ACWA News for Dec. 6, 2013 by ACWA

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NEWS

ACWA Hosts Fall Conference & Exhibition in LA

ACWA’s • Member • Newsletter

John Laird, secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency; Matthew Rodriquez, secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency; and Karen Ross, secretary of the California Department of Food & Agriculture, discuss the state’s future actions on water with ACWA Executive Director Timothy Quinn at the association’s Fall Conference & Exhibition Dec. 4 in Los Angeles. Photo by Martin Davis.

California on Pace for Record-Dry Conditions

State Water Project initial allocation set at only 5% of requested deliveries With dry conditions continuing in California — and forecasts predicting little relief in sight — the Department of Water Resources announced on Nov. 20 an initial allocation of just 5% of requested deliveries to State Water Project (SWP) contractors for calendar year 2014. The initial allocation — or water delivery estimate — is always conservative because it’s made early in the storm cycle. But this allocation is notable because it ties with the lowest allocation DWR has ever made for the State Water Project, reflecting the record-breaking dry conditions so far in 2013.

December 6, 2013

State officials say reservoir levels are a big factor in the initial allocation. This year’s picture at SWP facilities isn’t pretty. The state/federal San Luis Reservoir is hurting badly, at only 26% of capacity and 42% of its historic average for the date, as of Dec. 2. Lake Oroville, which can hold up to 3.5 MAF and accounts for about 60% of SWP’s storage capacity, was at 39% of total capacity and only 63% of its historic average. Dry Continued on page 3

Subsidence in San Joaquin Valley Threatens Canals, Puts Spotlight on Groundwater Management Widespread land subsidence in the San Joaquin Valley is putting the spotlight back on groundwater management and pressing local water agencies to work together for a solution. A new U.S. Geological Survey study discovered a total of 1,200 square miles around the Delta-Mendota Canal was impacted by at least one inch of subsidence between 2003 and 2008, and in some places it’s much worse.

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The initial allocation for 2010 also was 5%, reflecting hydrologic conditions immediately after California’s 2007-’09 drought.

ACWA Comments on California Water Action Plan

ACWA Board Hears 2013 Recap, Sets Stage for 2014

USGS scientists found a “very large subsidence bowl” and some of the fastest rates of land subsidence ever recorded in the region — nearly a foot per year between 2008 and 2010 — 15 miles northeast of the Delta-Mendota Canal between the Eastside Bypass and San Joaquin River south of the community of El Nido. Groundwater Continued on page 8

EPA Awards $174 Million to Improve California Drinking Water Systems

Proposed Fracking Regulations Released for Public Review

ACWA News is a publication of the Association of California Water Agencies 910 K Street, Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95814-3512 Periodicals postage paid at Sacramento, CA. POSTMASTER: send address changes and subscription requests to ACWA News, 910 K Street, Suite 100 Sacramento, CA 95814-3514 Phone: 916.441.4545 Fax: 916.561.7124 Website: acwa.com Executive Director Timothy Quinn Deputy Executive Director for External Affairs and Operations Jennifer Persike Director of Communications Lisa Lien-Mager Communications Specialist Pamela Martineau Communications Specialist Matt Williams Graphic Designer Katherine Causland Outreach & Social Media Specialist Ellen Martin Copyright 2013. All Rights Reserved. Call ACWA for Permission to Reprint. USPS 334030 Digital Only

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ACWA Comments on California Water Action Plan ACWA submitted a letter on Nov. 21 supporting many actions outlined in the draft California Water Action Plan and providing suggestions the association believes would improve the plan. In the letter addressed to state agency secretaries and sent to Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration, ACWA Executive Director Timothy Quinn wrote that the action plan advanced by the state in response to numerous pressing water issues “provides a solid foundation for advancing water policy in California” and the association “also is encouraged by the emphasis on continued and enhanced collaboration among state agencies and with stakeholders.” In its letter, ACWA suggested that the state’s draft action plan should be amended to include more “robust language” acknowledging the importance of maintaining California’s existing water rights system, more specificity about actions and investments in California’s headwaters, and more dialog about sustainable and integrated financing. ACWA also encouraged the Brown administration to further coordinate the state’s actions with federal agencies and to aggressively implement specific actions and timelines that ensure the plan is implemented effectively and fulfills its stated goals. “In particular, ACWA and our member agencies hope to actively engage and partner with the state on the development of specific actions related to storage (both for large and distributed surface and groundwater projects), water transfers, Integrated Regional Water Management Plans, operational concerns including those related to the ‘dead pool’ challenge, groundwater management and consolidation of the water quality programs,” the letter said. The state has been gathering input about the draft from stakeholders and is expected to incorporate the feedback in a final plan released in December. The California Natural Resources Agency, the California Environmental

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Protection Agency and the California Department of Food and Agriculture released the draft action plan on Oct. 31. Designed to address current and future water issues and provide a roadmap for directing state efforts and resources, the draft plan includes 10 broad actions over the next five years that state officials say would improve water supply reliability, restore ecosystems and help water systems and the environment become more resilient. The California Water Action Plan shares some similar principles with the Statewide Water Action Plan (SWAP) that ACWA’s Board of Directors adopted Sept. 27. SWAP outlines 15 critical actions to improve water supply reliability, protect water rights, protect the integrity of the state’s water system and promote better stewardship. It also includes guiding principles for implementation of the plan to help ensure actions benefit the entire state, respect water rights and contract terms, and reflect a new regulatory approach that can better meet the needs of California water users and ecosystems. More than 40 ACWA member agencies from across California have approved resolutions supporting SWAP.

ACWA Board

Coleman Elected to Serve as ACWA President, Tiegs Picked for VP ACWA members have elected John Coleman, a longtime director of East Bay Municipal Utility District, to a two-year term as president of the statewide association. Kathleen J. Tiegs, a member of the Cucamonga Valley Water District Board of Directors, was elected vice president. The two will take office in January. The election, which took place at ACWA’s 2013 Fall Conference & Exhibition in Los Angeles, capped a year in which the association pursued several new policy initiatives and worked to advance

a comprehensive approach to the state’s water supply challenges. “The direction our state takes on water policy in the next two years will have a profound impact on the next generation of Californians and beyond,” Coleman said. “The issues challenging us are great: securing a dependable water supply, restoring the Bay-Delta, protecting watersheds, managing groundwater and others. But the opportunities are equally great as innovation continues leading us towards improvements in water quality, water recycling and energy management.” Coleman has served as vice president of the association since January 2012. He has been a member of the East Bay MUD board since 1990 and served as president from 1996 to 2000.

Agencies and currently chairs the Upper Mokelumne River Watershed Authority and the Freeport Regional Water Authority. He was appointed chair of ACWA’s Federal Affairs Committee in December 2009. Tiegs has served on the Cucamonga Valley Water District Board of Directors since 2005. She is a member of ACWA’s Region 9 Board of Directors and serves on the board of the ACWA / Joint Powers Insurance Authority. She is actively involved in special district advocacy and serves on the Board of Directors for the California Special Districts Association as well as the local chapter of the Association of San Bernardino County Special Districts, where she serves as President.

He is a past president of the board of the California Association of Sanitation

Dry Continued from page 1

Water managers fear that if rain and snow fail to materialize, a third straight dry year could lead to serious water supply challenges for some regions. There simply isn’t enough surface water in storage to ease the blow if the dry pattern persists. Water managers are hoping for a turnaround similar to 2010, when the final allocation turned out to be 50% due to wet conditions that winter. Last year’s initial allocation was 30%, and in the spring was revised to 35% of the nearly 4.2 million acre-feet that water agencies requested. The state normally receives more than 90% of its snow and rain from December through April, so this year’s allocation should increase if storms roll in. “We hope things improve with this winter’s storms,” DWR Director Mark Cowin said in a statement, “but there is no guarantee that 2014 won’t be our third consecutive dry year. Today’s allocation is a stark reminder that California’s fickle weather demands that we make year-round conservation a way of life.”

It will take much more than a brief drenching to ease a prolonged dry spell that’s shattering state records.

of Colorado, is part of DWR’s ongoing efforts to develop seasonal water supply forecasting ability.

Approximately 82% of California’s land area is experiencing “severe” or worse drought conditions, according to Nov. 26 update from the U.S. Drought Monitor. About 27% of the state’s land area, including much of the San Joaquin Valley, is under “extreme” drought. The National Climatic Data Center reports that the first 10 months of 2013 have been the driest such period in California since recordkeeping began in 1895.

The experimental forecast sees mostly dry conditions for most of California, with dry conditions especially likely in Southern California; near-normal to drier than normal for the Colorado River Basin, although not as dry as in water year 2013; and a small chance of a spring shift to El Niño conditions that could bring wetter weather for Southern California late in the season. The predictions are based on statistical models that consider global influences on California climate.

According to an “experimental winter outlook” released Nov. 27 by Department of Water Resources (DWR) officials, dry conditions will continue this winter for most of California, but there is a small chance in the spring of a shift to El Nino weather patterns that could bring wetter weather to Southern California. The experimental outlook, prepared for DWR by Dr. Klaus Wolter of the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences at the University

“Atmospheric river (AR) storms are a wildcard in this forecast,” Wolter stated in a press release. “My forecast last year for dry conditions in water year 2013 seemed destined for failure at first, since California experienced record wet conditions in late November/early December of last year courtesy of AR storms. However, the remainder of the season was record dry, producing an overall result of dry for the water year.” December 6, 2013 • 3

ACWA Board

At left, ACWA President Randy Record (left) and Executive Director Timothy Quinn (right) honors Immediate Past President Paul Kelley for his many years of service with ACWA during the Nov. 22 Board of Directors meeting in Sacramento. Quinn, Record and Vice President John Coleman recognize ACWA Region Affairs Representative Marcia Wulff for her 20 years of dedicated employment with ACWA. Wulff is retiring at the end of the year. Photos by Katherine Causland

ACWA Board Hears 2013 Recap, Sets Stage for Focus on Groundwater ACWA’s Board of Directors heard a recap of the year’s activities and set the stage for action on priority issues in 2014 during a Nov. 22 meeting in Sacramento. Executive Director Timothy Quinn reported that it’s been a banner year for ACWA on several fronts, including two major efforts related to improving statewide water supply reliability. The successes were made possible, he said, by changes implemented internally last year as part of the association’s Reorganization and Revitalization Plan. “As a result of the reorganization last year, we are a much more effective and efficient association today,” Quinn told the Board. “We have virtually reinvented our operations from the complete overhaul of our technology to streamlined financial processes and vast improvement to member services and programs. That has positioned us for success on the policy issues that are so important to our members.” On the policy front, Quinn cited unanimous Board approval of ACWA’s Statewide Water Action Plan (SWAP) in September. The plan was presented to Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration in October. It also is gaining traction in Cali-

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fornia’s water community. More than 45 ACWA member agencies have approved resolutions supporting the SWAP. The plan was presented to Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration in October. On Oct. 31, the Brown administration unveiled its own water action plan for California that has many common elements with ACWA’s SWAP. In another key effort, the ACWA Board adopted guidelines for modifying the 2014 water bond. The guidelines led to an $8.2 billion bond proposal advanced by ACWA that has been well received in briefings with legislators and coalition partners, Quinn said. ACWA’s efforts on both the SWAP and the water bond reflect what the association does best: bringing its diverse members together to make a substantive policy statement, he said. “Part of our job is to create a platform for our members to agree,” Quinn said. “It can be a truly powerful thing.” Following Quinn’s stage-setting remarks on the year’s highlights, ACWA’s two deputy executive directors, Jennifer Persike and Cindy Tuck, presented more specific accomplishments tallied by the External Affairs and Operations Team

and the Government Relations Team, respectively.

Board Votes to Create Groundwater Sustainability Task Force With groundwater management increasingly in the spotlight due to mounting concerns about overdraft, subsidence and water quality problems, the Board discussed possible avenues to address the issue next year. The Board voted to establish a Groundwater Sustainability Task Force to help identify solutions and build on the association’s Statewide Water Action Plan as well as its 2011 Groundwater Framework. Drawing on the expertise of ACWA Board members from across the state, the group will identify and develop recommended strategies to achieve sustainable groundwater management. ACWA’s Groundwater Committee will help advise the new task force. Next year could be a defining period for groundwater management, Quinn said, adding that ACWA should be proactive and bring forward policy and technical solutions instead of waiting on the sideline. Groundwater soon could ACWA Board Continued on page 5

ACWA Board

Las Virgenes Recognized for Transparency and Public Governance

The award recognizes LVMWD’s efforts to promote transparency to the public in its operations and governance.

filings of financial reports to the state Controller; website content that includes the names, biographies and terms of board members; at least three years of financial audits; evidence of community outreach through the website and via customer newsletters; and a review of the submitted materials by a panel of outside community leaders.

To qualify for the certificate, an agency must demonstrate extensive and sustained efforts at transparency. Some examples include: documented ethics training for board members; timely

“It is a high honor to have our transparency efforts recognized by the Foundation,” said LVMWD general manager David W. Pedersen. “This award confirms our commitment to the commu-

Las Virgenes Municipal Water District (LVMWD) has become the latest California water agency to be awarded the District Transparency Certificate of Excellence by the nonprofit Special District Leadership Foundation.

nity as an agency dedicated to the highest standards of ethical conduct and providing access to the public in all aspects of our operations, including governance and financial management.”

ACWA President Randy Record and Executive Director Timothy Quinn thank outgoing Board members for their dedicated service to the association during the Nov. 22 Board meeting in Sacramento. From left to right: Jennifer Burke, outgoing vice chair for Region 1; Paul Hendrix, outgoing chair for Region 7; Bill Diedrich, outgoing chair for Region 6; Gail Pringle, outgoing chair for Region 8; and Scott Shapiro, outgoing chair of the Legal Affairs Committee. Photos by Katherine Causland

Continued from page 4

become as big as an issue as the Delta for the water community, he said.

Board Approves Code of Conduct The Board of Directors unanimously adopted a code of conduct establishing ethical standards for ACWA Board members. A workgroup within ACWA’s Legal Affairs Committee developed the code of conduct in response to amendments to the association’s bylaws, one of which required the Board to adopt a code of conduct. It incorporates elements of similar policies ACWA member agencies already have adopted. Beginning with the new 2014-’15 Board term in January, all Board members will be required to sign the document.

ACWA Files Amicus Brief on Chromium-6 The Board approved the immediate filing of an amicus letter supporting the California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) request to a trial court that it give the department more time to fully evaluate the 18,000 comments it has received about the draft Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) proposed for chromium-6 in drinking water. On Aug. 22 CDPH published the nation’s first draft MCL for hexavalent chromium, or chromium-6, proposing a standard of 10 parts per billion. In recommending the letter be filed, ACWA’s Legal Affairs committee deemed

Natural Resources Defense Council v. California Department of Public Health an “extraordinary case” that could directly impact ACWA member agencies. In particular, ACWA is concerned that limiting the comment review period to only one year as required by the Administrative Procedures Act is inadequate for the chromium-6 review, given it previously took 11 months to review a much smaller volume of comments on the perchlorate MCL. If the court imposes the shorter review period at the plaintiff ’s request, it could hamper the review process and be detrimental to development of a drinking water standard based on the best available science. December 6, 2013 • 5

Federal RElations

EPA Awards $174 Million to Improve California Drinking Water Systems The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Nov. 21 that it has awarded $174 million in federal funding for water infrastructure projects in California that seek to control water pollution and provide low-cost loans for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure upgrades statewide. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) received a $79 million grant for its Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) received a $95 million grant for its Clean Water State Revolving Fund.

“In the last 26 years, EPA has provided more than $4 billion in funding for California water projects alone,” said Jared Blumenfeld, regional administrator of EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. “Without this investment at the federal level, many communities would not be able to satisfy Californians’ basic needs for clean and safe drinking water.” Projects previously supported by the State Revolving Fund include a $34 million loan to Los Angeles County for construction of a new pumping plant and the renovation of aging water mains and an $11 million loan to the City of Lathrop to construct an arsenic treatment facility, improve wells and lay down new water mains for over 16,000 residents. The funds are used for a wide variety of water quality projects, including

nonpoint source pollution control, watershed protection or restoration, water and energy efficiency projects, wastewater reclamation, drinking water infrastructure improvements, technical assistance, and traditional municipal wastewater treatment projects. In 2013, more than 85% of the EPA Pacific Southwest Region’s $631 million operating budget flowed to state and tribal agencies, local governments, nonprofit organizations and private-sector companies in the form of grants and contracts. This funding pays for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, air pollution reduction programs, Superfund site cleanups and many other activities that protect human health and natural resources.

ACWA Supports Bill Exempting Hydrants from ‘Lead-Free’ Rule ACWA is urging its members to support federal legislation that would exempt fire hydrants from the federal Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water law. The Community Fire Safety Act (HR 3588), bipartisan legislation introduced by Reps. Bill Johnson (R-Ohio) and Paul Tonka (D-NY) on Nov. 21, is seeking to correct an announcement this fall from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that newly-installed fire hydrants

will be subject to the law’s reduced lead content requirements beginning on Jan. 4, 2014. The application of this law to fire hydrants was not proposed in previous EPA draft documents. Fire hydrants in California are not currently required to meet lead-free standards and achieving compliance with a lead free requirement for all fire hydrants would present substantial financial, operational and technical challenges for California water agencies. The EPA ruling could render millions of dollars’ worth of brand-new fire hydrants unusable early next year. The Community Fire Safety Act would address this problem simply by adding fire hydrants to the list of devices that are already exempt from the law’s new lead content standards. Additionally, it directs EPA to study lead exposure issues in more detail.

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ACWA sent a letter requesting EPA reconsider the status of fire hydrants. The letter stated: “The change EPA is proposing in the FAQ document represents a substantial expansion of the scope of lead free laws. If EPA chooses to pursue this change, ACWA urges you to conduct a formal rule making process. Health concerns associated with lead are generally a matter of long-term exposure, and hydrants theoretically used as potable water sources during emergencies would only serve this purpose for only a limited period of time.” ACWA is working with a coalition of water associations, including the American Water Works Association, Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, and National Rural Water Association, on this issue and will continue to follow it closely.

WAter News

Proposed Fracking Regulations Released for Public Review, Comment The California Department of Conservation (DOC) on Nov. 15 released for public comment a package of proposed regulations for well stimulation treatment for oil and gas production, a process also known as hydraulic fracturing or fracking.

said that “the proposed regulations address a comprehensive list of issues, including testing, monitoring, public notice, and permitting. We will also have emergency regulations in place by January 1, 2014, to ensure that the major requirements of SB 4 are addressed in the interim.”

The release of the proposed regulations launches the formal rulemaking process and marks the beginning of a 60-day public comment period. It’s likely an additional 45-day public comment period will follow later in 2014, DOC officials said in a prepared statement released Nov. 15.

SB 4, sponsored by State Sen. Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills), sets rules and regulations for both fracking and acidizing. The bill would enact, by 2015, a regulatory framework made up of several components, including:

Hearings where members of the public may comment on the proposed rules will be held in five cities in January. “These proposed regulations implement Senate Bill 4, which was signed into law in September, and also supplement existing regulations that protect health, safety and the environment through strong well construction standards,” Department of Conservation Director Mark Nechodom said. “We believe that once these proposed regulations go into effect at the start of 2015, we will have in place the strongest environmental and public health protections of any oil- and gasproducing state in the nation while also ensuring that a key element of California’s economy can maintain its productivity.” Tim Kustic, head of DOC’s Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources,

• Requiring well operators to obtain permits from the California Department of Conservation’s Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) in advance of any “well stimulation” treatment such as fracking or acidizing. • Enabling owners of property near fracked wells to receive notice of fracking activities and the ability to request water quality sampling. • Tasking DOGGR and other appropriate state agencies with amending rules and regulations concerning the construction of wells and well casings. • Requiring DOGGR to develop and maintain a publicly available database where fracking activity in California can be tracked transparently. • Allowing well operators to keep confidential their “trade secret” chemical mixtures used for fracking, but requiring their disclosure to DOGGR and as

necessary to health professionals. • Requiring the Natural Resources Agency to complete a study of the possible hazards and risks of fracking. • Authorizing civil penalties of between $10,000 to $25,000 per day against violators of the well stimulation requirements. Critics claim fracking chemicals can leach into groundwater and pollute drinking water sources, and some believe that the injection of high-pressure fluids can even cause flurries of earthquakes. Supporters, meanwhile, say that fracking could be an economic boon for the state if the drilling process can tap into the Monterey Shale, an expansive rock formation in the San Joaquin Valley believed to contain a lucrative oil reserve. Earlier this year ACWA took a “support” position on SB 4, citing the need to disclose the amount and type of chemicals and fluids used in fracking in order to protect California’s water quality. Comments regarding the newly released proposed regulations can be submitted via email to DOGGRRegulations@ conservation.ca.gov; via FAX to (916) 324-0948; or via regular mail to the Department of Conservation Office of Governmental and Environmental Relations, 801 K Street MS 24-02, 95814, ATTN: Well Stimulation Regulations. The text of the proposed regulations can be found at http://www. conservation.ca.gov.

2012-’13 Summary of Appellate Court Cases Now Available on ACWA’s Website ACWA’s summary book of 2012-’13 appellate court cases and decisions is now available for purchase at acwa.com. The sixth-annual guide, prepared by ACWA Legal Affairs Committee members and other attorneys from the water community, summarizes and discusses cases that may be of interest to ACWA

member agencies and their legal counsel. The 77-page booklet discusses cases on an array of topics, including the Endangered Species Act, water rights, land use and water supply, fees and rates, government transparency and employment. For ordering information, please go to acwa.com/catalog. December 6, 2013 • 7

Groundwater Groundwater Continued from page 1

Increased groundwater pumping is believed to be the cause. Dry conditions and the “regulatory drought” brought on by pumping restrictions in the Delta are forcing growers and water managers to rely more heavily on local aquifers. Subsidence could threaten key water infrastructure if it isn’t stopped. The northern stretch of the Delta-Mendota Canal is fairly stable or is experiencing minimal subsidence that is recoverable and elastic, USGS said, but the southern part of the canal, is sinking more. “This was one case where the subsidence was in a new location we were not necessarily expecting and we were surprised at the amount of land being affected by that subsidence,” USGS scientist Michelle Sneed said Nov. 21 during a press conference at California State University, Sacramento. Subsidence also is reducing the flow capacity and freeboard (the height of the bank above the highest water level) of the Delta-Mendota Canal, the California Aqueduct, and other local canals, and is making the affected areas more flood prone. “The problem with land subsidence, especially in the Central Valley, is that there a lot of water conveyances that deliver water or transport flood water out of the area — and subsidence damages that,” Sneed said. Roads, railways, bridges and pipelines also are at risk, she added. Richard Woodley, Reclamation’s assistant regional director, said to his knowledge nothing so far related to the subsidence has affected the Bureau’s ability to deliver water to its customers. Reclamation has contracted with USGS to continue studying the problem at other sites in the Central Valley and along the California Aqueduct using satellite-based radar to measure changes in land surface elevation along with data from ground stations. Woodley said the Bureau wants to learn more about the issue before moving forward on several 8 • ACWA NEWS

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planned water infrastructure projects. The subsidence isn’t news to local water managers who have seen the problem growing worse for years. Chase Hurley, general manager of the San Luis Canal Co., said the company’s diversion dam off the San Joaquin River has sunk 6 to 8 inches during the past five years. The mutual water company’s service area west of the San Joaquin River near Highway 152 in Merced County is under duress, he said, because water users to the east were overdrafting. Hurley recently approached them to find an agreeable solution that will mitigate or reverse the subsidence, and now they are working on projects together. Chris White, general manager of Central California Irrigation District, said he’s optimistic that a local solution can occur, with help from the state to streamline the permitting process along with steps taken through the Bay Delta Conservation Plan. He said the region effectively addressed subsidence during the 1970s after the California Aqueduct went into service, and can do it again. The 1,200 square miles USGS found subsidence in is basically the same area as a big map charted between 1924 and 1972, he said. The stakes are high. White said the region could face an emergency if the subsidence isn’t addressed soon. Central California Irrigation District won’t be able to gravity flow water to some of its service area, he said, and San Luis Canal Co. won’t be able to pump at all.

Buckled concrete in the Delta-Mendota Canal wall. This segment of the canal has been problematic for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the Delta-Mendota Water Authority. Photo credit: U.S. Geological Survey

especially if surface supply from the Delta can’t flow south because of another round of pumping restrictions. “You would assume it will result in more subsidence,” White said. Urgency seems to be building on all sides. The Department of Water Resources is working on its Groundwater Work Plan, which some water managers and growers in the San Joaquin Valley fear could eventually lead to state regulation. ACWA’s Board of Directors approved formation of a Groundwater Sustainability Task Force at its Nov. 22 Board meeting. The task force is expected to identify solutions and build upon ACWA’s Statewide Water Action Plan and the association’s 2011 Groundwater Framework.

“As you go farther east and north, it’s a big hole,” he said.

Delta Stewardship Council Chair Phil Isenberg said the USGS finding is “truly alarming” and shows that continual groundwater extraction can’t replace cutbacks in surface water deliveries. He said the report underscores the importance of adopting the recommendations in the California Water Action Plan and the Delta Plan.

And if 2014 turns out to be California’s third consecutive dry year, the hole could become bigger, wider and deeper. White said growers could be forced to tap again into groundwater if it’s dry,

“Historically the state has treated groundwater management as a local issue; however, the USGS report shows that those local jurisdictions must do a better job quickly,” Isenberg said.

Hurley said everyone knows subsidence is happening, but the breadth of the land area detailed in the USGS report is surprising.

Newswatch

Nevada Irrigation District Helps Furloughed Federal Workers U.S. government workers who were furloughed for two weeks this fall have a little extra time to send in their water bill to the Nevada Irrigation District. The district’s board voted unanimously Oct. 9 to extend the payment period for furloughed workers’ water bills and to waive interest on the accounts for up to 60 days after the furloughs were

terminated. That means the furloughed workers can still pay their bill this month without penalty. The federal government shutdown occurred during the first two weeks of October, when Congress was mired in an acrimonious budget impasse. Approximately 800,000 federal employees across the country were furloughed.

At the time of the board’s decision, NID Finance Manager Jim Malberg noted that several federal employers, such as the U.S. Forest Service and Beale Air Force Base, were in the district’s service area. “The district has a history of working with people who face financial hardships,” said Malberg. “This is one way that we can help.”

Vista Irrigation District Wins Top Workplace Award Vista Irrigation District was recognized in November as one of the best places to work in San Diego County. The district was selected as a U-T San Diego Top Workplace award winner for the small business category, the only government agency in that category honored.

“It is a tremendous honor to be recognized as a Top Workplace in San Diego County. This award is truly a reflection of the outstanding team and the positive, supportive work environment that we have at the Vista Irrigation District,” said General Manager Roy Coox.

assistance from a research firm on organizational health and employee engagement, via evaluation of the companies by their employees. Multiple surveys were submitted on behalf of the company and the accumulated data determined the company’s score.

The awards were determined with

Eastern MWD Honors Retired State Sen. Emmerson Eastern Municipal Water District honored retired State Sen. Bill Emmerson (R-Redlands) for his efforts toward improving the region’s water supply. Emmerson, who represented State Senate District 23, was elected in 2010. Beginning in 2004, he also served six years in the Assembly. On Nov. 20 EMWD’s Board of Directors presented Emmerson with a proclamation thanking him for his support the past nine years. Emmerson previously was recognized by EMWD as the recipient of the 2013 Water Champion Award. Emmerson and EMWD have partnered on several projects improving water supply reliability for residents in western Riverside County and beyond. In 2012, Emmerson authored two bills signed into law that are designed to curb metal theft of fire hydrants, backflow devices and manhole covers. SB 1045

holds recyclers civilly liable for damages resulting from the theft of fire hydrants, backflow devices and manhole covers. SB 1387 prohibits junk dealers and scrap metal recyclers from purchasing those items unless they are are accompanied by written documentation from the agency that allows for the selling of the item. Emmerson also was vocal about the need for the Bay Delta Conservation Plan, supported the 2009 legislative water package, and has pushed to curtail waste discharge into the Bay Delta. “Senator Emmerson has been a valued partner for our District during his tenure holding elected office,” Board President Phil Paule said. “He understands the importance — on the local and state levels — of ensuring a safe and reliable water supply for all Californians, and has worked tirelessly to benefit his constituents.

Randy Record, ACWA president and Eastern MWD board member, presents retired State Sen. Bill Emmerson with a proclamation recognizing his work toward improving the region’s water supply.

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People News

Former ACWA Executive Director Retiring from EID Board Former ACWA executive director John Fraser is retiring after serving 12 years on the El Dorado Irrigation District Board. Fraser led ACWA and served as the association’s general counsel from 19731992. During that 20-year period, ACWA’s membership doubled, the assocation expanded member benefits programs, created the ACWA/Joint Powers Insurance Authority, revitalized its public affairs program, founded the Water Education Foundation as an independent, nonprofit organization, and established ACWA’s Washington, D.C., office. He became a member of the El Dorado Irrigation District Board in 2001 and was reelected for two more four-year terms. Fraser served as vice president in 2004 and 2009, and as president in 2005 and 2010. Fraser has held other regional, statewide and national leadership positions, serving as a board member for the National Water Resources Association, Regional Water Authority, American River Authority, El Dorado County Water Agency, and the El Dorado Water and Power Authority. He and his wife Joan live west of Placerville.

Jennifer Persike, ACWA deputy executive director for external affairs and operations, presents former ACWA executive director John Fraser on Nov. 12 with a Board resolution honoring his many years of service to the association and the water community.

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Public Member Agencies Coastside County Water District At a special meeting in late November the Coastside County Water District Board of Directors appointed Arnie Glassberg to fill a board vacancy.

election. The Los Angeles County Registrar determined that Szu Pei Lu-Yang, John Bellah and Robert Lewis were to be appointed rather than participate in the election.

Glassberg, an El Granada resident who worked in public schools for more than three decades, was chosen from a pool of seven candidates the board interviewed.

Lu-Yang, a lifelong resident of Southern California, is Rowland Water District’s board president. She practices civil litigation and liability law in Riverside.

He reportedly is a fourth-generation Californian who grew up in Los Angeles and moved north in 1989. “I’ve been looking for an organization with which I could donate my time and give service back to the community,” Glassberg told the Half Moon Bay Review. “Nothing piqued my interest or fit my skill set, but when I got the email about the opening I went, ‘Wow, that’s interesting.’” Glassberg fills the vacancy left by Bryan Hannegan, who resigned in October.

Rowland Water District Three Rowland Heights residents will continue serving as directors on Rowland Water District’s board through 2017 after running unopposed in the Nov. 5

Bellah, the district’s vice president, has lived in the San Gabriel Valley more than 60 years. Prior to retiring he was a small business owner. He is a commissioner on the Pomona-Walnut-Rowland Joint Water Line Commission. Lewis has lived in the Rowland Heights area since the 1980s and in Southern California for more than 50 years. He is a veteran and served in the U.S. Army. He later worked as a field engineer and is now retired.

Parsons VP Presents at Climate Conference Ane Deister, vice president for Parsons’ environmental division, participated Nov. 1113 in an international conference on climate change and regional drought preparedness. The 2013 APEC Climate Symposium in Jakarta, Indonesia, brought together approximately 100 scientists, national hydrological and meteorological officials, academics, policymakers, and other stakeholders from around the world. The participants discussed climate prediction issues and information applications, in particular the importance of advancing climate information for supporting re-

gional drought preparedness and disaster management. Deister, a former general manager of the El Dorado Irrigation District, gave a presentation during the symposium on “Use of Drought Information for Policy and Decision Making.” She focused on the need for collaboration and building trust among scientific experts who predict climate impacts, engineers and resource managers who help mitigate and respond to climate impacts, policymakers who make decisions on which actions they will fund, and the public. Parsons, an engineering and professional services company, is an ACWA associate member.

CALENDAR 2014 January 23 – 24

ACWA Events

May The California Irrigation Institute will hold its 2014 annual conference, “Building a Water and Energy Efficient California,” Jan. 23-24 at the Sacramento Arden West Hilton in Sacramento. Visit www.caii.org for more information.

6 – 9

ACWA’s 2014 Spring Conference & Exhibition is May 6 – 9 at the Portola and Marriott Hotels, Monterey. For more information contact ACWA’s Member Services and Events Department at events@acwa.com or 916.441.4545.

O.C. Water Summit on May 16 will bring together more than 500 Southern California business professionals with international, national and state water industry stakeholders, elected officials, environmentalists, scientists and community leaders to discuss ongoing global water issues and how water supply challenges impact our economy and public safety. Prominent authors, world-renowned experts and distinguished speakers will also be a part of this critical dialog. Visit www.ocwatersummit.com for more information.

February 25 – 27

March 5

ACWA DC2014, the annual Washington D.C. conference, is Feb. 25-27 at the Liaison Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C. ACWA DC2014 provides a unique opportunity to meet with members of Congress and the Obama administration. Highlights will include learning about key Congressional committee agendas, understanding the direction of federal agencies and developing insight into where the Congress will be headed. Register at http://www. acwa.com/content/event-registration. For more information, contact ACWA’s Member Services and Events Department at events@acwa.com or 916.441.4545.

ACWA 2014 Legislative Symposium, an annual event on water-related issues facing California and the State Legislature, is March 5 at the Sacramento Convention Center. For more information, contact ACWA’s Member Services and Events Department at events@ acwa.com or 916.441.4545.

ACWA Region 3 / Mountain Counties Water Resources Association will hold a joint meeting Friday, March 14, at the El Dorado Irrigation District, Placerville. For more information visit http:// mountaincountieswater.com/meeting-schedule/ upcoming-meetings/.

26 – 27

Children’s Water Education Festival presented by the Orange County Water District, Disneyland Resort, National Water Research Institute and the OCWD Groundwater Guardian Team on March 26 – 27. 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.

Other Events

December 2 – 5

ACWA’s 2014 Fall Conference & Exhibition is Dec. 2 – 5 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt, San Diego. For more information contact ACWA’s Member Services and Events Department at events@acwa.com or 916.441.4545.

ACWA DC2014

Annual Washington D.C. Conference

Feb. 25-27, 2014

Liaison Capitol Hill • Washington D.C.

classifieds

Association of California Water Agencies 910 K Street, Suite 100 Sacramento, CA 95814-3577

Positions Open Chief Financial Officer

Time Valued Material

United Water Conservation Distrcit United Water Conservation District. The CFO oversees the Administrative Services Department, which includes the District’s Accounting, Human Resources and IT activities. The CFO provides support to the General Manager and performs a variety of day-day activities. The successful candidate possesses a strong entrepreneurial and finance background with knowledge of debt financing and management, bond issuance, and financing of large infrastructure projects. Requires 5 years of progressively responsible senior management experience in administrative/business services, Bachelor’s Degree required. To apply, visit www.koffassociates.com to obtain a detailed brochure, Application, and Supplemental Questionnaire. Inquiries may be made by contacting Kathy Crotty at 510-658-5633,kcrotty@koffassociates.com.

Deputy General Manager Eastern Municipal Water District

Periodicals Postage Paid at Sacramento, CA

of responsible management experience in a large to medium sized public or private entity, preferably in water resource management with strong experience in intergovernmental relations. To apply, please visit www.koffassociates.com to obtain a detailed brochure, Application, and Supplemental Questionnaire. Inquiries may be made by contacting Kathy Crotty at 510-658-5633, kcrotty@koffassociates. com. Closing Date December 20, 2013. Established Salary Range – $155,295 $188,763

OFFICE SPACE FOR LEASE

Reporting to the General Manager, the General Manager Deputy General Manager will provide Shafter-Wasco Irrigaation District support for a wide range of day-to-day activities. Requires 10 years of progressively The Shafter-Wasco Irrigation District responsible administrative/executive is seeking applications for a General management experience in a large, complex This position is responsible SUITE 300 Manager. ±2,200 Rentable SF public agency, preferably a public utility.SUITE 350 for ±1,850 the Rentable effectiveSFoperation of all district Bachelor’s degree required; advanced RATE $1.65 per RSF, functions andFSG advising and making degree desirable. Established salary range recommendations to the Board of CBD location, only one block to is $206,354 – $237,308 plus an excellentP Great Downtown Directors. State Capitol benefits package including car allowance P and Perfect for professional firmswater to Thelobbyists districtand serves irrigation CalPERS retirement. Interested candidates P can Walking distance to restaurants, hotels, and professional servicesapproximately 38,000 acres of prime apply via email to apply@ralphandersen.com lands. The district’s water P Beautifulagricultural historic building by Monday, 1/6/14. Confidential inquires to P Wired for alarm service supply originates from the Friant Unit of Heather Renschler at (916) 630-4900. Detailed P 2/1000 on-site parking the Central Valley Project. The cities of brochure at www.ralphandersen.com. and Shafter are partially located full fee toWasco procurring broker within the district boundaries. The Deputy General Manager district is located in the City of Wasco United Water Conservation District approximately 25 miles north west of The United Water Conservation District. Bakersfield. This position reports to a five The Deputy General Manager manages the member Board of Directors and has nine Engineering, Operations and Maintenance, additional full time employees. Environmental Planning and Conservation The ideal candidate has strong departments. The position requires a management skills, knowledge oneofblock strong, technical background; exemplary business principles, budget preparation Capitol! interpersonal skills and a public presence. and management, staff development, The Deputy GM is politically astute, customer service, and leadership committed to establishing sustainable, principles. collaborative relationships. Requires (6) years

Desirable candidates must have a Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, engineering or closely related field. The successful candidate should have at least five years of increasing managerial responsibilities. The district offers a competitive salary depending on experience. The district has an excellent benefit package including CalPers retirement plan, full medical insurance and 910 K STREET social security. Interested candidates should SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA submit a resume, letter of interest, and salary history to swidc@lightspeed.net. Interested candidates need to apply by January 3, 2014. TWO SUITES AVAILABLE

Move-in ready office space. One block from the State Capitol.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

MARK TABAK

SEAN MULLEN

Office for Lease

Prime Downtown Location

Three suites available in Sacramento, one block from the State Capital (910 K St.). • Suite 350 – 1,850 sq. ft. Suite 300 – 2,200 sq. ft. Suite 340 – 578 sq. ft. • Move-in ready office space • Immediate access to Interstate 5 and Interstate 80 • Walking distance to Westfield Downtown Shopping Center, restaurants, and hotels • Centrally located in the heart of the Sacramento Central Business District For more information, contact Mark Tabak: 916.288.4818 or mark.tabak@cushwake.com