Byron-Bethany Irrigation District (BBID) is joining a broad-based coalition of water agencies, business leaders and concerned constituents in calling for lawmakers to fix Senate Bill 1 (Atkins). SB 1 threatens water supply reliability for millions of Californians and threatens to derail the Voluntary Settlement Agreements in the Delta. Read more below!
San Jose, CA (August 5, 2019) –On Monday, Byron-Bethany Irrigation District (BBID) filed a motion in Santa Clara County Superior Court, seeking to recover nearly $2 million in attorneys’ fees from the State of California.
The motion is directly related to an enforcement action brought by the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) against BBID shortly after BBID sued the SWRCB over unlawful curtailment notices issued by the SWRCB to more than a thousand pre-1914 water rights holders, including BBID. Over BBID’s objection, the Santa Clara Court stayed BBID’s lawsuit pending completion of the administrative hearing of the SWRCB’s enforcement action.
The SWRCB’s enforcement action sought enforcement of the curtailment notices against BBID for diverting water when allegedly none was available under its priority of right, and seeking a $5 million fine. On the third day of the administrative hearing before the SWRCB, BBID’s legal team successfully argued that the evidence submitted by the SWRCB litigation team failed to meet its burden of proof, and the SWRCB hearing officer granted BBID’s motion for judgment dismissing the enforcement action.
After the dismissal of the enforcement action, BBID resumed its related lawsuit, and on April 3, 2018, Santa Clara Superior Court Judge Brian Walsh issued his Statement of Decision holding, among other things, that the SWRCB lacks jurisdiction to enforce priority of rights between pre-1914 and riparian water rights. The Court’s ruling solidifies the oldest water rights in California. Judge Walsh also held that the curtailment notices violated BBID’s due process rights because they commanded immediate curtailment of water rights and threatened large fines without providing water right holders an opportunity to challenge the findings upon which the notices were based.
BBID now seeks recovery of the significant legal fees and costs incurred defending its senior water rights, and those held by the state’s other pre-1914 and riparian water right holders. The hearing of BBID’s motion is set for October 18th.
Read the full court documents below.
BBID crews are making major strides in construction of the new Pumping Plant Four, the latest project in the District’s Capital Improvement Program.
Watch the video below to learn how the new pumping plant will help keep the water flowing for BBID’s growers!
WATCH: Directors of the San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority (SLDMWA), including BBID General Manager Rick Gilmore, attended a tour of Shasta Dam.
The informational workshop was hosted by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, informing SLDMWA Directors about the proposed Shasta Dam Raise project.
Stockton, CA (June 13, 2019) – The proposed consolidation between the Byron-Bethany Irrigation District (BBID) and the West Side Irrigation District (WSID) took a significant step forward Thursday.
The San Joaquin County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) formally approved the updated Municipal Service Review (MSR) and Sphere of Influence (SOI) related to the consolidation. BBID and WSID have worked collaboratively with interested stakeholders in both service areas for quite some time. The planned consolidation would help secure greater water reliability and improve delivery efficiencies.
“We thank LAFCO staff and commissioners for their diligence throughout this process,” said BBID GM Rick Gilmore. “We look forward to moving forward in the coming months.”
Byron-Bethany Irrigation District (BBID) today issued a final document related to its planned consolidation with the West Side Irrigation District (WSID).
BBID released its Final Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Sphere of Influence (SOI) update for the proposed consolidation of BBID and WSID.
The document was provided to the San Joaquin County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO), which will consider the matter at its upcoming meeting on June 13th.
BBID - Final MND, Part 1 05-02-19Byron, CA (June 6, 2019) – On Thursday, the Byron-Bethany Irrigation District (BBID) and West Side Irrigation District (WSID) jointly issued its final Municipal Service Review (MSR) and Sphere of Influence (SOI) related to a planned consolidation between BBID and WSID.
The report addresses major issues of service delivery and efficiency and includes an analysis and a written statement of conclusions, for multiple factors, including growth and population projections for the affected area, disadvantaged unincorporated communities, present and planned capacity of public facilities, financial ability of the agency to provide services, opportunities for shared facilities, and more.
The two Districts have been working collaboratively with interested stakeholders in both service areas for quite some time. The planned consolidation would help secure greater water reliability and improve delivery efficiencies.
The matter is set to be considered by the San Joaquin County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) at its next meeting on June 13th. The full MSR is below.
Stockton, CA (May 9, 2019) – The proposed consolidation between Byron-Bethany Irrigation District (BBID) and the West Side Irrigation District (WSID) took an important step forward.
At its regular May 2019 meeting, the San Joaquin County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) voted to allow the draft Municipal Service Review (MSR) and Sphere of Influence (SOI) report prepared for both districts to move forward in the public review process with a hearing to be scheduled on June 13.
Representatives from BBID addressed the Commission, whose vote was unanimous.
Watch the full proceedings below (video courtesy of San Joaquin County LAFCO).
The Contra Costa Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) issued the following comments related to the proposed consolidation of the Byron-Bethany Irrigation District (BBID) and the West Side Irrigation District (WSID).
The full letter is below.
BBID MND LAFCO ResponseIn advance of next week’s meeting before the San Joaquin County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO), the Byron-Bethany Irrigation District (BBID) released the following video, which will be presented to LAFCO.
The video provides a brief overview of BBID and West Side Irrigation District (WSID). BBID and WSID will present a report before the Commission, another step in the planned consolidation of the districts.