ACWA’s eNews is a weekly roundup of California water news and events.
State Officials Air Draft Chapters of BDCP in Public Meeting
Officials with the California Natural Resources Agency aired the first four chapters of an administrative draft of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) at a public meeting March 20 and reminded attendees that the plan will undergo some revision before it is finalized.
Water Commission Looks at Public Benefits, Funding for Water Projects
Strategies for funding future investments in the “public benefits” of water projects were the focus of a morning workshop at the California Water Commission meeting today in Sacramento.
Commission members heard presentations by the Department Water Resources and the Bureau of Reclamation on current efforts to define and measure the public benefits associated with various water projects.
Senate Committee Passes Federal Water Infrastructure Bill
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved legislation today that would authorize 18 infrastructure projects for the Army Corps of Engineers.
The committee, chaired by California Sen. Barbara Boxer, unanimously approved the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), S 601. The bill includes a pilot version of the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) at both the Army Corps of Engineers and Environmental Protection Agency.
Cowin, Bonham Confirmed for ACWA Conference Keynote
Two state leaders with pivotal roles in the Bay Delta Conservation Plan are set to provide keynote remarks May 9 at the ACWA 2013 Spring Conference & Exhibition in Sacramento.
Mark Cowin, director of the California Department of Water Resources, and Charlton “Chuck” Bonham, director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, will outline how the BDCP will move forward and share perspectives on decisions and policy implications related to the long-term planning effort.
Applications Due Monday for Region Board Vacancies
ACWA members interested in serving on the Region 1 Board or Region 9 Board for the rest of this year have until March 25 to submit applications.
The two regions are seeking candidates to fill regional board vacancies for the remainder of the 2012-’13 term.
ASCE Grade on Nation’s Infrastructure Rises from D to D+
The nation’s roads, bridges, drinking water systems and other infrastructure received an overall grade of D+ from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) in its 2013 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, showing slight progress from the grade of D it received from ASCE in 2009 during the society’s last national ranking.
San Joaquin River Flows Proposal Gets March 20-21 Hearing
The State Water Resources Control Board will take public comments and further examine its proposed springtime flow requirements for three San Joaquin River tributaries, at a multi-day hearing beginning March 20 in Sacramento.
Brown Administration Releases Preliminary Draft of First Portions of BDCP
Officials from the Brown Administration on March 14 released a preliminary draft of the first four chapters of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP), marking a significant step in the state’s efforts to retool the troubled Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
‘Save Our Water’ Extends Reach With California Urban Water Conservation Council
The Save Our Water program and the California Urban Water Conservation Council announced Thursday that the two groups will work together to educate Californians about how they can permanently reduce their water consumption.
