ACWA eNews for April 1, 2015

ACWA eNews for April 1, 2015

in . ACWA’s eNews is a weekly roundup of California water news and events.
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Snow-Less Snow Survey Highlights Extreme Drought; Governor Mandates First-Ever Statewide Water Reductions

Submitted by Lisa Lien-Mager on Wed, 04/01/2015 – 1:19pm

PHILLIPS STATION — Standing on dry grass where there should be five feet of snow on April 1, Gov. Jerry Brown called for mandatory statewide reductions in water use and announced a suite of new state actions to conserve water use, increase enforcement of water use restrictions and streamline drought response by state agencies.

ACWA Special Drought Briefing Slated for April 9; Top-Level Officials to Discuss Drought Actions

Submitted by Pamela Martineau on Wed, 04/01/2015 – 4:42pm

As California’s unprecedented drought deepens and new mandates come online to deal with it, top-level water officials from state, federal and local agencies will gather in Sacramento April 9 for a special 2015 drought briefing organized by ACWA in partnership with other organizations.

 

Governor Brown Signs $1 Billion Emergency Drought Package

Submitted by Pamela Martineau on Fri, 03/27/2015 – 2:28pm

Gov. Jerry Brown today signed an emergency legislative package that speeds up the disbursement of more than $1 billion in funding for drought relief and water infrastructure projects and allocates an additional $2 million for the statewide water conservation program Save Our Water.

DWR Releases Draft Funding Recommendations for Water-Energy Grants

Submitted by Pamela Martineau on Mon, 03/30/2015 – 5:41pm

The Department of Water Resources today announced the release of draft funding recommendations for the 2014 Water-Energy Grant Solicitation, which formally opens the comment period on the recommendations.

The public comment period will close on April 24 at 5 p.m. DWR will hold a public meeting on April 17 at 3 p.m. in Sacramento at the CalEPA building on I St. in the building’s Sierra Room to receive public comments on the draft funding recommendations.

Registration Open for ACWA Spring Conference Set for May 5-8 in Sacramento

Submitted by Pamela Martineau on Wed, 04/01/2015 – 5:46pm

ACWA’s spring conference – titled “Mission: Possible, Taking Charge of Change” – is set for May 5-8 in Sacramento and will examine issues ranging from drought to implementation of Proposition 1.

The three-day conference will be held at the Sacramento Convention Center and surrounding hotels. It will feature a Thursday night dinner at the Railroad Museum. Joseph Bryne, chair of the California Water Commission, is scheduled to speak at the Thursday luncheon. Other top-level officials in the water community also will speak.

 

Continued Dry Conditions Force Bureau to Adhere to Low Initial Allocation Estimate

Submitted by Pamela Martineau on Fri, 03/27/2015 – 1:41pm

California’s continuing dry conditions have forced the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to adhere to its initial zero 2015 water supply allocation for many agricultural users north and south of the Delta, the Bureau announced March 27.

The Bureau released the initial water supply estimate in late February. At that time, Bureau officials said senior water rights holders would be receiving some water but at diminished quantities.

CDFW Releases Report on the Impacts of Marijuana Cultivation on Fish

Submitted by Emily Allshouse on Thu, 03/26/2015 – 11:24am

Marijuana cultivation in the state is having a devastating effect on state and federally listed salmon and steelhead trout according to a newly released report by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The report, “Impacts of Surface Water Diversions for Marijuana Cultivation on Aquatic habitat in Four Northwestern California Watersheds,” identifies negative impacts such as water pollution, loss of habitat and reduced flows due to surface water diversion.

Californians View Water Supply as Big Problem, Believe Neighbors Aren’t Doing Enough About Drought

Submitted by Pamela Martineau on Thu, 03/26/2015 – 9:39am

The vast majority of Californians — some 66% — say the water supply in their region is a big problem and the people in their regions are not doing enough to save water during drought, according to a statewide survey released March 25 by the Public Policy Institute of California.

The poll also found that residents are equally likely to name water and the drought (23%) as jobs and the economy (24%) as the most important issue facing California today. Central Valley residents – at 76% — are the most likely to view water supply as a big problem.

Public Listening Sessions – Basin Boundary Revisions Sustainable Groundwater Management Act

Tue, 04/28/2015 – 3:00pm – 5:00pm
Location:

Willows Memorial Hall 525 West Sycamore Street Willows, CA 95988

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) is hosting Public Listening Sessions regarding the
development of Emergency Regulations on Groundwater Basin Boundary Revisions as part of the Sustainable
Groundwater Management Act. These listening sessions are in addition and prior to the required public
REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Public Listening Sessions – Basin Boundary Revisions Sustainable Groundwater Management Act

Wed, 04/29/2015 – 3:00pm – 5:00pm
Location:

Visalia Convention Center – Charter Oak Ballroom, C/D 303 E Acequia Avenue Visalia, CA 93291

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) is hosting Public Listening Sessions regarding the

development of Emergency Regulations on Groundwater Basin Boundary Revisions as part of the Sustainable

REGISTRATION

Public Listening Sessions – Basin Boundary Revisions Sustainable Groundwater Management Act

Thu, 04/30/2015 – 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Location:

Feldheym Central Library – Bing Wong Lecture Hall 555 W 6th Street San Bernardino, CA 92410

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) is hosting Public Listening Sessions regarding the

development of Emergency Regulations on Groundwater Basin Boundary Revisions as part of the Sustainable

REGISTRATION

 

2015 Drought Briefing – Four Years and Counting: Impacts and Actions

Thu, 04/09/2015 – 8:30am – 12:30pm
Location:

Crest Theatre 1013 K Street, Sacramento

California has entered its fourth year of drought with far-reaching impacts on
water supply, agriculture, habitat, fish and wildlife, and water conservation.
The drought’s severity has not escaped public attention, with some 94% of
voters calling the situation “serious” in a recent Field Poll.

REGISTRATION

Water Education Foundation Central Valley Tour 2015

Wed, 04/22/2015 – Fri, 04/24/2015
Location:

Sacramento International Airport

Field Trip

This three-day, two-night tour travels the length of the San Joaquin Valley, giving participants a clear understanding of the State Water Project and Central Valley Project.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Water Education Foundation 2015 Anne J. Schneider Lecture

Wed, 04/29/2015 – 4:00pm – 7:00pm
Location:

Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento

The 2015 Anne J. Schneider Lecture will be held on April 29, 2015 at 4 p.m. at the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento. A reception will follow.

Dan Dooley, a distinguished policy leader and attorney known for successfully bridging the environmental and economic considerations in natural resources conflicts, will speak on “The Future of Agriculture in the Central Valley.”

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

 

ACWA 2015 Spring Conference & Exhibition

Tue, 05/05/2015 – Fri, 05/08/2015
Location:

Sacramento Convention Center and Surrounding Hotels, Sacramento

ACWA’s 2015 Spring Conference & Exhibition is set for May 5-8, 2015, at the Sacramento Convention Center and surrounding hotels in Sacramento.

IMPORTANT LINKS

ONLINE REGISTRATION

Bay-Delta Tour 2015

Wed, 06/24/2015 – Fri, 06/26/2015
Location:

Tour begins and ends at Sacramento International Airport

Sponsored by the Water Education Foundation, this 3-day, 2-night tour takes participants to the heart of California water policy – the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and San Francisco Bay.

MORE INFORMATION & REGISTRATION
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