ACWA’s eNews is a weekly roundup of California water news and events.
Imperial Irrigation District Board Approves Water Apportionment Plan
Imperial Valley farmers will get the same amount of water per acre under a new plan adopted Tuesday.
By a 3-2 vote, the Imperial Irrigation District Board of Directors approved the annual “water apportionment” system and signed off on a mid-year implementation that’s set to take effect May 1.
DWR Reminds Californians of Water Awareness Month
As 2013 takes shape as a dry year, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) is reminding Californians that May is “Water Awareness Month” and a time to redouble our focus on water conservation.
In a press release issued April 24, DWR Director Mark Cowin encouraged Californians to “make conservation a daily habit.”
“Water is essential for our farms, businesses, and communities and we must manage its use appropriately,” Cowin stated.
Blog Post: 2013 Plan Sets Priority Actions for ACWA
As key water policy initiatives near critical stages in 2013, ACWA is already out of the gate with a number of priority actions to advocate for ACWA members and ensure our goals are met, ACWA President Randy Record writes in the latest entry in the Voices on Water blog.
Read the complete blog post here.
2013 ACWA Spring Conference & Exhibition Schedule Booklet Released
The complete program booklet for ACWA’s 2013 Spring Conference & Exhibition is now available online.
The ACWA conference, themed “Rethinking California Water,” is set for May 7-10 at the Sacramento Convention Center and surrounding hotels. The conference programs are aimed at bringing a fresh perspective to the current water policy discussion and will feature a host of state, local and federal speakers.
Delta-Related Bills Clear Senate Committee
ACWA-opposed bills on reducing reliance on the Delta and determining consistency with the final Delta Plan cleared the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee on April 23.
The bills, SB 449 (Galgiani) and SB 735 (Wolk), are seen as inconsistent with the 2009 water package enacted by the Legislature, according to testimony by ACWA members and others.
DSC to Discuss Implementation of the Delta Plan at its April 25 Meeting
At its April 25 meeting in Sacramento, the Delta Stewardship Council (DSC) will discuss the strategy for implementing the Delta Plan and also examine the process of writing and revising the executive summary for the long-awaited plan for managing the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
On April 23, the Council also released a notice stating it was opening an additional comment period on a modified Economic and Fiscal Impact Statement. The document’s period of public review starts April 24 and runs through May 9.
Coalition Outlines Concerns with Proposed Move of State’s Drinking Water Program
ACWA and two other state associations sent a letter April 19 to California Secretary of Health and Human Services Diana Dooley and California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) Secretary Matt Rodriquez outlining why the state should not move its drinking water program from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) as proposed under pending legislation.
Water Agency Backs Fish Passage Study for Lower Yuba River Dams
The Yuba County Water Agency and two environmental groups are urging federal funding for a study that would explore fish passage improvements at two dams on the lower Yuba River.
Employers to Pay More of Pension Costs Under CalPERS Changes
State and local governments – including water agencies – will pick up more of the cost of employee pensions starting in fiscal year 2015-16 under new “smoothing” and amortization policies adopted by the CalPERS Board of Administration April 17.
April 19 Issue of ACWA News Now Available Online
The April 19 issue of ACWA News is now available online, with stories on the keynote speakers and programs scheduled for next month’s ACWA Spring Conference & Exhibition, case studies on chromium 6 removal from drinking water, and an update on the Save Our Water education program.
Other highlights this issue:
Laird Responds to Legislators’ Requests to Study BDCP Alternative
California Secretary for Natural Resources John Laird reiterated in a letter to legislators April 12 that his agency is committed to studying numerous alternatives in the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP), including a smaller water conveyance facility.
Joint Committee Hearing on BDCP Set for April 30
The Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee and the Select Committee on the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta will hold a joint hearing on the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) April 30 in the state Capitol.
The agenda for the hearing, which begins at 9:30 a.m. in room 112, has not yet been posted. The title of the hearing is: The Bay Delta Conservation Plan: Overview of the Issues.
Second GRACast Web Seminar on Salt and Nutrient Management Plans
Wed, 05/15/2013 – 12:00pm – 1:30pm
Location:
http://grac.org/event/er_regform.asp?eid=289
Groundwater Resources Association
CalDesal &
Association of California Water Agencies
Present the 2nd GRACast Web Seminar in the
Series on Salt and Nutrient Management Plans
Workflow for Salt and Nutrient Plans
