GENERAL INFORMATION AND CONTACT SHEET
SAFCA IS AN ORGANIZATION OF CONCERNED RESIDENTS LIVING IN THE MOUNTAIN AND
FOOTHILL AREAS OF EASTERN FRESNO COUNTY.
OUR INTEREST LIES IN THE EDUCATION AND REPRESENTATION OF OUR LOCAL CITIZENS
REGARDING WATER ISSUES AND LAND USE ISSUES AS THEY MAY AFFECT OUR UNIQUE AREA
AND WAY OF LIFE.
GENERAL MEETINGS:
2nd Wednesday of odd months,
i.e. January, March, May, July, September and November, at the Sierra Oaks
Senior Center at Sierra High School at 7 pm. All interested parties are
invited to attend.
MEETINGS INCLUDE A GUEST SPEAKER AND SOME BUSINESS.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
GARY TEMPLE, PRESIDENT – (559) 855-5653
or email at mtntop@netptc.net
MAILING ADDRESS:
SIERRA
and FOOTHILL CITIZENS ALLIANCE
PO
BOX 405
PRATHER,
CA 93651
MEMBERSHIP
IN SAFCA IS ENCOURAGED AS A MEANS FOR YOU TO BECOME A MORE INFORMED CITIZEN AND
PARTICIPATE IN SOLUTIONS TO WATER AND LAND USE ISSUES THAT WILL DIRECTLY AFFECT
YOU.
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History
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Formed from a local, weekly, breakfast
group worried about water shortages
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We met with Sup.Bob Waterston July 1, 2004
– He strongly recommended forming a concerned citizens group in order
to have a strong voice
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Opportunity arose to voice desire to
formally organize at a water program talk sponsored by the Auberry
Library August 24, 2004
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First SAFCA meeting August 31, 2004
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SAFCA attended many County Board of
Supervisors Meetings regarding well water concerns and development
impacts on water sustainability
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Supervisors at end of 2004 embark on new
well standards dialog
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SAFCA participates in county sponsored
working group to develop new well standards
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New well standards were adopted by the
Supervisors in April 2005 and became effective July of 2005
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Pine Ridge Property Owners Association and
SAFCA partner in 2004 and early 2005 to influence reduction of housing
unit numbers and hence ground water impacts at Wild Flower Development
at Shaver by speaking at Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors
meetings
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SAFCA instrumental in Fresno County
embarking on $250,000 ground water study in the foothills and mountains.
Study report is due at the end of 2005
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Current Activities
| SAFCA is co –
sponsoring, along with Sierra Resource Conservation District, a study of
groundwater quantity and quality conducted by the Millerton Area Watershed
Coalition through funding provided by CAL-FED. |
| SAFCA is involved in
dialog expressing our concern regarding the “change of place” issues
that divert water out of Friant Dam for development and the potential land
use and water impacts it will have on the future of our foothill and
mountain communities. |
| SAFCA is actively
promoting the long overdue update of the Fresno County Sierra North Regional
Plan (adopted 1982), particularly in light of potential development land use
impacts and the proposed casino. |
| SAFCA was invited by
the Supervisors to participant in the formalized review process of the
County General Plan 2000. We are actively participating in this process |
| SAFCA was invited by
the Supervisors to participate in the Fresno County Water Advisory Committee
“Working Group” meetings in order to represent the foothill/mountain
areas in future regional water policies. We are actively participating in
this process. |
| SAFCA is an active
participant in the decision making processes for the Measure “C”
Transportation tax extension. |
| SAFCA will be
inviting the new Fresno County Director of Planning to have an informal
dialog with our Board of Directors sometime in October or November of 2005
to apprise him of our concerns and our willingness to assist the county in
finding solutions. |
| SAFCA is mobilized to
convince local, state and federal officials to locate Indian casinos off of
“Indian Lands” by locating them in urban infrastructure rich areas and
not in the Sierra Foothills where water, traffic and pollution impacts would
be great. |
| SAFCA participates in
community gatherings with our information booth in order to educate the
public regarding water and land use issues. |
| SAFCA has general
meetings 6 times a year in order to bring the community up to date on water
and land use issues and to provide guest speakers to talk to those issues |
| SAFCA is earnest
about empowering our citizens to participate in the decisions that directly
affect their future |
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