Bighorn-Desert View Water Agency takes precautionary steps for disaster preparedness
Bighorn-Desert View Water Agency General Manager Jennifer Cusack gave a presentation on taking precautionary steps for disaster preparedness. Both the State of California and San Bernardino County have pre-emptively declared a state of emergency in light of the El Nino weather predictions and have started coordinating efforts to prepare for what promises to be a stormy winter. The Bighorn-Desert View Board of Directors was asked to consider adopting a resolution declaring an emergency preparedness condition related to the forecasted El Nino, with advanced protective measures in place to safeguard water infrastructure, property, equipment, and operations.
Jennifer Cusack explains the need for preplanning: “Given our road district is not as active as it once was, and that our pipes are in dirt roads, one of the things that concerns me and our operations staff is washout and shallow pipes that have already currently been designated.
And then we’d like to begin just moving dirt and stockpiling some dirt at some of our locations here to have access to it. If it starts to wash out, we can bring in some dirt over top. Also, pre-identify some rentals that could be used if needed.
And this is all within our budget. I don’t anticipate any extra expense, but definitely wanted to acknowledge the nature of what our priority will be as an agency preparing for El Nino.”
Marina West, Chief Engineer, gave a presentation on preconstruction biological services for the Pipes wash streambed alteration, as well as for the “habitat mitigation and monitoring plan” and asked for authorization on task orders number 3 and 4.
The Board approved unanimously.
You can view or download the presentation here.
