Sierra Resource Conservation District

Minutes for Board Meeting

January 25, 2010

 

I. CALL TO ORDER:

                 

                  Meeting called to order at 4:04 pm by President Terry Sandridge. Roll Call: Directors present were Terry Sandridge, Toby Horst, Gary Temple, Sherman Pennebaker, Chuck Kryder, Chuck Peck, and Associate Director Pete Lassotovitch. Directors absent Jeff Halstead. Steve Haze, Jeannie Habben, and Brandi Miller, SRCD Staff (USJR Stewardship Council and Assessment), David Durham and Patricia Jones (NRCS) and Rick Thaxton (Public).

 

II. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES FOR December 21, 2009

 

**Motion to approve minutes made by Director Toby Horst, 2nd by Director Sherman Pennebaker. Passed; 7 ayes, 0 nos.

 

III. ACTION ITEMS AND DISCUSSION TOPICS:

 

  1. Steve Haze brought up the topic of California State University of Fresno and the California State University, Fresno Foundations 30 day notice letter of termination of the Contract for Professional Services between SRCD and CSUFF. He provided the letter to everyone on the board and further went on to say that he contacted Mr. McClanahan at the request of Terry Sandridge, president of SRCD board, and found the internal review was of sound science and there was no further interest for them to be involved with us. In addition, he met with Jeff Anderson and Ernie Taylor and felt we werenÕt provided what we paid for and they would confer with upper level managers and Sacramento in regard to this matter and they planned on talking to Mr. McClanahan in regard to the 30 day notice.

 

B.     Chawanakee Learning Center: Steve Haze reported that a request for an advance of $25,000 to start the project was made.

 

C.     Yellow Starthistle Leading-edge grant: Terrry Sandridge reported that SRCD won a $39,000 stimulus grant to start CDFA weed control and monitoring. Workshops are scheduled for the 9th and 16th of Feb. This information can be found on the web.

 

D.     Grand Bluff Conservation Easement: Terry Sandridge will send out annual report in email, he did not bring to meeting but it was done in December.

 

E.      Regional Water Control Board: Steve Haze stated no report.

 

F.      GWMP Update – Rick Thaxton  had a meeting last Thursday with Lynn Gorman. He is trying to establish a timeline and budget, does not have budget or timeline now. Wanted to know how many the county can do first before making the budget and timeline up. In addition, he stated he could not do this as an Independent Contractor right now due to resources. He asked if it was possible for the DWR grant funds flow through the board and go to the county to pay him, as he would prefer this option if it was feasible. Terry Sandridge stated he thought that this could work as long as the state knows that it would take 120 days. Rick also stated the proposal should define tasks specific enough to quantify cost and outreach to get input of what the plan should involve and why we are doing it. Discussed possible meetings to bring this up, initially it was felt 3 meetings for North Sierra area, 3 meetings for the South Sierra area and then changed to 2 meetings in North Sierra and 2 meetings in South Sierra and then 2 in the middle to have everyone on the same page. He believes we are in the position to move forward now.

 

            Terry asked for Directors input.

       

            Toby wants to know far enough ahead for SRCD to get on board. Thaxton says heÕs still talking to county and cant do budget until the county role is clarified. The next step is to go to the DWR.

 

G.     El Rio Reyas Conservation Trust MOU: Terry Sandridge stated El Rio Reyas Conservation Trust contacted us and Terry drafted a MOU. He met with them on the 15th at one of their Board Members House in Kings. A draft of the MOU was provided to the SRCD board for review, pending further notice.

 

H.     2010 Budget, Work Plan, etc:  No report.

 

I.        Other Topics:

1.       David Durham

a.       Concern on beekeepers part.

b.       Water Town Hall meeting.

 

IV. FINANCIAL REPORT

 

A.     Director Toby Horst presented the financial report to date. This report consisted of the total balance as of January 20, 2010, which consisted of $22,979.03 in the bank. Stated no checks were coming in and the monthly expenses were $12,000 - $13,000 so money is tight. SRCD is currently owed $35,000 - $36,000 that has not been received yet. Terry Sandridge stated that everyone must be diligent and prudent in expenses and will revisit next month. He did want to state that it was not DWRÕs fault as payment is there but not being processed by Cal. State Comptrollers.

 

 

**Motion to approve the financial report made by Director Chuck Peck, 2nd by Gary Temple; Passed, 7 ayes, 0 nos.

 

B.     Payment Approvals: Toby Horst needs office supplies at approximately $100.

 

**Motion to approve the payment made by Director Gary Temple, 2nd by Chuck Kryder; Passed, 7 ayes, 0 nos.

 

C.     Audit Update:  The audit was completed January 14, 2010, and the only thing that was of concern was the Grand Bluffs $17,000, but it was put in correctly.

 

D.     Toby stated he now wants all data to be scanned in from now on as that was what made the audit go smoother when questions arose because he was able to pull up the receipts and documents to justify them.

 

V. REPORTS

 

  1. USJR Stewardship Council & Assessment: Steve Haze reported that Brandi now has a laptop that cost $479 and it was loaded with ArcView software and fully portable. All data from Tehema County RCD GIS team. Jeannie is interacting with other organizations on vegetation, et cetera. 

 

1.       USJR continues to complete well log reports, over 3500 wells in the Upper San Joquin basin and 2000 more to do in Shaver and up.

2.       Watershed portal – Assessment going through refresh/update. Brandi working on that website as well.

3.       End of April invoices are completed, may be able to provide satisfactory product.

4.       Close project at the end of the State fiscal year.

 

5.       Further discussion commenced regarding Jeannie Habben and Brandi MillerÕs progress and roles on the CWI project.

 

A.     Jeannie Habben

                                                                                         I.       Public Outreach and Education

a.       Reestablish relationships and contacting CDEA to get Data sets with National Forest .

b.       Working with Enyo Moto and PG&E.

c.       Education Booklet for kids to take into schools on watershed, booklet provided for review.

d.       Southern Sierra ERWIMP – Working on a MOU.

 

B.     Brandi Miller

                                                                            I.                     ArcView GIS

a.       Updated news articles on portal. Working on Natural news pane. DWR waters news. CanÔt get live stream data as yet.

 

  1. SSJ Weed Alliance and Weed Work
    1. Terry Sandridge had two meetings on the 7th, both at the same time. Terry and Steve Haze were able to attend both meetings. There is project movement and possible funding opportunities. The next meeting is scheduled for April 8, 2010. County willing to do workshops.

 

  1. NRCS Report:  David Durham
    1. Reported on the Water Town Hall Meeting where he received a pamphlet on Distorted Water. This was provided to the SRCD board to put on their website for those to view who want to. The pamphlet includes information about the Central Valley Project, State Water Project, The Delta, and Delta Pumps. In addition, it gives information about distorted water and the facts behind each distortion.
    2. Gave information for discussion in regard to a teleconference he attended for the California State Beekeeper Association. He stated bees were brought in to pollinate almonds then they are shipped out. He stated there was a huge need for bee pastures to provide a variety of nectar. This is most critical in late March-April. The California State Beekeeper Association is working with NRCS and other partners to see if additional habitat can be provided during the period of late March through April.
    3. Programs are still accepting applications. January 29th is the CIG(b) deadline. The Water Irrigation AWEP deadline has still not been announced. Organics was extended until March 12th.

 

  1. WSF: Gary Temple states the WSF is no longer operative.

 

  1. SAFCA and IRWIMP: Gary Temple states for the IRWIMP there was a general meeting with the county scheduled within the next few weeks. The South SierraÕs next meeting is on Wednesday at 1 pm at the Forest Service Office in Clovis.

 

  1. Sierra Foothills: Chuck Peck stated no report, moving right along.

 

  1. SJVRC&D: Toby Horst/Steve Haze: Meeting on the 28th, Quarterly meeting in San Joaquin Valley. Speaker on water and water issues at UC center on Shaw Ave.
  2. Correspondence: No correspondence reported.

 

VII OLD BUSINESS

 

  1. PG&E Pump Efficiency Workshop Chuck Kryder informed this workshop is cancelled due to lack of interest.

 

  1. Oak Management Plan: Toby Horst wants complete documentation of property with oaks on it, aerial photos, maps, pictures.

 

  1. El Rio Reyes Conservation Trust Projects – Terry Sandridge already discussed the MOU, in negotiation meetings.

 

  1. Next Sierra RCD meeting is scheduled on February 22, 2010.

 

VIII ADJOURNMENT

**Motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Director Chuck Kryder, 2nd by Directory Sherman Pennebaker at 6:10 pm. Passed; 7 ayes, 0 nays.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

Patricia Jones, Farm Bill Program Assistant NRCS