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SIERRA AND FOOTHILL CITIZENS ALLIANCE
WATER MEETING
September 28, 2004
"Conservation is humanity caring for the future."
-- Nancy Newhall
- A. Gary Temple brought the meeting to order at 7:15 p.m.
- B. NEWS
- 1. Governor Schwarzenegger signed the Sierra Conservancy legislation this
week; monies will be for local issues.
- 2. Shaver Lake water situation -- there was an article detailing the
situation in the Fresno Bee
- C. MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION
- 1. To educate local citizens regarding water conservation. The drought is
not thought to be ending anytime soon.
- 2. A certain level of self-discipline: A few of the members went to the
Fresno County Water Advisory Committee meeting. Many people are moving into
the area -- we need a plan that will allow smart growth.
- D. AGENDA ITEMS
- 1. Comments: We need willing volunteers for well monitoring over a period
of time to create a history. The more wells, the more data. Anecdotal
history will be a helpful addition to this data.
- 2. Minutes of last meeting approved and seconded, with minor correction.
- 3. Brief reports by committee chairs given.
- a. Name & Mission Statement
Committee: The name should reflect inclusion of mountains and foothills
to include all communities. A mission statement and purpose draft
("Draft") was read by Howard Hendrix. One suggested name was
"Sierra North Regional Citizens Alliance". It was felt that water
was a priority, but all issues concerning the mountain and foothill regions
are interrelated. It was suggested we consider this a social welfare
organization, concerned about the common welfare and good of the community
and that we don’t want to make our scope too narrow.
- 1.
A hydrologist suggested water runs downhill -- as the (Fresno/Clovis) basin
is lowered, the water in the upper regions is affected more obviously, as it
tries to fill that basin, therefore we need to address total development and
its impact on us (such as Copper River).
- 2.
Lee Walker made a motion to select Sierra and Foothill Citizens Alliance as
the organization name, to delete the last two paragraphs of the Draft, to
accept Paragraph 1 as the Mission Statement, and Paragraph 2 as the
Statement of Purpose. Bob Albertson seconded the motion. A total of 48
voted: 36 ayes, 12 nays. It passed as stated in the motion.
- b. Long Term Strategy Committee:
A handout was reviewed, including the discussion of contest and incentive
programs. A story was shared of a well driller who drilled several wells,
200 ft. deep, all 8 ft. apart, each with greatly varying degrees of
production. The point was that a test well may be in a different fracture
and have no relation to a neighboring well due to our unique foothill and
mountain geography. The results of a test well can be a misreading and can
mean nothing. This is why it is so important to help ourselves by agreeing
to be monitored for data purposes (different than metering). If our county
geologist has hard data, he’ll have a better handle on what to recommend
to the Board of Supervisors regarding development.
- c. Tax Status Committee: A
501C4 organization, for social welfare, would have an income tax exempt
status, but donations would not be exempt. This type of organization can
apply for grants or certain grants, but would be limited in terms of tax
deductions. A 501C3 organization, a non-profit, is limited in political
lobbying. The Committee Chair was to do a comparison of the two types for
the next meeting. Someone was needed to look into the grant issue. It was
suggested that there are other ways to raise funds than grants (i.e. a
fund-raising golf tournament).
- d. Data Collection Committee: People
were to fill out well information and return to Wendy Lucas by the next
meeting. She offered a 1977 report on Shaver Lake monitoring for review. A
release needs to be signed, and Wendy will verify whether the data can be
funneled directly to her, or whether she has to then obtain the data
collected from the county.
- e. Media Committee: There were
articles in the Mountain Press. Channel 30 was present at the meeting doing
a news report for that evening. Some members had editorials published in the
Mountain Press and Fresno Bee. Marc Benjamin of the Fresno Bee was in
contact with Jim Macy regarding future Bee articles. Also, meeting fliers
were distributed throughout the area. A historical file was created for
anyone wishing to view current articles on water and community issues.
- f. External Resources Committee: Reported
on Millerton Watershed Assessment and Bee resources.
- g. Web Site: Web page was
started on Jim Macy’s personal site. www.macy-1.net Anyone can volunteer
to take over the responsibilities of creating and/or maintaining the
website.
- E. Board of Directors
- 1. A motion was made to decide on a Board of Directors by the next
meeting. A nominating committee was established.
- F. Next Meeting: Tuesday, October 26, 2004.
Respectfully Submitted: L. Insco
     
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