LAFCO
Sierra Resource Conservation
Read the report at Local Agency Formation Commissions ↗
S R
IERRA ESOURCE
C D
ONSERVATION ISTRICT
M S R
UNICIPAL ERVICE EVIEW
Report to the
Fresno Local Agency Formation Commission
MSR 21-7
Prepared by:
David E. Fey, Executive Officer
George W. Uc, Senior LAFCo Analyst
Juan Lara, LAFCo Analyst II
Amanda Olivas, Commission Clerk
Amanda Castro, Intern
2607 Fresno Street, Suite B
Fresno, CA 93721
Adopted:
June 9, 2021
1
Profile: Sierra Resource Conservation District
Formation: 1957
Contact Steve Haze, District Manager
34876 S J & E Road
Auberry, CA 93602
(559) 855-5840
stevehaze007@gmail.com
admin@sierrarcd.com
Mailing Address P.O. Box 693
Auberry, CA 93602
Website www.sierrarcd.com
Principal Act California Public Resources Code, section 9151, et seq.
Board of Directors Name Term
(5-member) Peter Lassotovitch, president Appointed 2010, current term
expires 12/2022
Alan Fry, secretary Appointed 2010, current term
expires 12/2022
Ted A. Kimble Appointed 2016, current term
expires 12/2020
Gary L. Temple Appointed 2010, current term
expires 12/2022
Vacant
Board Meetings Fourth Monday of each month 4:00 p.m. at Clovis Veterans Memorial District
Office, 808 4th Street, Clovis, Ca 93612
Staffing a District Manager and three part-time employees
Service Area and 1,847,537 acres
Sphere area
2019 Sphere Additional 235,776 acres
Update Request
Budget $315,000 (Fiscal Year 2019, revenue/expenditures are secured for specific
projects)
District Long Yes
Range Plan
District Policies Yes
2
Table of Contents
Executive Summary ..................................................................................................................... 4
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) .............................................................................. 5
1. MUNICIPAL SERVICE REVIEW .......................................................................................................... 7
Principal Act............................................................................................................................. 7
District Service Area and Sphere of Influence ......................................................................... 8
District Growth and Population Projections ........................................................................... 8
District services ....................................................................................................................... 9
Disadvantaged Unincorporated Communities ...................................................................... 12
District Infrastructure ............................................................................................................ 14
District Finances .................................................................................................................... 14
Public Facilities, Opportunities for Shared Facilities ............................................................. 17
Government Accountability .................................................................................................. 17
Any other matters related to effective of efficient service delivery ..................................... 20
2. MUNICIPAL SERVICE REVIEW DETERMINATIONS ................................................................ 21
3
Executive Summary
On July 24, 2019, the Sierra Resource Conservation District ("Sierra RCD" or "District") filed an
application with the Fresno Local Agency Formation Commission ("LAFCo") requesting a sphere
of influence (“SOI") update (File No. USOI-193) that would expand the current District SOI
westward to align with State Route ("SR") 99. The proposed SOI expansion would add
approximately 235,776 acres of territory into the Sierra RCD SOI.
Portions of the cities of Clovis and Fresno are currently in the District. The proposed SOI expansion
would add the remaining portion of the city of Clovis, additional territory in the city of Fresno, and
add the entirety of the cities of Parlier, Sanger, and Reedley into the District SOI. In addition, the
proposed SOI expansion would add into the District SOI the portions of Fowler, Selma, and
Kingsburg that are east of SR 99. Apart from the urbanized cities, majority of the affected territory
consists of agricultural land, scattered rural residences, and the unincorporated communities of
Del Rey and Malaga.
The purpose of the requested SOI update and annexation application (File No. AD 19-3) is to
extend service to communities and rural settlements that are not currently being served and
represented in the conservation of local natural resources. Annexation of the affected territory
would enable Sierra RCD to pursue grant funding to extend its technical assistance programs,
provide educational material, and gather information in the affected territory that can further
protect natural resources on a voluntary and non-regulatory basis. The District SOI update is
necessary to facilitate the subsequent annexation application (File No. AD 19-3) of the affected
territory into the District.
On June 9, 2021, the Commission updated the Municipal Service Review (LAFCo File No. MSR-21-
7) prepared pursuant to Government Code section 56430 for the Sierra RCD.
The Commission then voted unanimously to continue the hearing on the Sierra RCD Sphere of
Influence ("SOI") amendment application (LAFCo File No. USOl-193) and related annexation
application (LAFCo File No. AD-19-03) to August 11, 2021.
4
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
The Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000 (“CKH”) directs LAFCos to
comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) 1 for SOI updates.2
LAFCo prepared the MSR update for the Sierra RCD SOI pursuant to Government Code (“GC”) section
56430. An MSR gathers data to present an independent assessment of service provisions provided
within a geographic area in the County. Furthermore, an MSR provides a foundation that may support
future LAFCo actions. Therefore, an MSR is exempt from environmental review under CEQA guidelines
section 15306, "Information Collection.”
However, this MSR update also evaluates the District’s request to LAFCo to expand the SOI that is
essential to facilitate the successive annexation application. The affected territory consists of various
land uses consisting of unincorporated agricultural land, rural residential, and urban land uses.
In conducting environmental review for the Sierra RCD SOI update and annexation, Sierra RCD
assumed the role of Lead Agency pursuant to the CEQA Guidelines. The District determined that the
proposal will not change the existing land uses nor change the land use designations depicted by
either the Fresno County General Plan or any of the affected cities’ general plans proposed to be
included in the Sierra RCD SOI update. Since it can be seen with certainty that the proposal does not
have the potential to result in a significant effect on the environment, it is not subject to CEQA
pursuant to CEQA guidelines pursuant to Section 15061 (b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines. On July 24,
2019, the Sierra RCD filed a Notice of Exemption with the Fresno County Clerk’s Office
(#E201910000260).
Acting as Responsible Agency pursuant to CEQA Guidelines, LAFCo considered the Notice of
Exemption as prepared by the Lead Agency for its own review and update of the Sierra RCD SOI. LAFCo
finds that it can be seen with certainty that the proposed SOI update does not have the potential to
result in a significant effect on the environment, therefore the SOI update is not subject to CEQA
pursuant to section 15061 (b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines.
1 California Environmental Quality Act, Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources
Code.
2 Government Code section 56428.
5
Figure 1 - District Map
6
1. Municipal Service Review
Sierra RCD was formed June 10, 1957, by the Fresno County Board of Supervisors as a Soil
Conservation District.3 The District provides programs and technical assistance services that
support the conservation of local soil, water, agriculture, wildlife, rangelands, oak and forest
lands, and air resources within the District.
Based on information included in the 2007 Sierra RCD MSR, LAFCo recommended the
consolidation of the District with Navelencia RCD due to Navelencia RCD's lack of programs and
activities. The change of organization was initiated by a mutual agreement among both Districts
as expressed by their own adopted resolutions in support of the recommended consolidation.4
LAFCo ordered the change of organization without an election on May 7, 2008 by LAFCo resolution
No. CD-08-1A.
As a result of the consolidation, Sierra RCD became a multi-county RCD (Fresno and Tulare
Counties) that encompassed approximately 1,960,248 acres. On February 18, 2009, the
consolidation was recorded in Fresno and Tulare Counties.
In 2016, the District submitted applications (LAFCo File No. DD-15-1 and RSOI-161) to LAFCo
requesting the detachment and subsequent SOI reduction of 112,711 acres of land in County of
Tulare. On March 14, 2016, the detachment was complete.5 The District SOI and service area are
coterminous and encompass 1,847,537 acres of land solely in Fresno County.
Principal Act
Resource Conservation Districts are authorized under Division 9 of the California Public Resources
Code ("PRC", also known as the “Principal Act”). The Sierra RCD operates pursuant to PRC section
9001 et seq. which was enacted for the following purpose:
To provide for the organization and operation of resource conservation districts for the
purposes of soil and water conservation, the control of runoff, the prevention and control
of soil erosion, erosion stabilization, including, but not limited to, these purposes in open
areas, agricultural areas, urban development, wildlife areas, recreational developments,
watershed management, the protection of water quality, and water reclamation, the
development of storage and distribution of water, and the treatment of each acre of land
according to its needs.6
There are 95 RCDs in California, serving rural, urban, and suburban communities throughout the
State.7
3 Fresno County Board of Supervisors action summary minutes of public hearing June 10, 1957.
4 “Sierra and Navelencia Resource Conservation District Consolidation” (LAFCo File No. CD-08-01).
5 LAFCo resolution nos. MSR-16-01, RSOI-161 and DD-15-01, LAFCo Certificate of Completion March 14,
2016.
6 PRC section 9001(a)(2).
7 California Association of RCDs, https://carcd.org/rcds/.
7
According to CARCD, the 95 RCDs in the State are grouped into the following ten regions: Bay-
Delta, Central Coast, Central Sierra, High Desert, Modoc Plateau, North Coast, Sacramento Valley,
San Joaquin Valley, SoCal Inland, Southern Baja, and non-district regions. RCDs in Fresno County
are identified in the San Joaquin Valley Region. The San Joaquin Valley Region consists of 16 RCDs
spanning from San Joaquin County down to Kern County.
As of 2020, the County of Fresno is the principal county to six local RCDs:
• Firebaugh Resource Conservation District
• James Resource Conservation District
• Panoche Resource Conservation District
• Sierra Resource Conservation District
• Tranquillity Resource Conservation District
• Westside Resource Conservation District
Each RCD operates independently with its own governing board and is authorized by the principal
act to define its own local goals, objectives, and priorities based on the issues and needs within
its service areas. Most RCDs in the State originated in the 1950’s as local Soil Conservation
Districts. The State Legislature broadened the purposes of Soil Conservation Districts in the 1970’s
resulting in a name change to more accurately reflect the role of the RCDs within California.
District Service Area and Sphere of Influence
The District's service area is generally east of SR 41 and bounded by the Madera-Fresno County
line to the north, the Fresno-Mono and Fresno-Inyo County lines on the north and east, and the
Fresno-Tulare County line on the south. The District’s service area and SOI are conterminous and
encompass 1,847,537 acres.
Majority of the land inside the District consists of unincorporated land that includes the valley
floor, the eastern foothills, and the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Unincorporated communities
within the District currently include Auberry, Big Creek, Dunlap, Friant, Lakeshore, Prather, Shaver
Lake, and Squaw Valley. The District includes portions of cities of Orange Cove, Fresno, Clovis,
Sanger, and Reedley (Figure 1).
Neighboring RCDs are Coarsegold RCD to the north and Madera Chowchilla RCD to the northwest
in Madera County, Inyo-Mono RCD to the east in Inyo and Mono Counties, Tulare County RCD to
the south in Tulare County. Land west of the District's service area is not identified within an
existing RCD.
District Growth and Population Projections
Majority of the District’s service area encompasses unincorporated land. Land in the valley floor,
lying west of the Friant-Kern Canal, consists of active agricultural operations and scattered rural
residential. Land in the foothills and mountain areas consists of grazing land, rural residential, and
public lands and open space.
Only limited portions of the cities of Fresno, Clovis, Sanger, Reedley and Orange Cove are in the
District. Territories within the cities' SOIs are either developed as, or designated for, future urban
8
uses by the respective cities' general plans. The largest population concentration, and the areas
of likely population growth within the District, occurs in the cities of Clovis and Fresno and their
respective SOIs.
Geographic Information System (“GIS”) files were derived from the U.S. Census Bureau to
estimate a current population for territory inside the District. According to the Census block group
units located within the District, there is an estimated total population of 201,460 people inside
the District’s boundaries.8 These population estimates do not exactly match the boundaries of the
District, but they do provide an estimate for the population that benefits from the District’s
services.
The County of Fresno is the land use authority for unincorporated territory inside the District and
the cities of Clovis, Fresno, Sanger, Reedley, and Orange Cove are the land use authorities for their
respective incorporated territory that is inside the District's service area.
The Fresno County General Plan designates the majority of land within the District as Agricultural
in the valley floor and Resource Conservation for the mountain region. Other land uses within the
District are identified in the Fresno County General Plan's sub-areas:
• Kings River Regional Plan Area, which includes a portion of the city of Sanger,
• Sierra-North Regional Plan Area, which includes the unincorporated communities of Big
Creek, Shaver Lake (Shaver Lake Forest Specific Plan), Tollhouse, Auberry, and Prather,
and
• Sierra-South Regional Plan Area which includes the unincorporated communities of
Squaw Valley, Clingan’s Junction, Dunlap, Pinehurst, Miramonte.
• Friant Ranch Specific Plan includes the unincorporated community of Friant.
The District does not have land use authority and it does not provide municipal services that
directly influence population growth. The District informed LAFCo that land uses will not change
because of the proposed SOI update. For these reasons, LAFCo does not anticipate that the SOI
expansion or annexation will affect the rate of population growth or projections within the cities
and Fresno County.
District services
District services are voluntary and non-regulatory and affect the conservation of natural resources
such as water, air and soil, and management of forest fuels. The District's conservation activities
may indirectly benefit incorporated and/or unincorporated urban areas.
The District's mission is to take available technical, financial, and educational resources, and
coordinate them at the local level to promote the conservation of natural soil, water, agriculture,
wildlife, rangelands, oak and forest lands, and air resources. 9 The District works closely with the
National Resource Conservation Service ("NRCS"), a federal agency that provides technical
assistance and grant funding opportunities to local agencies for resource conservation efforts.
The NRCS is the leading federal agency charged with conserving natural resources and is part of
8 U.S. Census, American Community Survey (“ACS”) five-year reports, 2012 to 2016.
9 From the Sierra RCD website, www.sierrarcd.com, October 2020.
9
the United States Department of Agriculture. The District also works with the California
Department of Conservation ("DOC"). The DOC administers a variety of programs and grants vital
to the State's public safety, environment and economy.
The District has professional working relationships with numerous federal, state and county
agencies that enable it to maintain a reliable source of funding opportunities. Additionally,
directors and associate directors of the District have expertise in a variety of natural resource
fields.10
The District has an adopted “Long Range Plan for years 2020 to 2025” that presents the District’s
mission to address critical local concerns including but not limited to:
1. Water use management,
2. Land use planning,
3. Fuels reduction management,
4. Invasive species control and management, and
5. Air quality effects on agriculture and human health.11
The District's Long Range Plan is reviewed by the Board on an annual basis, and the plan was last
amended by action of the Board on January 25, 2021. Additional information on District programs
is available on the District’s website. The District's projects are categorized in four major areas:
Forestry, Carbon Management, Agriculture and Rangeland, and Watershed and Wetlands. The
following summarizes some of the District’s services and achievements under each category.
FORESTRY PROJECTS
In 2019, the District was awarded a grant from the California Fire Safe Council to establish the
County Firesafe and Stewardship Fuels Reduction Program ("CFSFRP") through December 2021.
The grant paid for the District to create a program that enlists private landowners within and
adjoining the Sierra National Forrest to develop defensible areas on their properties and within
the Wildland Urban Interface ("WUI"). The WUI zones are locations that were identified by the
Fresno County Tree Mortality Task Force that are prone to brush or rangeland fires based on
climate conditions, the amount, type, and distribution of vegetation in proximity to structures
within the District.
The program identified the Auberry-Meadow Lakes-Shaver Lake vicinity and has been identified
as a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. State funds assisted with the improvement of existing
and the planning for future fuel breaks and fuel reduction measures. As part of this program,
landowners within the District can request the District to conduct a property assessment report
at no cost.
The District reports that the Firesafe and Fuels Reduction Team has inventoried over 150 acres
near the Shaver Lake area. For this program, the District partnered with U.S. Forest Service, CAL
FIRE, NRCS, Southern California Edison, Caltrans, and County of Fresno.
10 Sierra RCD Long-Range Plan, 2020-2025.
11 Ibid.
10
CARBON MANAGEMENT
The District's service area consists of irrigated agricultural lands, rangelands, and forestlands. In
2017, the District adopted its District-wide Carbon Management Program ("CMP") which was
prepared by the Carbon Cycle Institution, a non-profit science and research organization. The CMP
was adopted in support of Senate Bill 859 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review. Public
Resources: GHG emission and biomass), under California’s Healthy Soils Initiative.
In 2018, District was awarded a $250,000 grant from CAL FIRE's Healthy Forest Grant Program to
begin to quantify opportunities within private and public forest lands to establish a mobile biochar
production unit. The District's partnership with Sierra National Forest, U.S. Forest Service and the
Dinkey Creek Landscape Collaborative has initiated discussions to target and manage of over
3,000 acres of massive log piles within the Sierra Nevada. The District's program oversees the
scheduled disposal of the piles which are disposed of by open burning. According to the District,
it is working to target additional log piles on public lands for biomass conversion into "biochar"
(carbon) for soil carbon sequestration with mobile production unit(s).
AGRICULTURE AND RANGELAND
The District provides technical assistance to local growers to familiarize them with the State Water
Efficiency & Enhancement Program ("SWEEP"). The SWEEP program is administered by the
California Department of Food and Agriculture. SWEEP's goal is to reduce greenhouse emissions
from agricultural irrigation sources and increase water use efficiencies by assisting agricultural
farmers fund irrigation system infrastructure and monitor upgrades.
The District assists growers evaluate their current irrigation systems, may assist growers create
water/irrigation conservation plans, and provide them with implementation support.
WATERSHED AND WETLANDS
The District is an active member of the Southern Sierra Integrated Regional Water Management
("SSIRWM") collaborative. SSIRW's effort is to identity and implement water management
solutions on a regional scale that increase regional self-reliance, reduce conflict, and manage
water to concurrently achieve social, environmental, and economic objectives.12 The District, on
behalf of the SSIRWM is working to secure funding opportunities to develop a Watershed Action
Plan for the Upper San Joaquin and Kings Watersheds.
In early 2007, the District was a member agency in the Stewardship Council and Assessment Team,
a 25-member agency collaborative effort tasked with studying resource management and
coordinating watershed programs within the Southern Sierra Nevada region. The Council's
activities were funded through various grants issued by the Department of Water Resources
("DWR").
In 2009, due to funding constraints, the Council's funding was reduced for its preparation of the
Upper San Joaquin River Stewardship Program and Assessment Report ("Report"). By mid-2009,
the District worked with DWR to assume the Council's responsibilities and finalize the Report with
12 IRWM Programs., California Department of Water Resources website. September 22, 2020.
11
a reduced budget. The District's main activities for the Report consisted of assessing and compiling
data within the upper San Joaquin River Basin's study area—Millerton Lake up to the headwaters
region of the watershed—and identify major resource conditions that illustrate watershed
conditions, trends and potential stressors that affect water quality and quantity in the Upper San
Joaquin River Basin. In its capacity, the District completed the study and submitted its findings to
CALFED Bay-Delta Watershed Program, DWR in 2010. A copy of the Report is available on the
District's website.13
In 2019, the District submitted a grant application to the DOC for the 2018 Forest Health
Watershed Coordinator Program for the Southern Sierra Region, Upper San Joaquin River and
Upper Tulare Lake Basins. The grant application's primary goal is to secure funding to establish a
multi-agency collaborative effort known as the Southern Sierra All-Lands Recovery and
Restoration Program ("SSARRP") and coordinate conservation programs within the SSIRWM.
In part, the District would assist the SSARRP to meet the various goals and strategies identified in
the following plans: the Forest Carbon Plan, CAL FIRE’s 2018 Strategic Fire Plan, and Southern
Sierra’s IRWM Plan which include goals to protect forestlands and downstream beneficiaries of
water and other natural resources.14
The District is committed to maintain and work to build new partnerships with organizations,
academic institutions, local, state, and federal agencies to continue its effort to promote the
conservation of local resources.15
Disadvantaged Unincorporated Communities
A disadvantaged unincorporated community ("DUC") is defined by CKH as an inhabited territory
(meaning territory within which there reside 12 or more registered voters), or as determined by
LAFCo policy, that constitutes all or a portion of a "disadvantaged community" as defined by
section 79505.5 of Water Code. The State Water Code defines a "disadvantaged community" as a
community with an annual median household income ("MHI") that is less than 80 percent of the
statewide annual median household income.
On January 9, 2013, LAFCo exercised its powers under CKH and adopted local policy which refined
the DUC definition within Fresno LAFCo's jurisdiction. Fresno LAFCo's DUC Policy characterizes
DUCs as at least 15 dwelling units at a density not less than one unit per acre.
On February 12, 2020, Fresno LAFCo comprehensively updated its DUC database based upon
updates demographic datasets to estimate MHI levels within the County of Fresno. The 2020 DUC
database relies upon information collected through the Commission's MSR Program, sphere of
influence update program, and demographic information obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau
Americans Community Survey, five-year reports for years 2012 through 2016.
13 Upper San Joaquin River Stewardship Program and Assessment Report, 2010 Sierra RCD:
https://sierrarcd.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/USJRSP-Upper-San-Joaquin-River-Stewardship-
Program-and-Assessment-Final-Display-Qlty-2010-05-27.pdf.
14 Department of Conservation Watershed Grant Programs: https://www.conservation.ca.gov/dlrp/grant-
programs/watershed/Documents/Sierra%20RCD%20Application.pdf.
15 Sierra RCD Website: https://sierrarcd.com/about-us/.
12
The statewide annual MHI reported for years 2012 through 2016 was $63,783. Therefore, the
calculated threshold for a DUC is any geographic unit with a reported annual MHI that is less than
$51,026.
LAFCo’s assessment of the census block group units revealed that most of the District’s service
area exceeds the MHI threshold for DUCs except for 13 census block group units. The following
table 1 summarizes the census block group units within the District that met the MHI threshold
for DUCs:
Table 1- Census Block Groups with an MHI less than $63,783
County Census Tract Block Group MHI Less than 80% Statewide Annual MHI
Fresno 44.06 1 $44,271 Yes
Fresno 54.08 1 $17,788 Yes
Fresno 55.10 1 45,745 Yes
Fresno 55.10 3 $44,653 Yes
Fresno 59.04 2 $44,813 Yes
Fresno 59.06 2 $48,409 Yes
Fresno 62.02 1 $48,125 Yes
Fresno 64.02 5 $40,500 Yes
Fresno 64.03 1 $44,836 Yes
Fresno 64.04 2 $42,188 Yes
Fresno 64.05 2 $41,379 Yes
Fresno 65.01 1 $26,760 Yes
Fresno 65.02 2 $23,042 Yes
Parcel pattern variation within the listed block groups generally exceeds LAFCo’s minimum density
criteria of at least 15 dwelling units at a density not less than one unit per acre. For the purpose
of this MSR, the census block group units within the District are eligible to receive District services.
District services are limited to promoting the conservation of local resources such as water, air
and soil, and management of forest fuels.
13
District Infrastructure
The District does not own or operate any public facilities or capital infrastructure necessary to
provide a direct service to its constituents. The District’s sole capital asset consists of a 240-acre
land conservation easement situated at what is known as the Grand Bluffs private forestlands
near Dinkey Creek Road outside of the town of Shaver Lake. The Grand Bluffs easement was
granted to the District through a grant from the State of California. As of June 2019, the total value
of the easement is estimated to be $435,000.
District Finances
This section of the MSR analyzes financial information provided by the District to determine the
District’s revenue and financial systems in place to provide services to its constituents. The
analysis is based on available financial data, adopted budgets for Fiscal Years ("FY") 2018 and
2019, audited financial statements, and communication with the District.
The District does not levy land-based taxes or special assessments. The District’s primary source
of revenue are government grants and contributions for the purpose of facilitating conservation
programs within the District.
The District regularly monitors grant opportunities and engages potential stakeholders and
organizations to develop a strategic collaborative approach to pursue available grant funds. Grant
funding is secured by first meeting the requirement(s) of the grant and then making application
to the granting agency. All grant applications go through a competitive scoring process.
The District informed LAFCo that it coordinates with various local agencies and organizations to
align programs and priorities that can produce the best odds to secure available grant funds.
According to the District, its primary federal grant funding source is obtained from the U.S. Forest
Service and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. At the State level, the District has
secured grants from CAL FIRE, Sierra Nevada Conservancy, DOC, and DWR. The District's ability to
expand its service capacity is contingent upon its ability to secure grant funding, contributions,
and expand critical partnerships. 16
The District’s fiscal year starts July 1st and ends June 30th of each year. The District Manager
presents a proposed annual budget and work program for the District’s operation that is adopted
by the Board on or before July 1st of each year. The District informed LAFCo that historically the
District does not adopt a “balanced” budget due to the nature of being a grant-based funded
agency. The District Manager administers all secured grant funding expenditures and regularly
pursues grant opportunities for new programs.
For FY 2017-2018, the District had an adopted budget of $229,557. The budget allocated $87,425
for salaries and employee benefits, $56,651 for services and supplies, and $85,500 as fixed assets.
For FY 2018-2019, the District had an adopted budget of $315,000. The budget allocated $100,000
for salaries and employee benefits, $200,000 for services, and $15,000 as fixed assets.
16 Sierra RCD Website: https://sierrarcd.com/about-us/.
14
The District informed LAFCo that sufficient grant revenues were secured to fund the majority of
the District's planned expenditures for FYs 2017-18 and 2018-19.
The District provided LAFCo a copy of its independent auditor’s report for the FYs ending June 30,
2018 and June 30, 2019. The District’s financial audit was reviewed to determine the District’s
fiscal status, assess financial practices, and review pertinent management findings. According to
the auditor’s report, District accounts are organized on the basis of fund accounting, and it utilizes
a “general fund” structure for its appropriations. The District’s general fund is used to account for
all revenue and expenditures of the District. The auditor’s report indicates that at the time the
financial audit was preformed, the District’s financial practices conformed with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
In the auditor’s report dated June 30, 2018, the auditor provides a financial statement of the
District’s adopted budget comparable to the District’s actual amount (end of year budget) to
identify whether sufficient revenue sources were obtained in accordance with the adopted
budget. A summary of the Auditor’s explanation of the material differences between budget and
actual amounts for the District’s FY ending on June 30, 2018 is provided below.
The auditor’s report indicates that the District’s general fund balance was $270,532. The District’s
adopted budget for FY 2017-2018 was $228,044. The District's total actual expenditures by the
end of the audited year amounted to $274,869. According to the audit, the District showed an
unfavorable deficit balance of $4,337. The District's bank deposits at the end of June 30, 2018
totaled $9,566. Capital assets consisting of land conservation easements and capital equipment
for conservation management amounted to $519,932.
For the following audited year ending on June 30, 2019, the auditor’s report indicates that the
District’s general fund balance was $254,312. At the beginning of audited FY 2018-19, the District
had $208 in its fund balance.
The District’s adopted budget for FY 2018-19 amounted to $170,335. The District's actual
expenditures by the end of the audited year amounted to $267,725. At the end of FY 2018-19,
the District had a shortfall of ($13,205).
The auditor’s report indicates that the following figures (shown below) represent the District's
revenue, expenditure, and the auditor’s variance analysis on the adopted budget and actual
expenditures for FY 2018-19:
15
Table 2- Sierra RCD’s Statement of Revenue, Expenditures, and Changes in Fund Balance for Fiscal Year
ended on June 30, 2019.
Adopted Budget Actual Variance
(Unfavorable)
Revenues
Government Grants $170,335 $254,312 $83,977
Total Revenue $170,335 $254,312 $83,977
Expenditures
Salaries and wages $108,000 $108,559 ($559)
Program expenses $7,360 $20,217 ($12,857)
Insurance $2,699 $1,503 $1,196
Fees $589 $1,183 ($594)
Office $2,220 $2,422 ($202)
Professional services $46,282 $124,535 ($78,253)
Travel and $3,185 $9,176 ($5,991)
Transportation
Donations $130 ($130)
Total Expenditure $170,335 $267,725 ($97,390)
Excess (deficiency) of ($13,413) ($13,413)
revenue
Fund Balance
Beginning of year $208
End of year ($13,205)
The District's bank deposits at the end of June 30, 2019 totaled $10,048. Capital assets consisting
of land conservation easements and construction projects amounted to $507,718. According to
the District Manager, capital assets experienced an unfavorable variance loss of $12,214 in
depreciation. Depreciation expense on capital assets is reported in the audit, however
depreciation is not required to be reported as expenditures of the general fund.
The District informed LAFCo that the largest deficit is attributed to Professional Facilitator Services
which amounted to $78,253 higher than anticipated by the adopted budget. The amount with
actual expenses accrued and not yet invoiced were far greater for the previous year’s
expenditures.
According to the District Manager, the District's ability to pursue and secure state and federal
grant funds has assisted the District to implement its work program. The District Manager states
that grant revenues to maintain its various programs are at adequate levels; however, loss of
existing grants could be detrimental to certain programs.
The District's revenue program is structured in a way that enables the District to fund programs
based on the agreeable terms and conditions between the Grantor and District. The District is
committed to seek new grant opportunities to promote new programs. The District has the ability
to identify early on programs that can be abbreviated or suspended due to financial conditions.
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Public Facilities, Opportunities for Shared Facilities
The District does not own infrastructure or public facilities that would present opportunities for
shared facilities. The District's monthly board meetings are held at the Clovis Memorial District’s
headquarters in Clovis. During the preparation of this MSR, the District along with the CARCD
provided staff support to the Tranquillity RCD to reactivate that district and to start its own grant
writing program. At the time this MSR was prepared, there were no opportunities identified for
additional shared facilities that would present a benefit to the District. The District’s service area
overlaps with the following types of special districts and agencies in Fresno County:
Overlaps:
• Cities: Clovis, Fresno, Sanger, Orange Cove, and Reedley (portions)
• Cemetery Districts: Clovis, Dunlap, Parlier, Reedley, Sanger-Del Rey, Squaw Valley, and
Alta Cemetery District (Tulare County Principal County)
• Community Service Districts: Sierra Cedars and Big Creek
• Conservation District: Kings River Conservation District
• County Service Areas (by Number): 1 (Tamarack Estates), 5 (Wildwood Island), 10
(Cumorah Knolls), 23 (Exchequer Heights), 31 (Shaver Lake), 34 (Millerton New Town), 35
(County Road Maintenance) , 44 (Friant) , 47 (Quail Lake), 50 (Auberry Volunteer Fire
Department), and 51 (Dry Creek);
• Fire Protection Districts: Bald Mountain, Fresno County, and Orange Cove
• Flood Control: Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District
• Health Care District: Sierra-Kings Hospital District
• Irrigation Districts: Fresno, Consolidated, Hills Valley, and Orange Cove, Alta (Tulare
County Principal County)
• Memorial Districts: Clovis Veterans Memorial District
• Mosquito Districts: Consolidated Mosquito Abatement District
• Pest Control Districts: Central Valley Pest Control District
• Police Protection District: Orange Cove
• California Water Districts: Garfield, International, Kings River, and Tri Valley
• County Water Districts: Freewater County Water District;
• County Waterworks Districts (by Number): 18 (Friant), 37 (Mile High), 38 (Millerton Lake
Park Estates), 40 (Shave Lake Springs), 41 (Shaver Lake), and 42 (Alluvial and Fancher
Avenues)
Overlapping and adjacent Groundwater Sustainability Agencies:
• North Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency
• Central Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency
• South Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency
• Kings River East Groundwater Sustainability Agency
Government Accountability
The District operates under the authority granted by California's Resource Conservation District
Law (Public Resources Code section 9151 et seq.) Among many services, the District’s principal
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act empowers RCDs to conduct surveys, investigations, research items relating to the
conservation of resources, the preventative, the control measures, and works for improvement
when needed, and to publish the results of such surveys and disseminate the information. A list
of all the powers and duties granted to RCDs can be found under section 9401 of the PRC.
The District’s principal act authorizes its directors to seek the cooperation of local, state, and
federal agencies in order to avoid duplication of surveys, investigations, and research activities.17
The District has executed several Memoranda of Understanding for cooperation in the
conservation of natural resources with the following agencies:
• Chowchilla - Red Top RCD and Coarsegold RCD;
• Highway 168 FireSafe Council;
• Oak to Timber Firesafe Council;
• Backcountry Horsemen of California;
• San Joaquin Sierra Unit;
• San Joaquin River Intertribal Heritage Education Corp;
• Southern Sierra Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (IRWMP); and
• Kings Basin Water Authority (KBWA)
The District is an independent special district with its separate board of directors, not governed
by other legislative bodies (either a city council or a county board of supervisors). A five-member
board of directors serves as the governing body of the District. The five members of the board are
elected by the voters within the District boundaries to serve four-year terms. The expiration of
the term of any director does not constitute a vacancy, and the director holds office until his or
her successor has qualified.18 Current board members have been appointed in lieu of an election
by Fresno County Board of Supervisor, Supervisorial Districts 4 and 5, consistent with
requirements of the California Elections Code. Fresno County is not responsible for providing any
income or support to the District.
Each Director is required to take the oath of office prior to being appointed to the District’s Board
and file a Form 700s – Statements of Economic Interests—upon taking office, annually, and upon
leaving office. Form 700s are disclosures of personal economic interest, help to ensure that
financial conflict of interest is avoided. Every two years, board members are required to
participate in training that cover general ethics principles and specific laws concerning conflict of
interest, prerequisites for of office and government transparency.
Each board member is given a Director’s Handbook published by CARCD. Board members also
have the opportunity to attend training session provided by CARCD. CARCD has three-tier
certification program that assists board members comply with training requirements as public
officials. The District informed LAFCo that all board members have satisfied these training
requirements.
The District’s board members serve as volunteers and do not receive compensation for attending
district board meetings; however, consistent with the PRC, board members are entitled to be
17 Public Resources Code section 9402.
18 PRC section 9314.
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compensated for expenses incurred while performing their duties as board members, such as
travel time for training seminars, workshops, or conferences.19
Board meetings are held on the fourth Monday of each month at 4:00 p.m. at the Clovis Veterans
Memorial District Building, 808 4th Street, Clovis, Ca 93612. Board meetings are noticed
consistent with Brown Act requirements, which include posting agendas and notices of hearings
in public places. Agendas and meeting information is also posted on the District's website
(www.sierrarcd.com) 72 hours before the scheduled meeting. If needed, meeting cancelations
are posted at the meeting site and District's website at least 72 hours in advance. District board
meetings are open to the public. Landowners, residents, and the public may attend the board
meetings.
The District maintains a website that provides general public information regarding the District’s
background, objectives, active projects, board meeting information, public notices, and special
notices. Opportunities for public involvement and communication with the board of directors are
permitted during each meeting.
Meetings of the board of directors are conducted by the District president in a manner consistent
with the latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order. The District board annually elects one of its
members to serve as the District president, another member to serve as a vice-president, and
another member to serve as secretary/treasurer. The District president presides at all meetings
of the board, announces the Board’s decisions on all subjects, decides all questions of orders,
subjects, and signs all board ordinances, resolutions, and contracts approved by the District board.
The president also performs any other duties imposed by the board, after first receiving approval
by at least three members of the board. In the absence of the president, the vice-president
assumes all duties of the president.
The District has one part-time appointed District Manager responsible to oversee the District's
daily operations with the support of three part-time employees that hold the following titles:
District Programs Administrator, Forestry Field Supervisor, and a District Forestry Advisor. The
District also relies on volunteer efforts and partnerships to seek and apply for available state and
federal grant funding.
The District manager who must also file a Form 700 reports directly to the District board, and
oversees staff and grant contracts, monitors potential grant opportunities, schedules board
meetings, monitors the long range and annual work programs, schedules meetings with local
agencies and organizations, and oversees the District’s annual budget. The District Manager is the
custodian of all records of the proceedings taken by the board of directors and the District's
financial records. The District’s legal counsel services are provided through a contract with County
of Fresno, on as needed basis.
The District is a member of the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts
(“CARCD”). CARCD advocates for its member districts with State and Federal agencies, policy
makers, and individuals to ensure the resilience and health of California's water, soil, wildlife
habitat, and other natural resources — today and for generations to come. CARCD also provides
legislative representation, educational resources, and district support and collaboration.
19 PRC section 9303.
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The District’s governance structure is appropriate to ensure adequate services are provided and
managed. At the time of MSR preparation, the District’s government structure appears to be
adequately structured to operate and fulfill its role as a services provider in the community.
Any other matters related to effective of efficient service delivery
Integrated Regional Water Management Plans. the District is an active member of the Southern
Sierra Integrated Regional Water Management ("SSIRWM") collaborative. In its capacity, the
District has conducted numerous studies related to groundwater sustainability and quality in the
foothills and mountain regions within the District’s service area. As noted earlier, the Upper San
Joaquin River Stewardship Program and Assessment Report studied the Southern Sierra Nevada
Watershed areas. A number of reports on watershed conditions including surface and
groundwater have been published through District funded projects and are available for public
review on the District's website.
The District has been involved in the development of Integrated Regional Water Management
Plans for that cover the Upper San Joaquin River, Upper Kings River within Fresno County and
down to the Upper Kern River at the Tulare/Kern County Boundary. The District participates as
an interested party in the Kings Basin Water Authority (KBWA) IRWMP and in the Fresno County
Sustainable Groundwater Management Act Working Group Sessions.
Other Cooperative Activities: Since 2007, the District has been involved with ongoing research,
commissioning various studies, and has partnered with various entities including but not limited
to:
• Natural Resource Conservation • Sierra Foothill Conservancy
Service / USDA • Back Country Horsemen of
• California Department of California
Conservation • San Joaquin River Trail Council
• California Association of Resource • San Joaquin River Conservancy
Conservation Districts • Sierra Club
• National Association of • Southern Sierra Integrated Regional
Conservation Districts Water Management Group
• California Natural Resources Agency • Kings River Basin Integrated
/ Sierra Nevada Conservancy Regional Water Management
• California Department of Water Group
Resources • U.C. Cooperative Extension
• Dinkey Creek Collaborative • Fresno/Kings County Cattlemen’s
• Yosemite/Sequoia Resource Association
Conservation and Development • Carbon Cycle Institute
Council • Governor’s Office of Planning and
• Fresno County Resource Advisory Research
Council • Tulare County RCD and Sequoia
• Sierra/San Joaquin Noxious Weed FireSafe Council
Alliance • Kings River Experimental
• Highway 168 Fire Safe Council Watershed performed under the
• Oak to Timberline Fire Safe Council U.S. Forest Service’s Pacific
• Sierra and Sequoia National Forests Southwest (PSW) Research team.
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• California Water Institute and Lyles • Fresno Tree Mortality Task Force
College of Engineering both at • Sierra National Forest, High Sierra
California State University, Fresno. Ranger District
• California Firesafe Council • Yosemite Clean, LLC
• California Rangeland Conservation • Self Help Enterprises
Coalition • Sierra Nevada Conservancy
• CalFire
• Fresno Economic Opportunities
Commission
2. Municipal Service Review Determinations
The LAFCo has prepared this MSR in accordance with Government Code section 56430. State law requires
LAFCo’s to identify and evaluate public services provided by the District. The following provides LAFCo’s
written statements of its determinations with respect to each of the following seven topics:
1. Growth and population projections for the affected area.
• The District does not have land use authority and it does not provide services that directly
influence population growth. District services are voluntary and non-regulatory and affect the
conservation of natural resources such as water, air and soil, and management of forest fuels.
• The proposed District SOI update will not affect the current or planned land uses, alter the rate of
population growth, or affect any growth projections as planned for by the land use authorities in
the affected territory.
• The majority of the District’s service area encompasses unincorporated land. Land in the valley
floor consists of active agricultural operations and sparse rural residential. Land along the Sierra
foothills and mountain areas consists of grazing land, rural residential, public lands, and open
space. Limited portions of the cities of Fresno, Clovis, Sanger, Reedley and Orange Cove are in
the District.
• The County of Fresno is the land use authority for unincorporated territory inside the District,
while the cities of Clovis, Fresno, Sanger, Reedley, and Orange Cove are the land use authorities
for their respective territory inside the District and its proposed expansion.
• The largest population concentration within the District occurs in the cities of Clovis and Fresno.
The largest growth anticipated to occur inside the District will likely be within the SOIs of the cities
of Clovis and Fresno.
2. The location and characteristics of any disadvantaged unincorporated
communities within or contiguous to the sphere of influence.
• The District service area encompasses census block groups that meet the Water Code definition
of Disadvantaged Communities based on reported MHI levels.
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3. Present and planned capacity of public facilities, adequacy of public services, and
infrastructure needs or deficiencies including needs or deficiencies related to
sewers, municipal and industrial water, and structural fire protection in any
disadvantaged, unincorporated communities within or contiguous to the sphere
of influence.
• The District's mission and functions are to take available technical, financial, and educational
resources, and coordinate them at the local level to promote the conservation of natural soil,
water, agriculture, wildlife, rangelands, oak and forest lands, and air resources.
• The District does not own, plan for, or operate any public facilities or capital infrastructure
necessary to provide a direct service to its constituents.
• The District’s sole capital asset consist of a land conservation easement on two hundred-forty
(240) acres at what is known as the Grand Bluffs private forestlands near Dinkey Creek Road
outside of the town of Shaver Lake. The Grand Bluffs easement was granted to the District through
a grant from the State of California. As of June 2019, the total value of the easement is estimated
to be $435,000.
• The District has an adopted “Long Range Plan for years 2020 to 2025” that presents the District’s
mission to address critical local concerns including but not limited to: 1) Water use management,
2)Land use planning 3)Fuels reduction management, 4) Invasive species control and management
5) Air quality effects on agriculture and human health.
4. Financial ability of agencies to provide services.
• The District does not levee land-based taxes or special assessments.
• The District’s primary source of revenue is government grants and contributions for the purpose
of facilitating water and land conservation programs within the District. Grant funding is secured
by first meeting the requirement(s) of the grant and then making application to the granting
agency. All grant applications go through a competitive scoring process.
• The District regularly monitors grant opportunities and engages potential stakeholders and
organizations to develop a strategic collaborative approach to pursue grant funds.
• The District’s primary federal grant funding sources are: the U.S. Forest Service and the USDA
Natural Resources Conservation Service. At the State level, the District has secured grants from
CAL FIRE, Sierra Nevada Conservancy, Department of Conservation, and DWR.
• The District's budgets for FYs 2017-18 and 2018-19 are generally balanced, meaning that the
District secured sufficient grant revenues to fund majority of the District's planned expenditures.
• The District's ability to pursue and secure state and federal grant funds has assisted the District
to implement its work program. The District states that grant revenues to maintain its various
programs are at adequate levels; however, loss of existing grants could be detrimental to certain
programs. The District's ability to expand its service capacity is contingent upon its ability to
secure grant funding, contributions, and expand critical partnerships.
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5. Status of, and opportunities for, shared facilities.
• During the preparation of this MSR, the District along with the CARCD provided staff support to
the Tranquillity RCD to reactivate that district and to start on its own grant writing program.
• There were no opportunities identified for additional shared facilities that would benefit the
District.
6. Accountability for community service needs, including governmental structure
and operational efficiencies.
• The District operates under the authority granted by California's Resource Conservation District
Law.
• The District maintains a website that provides general public information regarding the District’s
background, objectives, active projects, board meeting information, public notices, and special
notices. Opportunities for public involvement and communication with the board of directors are
permitted during each meeting.
• A five-member board of elected officials serves as the governing body of the District. The District’s
board members serve as volunteers and do not receive a compensation for attending district
board meetings.
• Board meetings are held on the fourth Monday of each month at 4:00 p.m. at the Clovis Veterans
Memorial District Building, 808 4th Street, Clovis, Ca 93612. Board meetings are noticed
consistent with Brown Act requirements, which include posting agendas and notices of hearings
in public places.
• The District informed LAFCo that its current governance structure is appropriate to resume
activity and provide services. At the time of MSR preparation, the District’s government structure
appeared to be adequately structured to operate.
7. Any other matter related to effective or efficient service delivery, as required by
commission policy.
• The District is an active member within the Southern Sierra Integrated Regional Water
Management ("SSIRWM") collaborative. In its capacity, the District has conducted numerous
studies related to groundwater sustainability and quality in the foothills and mountain regions
within the District’s service area.
• The District participates as an interested party in the Kings Basin Water Authority (KBWA) IRWMP
and in the Fresno County Sustainable Groundwater Management Act Working Group Sessions.
• Since 2007, the District has been involved with ongoing research, commissioning various studies,
and has partnered with various entities.
• LAFCo has reviewed its local policies and there are no other pertinent matters.
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