On September 11, 1972 the Lake County Board of Supervisors (BOS) passed resolution 72-173 approving the petition for formation of Scotts Valley Water Conservation District (SVWCD) consisting of approximately 100 parcels with three divisions within the Scotts Valley area. On the same day, the BOS also passed Resolution 72-174 calling for a special election for the formation of the SVWCD and to elect the first directors thereof if the District was formed. An election was held on October 17, 1972 and the District was formed and the first three directors were seated.
The original petition requesting the formation of the District stated the property owners/registered voters within the boundaries of the proposed SVWCD believed having the district would:
1) Allow them to conserve and enhance water supply and riparian rights;
2) Proposed projects such as the Scotts Creek Dam, flash dams and preservation of vital water bearing gravels in the creek beds could be better promoted by group action;
3) a District would provide a legal entity for government agencies to consult with in the solution of mutual and area water and flood control problems and projects and without such a district agreements arrived with individuals could adversely affect the far greater majority of the properties involved;
4) Concerns over water rights with the City of Lakeport and that a district was vital to the resolution of present water problems if an understanding, other than court action, was to be reached;
5) a District would enable the area to act in concert to solve problems of available water and its distribution in the area and could be effective in matters of flood control; and
6) Both increasing water in the summer months and reducing flooding in the winter and spring could be done better by a district working cooperatively with existing government agencies.
As shown on the map, the 100 parcels are separated into three divisions. Division Directors are called to be elected by the voters of the district every 4 years. The Division I Director position has been vacant since 2015 and must stand for election in November 2025 for a two-year term expiring in December 2027. Division II Director must stand for election in November 2025 for a 4 year term. The Division III Director term does not expire until December of 2027.
There was an initial review and Public Hearing by the Lake Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) when the district was created but no other known Municipal Service Reviews in the past 53 years.
The District holds approximately $25,000.00 in the County Treasury. There are currently no records found to confirm how that money was generated, except a record that the Board of Supervisors loaned the district $815.00 in 1972 with an order to repay the County out of the first available tax revenues accruing to the district. There is a record that appears to show the $815 was repaid. The only other ongoing account activity is interest earned and payments to the Registrar of Voters during elections. It would stand to reason the $25,000 was generated by tax assessments in the District; however, there no records can be located and there are not now any ongoing tax assessments.
At this time, I believe the District needs to be reviewed to determine whether it should be dissolved or if it can provide service to the area. Final dissolution would be determined by LAFCo, but can be initiated for review by landowners, registered voters or a resolution of application submitted by a local agency including the Board of Supervisors. Some of the considerations, if a petition was submitted by three or more registered voters, include weather or not the district, within the past three years, has provided services or facilities of substantial benefit to the residents, landowners or property of the district, the district has not levied or fixed and collected any taxes, assessments, services charges, rentals, or rates or expended proceeds for district purposes or during the preceding one year the district has not met to transact district business.
I am not currently aware of any business being conducted by the district or whether they have had any public meetings in the past year or more.
If LAFCO did dissolve the district the County would become the successor agency for the purpose of winding up the affairs of the district and the remaining assets be used to benefit the territory of the dissolved district.
Additionally, should this district be dissolved, both the Scotts Valley Community Advisory Council and the Lake County Watershed Protection District could play roles in the areas of original concerns some of which remain today.
I have received information that no candidates have currently filed for election for November of 2025. I have also received information that the two current directors are not opposed to the District being reviewed to determine if it should continue.
At this time, I am requesting that our Board consider providing Direction to Staff to take steps necessary to proceed with a Notice of Intent to File an Application with Lake Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) to Initiate Dissolution Proceedings for Scotts Valley Water Conservation District.