LOCSD Assistant GM and District Engineer, Eric Riddiough was expected to be named the District’s alternate member to the Water Resources Advisory Committee. Logo courtesy SLO County
Board members of the Los Osos Community Services District were expected to appoint their new district engineer to a key County water board at its Oct. 1 meeting.
LOCSD General Manager Greg Kwolek asked the board to appoint Assistant General Manager/District Engineer, Eric Riddiough, to be the alternate to the SLO County Water Resources Advisory Committee or WRAC.
Riddiough had also worked under Kwolek in the Morro Bay Public Works Department before leaving the City to work for Caltrans on the Hwy 46/41 interchange project, which has now wrapped up construction.
He was hired by Kwolek again a couple of months ago to join him at the LOCSD. Kwolek had left his position as Public Works Director in Morro Bay this past spring to take the top job in Los Osos, replacing the now-retired Ron Munds. Munds had been the WRAC alternate for Los Osos.
“The alternate representative,” Kwolek’s report to the board said, “provides continuity of District representation on the WRAC when the primary representative, currently Director [Chuck] Cesena, is unavailable.
“Upon Board approval, the nomination will
be submitted to the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors for confirmation.”
According to the County’s WRAC webpage, “The WRAC advises the County Board of Supervisors concerning all policy decisions relating to the water resources of the San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District and recommends specific water resource and conservation programs.”
The WRAC consists of some 37 members plus alternates for each seat, representing the five Supervisorial Districts, the seven incorporated cities, and every CSD in the County.
It also has seats for two Resource Conservation Districts, three agriculture representatives, three representatives from the environmental community, one developer, and seven seats representing water agencies and districts. Several of these seats are currently vacant.
The WRAC meets at 1:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month at the SLO City/County Library on Palm Street and its meetings are open to the public.
“WRAC,” Kwolek said, “provides a forum for representatives of local agencies, organizations, and interested parties to discuss water resource issues affecting San Luis Obispo County.
“The CSD’s participation allows it to remain informed and engaged in county wide water resource discussions and provides an opportunity to represent the CSD’s interests on matters related to water resources.”
Among the bigger issues currently under consideration is potentially building desalination facilities to supplement the fresh water supply. The LOCSD is also preparing to build a pipeline from Hwy 1 and the Chorro Valley Pipeline to bring fully treated state water to town.
The Flood Control and Water Conservation District is a County agency in charge of major water projects and programs like the Nacimiento Lake Project, and the State Water Project and its thousands of acre feet of unused allocation, among other issues.
The County Public Works Department provides the staff support for the WRAC and delivers its recommendations to the Board of Supervisors along with water-related agenda items. Though the WRAC has some 37 members, the Flood Control District’s Board consists of just the five County Supervisors, who make all the decisions on water supply and flooding issues within the District’s authority.
