The November meeting speaker was John Kingsbury, Executive Director of Mountain Counties Water Resources Association. The Mountain Counties Water Resources Association advocates for the water interests of its members in all or a portion of 15 of the 58 California counties from the southern tip of Lassen County south to Fresno.

John gave a useful summary of current water issues relevant to our specific area and to the State as a whole including:

• Water Bond status and prospects for implementation
• Projects likely to come out of the current or revised Water Bond
• State of the Mountain Counties Water Agencies – region-wide issues and needs.
• Bay Delta Water issues and how the current plan may affect local water rights and uses

John noted that there are currently multiple possible versions of a Water Bond that are being carried by various state legislators. He speculated as to which ones are most likely to emerge and which principles are common that might survive.

John spoke as a vigorous advocate of the Mountain Counties water agencies and summarized a few of the key issues such as area of origin water rights, water conservation issues and how they should rightly be applied to headwater purveyors, and forest management. He noted that consistent advocacy by the Mountain Counties agencies and their associated interests is required to defend the small population areas from the interests of the large population centers in the state.

Most of the time was spent explaining and discussing the Bay Delta issues and illuminating some of the most pressing issues as they are viewed by the Mountain Counties. He summarized likely timelines for the current plans as well as positions that the Mountain Counties Water Resources Association and its member agencies are likely to take with respect to the Bay Delta issues.

The presentation was a great overview of current events that will help those that attended to be better educated and more conversant on the issues that are critical to our clients.