Writer
  • Select / Agree upon Technical Advisory Committee participants
  • Review Plan sections as they are drafted by the Plan Writer
  • Request technical clarification from the TAC and/or Plan Writer
  • Convene Community Forums to obtain input and provide updates
  • Draft key sections of the Plan “Purpose and Need for the Plan” / “Executive Summary”
  • Work to resolve areas of disagreement as needed

HOW WILL THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY HAVE INPUT?

Community Forums:

Major draft sections of the Plan will be presented and discussed at a Community Forum with the Plan Writer, members of the Steering Committee, and members of the Technical Advisory Committee.  Comments provided will be written down and considered for inclusion into the final document. 

Written comments during public review periods:

Draft sections of the Plan will be posted to the Nacitone website (www.nacitonewater.org) for download and review by the public.  Comment periods will be announced in advance. The Steering Committee and the Technical Advisory Committee will then review all compiled comments and and discuss what changes to make to the Draft section.

As a commenter, we appreciate and respect the time and effort you have taken to comment. Each commenter or organization will receive a letter acknowledging comments received.  If you have not yet received acknowledgement, please be patient or contact us to let us know. 

All written comments received will be included in the final Plan as an Appendix.

Talk to the Steering Committee Members

There is a list of Steering Committee Members on this page. If you know any of them or the organizations they are active with, contact them with questions or comments.  But we will still need comments in writing to be able to address them and include them in our Public Comment Appendix.

Anyone who comments is strongly encouraged to raise issues and concerns early in the process and to suggest ways their concerns could be addressed. 

HOW WILL THE PLAN BE WRITTEN?
Each section will be drafted by the Plan Writer after hearing from the Community, the Steering Committee and Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) about the topics to include. The Plan Writer will work with the TAC and/or the Steering Committee to develop the section and make it available for public comment at Community Forums, this website, email transfer, etc.

Steering Committee Members

Project Team

Technical Advisory Committee Members




WATERSHEDS STEERING COMMITTEE

Co-Chairpersons:

Duane Wolgamott, Lockwood landowner & Vintner  

Phil Humfrey, Nacimiento landowner & a director of the Nacimiento Regional Water Management Advisory Committee

Ann Beckett, Historian and Lockwood resident (also TAC)

Marilyn Breland, Heritage Ranch resident and Board member, Community Service Dist.

James Caruso, Senior Planner, San Luis Obispo County (also TAC)

Terry Chavis, Heritage Ranch resident

Ken Ekelund, Monterey County Water Resources Agency

Jill Falcone, Environmental Resources, Public Works, San Luis County (also TAC)

Louise French, Landowner in the Nacimiento watershed

Adrienne Greve, Cal Poly Professor of Planning

Michel Hardoy, Agricultural consultant and Lockwood resident

Wally Haussamen, Fort Hunter Liggettt, Environmental Officer

Tim Kopack, Nacimiento Regional Water Management Advisory Committee

Mark Williams, Camp Roberts, Environmental Officer

Mary Ann & Tom Martinus, Cattle Ranchers

David Osgood,  Adelaide Farm Center

Dennis Palm, Ventana Wilderness Alliance

Lester Patterson, Cattle Rancher

Eric Peterson, Lime Mountain Mining Company

Bill Phillips, Monterey County Water Resources Agency

Kim & Ed Roth, Cattle Ranchers

Tom Shepherd, Monterey County Parks & Recreation

Scott Smith, Adelaide Farm Center

Lisa Wallender, Water Chemist, SLO County Public Works

 

PROJECT TEAM

Facilitator : Traci Roberts, Environmental Resources Coordinator

Monterey County Farm Bureau

Phone: 831-750-5875 / Email: traci@montereycfb.com

Project Manager: Ken Ekelund

Monterey County Water Resources Agency

Phone: 831-755-8983 / Email: ekelundko@co.monterey.ca.us

Plan Writer : Stephnie Wald, Central Coast Salmon Enhancement

Phone: 805-473-8221 / Email: salmonfix4@aol.com

 

TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

John D’Ornelles, Manager, Heritage Ranch Community Service District

San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau

Howard Franklin, Hydologist, Monterey County Water Resources Agency

Donald (DJ) Funk, Upper Salinas Las Tablas Resource Conservation District

Melanie Berretti, Resource Conservation District of Monterey County

Robert LaFluer, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA

Royce Larsen, UC Cooperative Extension, Watershed Specialist

Danny Marquis, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Rangeland Specialist

Kay Mercer, Local Resident and Water Quality / Agricultural Consultant

Donna Meyers, Big Sur Land Trust

Margaret Paul, California Dept. of Fish & Game

Mary Root, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Steve Mason & Robert Schubert, Planning, Monterey County

Ken Tate, UC Cooperative Extension, UC Davis, Rangeland Water Quality Specialist

Kathy Thomasberg, Water Quality Specialist, Monterey County Water Resources Agency

Lisa Wallender, Water Chemist, SLO County Public Works