During this portion of the meeting GM/TREASURER PETE KAMPA reports on the Thursday, March 22,  2018 storm damage and resulting interruption of water service for some customers.   I now understand the expressed concern by some county officials with LDPCSD communications during that emergency since Kampa was on a long overdue family vacation in Monterey, CA.  Anyway, even though not legally required, I personally prefer the idea of a GM who lives in the community and consumes the same water.  You know, part of the community when some disaster occurs affecting the water service in these semi-isolated foothills.  Kind of a “hands-on stakeholder” it you will.   Maybe a part time “remote GM/TREASURER” doesn’t matter in this digital communication age for other districts – but what if phones were also completely out?  Seems to me KAMPA’s “cookie cutter” – “one size fits all” special district management approach doesn’t fit with the exceptional situation that is our LDPCSD.

CPU processing was taking so long I had to leave post it notes to remember what command I was going to use next!  lol  Seriously. Yeah, yeah….getting older too, but not that bad…..yet.    Strange how strong beliefs can provide you with added strength and determination on one level while simultaneously weakening you on another.  Oh well, we all have birth and death in common.  Not much choice in the former so might as well be doing something you believe heart and mind in when you must leave, right?  If this production doesn’t teach me to SOME HOW LEARN TO CONFIRM CAMERA SETTINGS…….NOTHING WILL!  WHAT A PAIN IN THE…

If something like this does happen again (recording on too high of a resolution format) I believe just converting the file to AVI would be easier.  I read online about some options but I didn’t want to purchase or use FREE software  – seems like there is always some hidden “hook” or something else attached to the “FREE”.  Figured I’d try it this way first and just be more careful next time.  (I still think it was resetting somehow, but again, that micro switch is very sensitive and I may have accidentally changed the setting with my numb thumb.  Yes, my numb thumb.) One heck of a clear image though yeah?  Don’t recall everything I read, but Sony has its own format that’s different from the Olympus.  To be honest I didn’t shop much for a new video camera.  I had used a number of HandyCams in the past and really liked them – but the old heavy analog tape and first digital ones.  I do like the more simplistic menu structure, but again, sore, numb digits make working with small switches/buttons difficult.  Holding the camera is like holding a Hummingbird – unbelievably light.  I don’t use it for much other than CSD meetings so that’s another point I should use it more often and become familiar with the functions.  Yup, extremely light weight – feel like I need to duct tape a brick to it just to remember it’s on my hand!  blah, blah, blah….good night.  Lew

Sitting at computer too long

Perhaps this effort is dumb?

Heart & mind say I am right

But my ass complains it is numb

yours truly, Lew Richardson, April 2018

Yes 05-A ….because the dumb ass operator accidentally selected HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGE again instead of the quick VGA stuff (must admit the quality is a lot better – but that’s not what I need! I NEED FASTER DOWNLOADING/UPLOADING TIMES!) Anyway figured I’d split this presentation into two smaller ones and see if it will work. (Would upload around 50% then freeze! FRUSTRATING! OH well, better than handwriting and snail mailing right? lol)

Yup, sure looks like a typical FALSE FLAG ATTACK  sort of situation, the same players who created the OUTSIDE PLACE OF USE PROBLEM seem to always benefit in some sneaky way. (NEW groundwater wells for private development water substitution paid for with public funds!  And now Kampa removing the ONLY SAFEGUARD TO THE TYPICAL BEHIND THE SCENE DUPLICITY the district has practiced for decades is not surprising – but very wrong.  He will do anything to cover his tracks.)

That’s why he can’t answer questions – the answers will illustrate exactly what he has been doing for years.  I believe much of our “lost water” is outside the PLACE OF USE – always have and have said so.  Kampa’s actions only support my suspicion but believing something is a far cry from proving it and without access to facts – impossible.   (What is required are cold hard consumption figures for all known OPOU service connections and “check meters” everywhere a CSD extension line leaves the subdivision legal PLACE OF USE.

Privacy?  Sure, so long as there is no name/title  change, publish only account numbers with the policy provision that any change/transfer in ownership of property or account number will be noticed and reported in a public meeting agenda packet.  That way property owners have their sense of privacy but the public can still monitor suspicious increased subsidized water use outside the subdivision.)

Ever since Kampa arrived in 2014 (through an unethical selection process- were you aware of that? lol) much information that was previously public has been removed from the agenda packet keeping customers in the dark. (ah, what the heck, he’s been misrepresenting facts to Federal and State government agencies for years – deceiving mushroom customers is a breeze.)

Appears to me KAMPA  has some heavy weight supporters who may be trying to protect him by “muddying the waters” so to speak.   WHERE IS THE ACCOUNTABILITY?

Sure, the LDPCSD might one day , and I say, might, one day be required to finally follow regulations ignored for years, but where is the accountability for a professional special district manager (and CSDA board member of 20 years no less) who had “hands on personal experience with” LAFCO annexations 20 years ago and was clearly aware they could not receive MERCED RIVER WATER and needed groundwater to develop – who finagled public funds to develop those groundwater wells for outside development?

Heck, he only returned to finish what he started with those LAFCo annexations between 1994-1997.

Why actively hide for 20 years –  a proposed 900ac subdivision across the street from the LDPCSD that was Mariposa County LAFCO approved in 1995 when KAMPA was employed here the first time if everything was above board and legal?

ANOTHER MOTIVE FOR RETURN?

KAMPA should be held to a much higher standard of responsibility especially since paid with public funds TWICE for LDPCSD employment tours that quite clearly served the interests of developers outside the POU and caused more problems in the future.

KAMPA should not be permitted to pretend he was unaware of the MANDATORY MONTHLY COMPLIANCE REPORTING TO THE MID FOR 16 YEARS! 

But of course, it certainly appears MID has been working with KAMPA to surreptitiously change the PLACE OF USE OF THEIR OWN WATER LICENSE  if they PROVIDED THE SHAPE FILE FOR KAMPA’S FABRICATED MAP AND SIGNED OFF ON CHANGING THE OPOU REPORTING FORMAT POLICY OUR DISTRICT SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO EFFECTIVELY MONITOR AND PREVENT FURTHER SURREPTITIOUS OUTSIDE POU WATER SERVICE.)

WAS ANY OF THIS WATER LICENSE COMPLIANCE REPORTING FOR OUTSIDE PLACE OF USE PROPERTIES MENTIONED TO THE GRANTING AUTHORITIES THAT ADVISED KAMPA THOSE FUNDS WERE FOR EXISTING CUSTOMERS DURING DROUGHT EMERGENCY AND NOT FOR NEW SERVICE CONNECTIONS?

A SUBSTITUTION REMEDY FOR VIOLATIONS OF WATER LICENSE 11395 MID DEMANDED ALMOST 20 YEARS AGO?

NOTICE HOW THAT SAME NUMBER ALWAYS SEEMS TO POP UP?    20 YEARS AGO  – WHAT WAS HAPPENING THEN?

WHO WAS RUNNING THE DISTRICT?  THE OWNERS ASSOCIATION?  YUP, DON’T FORGET THE EXTREME INFLUENCE THE DEERWOOD LAND DEVELOPMENT/MORTGAGE CORPORATION HAD HERE IN THE SUBDIVISION AND GOLF COURSE AREA.  THE FORMER GM OF SIERRA HIGHLANDS ALSO AN EMPLOYEE OF DEERWOOD?  GM OF THE LDPCSD? 

LOOK AT ALL THE NON-COMPLIANT SUBSTANDARD DEVELOPER CONVENIENCE ROADS THAT CORPORATION CONSTRUCTED IN THE SUBDIVISION TO AVOID HAVING TO CREATE FIRE SAFE DRIVEWAYS ACCORDING TO THE 1991 FIRE SAFE STATE RESPONSIBILITY ACT REGULATIONS!

(And just recently we find out those years of “FIRE FEE” STATE BILLING were ACTUALLY the result of an ILLEGAL STATE TAX –

YET those who paid it won’t be getting their +/- $900 back! 

Sure could have helped property owners with yearly county property taxes.

What a scam against property owners in SRA while the land developer gets off without having to remove non-compliant roads (not even being used for homes) that represent a continuing and extreme danger to anyone using them!)

KAMPA MAPA FULL OF KRAPA!

BACK TO KAMPA’s GRANTS FOR GROUNDWATER WELLS.

Sure seems like misrepresentation to obtain FUNDS – (don’t forget that “MID SHAPE FILE MAP” that the MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT supposedly gave to Kampa’s hired CAD Company to create yet another FRANKENSTEIN KAMPA MAPA FULL OF KRAPA)

-and misappropriation of FUNDS  THAT WERE CLEARLY INTENDED FOR DROUGHT EMERGENCY RELIEF to ACTUALLY FINANCE AN ALTERNATE SOURCE OF WATER to cover existing REPORTED AND UNREPORTED POU violations of which KAMPA was already aware;  and TO FURTHER EXPAND THAT SUBSIDIZED BENEFIT to other properties our district has no moral obligation or legal duty to furnish water.

 

I have always believed much of our “lost water” is outside the PLACE OF USE but who knows?  The way the Merced Irrigation District has been working with Kampa to keep OUTSIDE POU INFORMATION CONCEALED, maybe the district has been supplying RAW WATER TO RECREATION AREAS AROUND McCLURE since the beginning?  That’s why no serious effort in decades to locate and stop the loss?  Maybe it is not loss?   Just diverted to another approved use but isn’t paid for by the users?

Kampa ending the public reporting on individual OPOU PROPERTIES only supports such suspicions. Ever since Kampa arrived in 2014 (through an unethical selection process – don’t suppose you’ve ever heard of that yeah?) much information that was previously public has been removed from the agenda packet keeping customers in the dark.

(Just where MUSHROOM CUSTOMERS SHOULD BE CONSIDERING ALL THE KAMPA KRAPA FED TO THEM.

Ah, but let’s be fair.  Kampa is an equal opportunity deceiver – he’s been misrepresenting facts to  Federal and State government agencies for years to snag that grant money for LAFCO ANNEXEDASPECIAL BENEFIT WATER SERVICE.    Where is the accountability? Sure, the LDPCSD might, and I say, might, have to finally follow regulations they have completely ignored for years, but where is the accountability for intentionally violating water regulations by a professional special district manager (and CSDA board member for 20 years no less) that has had “hands on experience” working with the MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT PLACE OF USE WATER LICENSE RESTRICTIONS  FOR MERCED RIVER WATER he has known about for 20 years?

YUP, should be held to a higher standard especially since paid with public funds. Heck, he only returned to finish what he started with those LAFCo annexations between 1994-1997. Sure seems like misrepresentation and misappropriation.

No one can blame OPOU property owners for wanting water for their developments, but the individuals elected, appointed, employed and/or delegated authority for providing, administrating and regulating the water needs of property owners in the subdivision should have to answer for their complete and utter disregard for MR WECS* rights to quality water service for only the cost of what is required to provide such.    All this special benefit groundwater substitution, arsenic removal, state monitoring/reporting, etc. should be paid for by those who receive that special benefit.

*MERCED RIVER WATER ENTITLED CUSTOMERS   (of the Lake Don Pedro Subdivision)   later

 

GIVE THEM AN INCH and THEY’LL  TAKE A MILE.

GIVE THEM AN ACRE FOOT – and

THEY’LL RECONFIGURE YOUR SURFACE WATER TREATMENT PLANT INTO A GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION FACILITY TO CIRCUMVENT STATE WATER LICENSE RESTRICTIONS FOR PRIVATE LAND DEVELOPER SPECIAL BENEFIT & PROFITS OUTSIDE THE PLACE OF USE FOR MERCED RIVER WATER -WHICH IS THE SUBDIVISION AND GOLF COURSE.

WAITING- WAITING- WAITING- FOR UPLOAD…..

hey!  I can still type in Word…….depressing news for viewers, yeah?

I just thought of an example and although it certainly doesn’t exactly match the fact pattern of the current OPOU blah, blah, blah, still believe it will adequately illustrate a point.

Ready?  Here we go….

UNCLE LEWIE’S STORY TIME

Once upon a time there was this little town out west whose citizens struggled and saved their money for a community theater.  This was before “talking moving picture shows” were developed so it was nothing more than an empty building (some say a barn) without windows, a sheet for a projection screen on the far wall, some benches, a few chairs and a projector sitting on a raised table opposite the screen. 

A small fee was ultimately required to offset the costs of repairs, improvements and obtaining new films.   Occasionally individuals, often children, would sneak through a back unlocked door in order to get a glimpse of whatever was playing but usually quickly removed due to the fact they did not pay for the entertainment like everyone else and were often disruptive.  Occasionally a lenient and compassionate employee would observe young children huddled to side of the aisle all displaying open gaping mouths of astonishment at what they were witnessing on screen but the employee would allow such trespassing to continue if quiet and non disturbing to the oblivious paying customers focused on the film.

Eventually a new building was constructed just for film viewing with a full stage, a piano purchased and a pianist employed to augment the films with live music and various sound effects near the stage making the show experience much more enjoyable and entertaining.  Beverages and snacks were later made available but that convenience also added to ticket prices but it was still considered worth the money for such new and exciting entertainment.   Attendees from neighboring towns frequently made the road trip to see whatever was playing at the theater which was quickly making a name for itself.   Of course this naturally also drew more (without resources for ticket purchase) to sneak into the theater in various ways, some quite elaborate like the hand excavated tunnel from the alley to under the stage, but once again trespassers were promptly removed and the tunnel sealed.  Eventually a city ordinance was created to address the increasing problem of line jumping, trespass and the turmoil it caused with frustrated paying customers. A part time paid manager was hired from another city which also had a theater believing the manager’s stated lengthy experience with the business would help control and remedy the situation and increasing problems. 

As technology and enhancements for the movie experience grew so did costs and innovative instances of sneaking into the theater.  Management fees dramatically increased correspondingly.  Some paying attendees felt true compassion and a sense of responsibility for the underprivileged who still could not afford the full ticket price so they instituted a program funded with pooled donations to facilitate reduced and even free admission tickets to those in need. 

 As more and more strangers from other towns and communities arrived to claim their REDUCED & FREE ADMISSION TICKETS (for themselves and many friends and acquaitances who had not even arrived in town yet) only to discover none were available, disappointment, resentment and anger often escalated into arguments even fist fights between those who paid full price and those who did not.

This disruption and violence increased to the point where the now highly paid part time theater manager just permitted non ticket holders to quietly enter through an open rear door under the theory of preventing further vandalism, threats and violence against theater employees, customers waiting in line and even innocent non-involved people just happening to be walking by – IF the outsiders were denied their demanded reduced and/or free tickets.

The original compassion and generosity of those original paying attendees who furnished FREE TICKETS and management’s “turning a blind eye” (supposedly to quell disturbances) was quickly transformed into angry demands, more property damage and threatened violence, finally settling into a form of accepted institutionalized extortion.

When paying customers complained and asked what had happened to their once beautiful theater, the now unbelievably highly paid professional part time manager explained that everyone had a right to view film presentations regardless of ability to pay because “all enjoy movies”. 

Yet when those who previously paid the ever increasing full ticket price attempted to also enter without paying (like the many children and increasing bus loads of adults from neighboring towns) they were promptly advised by management:

because they APPEARED TO HAVE EXTRA RESOURCES TO ATTEND SUCH ENTERTAINMENT it was ONLY FAIR that they pay GREATLY INCREASED TICKET PRICES TO COVER COSTS OF EVERYONE ELSE ATTENDING THE MOVIE!

WHAT?

Welcome to the LAKE DON PEDRO CSD THEATER MR WECS.

  THE END

 

PS:  Well, not quite the end.  

Sounds a lot like the rampant illegal welfare payments and current national argument regarding the costs of illegal immigration, yeah?

My best to you and yours, Lew

 

04 -JUST MORE LDPCSD APRIL 16 2018 MEETING BLAH BLAH BLAH-
KAMPA & KOMPANY are apparently “circling the wagons” by restricting even more information to the customers who have been paying for this special benefit groundwater substitution program for Kampa’s 20 year old annexation plans.

Yup, like living a different country now.   Later

My best to you and yours, Lew

This one follows 02
Precedes the next 04
Same old tired blah, blah, blah
As the year or two before
.
Cheaters cheat
Victims pay
Deceit so easy
When justice delayed

My best to you and yours, Lew

 

Ever have your printer quit just when you need it to run a couple of quick prints? That’s what happened last Monday before the LDPCSD Board Meeting. Well, that and a bunch of other stuff.  (But to be honest there were some other sporadic minor printer malfunctions (aka WARNINGS!) prior to this that were annoying, ie, partial prints, low quality prints, long pauses while the printer was working out internal difficulties, etc.   — should have made time right then to investigate, yeah?….But, but, but….I can hear the hillside weeds growing right now……listen……if I don’t get them now it will be much more difficult when 3-4 feet high!)

I had drafted a quick Public Comment for the meeting while rushing around getting everything loaded in the truck (even the dog recognizes this pattern which signals to her the approach of numerous “no fun days” at the computer for either of us) – hit “PRINT” and continued preparing for the meeting departure while explaining she could not also attend.

The next time I checked the printer…..nothing.  Turned it off, unplugged power and data cables…waited, plugged everything back in — (this often works) tried to print again – but at the next “fly by” check…. still nothing.  So…turned off both computer and printer, waited, restarted, tried again, nothing. Starting to panic a bit so while attempting some common “printer fixes” scratched notes from the monitor on a legal pad for the public comment later – better rough notes than nothing at all right?   Well, maybe.

That was the most cursive handwriting I’ve done in a while and after days of weed eating, raking, pruning, and burning not very comfortable.  The legibility alone would have qualified for me for writing medical prescriptions – extremely difficult to read or forge – not to mention the poor spelling, grammar, and all those lines and arrows indicating where particular comments would be better placed in the rambling blah, blah, blah ……

Anyway, turns out the drivers for the printer had been corrupted somehow (turning devices on and off and unplugging them?  lol) but I was now stuck in a BLUE SCREEN OF DEATH “boot loop” due to a failed attempt at resetting the computer to a previous RESTORE POINT…… (thought maybe some of those untimely and “aggressive updates” might have been responsible)  around and around…..”we will diagnose the problem and repair computer”…..wait, wait, wait…..”Sorry could not repair, please try again”…….wait, wait, wait….. “sorry could not repair, please try again”……doing the same thing over and over while expecting a different result? Hum, sounds familiar….what was that again? Oh yeah…INSANITY!

Fortunately the suggestion of reloading printer drivers from my site tech proved to be the answer that solved the problem. [Of course a RECOVERY DISK was required to escape the BSOD boot loop to enter “SAFE MODE” for some basic repairs following the failed restore point.  YIKES! A couple of recovery disks/thumb drives might be advisable considering how long it took me to locate the one that eventually saved me!  So pleased that I had at least created such when I upgraded to, yes I’ll say it, WINDOWS10.]

I should also mention that without a backup internet connected device to decipher error codes (or someone you could call and ask to research what a bunch of numbers and letters meant), I would have never known what the problem actually was.  (Paying online techs $199.00 is not the way to go!)   Through all this I also discovered my hard drive is again reaching max capacity so I’ve been shuffling files and folders around with external drives to make room for the meeting reports.  (Not too keen on this CLOUD STUFF.)

So, was this lack of disk space the underlying reason I couldn’t initially listen to that Mariposa County BOD audio presentation?  Probably, since everything else sure seemed to slow down.   (EXCELLENT SYSTEM BY THE WAY – something like that for the LDPCSD would be great considering the low meeting attendance and scattered customer base.)

Then on top of all this (or intimately related) my fat numb fingers evidently pressed some micro switch on that handycam which instructed it to format the video in the highest possible resolution – NO NO NO NOT AGAIN!   Believe it or not 41GB for one video file which equated to:

Select a command ……..get something to eat.

Select another command……maybe do some laundry……

Select a command….. well, you get the idea – slow as molasses in January!

(Reminds of the AutoCad program when it first came out and the inadequate computers used to run it!)

Gosh, wonder if the National Security Agency (NSA) would ever consider granting us access to our own information they have already stored in their Utah spy facility anyway?

Might make things a lot easier for tech challenged big mouths like me yeah?

Probably not.  The online paid tech lobbyist union would fight that tooth and nail.

 later Lew

This one isn’t too bad but I’m still having conflict issues between the cameras along with finding the right settings. I switched the digital audio recording for the video audio because it was easier to hear comments when a speaker faces a microphone – instead of the mic being behind them on the Handycam. Unfortunately, I didn’t notice an error until the video was produced — a slight synchronization problem – but it wasn’t too bad. Remember the old “Spaghetti Westerns” where the speaker’s lips NEVER matched what was spoken? lol “My name is nobody” – very humorous cowboy gunfighter spoof. Should see if my old VHS recording hasn’t degraded. Just wanted to acknowledge the problem. Interesting Public Comment.

 

I’m curious as to what was said at the Mariposa County Board of Supervisors Meeting on March 27th, 2018 during the discussion of the March 22nd 2018 storm damage with all the flooding and road washouts. I’ve tried multiple times, even downloaded the program recommended by the county site for their newer postings, but for some reason still haven’t been able to hear any of it yet. I connect OK but when it says its loading nothing happens for a few minutes until being advised of the failure. I’ll try again later.

1820hrs UPDATE: 

Was finally able to access the March 27th, 2018 Mariposa County BOS Meeting audio!  I can understand why Mr. Taylor did not want to attempt to explain the information regarding the Lake Don Pedro Community Services District.  Not only because it was negative but repeating such things from memory always run a risk for innocent misunderstanding. 

Much information about the life and death challenges faced, immediate damage sustained and the continuing cooperation between numerous “partners” from law enforcement, other agencies/entities, and various individuals.    Our Sheriff gave an excellent and very informative detailed report that did include his mention of “displeasure” with the CSD’s response to the emergency and offered assistance.   The Sheriff on at least two occasions specifically thanked District II Supervisor Merlin Jones for his work in keeping communications open with our common “pocket community” difficulties with transportation and communication.   

Supervisor  Jones later commented that while in the Lake Don Pedro area when the RED CROSS was distributing water he attempted to telephone directors and the general manager without success.  He stated he even went to a director’s residence to discuss the situation and was met with the response “we just don’t want to talk to anybody”, although apparently some conversation did take place.    Supervisor Jones questioned County Health Officer Dr. Eric Sergienko as to some apparent confusion regarding how “non potable water” could safely be used.   Dr. Sergienko stated he shared the Sheriff’s stated concerns about the CSD and commented without the assistance from the California Department of Water Resources he didn’t think there would have been effective communication with the district.   Dr. Sergienko then discussed aspects of nonpotable water use (NEVER DRINK) and the steps the LDPCSD would have to take to resume safe water service to all customers and also said they had tried to shape the district’s message but it had been a challenge.   Supervisor Jones advised he had more information about the LDPCSD that he would present to the Board in a report.

GOSH DARN IT….don’t like condensing such detailed reports……

You know, Dave Taylor is absolutely right…..if you want to know what was said…check it out!

Tell you what,… if I did this right, the following should make it much easier to find the parts dealing with our Lake Don Pedro Community Services District.

INDEX OF DEPARTMENTAL PRESENTATIONS:

DOUG BENNEWIES, Mariposa County Sheriff:     @18 Minutes 32 Seconds

DR. ERIC SERGIENKO, Mariposa County Health and Transportation Director:   @ 45:40

CHEVON KOTHARI, Mariposa County Human Services Director:   @47:50

SHERIFF BENNEWIES   @ 50:00

MILES MENETREY, Mariposa County District V Supervisor:    @53:04

MERLIN JONES, Mariposa County District II Supervisor:   @56:08

sounds funny but

BELOW IS THE LINK TO THE ABOVE INDEX

<<<MARIPOSA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MARCH 27 2018 BOARD MEETING>>>

************BACK TO ORIGINAL POST ACCOMPANYING VIDEO**************

Ranchito Drive is still closed – that’s the place where some poor guy drove into that huge open “pit”that swallowed his entire truck and camper according to the online Modesto newspaper and accompanying photograph. Fortunately the driver survived but I wonder what sort of roadway barricades were used to warn approaching traffic on that curve? Always easier to second guess when not there in real time when everything seems to be coming apart. There will probably be a lot of details not made public for some time. The section of HWY132 over Piney Creek (going uphill to Coulterville from the subdivision) is still closed along with portions of other roads and highways. One heck of a storm that’s for sure. I’m still discovering little washouts on my small place. Later, Lew

My best to you and yours, Lew

INCORRECT INFORMATION SEEMS TO NEVER STOP REGARDING THIS SERIOUS SUBJECT WHICH HAS BEEN INTENTIONALLY IGNORED FOR OVER FORTY YEARS!

(Yes, over forty years when you consider the LDPCSD was formed in August 1980 yet changes to the service boundary had evidently already been made by LAFCos BEFORE the California Public Utilities Commission transferred the former Sierra Highlands Water Company facilities and assets to the new CSD in January 1981.  WHERE IS THE ORIGINAL SERVICE MAP BASED ON THE SURVIVING METES AND BOUNDS FIELD SURVEY of 1980?  LAFCO paid for this multi-page survey….where is the frigg’n map?)

The September 26, 2017 REPORT OF INVESTIGATION, contained in the NOTICE OF VIOLATION, by the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board), Division of Water Rights, states on page one that it “received a complaint on February 22, 2016 via email against the Lake Don Pedro Community Services District (LDPCSD).”  Later it also states, “the complainant subsequently submitted CalEPA complaint 46350 on April 4, 2016.”

NOTE: The SWRCB Notice of Violation can be found in the LDPCSD October agenda packet between pages 29-38. 

LINK TO PACKET BELOW

LDPCSD October 2017 AGENDA PACKET

ADDITIONAL NOTE:  The SWRCB color map contained in the LDPCSD agenda packet was also incorrectly preceded on page 37 with information regarding KAMPA’s $35,000 CAD mapping project which was ultimately used to once again intentionally misrepresent the legal PLACE OF USE FOR MERCED RIVER WATER per water license 11395 held by the MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT.

$$$$$$$$$$$$

Considering there has been little information provided during our LDPCSD monthly board meetings by GM/Treasurer Pete Kampa regarding this MERCED RIVER WATER PLACE OF USE matter, I have been checking the SWRCB website (below) for months in hopes of locating additional information.  Unfortunately I recently discovered that a complaint date and BOTH locations were apparently documented incorrectly on this website for some reason.

How could the counties of

MARIPOSA & TUOLUMNE

be confused with the counties of

STANISLAUS and SUTTER

concerning water rights of the

MERCED RIVER under WL11395?

The shear amount of incorrect information regarding Lake Don Pedro CSD water service OUTSIDE THE PERMITTED PLACE OF USE under WATER LICENSE 11395 certainly suggested an investigation was warranted and there is no doubt that the resulting September 2017 NOTICE OF VIOLATION was extremely helpful in dismissing decades of incorrect information provided to the public while intentional violations continued unchecked, however, when such important information as to WHERE THESE VIOLATIONS ACTUALLY TOOK PLACE IS ALSO APPARENTLY INCORRECTLY REPORTED BY THE INVESTIGATING AGENCY ON THEIR OWN WEBSITE, I cannot help but wonder ….

is something else being protected?

My best to you and yours, Lew

???????????????????????????

https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/waterrights/water_issues/programs/enforcement/complaints/

2016: General Water Rights Complaints

Date Submitted (sortable)	Stream (sortable)	County (sortable)	Alleged Injury (sortable)	Status (sortable)
1/20/2016	Middle Paddy Creek	San Joaquin	Unauthorized Diversion, Other	Active
1/25/2016	Susan River	Lassen	Unauthorized Diversion, Other	Determination Made
1/26/2016	NA – groundwater	Trinity	Other	Active
2/9/2016	Unnamed stream tributary to San Vicente Creek	San Diego	Unauthorized Diversion, Other	Determination Made
2/16/2016	Merced River	Stanislaus	Unauthorized Diversion	Determination Made
2/16/2016	Salinas River	San Luis Obispo	Unauthorized Diversion	Active
3/3/2016	Clear Creek	Butte	Unauthorized Diversion, Waste or Unreasonable Use, Impact to Public Trust	Active
3/14/2016	Atascadero Creek	San Luis Obispo	Unauthorized Diversion, Waste or Unreasonable Use	Active
4/4/2016	Merced River	Sutter	Violation of Term	Determination Made

Considering we have already had a few rattlesnake encounters up here in these foothills (all three dogs – fortunately without serious incident) the annual vaccination seems worth the cost and temporary inconvenience. Certainly no guarantee, but if bitten the vaccination should help reduce the severity of pain and venom effects.   The traveling time for appropriate treatment is another big consideration in these “semi-remote” foothills also.  Naturally there are many opinions on the subject of rattlesnake vaccinations – heck, consider there are many parents who refuse to vaccinate their children for fear of complications as well.  Many different perspectives.

This is only one article encouraging such medical treatment:

RATTLESNAKE VACCINE FOR DOGS

Reduced activity following any vaccination is reasonable and also provides time for some extra attention.  All my dogs typically “take the day off” after vaccinations with some extra sleep (and treats) but are raring to go the next morning.    Anyway – it’s getting to be that season again – be careful during foothill frolics!

My best to you and yours, Lew

 

Why this expression? I don’t know, just because I guess.

Yup, nasty strain of FLU. I took a gamble and did EXACTLY what good ‘ol Mom warned against…..getting back to a work routine too early and risking a possible relapse but I was faced with a garden shed roof collapse to that problem “leaning tree”.  Yeah, forced me out of bed a bit soon but thankfully I was able to remedy the situation without any serious problems although I had to lay down on the ground a couple of times to rest because of dizziness. Yes I considered the possibilities carefully….chainsaw, ladder, not feeling 100% – but was never-the-less able to remove the weight of the tree and save the roof – then “I crashed” for another day or two watching TV and picking up around the house a bit (which is always required).  Still not quite back to normal but definitely much better. Not being able to smell/taste food is always a problem with gaining your strength back but chicken noodle/tomato soup and crackers seem to always fill that bill – and of course….FLUIDS FLUIDS FLUIDS! Cannot risk dehydration while fighting those bugs. Well….I hear that familiar call for weed slaughter! later!

My (near) best to you and yours, Lew

PS: Please be careful with this year’s Flu!  Don’t be a dumb ass like I was – obtain the necessary medications some way and rest!