Agenda - 12-01-1998 - 9a - Laserfiche WebLink

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17 II. Tasks for the ERCD To a degree, the tasks and workplan for the department will evolve along with the goals and changes to the mission statement over time. There appear to be eight areas of tasks and duties for the ERCD staff, based on the mission and the May 25 memos. A. Water Resources (ground water) Project. The Water Resources project involves a 10-person Committee, a public education campaign and a significant Ground Water Resource Investigation in conjunction with USGS. The USGS resource investigation is entering the second of three years and will wrap up in June, 2000. After final recommendations in year 2000, the work of this Committee is planned to merge into the Commission for the Environment, and that group would begin to develop implementation programs for ground water, and synthesize surface water and ground water protection into an integrated program. This is the final step of the Water Resources goal, and all of this would become the Water Resources Element of the Comprehensive Plan. B. Land acquisition plan/program for resource conservation and parkland ("Comprehensive Resource Acquisition Program"). The Comprehensive Resource Acquisition Program is outlined in some detail by Dr. Gordon in her second memo, and includes an assessment of the loss of resources that has occurred to date, an inventory of resources at present, and development of a program of easements and purchase for the future that involve a number of approaches. Fortunately, some of the preliminary GIS work in this area has been accomplished -but additional efforts will be needed to complete the task, including the collation of data from inventories previously compiled. This program will coordinate the acquisition of land for historic sites, natural resources, parks and recreation, and farmland -using matching funds and seed money from the County. Initiatives already underway include the Schools/Land Use Councils' efforts and the Master Recreation and Parks Plan. C. Initiatives from the Commission for the Environment. As a new group, the Commission has yet to identify many of its programs or plans, but clearly the efforts in water (linked with the Water Resources project), air quality, biological and other natural resources, environmental indicators and sustainability would fall into this realm and be coordinated with the other tasks outlined here. D. Development of Comprehensive Resource Inventory/Database. As part of the Comprehensive Resource program, we will need to develop a process for maintaining records and a database of natural, cultural, and recreational resources. Much of this would be GIS-based and related to the above.