Calaveras County Jail

RECOMMENDATION No more connections should be allowed until MSD has a signed agreement with Hay Station Ranch that reflects what is allowed in the WDR's, and Pond 4 has been expanded to meet the requirements for a 100-year storm event. RESPONSE REQUESTED Murphy's Sanitary District Board of Directors 20 VALLECITO CONSERVATION CAMP REASON FOR INVESTIGATION In accordance with Penal Code Section 919(b), the Grand Jury shall inquire into the condition and management of public prisons within the county. BACKGROUND The Vallecito Conservation Camp (VCC) opened in Angels Camp in 1958 under the direction of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations Conservation Camp Program (CDCR). Through this and 42 other like facilities the CDCR provides California with an able-bodied, well-trained, and well equipped workforce for fire suppression and other State emergencies. CDCR inmates risk their lives to fight wildfires while taking advantage of positive rehabilitation programs. This program plays an integral role in California’s statewide wildfire response. The CDCR manages VCC jointly with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). These crews perform a vital service that benefits Californians as well as state, federal, county and local government agencies. The crews work many hours per year fighting wild fires and responding to floods, earthquakes, and assisting in search and rescue missions. When not responding to emergencies, additional hours are logged working on conservation projects on public lands and other community service projects. Fire crews clean up campgrounds, beaches, and parks, and provide labor for weed abatement as well as other projects that help reduce the risk of wildfires and disasters. VCC and CDCR fire camp staff also benefit communities when they are not fighting wildfires, by participating in presentations to schools and juvenile group homes to encourage young people to avoid drugs and alcohol. There are 42 Adult and two Divisions of Juvenile Justice Conservation Camps statewide. The program is estimated to save the state of California more than $80 million annually that otherwise would be paid to accomplish the same tasks. PROCEDURES Because the VCC is jointly operated by CAL FIRE and CDCR, we focused on the condition of the camp and its security measures. The grand jury met with CDCR prison officials from Sierra Conservation Center, CAL FIRE staff, the VCC staff and inmates. A physical inspection of the Camp was conducted, which included inmate quarters, workshop, kitchen, mess hall, and the recreation areas. Lunch was prepared and served by inmates. 21

- ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF DISCHARGE The Grand Jury finds that little or no progress has been made on obtaining additional sources of discharge. Dependency upon a single source of discharge is a very risky proposition. Even if the District finds an alternate source of discharge, it could take over a year before discharge can begin. This problem has been known and studied for a number of years without being resolved.

- NOTICE OF VIOLATION The district received a Notice of Violation (NoV) from the CRWQCB in January 2007 identifying violations from the 2005/2006 inspection report. Although the District has filed responses to the NoV as required by the CRWQCB, little has been done, by MSD, to address the issues that caused the violations in the first place. The two major projects that will address the problems are: 1. Expansion of Pond 4 2. Increase in allowable discharge amount. The district has indicated that they are waiting to begin the expansion of Pond 4 until it can be emptied. According to MSD, this depends upon the weather and 19 the amount of effluent they can discharge. Increasing the amount of discharge depends upon the agreement with Hay Station Ranch, previously addressed in