ACWA Supports Member Agencies in Water Rights Dispute
ACWA and the Southern California Water Committee recently sent letters supporting the position of Desert Water Agency and Coachella Valley Water District in a lawsuit filed against them earlier this year asserting that a local Native American tribe holds senior water rights within the Coachella Valley.
Blog Post: Paying Tribute to ACWA Members During Member Appreciation Month
ACWA President Randy Record pays tribute to ACWA’s member during Member Appreciation Month, writing in a blog post that ACWA’s diverse members consistently work together to address issues that will affect Californians for years to come.
ACWA Region Elections Begin for 2014-’15, Ballots Due Sept. 30
Region election ballots have been emailed to ACWA member agency general managers and president. The due date to return the completed ballots is Sept. 30, 2013.
Each ballot contains the slate recommended by the region nominating committee, as well as qualified individual candidates and voting instructions. Each agency is entitled to cast only one vote for its region, and each agency must have an authorized person sign the ballot.
U.S. Reps. Send Letter to Interior Secretary Questioning Trinity Reservoir Releases for Salmon
A bipartisan group of California congressmen sent a letter Aug. 2 to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell asking her for an analysis of how increased flows from the Trinity Reservoir to help Chinook salmon would impact Central Valley Project water contractors.
ACWA and State Water Board Sponsor Workshop on New Aquatic Weed Permit
A workshop examining the requirements of a new aquatic weed permit to manage aquatic weeds or algae in flowing waters or impoundments is scheduled to be held Aug. 29 in Fresno..
Sponsored by ACWA and the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), the workshop will cover information such as whether an agency needs a permit, approved aquatic pesticides, how to file a Notice of Intent, sampling and analysis requirements and other issues.
BDCP Project Could Bring $5 Billion in Net Benefits to State, New Report Says
The proposal to build two water conveyance tunnels through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and restore 145,000 acres of habitat could bring a net benefit of roughly $5 billion to the state when factoring in job creation and avoidance of water shortages, according to a new draft statewide economic analysis of the project.
Applicants Sought for 2014 Clean Water Act Grants
A total of $4 million in grants is available statewide for projects that restore surface water impaired by non-point source pollution.
The State Water Board’s Division of Financial Assistance is seeking qualified applicants for competitively awarded funding through the Clean Water Act Section 319(h) NPS Grant Program.
Research Looks at How Contaminants Reach Public-Supply Wells
A new U.S. Geological Survey study identifies the key factors that contribute to the vulnerability of public-supply wells to contamination.
Conducted by the USGS National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) program, the research found that the age of groundwater entering a well, the surrounding geochemical conditions, as well as the recharge source of the groundwater, are the major variables that can be used to help determine the timing and extent of contamination.
U.S. Senate Passes Hydropower Bills
Two bills that would streamline regulations for small hydropower projects were passed through unanimous consent by the U.S. Senate on Thursday, Aug. 1, and are awaiting President Obama’s signature.
The Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act (H.R. 267) and The Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act (H.R. 678) together would cut red tape and broaden eligibility criteria for low-impact hydroelectric development at non-federal and federal facilitites.
Blog Post: Region 1 Promotes Drinking Local
ACWA members produce a great product that gets delivered to homes and communities every day. We’re sending the wrong message if we don’t tout our own product and promote tap water as the local drink of choice, ACWA Region 1 Chair Aldaron Laird writes in the latest entry in the Voices on Water blog.
Read the complete blog post here.
Digital ACWA News Now Available Online
The August 2 issue of ACWA News is now available online. Read more about how there is growing concern about next year’s water supply with some of California’s major reservoirs dropping to levels not seen in several years.
Other featured stories this issue include:
Final Ruling Upholds Colorado River Water Pact
A California judge entered a final ruling Wednesday upholding the decade-old pact that apportions the state’s share of water from the Colorado River.
Half of Californians Are Concerned Global Warming Will Cause More Severe Droughts, Poll Finds
Nearly half of Californians – 49%– are “very concerned” that global warming will bring more severe droughts to the state and 57% are “very concerned” it will bring more severe wildfires.
Workshop on the New Aquatic Weed Permit
Mon, 08/19/2013 – 10:00am – 2:00pm
Location:
Fresno County Farm Bureau Conference Room, 1274 W Hedges Ave., Fresno
Geared for those who use aquatic pesticides to manage aquatic weeds or algae in flowing waters or impoundments in either an agricultrual or urban water supply systems. This workshop outlines the requirement of a new aquaric weed permit. Topics include whether an agency needs a permit, approved aquatic pesticides, how to file a notice of intent, sampling & analysis and other requirements.
ACWA Groundwater Committee Meeting
Tue, 08/13/2013 – 1:30pm – 4:30pm
Location:
Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach, Oxnard
The ACWA Groundwater Committee will meet Aug. 13 in conjunction with the ACWA Regulatory Summit in Oxnard.
Visit the Groundwater Commitee page for the agenda and details.
ACWA Safe Drinking Water Subcommittee Meeting
Thu, 08/15/2013 – 9:00am – 12:30pm
Location:
Metropolitan Water District Headquarters, Los Angeles
The ACWA Safe Drinking Water Subcommittee will meet Aug. 15, 2013 at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s offices in Los Angeles.
Visit the Water Quality Committee page for the agenda and details.
Registration Open! ACWA Region 9 Tour and Program, 9/13 – Highland, CA
Fri, 09/13/2013 – 8:00am – 2:30pm
Location:
Highland, CA
REGISTRATION OPEN
ACWA Region 9 Tour & Program
Friday, September 13, 2013• 8:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
East Valley Water District
3654 Highland Avenue, Highland, CA
Steve Hall Fierce Competitor Golf Tournament
Fri, 09/20/2013 – 8:30am – 4:00pm
Location:
DarkHorse Golf Club, 24150 Darkhorse Drive, Auburn, CA 95602
This annual tournament in honor of former ACWA Executive Director Steve Hall will take place at DarkHorse Golf Club (24150 Darkhorse Drive, Auburn, CA 95602). DarkHorse was Steve’s favorite golf course and where he hit his first and only hole in one.
Tournament entry forms are due Aug. 30, 2013.
Registration Open! ACWA Region 5 Tour & Program, 9/22-9/23 – Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Sun, 09/22/2013 – Mon, 09/23/2013
Location:
Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
REGISTRATION OPEN!
ACWA Region 5 Hosted Program
Water Reliability:
An Environmental Balancing Act
September 22 & 23
Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
The Delta and Bay Delta Conservation Plans and Northern California Water
Thu, 10/17/2013 – 5:00pm – 7:30pm
Location:
McConnell Foundation’s Lema Ranch; 800 Shasta View Drive, Redding
An educational forum to provide the public an interactive opportunity to refine its understanding of California’s water supply, the varied pressures of conflicting use, and the future of California water.
