DATE: June 21, 2005
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT: DESIGNATING THE COMMUNITY OF LAKE MORENA AS
A COLONIA
SUMMARY:
The County Board of Supervisors in years past has also designated the
communities of Jacumba and Tecate as colonias. The Lake Morena Oak Shores
Mutual Water Company requests that the County designate the community
of Lake Morena as a colonia to help establish eligibility for grants from
the U.S. Department of Agriculture and California Department of Housing
and Community Development for infrastructure improvements. Today’s
action will adopt a resolution that will designate the community of Lake
Morena as a colonia.
Recommendation
SUPERVISOR DIANNE JACOB:
- Adopt the resolution entitled: A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO DESIGNATING THE COMMUNITY OF LAKE MORENA AS A COLONIA
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact related to this proposal.
BACKGROUND:
The County Board of Supervisors in years past has also designated the
communities of Jacumba and Tecate as colonias. The Lake Morena Oak Shores
Mutual Water Company requests that the County designate the community
of Lake Morena as a colonia to help establish eligibility for grants from
the U.S. Department of Agriculture and California Department of Housing
and Community Development for infrastructure improvements. Today’s
action will adopt a resolution that will designate the community of Lake
Morena as a colonia.
Lake Morena, California is a community located in southeastern San Diego
County approximately 60 miles east of the City of San Diego. Lake Morena’s
featured destination is Lake Morena County Park. The Morena Reservoir
lies in the middle of 3,250 acres of chaparral, oak woods, and grassland.
In addition to these natural attributes, the newly renovated park features
some of the most modern camping facilities in San Diego County. The lake
is the highest (3,000 feet) and most remote of the city's reservoirs.
Because of its location southwest of the Laguna Mountains, the park shows
characteristics of desert, coastal, and mountain habitats. This chaparral
woodland is home to a variety of animals. Bald eagles, mountain lions,
rattlesnakes, and many migratory waterfowl can be observed in the remote
wilderness.
The Lake Morena Oak Shores Mutual Water Company intends to address the
deficiencies in its water wells, distribution system and potable water
storage facilities. Their infrastructure is being overburdened due to
an increase in population. This has led to an increase of usage, which
ultimately leads to an insufficient volume to their system. Also, the
water has endured a high source of nitrates, which is caused by local
septic systems and grazing of the land. In the end, this will help in
bringing their facility to modern day standards and address the deficiencies
by improving the water quality and reinforcing the water distribution
and storage infrastructure to adequately serve the community. The Water
Company requests that the County designate the community of Lake Morena
as a colonia to help establish eligibility for Rural Development Community
Program grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Community Development
Block Grants from the California Department of Housing and Community Development
for infrastructure improvements.
The Lake Morena Oak Shores Mutual Water Company is pursuing an avenue
to apply for and obtain funding under the colonia status. The U.S. Department
of Agriculture and California Department of Housing and Community Development
each have pools of money designated to assist colonias.
Lake Morena’s unique location and community circumstances will help
the community to obtain federal and state funding important to the public
health, safety and welfare. I urge your support.
Respectfully submitted,
DIANNE JACOB
Supervisor, Second District
