The Grassland Resource Conservation District contains approximately 75,000 acres and is composed primarily of privately-owned hunting clubs and wildlife beneficial agriculture.

The GRCD also encompasses several state wildlife areas such as the Volta Wildlife Area, Los Banos Wildlife Area, and Mud Slough, Gadwall, and Salt Slough Units of the North Grasslands Wildlife Management Area. Federal wildlife refuges in the GRCD include portions of the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge, including the Freitas, Kesterson and Blue Goose Units.

The area is part of the largest contiguous block of wetlands remaining in California’s Central Valley and is a major wintering ground for migratory waterfowl and shorebirds along the Pacific Flyway.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service ranks the habitat provided by the GRCD as the most important complex of wetlands in the San Joaquin Valley. The wetlands of the GRCD are a component of the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network and are recognized for their global importance to shorebirds.

 Lands within the GRCD are primarily managed for waterfowl habitat. Land uses include seasonally flooded wetlands, permanent wetlands, and irrigated pasture. 

Conservation easements have been acquired by the USFWS to help preserve wetland-dependent migratory bird habitat.

WHO WE ARE

GRCD Boundaries

The Grassland Resource Conservation District’s privately owned wetlands are composed of 160 clubs ranging in size from a few acres to over 2,500 acres.

Natural hydrology in the GRCD has been lost, and all wetlands depend on water deliveries, similar to agriculture.  Water for these wetlands originate in the Shasta watershed and make their way down the Sacramento River and through the Delta.  Water is exported through the Federal Jones pumping plant and conveyed through the Delta Mendota Canal and into San Luis Reservoir.  Water moves from San Luis Reservoir to the Mendota Pool through the Delta Mendota Canal.  The Central California Irrigation District then deliveries GRCD water supplies to Grassland Water District through its main canal.

Managed wetlands in the GRCD are intensively managed to produce standing crops of moist soil food plants and invertebrates with high value to wildlife, particularly waterfowl and shorebirds. Moist soil plant management encompasses the mimicking of historic hydroperiods, irrigations to optimize seed and biomass production and the mechanical manipulation of vegetation and seed banks to maximize the distribution of beneficial moist soil plants.

90% of the GRCD is preserved under permanent wetland conservation easements. The GRCD was identified as one of the 19 refuges in the Central Valley Project Improvement Act which directed the Secretary of the Interior and the State of California to provide adequate and reliable water supplies to these critical wetlands.  The GRCD receives its water supply in two blocks. Level 2 water supply for the GRCD totals 125,000 acre-feet and comes from the Central Valley Project. Incremental Level 4 water supply totals 55,000 acre-feet for the GRCD and is primarily acquired from the San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors through their transfer program and from willing sellers of groundwater water.

  

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 
Dennis Campini
President –
Stillbow Duck Club
 
Dan Whitehead
Vice President –
Coast Cattle Duck Club
 
Keith Toon
Secretary –
Hollister Duck Club
 
Dale Boust
Director –
Sand Lake Hunting Club
 
Mark Erreca
Director –
Double D Land & Cattle Co.
GRCD
Board Meetings
4th Tuesday of the month
at 1:30 p.m.

PDF GWD Board Meeting Minutes Draft September 13, 2022

PDF GWD GRCD GGSA Agenda November 15, 2022

November 9, 2022 

AGENDA NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that a Joint Special Meeting of the Boards of Directors of Grassland Water District, Grassland Resource Conservation District, and the Grassland Groundwater Sustainability Agency will be held on Tuesday, November 15, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. This meeting is being made available through teleconference at the conference number listed below.  In-person attendance is limited to Directors and Select Staff. Otherwise, the Public, Directors, and Staff are invited to call in at 2:55 P.M. on the following Conference Line: 1-855-669-1809 (no passcode)
*Please mute phones when not speaking*

If members of the public have any problems using the call-in number during the meeting, please contact the GWD office at 209-826-5188.

AGENDA

  1. JOINT RESOLUTION 2022-017 Authorizing Remote Teleconference Meetings of the Legislative Body of the Grassland Water District, Grassland Resource Conservation District, and the Grassland Groundwater Sustainability Agency for the Period of November 15, 2022 to December 14, 2022 Pursuant to Brown Act Provisions.
    Board action required
  2. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION – Members of the audience will be permitted to address the Boards on items affecting their operations and items within their jurisdiction. The President may limit the time available for comment.
  3. CORRECTIONS OR ADDITIONS TO AGENDA – The Board will consider corrections or additions to the Agenda for items requiring immediate action that have come to the attention of the Board after the posting of the Agenda.
    Board action required if corrections or additions are made

    GGSA AGENDA
  4. GGSA RESOLUTION 2022-007 AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT FOR CONSULTING SERVICES FOR PREPARATION OF THE SUSTAINABLE GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT ACT 2022 ANNUAL MONITORING REPORT FOR THE GRASSLAND GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY
    Board action required
  5. GGSA RESOLUTION 2022-008 AUTHORIZING THE GENERAL MANAGER TO APPLY FOR A GRANT UNDER THE 2021 SUSTAINABLE GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT GRANT PROGRAM SGMA IMPLEMENTATION ROUND 2 AND TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT TO RECEIVE A GRANT FOR THE DELTA MENDOTA SUBBASIN DATA GATHERING AND GROUNDWATER RECHARGE PROGRAMS
    Board action required
  6. STATUS UPDATE – The GGSA Board will receive an update on the status of planning, implementation, and financing under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA)

    GRASSLAND WATER DISTRICT AND GRASSLAND RESOURCE CONSERVATION DISTRICT AGENDA
  7. APPOINTMENT OF GRCD DIRECTORS AND DIRECTORS’ OATHS – Since it was not necessary to hold an election for GRCD board of directors on November 8, the GRCD Board will be asked to appoint uncontested candidates Dan Whitehead and Mark Erreca, who will thereafter be sworn in as Directors of the Grassland Resources Conservation District.
  8. GWD – APPROVAL OF MINUTES – The GWD Board will consider approval of the Minutes of the September 13, 2022 Board meeting.
    Board action required
  9. GWD – PAYMENT OF BILLS – The GWD Board will be asked to ratify payment of the October 2022 bills and to approve the November, 2022 bills.
    Board action required
  10. GWD – FINANCIAL REPORT – The Board will be asked to accept the Financial Report for November, 2022.
    Board action required
  11. GWD – AUDITOR’S REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – The GWD Board will be asked to accept the Auditor’s Report and Financial Statements for fiscal year ending February 28, 2022.
    Board action required
  12. GWD – RESOLUTION 2022-018 AUTHORIZING THE GENERAL MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A REIMBURSEMENT AGREEMENT WITH PANOCHE WATER DISTRICT
    Board action required
  13. GWD – RESOLUTION 2022-019 AUTHORIZING THE GENERAL MANAGER TO ENTER INTO GROUNDWATER INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING AGREEMENTS PURSUANT TO CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE GRANT
    Board action required
  14. CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATIONS REPORT – Ken Swanson, District Engineer/Watermaster, will report on water supply, field operations, and construction projects.
  15. GENERAL MANAGER’S REPORT 
    1.  Maintenance Report
    2.  Central Valley Project Operations
    3.  Water Supply
    4.  Water Supply Projects
    5.  Storm Water and Drainage
    6.  Sustainable Groundwater Management Act
    7.  Grassland Fund & Outreach
    8.  Encroachment
  16. LEGAL UPDATE – Ellen Wehr, General Counsel, will report on legal and governmental affairs including water supply, drainage, encroachment, legislation, and regulatory activity.
  17. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE – Mark Smith, Smith Policy Group, and Jeff More, Capital Solutions, will give their reports summarizing Federal and State legislative and regulatory activity
  18. CORRESPONDENCE – Selected correspondence from the past month may be reviewed.
    Board action may be required
  19. GRASSLAND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER (GEECe) – Candace Sigmond, GEECe Education Coordinator, will report on recent activities and upcoming events.
  20. AGENCY& ORGANZATION REPORTS
    DU, CWA, CDFW, USFWS – Representatives of each of the foregoing organizations may report on items of interest to the District.
  21. CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS, UPCOMING EVENTS

    DUCKS UNLIMITED Annual Los Banos Banquet – Friday, December 2, 2022, Los Banos Community Center, 645 Seventh Street, Los Banos, CA – Doors Open 5:30 pm., Dinner at 7:15 pm – Auction at 7:45 pm

    CALIFORNIA WATERFOWL ASSOCIATION Los Banos Banquet Friday, January 27, 2022, Los Banos Fairgrounds- Doors open at 5:00 pm, Dinner at 7:00 pm
  22. DIRECTORS’ REPORTS – At this time, Board members and staff may briefly report on matters of interest and matters that may be set for consideration on future agendas.
  23. ADJOURNMENT TO CLOSED SESSION OF THE GRASSLAND WATER DISTRICT
  24. EXECUTIVE CLOSED SESSION OF THE GRASSLAND WATER DISTRICT
    A.  Personnel Matters (Govt. Code Section (§ 54957)
    B.  Existing Litigation, Gov. Code section 54956.9(c) (two matters):

    Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Association v. Glaser (Eastern District of California Case No. Case 2:11-cv-02980-KJM-CKD)

    California Sportfishing Protection Alliance v. All Persons Interested (Merced County Superior Court Case No. 21CV-02127)
  25. REPORT FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION
  26. ADJOURNMENT

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