ACWA’s eNews is a weekly roundup of California water news and events.
Laird Notifies Federal Officials that BDCP Public Comment Period Will Open Nov. 15
Due to changes in the design of the project, state officials have postponed the opening of the formal public comment period on the draft environmental documents for the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP), moving the start date to Nov. 15 from an earlier anticipated launch of Oct. 1.
DWR Awards $91.8 Million in Prop. 1EGrants
The Department of Water Resources (DWR) has awarded $91.8 million in Proposition 1E Stormwater Flood Management (SWFM) grants to several local public agencies in California, DWR officials announced Sept. 25.
ACWA Committee Consideration Forms Due Sept. 30
Members interested in serving on an ACWA committee for the next two-year term must submit consideration forms by Sept. 30 to be eligible for appointment.
Committee appointment information, including forms and instructions, can be found here.
Legislators Outline Priorities for Water Bond During Informational Hearing
The authors of two bills addressing the 2014 water bond outlined their proposals Tuesday during an informational joint hearing of the Senate Environmental Quality Committee and the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee.
The hearing, titled “Setting the Stage for a 2014 Water Bond: Where Are We and Where Do We Need To Go?” was held at the state Capitol in front of a packed hearing room. It was the third in a series of legislative hearings on a proposed water bond.
Blog Post: First Year of Legislative Session Yields Some Progress on Water Bond
The Legislature wrapped up its work for 2013 in the early hours of Sept. 13, capping a legislative year that saw ACWA and its coalition partners play an effective role in advancing the dialog on the 2014 water bond, ACWA Executive Director Timothy Quinn writes in the latest entry in the Voices on Water blog.
Read the complete blog post here.
BDCP Website Redesigned and Streamlined to be More User-Friendly
State officials on Sept. 20 announced the launch of a newly revamped website for the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) that features streamlined web pages intended to be more user-friendly.
House Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Hydropower
The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power held a hearing Thursday entitled “Keeping Hydropower Affordable and Reliable: The Protection of Existing Hydropower Investments and the Promotion of New Development”. The hearing explored the ways in which bureaucratic red tape, federal regulations, and excessive litigation combine to stymie the development of hydropower in the United States.
Hearing Held On Lacey Act
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services’ proposal to add species to the Lacey Act’s list of injurious wildlife using a NEPA Categorical Exclusion was the subject of a hearing on September 20. The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs convened the hearing to follow up on Chairman Jon Fleming’s (R-LA) request that the FWS withdraw the proposal .
Energy Efficiency Bill Stalls
The Senate spent the better part of two weeks debating an energy efficiency bill, the Energy Savings and Industrial Competiveness Act of 2013, S 1392. The bipartisan legislation cosponsored by Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Rob Portman (R-OH) includes initiatives to improve the energy efficiency of federal buildings, increase manufacturing efficiency, and promote energy efficient technology.
Draft Rule Likely to Expand Clean Water Act
The Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) have announced a joint proposed rule to clarify which streams, wetlands and other waters are “waters of the U.S.” and subject to jurisdiction under the federal Clean Water Act (CWA). The agencies have withdrawn Guidance on the issue and sent the proposed rule to the Office of Management and Budget but have not released it to the public.
“Plant Now, Save Later” Campaign Touts Benefits of Fall Planting
Fall is a great time to plant a beautiful, spring garden. That’s the message that the Save Our Water campaign, Sunset magazine and Sunset Western Garden Collection are working to send to California gardeners.
Water Resources Bill Passes House Committee
The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, on Wednesday, voted unanimously to send H.R. 3080, the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA), to the floor of the House. The bill includes provisions that would speed up the environmental review process for Army Corps projects, increase the amount of money spent from the Harbor maintenance trust fund, increase Congressional oversight over activities proposed by the Army Corps of Engineers, and deauthorize $12 billion dollars in proposed Army Corps projects.
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
North Coast Resource Partnership Conference
Wed, 10/02/2013 – Fri, 10/04/2013
Location:
River Lodge Conference Center, Fortuna
The North Coast Conference will provide a forum to address the Region’s most pressing water, economic and energy resource issues. The conference will feature the accomplishments of the North Coast Integrated Regional Water Management Plan’s projects; bring together a broad spectrum of the North Coast community to learn about new legislation, policy and funding opportunities; and discuss innovative strategies to enhance the future of the region.
ACWA’s 2013 Continuing Legal Education Workshop (CLE)
Thu, 10/03/2013 – 8:00am – Fri, 10/04/2013 – 4:00pm
Location:
Hyatt Regency Newport Beach
ACWA’s 2013 Continuing Legal Education Workshop (CLE) is set for Oct. 3-4.
Join us for this two-day continuing legal education workshop for water professionals.
Event and Registration Information
29th Biennial Groundwater Conference & 22nd Groundwater Resources Association Annual Meeting
Tue, 10/08/2013 – Wed, 10/09/2013
Location:
Red Lion/Woodlake Conference Center Hotel, Sacramento
GROUNDWATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION
o f C a l i f o r n i a
October 8-9, 2013
Red Lion/Woodlake Conference Center Hotel
Sacramento, CA
Co-Sponsors: AMEC | West Yost Associates
Northern California Tour
Wed, 10/16/2013 – Fri, 10/18/2013
Location:
The tour begins and ends at Sacramento International Airport
The Water Education Foundation’s 3-day, 2-night Northern California Tour travels the length of the Sacramento Valley, a major source of water for California. Stops include Oroville and Shasta dams, Red Bluff Fish Passage Improvement Project, Feather River Fish Hatchery, Clear Creek restoration site, GCID’s fish screen and Delevan Wildlife Refuge. Other highlights included a houseboat cruise on Shasta Reservoir. Participants learn about water supply management, farming, flood Sacramento International Airport.
SAVE THE DATE! ACWA Region 10 Program, 10/17 – Irvine, CA
Thu, 10/17/2013 – 10:00am
Location:
Irvine, CA
Registration Open!
ACWA Region 10 Program
A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING IN MURKY WATER
Thursday, October 17, 2013 • 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Hilton Irvine/Orange County Airport
18800 MacArthur Blvd.
Irvine, CA
ACWA Region 10 – Southern California to hear perspectives from Northern California
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.
Joint MCWRA / ACWA Region 3 Member Meeting
Fri, 10/18/2013 – 9:30am
Location:
The Ridge Golf Club and Events Center, 2020 Golf Course Road, Auburn, CA 95602
ACWA Region 3 / Mountain Counties Water Resources Association will hold a joint meeting Oct. 18, at the Ridge Golf Club and Event Center, Auburn.
For more information visit the link below or contact MCWRA Executive Director John Kingsbury or ACWA Regional Affairs Representative Marcia Wulff.
Registration Open! ACWA Regions 2 & 4 Water Forum & Bike Tour Oct. 24-25
Thu, 10/24/2013 – Fri, 10/25/2013
Location:
Sacramento, CA
ACWA Regional Water Forum & American River Bike Tour
October 24-25, 2013
Hosted by ACWA Regions 2 & 4
Southern California Water Committee 29th Annual Meeting and Dinner
Thu, 10/24/2013 – 5:30pm – 9:00pm
Location:
Pacific Palms Hotel & Conference Center, One Industry Hills Parkway, City of Industry, CA 91744
5:30pm – Cocktail Reception
Ticket and Sponsorship information here.
San Joaquin River Restoration Tour
Thu, 11/07/2013 – Fri, 11/08/2013
Location:
The tour begins and ends in Fresno
The Water Education Foundation’s 2-day, 1-night San Joaquin River Restoration Tour explores challenges associated with restoring flows and a Chinook salmon fishery to the San Joaquin River from below Friant Dam to the confluence with the Merced River. The tour includes stops at Friant Dam, Interim San Joaquin River Salmon Conservation and Research Facility, Chowchilla Bifurcation and Canal, Mendota Pool, Sack Dam, Sand Slough Control Structure, and the Merced National Wildlife Refuge.
ACWA 2013 Fall Conference & Exhibition
Tue, 12/03/2013 – Fri, 12/06/2013
Location:
JW Marriott LA Live, Los Angeles
Event and Registration Information
Exhibit Booth information is available here.
