DWR Awards $49 Million to Help Small Communities Across California Prepare for Continued Drought Conditions
Map of Small Community Drought Relief program recipients.
Press release from the Department of Water Resources (DWR):
With California preparing for a third dry year, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced its sixth round of local assistance through the Small Community Drought Relief program.
In coordination with the State Water Resources Control Board, DWR has allotted $49 million in funding for 18 projects across the state. Projects include 15 that will directly support disadvantaged communities, including five Tribes, with infrastructure repairs, well rehabilitation, and hauled water.
“As California’s drought continues, we cannot let our guard down when it comes to preparing vulnerable communities for the dry months ahead,” said Kris Tjernell, DWR Deputy Director of Integrated Watershed Management. “We will continue working with the State Water Board to invest in long-term solutions to bolster drought resilience and help ensure that every Californian has access to safe, clean water.”
DWR coordinated with the State Water Resources Control Board to determine these funding commitments, which complement the Board’s historical and ongoing financial assistance to small, economically disadvantaged communities for their water infrastructure needs. Recipients of the $49 million in phase six include:
- Lundy Mutual Water Company: In Mono County, the Lundy Mutual Water Company water system is struggling to meet demands due to leaks. The company will receive $2.6 million to repair leaks in its current water infrastructure.
- Kashia Band of Pomo Indians of the Stewarts Point Rancheria Kashaya Utility District: In Sonoma County, the Stewart’s Rancheria water supply is decreasing due to drought. The State will award $1.5 million to help drill a new well that will provide additional water supply for the community.
- California Environmental Indian Alliance (for Manchester Band of Pomo Indians, Round Valley Indian Tribe, Yokayo Tribe): In Mendocino County, the Manchester Band of Pomo Indians, Round Valley Indian Tribe, and Yokayo Tribe are struggling to meet demands with their vulnerable water systems. The State will award $3.2 million to construct back-up source connections and storage tanks.
- Konocti County Water District: In Lake County, a mobile home community has been supplied water by Konocti County Water District (KCWD) through a temporary intertie. The district will receive $4.3 million to replace existing leaky pipelines and expand the distribution system to consolidate the Cache Creek Mobile Home Estates and Creekside Mobile Home Park. Furthermore, the project includes the construction of interties between KCWD, Lower Lake County Water District, and Highlands Mutual Water Company.
- Redwood Valley County Water District: In Mendocino County, the Redwood Valley community does not have a reliable water source and must purchase surplus water from neighboring districts to meet demands. The district will receive $1.8 million to drill a new well.
- County of Santa Cruz: In Santa Cruz County, the community of Waterman Gap is struggling to meet daily demands due to its dwindling water supply. The County of Santa Cruz will receive $113,200 to improve its current water system and start a hauled water program.
- Yurok Tribe: In Del Norte County, the two water systems serving the Yurok Tribe are vulnerable to drought. The Tribe will receive $12.6 million to consolidate with neighboring systems and construct 10 miles of pipelines and two booster pump stations.
In addition, DWR announced funding for two emergency projects in Mendocino and Kings counties that were awarded in late December. In Mendocino County, the Redwood Valley Little River Band of Pomo Indians received $104,523 to rehabilitate its existing well to provide the community with a stable water supply. In Kings County, the Kettleman City Community Services District received $165,200 to purchase water for the health and safety needs of the community.
February marked six months since the Small Community Drought Relief program launched. In that time, the program has awarded over $142 million total in funding to 68 projects in 25 counties. Response to this grant program has been overwhelming with $374 million worth of projects submitted overall. Following today’s announcement, the program has $48 million remaining in funds. The program is one of several drought funding programs available through the State. For information about other DWR and State drought response efforts and funding programs, visit: drought.ca.gov.
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$49 million…it’s a drop in the bucket for what CA will need. Still waiting to hear about the curtailing of the water extraction for permitted cannabis mega-grows…
How about the 4 mega music festivals planned for 2022 at County Line Ranch and Cook’s Valley Campground. I guess nobody told them there is a drought on the So Fork Eel…
https://northernnights.org/
http://mateel.org/45th-summer-arts-music-festival-june-18-19-at-county-line-ranch/
Reggae on the River August 12th thru August 14th @ County Line Ranch
Harvest Fair October 1st thru October 2nd @ County Line Ranch
Okay- Ed you are correct! I used to work Reggae and loved it. But I prefer fish over these festivals also…Tell me where we can apply pressure to make them have to base their plans on available water supply. We really need to get our act together and put our river’s health above weed and partying!
Put pressure on the Planning Department with emails [email protected] tell them you oppose PLN-2022-17653. Also, email the MCC Board [email protected] ask them WTF! The MCC needs to stop using river water for their events on the river. What has the MCC even done for the river, besides use and abuse it? Does the MCC Board think they are above threatened and endangered species in the watershed? If the MCC Board claims its all for the greater good, well the river is the highest greater good…
Here’s what the MCC submitted to the Planning Department:
Project Description: MOD to CUP-04-38 Reggae on the River
A modification to an approved Conditional Use Permit (CUP-04-38) authorizing annual operation of the Reggae on the River Music Festival on APN 033-271-005 (French’s Camp), a three-day event held each year from Friday through Sunday during the first weekend of August. Event attendance is currently limited to 6,500 ticket holders and 2,500 staff, performers and others. The last modification to this permit in 2019 (PLN-2019-15401) established the operation of a cannabis vending and consumption area, pursuant to section 314-55.4.10.4 of Humboldt County Code. Authorization for the following modifications to the permit are currently being sought. Reggae on the River is reducing attendance and relocating to APN 033-271-007 (County Line Ranch) adjacent to the south, in addition to the Summer Arts Music Festival relocating as well, which has been traditionally held at Benbow State Recreation Area. Additionally, a new venue will be added tentatively referred to as Harvest Fair. These three events are described as follows: 1. Summer Arts and Music Festival will occur June 18th thru June 19th. It will be a day-only event with no general camping. 4,000 attendees and 2,000 vehicles are anticipated. Limited on-site camping will be available to staff, vendors, volunteers, and guests of the property owners, and others not to exceed 10% of capacity. 2. Reggae on the River will occur August 12th thru August 14th. It will be a three-day event with general camping. This three day and three-night (camping optional) event includes 5000 paid attendees and up to an additional 20% Staff, Volunteers, Vendors, Artist etc., with a peak attendance of 6000 people and 2500 vehicles. 3. Harvest Fair will occur October 1st thru October 2nd. It will be a day-only event with no general camping. 4,000 attendees and 2,000 vehicles are a possibility, but 2,500 attendees and 1,250 vehicles are anticipated. Limited on-site camping will be available to staff, vendors, volunteers, and guests of the property owners, and others not to exceed 10% of capacity. County Line Ranch sources water from a well located on the eastern side of the property. Sewage disposal for the events is provided by portable toilets. Traffic control measures are proposed along Highway 101 as in previous years. An Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was certified for the original project in 1992 (SCH 92-033305). A Supplemental EIR was certified for earlier versions of the project in 2005 and 2008 (SCH 92-033035). A second Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (FSEIR) was certified for the project on January 3, 2013 (SCH #2012082108) and Addendums to the second supplemental EIR were prepared in 2018 and 2019. Please see the Operations Plan for the events for more detailed information.
And, to end this rant. What about all the ROTR infrastructure at French’s Camp with no abatement, no reclamation, no restoration. Just walk or run away to better digs, leaving behind wastewater leach pits in the ground, with thousands of feet of pvc waterlines, water tanks, water treatment system, buildings, structures, electrical wiring and a 800,000 gallon rain catchment pond with standing water in it currently. So much for “leave nothing but memories and foot prints”, right? But hey, the MCC hands are clean, move along, nothing to see here…
Mendocino county can’t figure out how to give out grant money,
They struggle to help people, then blame the “Cobblestone platform”
By the time anyone gets money the drought will be over.
There are three common uses of the term “drought”.
California weighs the agricultural side far more than the environmental side of things when they assess drought conditions. In effect we cause drought conditions by using so much water. And channelization of waterways combined with reservoirs has converted our entire landscape to hold less water in the soil.
Many years the environment has plenty of water but the levels of reservoirs used for agriculture are lower than desired, so a drought is declared.
Maybe we should not be permanently damaging the ecosystems of California in order to export food all over the Earth. We export over $400,000,000 in beef each year, and the profits go almost entirety to a small number of wealthy ranchers, who often graze for free on public lands. To grow almonds and beef for export while we have continual “drought” is unaccptable.
Don’t forget to stop the production of wine.
Certainly this map shows whose representatives are on top of the grant writing game and whose are not. Grants are no way to run a government when the benefits should be available to all the populous, not those who have a grant application machine.