ACWA’s eNews is a weekly roundup of California water news and events.
USFWS Reopens Comment Period for Exclusion for Listing Injurious Wildlife
In response to requests from ACWA and other organizations for more time to prepare extensive comments, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced July 31 that it would reopen the comment period for an additional 60 days for those seeking to submit comments on the proposed categorical exclusion for listing injurious wildlife.
Obama Taps Reclamation Boss for No. 2 Role at Interior
President Obama has selected Michael Connor to be deputy secretary of the Department of Interior, a move that appears to have bipartisan support from the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
San Diego Workshop to Strive for Better Drought Measurement and Reporting
With support from ACWA, the Western States Water Council and the California Department of Water Resources are co-sponsoring a workshop in San Diego next week on quantifying drought impacts.
The workshop’s purpose is to develop a strategy for building a centralized information source for measuring and reporting observed drought impacts.
US EPA Approves CDPH Plan to Improve Disbursement of Safe Drinking Water Funds
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this week approved the corrective action plan submitted by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) that aims to double the rate of disbursement of funds from the Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.
In a letter dated July 23, Jared Blumenfeld, regional administrator for US EPA Region 9, notified Ron Chapman, director of CDPH, that the EPA approves of the plan CDPH developed to improve disbursement of funds from the State Revolving Fund.
DeFazio to Succeed Markey as Ranking Member of Natural Resources Committee
On July 17, Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) won the contest to succeed Rep. Ed Markey as the ranking member on the House Natural Resources Committee, after Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) decided to withdraw his name from consideration.
Hydraulic Fracturing and Water Issues Discussed in House Subcommittee Hearing
The Subcommittee on Energy and Minerals of the House Committee on Natural Resources held a hearing on July 25th about H.R 2728, the Protecting States’ Rights to Promote America’s Energy Security Act. This act, introduced by Rep. Bill Flores (R-TX), would disallow the Department of the Interior from enforcing any Federal law or regulation pertaining to hydraulic fracturing on public lands in any state that already has regulations or guidance pertaining to that activity.
AB 145 Set for Aug. 12 in Senate Appropriations Committee
An ACWA-opposed bill that would move the state’s entire drinking water program from the Department of Public Health to the State Water Resources Control Board has been set for an Aug. 12 hearing in the Senate Appropriations Committee.
ACWA Awards Sept. 3 Deadline Nears
The Sept. 3 entry deadline is fast approaching for ACWA’s annual awards at the association’s 2013 Fall Conference & Exhibition in December in Los Angeles.
ACWA’s Huell Howser Best in Blue Award honors public water agency efforts in communicating with customers, legislators, media and the public. The award focuses on creativity, transparency and use of available funds. Guidelines and entry forms are available here.
Delta Water Summit
Sat, 08/03/2013 – 9:00am – 12:30pm
Location:
Satellite Student Union at California State University, Fresno.
Speakers from a wide variety of perspectives will address crucial Bay-Delta estuary water, infrastructure and environmental issues. Many top water leaders from around California and the nation will be participating.
Governor Brown has been invited to present his water supply vision for California as has Commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Michael Connor. Deputy Resources Secretary Gerald Meral will speak on a panel along with Delta Stewardship Council Member Gloria Gray and Sunne McPeak of the Delta Vision Foundation.
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.
Water Education Seminar-Orange
Wed, 08/14/2013
Location:
Orange
The California-Nevada section of the American Water Works Association is hosting this one-day event featuring various tracks taught by qualified speakers and is oriented toward operators, managers, engineers, technicians, field personnel and laboratory personnel. Various topics will be presented, including sessions on water distribution, water resources, water quality, water treatment, business administration and safety. Registration also includes lunch and refreshments.
ACWA 2013 Regulatory Summit
Wed, 08/14/2013 – 8:06am – 5:07pm
Location:
Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach, Oxnard
Please join us for the third annual ACWA Regulatory Summit at Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach in Oxnard, CA on August 14, 2013!
Past, Present and Future: Effectively Managing California’s Groundwater Resources
The Summit will include topics such as:
- It’s Finally Here: Draft CA Maximum Contaminant Level for Hexavalent Chromium
- UCMR3
Event and Registration Information
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.
Energy and Water Nexus Summit 2
Thu, 09/12/2013 – 9:00am – 4:00pm
Location:
Aquarium of the Bay, Pier 39, San Francisco
Building on the conversation started last year at the first Energy and Water Nexus Summit, the Second Summit will be an all-day event, exploring the developments, challenges, innovations and considerations around energy and water in Northern California.
The session is sponsored by the Bay Planning Coalition and co-sponsored by ACWA and other organizations.
Topics of discussion will include:
Water and Energy needs for food production, processing and transport
SAVE THE DATE! ACWA Region 9 Tour and Program, 9/13 – Highland, CA
Fri, 09/13/2013 – 8:00am – 2:30pm
Location:
Highland, CA
SAVE THE DATE
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.
2013 Annual CA-NV AWWA Fall Conference
Mon, 09/30/2013 – Thu, 10/03/2013
Location:
Sacramento Convention Center
For more conference information, go to http://ca-nv-awwa.org/CANV/web/events/AFC/web/events/AFC13.aspx?hkey=d00bb688-3f32-48da-a08e-5b05180ee61b
