Documenter: Josef Sibala

Here’s what you need to know

  • Cristel Tufenkjian praised the Kings Water Alliance for helping residents impacted by nitrate. She added that they are exploring the “best methods to reach out.”

  • Due to promotions, she stated people receiving e-updates from the North Folk GSA rose from 280 to 304. In addition, they sent emails with Information about the available funding. 

The Scene

On Sept. 16, 2016, Senate Bill 564 (Cannella) North Fork Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency Act came into effect. It formed a groundwater sustainability agency under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act for the North Fork Kings Area. 

The bill requires that the newly formed Groundwater Sustainability Agency develop and implement a Groundwater Sustainability Plan. In addition, the bill described the board membership and established the agency’s initial boundaries.

The meeting was held on Wednesday, June 23, 2021, at 5:30 pm via Zoom. 

Officials Present

Buddy Mendez, Vice-Chair, Director of Division 1 (County of Fresno)

Frank Zonneveld, Director of Division 2 (Clark’s Fork Reclamation District, Laguna Irrigation District, Upper San Jose Water Company).

JoAnne Rempp, Director of Division 3 (Laton Community Services District, Riverdale Public Utilities, Lanare Community Services District).

Mark McKean, Chair, Director of Division 4 (Crescent Canal Company, Stinson Canal & Irrigation Company).

Leonard Acquistpace, Director of Division 5 (Riverdale Irrigation District, Reed Ditch Company)

Stephen Maddox, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer, Director of Division 6 (Liberty Mill Race District, Burrel Ditch Company).

Tony Campos, Director of Division 7 (Liberty Water District, Liberty Canal Company). 

Others Present:

Charlotte Gallock, Director of Water Resources at Kings River Conservation District

Glenn Allen, Fresno County

Antonio Solorio, Westlands Water District

Geoff Vanden Heuvel, Milk Producers Council

Corey A. McLaughlin, Executive Assistant at Kings River Conservation District

Sean Smith, Provost & Pritchard, Senior Engineer  

Jim Verboon

Discussions/Action

After the call to order, public comment and the director’s reports were closed.

Director of Water Resources at Kings River Conservation District Charlotte Gallock announced that The California Department of Water Resources would conduct Statewide Airborne Electromagnetic Survey in the Salinas Valley and the Central Valley. 

The California Department of Water Resources will use a “2 by 8-mile” grid to capture major geologic features and gather data for groundwater sustainability plans. 

The survey will focus on high-priority sub-basins where data collection is possible. In addition, over the next year, the areas will witness helicopters flying and data available after six months. Hence, survey flight contractors are reaching out to provide options at a “reduced cost.” 

Then, Stanford seeks funding in gathering data for the survey relating to subsidence. They are developing “good” well records through software to digitize all well reports rapidly. She stated the agency’s support for funding from NASA. 

Chairman Mark McKean said that the work order for the next budget includes work with the technical committee. In addition, he is expecting comments from the State Water Board with money for addressing issues. 

Senior Engineer Sean Smith stated Task Orders coincided with Proposition 218 election funding. The services in Prop. 218 Task Order 1 is under Project Management Services. 

He reported the work with the technical committee in drafting the frequently asked questions for stakeholders. Besides, various groundwater sustainability agencies are considering ground credit programs.

In Charlotteville, they sent a landowners’ survey, received 120 responses out of 1515 surveyed, representing 261 Assessor’s Parcel Numbers (APNs). Smith hoped for a “strong response” while looking for “nuisances” to better conduct outreach. 

Cristel Tufenkjian praised the Kings Water Alliance in helping “nitrate-impacted“ residents. 

She added that they are exploring the “best methods to reach out.” For example, the Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) will help the outreach team with proposals for the August meeting, such as food distribution. The events will be held during “late summer and early fall.”

Due to promotions, she stated people receiving e-updates from the North Folk Kings GSA website rose from 280 to 304. Landowners will receive newsletters in the first week of July. In addition, they sent emails with information about the available funding. In the landowners’ survey, 14% of responses came from email.  

The board unanimously approved the following items:

  • The minutes of the May 26, 2021 board meeting

  • Task Order 7: implementing GSP for consultants Provost & Pritchard, including both engineering/implementation assistance ($120,000) and GSP revisions ($100,000).

  • Change Order 7 re: project management activities. 

In the closed session, the board discussed real property negotiations according to Government Code Section 54956.8. In addition, they talked with NFKGSA Negotiator Mark McKean about the price and terms of payment for the purchase of Real Property, commonly known as Fresno County Assessor’s Parcel No. 042-043-051, from the prospective seller County of Fresno. 

The meeting ended at 7:30 pm. The next meeting will be on Wednesday, July 28, 2021, at 5:30 pm on Zoom. 

If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at Documenters-admin@thefresnoland.com with “Correction Request” in the subject line.

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