Though negotiations continue on a modified water bond for the November 2014 ballot, the Legislature is expected to adjourn for summer recess on July 3 without acting on a final bond proposal.

Though legislative leaders had hoped to finish work on a water bond before the recess, work remains to be done. Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) told reporters July 1 that negotiations likely will continue into August to hammer out the details.

The State Water Resources Control Board on July 2 approved an emergency regulation that would streamline the board’s process for issuing enforceable water curtailment orders and increase fines for non-compliance.

The orders issued under the emergency regulation would be immediately enforceable.

The California Conservation Corps is making crews available to assist with water efficiency projects through a new program funded by emergency drought relief legislation enacted earlier this year.

As part of the program, supervised CCC crews will complete water conservation projects such as plumbing retrofits and installation of water-efficient landscaping at no cost to public agencies and non-profit organizations, as well as commercial property owners. Agency sponsors would be responsible for materials and supplies.

The State Water Resources Control Board today announced the issuance of more water curtailment orders, saying notices have been sent to about 129 junior water right holders in the North Fork of the Eel River, the Mainstem Eel River and the Van Duzen Tributary.

The notices advise the recipients to stop diverting water from the watershed to allow water to flow to more senior water right holders, as required by state law.

Cindy Forbes, a veteran of the California Department of Public Health’s former Drinking Water Program, was named July 1 as the new Deputy Director of the State Water Resource Control Board’s (State Water Board), Division of Drinking Water.

Forbes has spent her entire career, over 30 years, in the Drinking Water Program that was formerly under the purview of the California Department of Public Health. While with CDPH, she was the Southern California Field Operations Branch Chief, with oversight of 14 drinking water program offices.

On Thursday, Bureau of Reclamation Acting Commissioner Lowell Pimley announced the Bureau would endow nine projects with $1.29 million for title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse Feasibility Studies. Two of the nine projects will be located in California.

“Planning and preparation are essential for communities looking to meet their growing water needs,” Pimley said. “This funding will help communities gather critical information in assessing whether these water recycling and reuse projects can meet their future water needs.”

Videos of some of the keynote addresses that were delivered at ACWA’s 2014 Spring Conference & Exhibition in Monterey in May are now available online.

The conference, themed “Running on Empty: Investing to Move the Needle,” featured former Las Vegas water chief Pat Mulroy who delivered the opening keynote address that highlighted the need for “strategic partnerships” as states throughout the West grapple with water shortages