REGULAR MEETING OF THE CARMEL RIVER ADVISORY COMMITTEE

June 12, 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, Tom House, John Dalessio, Richard Rosenthal

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

PUBLIC PRESENT: Charley Kemp, representing California-American Water Company (Cal-Am)

STAFF PRESENT: Thomas Christensen, Larry Hampson, Jeff Summers

2. PUBLIC COMMENT – Mr. Kemp reported that seismic retrofit activities at San Clemente Dam were scheduled to begin June 23, 2003. Drawdown operations were scheduled to take about a week during which the reservoir would be drawn down 10 feet and left at the lowered level until winter rains fill the reservoir. Mr. Kemp also stated that the Seaside groundwater basin was being drawn down and might not be able to supply enough water this year. Cal-Am was considering whether rationing will be necessary to meet SWRCB 95-10. Mr. Kemp also reported that Cal-Am was studying ways to reduce system losses.

Mr. Rosenthal stated that Mr. Kemp’s report was the kind of information that people should be receiving and requested that an update on the San Clemente Dam and Reservoir Retrofit Project be a regular Committee agenda item.

Mr. Mills stated that the Committee had been scheduled to tour the San Clemente Dam on February 27, 2003, but that the tour had been cancelled due to national security concerns.

3. CONSENT CALENDAR – Motion to approve the minutes of the March 13, 2003 meeting by Ms. Rogers and seconded by Mr. McKay. Approval was unanimous.

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

Mr. Dilworth, who had initially brought up the topic of an electronic forum for Carmel River management issues, stated that the intent of the suggestion was to establish a forum that would allow a broader section of the population to participate in water resource discussions. Mr. Dilworth provided a copy of the California Attorney General’s opinion No. 00-906 concerning e-mail communication, which states in part:

“A majority of the board members of a local public agency may not e-mail each other to develop a collective concurrence as to action to be taken by the board without violating the Ralph M. Brown Act even if the e-mails are also sent to the secretary and chairperson of the agency, the e-mails are posted on the agency’s Internet website, and a printed version of each e-mail is reported at the next public meeting of the board.”

It was Mr. Dilworth’s understanding that any exchange of facts outside of a publicly noticed meeting could be a violation of the Brown Act.

The Committee then discussed how to obtain information about activities affecting the Carmel River and its resources. The future of San Clemente Dam was discussed and staff noted that MPWMD had been unsuccessful in obtaining current information about the San Clemente Dam Retrofit Project from Cal-Am. Mr. Rosenthal made a motion, which was seconded by Ms. Rogers, to write to Cal-Am requesting an update on the alternatives analysis and a summary of the sediment transport study carried out by Mussetter Engineering Inc. for Cal-Am. Approval was unanimous and Rod Mills requested that MPWMD staff prepare a letter for his signature.

5. DISCUSSION OF RESOURCE PROTECTION IN THE CARMEL RIVER

Staff described MPWMD’s Carmel River Management Plan and monitoring programs for steelhead populations, avian species, plant stress, vegetation growth, and geomorphic changes. Staff noted that most of the District’s programs have general goals, such as restoration, stabilization, and enhancement of resources, but that specific targets were difficult to set in a dynamic environment. Mr. Dilworth reiterated his suggestion that benchmarks be established.

Rod Mills asked about the status of the Committee’s request to the Board for MPWMD to coordinate the exchange of information among agencies with responsibilities for resource management. Staff acknowledged receipt of the letter and stated that a response was in preparation.

6. STAFF REPORTS – Staff updated the Committee on the installation of 298 seedlings and other cuttings at the Carmel Valley Trail and Saddle Club, operational problems at Cal-Am San Carlos well (not operational), and an increase in pumping capacity at the Cal-Am Cañada well from approximately 1,500 gallons per minute (gpm) to 2,500 gpm.

7. REVIEW OF LAGOON VIDEO

Staff showed a segment of video taken during the filling of the lagoon in January 2001, the subsequent flooding of local low-lying structures, and the breaching operation by the County of Monterey Public Works Department. Several Committee members noted that the flooding of local homes was caused by the ocean and not by the river and recommended bringing this to the attention of the MPWMD Board of Directors and other groups interested in the lagoon issue.

8. ITEMS TO BE PLACED ON FUTURE AGENDAS – The following topics were suggested for future meetings: (a) presentation by Cal-Am on San Clemente Dam and Reservoir; (b) review a list of the top 250 pumpers in Carmel Valley; and (c) review MPWMD’s “Surface Water Resources Data Reports.” In addition, Mr. Dalessio requested that staff provide the Committee with information concerning the uses and benefits of freshwater entering the ocean from coastal streams such as the Carmel River.

9. ADJOURNMENT – The next regular meeting was scheduled for August 21 at 10 a.m. (place to be determined). A special meeting to tour San Clemente Dam was scheduled for July (date and time to be confirmed). The meeting was adjourned at 12:10 PM.

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