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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-03-15; Santa Margarita San Luis Rey Watershed Planning Agency Ad Hoc; MinutesMINUTES OF THE SANTA MARGARITA - SAN LUIS REY WATERSHED PLANNING AGENCY MEETING MARCH 15, 1990 10:00 AM A meeting of the Santa Margarita - San Luis Rey Watershed Planning Agency was held in the Board of Directors" meeting room of the Vista Irrigation District on Thursday, March 15, 1990. The Chairman called the meeting to order at 10:12 AM. Members present were! William Taylor John McGuire Bill MacMillan Victor Pankey Jim Jenks Larry Carls-on Lt. Col. Tony Pack Jim Turner Susan Collins Rollin Eckis Ed Lotz Gordon Tinker M. J. Beemer Alan Ferguson Sam Stewart Dave Hansen Vista Irrigation District Eastern Municipal Water District Metropolitan Water District, Lake Skinner San Luis Rey Municipal Water District Watermaster, Santa Margarita River Camp Pendleton Camp Pendleton City of Oceanside Yuima Municipal Water District Yuima MWD and SDCWA Riverside County Flood Control Fallbrook Public Utility District Pauma Municipal Water District Rainbow Municipal Water District Pauma Valley Western Municipal Water District APPROVAL OF MINUTES There being no objection, the Minutes of the Board meeting of June 15, 1989, were approved as mailed out. TREASURER'S REPORT Mr. Jim Turner submitted the following Treasurer's report: LAIF Fund Balance Checking Account Balance Total $33,000.00 3.281.82 $36,281.82 Mr. Turner reported that the interest from the LAIF account goes into the checking account which is also an interest bearing account. CONSIDER RESOLUTION CONCERNING PROPOSED NORTH COUNTY LANDFILLS Mr. Ferguson discussed some of the concerns regarding the proposed North County landfills, including the potential contamination of various aquifers and protection of the aqueducts. He reported that many questions have been MINUTES 3/15/90. continued raised by technical experts on the permeability of liners and the life span of leachate recovery systems. The general consensus is that the risk factor is too high in view of the potential threat not only to the Santa Margarita River water source, but also the San Luis Rey River. Chairman Taylor read a segment from Dr. Fred Lee's report on the EIR which referred to a 30-year post closure maintenance period. He reported that the San Diego County Water Authority voted to send a resolution to the County objecting to the proposed landfills. Staff is going to work together in writing the language for the resolution in time for the April Board meeting. Mr. Tinker reported that the technical comments will be submitted in time for the March 26, 1990, deadline. Mr. Ferguson expressed that there is no summary of the capital and operating expenses of all three landfills, and no alternatives as to what else could be done with the money based on known expenditure. The representatives from Camp Pendleton raised the question as to who has the liability to pay for any damage done to the aquifers should a mishap occur. They suggested that the EIR for the proposed North County landfills be declared inadequate and that an expansion be pushed for the San Marcos site giving more time to explore alternatives. Mr. Pankey agreed that the EIR is deficient and expressed concern that the site selection was really a political decision. He suggested we try to evaluate the dollar value of the basins to the County and talk about the potential conjunctive use program that could be developed so that the politicians could look at the trade-off value. We also need to evaluate the dollar value so the potential damage to the groundwater can be assessed. Mr. Jenks stated that in regard to Camp Pendleton, if the groundwater were destroyed, both the water supply and the groundwater storage would have to be replaced. Those could be valued on the basis of alternatives that it takes to replace those facilities. Imported water would be a way to evaluate the value of the water supply, and the cost to construct an alternative surface reservoir is one method to evaluate the value of storage. The resulting number could be included in the economic analysis of any facility that is upstream of a groundwater basin. Mr. Tinker said that the group needs to identify the purpose of their organization which is to develop basin plans that are designed to protect water quality. Following evaluation of the EIR, any risk to water quality is unacceptable. Mr. Hansen suggested that since this organization has $33,000 in investments, perhaps it ought to consider helping to fund the distribution of information. MINUTES 3/15/90. continued Ms. Collins suggested that there might be some legislation in place to help fight the proposed landfills. Mr. Tinker said that there is legislation in place and that if the County continues to proceed, they are violating State law on several issues. He also said that a temporary restraining order could be requested to prevent the County from going ahead with the land condemnation process and from implementing the General Plan Amendment. Mr. Hansen suggested compiling the facts heard at this meeting into a fact sheet along with a resolution opposing the landfills and distribution of such to other water districts, political parties, and the news media. He also suggested funding a breakfast with the press to express our concerns, give them the facts and discuss it. It was determined that due to lack of staffing, this action would be more appropriate if done by the County Water Authority. After further discussion, it was moved, seconded and carried that the Santa Margarita-San Luis Rey Watershed Planning Agency send a resolution to the County opposing the three proposed North County Landfill sites similar to the resolution to be prepared by the San Diego County Water Authority. Mr. Tinker abstained from voting due to his declaration of public conflict of interest. It was moved, seconded and carried that the Santa Margarita-San Luis Rey Watershed Planning Agency authorize an expenditure of $2,000 to work with the Water Authority on sending out information to the public. A committee was formed to implement this action consisting of Rollin Eckis, William Taylor and Jim Turner. CONSIDER FUTURE ROLE (OR POSSIBLE DISSOLUTION) OF SANTA MARGARITA SAN LUIS REY WATERSHED PLANNING AGENCY Alan Ferguson reported that in addition to opposing the proposed landfills, there are two other issues the agency is dealing with. They are in the preliminary stages of trying to develop a total plan for the San Luis Rey River from the sea to its headwaters. The request has been made to California Polytechnic University to provide three graduate student to give a first overview on potential development uses of the river. The other issue is the sand mining as sand removal is exceeding replacement. The concern is that the sand mining is uncontrolled and that it is creating a water loss and intensification of TDS. It is damaging the water basin supply of Bonsall and below. He suggested that there be a use plan developed for the river addressing the coordination and cooperation of sand mining efforts. Mr. Tinker discussed presenting a tape at the next meeting which proposes a water authority on the Watershed which could possibly be the ultimate extended role of this organization. MINUTES 3/15/90. continued Chairman Taylor asked the group to think about dividing the Watershed Planning Agency into two separate agencies, the Santa Margarita and the San Luis Rey. Mr. Ferguson also brought up the subject of reclamation and that it is another area that the Watershed Planning Agency needs to concern itself with. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 11:45 AM.