Fact Sheet

The Coalition was originally organized in 1998 to improve communications and to collaborate among each other regarding issues and opportunities that may be within the watershed area and as related to their administrative responsibilities. Focused on land management techniques and recreational activities

Organizational Status – Historic

Formed in 1998 as a collaborative organization with the following Pre-CALFED Program membership –

	Sierra Foothill Conservancy (McKenzie and Miller Preserves)
	Topping Ranch, Madera County (Kennedy Table Mountain)
	California Department of Parks and Recreation (Millerton Lake Recreational Area)
	California Department of Fish and Game
	California Department of Water Resources
	California Water Quality Control Board
	US Bureau of Reclamation (CVP, Friant-Kern and Madera Canals, Millerton Lake)
	US Bureau of Land Management (Squaw Leap Recreational Area)
	US Forest Service (Sierra National Forest)

CALFED Watershed Program Organization - Current CALFED Watershed Program Organization - Current

CALFED Funding and Contract

The Coalition was one of 54 watershed program proposals in California approved for funding in June, 2001 by CALFED. The contract was executed on March 28, 2002. The Coalition then commenced property owner, stakeholder and public notification in April, 2002. In May, the 1^st General Meeting directed towards community involvement and leadership was conducted. In early June a Visioning Workshop was facilitated to determine the challenges, opportunities within the watershed – and what the community wanted to be addressed by the Coalition. In late June the 1^st Steering Committee session was held in which individual property owners and other stakeholders became representatives on the committee. In July, the Steering Committee selected their leadership.

Steering Committee Steering Committee

There are currently 18 members with 3 Alternates on the Steering Committee representing various stakeholder interests. The Chair is Karla Fullerton and the Vice Chair is Jeff Roberts, (Please refer to separate membership list)

Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)

The TAC currently is composed of the original State and Federal agencies who participated on the Coalition prior to funding being received through the CALFED Watershed Program. Their current role is to be a source of technical and financial resources to the Coalition, the Steering Committee and efforts undertaken by the Coalition, ((Please refer to separate membership list)

Funding Sources

	$102,000 – CALFED Bay-Delta Watershed Program
	$60,000 – US Bureau of Reclamation, (Separate Sierra Foothill Conservancy project in which information/data can be made available to the Coalition’s watershed study)
	Discretionary Funds – based upon availability by Coalition Members

Activities under CALFED Watershed Program Activities under CALFED Watershed Program

Organize and support community led coalition made up of property owners and diverse Stakeholders that will conduct a Comprehensive Watershed Assessment and the following:

· Program Integration

· Organizational Capacity and Capability

· Comprehensive Baseline Watershed Study and Findings

· Education and Public Outreach

· Collaboration with other Agencies and watershed Organizations

· Planning for Development of Comprehensive Watershed Work Plan

Watershed Study Area Watershed Study Area

	San Joaquin River watershed area between Friant and Kerckhoff dams in Fresno and Madera Counties approximately 10 miles east of Fresno/Clovis metropolitan area in Sierra Nevada foothills and extending to the Sierra National Forest (see location map)
	163,000 acres or 253 square miles of watershed

	115,000 acres / 179 square miles – Madera County
	78,000 acres / 74 square miles – Fresno County

25,000 acres or approximately 15% under State or Federal management

3,600 acres or approximately 2% – Sierra Foothill Conservancy

Geographical Characteristics Geographical Characteristics

	400 feet rangeland elevation to approximately 3,500 feet foothill elevation
	Unique “Table Tops” geological formations – volcanic plateaus with vernal pools (one of only two in State of California)
	Predominately oak woodlands and some coniferous
	300 miles of river and streams – 26 miles San Joaquin River
	Largest stream drainage – 36 miles Finegold Creek
	Man-made diversions and submergence – 30.5 miles

Watershed Accumulation, Storage, Diversion and Allocations

	1.8 million acre feet of annual average surface water accumulation
	525,000 acre ft maximum storage at Millerton Lake
	98% diversion via Friant-Kern and Madera canals at Friant Dam
	100% water allocated for agricultural and urban usage

Special Management within Watershed Study Area Special Management within Watershed Study Area

	San Joaquin Experimental Range, 4,000 acres – US Forest Service and California State University, Fresno. Rangeland research spanning over 65 years. Designated Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1976
	Big Sandy Bluffs (430 acres) and Backbone Creek Botanical Management Areas – US Forest Service

	McKenzie Table Mountain Preserve, 2960 acres and Mary Elizabeth Miller Preserve at Black Mountain, 630 acres - Sierra Foothill Conservancy
	Hallowell Ranch, 700 acres Conservation Easement – San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust

Assessments and Research, (Historic, Current and Planned)

*Study*	*Watershed* *Study Area*	*Resp Agency / Entity*	*Contractor*	*Status*
Millerton Lake Resource Management Plan	BOR Lands Millerton	BOR		Planned
Smith Basin Grazing	SFC - Smith Basin	SFC	Live Oak Associates	Current 2^nd year
Big Table Mountain Grazing	P&R Lands Millerton	FG		Current 2^nd year
Kennedy Table Mountain	Topping Ranch	FG		Current 2^nd year
IMAP (Inventorying, Monitoring and Assessment Program)		PR		Planned
Property Entitlements	Millerton Area Watershed	PR	ISIS	Planned
Vernal Pool Survey	Blasingame Property	BOR	ESRP	Completed August, 2001
Soil Compaction	San Joaquin Experimental Range			Current
Millerton Area Watershed Comprehensive Assessment (1)	Millerton Area Watershed	MAWC		Planned
Millerton Area Watershed Comprehensive Assessment (2)	Millerton Area Watershed	MAWC	CWI	Planned

Legend

BOR	US Bureau of Reclamation
BLM	US Bureau of Land Management
CWI	California Water Institute – CSUF
FG	Calif. Department of Fish and Game
FS	USDA - Forest Service
ESRP	Endangered Species Recovery Program - CSUS
ISIS	Interdisciplinary Spatial Information Systems Center
MAW	Millerton Area Watershed
PR	Calif Department of Parks and Recreation
SFC	Sierra Foothill Conservancy

Academia and Research Institutions Invited to Participate

California State University, Fresno

	California Water Institute
	ISIS (Interdisciplinary Spatial Information Systems) Center

California State University, Stanislaus

ESRP (Endangered Species Recovery Program)

UC Cooperative Extension – Rangeland Science , Davis

Pacific Southwest Research Station, US Forest Service – Fresno

Live Oak Associates, Inc.

Governmental and Non-Governmental Entities Invited to Participate Governmental and Non-Governmental Entities Invited to Participate

	State and Federal Agencies – Land Management, Recreational, Agricultural, Public Safety, Natural and Water Resources
	Fresno and Madera County Board of Supervisors
	Fresno and Madera County Planning Commissions
	Fresno and Madera County Water Committees
	Native American Tribal Councils and other cultural entities
	Coarsegold and Sierra Resource Conservation Districts
	Central Sierra Watershed Committee
	Yosemite-Sequoia Resource and Conservation Development
	North Fork Community Development Council
	Foothill, Friant and North Fork Chambers of Commerce
	San Joaquin River Trail Council
	Recreational, environmental and sporting organizations

Demographic and Socio-Economic Information Demographic and Socio-Economic Information

	4,040 parcels Total – 2,052 parcels in Madera County and 1,978 parcels in Fresno County
	Parcels without assessed improvements

	913 / 46% - Fresno County
	1,133 / 55% - Madera County

Assessed Valuation – Property and Improvements

	$154,237,000 – Fresno County
	$159,379,000 – Madera County

Unincorporated Communities – (9,679) total population and ($33,357) Average Median Household Income (MHI) – (source: 1990 US Census)

o Auberry, Fresno County

Population	MHI	Unemployment Rate
3,314	$30,492	8.5% ( Source: EDD – 12/01)

o Friant, Fresno

Population	MHI	Unemployment Rate
811	$38,229	9.2%

o Prather, Fresno County

Population	MHI	Unemployment Rate
1,284	$48,458	5.2%

o Tollhouse, Fresno County

Population	MHI	Unemployment Rate
1,750	$32,159	9.8%

o North Fork, Madera County

Population	MHI	Unemployment Rate
2,502	$28,605	17% – (Source: NFCDC)

o O’Neals, Madera County

Population	MHI	Unemployment Rate
18	$41,250	0%

Contact and Program Information Contact and Program Information

Steve Haze, Coordinator

Phone – (559) 855- 5840

Fax – (559) 855-3474

Mailing Address – PO Box 529, Prather, CA 93651

Email – sfcsteve@psnw.com