Tehama County Grand Jury
• 2023-2024
2023 Tehama County Grand Jury Final Consolidated Report
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings 6 findings
F1
Inequitable Fees The Grand Jury finds the procedures for assessing well registration fees to support the GSA and to inventory the County’s wells is inequitable and inconsistent in its implementation and administration.
F2
Inadequate Communication from the GSA The Grand Jury finds the GSA outreach program was inadequate for broadly informing landowners (large and small) across Tehama County, and therefore ineffective in communicating the status of planned official actions related to implementation of groundwater management.
F3
Internal Department Debt Repayment The GSA borrowed $634,000 from the Road Department in FY 22/23 while developing the well registration funding plan22. During interviews and recorded meetings it has been stated that repayment would be made from grants, or would come from future landowner fee assessments. The former is an unauthorized use of grant funds, the latter an inappropriate assessment to property owners.
F4
The GSA Extended It’s Authority Beyond Groundwater Priority Subbasins The priority groundwater subbasins designated under SGMA are the boundaries where the GSA’s authority ought to be limited. The GSA did not have authority over the entire county until the TCFC&WCD BOD passed Ordinance No. 2118 in May of 2022.
F5
Accountability for Approval of GSPs The consulting fees paid for preparation and submission of the GSPs should include the follow-on corrections, resubmittal, approval and acceptance by the State, as outlined in the scope of services of the consulting contract between the County and LSCE.
F6
Antelope Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Plan is Incomplete Many groundwater wells within the Antelope Groundwater Subbasin have gone dry apparently as a result of the decommissioning of the Diversion Dam. The GSA appears not to have taken into consideration public information regarding the effects the Diversion Dam had on groundwater recharge in the Antelope Subbasin, both during and after its decommissioning, when drafting the Antelope Subbasin Sustainability Plan. 22Fromaccountingrecords:Account603isGSAandAccount604isRoadDeptorLevee. 27
Recommendations 8
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R1Return Well Registration Program Fees The TCFC&WCD BOD should abandon Resolutions 9-2022, 4-2023, and all other Resolutions, Ordinances or other declarations pertaining to the GSA’s current 29¢ per acre well registration program fee. Fees assessed and collected under this current well registration fee program should be returned to the landowners.
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R2By April 1, 2023 Tehama LAFCo Commissioners and staff should implement a regular meeting schedule, at least quarterly, to help all participants remain aware of current issues, updated legal responsibilities and Commission appointments.
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R2aImprove Public Communication We recommend the GSA provide mailed communication detailing SGMA-related fees and assessments to all affected landowners, and that printed communication include the web addresses to obtain further information, and allow sign-up for the “Interested Party List”.
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R2bMaintain Public Outreach Program We recommend the GSA continue public meetings and related outreach programs for groundwater management related actions, as had been done previously.
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R3Debt Repayment Strategy We recommend that the TCFC&WCD identify a repayment plan to reimburse the $634,000 borrowed in FY-22/23 from the road department to fund GSA activities. The repayment plan should not rely on unauthorized use of grant monies, nor inequitable landowner fees, particularly on properties that are not within the priority groundwater subbasins.
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R4Align GSA Authority with SGMA Groundwater Subbasins. The Grand Jury recommends the BOS re-evaluate, and amend or abolish Ordinance 2118, and restrict the GSA area of authority to the priority groundwater subbasins defined under SGMA, and described in DWR Bulletin 118.
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R5Enforce the Contract Scope for the GSP Consulting Services The Grand Jury recommends the BOD direct their staff to have the consultant revise and update the GSPs as indicated in the State DWR review letters, and in accordance with their consulting contract with the TCFC&WCD, at no additional fee. 28
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R6a Research Dry Well Correlation to Diversion Dam Decommissioning The Grand Jury recommends the TCFC&WCD, in cooperation with the County Environmental Health, research the dry well areas in the Antelope Subbasin. The question should be answered whether there is a correlation between dry wells in the Antelope subbasin and decommissioning of the Diversion Dam. This research should cover an appropriate period of time before and after the decommissioning, as well a representative radius of influence from the dam and Lake Red Bluff.