CALIFORNIA SPORTFISHING PROTECTION ALLIANCE

P.O. BOX 357

QUINCY, CALIFORNIA 95971

Mr. Charles Rich, Chief October 24, 1996

Application and Petition Unit #2

Division of Water Rights

P.O. Box 2000

Sacramento, CA 95812-2000

Mr. Jim Canaday

Environmental Unit

Division of Water Rights

P.O. Box 2000

Sacramento, CA 95812-2000

Re: Gato Creek Watershed; Change Petitions; Water Right Permit 17360 (Application 24985); Additional Comments and Information by the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance.

Dear Gentlemen:

On October 2, 1996, the CSPA submitted comments to Charles Rich, Chief, Application Unit #2, Division of Water Rights, regarding the letter of September 25, 1996, from Clifford Schulz representing the petitioner in the above mentioned water rights matter. To date we have not received a written response from Charles Rich or his staff regarding our letter of October 2, 1996.

Recently we received new documented information from Brian Trautwein of the Santa Barbara Urban Creeks Council.

Please find enclosed a detailed writeup of the petitioner's proposed Las Varas Ranch Development Project in the Gato Creek Watershed.

We do not know whether Clifford Schulz advised you of the petitioner's major development project in the Gato Creek Watershed. But we do know, the change petition, including the letter of August 15, 1996 from Charles Rich, and the following letter of September 25, 1996, from Clifford Schulz, did not mention the petitioner's proposed Las Varas Ranch Development Project.

We recommend you have a long serious discussion with the petitioner's agent about the petitioner's proposed Las Varas Ranch Development Project in the Gato Creek Watershed.

We are very disappointed that the Division and the petitioner's agent did not advise the CSPA of the proposed Las Varas Ranch Development Project because it is directly related to the petitioner's water right permit, and the change petition.

A written response is appreciated.

Respectfully Submitted

_____________________________________________

Robert J. Baiocchi, Consultant

For: California Sportfishing Protection Alliance

P.O. Box 357

Quincy, CA 95971

Bus Tel: 916-836-1115 or 916-283-1007 (Law Office); Fax: 916-283-4999

We reference and submit "Las Varas Ranch - Santa Barbara County" - "Las Varas Ranch Vision Statement - April 15, 1996"

Certificate of Service

Charles A, Rich, Chief

Application and Petition Unit #2

Division of Water Rights

P.O. Box 2000

Sacramento, CA 95812-2000

With Attachment

Jim Canaday

Environmental Unit

Division of Water Rights

P.O. Box 2000

Sacramento, CA 95812-2000

With Attachment

Jerry Mensch, Water Rights

Environmental Services

Department of Fish and Game

1416 Ninth Street

Sacramento, CA 95812-2000

With Attachment

Kenneth Wilson

Maurice Cardenas

Department of Fish and Game, Region 5

530 East Montecito Street, Room 104

Santa Barbara, CA 93103

With Attachment

Brian Trautwein, Executive Director

Santa Barbara Urban Creeks Council

5771 Leeds Lane

Goleta, CA 93117

Mike Jackson, Esquire

P.O. Drawer 207

Quincy, CA 95971

Jim Crenshaw, President, CSPA

1248 East Oak Avenue, Suite D

Woodland, CA 95695

Clifford Schulz, Esquire

Petitioner's Agent

Kronick, Moskovitz, Tiedemann & Girard

400 Capitol Mall

Sacramento, CA 95814

With Attachment

Interested Parties