- a weekly column published in the Pioneer Press

Under the leadership of County Auditor Leanna Dancer, Siskiyou County has been very forward thinking in acquiring a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)  for a group of sewer and water upgrades and fixes in the unincorporated (UI) portion of the county.  A study had been done identifying problems with the various sewer and water systems in the UI. The County office of Environmental Health reviewed the list to identify and rank the top 12 systems with the most critical problems. Ranking was based on how serious the system failure was in relation to overall water quality and watershed issues and to also consider the local service provider’s readiness to proceed. (In some cases there is currently no central system, but wells and septic systems in the area are failing.)

The twelve are: (1) Grenada Sanitary – sewer; (2) Hornbook Community Services District – water; (3) Lake Shastina Community Services District – sewer ; (4) Macodoel – water; (5) Hornbrook CSD – water; (6) Shasta View – water; (7) Rolling Hills – water; (8) Copco Lake North – water; (9) Hornbrook CSD – sewer; (10) Greenview – sewer; (11) Edgewood – sewer; and (12) Gazelle – sewer.

A CDBG grant for $773,602.50 was received for Phase I of four phases to: (1) Prepare the Engineering Specifications for all 12 systems; (2) Implement the construction project for a renovated water system in the Tennant Community Services District, which is very close to 100% TIG -Targeted (low) Income Group and is currently on a boil water order. (3) Upgrade Copco Lake North water due to the small dollar amount required to bring their system up to standards. (4) Create assessment districts to serve as the legal structure for funding logistics. (CDBG funds would be used to pay for the assessments of residents who qualify as TIG and, potentially, laterals to their homes. A vote is required to create an assessment district. If district fails to pass, then the system will be moved to the bottom of the list for later consideration.)

Phase three and four would involve seeking out additional grant and other funds to implement the remaining projects. It is hoped that the engineering and design work being done now will put us in line for stimulus dollars in search of “shovel ready” projects.

Recently Marilyn Seward and I attended a meeting of the North Coast Integrated Regional Water Management Planning (NCIRWMP) policy board. I serve on this board as a representative for Siskiyou County and Marilyn serves on the technical review committee. NCIRWMP has representatives from seven counties on the Klamath system and down the coast: Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Modoc, Siskiyou, Sonoma and Trinity. The group is set up so participating Counties retain their individual sovereignty and that there is fairness in the distribution of funds for eligible projects.   

The group was originally organized to take advantage of Proposition 50 funds. NCIRWMP ranked top in the state for its organization and process. This resulted in   $25 million in funded projects including: Araujo dam removal; fish screens and changes to the City of Etna’s water diversion; the Scott Valley Water Trust; and work on the programmatic incidental take permit (ITP) for the Scott and Shasta Valleys.

A few years ago, the public passed Proposition  84 and 1-E. Last year the legislature directed that the bond money be spent so that $100 million is available inter-regionally and of that, $10 million to disadvantaged communities.  In addition, $39 million will be allocated regionally, with  $3.9 million of that to disadvantaged communities. There is also some additional money available for seismic strengthening of levies and sewer systems, stormwater and groundwater.

In the next several months, the NCIRWMP decided that it would pursue $500-1 million for infrastructure and other planning grants for disadvantaged communities - including feasibility, needs assessments, evaluation of designs and environmental review. (All of Siskiyou County is considered disadvantaged.) It is hoped that additional systems, such as Callahan could be ranked and a grouped planning application be made with NCIRWMP under Prop. 84.  This could include commercial areas identified in our Enterprise Zone as having the potential for economic development, but lacking the necessary sewer and water infrastructure.