Stanislaus leaders seek to pump up resources to solve water trouble

Stanislaus County supervisors said Tuesday they want to commit more staff to work on groundwater problems and consolidate the county’s activities concerning groundwater, recycled wastewater and stormwater.

The drought and widespread planting of almond orchards have placed unprecedented pressure on local aquifers; in addition, the county needs to comply with state mandates to form local agencies for managing groundwater resources.

Supervisor Bill O’Brien, whose Oakdale-area district is a flashpoint of the groundwater debate, said the county also needs to step up assistance for residents who face a long wait to replace dry domestic wells. That could mean pumping additional funding into a well-replacement loan program for owner-occupied residential properties in the county jurisdiction.

“We’ve got to figure out a way to put more resources on (water activities),” Board of Supervisors Chairman Terry Withrow said.

Chief Executive Officer Stan Risen said his office will explore the staffing request and ways to reorganize water activities. In early 2014, the county hired Walter Ward to work with a Water Advisory Committee on groundwater policy. Assigned to the county Department of Environmental Resources, Ward is working on formation of sustainable groundwater agencies, which need to be created by 2017, and state-required plans for managing groundwater basins.

The county also is involved with a project to deliver highly treated wastewater from Modesto and Turlock to farmers in western Stanislaus County. Harnessing stormwater is viewed as another way of recharging groundwater levels.

Supervisors set the course before approving a $1.1 billion preliminary budget for the year starting July 1.

The budget reflects improved fiscal health for the county and includes spending items to restore parks maintenance and code enforcement, two areas that were severely cut during the economic doldrums.

Although water resources are not a major expense item in the county budget, the county has approved five low-interest loans to assist homeowners who have faced steep costs of replacing failed wells. The county still has $120,000 of the $200,000 allocated to a pilot loan program created last year. It could become a regular program as the effects of drought intensify this summer, said Keith Boggs, assistant county executive officer.

O’Brien said he anticipates more domestic wells will fail, leaving some residents without water for bathing, laundry and other household needs.

“One of the biggest complaints is it can take upward of nine months to get a well drilled,” O’Brien said. He wants staff to explore whether the county can help expedite well repairs for homeowners. “Can we ask a well driller to move someone to the front of the line?” he said.

Private drillers have been busy with orders for large agricultural wells to irrigate orchards and vineyards.

O’Brien said county government, which currently employs one water expert, needs to make a cultural shift to work on complex water solutions. Public Works Director Matt Machado has begun working at the state level on groundwater storage. The county will need to collaborate with cities on capturing the large volume of stormwater that drains into rivers, O’Brien added.

Local government needs to change its mindset about water even if predicted El Niño-driven storms break the drought in the coming year, Withrow and O’Brien said.

In another budget item, the University of California Cooperative Extension plans a pilot effort with irrigation districts and growers to see if winter flood irrigation of orchards refills the local aquifer.

Officials said that county residents should see direct benefits from other priorities in the county budget for 2015-16:

Parks and public services

Six positions will be restored to improve maintenance and reopen restrooms in parks and support youth activities. The county also will continue promoting its regional parks for large events that generate revenue.

The county will continue work on campground improvements at Woodward Reservoir near Oakdale and plans to begin online park reservations.

Environmental Resources plans to implement green-waste recycling in unincorporated neighborhoods.

The county is rebuilding its code enforcement service after cuts in previous years reduced the unit to two officers. A zoning enforcement officer, program supervisor and support staff will be added next year.

Officials also want to see code enforcement on weekends to crack down on people who sell cars from parking lots or commit other violations when county offices are closed. Two more enforcement officers will begin work by the end of 2017.

Facilities and infrastructure

The county plans to complete the Kiernan Avenue interchange at Highway 99 and finish the project to widen Claribel Avenue.

Other improvements will include sidewalks for residents in Empire and the Parklawn neighborhood of south Modesto. In addition, Public Works has numerous bridge projects on the drawing boards and plans to complete at least two seismic retrofits next year.

Public safety

The budget includes $2.87 million of increased spending in the Sheriff’s Department, which has been hiring to restore service levels. The sheriff is reviving the auto-theft task force and the gangs and narcotics investigative unit.

The department also has reactivated basic training for recruits at the regional criminal justice training center. The budget includes funding for restoring a permanent fire marshal position and will provide additional support for the district attorney, probation and public defender.

In the fall, the county plans to open two long-awaited facilities: a day reporting center for probation and the new coroner’s facility.

This story was originally published June 9, 2015 at 12:44 PM with the headline "Stanislaus leaders seek to pump up resources to solve water trouble."