CALIFORNIA RESEARCH GRANTS FOR LIBRARIANS PROGRAM
COVER SHEET
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA RESEARCH GRANTS FOR LIBRARIANS PROGRAM COVER SHEET
Note: Grant proposals are confidential until funding decisions are made.
INSTRUCTIONS: Applicants send ten (10) printed copies of this form, accompanied with the body of the proposal, which constitute an application packet to the Chair of the division Research Committee, who forwards the packet to the Chair of the University-wide Committee. Applicants must also supply the division Chair with a printed copy of this application including any authorizing signatures that are required
DATE OF APPLICATION: January 7, 2000, revised March 20, 2000
TITLE OF PROPOSAL/PROJECT: Survey of California water and irrigation districts.
EXPECTED LENGTH OF PROJECT: 10 months
TOTAL FUNDS REQUESTED FROM LAUC UNIVERSITY-WIDE RESEARCH FUNDS: & 8,860.00
PRIMARY APPLICANT:
YOUR NAME:Linda Vida
(Include your signature on paper copy)
ACADEMIC RANK WORKING TITLE: Librarian II, Library Director
UNIT/NON-UNIT MEMBER: University Council - American Federation of Teachers
CAMPUS SURFACE MAIL ADDRESS:410 O'Brien Hall MC #1718
TELEPHONE & EMAIL ADDRESS: 642-2666, lvida@library.berkeley.edu
CO-APPLICANT NAME: Randal S. Brandt, Head of Technical Services
UNIT/NON-UNIT MEMBER: University Council - American Federation of Teachers
CAMPUS SURFACE MAIL ADDRESS: 410 O’Brien Hall MC #1718
TELEPHONE & EMAIL ADDRESS: 642-2666, rbrandt@library.berkeley.edu
ABSTRACT OF PROPOSAL: (Do not exceed space available in this space)
The history and prosperity of California as an agricultural and population center is intimately connected to the history of the development of its water resources. No other resource has provided as much prosperity for the state nor sparked as much controversy. California’s water agencies started to organize in the 1850’s in order to manage their local water resources and safeguard their water rights. Today there are approximately 1,200 water and irrigation districts in California. However, no comprehensive directory of these districts exists, nor has there been a survey performed to identify what, if any, historical research materials have been created and maintained by these districts. I propose to survey California water agencies in order to create a comprehensive list of water districts and irrigation districts and to include information about each district as specified in Part 4, Step 2. At the same time, I propose to conduct a survey of these agencies’ significant historical documents. This information will be compiled and organized in a searchable database that will be available at the Water Resources Center Archives.
DOES THE PROPOSAL REQUIRE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:
USE OF UC LIBRARY FACILITIES OR OTHER SITE(S) REQUIRING PRIOR APPROVAL? NO
IF YES, INCLUDE BELOW SIGNATURE AND POSITION OF PERSON AUTHORIZED TO PERMIT USE OF FACILITIES
_______________________________________________________
RELEASE TIME? NO
IF YES, INCLUDE SIGNATURE (S) OF PERSON(S) AUTHORIZED TO APPROVE RELEASE TIME ON PAPER COPY OF APPLICATION:
__________________________________________________________
USE OF HUMAN SUBJECTS? NO
IF YES, ATTACH APPROPRIATE UNIVERSITY FORM TO PAPER APPLICATION FORM.
LIST ANY PREVIOUS RESEARCH GRANT PROPOSALS (DIVISIONAL & UNIVERSITY-WIDE) FROM THIS PROGRAM THAT HAVE BEEN AWARDED TO THE PRIMARY APPLICANT OR CO-APPLICANTS BY TITLE, INCLUDE DATE OF COMPLETION AND AMOUNT FUNDED. NONE
_______________________________________________ __________________
(Signature of primary applicant) Linda Vida Date
BUDGET SUMMARY
Note: This Budget Summary should be based on the detailed statement from the body of your proposal (part 5). Do not include budget items funded by sources other than LAUC Statewide Research Funds in this Summary.
TOTAL AMOUNT REQUESTED FROM LAUC STATEWIDE RESEARCH FUNDS: $ 8,860.0
TOTAL AMOUNT REQUESTED FROM LAUC DIVISIONAL RESEARCH FUNDS: $
OTHER FUNDING OBTAINED OR EXPECTED (AMOUNT AND SOURCE): NONE
FISCAL YEAR OF APPLICATION: 2000/2001
NEW PROJECT? YES
SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING? NO
SALARIES:
TOTAL SALARIES: $ 8,860.00
SUPPLIES:
TOTAL SUPPLIES: $2,800.00 (In-kind see page p.6)
TRAVEL:
TOTAL TRAVEL: $ 0.0
OTHER EXPENSES:
TOTAL OTHER EXPENSES: $ 0.0
TOTAL REQUESTED FROM LAUC STATEWIDE RESEARCH FUNDS $ 8,860.00
Today there are over 1,200 water districts and irrigation districts in California. Districts started to organize in the 1850’s and have continued to organize throughout the 20th century in response to agricultural demands, population growth, water quality and water supply issues, and changes in water law. I believe that most of these districts have a wealth of historical legal and technical information pertaining to their organization, and the construction and operation of their water delivery systems. This information includes minutes of meetings, annual reports, technical documents, photographs, maps, newsletters, report series, oral histories, newspaper clippings and other significant documents. Although the Water Resources Center Archives (WRCA) routinely collects district publications, much of this information – especially the more ephemeral documents, such as maps and photographs, etc. – is still maintained by the districts and is not accessible to the public.
Although, there are several statewide agencies and organizations in California that maintain information pertaining to water districts and irrigation districts no comprehensive directory of these water and irrigation districts exists, and more importantly, no survey of their historical holdings has ever been conducted. Each year the California Department of Water Resources publishes an updated list of water agencies, entitled Interim Statewide Alpha Listing of Water Service Agencies. This list is extensive, but not comprehensive and contains only the names and addresses of the various districts.
The Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) also regularly publishes a Membership and Resource Directory. However, that directory includes member agencies only. In 1985, ACWA published ACWA’s 75-year History: 1910-1985 that included location, services, population served, formation date, type of district, source of water, predecessor agencies, contact information and a short, narrative history of the oldest and largest districts. Although, this directory is a great resource, it is not comprehensive and did not include any information pertaining to the significant material located at each district and is now out-of-date.
Having access to a comprehensive list of water and irrigation districts that contains detailed descriptive information about each district, such as their geographical location, population served, formation date, type of district, source of water, amount of water delivered, and predecessor agencies would be a valuable resource. Having access to summary information pertaining to the significant historical materials held by the districts, such as general subjects, formats, volume, etc., would be an invaluable resource. This survey would provide easy access to information that is currently scattered and inaccessible. It would be a resource for the students and faculty of the University of California interested in the history of water, economic or agricultural development in the state and serve as a resource for government, private industry, the public and the water districts themselves.
Part 4: Design and Methodology
I propose to build on the concept of the publication ACWA’s 75-year History: 1910-1985 by creating a comprehensive list of water and irrigation districts in California and to identify summary information about their holdings. I propose to accomplish this by sending out one survey form requesting basic information (outlined below) and holdings information (outlined below). Since access to technology varies widely among districts, the form will be sent by mail or email. To facilitate data gathering, the form will contain standardized lists of terms for the holdings information with specific fields that can be checked or circled by the respondent. Districts returning incomplete forms or not returning forms will be contacted. The results will be compiled and organized in a searchable database that will be available via WRCA’s Web site or the Centers for Water Resources (UCR) Web site. Each year, the Districts will be contacted and asked to review, verify and update their information. An update form will be available on the Web site to enable project participants to submit new information easily and quickly. All project participants will be notified of the availability of the database. Press Releases will be sent to ACWA, WEF, DWR and the CSL to help publicize the availability of the Web directory database.
The survey results will be analyzed, and if warranted, a print, web-based, or CD-ROM publication will be investigated and additional funding sought to formally publish the information. Separate additional funding for a follow-up project to make selected districts’ historical material accessible by creating finding aids or scanning documents will be investigated at a later date.
Step 1: Creating a Comprehensive List
Key California water agencies and organizations will be contacted in order to obtain lists of their “district” members. Contacts will include the California Department of Water Resources, Association of California Water Agencies, California Municipal Utilities Association, California Rural Water Association, California Urban Water Agency, California Water Environment Association, California Water Resources Association, Northern California Water Association, Water Use Association of California and the Central Valley Water Users Association. The lists will be compared and one comprehensive list including contact information will be compiled. Any discrepancies will be researched and the most current information used.
Step 2: Obtaining Service Information, Historical Narrative and Conducting Survey
Once a comprehensive list has been compiled, a survey form (either print or email) will be sent to each district requesting the following information:
Basic Information: Location (geographical description), including acreage in district
Services
Population served
Formation date
Type of district (Act)
Source of water
Amount of water delivered (acre-feet per year)
Predecessor agencies
Street address
Web address and/or email address
Brief narrative history
Holdings Information: Contact (include email)
General subjects (includes dams, water conveyance facilities,
canals, pipelines, legal documents)
Inclusive dates
Formats (includes maps, technical reports, photographs, minutes,
Annual reports, newsletters, report series, newspaper clippings, etc.)
Holdings
Volume (in cubic feet)
Any restrictions
Copying permitted
Finding aids available (print or electronic)
Potential for participation in a scanning or finding aid project
Computer hardware and software will be used to compose the printed and email survey
and to send out or email the questionnaire. Computer hardware and Microsoft Access
software will be used to compile the results to create a comprehensive list and a search-
able database. The Water Resources Center Archives currently has all of the required
computer resources necessary.
Part 5: Budget
The costs associated with the following tasks will be supplied as in-kind services by the
Water Resources Center Archives.
Mailing $600.00
Telephone $400.00
Photocopying $400.00
Supplies $300.00
Students $900.00
Misc. Travel $200.00
TOTAL $2,800.00 (In-Kind)
Library Assistant III Support Staff: 20 hours/week @ $13.13/hour = $1,130.00/month
$1,130.00/month @ 7 months = $7,910.00
inc. minimum benefits (~10%) $ 791.00
plus a 2% range adjustment = $ 158.00
$8,859.00
TOTAL $8,860.00 (rounded out)
Part 6: Personnel
Linda Vida, will be the principal investigator for this project as Library Director of the
Water Resources Center Archives for the last seven years (see attached resume). I pro-
vide reference services pertaining to all aspects of California water resources on a daily
basis from a diverse clientele of students, faculty, consultants, federal and state employ-
ees and the public. I am knowledgeable of the print or electronic resources that are avail-
able in this area or the lack of resources that currently exists. Over the years, by exhibit-
ing at ACWA Conferences, attending water conferences and creating an Advisory Board
to the Friends of the Archives, I have developed many key contacts in the water commun-
ity. I have successful project management experience and feel that I am uniquely
qualified to undertake and accomplish this project.
Randal Brandt, Associate Librarian, will be the co-investigator on this project. He has
been the head of Technical Services at the Water Resources Center Archives for over five
years (see attached resume). His duties include original cataloging in all formats, as well
as management of the archival collections, and providing reference services. He created,
maintains and manages the WRCA web site; oversaw the conversion of paper finding
aids to electronic files for inclusion in the Online Archive of California; and assists in
outreach and fundraising efforts. He is knowledgeable in all aspects of technical ser-
vices, managing archival collections and print and online water reference materials.
Randal will assist in compiling the comprehensive list of water and irrigation districts and
in designing the survey form. He will also participate in the final project analysis.
Additional staff at the Library Assistant III level would be required to assist
with designing the Access database, coordinate sending out the surveys, reconciling
discrepancies and following up, performing the data entry required to build the content of
the database, and supervise student assistants.
Required skills include: Knowledge of library or archival practice and procedures;
expertise using the Access database, email and online database systems; organizational
skills; ability to perform detailed oriented tasks and maintain accurate, up-to-date paper
and electronic files; communication and interpersonal skills
Part 7: Timetable for Completion of the Projected Research
July 1, 2000 – August 31, 2000 WRCA staff to contact various pertinent California
water agencies and organizations and request lists of
water and irrigation district members. Use other printed
tools or online resources as needed to compile the
list of district contacts. WRCA staff to prepare
survey form and work with Library Assistant III
(LA III) to compile the comprehensive list of districts
and to develop the Microsoft Access database needed to
compile results.
September 1 – 30, 2000 LA III to reconcile any information inconsistencies or problems. Starts to send out the survey forms selecting the most efficient method.
October 1 – March 31, 2001 LA III compiles the results, provides follow-up on
discrepancies or missing information. Enters information into the Microsoft Access database.
April 1 – April 30, 2001 WRCA staff mounts the directory database on a Web Site and analyzes the survey results. WRCA staff write and send out a Press Release to project participants, ACWA, WEF, DWR and CSL publicizing the availability of the database. An online update form is made available for project participants. WRCA staff investigates an additional publishing plan (print/web-based/CD-ROM).