Madera County Municipal Code Ch. 2.23 Department of Water and Natural Resources

The department of water and natural resources is hereby created. The department of water and natural resources is primarily responsible for developing and implementing county policy and activities regarding surface water, ground water, water development, flood, and drainage control, and watershed management, and for acting as the county's facilitator and collaborator with various committees, organizations, and stakeholders regarding water and natural resources issues. The department of water and natural resources shall be organized, managed, directed, and overseen by the office of development services and/or the county administrative officer.

(Ord. No. 679A, § 2, 6-26-18; Ord. No. 678, § 1, 5-3-16).

The office of water and natural resources director is created. The director is a department head position and shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the board of supervisors, but shall report to and receive general administrative direction from the chief of development services and/or the county administrative officer. The director shall direct and oversee the operations of the department of water and natural resources subject to the direction of the board of supervisors and in compliance with state law and local rules.

(Ord. No. 679A, § 2, 6-26-18; Ord. No. 678, § 1, 5-3-16).

The department and director shall have the following responsibilities, functions and duties:

A. Operation of Department. The director may appoint and supervise department personnel pursuant to county rules and ordinances; establish and maintain records and accounts for operation of the department, including cost controls and cost records as approved by the auditor-controller; and recommend the annual budget for the department and exercise continuous budgetary control.

B. Development and Implementation. The director shall plan, organize, and direct the operations of the department of water and natural resources, which include the development and implementation of county policy and activities regarding surface water, ground water, water development, flood and drainage control, and watershed management. The director shall develop and implement policies, programs, and guidelines when needed.

C. Primary Resource and Expert. The director shall serve as the county's primary resource, representative, and agency expert on water issues, including but not limited to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, and issues related to water supply, quality, and storage. The director shall serve in a collaborative role with partner agencies, committees, districts and authorities, which include but are not limited to the: Madera County Groundwater Joint Powers Authority; San Joaquin Water Infrastructure Authority; Local Water Districts, including the Madera and Chowchilla Irrigation Districts; various maintenance districts; and the State Department of Water Resources. The director shall remain knowledgeable of and interpret, implement, and evaluate applicable laws, codes, ordinances, and regulations, related to the management of water resources, including but not limited to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. The director shall oversee or participate in the preparation and/or evaluation of legislation impacting water management.

D. Grants and General Fund Revenues/Expenditures. The director shall monitor and evaluate water resource programs and projects. The director shall prepare grant applications and track and monitor grant and/or general fund revenue and expenditures.

E. Additional Duties. Perform any and all other related services and activities as provided elsewhere in the county code including but not limited to Chapter 17.06 and Chapter 2.29 and as may be assigned by the board of supervisors, the chief of development services, and/or the county administrative officer.

(Ord. No. 679A, § 2, 6-26-18; Ord. No. 678, § 1, 5-3-16).

There is created in the department of water and natural resources the position of deputy director of water and natural resources. Under the general administrative direction of the director of water and natural resources, the deputy director shall assist with the operations and programs of the department of water and natural resources, including the development and implementation of county policy and activities regarding surface water, ground water, water development and flood and drainage control, and watershed management, compliance with state and federal law, and other natural resource issues that impact the County of Madera. The deputy director shall report to, and perform such other duties as assigned by the director of water and natural resources, the chief of development services, and/or the county administrative officer.

(Ord. No. 679A, § 3, 6-26-18).