Friends of San Lorenzo Valley Water (FSLVW)

FSLVW is an all-volunteer group of San Lorenzo Valley citizens with a deep concern for our local community and for continued reliable access to safe and affordable water. We have a shared commitment to collaborative, practical, science-based decision-making that is attentive to the needs of all SLV residents. We seek to play a positive role in our community by producing reports, advocating for action, and promoting broader awareness and understanding of water-related issues that will ultimately affect all of us. 

FSLVW has an informal organizational structure that relies on consensus decision making.  We are not incorporated and do not have bylaws, dues, or a formal membership.  Rather, FSLVW provides a framework within which citizens with a common set of principles can work together on specific issues as these arise.

Mission Statement

Participation

FSLVW holds periodic meetings open to all SLV residents who support our mission and want to join us in this important work.  We do not have a formal membership; rather, we encourage interested individuals to attend meetings and explore their compatibility.  

New participants may join the group with an interest in a particular current issue or new topic, while others may decide to reduce their commitment and stop attending meetings.  Previously active individuals are welcome to return at any time.

Anyone in the San Lorenzo Valley who shares our mission and goals and wants to be part of our efforts is encouraged to contact us and inquire about becoming involved.  We also maintain an email list which anyone can join by signing up below.

Leadership Team

Our most active participants comprise a leadership team which operates on a consensus basis, meets at regular intervals, determines priorities, oversees all FSLVW activities, and changes in composition over time.  FSLVW places no constraints on the freedom of current and/or former members of the leadership team to work on projects or issues on their own or with other groups.  The only requirement is that they not identify themselves as speaking or writing as a member of FSLVW when they are acting independently.

The leadership team currently consists of the following individuals:

Mark Dolson, Ben Lomond (Secretary)

Cynthia Dzendzel, Felton

Larry Ford, Felton

Peter Gelblum, Boulder Creek

Nancy Macy, Boulder Creek

Jim Mosher, Felton (Treasurer, Facilitator)

Linda Skeff, Brookdale

Lee Summers, Boulder Creek

April Zilber, Felton

Nonpartisanship and Advocacy

FSLVW seeks, first and foremost, to serve our community as a reliable source of accurate information about issues relevant to SLVWD water delivery and our local watershed.  In specific instances, when we believe that we have conducted a sufficiently thorough investigation into a sufficiently important issue, FSLVW will formally advocate for a particular course of action.

In contrast to our issue-based advocacy, FSLVW never advises citizens on how to vote.  We are nonpartisan, meaning that we do not support particular candidates for the SLVWD Board of Directors.  Rather, FSLVW provides objective information and links to online resources regarding candidates so that voters can make informed decisions in Board elections.  This is consistent with our commitment to seeking to maintain positive and constructive working relationships with all SLVWD Directors.

History

FSLVW was founded in 2019 in response to growing concerns about the future of our local water supply. We serve as a resource for our community by:

• Attending and reporting on bi-monthly Board meetings of the San Lorenzo Valley Water District (SLVWD)

• Conducting and sharing the results of independent investigations into important water-related issues

• Formally proposing and/or advocating for specific initiatives at SLVWD Board meetings

• Working informally and constructively with SLVWD Board members and staff to provide additional support as needed

• Expanding community understanding of our local water supply via letters, interviews, reports, and bulletins

FSLVW should not be confused with Felton FLOW which was formed over a decade earlier to advocate for local control of Felton water (although there are some individuals in FSLVW who were previously active in FLOW).  It should also not be confused with “Friends of the San Lorenzo River Watershed” which was responsible for initiating a petition on change.org in early 2021.

Activities

To date, we have conducted the following activities that align with our mission. We have:

• Reached out to SLVWD board members and staff to build collaborative working relationships and have actively participated in SLVWD committee and board meetings.

• Provided expert advice to SLVWD’s Environmental Committee and Board of Directors regarding the cooperative development of regional fire management planning.

• Drafted an Environmental Platform to guide our work on protecting the local watershed and aquifers.

• Provided input on the District’s 2020 letter to Pacific Gas and Electric Company regarding the shortcomings of PG&E’s fire prevention plan.

• Researched and produced a report on Low Income Ratepayer Assistance (LIRA) Programs, which we submitted to SLVWD staff for review and comment before submitting to the Board of Directors. We also developed a specific proposal for adopting a local LIRA program, which we submitted to SLVWD’s Board of Directors for their consideration, and which culminated in Board approval of an SLVWD Ratepayer Assistance Program which launched in July of 2020.

• Advocated for implementing the scheduled 2020 rate increase, which is critical to the long-term financial health of SLVWD. We see a LIRA program as a more effective strategy for helping low-income ratepayers facing financial hardships.

• Provided feedback and commentary on the District’s proposed strategic plan.

• Met and collaborated with other organizations in the SLV that share portions of our mission.

• Hosted a well-attended webinar on debris flow dangers in December of 2020 and subsequently worked with County representatives to improve the County’s approach to protecting valley residents from debris flows.

• Produced an objective overview of the issues relating to the controversial proposal to consider consolidating the SLVWD with the Scotts Valley Water District. We subsequently advocated for tabling this proposal for at least the remainder of 2021.

• Produced an objective overview of the issues relating to the City of Santa Cruz’s recent petitions to revise the city’s access to, and use of, San Lorenzo River water.

Contact Us

We welcome questions, feedback, and other forms of constructive, broader engagement with fellow community members.  Ratepayers interested in joining us should contact us at:

friendsofsanlorenzovalleywater@gmail.com