SPRING VALLEY — Lake County Board of Supervisors will host a discussion for consideration of alternatives proposed for the Spring Valley water distribution system at 11 a.m. today. Two of the four alternatives are being recommended by staff.
According to Special Districts Director Mark Dellinger, the Spring Valley water system is under a compliance order to make improvements to the source capacity and storage. Previous evaluations identified four different alternatives that would address these issues and bring the system into regulatory compliance. Staff is recommending either Alternative 1, a slow sand filter expansion or Alternative 4, a well field with sand filters.
According to David Brown, a resident of Old Long Valley Road, who said he was speaking on behalf of his neighbors, Alternative 1 is preferred. Brown said that there is a concern that construction of a well field could negatively impact the area aquifer.
According to Dellinger, at a recent Advisory Board meeting, nearly all residents in attendance who participated in a “straw vote” voted in support of Alternative 1, the slow sand filter expansion system. Dellinger said that a formal Advisory Board vote was taken and results were five in favor of Alternative 4, the well field and sand filters. He said voted against and one abstained as well.
Brown said he has concerns with implementation of the safeguard plan composed should Alternative 5 be selected. “There are a series of recommendations if this were allowed to go through. They say there needs to be constant monitoring and if certain triggers are met, pumping has to be modified or stopped. Then it recommends an Environmental Impact Report (EIR),” he said. “All these triggers are recommended but nobody knows if they are really enforceable. How will the safeguards be implemented? There is no mention of that anywhere.”
In his recommendation to the BOS, Dellinger said that the board should expect to hear from customers in the affected area as well as from residents of Old Long Valley Road, many of whom he said are concerned with the well field alternative and some who are directly opposed to its implementation.
Contact South County reporter Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
