REGULAR MEETING OF THE CARMEL RIVER ADVISORY COMMITTEE

March 13, 2003, 10:00 A.M. Mid-Carmel Valley Fire Station

1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL

MEMBERS PRESENT: Susan Rogers, Rod Mills, Chuck McKay, David Dilworth

MEMBERS ABSENT: Tom House, John Dalessio, Richard Rosenthal

PUBLIC PRESENT: Clive Sanders (representing Carmel River Watershed Council and Carmel River Steelhead Association)

STAFF PRESENT: Andy Bell, Thomas Christensen, Larry Hampson

2. PUBLIC COMMENT – Sanders stated that there is little recognition within the community of why MPWMD was formed and what its role is in managing the Carmel River. He cited significant expenditures and activities under the Mitigation Program as an example. He requested that the committee recommend to the Board that MPWMD, the Carmel River Watershed Council and the Carmel River Steelhead Association work together to pursue grant funding and completion of wetlands restoration around the Carmel River lagoon.

Dilworth suggested that protecting the resources of the Carmel River should be a regular item on CRAC agendas and on MPWMD Board of Directors agendas.

3. CONSENT CALENDAR – Motion to approve by Rogers, seconded by Dilworth with the following change:

“David Dilworth passed out an article from a United Nations committee ~~concerning~~ recognizing water as a social good.” [Deletion in strikeout, additional text in italics.]

Approval was unanimous.

Clive Sanders volunteered to a PowerPoint presentation on watershed issues.

4. REPORT BY CLIVE SANDERS, CARMEL RIVER WATERSHED COUNCIL

Motion by Dilworth, seconded by Rogers, for Mills and McKay to draft a letter to the MPWMD Board of Directors requesting that MPWMD take a stronger roles in bringing together public agencies and the public to deliberate on Carmel River issues.

Approval was unanimous.

5. CONSIDER ESTABLISHING AN ELECTRONIC FORUM FOR CARMEL RIVER MANAGEMENT ISSUES

Dilworth stated he would forward an article from the First amendment Coalition on teleconferencing and the Brown Act. Mills suggested contacting the Monterey County Herald with a meeting notice.

6. CONSIDER RECOMMENDING THAT THE MPWMD BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAVE REGULAR PRESENTATIONS ON THE CARMEL RIVER ECOSYSTEM AT BOARD MEETINGS

Motion by Dilworth, seconded by McKay, that the Board of Directors should receive regular five- to 10-minute presentations about the Carmel River ecosystem at Board meetings.

[Note: This topic to be brought up at a Chair/Vice Chair meeting.]

7. STAFF REPORTS – Staff updated the Committee on seedling installation, negotiations with the Carmel Valley Trail and Saddle Club for planting, and installation of a rock barrier at the Red Rock Restoration Project to discourage off-road vehicles from driving over riparian plantings, and installation of large wood and rocks at the deDampierre Restoration Project..

8. ITEMS TO BE PLACED ON FUTURE AGENDAS – The following topics were suggested for future meetings: (a) receive an update on the Habitat Conservation Plan for Carmel Valley alluvial aquifer pumpers; (b) review Carmel River lagoon management (possible field trip to the lagoon); and (c) consider protection of the resources of the Carmel River