Disadvantaged Community Pilot Project
Sierra Water Workgroup Summit
June 2013
California’s North Coast
a unique region with a unique identity
• Size of region
• Physical and Biotic features
– Intact fisheries and watersheds
– Not strongly connected via
infrastructure
• Population
– Relatively low, expected to increase
• Demographics & Socio-economic trends
– Different lifestyles and outlooks
– Financial challenges
– Changing economies & opportunities
• Need for regional planning
- Similar issues/challenges
- Regional cooperation = effectiveness
and more funding resources
A Retrospective:
The North Coast Integrated Regional Water
Management Plan
•
•
•
•
Started in Fall 2004
Established regional boundary
Convened Policy Review Panel
Convened Technical Peer
Review Committee
• Memorandum of Mutual
Understandings (MoMu)
• Outreach & Stakeholder
Education
• Project Portfolio & Plan
Development
Water and Wastewater Provider
Outreach and Technical Assistance
•
•
•
•
Background
Workshops and Trainings
Sub-Regional Workgroups
Water and Wastewater Provider Survey
– Types of Systems included in Survey
– Survey Methods
– 438 providers contacted, 126 Completed Surveys
Water and Wastewater Provider
Outreach and Technical Assistance
• Water and Wastewater Provider Survey Preliminary
Results/Observations
– Overall interest in participation in the program
– Most prevalent problems identified: Aging Infrastructure,
personnel training
– Most burdensome regulatory challenge: State sampling and
testing procedure, particularly with drinking water standards
– Relative awareness of existing technical service providers such
as Cal Rural Water and Rural Community Assistance
Corporation.
– Technical Assistance needs: system infrastructure maintenance
and repair; funding opportunities/grant writing; system
mapping
– Training needs: system compliance and operator testing and
budgeting, rate setting, and grants
Next Steps & Challenges
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Providing assistance to those most in need
Exportable Components
Incorporate into Plan
Sharing resources
Applications for funding
Overwhelming amount of need
Bringing providers to the table
Additional Information
Jennifer Jenkins Kuszmar
707.268.3795
[email protected]
Karen Gaffney & Katherine Gledhill
West Coast Watershed
707.433.7377
www.northcoastirwmp.net