ACWA News for July 5, 2013 by ACWA

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ACWA

NEWS

Rope Team Descends America’s Iconic Hoover Dam

ACWA’s • Member • Newsletter

Volume 41 | Digital July 5, 2013

In June, members of the Lower Colorado Regional Rope Access Team rappelled off the parapet wall and visitor center at Hoover Dam, clearing trash and debris from the surrounding rock wall. The group, affiliated with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s Lower Colorado Region, typically has six to eight people. Lake Mead, behind Hoover Dam, is a vital reservoir on the Colorado River and a key facility for Southern California. Photos courtesy of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

Assembly Committee Gets Look at Working Group’s Proposed Principles for 2014 Water Bond Lawmakers got a first look today at proposed principles for reshaping the 2014 water bond during a presentation before the Assembly Water, Parks & Wildlife Committee. Assembly Member Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood), who chairs the committee, outlined principles developed by a working group in recent weeks to move the discussion forward. The group comprised of Democrats in the Assembly, was selected by Assembly Speaker John Pérez and led by Rendon. He said the working group focused on the big picture and laid out a “fundamentally dif-

ferent process” for developing a water bond. “We wanted to step back and look at the needs of all Californians,” Rendon said. “If we the leave the current bond on the ballot, it will fail to win approval… These principles reflect a process that is different. We plan to work collaboratively and engage everyone in government and the public. We will need to step back, and look toward the future and what California needs.” A fundamental question, he said, is what voters will support in a water bond. Any changes to Water Bond Continued on page 10

Agencies Have Made Progress in Delta Planning, But Lack Integration, 2013 Report Card Says State and federal agencies have made progress in major planning and regulatory actions in the Delta, but their efforts lack integration, which has led to polarization, according to the 2013 report card on the Delta that was released June 18 by the Delta Vision Foundation (DVF).

Foundation said significant progress still needs to be made.

Rankings in the annual report card that charts progress made in implementing goals of the Delta Vision Strategic Plan generally went up this year over last year’s rankings. However, several members of the Delta Vision

Rankings in 6 of the 7 areas of assessment went up in this report card, with no category of assessment ranking lower than a C-. In the area of Delta vitality and security, however, the

ACWA Members Highlight Concerns with AB 145

Water and Energy are Becoming Hot Topics on Captiol Hill This Summer

“We have a ways to go…to get all As,” Sunne Wright McPeak, president of the Delta Vision Foundation Board said June 18 during a panel discussion on the report card in Sacramento.

Delta Continued on page 5

ACWA Becomes Founding Partner in Sicence Education Center

Impressive Lineup for 2013-’14 ACWA Scholarship Recipients

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 Members Highlight Concerns with AB 145 By Cindy Tuck, ACWA Deputy Executive Director for Government Relations With the Senate Health Committee set to hear AB 145 (Perea) this week, water agencies throughout the state are voicing concerns about the bill and its potential negative consequences for the state’s drinking water program.

letter from Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District states. The department has been effective in helping to address issues, and strikes an “important and effective balance – they are regulators who must ensure the protection of public health, yet they serve as partners with local public water systems to help address water quality or service issues,” the letter says.

AB 145 seeks to address a critical problem: the lack of safe, sustainable drinking water supplies for some disadvantaged communities around the state. But its proposed solution — moving the state’s drinking water program away from the Department of Public Health to the State Water Resources Control Board — would create a new set of problems and diminish the program’s critical focus on public health.

Another letter from Mariposa Public Utility District says the district has benefited from the assistance of DPH staff in operating, training and evaluating of treatment processes for its service area, which qualifies as a disadvantaged community. “We do not recognize any advantage to public health with the transfer of the drinking water program to the (State Board),” the letter states.

ACWA members, public health groups and others are concerned that moving the entire drinking water program out of the Department of Public Health to the State Board runs the risk of undermining its public health focus and weakening emergency response to waterborne illnesses and other water security threats. It could also lead to disruptions that would reduce the program’s ability to carry out key activities such as monitoring and permitting the state’s 7,500 drinking water systems and providing 24-hour emergency response to protect public health. Letters to lawmakers highlighting these concerns are streaming in from ACWA member agencies. As local water managers, providing safe drinking water is job No. 1 for them. They know what’s involved in running a sustainable water system, and the important role the Department of Public Health plays with its focus on public health. Many letters cite direct experience working with department staff members, who have extensive expertise in public health. “We have first-hand knowledge of the challenges that are present when serving small disadvantaged communities,” one

ACWA and its coalition partners believe there is a better answer. Since a key issue has been the Department of Public Health’s less-than-aggressive management of the safe drinking water State Revolving Fund, it makes more sense to focus on the mechanics of managing the fund. The department has submitted a detailed action plan outlining changes to improve the fund’s management (see related story on pg. 3). Many of the changes already have been implemented. With the right direction and resources, the department could solve the problem. Another option would be to move responsibility for administering only the fund to the State Board, which manages a similar fund for wastewater projects. Transferring just the fund to the State Board — while leaving the rest of the drinking water regulatory program with the public health department, as other states have done — is a more targeted, viable solution. We credit Assembly Member Perea and others for focusing on the issue. AB 145 as currently written, however, is not the answer. We will continue to call for more targeted solutions that protect public health.

State Relations

Governor Signs Balanced, On-Time 2013-’14 State Budget Gov. Jerry Brown on June 27 signed a balanced, on-time state budget that includes funding for implementing federal health care reform and significant funding increases for education. The $96.3 billion spending plan also contains provisions to pay down the state’s debt and build its reserve to $1.1 billion.

“California’s finances are in very solid shape for the first time in a decade,” Brown wrote in a prepared statement. “We’re making significant investments in the things Californians care most about – the education of our children and adequate health care.” The budget commits $2.6 billion to pay down the state’s outstanding debt of $26.9 billion. Under the terms of the budget, the debt will be paid down to $4.7 billion over the next four fiscal years. The budget deficit reached its peak

in fiscal year 2010-11 when it hit $34.7 billion. The budget also includes a new funding formula for local schools that is aimed at providing more local control over spending. The budget also sets out a multi-year funding plan for the University of California and the California State University systems. Additional details on the budget, including line-item vetoes are available at www.ebudget.ca.gov.

ACWA Seeks Legislative Proposals for Second Year of Session ACWA is seeking legislative proposals from its member agencies for the second year of the 2013-2014 legislative session. The deadline to submit proposals is Friday, Sept. 6. The association’s State Legislative Committee will hear presentations and consider proposals at its meeting on Oct. 25 in Sacramento. Agencies submitting legislative

proposals for ACWA to sponsor or support next year should: • Got to acwa.com and complete the Legislative Proposal Form. • Obtain a resolution passed by the agency’s governing body in support of the proposal (or at a minimum have noticed by Sept. 6, 2013, consideration of the resolution).

• Submit all proposals and resolutions by Sept. 6 to ACWA State Legislative Analyst Antonio Alfaro. Agencies submitting proposals will be contacted by ACWA staff to schedule a presentation at the Oct. 25 committee meeting. Contact Antonio Alfaro at (916) 441-4545 or antonioa@acwa.com with any questions or comments.

Department of Public Health Submits Corrective Action Plan to EPA The California Department of Public Health Drinking Water Program submitted a corrective action plan June 24 to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency addressing 29 specific issues raised by the federal agency in April. “We have worked closely with our federal partners during this process and we appreciate their guidance,” Ron Chapman, CDPH director and state public health officer, said in a statement. “We look forward to continuing our collaborative efforts with U.S. EPA to achieve our mutual goal of providing safe drinking water for the people of California.” In its April 19 letter to the department, EPA noted $455 million in unspent federal funds allocated to the Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund as of Sep-

tember 2012. The action plan submitted June 24 reflects the distribution of $84 million by the end of this week to water projects across the state. The department will disburse nearly $200 million in total funds in fiscal year 2013-14 and in the following two fiscal years, will disburse an additional $600 million to assist water systems, putting the DPH on track to meet the targets set by EPA. According to a statement by the department, numerous changes have been made to improve the flow of funding assistance to communities. Changes include offering funding for planning as well as construction, facilitating greater opportunity for grant funding for public water systems that serve disadvantaged and severely

disadvantaged communities, and streamlining the application processes. The U.S. EPA was expected to respond to the corrective action plan by July 1. The plan is available on the CDPH website at http://www.cdph.ca.gov/.

July 5, 2013 • 3

Federal Update

Water and Energy are Becoming Hot Topics on Capitol Hill This Summer Several water-related items of note emerged in late June and early July in Washington, D.C. ACWA will continue to report on the status of these initiatives, bills and environmental reviews in the coming months.

Obama Reveals Climate Action Plan President Obama released a Climate Action Plan on June 25 that calls for reducing emissions from existing power plants, strengthening EPA’s proposal for future power plants emission standards, and promoting more renewable energy projects on federal lands. The actions outlined in the plan do not require congressional legislation. There are several items of interest to water agencies included in the Climate Action Plan, such as language directing EPA to integrate climate impacts into the SRF program, a new initiative on managing drought, and identifying new approaches to protect and restore forests. ACWA will follow the implementation of the Climate Action Plan by federal agencies.

Draft EIS Released on Impacts of Raising Shasta Dam The 90-day public comment period opened July 1 on the Bureau of Reclamation’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement on the Shasta Lake Water Resources Investigation (SLWRI), a study which examines the impacts of raising Shasta Dam. The Draft EIS evaluates six alternative plans to modify the existing Shasta Dam

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and Shasta Reservoir Project, located near Redding. The proposed project is intended to increase survival of anadromous fish populations in the upper Sacramento River as well as increase water supply and water reliability for agricultural, municipal, industrial, and environmental purposes. The three public workshops will be held at the following times and locations. • Tuesday, July 16, 6-8 p.m., Holiday Inn, Palomino Room, 1900 Hilltop Drive, Redding. • Wednesday, July 17, 1-3 p.m., Cal Expo Quality Inn Hotel & Suites, Conference Room, 1413 Howe Avenue, Sacramento. • Thursday, July 18, 6-8 p.m., Merced County Fairgrounds, Germino Building, 403 “F” Street, Los Banos.

Central Valley Project Restoration Fund Discussed at House Hearing The House Water and Power Subcommittee held a hearing on June 26 focusing on hydropower projects, titled “The Power Marketing Administrations: A Ratepayer’s Perspective.” During the hearing, Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-1) addressed several questions regarding the CVP Restoration Fund to witness Barry Tippin, director of the California-based Redding Electric Utility. Tippin responded that his utility pays $2 million annually to the Restoration Fund, which has collected $1.5 billion since 1992 from water users. Tippin expressed concern that while some Restoration Fund projects, such as the Shasta temperature control device, are easy to define with clear metrics for success, others — such as doubling the fish population — are subjective at best.

Tippin noted, “The CVP Restoration Fund as drafted is nebulous, with no project boundaries and no definitive metrics for measuring the success of fish projects, while costs keep escalating rapidly.”

Senate Energy and Water Bill Advances The Senate Appropriations Committee approved a Fiscal Year 2014 Energy and Water Appropriations bill on June 27. Of interest to ACWA members, the bill funds the Bureau of Reclamation and the Army Corps of Engineers. The bill’s overall funding level totals $34.773 billion, which is $1.96 billion below the fiscal year 2013 enacted level. The bill next moves to full consideration on the Senate floor. Bureau of Reclamation The bill would provide $1.1 billion for the Bureau of Reclamation, which is $54 million above fiscal year 2013. This includes $20 million, $4.5 million less than the fiscal year 2013 enacted level, for the WaterSmart grant program that improves water efficiency. It also includes $22 million, which is $1.7 million more than fiscal year 2013, for Title XVI water reclamation and reuse to meet the federal share of projects that produce new water. Army Corps of Engineers The bill would provide $5.272 billion, $300 million above fiscal year 2013, for the Army Corps of Engineers. This includes $1 billion for activities funded by the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, for improvements to navigation projects. It also would provide $380 million, $100 million above the President’s request, to continue ongoing flood control construction work.

STate Relations

Governor Announces July Is ‘Water Smart Month’ in California With temperatures rising and the state’s reservoirs dropping, Gov. Jerry Brown is calling July “Water Smart Month” and is urging Californians to conserve water indoors and outdoors.

consumption, whether it be watering the lawn less frequently, constructing a drip irrigation system for the garden or upgrading existing systems with smart irrigation controllers.”

“July is the perfect time to increase water awareness throughout the state,” Brown wrote June 28. “The snow packs are shrinking and the state will not see its reservoirs begin to fill again until fall. Low consumption practices and technology will help keep water in the streams and lakes for all to enjoy.”

Outdoor water use peaks in July. “Big water savings can be found outdoors, starting with your sprinkler system,” said Department of Water Resources Director Mark Cowin. “Fix leaky sprinklers, don’t water in the heat of the day, and consider installing a weather-based controller. I installed one at home and it works great. Simple changes like these won’t crimp your daily life, but they will yield big

Brown continued, “I invite all Californians to practice more sustainable water

rewards for our state.” The Save Our Water program was created in 2009 by the California Department of Water Resources and ACWA to educate consumers on ways to reduce their household water use. Save Our Water recently launched a new web portal, Sprinklers 101, aimed at helping homeowners and landscaping professionals conserve more water outdoors. For more water-saving tips, go to the Save Our Water website at http://www. saveourh2o.org/.

Delta Continued from page 1

ranking went down from a C to C-. The report cited continued regional improvement on emergency response, but stated no organized strategy for levee improvement had been made. It also cited insufficient funding to support regional economic development. On a positive note, the ranking on achieving the coequal goals of ecosystem restoration and water reliability rose from a D- last year to a C- this year. The report cited “strong effort” that has been made in the advancement of planning documents involving the Delta – such as the Delta Plan, Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) and the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan – but went on to state that “nothing (has been) accomplished to reverse years of neglect.” The report also stated that conditions in the Delta remain critical and many of the plans that address its problems lack complete definitions of performance outcomes and common objectives. Issued annually, the report card evaluates state and federal agencies for their leadership, strategic direction, coordination, results and accountability in water, environmental and Delta issues, including the coequal goals of water supply reliability and ecosystem restoration in the Delta. The report also includes recom-

mendations for improvements in specific issue areas pertaining to the Delta. According to the report, the 85 actions recommended in the Delta Vision Strategic Plan are 30% complete. However, near-term actions such as levee investments “have stalled” and there is “little, if any, progress in advancing the two coequal goals together,” the report states.

“We’ve seen seven lawsuits this week in response to the plan….,” said Chris Knopp, executive director of the Delta Stewardship Council, which oversaw the crafting of the Delta Plan. “Everyone is repeating their version of reality…all with competing interests.”

But the report goes on to say that the coequal goals “influence discussion and decision-making across all organizations.”

Several panelists also said they believe state leaders are focusing too narrowly on the Bay Delta Conservation Plan and need to express a broader vision for the Delta and the state’s water system.

One of the listed issues of concern in the report is that performance outcomes for measuring attainments of goals by agencies are missing.

“The governor needs to have a bigger plan and pay attention beyond the BDCP,” said Gary Bobker of the Bay Institute.

The DVF unveiled the report at a daylong symposium June 18 in Sacramento where stakeholders and agency heads discussed progress being made — or not made — in fixing problems in the Delta.

“The time is right for the governor to lay out a clear path for what his expectations are for the Delta,” said David Guy, of the Northern California Water Association. Guy added that perhaps the governor could issue an executive order that calls out the Delta as an area needing “special attention.” Several speakers supported the idea of an executive order addressing Bay-Delta issues, but they did not express what such an order would encompass.

“We don’t want another chapter in California history where a plan sits on a shelf and nothing gets implemented,” Wright McPeak said of the DVF’s intention that the report be used to spur action. Several panelists at the forum criticized the recent filing of lawsuits against the Delta Plan, saying they believed litigation is not the best way to solve issues facing the Delta.

Visit www.deltavisionfoundation.org for more information and to view the report card. July 5, 2013 • 5

ACWA Becomes Founding Partner in Science Education Center ACWA has become a founding partner in a new science learning center that will educate Californians about water’s vital role in shaping the state’s past, present and future. The new Powerhouse Science Center in Sacramento is expected to be a field trip destination for schoolchildren and a regional attraction for people of all ages, exposing hundreds of thousands of Californians each year to scientific information they can share with their local community.

ence and our natural resources, including water,” ACWA Executive Director Timothy Quinn said. “Our public water agency members believe that education is key to sound public policy. We see this effort as another step in our ongoing commitment to educate the public about California’s unique water story.” Millions of dollars already have been raised for the new center, which will include a new 150-seat planetarium, outdoor archeological dig, and labs and

classrooms. The center’s close proximity to the Sacramento River also will be utilized for educational opportunities. The California Department of Water Resources, City of Sacramento, and some ACWA member water agencies are among the public entities sponsoring the project. For more information on the Powerhouse Science Center, visit www. powerhousesciencecenter.org, or email info@PowerhouseScienceCenter.org.

Public and private donors are planning to build the $78 million facility at a site along the Sacramento River near the state Capitol and downtown Sacramento. When completed, the high-tech, handson science complex will become the new home of the 62-year-old Discovery Museum Science and Space Center. ACWA will serve on the center’s advisory committee, giving input as galleries and exhibits are developed. In particular, ACWA will help plan the “Liquid Gold” water exhibit featuring interactive displays on urban and agricultural water use, infrastructure and conservation, environmental considerations and other water topics of statewide importance. “ACWA is excited to partner in this educational venture focused on sci-

An artist’s conception of the planned Powerhouse Science Center, which would be built at a site along the Sacramento River.

West Basin Testing Ultra-Pure Water from Ocean Desalination West Basin Municipal Water District says it’s conducting a groundbreaking study on how ultra-pure water made through ocean desalination could be introduced into different sources of existing tap water distribution systems. The study is seeking to identify the right mix of minerals to stabilize the ultra-pure desalinated water so that it can be safely piped to local residents and

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businesses when mixed with other water sources. The four-month long study will be completed this winter and the results will be posted on www.westbasin.org. The research study will incorporate large, imported water distribution pipes six inches in diameter; local water distribution pipes four inches in diameter; and home plumbing pipes of one-half inch in diameter. Pipes used in the study include unlined cast iron pipes, cement motor-lined steel pipes and copper piping similar to that used

in homes. Various mixes of water will be run through loops of these pipes and then tested to ensure there is no leaching of unwanted metals into the water, which would indicate corrosion of the piping materials. West Basin is doing this research as part of a larger program studying oceanwater desalination. The district has a full-scale Ocean Water Desalination Demonstration facility in Redondo Beach on the campus of the SEA Lab Aquarium.

Mountain Counties Water Districts Explore Small Hydro Options By Roberta Long, for the Mountain Counties Water Resources Association Until recently, small hydroelectric projects were too expensive and permits and licensing too time-consuming for water districts to consider. Now, a number of factors are coalescing to improve the desirability of adding small hydro projects to district operations. A major obstacle has been regulatory. Small hydro projects, which are usually between 10 and 30 megawatts (MW), had have typically the same regulatory requirements as large hydropower projects, having to meet National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) standards and requiring a license from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Since 2010, FERC has been simplifying its approval process. It now provides for two exemptions from licensing, subject to certain conditions. One applies to small hydro projects of 5 MW or less that will be built at an existing dam, or projects that utilize a natural water feature for head, or an existing project that has a capacity of 5 MW or less and proposes to increase capacity. The other is a conduit exemption issued for constructing a hydropower project of on an existing conduit, like an irrigation canal. FERC also simplified the licensing application process. It is now possible for water districts to create new revenue through small hydro to offset the costs of operation and keep water rates down. Here are some brief examples of projects that California water agencies are doing, along with some perspective from experts in the small hydro industry. Placer County Water Agency (PCWA) has four small hydro projects in play, said Brent Smith, deputy director of technical services. Two examples are a metering and hydroelectric station that takes advantage of an existing plant that meters treated water delivered to the city of Lincoln. The plant is rated at 320 kW, with an annual generation of 1.74 mil-

lion kW hours. It will operate with two Francis turbines. Construction is expected to start in fall, with service beginning May 2014. Another PCWA project, the Gold Run Pipeline and Hydroelectric Station Project, is incorporated into a major pipeline replacement project on the Boardman Canal east of Colfax that provides raw water to western Placer County. A 200-foot drop creates an average head of 195 feet. Average flow is anticipated at 13.8 cubic feet per second (cfs), with peak at 26 cfs. A Crossflow turbine will be used for the hydroelectric operation, which replaces a pressure safety valve. PCWA also has two more hydro projects north of Colfax in the works. The power produced at the small hydro stations will be sold under contract with Pacific Gas & Electric. Meanwhile, the El Dorado Irrigation District has been checking out possible small hydro projects since 2008, said Brian Mueller, EID’s director of engineering. In 2009 EID identified four sites and selected two for further study: Tank 7 in Diamond Springs and Tank 3 at El Dorado. Action on the Tank 3 project was halted when it was determined the site is located on Forest Service land and therefore not exempt from the FERC licensing process. In 2012, EID reexamined the Tank 7 project, an in-conduit hydroelectric generation system. Flow and pressure data was expanded and updated. The updated project is a three-turbine, 370 kW design. When operational, it will be eligible for the Renewable Energy SelfGeneration Bill Credit Transfer program under Proposition 84. Over a 30-year period, staff estimates $5 million could be gained. For those water agencies that are interested in small hydro, PCWA environmental specialist Heather Trejo recommends engaging firms experienced

in this specialized form of engineering. Feasibility studies should reflect actual costs, and cost estimates need to capture all costs. She also urges agencies to take a long-term perspective for payback of 10 to 20 years, and prepare to deal with private property owners. Private-sector experts also have words of wisdom. Ken Fonnesbeck, who leads Mead & Hunt’s hydro design group, recommends starting an evaluation of a retrofit or upgrade of an existing hydroelectric facility with a strong baseline. Determine what was the basis of the original design and develop a good understanding of head and flow characteristics and the basis for conduit and unit sizing, he said. Joe Domenichelli, president of Domenichelli & Associates in El Dorado Hills, said knowledge of the local power grid is important. “The environment continues to change and evolve in the areas of renewable energies, making projects more feasible,” he said.

ACWA Preferred Provider Program ACWA member agencies have exclusive access to services provided by NLine Energy, a full-service, hydroelectric power development company that has developed a process to convert wasted energy found in water conveyance systems into renewable energy for ACWA member agencies. NLine Energy provides turnkey development services for small hydro projects to ACWA member agencies, For more information, contact ACWA’s Melanie Medina at (916) 441-4545 or melaniem@acwa.com. July 5, 2013 • 7

ACWA Scholarships

Impressive Lineup for 2013-’14 ACWA Scholarship Recipients Each year, ACWA awards several scholarships to deserving students pursuing water-related degrees and careers. This year, an impressive lineup was chosen to receive assistance from ACWA in the 2013-’14 academic year.

ACWA Scholarships ACWA awarded two $3,000 scholarships to students in a water resourcesrelated field. Recipients are selected based on academics, extracurricular activities, water-related work experience and a personal essay describing their interest and aspirations in water. The 2013-’14 recipients are Hilary Olsen (top) and Emily Kislik (bottom). Olsen, a senior at California State Polytechnical University, is studying Bioresource and Agricultural Engineering and is interested in a career involving the prevention of salt water intrusion into agricultural areas. She has worked as an engineering technician for Cal Poly’s Irrigation Training and Research Center, as well as interned at Placer County Water Agency and Geo-Logic Associates. Both of Olsen’s parents are Cal Poly alumnus and she is active on campus with the Cal Poly Tractor Pull Team, the California Future Farmers of America,

and the American Society of Biological and Agricultural Engineers, for whom she has served as a branch president.

“I hope to be influential in the industry and help find more ways to obtain fresh water and more efficient ways of managing the water we have,” she said. Kislik — a senior at UC Berkeley majoring in Conservation and Resource Studies, with a focus on Environmental Education of Water Resources — credits a life-changing class called “Researching Water in the West” for inspiring her career path. “Water is my passion — I traveled to the San Andrés Island of Colombia this past June to conduct research for my thesis regarding water sovereignty of native islanders and their usage of rainwater cisterns,” said Kislik. In addition, she is minoring in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and has created maps documenting the distribution of rain barrels in Oakland, and the name and location of all the hot springs in California. Kislik also has served as a Rainwater Harvesting Outreach intern for the Watershed Project at Berkeley and is currently working with the Owens Valley Paiute tribe to document irrigation canals.

Clair Hill Scholarship The Clair Hill Scholarship awards $5,000 to a deserving undergraduate

student in a water-related field. Recipients are selected based on academics, extracurricular activities and a personal essay describing their interest and aspirations in water. Patterson Irrigation District, the 2012 Clair A. Hill Water Agency Award for Excellence winner, presented this year’s scholarship to Kerilyn Ambrosini during a luncheon program at ACWA’s 2013 Spring Conference & Exhibition in Sacramento on May 9. Ambrosini is a senior at California Polytechnic University, studying Bioresource and Agricultural Engineering, with plans to pursue a master’s degree in civil engineering upon graduation, focusing on irrigation engineering. She has worked as a student engineer for her school’s Irrigation and Research Center and is a member of the Agricultural Engineers Society for which she has served as vice-president. Ambrosini said working at her school’s Irrigation and Training Research Center opened her eyes to the importance of water and the need for innovative practices.

Stephen K. Hall Scholarship The Stephen K. Hall ACWA Water Law & Policy Scholarship was created in 2007 to honor former ACWA Executive Director Steve Hall upon his retireContinued on page 9

Got an outreach program worth talking about?

Calling for Entries

Enter your agency’s outstanding public relations efforts in ACWA’s Huell Howser Best in Blue Award this fall! The award recognizes outstanding achievements by public water agencies in communicating with customers, legislators, media and the public. The award will be presented at ACWA’s 2013 Fall Conference & Exhibition in Los Angeles. Entries must be submitted by Sept. 3. Details and entry forms are at acwa.com.

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ACWA Scholarships Continued from page 8

ment. The $7,000 scholarship is presented annually to a qualified graduate student majoring in law, policy or public administration with a focus or concentration in California water resources. This year’s Stephen K. Hall Scholarship has been awarded to Adam Jorge, a UC Stanislaus Political Science graduate who will be attending UC Santa

Barbara’s Bren School this fall to earn his master’s in Environmental Science and Management, with a concentration in Coastal Marine Resource Management. During his undergraduate career, Jorge interned at U.S. Congressman Sam Farr’s office, working with the Panetta Institute on ocean and California water policy issues. He also interned with the Recirculating Farms Coalition, helping to promote the use of water-efficient

hydroponic systems for California food production. Upon graduating with his master’s, Adam said he “hopes to work with government agencies and non-profits to develop water conservation strategies for California’s agricultural industry while improving public health for those living in agricultural communities throughout the United States.”

Calling All Nominations ACWA

Emissary award 2013 Recognizing Remarkable Contributions

Objective

The award recognizes individual ACWA member volunteers who have advanced ACWA’s mission and goals through their direct involvement. Individuals demonstrate: • Leadership in the course of service on ACWA committees • Advocacy / outreach at local, state and / or federal levels • Commitment of time and expertise for the benefit of an ACWA program or issue

Who Is Eligible?

Any ACWA committee member, ACWA region board member or ACWA Board member who is employed by an ACWA public agency member is eligible to nominate any staff, consultant or board member of an ACWA public agency member.

When Are Nominations Due?

Nominations must be received at the ACWA offices by September 3, 2013. An official nomination form and further details about the award, eligibility and selection process are available at www.acwa.com.

2012 Chet Anderson 2011 Greg Zlotnick 2010

David Orth

2009 Randy Fiorini 2008 Jess Senecal July 5, 2013 • 9

ACWA Region Election

ACWA Region Election Process Launched for 2014-’15 Term The ACWA region election process is officially under way for the 2014-’15 term. The elections reconstitute the boards of each region, including the region chair, vice chair and board members.

Nominating committees have been appointed by the current chairs of each region and are posted at acwa.com. The committees are tasked with identifying and reviewing qualifications of eligible region chair, vice chair and board member candidates for the 2014-’15 term. The election begins on August 1, 2013, when the region nominating committees announce their

recommended slate for each of the 10 region boards. An official electronic ballot identifying the recommended slate and any additional candidates for consideration will be sent to all ACWA member agencies. Only one ballot per agency will be accepted. All region election ballots must be received at ACWA by Sept. 30, and election results will be announced on Oct. 4, 2013.

Region election materials for your region are available at http://www.acwa. com/content/region-elections.

If you have questions, please contact Regional Affairs Representatives Katie Dahl at katied@acwa.com, Marcia Wulff at marciaw@acwa.com, or call (916) 441-4545.

Water bond Continued from page 1

the existing 2014 water bond will require a two-thirds vote in each house of the Legislature, and the final bond will have to win the support of a majority of voters in the next statewide election. With that in mind, Rendon said, the group identified several priorities for the state’s investment in water. They include: • Protecting the Delta • Increasing regional self-reliance – with integrated regional water management as the tool • Ensuring safe drinking water, especially for disadvantaged communities • Restoring healthy watersheds • Increasing water conservation and reuse • Expanding water storage options – both above and below ground • Striking a balance between improvements and maintenance of existing infrastructure and construction of new infrastructure. “We need to focus on the statewide water system, which is the most sophisticated in the world,” he said. “We need to take care of the system, and look more carefully at how we manage water in the future.”

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Regional self-reliance, he said, is also key. “There have been breakthrough accomplishments that have really changed the water equation and the way we think about water in the state,” he said, citing storm water capture, reuse and other strategies as elements the water bond discussion should consider. In addition to the priority investment areas, the working group also identified principles to increase accountability for how water bond funding is spent, including: • Prohibiting earmarks to specific water projects • Making investment decisions on a regional basis through integrated regional water management plans • Setting performance indicators to show progress on water bond investments • Requiring beneficiaries to pay for their benefits, while the public pays for public benefits • Repurposing unspent funds from past voter-approved water bond measures • Considering the state’s needs for infrastructure investment in all areas, including education and transportation, and crafting a bond that authorizes a

“reasonable” amount for water needs. The group also identified principles on respecting existing water rights, including area of origin rights, and retaining the policy in the current bond to not use bond funds for construction or mitigation for new water conveyance facilities in the Delta. During a comment period after the presentation, ACWA member agencies and other stakeholders called the proposed principles a good starting place for discussions and thanked the working group for its efforts. “The water bond is important to us, and all regions of the state, to ensure adequate funding is available to advance efforts to diversify our water supply portfolio,” said Glenn Farrel, government relations manager for the San Diego County Water Authority. “Thanks for putting out a very good starting point.” Committee members also offered some comments on the principles, and said they looked forward to further conversation on the water bond. ACWA is already providing comments on the proposed principles to members of the working group.

newswatch

Water-Saving Campaign Challenges North Bay Residents In response to one of the driest springs on record, the Sonoma County Water Agency and the Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership — a group of nine North Bay cities and water districts — have launched a new two-pronged public awareness effort this summer to reduce water demand: Beat the Heat! and the 20-Gallon Challenge. “Reducing urban water demand during the hot summer months is critical to protecting our water resources,” said Water Agency Director and Sonoma County Supervisor Efren Carrillo. “We are working closely with all stakeholders in our community, including urban water users,

the agricultural industry, and business leaders to immediately reduce water use due to the dry weather conditions.”

efficiency washing machines and a toilet, landscape design plans, and a gray-water system design and materials.

The Beat The Heat! program coordinates with local media outlets to run special public service announcements asking the community to prepare for a heat wave and use water wisely, and correlates with energy and air quality awareness efforts. The goal is to draw extra attention to the need for reduced water demand by providing specific outdoor irrigation tips on curbing water use and water waste.

The outreach effort offers Russian River users tangible conservation tips to live up to the pledge to reduce their water use by 20 gallons per day, per person on the website www.20gallons.org.

The 20-Gallon Challenge asks residents to sign a pledge that enters them into a drawing for prizes such as high-

Monterey Peninsula WMD Hosts Water Board at Fish Rescue Facility The State Water Resources Control Board held its regular business meeting on June 3 in Monterey. The next day the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District hosted a tour of its Sleepy Hollow Steelhead Rearing Facility for SWRCB directors and staff. Several SWRCB staff members listened to Cory Hamilton, district associate fisheries biologist, discuss the steelhead rearing program (photo right). Monterey Peninsula WMD began its annual steelhead rescue program in April as Carmel River flows near Highway 1 dropped to less than 8 cubic feet per second. Due to the dry conditions this year, rescues started much earlier than the past several years.

During the next few months district staff will rescue threatened steelhead from the lower river, continuing upstream as far as necessary. As of mid-June six-miles stretch of the Carmel River was dry and more than 30,000 steelhead had been rescued and relocated. Rescued steelhead are transported to the district’s Sleepy Hollow Steelhead Rearing Facility, where they are reared until river flows reach adequate levels again in the fall or winter. The majority of the captured fish are very small. The district’s steelhead rescue is one of many activities carried out as part of the Monterey Peninsula WMD Mitigation Program, which is required by SWRCB Order 95-10 to offset the negative

impacts of over-pumping on the river by the local water purveyor, and to comply with requirements of the State Water Board’s cease-and-desist order affecting future pumping on the Carmel River.

Heavy Crane Replaces Clarifier at Dublin San Ramon Wastewater Plant A 65-ton crane is being used at the Dublin San Ramon Services District wastewater treatment plant in Pleasanton to replace a secondary clarifier that failed after more than 30 years of service. The DSRSD treatment plant uses four secondary clarifiers to separate solids from the treated wastewater. Each clarifier has two pairs of arms that move in a circle. When the clarifier failed, the skimming mechanism jammed, twisting

the steel arms and cracking the drive gear box. Many of the old components are no longer manufactured. “A failure of this magnitude is always unwelcome but not unexpected. Based on the age of the unit and our regular inspections and preventive maintenance, we had been planning to rebuild this clarifier in 2014. When it broke, we had to do it sooner,” said Assistant General Manager/District Engineer Dave Requa.

The district rehabilitated another secondary clarifier of the same size in 2006 and chose to install an identical mechanism for this replacement. This approach decreased design costs and will reduce future maintenance costs by having interchangeable parts. The clarifier is scheduled to be back in service by mid-summer. The plant has redundant capacity to continue operating when equipment is offline for maintenance or repairs. July 5, 2013 • 11

People news

Public Member Agencies Foresthill Public Utility District Henry “Hank” White was named the new general manager of the Foresthill Public Utility District on June 12. White has 20 years of experience managing special districts. In his new position, White will manage day-to-day operation of Foresthill PUD’s water system. “Hank comes to our district with 20 years of experience managing small- to medium-sized special districts, both private and public. I am confident in his ability to lead our district forward in securing our water rights, managing Sugar Pine Dam, ensuring superior water quality, providing excellent customer service and maintaining fiscal responsibility,” said Foresthill Public Utility District Board President Tamra West. White has a bachelor’s degree in agricultural engineering from California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo. He also has Department of Public Health Water Distribution Operator Certificate, Grade D2 and he holds a State of California Department of Pesticide Regulation Qualified Applicator License.

Placer County Water Agency The Placer County Water Agency (PCWA) accepted a letter of retirement on June 6 from District 2 Director Alex Ferreira. Ferriera, who has served on the PCWA Board

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since 1997, indicated his retirement was effective immediately due to health reasons. Ferreira’s service to the people of Placer County has spanned six decades. He is a life-long resident of Placer County, a World War II veteran, dairyman, rancher and community leader. Ferreira first entered public office in June 1966 when he was appointed to the Nevada Irrigation District Board of Directors to represent Placer County. He continued on the NID Board through 1971. That year and through 1994, Ferreira served on the Placer County Board of Supervisors. Since 1997 he has served on the PCWA Board of Directors until retiring. On both the PCWA Board and County Board of Supervisors, Ferreira represented Lincoln and Rocklin. During his tenure with all three boards, he served as chairman several times and on innumerable committees. He was instrumental in the formation by PCWA of the Western Placer Agriculture Water Service Zone 5 in 1998 and the Middle Fork Project Finance Authority in 2006. He served on the Finance Authority’s governing board since its inception. In response to Ferriera’s retirement, Gray Allen, PCWA Board chairman said, “This was difficult to hear as Alex brought a great deal of perspective and wisdom to the board. He will be greatly missed.” Director Robert Dugan said, “Alex was a role model who never got caught up in the drama of politics. He always remained focused on addressing the issues

at hand.” Director Joshua Alpine added, “I have been particularly impressed with his depth and breadth of knowledge and experience in service to his constituents and the public.” General Manager David Breninger said Ferriera would be honored for the five decades he devoted to public service at a future board meeting. He also said that PCWA would immediately begin the process to fill the remainder of Ferriera’s unexpired term.

Santa Margarita Water District Rancho Santa Margarita resident Justin McCusker was appointed on June 21 to fill a vacant seat on the Santa Margarita Board of Directors. McCusker’s term will expire in December 2014. McCusker has worked with local and regional water agencies serving as chairman of the Orange County Parks Commission and board member of the South Orange County Regional Chamber of Commerce. McCusker is director of community and government relations for real estate company C.J. Segerstrom & Sons. He is an adjunct professor of public administration at California State University, Fullerton, and associate professor of political science at Saddleback College. He also serves with a variety of local organizations. McCusker’s board seat was vacated by Roger Faubel, who served 12 years on the Santa Margarita Water District Board.

CALENDAR July 19

August 14

ACWA Region 1 Program “Take it From the Tap: Promoting Drink Local Campaigns,” is July 19 at the Santa Rosa Utilities Field Office. Registration is available online at www.acwa.com. For more information or questions, contact ACWA Regional Affairs Representative Katie Dahl at katied@acwa.com or 916.441.4545

ACWA 2013 Regulatory Summit is Aug. 14 at the Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach, Oxnard. The program’s focus will be groundwater. Registration is available online at www.acwa.com/events/acwa2013-regulatory-summit. For more information, contact ACWA’s Member Services and Events Department at events@acwa.com or 916.441.4545.

ACWA Events

Clear Creek restoration site, GCID’s fish screen and Delevan Wildlife Refuge. For more information go to http://www.watereducation.org/toursdetail. asp?id=841&parentID=821.

24 – 25

October 3 – 4

Energy and Water Nexus Summit 2 is Thursday, Sept. 12 at the Aquarium of the Bay, Pier 39, San Francisco. This all-day event will explore the developments, challenges, innovations and considerations around energy and water in Northern California. For registration and more information go to http://bayplanningcoalition.ticketleap.com/energyand-water-nexus-summit-2/. ACWA Region 3 / Mountain Counties Water Resources Association will hold a joint meeting Friday, Sept. 13, at The Ridge Golf Club and Events Center, Auburn. For more information visit http:// mountaincountieswater.com/meeting-schedule/ upcoming-meetings/ or contact Executive Director John Kingsbury at johnkingsbury.mcwra@gmail.com.

ACWA’s 2013 Continuing Legal Education Workshop (CLE) is Oct. 3 – 4 at the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach. For more information, contact ACWA’s Member Services and Events Department at events@acwa.com or 916.441.4545.

8 – 9

29th Biennial Groundwater Conference & Groundwater Resources Association Annual Meeting is Oct. 8 – 9 in Sacramento. For more information visit www.grac.com.

16 – 18

Water Education Foundation will host a 3-day Northern California Tour traveling the length of the Sacramento Valley on Oct. 16 – 18. Stops include Oroville and Shasta dams, Red Bluff Fish Passage Improvement Project, Feather River Fish Hatchery,

ACWA Regions 2 & 4 will host a Regional Water Forum & Bike Tour Oct. 24 – 25. Registration will be available online Sept. 6 at www.acwa.com. For more information contact ACWA Regional Affairs Representatives Marcia Wulff at marciaw@acwa. com or Katie Dahl at katied@acwa.com.

November 7 – 8

September 12

Other Events

Water Education Foundation’s San Joaquin River Restoration Tour is Nov. 7 – 8. The tour includes stops at Friant Dam, Interim San Joaquin River Salmon Conservation and Research Facility, Chowchilla Bifurcation and Canal, Mendota Pool, Sack Dam, Sand Slough Control Structure, and the Merced National Wildlife Refuge. For more information go to http://www.watereducation. org/toursdetail.asp?id=845&parentID=821.

December 3 – 6

ACWA’s 2013 Fall Conference & Exhibition is Dec. 3 – 6 at the JW Marriott LA Live, Los Angeles. For more information, contact ACWA’s Member Services and Events Department at events@acwa. com or 916.441.4545.

2014 February 3 – 6

March 14

May

6 – 9

ACWA’s 2014 Washington D.C. Conference is Feb. 25 – 27 at the Liaison Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C. 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/ or contact Executive Director John Kingsbury at johnkingsbury.mcwra@gmail.com.

ACWA’s 2014 Spring Conference & Exhibition is May 6 – 9 at Portola and Marriott Hotels, Monterey. July 5, 2013 • 13

classifieds

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

Positions Open Water Resources Engineer

Time Valued Material

Merced Irrigation District Salary DOQ ($75,527.00 to $113,291.00 annually) The Merced Irrigation District (MID), located in California’s agriculturally-rich Central Valley, is the leading provider of clean, affordable irrigation water for its 2,200 growers. The District is also the 25th largest public utility in the State, supplying electric service to commercial, industrial and residential customers in Eastern Merced County. The District also owns Lake McClure and Lake McSwain and operates five recreation areas adjacent to these facilities. Lake McClure, on the Merced River, is formed by New Exchequer Dam, a rock filled dam with a reinforced concrete face. At the base of the dam is a hydroelectric generation facility with a capacity of 94.5 MW of power. MID is within two hours of San Francisco, Sacramento, Monterey and Yosemite.

regional water resources related groups and experience with data management systems. Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major course work in civil engineering, agricultural engineering or related field. Master’s degree is desirable.

The Merced Irrigation District is a public agency offering a competitive benefit Under general direction of the Deputy program along with participation in General Manager, Water Resources, the Water California Public Employees Retirement Resources Engineer performs complex, program. professional engineering work related to all phases of MID water operations, including An employment application and the job design, construction and maintenance description may be obtained on-line at of water storage, control, pumping and www.mercedid.org or at 744 W. 20th St distribution systems. Represents MID in local, in Merced. To apply, send a complete regional and state wide activities including employment application, resume, cover coordination, planning and management of letter and list of four references to PO such activities. Perform work related to water Box 2288, Merced, CA 95344 or apply@ balance plans, water management plans and mercedid.org. Applications will be administer reports related to water rights, accepted until the position is filled. Drug consumption and water quality. Design Free Employer/AA/EOE/M/F/D/V and utilize computer models for reservoir operations and downstream flow regulation and scheduling. Participate in coordinating and reporting reservoir releases within the District and with local, state and federal Office for Lease agencies. Manage all aspects of engineering Two suites available in Sacramento, one block from studies and capital projects, including the the State Capital (910 K St.). preparation and monitoring of feasibility SUITE 300 ±2,200 Rentable SF 350 – 1,850 sq. ft. & Suite 300 – 2,200 sq.ft. • Suite studies, technical studies, project budgets SUITE 350 ±1,850 Rentable SF ready office space • Move-in and management of staff, consultants and • FSG Immediate access to Interstate 5 and Interstate 80 RATE $1.65 per RSF, vendors. Qualifications include a minimum • Walking distance to Westfield Downtown Shopping of five (5) years of increasingly responsible restaurants, and hotels P Great Downtown CBDCenter, location, only one block to experience as a professional engineer, • Centrally located in the heart of the Sacramento State Capitol including management and supervision Central Business District Perfectinfor lobbyists and professional firms of employees with aP background water For more information, contact Mark Tabak: resources related activities, such as reservoir P Walking distance to restaurants, hotels, and professional 916.288.4818 or mark.tabak@cushwake.com operations, water balanceservices calculations, water managementP plans,Beautiful etc. Experience in historic building effectively participating or leading and P inWired for local alarm service

OFFICE SPACE FOR LEASE

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

Periodicals Postage Paid at Sacramento, CA

2/1000 on-site parking

Human Resources Manager San Diego County Water Authority The San Diego County Water Authority is seeking a highly knowledgeable human resources professional with a proven track record to manage its human resources division. This is an at-will senior management position reporting to the Director of Administrative Services. The Human Resources Manager is responsible for a variety of HR functions including recruitment and selection, classification and compensation, benefits administration, succession planning, employee training and development, and labor relations.SACRAMENTO, Click recruitment brochure CALIFORNIA for more information. Visit www.sdcwa.org/ job-opportunities to apply on-line. Closing deadline is 5:30 p.m. July 15, 2013.

910 K STREET

TWO SUITES AVAILABLE