ACWA’s eNews is a weekly roundup of California water news and events.
Drought Relief Bills Heading for Floor Vote
Submitted by Lisa Lien-Mager on Wed, 02/26/2014 – 5:21pm
An emergency drought relief package aimed at expanding state actions and getting dollars out the door to cope with dry conditions cleared committees in both houses today and may be voted on by the full Senate and Assembly as early as tomorrow, Feb 27.
State Water Board Explores Possible Drought Relief Actions
Submitted by Pamela Martineau on Wed, 02/26/2014 – 4:59pm
Rural, agricultural and urban stakeholders described to members of the State Water Resources Control Board (Water Board) on Wednesday some immediate actions the Water Board could take to provide assistance during the drought.
Entry Forms Due March 3 for ACWA’s Excellence in Water Leadership, Clair Hill Awards
Submitted by Marie Meade on Wed, 02/26/2014 – 4:20pm
Do you know someone who has made a remarkable contribution to California water? Does your agency have a capital project that deserves statewide recognition? Now is the time to submit entries for ACWA’s spring awards.
New Radio Spots Remind Californians the Drought’s Still On
Submitted by Pamela Martineau on Wed, 02/26/2014 – 4:03pm
This week, Save Our Water is launching a new set of radio ads aimed at raising awareness of the severity of the drought and the need to conserve.
Even with rain falling this week in some areas of the state, the need to save water is as real as ever.
The spots include helpful tips on how to conserve water and direct the public to www.saveourh2o.org for more information.
Governor’s Drought Task Force to Brief State Board of Food and Agriculture
Submitted by Pamela Martineau on Wed, 02/26/2014 – 2:28pm
Members of the Governor’s Drought Task Force will attend the California State Board of Food and Agriculture’s March 4 meeting in Merced to listen to local officials’ concerns about the drought and describe the actions launched by the state to help communities grapple with the drought.
Emergency Drought Legislation Now in Print
Submitted by Matt Williams on Tue, 02/25/2014 – 5:39pm
A $687 million package of emergency drought legislation that Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration and Assembly and Senate leaders put forward last week is moving quickly.
The bills, AB 79 and 80 in the Assembly and identical versions SB 103 and 104 in the Senate, were introduced on Monday. The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Resources and the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee are scheduled to hold policy hearings on the legislation on Wednesday.
BDCP Won’t “Drought Proof” California, But Will Help Long-Term Water Planning, State Officials Tell Lawmakers
Submitted by Pamela Martineau on Tue, 02/25/2014 – 3:51pm
The Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) won’t “drought proof” California, but could greatly improve the state’s water system if it is part of a comprehensive plan that bolsters storage, conservation, recycling and groundwater management.
That was one of the key messages delivered Tuesday by high-ranking state officials who briefed a joint legislative committee on the status of the BDCP.
NASA Helping Improve California Water Data, Drought Planning
Submitted by Matt Williams on Tue, 02/25/2014 – 3:00pm
NASA is partnering with the California Department of Water Resources and other agencies in the state to collect better water data. Researchers hope it ultimately will help water managers make better on-the-ground decisions, especially during this year’s drought.
California State San Marcos Launches Water Management Course
Submitted by Marie Meade on Tue, 02/25/2014 – 9:18am
It is a problem that had to be addressed – the water industry will endure a tremendous loss of knowledge, institutional memory and broad-based experience due to 30 to 50% of supervisors retiring in the next five to 10 years. Adding to the impending shortage of water management talent is the lack of educational opportunities to prepare candidates for the political, financial and legal areas of the business.
IWA Watershed Management Conference Slated for September in San Francisco
Submitted by Pamela Martineau on Mon, 02/24/2014 – 3:04pm
The International Water Association is holding a specialists’ conference for water basin science and management Sept. 9 to 12 in San Francisco.
Submissions of abstracts of research may be submitted by March 3 for consideration of presentation at the conference. Abstracts may be submitted here.
Bipartisan Water Bond Bill Emerges at Key Deadline
Submitted by Matt Williams on Mon, 02/24/2014 – 7:26am
A bipartisan group of state lawmakers introduced legislation Friday that would place a $9.25 billion water bond on the November 2014 ballot.
Webinar Explores Developing Effective Drought Water Rates
Submitted by Pamela Martineau on Fri, 02/21/2014 – 1:44pm
Strategies to develop effective water shortage emergency rate structures will be explored March 4 in a webinar co-sponsored by ACWA, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and other agencies.
The webinar, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., is intended to help urban water suppliers develop drought rates for water conservation and revenue stability. The event will leave open time for questions and answers.
The webinar is sponsored by ACWA, DWR, the Regional Water Authority and California Urban Water Conservation Council
BDCP Comment Period Extended 60 Days to June 13
Submitted by Pamela Martineau on Fri, 02/21/2014 – 12:04pm
The comment period for the draft Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) and its accompanying environmental documents has been extended 60 days by federal and state officials, allowing the public until June 13 to comment on the documents.
Drought Pushes CVP 2014 Water Allocations to Record Lows
Submitted by Pamela Martineau on Fri, 02/21/2014 – 11:21am
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation on Friday announced some of lowest initial water allocations on record from the Central Valley Project (CVP) with agricultural water users both north and south of the Delta expected to receive none of their water allocations this year.
The zero percent initial allocation forecast for agricultural users is a first for the CVP project and did not occur during the record-setting drought of 1977. Reclamation cited California’s unprecedented drought in making the announcement.
Feb. 21 ACWA News Now Available Online
Submitted by Matt Williams on Fri, 02/21/2014 – 10:45am
The Feb. 21 edition of ACWA News is now available online. This issue looks back at the special drought briefing ACWA hosted Feb. 14 at the Crest Theatre in Sacramento. During the half-day event speaker after speaker outlined the unprecedented pressures placed on local, state and federal agencies because of the record-breaking dry weather.
California’s Water Future Explored at Sacramento Water Conference
Submitted by Pamela Martineau on Thu, 02/20/2014 – 5:37pm
Water conservation, multi-agency collaboration and diversification of water supplies were touted by several speakers at a water conference in Sacramento on Thursday as ways California can grapple with its current – and long term – water needs.
The conference, sponsored by Capitol Weekly and UC Center Sacramento, featured several panels where speakers explored the economic, ecological and social issues surrounding some of California’s long-standing water disputes.
CVP Contractors Brace for Historically Low Allocation
Submitted by Matt Williams on Thu, 02/20/2014 – 5:06pm
This year’s drought is so severe that the federal government is warning those with senior water rights in California that unprecedented actions are on the way if the state’s water outlook doesn’t improve.
Governor, State Leaders Introduce $687 Million Emergency Drought Legislation
Submitted by Matt Williams on Wed, 02/19/2014 – 3:43pm
Gov. Jerry Brown and leaders of the state Legislature introduced emergency legislation Wednesday that would provide $687 million to local communities for drought-related assistance and water projects.
The funding would support shovel-ready water projects that improve water supply through recycling, stormwater capture, groundwater recharge and other means; bring aid to communities and workers impacted by the drought; and help secure emergency drinking water supplies for communities that are severely impacted.
Workshop on Small Water Systems in Southern California
Mon, 03/03/2014 – 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Location:
Caltrans District 11 Office Complex, Garcia Room; 4050 Taylor Street, San Diego, Calif. 92110
The California Water Commission (CWC) is hosting a public workshop focusing on the challenges facing small water systems in rural, urban, and disadvantaged communities.Members of the public are welcome to attend.
Groundwater Issues and Water Management – Strategies Addressing the Challenges of Sustainability in California
Tue, 03/04/2014 – Fri, 03/07/2014
Location:
Lions Gate Hotel at McClellan Park 3410 Westover Street, Sacramento, CA 95652
Groundwater Resources Association (GRA), in cooperation with the United States Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (USCID), are organizing two co-located USCID and GRA Conferences that provide a unique opportunity for attendees to access simultaneously the technical and policy challenges facing groundwater resources.
Water Shortage Emergency Rate Structure Webinar
Tue, 03/04/2014 – 10:00am – 11:30am
Location:
Webinar
A webinar to assist urban water suppliers develop water shortage contingency plans. It is sponsored by ACWA, the Department of Water Resources, the Regional Water Authority and the California Urban Water Conservation Council. Issues addressed will be: developing drought rates for water conservation and revenue stability, legal issues and obstacles when considering drought penalties or drought water pricing and water agencies’ experieinces in developing and implementing water shortage rate structures.
Water Shortage Emergency Rate Structure Seminar
ACWA 2014 Legislative Symposium
Wed, 03/05/2014
Location:
Sacramento Convention Center
The 2014 ACWA Legislative Symposium is set for March 5 at the Sacramento Convention Center.
Event and Registration Information
Joint MCWRA & ACWA Region 3 Program – 3/11/2014
Tue, 03/11/2014 – 9:30am – 2:45pm
Location:
Auburn, CA
REGISTRATION OPEN!
MCWRA & ACWA Region 3
“Drought: A View from the Top”
DATE:
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Registration: 9:30 a.m.
Program: 10:00 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
LOCATION:
The Ridge Golf Course and Event Center
2020 Golf Course Rd, Auburn, CA 95602
ACWA Small Hydro Workshop & Tour
Fri, 03/21/2014 – 8:00am – 4:30pm
Location:
Rancho Cucamonga and Rialto
ACWA is hosting a new workshop and tour this year on small hydropower. A half-day workshop at the Cucamonga Valley Water District Frontier Project will include programs on site selection, permitting, financing and small hydropower technologies. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Attendees then will have the option in the afternoon of touring Fontana Water Company’s Sandhill Small Hydro Facility in Rialto.
This workshop may qualify toward the Certified Energy Manager (CEM) continuing education credit.
Event and Registration Information
ACWA Region 5 Tour & Program – March 23 & 24 in Santa Cruz, CA
Sun, 03/23/2014 – Mon, 03/24/2014
Location:
Santa Cruz, CA
ACWA Region 5 Hosted Program
Working Together in Dry Times
How the Santa Cruz Water Community is Collaborating for Solutions
March 23 & 24, 2014
Children’s Water Education Festival
Wed, 03/26/2014 – Thu, 03/27/2014
Location:
University of California, Irvine
Presented by the Orange County Water District, Disneyland Resort, National Water Research Institute and the OCWD Groundwater Guardian Team, the Festival presents a unique opportunity to educate Orange County’s third, fourth and fifth grade students about water and the environment. More than 7,000 students are expected to attend. Volunteers, presenters and sponsors are needed to support this educational event. Learn more at www.childrenwaterfestival.com.
California Water Policy 23: Tangled Up In Blue
Thu, 04/03/2014 – Fri, 04/04/2014
Location:
The Roberts Environmental Center at Claremont McKenna College
The California Water Policy conference is set for April 3-4 at Claremont McKenna College.
2014 Green California Summit and Exposition
Mon, 04/07/2014 – 1:00pm – Wed, 04/09/2014 – 5:00pm
Location:
Sacramento Convention Center, 1400 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
Event and registration information here.
Paying for Water in California
Thu, 04/10/2014 – 9:00am – 2:00pm
Location:
Sacramento Convention Center, 1400 J Street, Rooms 202/203, Sacramento
Registration information here.
Climate Change and the Future of Groundwater in California
Wed, 04/16/2014
Location:
UC Davis Conference Center (Davis, CA)
The 2nd Annual Climate Change Water and Society (CCWAS) IGERT State of the Science workshop is here! “Climate Change and the Future of Groundwater in California” aims to bring together scientists, water managers, policy and decision makers, engineers and other interested stakeholders to identify key challenges and solutions for a sustainable groundwater future.
ACWA 2014 Spring Conference & Exhibition
Tue, 05/06/2014 – Fri, 05/09/2014
Location:
Portola and Marriott Hotels, Monterey
Event and Registration Information
Conference Exhibitor Information
Conference Sponsorship Information
O.C. Water Summit
Fri, 05/16/2014
Location:
Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel, Anaheim
Presented by the Orange County Water District, the Municipal Water District of Orange County and Disneyland Resort, the Summit brings together more than 500 Southern California business professionals with international, national and state water industry stakeholders, elected officials, environmentalists, scientists and community leaders to discuss ongoing global water issues and how water supply challenges impact our economy and public safety. Prominent authors, world-renowned experts and distinguished speakers will also be a part of this critical dialogue.
IWA Watershed Management Conference
Tue, 09/09/2014 – 9:00am – Fri, 09/12/2014 – 5:00pm
Location:
San Francisco
The International Water Association is holding a specialists’ conference for water basin science and management Sept. 9 to 12 in San Francisco.
Submissions of abstracts of research may be submitted by March 3 for consideration of presentation at the conference. Abstracts may be submitted here.
