County officials disclose petition to shift Big Valley Watermaster service to Modoc County

Chester Robertson, Modoc County administrative services, told the Board of Supervisors on Feb. 10 that a petition filed in Modoc County Superior Court seeks to place Big Valley under the county’s Watermaster jurisdiction.

Robertson said the county met with about 11 decree holders and learned the petition had been in process for about two years. "There is a petition for the Modoc Superior Court, for over about a 2 year process to basically put the Watermaster service in Big Valley under jurisdiction of the county," he said, adding the court filing was news to county staff and the Watermaster.

Why it matters: moving a watermaster service to county oversight would change who enforces irrigation decrees and how the program is funded. Robertson said a county takeover would likely require an assessment and referred to a likely implementation timeline of roughly two to three years, with assessment levies and an initial funding lag of about a year.

What the county plans: Robertson described recommending a memorandum of understanding with petitioning parties to fund an assessment of responsibilities and costs, and suggested a neutral third-party facilitator to run public meetings and help resolve disputes. He said the county might act as a solution party but encouraged a neutral evaluator instead.

Local concerns raised at public comment: an unidentified resident told the board that enforcement of permits and disputes over Sacramento River flows are “absolutely under the control of the Modoc County Watermaster” and requested the Watermaster job description and reports to inform local water-conservation efforts.

Next steps: Robertson said staff will continue to meet with interested parties and the court, will evaluate assets and potential enterprise-fund arrangements, and will keep the board apprised as the process continues. No formal board action to accept or reject the petition was reported at the meeting.