ACWA eNews for November 19, 2014

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  • on November 20, 2014
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ACWA eNews for Nov. 19, 2014

ACWA’s eNews is a weekly roundup of California water news and events. Manage your subscription here.

State Board Adopts NPDES Permit for Discharges from Drinking Water Systems

The State Water Resources Control Board on Nov. 18 unanimously adopted the new Statewide General NPDES Permit for Discharges from Drinking Water Systems intended to regulate both planned operational discharges required under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act and the state Health and Safety Code as well as unplanned discharges such as pipe breaks, system failures, and emergencies. The permit requires drinking water systems with 1,000 or more connections to either enroll under the permit, or submit a “notice of non-applicability” for their system by September 2015.

Imperial Irrigation District Submits Petition to State Board

On Nov. 19 the Imperial Irrigation District submitted a petition to the State Water Resources Control Board seeking modifications to the State Board’s order establishing water transfers to urban users in San Diego County and the Coachella Valley. The order established a 15-year requirement to continue to deliver “mitigation water” to the Salton Sea in order to lessen the negative effects of the transfers, but the mitigation transfers are set to expire in 2017.

BDCP Affordable for Water Contractor Funders, New Report Says

The cost of constructing conveyance improvements as part of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan is affordable for the urban and agricultural water users who will pay a large share of the project, according to a new report released today.

The California State Treasurer’s Office released the report, titled “The Bay Delta Conveyance Facility: Affordability and Financing Considerations.” The independent financial analysis was requested by the California Natural Resources Agency and commissioned by the California Debt and Investment Advisory Commission.

Gov. Jerry Brown Says Drought will Test “Political Capacity to Collaborate”

Gov. Jerry Brown today said tackling the drought that is wracking California and much of the western United States will “test our imagination, our science and our political capacity to collaborate.”

Speaking at the Western Governors’ Association Drought Forum, a two-day event in Sacramento Nov. 13-14, Brown highlighted the need for creative thinking and continued conservation.

Workshop Series to Focus on Groundwater Implementation

A series of regional workshops focused on implementing new groundwater legislation is scheduled for 2015. The workshops, sponsored by ACWA, California Water Foundation, California State Association of Counties and Rural County Representative of California, are intended for senior local government officials and water agency decision makers and are titled “Implementing the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act: Local Governance Approaches and Considerations.”

The workshops are scheduled for:

New San Joaquin River Watershed Website Launched

The Coalition for Urban Rural Environmental Stewardship (CURES) today announced the launch of its new website, www.sanjoaquinriverwaterquality.com, featuring information related to the San Joaquin River watershed.

The website was developed using grant funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the State and Federal Contractors Water Agency and hosts water monitoring data, studies, reports and articles about the San Joaquin River watershed.

State Water Resources Control Board Lifts Curtailments for Pre-1954 Water Rights Holders

The State Water Resources Control Board this morning announced that it has lifted water right curtailments in the Sacramento and San Joaquin River watersheds for water rights holders with a priority date of Dec. 31, 1953 and earlier. This action is based on reduced diversion demands after Oct. 31 and the switch in diversion demand from direct diversion to storage.

ACWA 2014 Fall Conference & Exhibition

Tue, 12/02/2014Fri, 12/05/2014
Location:

Manchester Grand Hyatt, San Diego

ACWA’s 2014 Fall Conference & Exhibition is set for Dec. 2-5, 2014, at the Manchester Grand Hyatt hotel in San Diego.

FRAUDULENT HOUSING ALERT!

GRA Webinar:The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act — What You Need To Know

Wed, 12/10/2014 – 12:00pm1:30pm
Location:

Webinar

The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act –
Effective January 1, 2015 – What You Need To Know

Wednesday, December 10, 2014
12:00 pm to 1:30 pm
Pacific Standard Time (San Francisco, GMT-08:00)

Managing Drought

Mon, 01/12/2015 – 9:00am2:00pm
Location:

Sheraton Grand Sacramento 1230 J Street, Magnolia Room, Sacramento

California’s historic drought is revealing strengths and weaknesses in how we manage our precious water resources. At this half-day event—coinciding with the beginning of a new legislative session—participants will examine Australia’s millennium drought, consider climate change and future droughts in California, look back at lessons from 2014, and look forward to policy priorities for 2015.

This event is made possible with funding from the California Water Foundation, an initiative of the Resources Legacy Fund.

Crafting Rates for Revenue Stability and Conservation

Thu, 01/15/2015
Location:

To be announced

If you are involved in your water utility’s rate setting efforts, plan to attend one of these workshops. Learn from experts and peers how to design rates that provide for stable revenue in challenging times while still sending effective conservation signals. Especially designed for water utility finance and senior management, conservation departments may  find  these  workshops  useful as well. $25  per person, includes lunch.

Partnering organizations:

2015 Groundwater Workshop

Mon, 01/26/2015 – 9:30am3:00pm
Location:

Willows, CA

Implementing the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act:

Local Governance Approaches and Considerations

This regional workshop will explore approaches to forming Groundwater Sustainability Agencies, including governance considerations, options, and examples from local groundwater basins.

Groundwater Workshop

Wed, 02/04/2015 – 9:30am3:00pm
Location:

Tulare County, CA

Implementing the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act:

Local Governance Approaches and Considerations

This regional workshop will explore approaches to forming Groundwater Sustainability Agencies, including governance considerations, options, and examples from local groundwater basins.

Groundwater Workshop

Thu, 02/05/2015 – 9:30am3:00pm
Location:

Stanislaus County, CA

Implementing the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act:

Local Governance Approaches and Considerations

This regional workshop will explore approaches to forming Groundwater Sustainability Agencies, including governance considerations, options, and examples from local groundwater basins.

HOSTS:

Stanislaus County and Turlock Irrigation District

SPONSORED BY:

California Water Foundation

ACWA 2015 DC Conference

Wed, 02/25/2015Thu, 02/26/2015
Location:

The Liaison Hotel, Washington, D.C.

ACWA’s 2015 Washington, D.C. Conference is set for February 25-26, 2015 at the Liaison Hotel in Washington, D.C. Further details to come.

Water Education Foundation Executive Briefing

Wed, 03/25/2015
Location:

Sacramento at the Red Lion Inn

2015 Executive Briefing

The Foundation’s annual Executive Briefing features speakers from water stakeholder groups, the Legislature and governmental agencies that play important roles in making policy decisions about water. The 31st Annual Executive Briefing will be March 25, 2015 in Sacramento at the Red Lion Inn.

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