Building a more sustainable groundwater management system in California was identified as a top statewide water priority by several speakers Wednesday during a meeting of the California Water Commission.

ACWA is seeking legislative proposals from its member agencies for the first year of the 2014-‘15 legislative session.

The deadline to submit proposals is Friday, Sept. 5. The association’s State Legislative Committee will hear presentations and consider proposals at its meeting on Oct. 24 in Sacramento.

Agencies interested in submitting legislative proposals for ACWA to sponsor or support next year should take the following steps:

On Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources unanimously approved President Obama’s choice of Estevan López to be the next Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation. Mr. López had been nominated for the post after his predecessor, Mike Connor, was promoted to be Deputy Secretary of the Interior. Mr. López’s nomination must now go before the full Senate.

Statewide emergency regulations limiting outdoor watering or banning water fountains could be adopted by the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) in July as part of ongoing efforts to reduce Californians’ water use during drought.

On Monday, June 23^rd, the Bureau of Reclamation will be holding a public workshop to discuss proposed changes to the Municipal and Industrial Ratesetting Policy. The proposed changes have not yet been finalized and a 30 day comment period will be held to solicit public input. The comment period ends at the close of business on July 23.

A copy of the proposed changes can be found here.

The State Water Board is continuing to accept applications for a total of $800 million in extremely low-interest loans for water recycling projects that can be completed during the next three years.

The State Water Board’s Division of Financial Assistance is making the 1% interest loans available to municipalities through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) as part of the state’s response to the statewide drought.

A new report from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) presents another example of how a replenishment facility can have a positive impact on local groundwater levels and slow or stop land subsidence.