Supervisor seeks joint CSAC working group on 'Sigma' to address Big Valley funding and compliance

Unidentified Speaker (S5) said they met with CSAC staff and asked for a joint working group—coordinated with CRC and county leadership—to focus on 'Sigma' and the specific challenges faced by medium basins such as Big Valley. The speaker said Pat Blacklock, Supervisor Cottrell, and Supervisor Burns were involved in developing the request and that RCRC had indicated it would reach out about the issue.

"No one really wants to crack open Sigma again because it was so difficult to pass, but there are real issues, specifically in medium basins like we have, that I think were overlooked when the legislation was put together," Unidentified Speaker (S5) said. They described Big Valley as a basin of "medium concern" and said the goal is to pursue targeted fixes or funding to remain in compliance.

Why it matters: speakers framed the item as proactive policy coordination rather than a finalized legislative change. The supervisor said they would coordinate with Chair Rasmussen and other local supervisors to avoid Brown Act conflicts and to refine the working group's scope. No formal motion or vote was recorded during the reports.