LAKEPORT — After undergoing some minor revisions that Dist. 4 Supervisor Anthony Farrington said will make a big difference down the line, the latest conceptual steps in negotiating with Yolo for water rights to Clear Lake were approved with a 5-0 vote Tuesday by the Board of Supervisors.
The next step is to take the proposals to the next informal two-by-two meeting between Supervisors Farrington and Ed Robey and two directors from the Yolo district group.
“It was a huge step historically, but the first step of many to come, as it relates to the ability of the entities to come to work together in a spirit of cooperation,” said Farrington.
On the table were three items. The first was a proposed memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Lake County and Yolo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, which currently has the legal right to use 314,000 acre feet of Lake County”s namesake lake.
The second is what Farrington identified as a focal point in upcoming negotiations. It is an amendment to an existing agreement with Yolo that allows the Lake County Sanitation District (LACOSAN) to divert from Clear Lake up to 7,950 acre feet of water to be injected into the pipeline carrying treated sewer water to the Geysers.
The amendment would make that 7,950 acre feet available for beneficial use including for drinking anywhere in the county, based on the premise that less and less of it is needed to fill the pipe going to the Geysers as effluent sewage increases.
A minor tweak that will make a big difference, said Farrington, makes that water the county”s property, and takes out the provision that the water would be made available depending on availability.
“It”s important to assert ourselves at this point with what is right in terms of looking out for what is best for Lake County,” said Farrington, pointing out that Yolo has to get something out of it as well. “For so many years Yolo has gotten something out of Lake County,” Farrington added, calling the water “liquid gold.”
“Even though they”re downstream and we”re upstream, there are more issues that unite us than divide us as it relates to Cache Creek and the watershed,” said Farrington. He referred to several county projects meant to improve Clear Lake”s water quality.
“Year in and year out, Yolo has been very lucky. The water runs downhill, and they”ve been able to realize a huge public good commodity. Water is the source of all life. Yolo for years has gotten a good deal and has not had to reinvest a single penny or dime into the watershed in which they realize this wealth,” said Farrington.
“We want to be part of the solution for them, but they”re going to have to be the first one to give up something.” He said of future negotiations, expected to happen in the mid-June two-by-two meeting. “We”re making the first step and they”re going to have to be open to it.”
Farrington said of the decision, “It was fantastic; it”s a demonstration of us as a body working together.” He said he”s optimistic about negotiations going forward.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com.
