ACWA’s eNews is a weekly roundup of California water news and events.
Governor Calls for Broad Suite of Actions to Respond to “Very Serious Drought”
In a wide ranging State of the State address that focused on the state’s economic recovery as well as its looming challenges, Gov. Jerry Brown this morning warned residents that the current drought is a “stark warning of things to come” under climate change and requires an immediate multi-pronged response.
Brown cited the state’s budget surplus and increase in jobs as proof of recovery, but warned the state’s current drought and water crisis threaten the viability of California and must be dealt with now and in the future.
Blog Post: Ultra-Low Folsom Lake Underscores Power of Drought
A visit to shrinking Folsom Lake is a visual experience of the power of the drought and a testament to the need for a comprehensive water plan for California, ACWA Executive Director Timothy Quinn writes in the latest entry in the Voices on Water blog.
Read the complete entry here.
Balancing Co-Equal Goals During Drought Explored by Expert Panelists
A panel of experts will convene during the Delta Stewardship’s Council (DSC) regularly scheduled meeting Jan. 23 and weigh on how California can balance the co-equal goals of water reliability and habitat restoration during drought.
State Water Board Announces Potential for Curtailment of Water Right Diversions
With California facing water shortfalls in the state’s driest year on record, the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) in coming weeks may notify water right holders in critically dry watersheds to limit or stop diversions of water under their water right, based on their priority.
Governor Officially Declares Drought, Urges Statewide Conservation
Gov. Jerry Brown today declared an official drought state of emergency and launched a statewide water conservation campaign that urges all Californians to conserve water by at least 20%.
The drought declaration eases some state and federal regulations governing water management and pushes the state’s water crisis into the forefront of the public eye. Brown urged Californians to look for water conservation tips on the public awareness campaign website www.saveourh2o.org.
Boxer, Feinstein, Costa Call for Federal Drought Task Force
U.S. Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, along with Rep. Jim Costa (D-16 ), have called on President Obama to form a federal drought task force and appoint a federal drought coordinator.
Legislators and Water Leaders Call for Action on Water Crisis
Addressing a rally of about 800 people at the state Capitol, a bipartisan group of legislators and water leaders on Jan. 16 called for decisive action on California’s water crisis, including passage of a 2014 water bond and a drought declaration by Gov. Jerry Brown.
Organized by the California Latino Water Coalition and other groups, the rally attracted hundreds of farmworkers and residents from throughout the state who carried signs that read, “No Water, No Jobs” and “No Water, No Future.”
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 Tuesday, Jan. 21 at noon.
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.
ACWA Region 10 Board Meeting 1/28/2014
Tue, 01/28/2014 – 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Location:
5610 Paseo Del Norte, Carlsbad, CA
ACWA Region 10 will have a Region Board Meeting /orientation on January 28, 2014 at Bellefleur Restaurant located at 5610 Paseo Del Norte, Carlsbad, CA at 6:30 p.m. Agenda is 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
ACWA 2014 Legislative Symposium
Wed, 03/05/2014
Location:
Sacramento Convention Center
The 2014 ACWA Legislative Symposium is set for March 5 at the Sacramento Convention Center.
Event and Registration Information
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.