ACWA’s eNews is a weekly roundup of California water news and events.
State Officials Discuss Transfer of Drinking Water Program
The proposed transfer of the state’s Drinking Water Program from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) was scrutinized during a public meeting in Sacramento on Wednesday, Jan. 15.
Water Commission Re-Elects Current Chair Byrne and Vice Chair Del Bosque
The California Water Commission on Jan. 15 re-elected current Chair Joseph Byrne and Vice Chair Joe Del Bosque to second one-year terms as leaders of the commission.
Both Byrne and Del Bosque were elected last January to serve one-year terms. The commission unanimously re-elected them to second terms.
Byrne, of Los Angeles, is an of counsel attorney in the law office of Best, Best & Krieger, LLP and is a member of the firm’s Environmental & Natural Resources Law, Special Districts, Municipal, and Business Services practice groups.
ACWA Submits Comment Letter on Proposed Fracking Regulations
This week ACWA and the Groundwater Resources Association (GRA) submitted joint comments on California’s proposed regulations for hydraulic fracturing, well acidification and other “stimulation” techniques utilized in oil and gas production.
The California Department of Conservation began accepting public comment on the rulemaking draft of the regulations two months ago. Officials expect the rules to be finalized by 2015.
Jan. 16 Groundwater Basin Monitoring Workshop Available on Webcast
ACWA and the California Department of Water Resources are hosting a workshop in Sacramento on Thursday, Jan. 16, that will discuss prioritizing basins under the California Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring (CASGEM) program.
CASGEM’s primary goal is to collect groundwater elevations for all of California’s 515 basins and compile that data in an online system. The program was launched three years ago to comply with legislation signed in 2009 requiring California to develop a permanent groundwater monitoring program.
City of Sacramento Adopts Stage 2 Water Shortage Plan
The Sacramento City Council voted Jan. 14 to require water customers to cut their water use by at least 20%.
Although Sacramento isn’t facing an immediate water supply emergency, city officials said the cutbacks are necessary due to concern about continuing dry conditions and unusually low water levels in the American River and Folsom Reservoir.
State Capitol Rally Will Push for Safe, Clean and Reliable Water Supply
Members of the California Latino Water Coalition, NAACP, Nisei Farmers League and other groups will rally at the state Capitol Thursday Jan. 16 to push for short and long-term solutions to ensure that California has a safe, clean and reliable water supply.
ACWA Sends Letter Addressing Transfer of Drinking Water Program
ACWA and six other water agencies and associations on Jan. 13 sent a joint letter to two California agency secretaries to provide detailed input on the transfer of the state’s Drinking Water Program (DWP) from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB).
Gov. Brown Suggests Drought Proclamation is Imminent
Gov. Jerry Brown indicated on Monday that he may soon issue a formal drought proclamation, telling reporters Jan. 13 that the state’s water situation is “really serious,” according to published reports.
Speaking at a press conference at Fresno City Hall following a day of meetings with local farmers, members of the Westlands Water District and others, Brown said that a formal drought proclamation is imminent.
“It’s coming,” reporters quoted Brown as saying of a drought proclamation. “Just be patient.”
Jan. 22 Workshop to Discuss State’s Role in Groundwater Management
The State Water Resources Control Board will host a workshop in Sacramento on Jan. 22 to consider public input on a concept paper that would guide the State Board’s actions related to groundwater management the next five years.
The session is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. in the Cal/EPA Headquarters Building’s Coastal Hearing Room.
Isenberg Steps Down as Chair of Delta Stewardship Council
Phil Isenberg announced in a letter Jan. 13 that he is stepping down at the end of the month as chair of the Delta Stewardship Council since his statutory term soon will end.
Isenberg took over as the first chair of the newly formed Council in 2010. A new DSC Chair and Vice Chair will be selected by councilmembers at the DSC meeting Jan. 23.
Series of Statewide Open House-Style Meetings on Draft BDCP Launch This Week
State officials this week will launch a series of open house-style meetings to be held around the state for members of the public to comment on the Draft Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) and its accompanying Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS).
Jan. 10 ACWA News Now Available Online
The Jan. 10 edition of ACWA News is now available online. This issue focuses on the discouraging results from the year’s first Sierra snowpack survey, how government water managers are responding to the unrelenting dry conditions across the state, and what actions some local water agencies are considering as California moves closer to declaring a drought.
ACWA Region 4 Board Meeting 1/16/2014
Thu, 01/16/2014 – 9:30am – 11:30am
Location:
Sacramento, CA
ACWA Region 4 will have a Region Board Meeting /orientation on January 16, 2014 at the ACWA Office. Agenda is listed below.
CASGEM Groundwater Basin Prioritization Workshop — Sacramento
Thu, 01/16/2014 – 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Location:
State of California Natural Resources Building Auditorium, 1416 9TH Street , 1st Floor, Sacramento
Note: The deadline to register online is Tuesday, Jan. 14.
ACWA and the California Department of Water Resources are hosting a series of workshops to discuss prioritizing basins under the California Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring (CASGEM) program. The program’s primary goal is to collect groundwater elevations for all of California’s 515 basins and compile that data in an online system.
CASGEM Groundwater Basin Prioritization Workshop — Riverside
Wed, 01/22/2014 – 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Location:
Western Municipal Water District, 16451 El Sobrante Blvd., Riverside
Note: The deadline to register is Wednesday, Jan. 15.
ACWA and the California Department of Water Resources are hosting a series of workshops to discuss prioritizing basins under the California Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring (CASGEM) program. The program’s primary goal is to collect groundwater elevations for all of California’s 515 basins and compile that data in an online system.
2014 California Irrigation Institute
Thu, 01/23/2014 – Fri, 01/24/2014
Location:
Sacramento, California
2014 CII Conference
The California Irrigation Institute is happy to announce its 2014 annual conference, titled: Building a Water and Energy Efficient California.
The Conference will be held on January 23-24, 2014 at the Sacramento Arden West Hilton in Sacramento, California.
Stay tuned for more information on the program and registration.
Visit our website at: http://www.caii.org/
CASGEM Groundwater Basin Prioritization Workshop — Los Angeles
Thu, 01/23/2014 – 10:00am – 1:00pm
Location:
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, 700 North Alameda Street, Los Angeles, CA
Note: The deadline to register is Wednesday, Jan. 15.
ACWA and the California Department of Water Resources are hosting a series of workshops to discuss prioritizing basins under the California Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring (CASGEM) program. The program’s primary goal is to collect groundwater elevations for all of California’s 515 basins and compile that data in an online system.
Stakeholder Workshop for Proposed General Permit for Discharges from Drinking Water Systems
Fri, 01/24/2014 – 9:00am – 12:30pm
Location:
Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), 101 8th Street, Oakland, CA 94607
The State Water Resources Control Board will be hosting a workshop in Oakland to brief water agencies and other stakeholders on concepts for a proposed NPDES permit for discharges from drinking water systems. The workshop will also allow for interactive participation via Webex.
ACWA Regions 6 & 7 Joint Board Meeting 1/28/14
Tue, 01/28/2014 – 10:00am – 1:00pm
Location:
Tulare Lake Basin WSD, 1001 Chase Ave., Corcoran, CA 93212
ACWA Regions 6 & 7 will have a joint Board Meeting on January 28, 2014 at Tulare Lake Basin WSD in Corcoran, CA.
Board Meeting Agenda listed below.
CWEMF Annual Meeting
Mon, 02/24/2014 – Wed, 02/26/2014
Location:
Lake Natoma Inn, Folsom
The California Water and Environmental Modeling Forum will hold its 20th Annual Meeting at the Lake Natoma Inn in Folsom from February 24 to 26. Highlights of the Annual Meeting include many excellent technical sessions, a joint day with the Interagency Ecological Program (IEP) on February 26, keynote address by Gary Bardini, Deputy Director of the Department of Water Resources, the presentation of the Hugo B. Fischer and Life Membership awards, and an evening social at Sudwerk.
ACWA 2014 Washington DC Conference
Tue, 02/25/2014 – Thu, 02/27/2014
Location:
The Liaison Capitol Hill, Washington, DC
ACWA’s 2014 Washington DC Conference is set for Feb. 25-27, 2014, at the Liaison Capitol Hill.
Event and Registration Information
Children’s Water Education Festival
Wed, 03/26/2014 – Thu, 03/27/2014
Location:
University of California, Irvine
Presented by the Orange County Water District, Disneyland Resort, National Water Research Institute and the OCWD Groundwater Guardian Team, the Festival presents a unique opportunity to educate Orange County’s third, fourth and fifth grade students about water and the environment. More than 7,000 students are expected to attend. Volunteers, presenters and sponsors are needed to support this educational event. Learn more at www.childrenwaterfestival.com.
ACWA 2014 Spring Conference & Exhibition
Tue, 05/06/2014 – Fri, 05/09/2014
Location:
Portola and Marriott Hotels, Monterey
Conference Exhibitor information
Conference registration will be available in January — please check back.