Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Water Management topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City manager outlines constraints on restarting seasonal drainage ditch; inspection planned for dry season
Summary
City Manager Dustin Reese updated council on the seasonal drainage ditch (the 'creek') noting that water-system changes tied to a new downtown tank and multiple regulatory constraints (fish and wildlife, Army Corps, water rights, drought rules) limit the city's ability to resume flows without legal review; staff plans an underground inspection in late summer.
City Manager Reese gave the council a detailed status update on the seasonal drainage ditch (referred to as the creek). Reese said bringing a new downtown water tank online has altered the system and effectively shut off the seasonal ditch’s flow. Staff must balance water-system compliance orders, California Fish and Wildlife and Army Corps requirements, water‑rights authorizations, drought reporting, and potential legal liability if water is released through developed areas.
Reese said staff plans to inspect the subsurface portions of the ditch during the dry season (likely August or September) to better assess the system and determine options. He asked for legal advice on potential city exposure if the creek were rewatered and noted the need to justify any additional inspection or mitigation costs to ratepayers. Council directed staff to pursue the inspection and return with findings and legal guidance.
