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ACWA
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Rim Fire Burns Close to San Francisco’s Water Supply
ACWA’s • Member • Newsletter
Smoke from the Rim Fire blows over Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, the main source of drinking water for San Francisco. The wildfire has scorched more than 200,000 acres and pushed into a remote part of Yosemite National Park. Officials say the fire has not negatively impacted the water quality in Hetch Hetchy, although there are future concerns. See story on page 8. Photo courtesy of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.
California Releases Nation’s First Draft Drinking Water Standard for Chromium-6 The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) on Aug. 22 released the nation’s first draft drinking water standard for hexavalent chromium, or chromium-6, proposing a maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 10 parts per billion (ppb). CDPH officials estimate that the proposed new standard, which could be adopted as early as the end of this year, could impact about 300 community water system wells in 128
public water systems in California. Although chromium-6 occurs throughout California at various levels, the identified wells with chromium-6 above 10 ppb are concentrated in the counties of Riverside, Los Angeles, Yolo, San Bernardino, Solano, Sacramento, Merced, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz. Necessary capital investments along with ongoing costs for operations and maintenance of chromium-6 Continued on page 4
BDCP Proposal Revised to Lessen Delta Footprint In an effort to reduce the impact of the project on Delta residents, state officials on Aug. 15 unveiled a smaller Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) that shrinks by 50% the project’s total permanent footprint and shifts portions of the project away from some homes and farms. The smaller project shortens by five miles the two main water conveyance tunnels that would run under the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, reducing them from 35 miles to 30 miles. It also shifts a segment of the proposed
twin tunnels east, away from some farms and homes, moving it to land owned by The Nature Conservancy on Staten Island. “Today we wanted to take another step to make good on our promise to listen to and act upon what we hear in the Delta,” California Natural Resources Secretary John Laird said during a press briefing at the Capitol. “We are announcing a further refinement of the plan that cuts the project footprint almost in half.” The changes to the project — also referred to as “optimization” — reflect work by engineers BDCP Continued on page 10
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Update on ACWALed Effort to Craft a Statewide Water Action Plan
5
Water Bond Bills Amended as Close of Session Approaches
6
Recycled Water to Restore Napa Sonoma Salt Marsh
7
Gold Could Pay for Mercury Removal in Nevada Irrigation District
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
Dave Bolland, ACWA’s Senior Regulatory Advocate (right), addresses a full house at the Fresno County Farm Bureau on Aug. 29 during a workshop on the new aquatic weed permit. Joining him (L to R) Mike Blankinship, Blankinship & Assoc., Inc.; Philip Isorena, SWRCB and Russell Norman, SWRCB.
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
Questions on Classified Ads? ACWA public agency members may post job descriptions, RFPs, items for sale and other miscellaneous classified ads in ACWA News and/ or online at acwa.com. More information is at acwa.com or contact Director of Communications Lisa Lien-Mager at lisalm@acwa.com or 916.441.4545. Connect with us:
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Water Managers Briefed on Requirements of California’s New Aquatic Pesticide Permit Water managers gathered at the Fresno County Farm Bureau Aug. 29 to take part in the first of three interactive workshops organized by ACWA staff to inform water agencies and others about the requirements of a new State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) statewide general permit for aquatic pesticides. The workshops are part of an ongoing collaboration among staff from ACWA, SWRCB and Blankinship & Associates, Inc. to help spread the word about how water agencies and others can comply with the requirements of the new permit. “If you use aquatic pesticides to manage aquatic weeds or algae in flowing waters or impoundments in either an agricultural or an urban water supply system or to manage recreational waters, public or private, this permit may be required,” Dave Bolland, ACWA Senior Regulatory Analyst, told attendees at the Fresno workshop. ACWA is cooperating with key regulatory staff members of the SWRCB and a highly qualified aquatic weed permit consultant, Mike Blankinship, to offer three workshops across the state to help water agencies understand and comply with the newly revised Aquatic Pesticide National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit.
Additional workshops will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in San Diego on September 18 and in Woodland on September 24. The workshops are intended for water agency general managers, district engineers, environmental compliance managers, consultants, aquatic pesticide applicators, biologists, water attorneys and lake managers. The workshops will be staffed by Senior Regulatory Advocate David Bolland and Regulatory Advocate Adam Walukiewicz, and will provide 3.2 hours of CEU credits from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation. The workshops focus on the history of the SWRCB’s aquatic pesticide permitting program, provide information on when the permit is needed and the terms and requirements of the new permit. The workshops also offer an in-depth look at some commonly used pesticides and how they are regulated under the permit as well as permit processing timelines and streamlining opportunities. Registration is available here: https://acwa.eventready.com/index. cfm?fuseaction=reg.info&event_id=1454. For more information contact adamw@ acwa.com.
State Relations
California Water Commission Updated on ACWA-Led Effort to Develop a Statewide Water Action Plan to Serve as Path Forward The California Water Commission received an update Aug. 21 on the ACWA-led effort to bring a broad array of water interests together to craft a Statewide Water Action Plan (SWAP). The goal of the SWAP is to produce a succinct plan with recommendations to the Governor for prioritizing specific near-term actions that can be broadly supported by the water community and can serve as a sustainable path forward in California. The Department of Water Resources also briefed the Commission on how the SWAP might intersect with the California Water Plan. Sue Sims, executive director of the CWC, told commissioners “there is a growing consensus that there needs to be a process” to prioritize California’s various water policies, goals and projects. She said several stakeholder groups have undertaken prioritization processes, but “one of the most significant efforts right now is being led by ACWA.” “The SWAP is a great opportunity to prioritize elements of the California Water Plan and move water policy forward,” Sims said.
“(SWAP) is a near-term implementation of the big work that has been done with the California Water Plan update, the Delta Plan and the state (water) board’s work…,” said Sims. “There will be a role for the California Water Commission in terms of public input to that process.” Sims added that the specific role of the Commission has not yet been determined. For several months, ACWA and DWR have been convening informal meetings to craft this statewide comprehensive water policy framework. The framework seeks to make recommendations about how the state might prioritize actions, policies and programs to provide a more sustainable management of California’s water resources. The plan’s issue areas include: surface and groundwater storage, local resources development, water rights protection, climate change and other issues. The plan would then be submitted to the Department of Water Resources, which would weigh its recommendations along with the input of other stakeholder groups in determining how to prioritize projects.
Paul Massera, project manager for the Department of Water Resources California Water Plan (CWP), stressed that the two plans will complement each other but have important differences. Massera said the SWAP focuses on a “more specific” and short-term scope of issues, while the 2013 update of the CWP will contain over 200 recommendations across 17 objectives. Massera indicated that he hopes both the SWAP and CWP will be shared with the public at DWR’s annual Water Plenary in Sacramento in October. Also Wednesday, the Water Commission was updated on a draft of proposed regulations for quantifying the public benefits of water storage projects. An updated preliminary draft is expected to be circulated for informal public review in September. The draft regulations would only go into effect if voters approve a water bond that would fund additional storage projects. The Legislature is considering placing a water bond on the 2014 ballot.
ACWA Discusses Water Bond Options With Sen. Feinstein Options for a 2014 water bond and a statewide water action plan for California were among the topics discussed with U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) at an Aug. 29 meeting at the senator’s office in San Francisco. Attending the meeting were (front row, left to right) state Sen. Jean Fuller (R-Bakersfield), Feinstein, Assembly Member Rudy Salas (D-Bakersfield), (back row, left to right) California Latino Water Coalition Executive Director Mario Santoyo and ACWA Executive Director Timothy Quinn.
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State RElations
ACWA-Opposed AB 145 Held in Senate Appropriations The Senate Appropriations Committee held ACWA-opposed AB 145 in committee on Aug. 30. AB 145 (Perea) would move the entire state drinking water program from the Department of Public Health to the State
Water Resources Control Board. Throughout the year, ACWA and its coalition partners have suggested amendments that would allow the association to remove its opposition. The author has not opted to accept the amendments.
The Legislature is set to adjourn the first year of the two-year session before midnight Sept. 13. ACWA will provide updates as events unfold.
Chromium-6 Continued from page 1
treatment facilities in the identified areas are estimated to be $156 million annually for public water systems to comply with the proposed standard, the department said in a press release. “California is the first and only state in the nation to establish a maximum contaminant level specifically for chromium-6 in drinking water,” Dr. Ron Chapman, CDPH director and public health officer, said in a press release. “Establishing this new MCL underscores California’s commitment to safe drinking water standards to protect the public health.” It is important to note that CDPH’s monitoring data does not include all of California’s water systems. CDPH has acknowledged a data gap from small water systems (i.e., those with fewer than 200 service connections). A department review of the small water system monitoring data shows that approximately 60% of those sources have not been monitored for hexavalent chromium. The proposed standard was released as part of a regulatory package that also includes monitoring requirements and information regarding approved treatment technologies. Public comment on the proposed MCL began Aug. 23 when the Office of Administrative Law published the proposal on its website. The proposal is circulating for a 45-day comment period. The department will hold public hearings in Sacramento and Los Angeles on Oct. 11 to receive comments. The chromium-6 work group of ACWA’s 4 • ACWA NEWS
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Water Quality Committee will review the regulatory package and provide comments to CDPH. Once the standard is finalized, California will become the first state in the nation to specifically regulate chromium-6 in drinking water. The proposed MCL of 10 ppb is one-fifth the level of the current 50 ppb standard for total chromium, which includes both chromium-3 and chromium-6. The federal MCL for total chromium is 100 ppb. In a conference call with water utilities and other stakeholders Aug. 22, CDPH officials said the draft MCL could be finalized by the end of the 2013 or early 2014. The MCL would become effective as soon as it’s finalized, with compliance based on a running annual average. In proposing the draft standard, CDPH performed a series of analyses that weighed, among other things: the occurrence of chromium-6 in drinking water sources statewide; the methods, feasibility and costs of detection; treatment and monitoring technology; and the relative health benefit that could be obtained at various MCL levels, according to a DPH press release. Once the MCL is finalized, agencies found to have water exceeding the regulatory standard must work to achieve compliance with the new MCL. Water systems throughout the state have already tested for the presence of chromium-6 for reporting purposes only. Treatment technologies for lowering chromium-6 levels in drinking water
have advanced in recent years. The cities of Glendale, Burbank and Los Angeles voluntarily conducted research programs on treating water for chromium-6. Findings from these cities’ experiences will help inform other water agencies’ actions. Water agencies across California are still analyzing how the draft MCL, if adopted, would impact them. The Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) estimates that the proposed MCL would require treatment of more than half of its drinking water. Officials at CVWD estimate that treatment to meet the proposed standard would increase its domestic water rates significantly, possibly raising the monthly service charge from $7 per month to more than $50 per month. ACWA has updated its website with extensive background information on chromium-6 and a number of resources for ACWA members, including a communications toolkit with a two-page FAQ sheet as well as talking points for water agencies to use in communicating about the new draft MCL. The background materials include information about the different types of chromium and its uses, as well as the process CDPH uses in setting an MCL. Members with questions about the draft MCL should contact Adam Walukiewicz at adamw@acwa.com or 916-441-4545. Members with questions about the communications toolkit should contact ACWA Communications Director Lisa Lien-Mager at lisalm@ acwa.com or 916-441-4545.
State Relations
Water Bond Bills Amended as Close of Session Approaches With the close of the first year of the 2013-’14 legislative session rapidly approaching, two bills addressing the 2014 water bond have received substantial rewrites. Both bills would repeal the existing $11.14 billion water bond set for the November 2014 ballot and replace it with scaled-down bond measures that would fund a variety of programs and projects.
Assembly Bill 1331 (Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee) On the Assembly side, the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee has amended AB 1331 to call for a $6.5 billion water bond for the 2014 ballot based on a framework crafted by an Assembly working group headed by Assembly Member Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood). AB 1331, which would enact the Climate Change Response for Clean and Safe Drinking Water Act of 2014, identifies five broad categories of programs and projects for a total of $6.5 billion, up from the $5 billion identified in the working group’s original framework released on August 14. The broad categories and funding amounts include clean and safe drinking water ($1 billion); protecting rivers,
lakes, streams and watersheds ($1.5 billion); climate change preparedness for regional water security (i.e., Integrated Regional Water Management Programs and recycling) ($1.5 billion); Delta sustainability ($1 billion); and water storage for climate change ($1.5 billion continuously appropriated). AB 1331 is currently in the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee. ACWA is analyzing the bill and will provide updates as events unfold.
Senate Bill 42 (Wolk) On the Senate side, Sen. Lois Wolk (D-Davis) has amended her SB 42 to propose a $5.6 billion water bond for the 2014 ballot that would be known as the Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Flood Protection Act of 2014. The proposed bond would fund safe drinking water projects ($1.5 billion), water quality and watershed protection projects ($1.8 billion), flood control and stormwater management ($1.3 billion), and water system operation improvements, including storage ($1 billion). SB 42 is awaiting action in the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee.
to press. Whether either or both of the bills will be set before the first year of the legislative session ends at midnight Sept. 13 is yet to be decided.
ACWA’s Position on the 2014 Bond ACWA’s Board of Directors has directed staff to support modifications to the existing 2014 water bond to protect key priority areas and reduce its size. As a statewide organization, ACWA is prioritizing funding for elements that have statewide importance, including water storage and Delta ecosystem restoration. ACWA is also prioritizing funding for disadvantaged communities that do not have safe drinking water. ACWA’s Board also has made a policy decision to avoid “earmarks” in this bond that allocate funds for specific projects without a competitive process. The association supports substantial funding for local resource development projects, including Integrated Regional Water Management programs for both urban and rural areas, water recycling / conservation and groundwater cleanup. More on ACWA’s position is available at http://www.acwa.com/spotlight/2014water-bond.
Current Status Hearings for AB 1331 and SB 42 had not been set as ACWA News went
Exhibit Space Still Available for ACWA Fall Conference in Los Angeles A limited number of exhibit booths are still available for ACWA’s 2013 Fall Conference & Exhibition, Dec. 3-6 at the JW Marriott at LA Live. This exciting new ACWA conference venue is a one-of-a-kind sports, entertainment and residential district in downtown Los Angeles, immediately adjacent to STAPLES Center and the Los Angeles Convention Center.
There will be several opportunities to network and connect with California’s water community leaders. The ACWA Exhibit Hall is your chance to show your products and services to water managers, board directors, attorneys, engineers and other personnel who day-to-day ensure the reliable delivery of 90% of the water in California. For event information and to register for your booth, go to acwa.com.
ACWA 2013 FALL CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION
#ALLIN
for California Water December 3- 6, 2013 | JW Marriott LA Live
September 6, 2013 • 5
The new pipeline at the Napa Sonoma Salt Marsh will utilize the flow of recycled water to clean bittern dead zones, transforming these areas into potentially diverse wetland habitats for fish and wildlife. Photos courtesy of Sonoma County Water Agency.
Recycled Water Pipeline to Help Restore Napa Sonoma Salt Marsh Bittern is the nasty liquid remaining after common salt has been crystallized out of sea water. The solution leaves a virtual “dead zone” in its wake and can negatively impact habitat. Some water agencies are working to reverse this problem. On August 30, a gathering of elected officials, local water agencies, federal agencies, partner organizations and grape growers celebrated a project at the Napa Sonoma Salt Marsh that will utilize the flow of recycled water through a new pipeline to transform bittern ponds into restored bay lands. The former Cargill salt pond complex at the north end of San Pablo Bay has the potential to provide a diverse wetland habitat, but the area wasn’t able to be fully restored without clean water to eliminate the bittern left over from the salt production process. The event, hosted by the Sonoma County Water Agency and the Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District,
commemorated 3.4 miles of pipeline that extends an existing recycled-water pipeline. The new pipeline is being constructed to deliver recycled water for salinity reduction and restoration of 640 acres of bittern ponds, part of a larger 10,000-acre restoration project. Officials said the extended pipeline will send at least 1,100 acre-feet of recycled water to the marsh annually. “It’s taken 10 years, $10 million, coordination across two counties, easements across private property, and the cooperation of countless organizations to see this pipeline through,” said U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (D-5), the event’s keynote speaker. “This project is a testament to what is possible through visionary thinking, determination and collaboration. Now that it’s complete, this pipeline will help restore valuable wetlands, provide a reliable water source for our area’s farmers, and reduce our region’s water demands.” Greg Martinelli, wildlife program
manager with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, said the pipeline would dilute the toxic bittern salt concentrations that harm aquatic life, creating habitat for fish and wildlife. The project also will help protect against saltwater intrusion into the bay, and connections for agricultural irrigation along the pipeline route also will provide grape growers in the Carneros Region with a resilient source of clean water for irrigation. “With California experiencing one of the driest years on record, it’s imperative that we squeeze every last drop out of our precious water resources.” said David Rabbitt, board chair of the Sonoma County Water Agency, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors and the North Bay Water Reuse Authority. “Utilizing clean, droughtproof recycled water is one of the keys to water conservation in the West and this pipeline showcases the multi-use benefits that are possible.”
ACWA Region Elections Begin for 2014-’15, Ballots Due Sept. 30 Region election ballots have been emailed to ACWA member agency general managers and presidents. The due date to return the completed ballots is Sept. 30, 2013. Each ballot contains the slate recommended by the region nominating committee, as well as qualified individual candidates and voting instructions. Each 6 • ACWA NEWS
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agency is entitled to cast only one vote for its region, and each agency must have an authorized person sign the ballot.
Committee. The region board members are elected to represent the issues, concerns and needs of your region.
The chair and vice chair of each region will serve on ACWA’s Board of Directors for the next two-year term of office, Jan. 1, 2014, to Dec. 31, 2015. The newly elected chair and vice chair will make the region’s committee appointment recommendations to the ACWA president for the 2014-2015 term. The chair or vice chair also serve on the ACWA Finance
For more information about the region election process, please log on to www. acwa.com and click on the ACWA Region Elections button or contact your regional affairs representative. If you have questions, please contact Marcia Wulff at marciaw@acwa.com or Katie Dahl at katied@acwa.com, or call (916) 441-4545.
Gold Could Pay for Mercury Removal in Nevada Irrigation District Streams, Lakes There was gold in the hills and now there’s mercury in the water left behind by mining activities, particularly in the streams, rivers and reservoirs within the Nevada Irrigation District (NID). This Gold Country district has discovered an innovative way to keep mercury out of the fish; the challenge now is to come up with the funding. The project includes plans to remove sediment from the Combie reservoir and reduce the amount of elemental mercury in the Bear River watershed with a proven technology called the Knelson Concentrator, which uses centrifugal force to extract the metal. Pegasus Earth Sensing Corp. of Alberta, Canada, incorporated the concentrator into a custom built, mobile mercury extractor on a trailer for NID. The total estimated cost for the project is $9 million, with $1 million being paid for by the gold that is extracted along with the mercury. “The goal is to remove 200,000 tons of sediment over the next three to five years, beginning next year, if we get funded,” said Timothy Crough, NID assistant general manager. “We also hope to get grant funds from the Department of Water Resources, federal grants and hopefully, funding from the water bond.” While funding has remained an obstacle, support has been gained through alliances with not only the Sierra Fund, but also the U.S. Geological Survey and the Cosumnes, American, Bear and Yuba (CABY) watershed planning group. In 2011, U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein worked to put together a $3 million
Case
Study
request sent to the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, but it wasn’t funded. The health effects related to dangerous levels of mercury in the Bear River suggest there’s an urgent need for funding. Samples collected from Combie Reservoir have led to it be designated a mercury impaired water body — a 303(d) listed site under the Clean Water Act. A toxic legacy of long-ago gold mining, mercury is now found in many Sierra waterways. The mercury is consumed by plankton and in turn eaten by fish, which concentrate the metal in high amounts. At the top of the food chain, humans who eat affected fish then become vulnerable to related health hazards. According to California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), those who consume affected fish can in time have subtle health problems, varying from blurred vision and poor coordination to heart and kidney disease. “OEHHA finally released in August ‘safe eating guidelines’ for fish from all of California’s lakes,” said Carrie Monohan, science director with The Sierra Fund, which is advising on the project with the Nevada Irrigation District. “The site specific guidelines for NID lakes and rivers, and in many of California’s waterways, are that women under 45 and children under 18 do not eat bass, sucker fish, and large brown trout. This advice is intended to protect children and babies from mercury exposure, which
Nevada Irrigation District officials demonstrate the custom-built, mobile mercury extractor, which uses a centrifugal spinning force to extract the toxic metal.
can permanently damage their brain and nervous system.” In the meantime, efforts also are under way to improve posting of health advisories at fishing sites at Rollins Reservoir and along Bear River.
ACWA Committee Process Kicks Off for 2014-’15 Term The end of the current ACWA two-year committee term is fast approaching, and it’s time to begin the process to reconstitute all committees for the 2014-’15 term.
serve on a committee by Friday, Sept. 30. Instructions and information, including the committee consideration form, has been sent to all member agency general managers and board presidents.
ACWA is calling for all interested members to submit their requests to
The committee appointment information also is available at www.
acwa.com/content/committeeappointment-process. As a reminder, all current committee members MUST submit consideration forms by Sept. 30 to be considered for reappointment for the next two-year term. September 6, 2013 • 7
Water Supply
Rim Fire Prompts San Francisco PUC to Action On Hetch Hetchy Fire crews continued to protect Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and O’Shaughnessy Dam from nearby flames in early September, with the Rim Fire still continuing to burn thousands of acres inside the boundary of Yosemite National Park. The fire had charred an estimated 250,000 acres and was 70% contained as of press time for ACWA News, growing into one of the largest wildfires in California’s history. San Francisco officials continue to monitor water quality in the reservoir — the city’s main source of drinking water since 1923 — but so far the fire hasn’t impacted water delivery or water quality, according to an Aug. 26 announcement from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. In a precautionary measure, SFPUC moved more water out of Hetch Hetchy than normal and stored the extra supply in reservoirs downstream. The utility said there is a large supply of water stored locally, in San Antonio and Crystal Springs reservoirs, as well as regional interties with East Bay MUD and Santa Clara Valley Water District that strengthen the reliability of the Bay Area’s water system in the case of an emergency. In the months and years ahead, eroded soils, fallen ash, and other debris from the fire that wash into the Hetch Hetchy could force the SFPUC to make
Intense flames from the Rim Fire show the power of one of the largest wildfires in California’s recorded history. Taken Aug. 17. Photo courtesy of U.S. Forest Service
adjustments to how water from the drinking water source is treated. An SFPUC spokesperson told the San Francisco Chronicle that water from Hetch Hetchy might have to be put through a filtration system at the utility’s other reservoirs in the future if turbidity significantly increases. Currently the water is not filtered for sediment in large part because the canyon around Hetch Hetchy is made of granite. Water is drawn from Hetch Hetchy at 260 feet below the reservoir’s surface, and that minimizes the chance that sediment is present.
The Rim Fire might have spared San Francisco’s water supply, but damage has been extensive. The blaze, which started Aug. 17, consumed more than 100 buildings and 6% of the land in Yosemite. More than 5,000 firefighters and other responding personnel have been brought on scene. Crews had to repair one of two hydroelectric stations at Hetch Hetchy, clean transmission lines and clear nearby trees. The system generates power for San Francisco International Airport, Treasure Island and other locales. SFPUC is buying electricity to ensure service to customers isn’t interrupted.
Social Media is a great way to get the word out in crisis situations. Check out the tweets below from the San Francisco PUC about the water during the Rim Fire. @SFWater – Public Health will ALWAYS be a priority! We encourage residents to check back for the most LIVE updates on our water quality. #sfwater
@SFWater – YOUR water quality means everything to us! Stay up to date on #waterquality with us here and on our page. www.sfwater.org/RimFire
@SFWater – Everybody is asking about the effect of the #Rimfire on our water. There continues to be NO CHANGE to water quality! www.sfwater.org/rimfire
@SFWater – Hetch Hetchy is surrounded by granite terrain & limited brush which gives it little risk to be affected by the fire! http://t.co/3lXK9Nvnex
@SFWater – NO need to stock up on bottled water! Turbidity levels remain at 0.2 NTU, unchanged since before the fire began. #rimfire #sfwater
@SFWater – #SFPUC #Yosemite #RimFire update. 149,000 acres. No impact on water quality or delivery from Hetch Hetchy. See image. http://t.co/EFm8SZtAGy
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Legal Affairs
Court OKs Trinity River Water Releases for Salmon A federal judge ruled Aug. 22 that the Bureau of Reclamation can continue releasing additional water from the Trinity Reservoir in an effort to avoid a widespread die-off of salmon in the Klamath River. Local water districts and San Joaquin Valley farmers filed suit earlier this month to halt the cold-water releases, claiming it would harm Central Valley irrigators that are already hard hit by low water allocations. U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill temporarily halted the releases in mid-August to hear from biologists before his final ruling. Less water will be released through Sept. 21 than originally planned, after federal officials reduced the amount they initially requested. San Luis and Delta Mendota Water Authority said the reduction would result in significantly less harm to water users. “While no one knows whether or not this action will alter what would [have]
happened in its absence, it is clear that in order to move beyond this current conflict we must all work together to develop a lawful long-term approach to managing these requests that is balanced and scientifically supportable,” said Dan Nelson, the water authority’s executive director. O’Neill wrote that all parties had prevailed in this decision. “All is being done that can occur to prevent a major fish kill. At the same time, due to environmental conditions and the delay of one week (with no adverse fiscal or biological consequences), the amount of water required has fallen by two-thirds,” the judge wrote. The decision came just weeks after a bipartisan group of California congressmen sent a letter Aug. 2 to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell asking her for an analysis of how increased flows from the Trinity Reservoir to help Chinook salmon would impact Central Valley Project water contractors.
Trinity River / Bureau of Reclamation
Judge Orders New Biological Opinion for Yuba River Dams A federal court ordered a new biological opinion for Daguerre Point and Englebright dams in a decision handed down in August. U.S. District Court Judge Morrison C. England set a May 12 due date for the National Marine Fisheries Service to issue a new biological opinion, and told the federal government to not utilize the existing 2012 biological opinion in the preparation of the new opinion or in any Federal Energy Regulatory Commission relicensing processes for the two dams. Yuba County Water Agency, Nevada Irrigation District, Pacific Gas & Electric and other plaintiffs litigated this year to challenge the 2012 BiOp, which identified dam removal and other fish passage improvements as the preferred approach to improve conditions for spring run Chinook salmon, steelhead and green sturgeon.
The local water agencies argued that fish passage improvements or dam removal would negatively impact water deliveries and hydropower generation, and imperil the award-winning Lower Yuba River Accord, a regional agreement benefitting agriculture and fisheries. The plaintiffs said the 2012 biological opinion was flawed and violated key elements of the federal Endangered Species Act and the Administrative Procedures Act. “We are pleased that the Court recognized the need for a new biological opinion that is based on good science and legal precedent,” YCWA General Manager Curt Aikens stated in a news release.
two dams, to continue taking steps to improve fish habitat on the river.
England issued a stay of proceedings until the new biological opinion is done. The judge denied a related lawsuit from a local environmental group seeking enforcement of the 2012 biological opinion. He also ordered the Army Corps of Engineers, which maintains the
“I am hopeful NMFS takes this opportunity to embrace a collaborative, science-based process to improve salmon and steelhead habitat in the Yuba River,” Aikens said. “We’ve worked tirelessly to engage NMFS, and only resorted to litigation as a last recourse.”
Aerial view of Englebright Dam and Narrows II photo by Joe Countryman.
September 6, 2013 • 9
bdcp Continued from page 1
and planners who also tried to make the project more efficient and effective. The changes were praised by ACWA Executive Director Timothy Quinn in a written statement. “Today’s announcement reflects sensitivity to the feedback the Department of Water Resources has received from stakeholders,” Quinn said. “In our view, it is another step in the right direction for this process, which is a critical effort to restore the Delta ecosystem and improve water supply reliability for 25 million Californians and millions of acres of farmland. “ Other changes to the project include: • Shrinking the new intermediate forebay from 750 acres to 40 surface acres and shifting its location away from the towns of Hood and Courtland; • Decreasing from 151 to 81 the number of structures affected by the project; • Eliminating borrow pit areas north of Hood and reducing the staging area from 400 acres to 200 acres; • Using DWR-owned land south of Hood as a construction staging area; and • Working with landowners and others to use excavated material to improve and preserve wildlife habitat on Zacharias Ranch on Glanville Tract and on Staten Island. In total, the project changes would shrink its footprint from 3,654 acres to 1,851 acres. Use of public lands for the project would more than double from 240 acres to 657 acres and the amount of privately-owned land impacted would decrease from 5,965 acres to 5,557 acres. The water conveyance capacity of the project would stay the same at 9,000 cubic feet per second. Officials said the proposed changes likely would not impact the estimated total $25 billion cost of the project. 10 • ACWA NEWS
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Laird told reporters that the proposed changes would not impact its timeline for final approval and construction. He expects a draft EIR and draft project to be circulated in the fall, with a decision made on the proposal after public comment sometime next year. Construction on the project likely would not begin for 10 to 15 years, he said. Terry Erlewine, general manager of the State Water Contractors, said in a prepared stated that his organization is “pleased to see the state’s responsiveness.”
“Like many others, our member agencies are interested in seeing the Bay Delta Conservation Plan be developed thoughtfully and with input from all stakeholders. As the parties who will be ultimately responsible for funding the majority of the BDCP, we have a significant stake in this project being a workable, successful solution for the Delta’s water supply and environmental troubles,” said Erlewine. “We are pleased to see the state’s responsiveness to feedback over the past seven years; making targeted modifications to the BDCP is an important step in the effort to restore the ecosystem of the Delta and secure the water supply for 25 million Californians.”
would have had five intakes along the Sacramento River. It now has three intakes and would convey a maximum of 9,000cfs by gravity rather than pumping. The project is intended to strengthen the water reliability for some 25 million Californians and bolster the ecosystem of the struggling Bay Delta. Quinn, of ACWA, stressed that the BDCP is just one element of the state’s ongoing effort to improve its water system. “We continue to believe the BDCP is an important opportunity to put California on a path to retool our water system for the 21st century,” said Quinn. “The effort is one element of a broader set of actions needed to address overall water supply reliability and ecosystem health in California. Ultimately, the BDCP needs to be successful as part of a broader statewide policy that works for the state as a whole.” More information on the BDCP is available at www. baydeltaconservationplan.com.
BDCP
Bay De lta
August
Cons ervat ion
2013
Plan
DWR Director Mark Cowin said in a prepared statement that the state would “keep ng Incorporati d BDCP nology an working to ch Te el nn Proven Tu Excavated Material Reuse of reduce impacts wherever possible, and we’re committed to mitigating those that are unavoidable.” ation Plan a Conserv Bay Delt
August 2013
Arrowhead r Inland Feede
The proposed BDCP project has changed considerably in recent years. As originally proposed, it would have conveyed a maximum of 15,000cfs and
hy/ Hetch-Hetc Bay Tunnel San Francisco
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BDCP building , such lan co tors ire trac mp roo ga ctl con feat ith are in of 50 stin lar impleme y affect at least simi d g/fora dable, ecoNationa specialized with ed cra egra 4 acres ectsdu 180 acre gin and biod ntation ne of roosti ste- l Wildlife bitat, pri ring cons. Watgerha from past proj s of new a toothpa Refug a 4 perc nstruc ng/forag will developed n conditio crea tote habitat to or and e Projec tio soils n, to constructio cranes toed with the ing r belt or ent perman in the S encoura t Bound veyocra diameter, and are mix remain in via tone L ent los ne forag ge con ary. Whil surface e ing conditioners the vic s in cra to the determin e BDCP w akes habitat inity.evaluated tosu ne forag friendly soil • Relystrtransported bstantia is easi on prote ill icting th be tested and ing that res l then lly eria ult habitat, . The ne l” can e timing cted lan eriain like mat of material will area an the value in t increa and leoctunnel mat ds is ex excavated constructioons d value ation . “Reusabl of pected rail car. This e opti n-rela of prote se in roosting thereus use. protect an ted act tion and to increa vicini various ha cted for ty ofne d ex e locaivities in se rooreus suitability for aging ha bitat, and th the Pla ortu st sites winte el pand crane opp e inc r, when d tunn n are during bitat are populat rted to the a. the cranes e of excavate be transpo expecte rease ions wi are the reus thin th d ncoof water • Placin erous options forpresent. constructio to In eir winte ordina uating numg barriers b the proposed tion wi r use. ran al from efici ad BDCP is eval ge etw th activit in local De een conmaterial to ben ditional l impacts lta lan reduce loca ies and the vated struction crane exca muck” refinements minim red material to roo site “tunnel uceld will conti downers and ize impa wou boput rred th noise oftenstrefe s to to as y stakeho facilities, and nue to tified for man cts to crane ction, and visua be cons lders, conveyance ngcatconstru habitat. • Lo lhas been iden idered vated duri a islands, ing potunnel material), effects. to avoid siding Delt Material exca able wer lines a reus raising sub and es, tified asfac ilities to has l nd leve g iden eria ot ly enin her el mat minim (current strength ize effect . While tunn ia es, including other uses the Californ s on cra possible reus itats, among nes.the world, nd re the g natural hab purposes arou tests to ensu and restorin for various performing ully reused is currently been successf urces (DWR) material. d Water Reso of vate ent Departm ing this exca safety of reus feasibility and
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Save Our Water / newswatch
Save Our Water to Launch Two New Education Campaigns This Fall As the days shorten and the weather turns cooler, Save Our Water is launching two new campaigns to engage the public in water conservation this fall. The “Plant Now, Save Later” campaign educates Californians on the benefits of fall planting, with new content on the website and a joint Twitter party with Sunset Magazine and Sunset Western Garden Collection. The fall messaging focuses on encouraging Californians to plant water-wise plants in their garden in the next few months, allowing their plants to take advantage of winter rains to reduce the water they’ll need in the future. “Putting your plants in the ground now will allow them to develop healthy root systems,” says Julie Saare-Edmonds, a California master gardener and water efficiency expert at the Department of Water Resources. “Plants planted in the NOW spring are often stressed by the transplanting and then by the dry,LATER hot weather of the summer. Fall planting gives your plants a better chance of success.”
SAVE
The Twitter party (#plantnow) will take place at 12:30 p.m. Oct. 4. SaareEdmonds and Janet Sluis, a program developer with Sunset Western Garden Collection, will answer questions about fall planting and water-wise landscaping. Party participants will qualify for giveaways of plants and Sunset Western Garden publications. Save Our Water will also be urging Californians to “Change Your Clock, Check Your Sprinklers” when the fall time change occurs on November 3. “The time change is a great opportunity to remind people to check their sprinkler system,” said Jennifer Persike, ACWA’s
deputy executive director for external affairs and operations. “The state could save a significant amount of water if people would use the time change as a cue to check their sprinkler systems for leaks, to reset their timers to a winter setting and change the battery in their timer.” ACWA members can access collateral material for the program on the SOW section of the California Urban Water Conservation Council website (www. cuwcc.org). For more information on these campaigns or the Save Our Water program in general, please contact Ellen Martin at ellenm@acwa.com.
twitter party! October 4 @ 12:30 p.m. • #plantnow
Placer County Water Agency Eyes Water Pact with East Bay The Placer County Water Agency (PCWA) Board of Directors approved a memorandum of understanding with the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) on Aug. 15 to move forward on development of a potential long-term water transfer that meets their mutual interest in improving water supply reliability and the ecosystem of the lower American River. According to PCWA, the potential transfer of water from the agency’s Middle Fork American River project would further affirm its Water Forum stewardship commitments and would help EBMUD strengthen its water supply reliability. The Water Forum is a diverse group of business and agricultural leaders, citizens groups, environmentalists, water
managers and local governments working together to find solutions to issues facing the lower American River. PCWA, as one of the many local water purveyors in the American River Basin, is a signatory of the Water Forum agreement. The agreement outlines a multi-part plan to increase diversions from the American River to meet increasing future demands locally while at the same time implementing dry year actions to protect the river’s aquatic resources, including Chinook salmon and the federallythreatened Central Valley steelhead. Under the PCWA board action, staff will develop details of the transfer, including duration and financial terms, for future board consideration.
stewardship of the lower American River is important to the agency’s ability to affirm its water rights for use by future generations. Fecko went on to say that “the transfer does not diminish the ability of PCWA to store over 340,000 acre-feet of water in its reservoirs or its ability to beneficially use 120,000 acre-feet of water for the people of Placer County.” As part of the Water Forum commitment, the water agency would make additional releases of Middle Fork Project water in dry years. As envisioned in the MOU, this water would move through Folsom Lake and continue downstream where it would flow into EBMUD’s new Freeport diversion facility.
PCWA Director of Resource Development Andy Fecko said that successful September 6, 2013 • 11
Newswatch
Owens Valley Gets Live Link to Los Angeles Water Meetings For the first time ever, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is offering live interactive telecasts to the Owens Valley of the department’s Board of Commissioners meetings.
the Eastern Sierra are so closely tied, earlier this year the board requested that their meetings be telecast in the Owens Valley to reach out and enhance communication with local residents and interested stakeholders.”
The first board meeting telecast was Aug. 27, with interested citizens participating from the LADWP Bishop Administrative Office. Plans are in the works to telecast future meetings.
For many years water from the Owens Valley has been transported through the Los Angeles Aqueduct, a conveyance that’s celebrating its centennial this year.
“We are very pleased to offer our neighbors to the north the opportunity to see and participate live in Board of Water and Power Commissioner’s meetings,” said LADWP General Manager Ron Nichols. “Because Los Angeles and
Bishop Administrative Office attendees are able to view and hear in real time the Board of Water and Power Commissioners meetings and have an opportunity to address the board live by submitting a speaker card just as they would if they attended a board
meeting in person in Los Angeles. The Commissioners and attendees in the LADWP Board Room are able to view and hear the Owens Valley speakers. Channel 35 in Los Angeles, which broadcasts the meetings in the city, has no direct feed from the Bishop Administrative Office to their cameras. Instead, the station will capture the projected image of Owens Valley speakers and broadcast. The meetings are held in the LADWP Bishop Administrative Office in a live telecast room with a capacity of 30; seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Reports Assess Recycled Water’s Role in Agriculture, Groundwater Independent experts from some of California’s biggest universities and environmental consulting firms have weighed in on two important issues related to the future of recycled water in California. In new reports released Aug. 20 that were submitted last year to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), advisory panels convened by the National Water Research Institute looked at the public health questions associated with using treated recycled wastewater on California food crops, and explored the viability of an alternative water quality measurement for groundwater recharged with recycled water. The scientists’ analyses did “confirm the conclusion that current agricultural
practices that are consistent with the (California Water Recycling Criteria developed by CDPH) do not measurably increase public health risk [to waterborne pathogens], and that modifying the standards to make them more restrictive will not measurably improve public health.” The advisory panel addressed nine more priority questions in the report, which was prepared at the behest of CDPH. Other topics include standards used to clarify and define secondary wastewater treatment, the need for a barrier of multiple treatment processes to remove microorganisms, and more. A separate advisory group examined the viability of using “biodegradable
dissolved organic carbon” (BDOC) in lieu of total organic carbon (TOC) as a water quality indicator for groundwater recharged with recycled water. BDOC measures organic matter that is consumed or altered by naturally occurring bacteria underground. The researchers found that “if properly validated with indicator chemical removals, BDOC is a much superior measure of health protection than estimates of wastewater TOC residuals in the receiving water.” CDPH is expected to use the reports as it further considers criteria and regulations for using recycled water. Download both reports at nwri-usa.org/.
District Celebrates Headquarters Groundbreaking East Valley Water District and a contingent of community organizations and local government agencies gathered together Aug. 13 to celebrate the official groundbreaking of the water district’s new headquarters. The new 29,000 square-foot headquarters on Greenspot Road will 12 • ACWA NEWS
Vol. 41 | Digital
combine the district’s operations and administrative staff in a single complex, with a customer service counter, board room and outdoor space. Construction is slated for completion next spring. East Valley Water District has set up a website at www.eastvalley. org where viewers can see time-lapse
photography of progress on the building site, which is on citrus grove. The district currently is located at three different facilities, which has presented a challenge when scheduling meetings and hosting community events.
People News
Public Member Agencies BAWSCA Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA) Board of Directors, at its meeting on July 18, selected Nicole Sandkulla to be its next CEO/GM. Currently the agency’s Water Resources manager, she will be succeeding Arthur Jensen, who is retiring at the end of September. Jensen has successfully led BAWSCA and its predecessor organization, the Bay Area Water Users Association (BAWUA), for 18 years. BAWSCA has 26 member agencies in Alameda, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties and represents the water interests of 1.7 million residents, 30,000 businesses, and thousands of community agencies that depend on the San Francisco Regional Water System. Irene O’Connell , chair of the BAWSCA Board of Directors, said that the board’s CEO recruitment committee unanimously recommended Sandkulla following a nationwide recruitment process. “During her 14 years with BAWSCA and BAWUA, Ms. Sandkulla has worked closely with Mr. Jensen,” O’Connell said. “A results-driven executive, as
is Mr. Jensen, she has successfully represented the interests of BAWSCA’s member agencies and their customers with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and its staff, legislators in Sacramento, the Association of California Water Agencies, and other California water industry organizations.“ Sandkulla, a civil engineering graduate of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, joined BAWUA in 1999 after nine years with the East Bay Municipal Utility District. “After 23 years in the water business, I understand my new responsibilities and the challenges that lie ahead. I recognize that achieving BAWSCA’s goals depends on leadership by its chief executive officer, ideas, advice and policy decisions by the board, and agreement from the 26 member agencies,” said Sankulla. “With enthusiasm, optimism and hard work, together we will deliver results.”
Delta Protection Commission Erik Vink, program director for The Trust for Public Land, was named executive director of the Delta Protection Commission (DPC) effective Aug. 27.
Vink replaces former State Sen. Mike Machado, who retired as executive director of the DPC in July. Currently, Vink serves as Central Valley program manager for The Trust for Public Land and is responsible for open space preservation and agricultural land protection. He also has served for more than 12 years as a director of the Yolo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District. He previously led the Division of Land Resource Protection at the California Department of Conservation.
Delta Stewardship Council’s Delta Plan Implementation Committee Taryn Ravazzini has been appointed coordinator of the Delta Stewardship Council’s Delta Plan Implementation Committee. The committee is required by the 2009 Delta Reform Act to be composed of agencies responsible for implementing the Delta Plan. Ravazzini worked in multiple positions for ACWA from 1999 to 2003, including as a field representative and federal relations representative. She also was Continued on page 14
Governor Announces Appointments to California Water Commission Gov. Jerry Brown has appointed David Orth, general manager of the Kings River Conservation District, and Adan Ortega, sole proprietor of Adan Ortega Associated, to the California Water Commission, it was announced Aug. 21. Orth, 55, of Clovis, serves as vice chair of ACWA’s Region 6 and is a member of ACWA’s Board of Directors. He has been general manager of Kings River Conservation District since 2002, and previously served as vice president of resource management for the California Valley Land Company Inc. from 2000
to 2002. Orth held multiple positions at Westlands Water District from 1986 to 2000, including general manager and director of finance, and was deputy treasurer and principal accountant at the Fresno County Auditor-Controller and Treasurer’s Office from 1982 to 1986. Ortega, 50, of Fullerton, has been the sole proprietor of the Adan Ortega Associated public affairs firm since 2009. He was deputy managing partner at Rose and Kindel from 2005 to 2008 and vice president of external affairs at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern
California from 1999 to 2005. Ortega was chief deputy secretary of state at the Office of the California Secretary of State from 1997 to 1999 and assistant general manager at the West and Central Basin Municipal Water Districts from 1994 to 1997. He was vice president at the Dolphin Group from 1985 to 1993. Ortega is chair of Mujeres de La Tierra and an advisory council member at Southern California Sustainable Conservation. Both appointments require Senate confirmation. September 6, 2013 • 13
OR
People News Continued from page 13
classifieds
staff assistant in the office of U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer from 1998 to 1999. Ravazzini has worked for Napa Valley wineries since 2009. She earned a law degree from Golden Gate University School of Law. Her position does not require confirmation by the state Senate.
Serrano Water District The Serrano Water District Board of Directors announced the appointment of Jerry Vilander to serve as general manager. Vilander’s credentials include a background in water policy with more than 20 years of experience in the management of city and water district operations. Vilander most recently served as the operations manager for the Mesa Water District. He holds high-level certifications in water distribution and water treatment and is a member of several industry professional associations. “I am honored to join Serrano Water District as general manager,” said Vilander. “Working with the Board of Directors to continue providing quality drinking water through a cost effective system to our ratepayers is my goal, and I look forward to the opportunity here at Serrano.” Vilander earned his master’s degree in public administration and a bachelor’s LEASE
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in political science from California State University, Long Beach.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Dr. Jennifer Norris has started her new duties as field supervisor of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Sacramento office. Norris is a fish and wildlife biologist who has worked on water management issues related to the delta smelt in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and the silvery minnow on the Rio Grande. Norris also has worked on numerous endangered species consultations, permits, recovery and listing actions. Before coming to the Sacramento office, she was the deputy field supervisor for the Bay-Delta Fish and Wildlife Office. Prior to joining the Service in 2004 at the Albuquerque, N.M. office, Norris was a biologist for the New Mexico State Land Office and worked for a private consulting firm in San Francisco. She has a bachelor’s degree inSTREET resource policy 910 K from Cornell University, a master’s in SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA conservation biology from the University of Michigan, and a doctorate in biology from the University of New Mexico.
TWO SUITES AVAILABLE
Positions Open Civil Engineer San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority The Authority represents member agencies in key water issues and performs the O&M of the Delta-Mendota Canal, the CW “Bill” Jones Pumping Plant and related facilities owned by the federal government. We serve approximately 1.2 million acres of farm land, over 1 million in population and industrial uses, and over 180,000 acres of waterfowl habitat within the Pacific Flyway. This position performs a variety of technical & complex professional engineering functions associated with the operations, maintenance and capital improvements on the Delta-Mendota Canal, Jones Pumping Plant and related facilities. $70,639 to $100,209 DOQ. Application & filing instructions available at: www.sldmwa.org/employment_ opportunities.htm, or contact the HR Dept at 209.826.9696. Filing deadline: 3:00 pm, August 30, 2013, P.O. Box 2157, Los Banos, CA 93635. EEO, M/F, H/V
General Manager Joshua Basin Water District Competitive salary, dependent on qualifications. Open until filled. Joshua Basin Water District (JBWD) is seeking a highly qualified and experienced individual for the position of General Manager. JBWD, a special district in the community of Joshua Tree, serves approximately 4,500 connections within a geographic area of about 100 square miles. JBWD is governed by a five-member Board of Directors and has about 20 employees. The ideal candidate: has a strong history of public sector management including experience in financial management and budgeting, operational analysis, staff development and team building, and program planning; has a proven record of leading and planning long- and short-range efforts that involve multiple agencies and complex programs to achieve goals. A substantial track record Continued on page 16
14 • ACWA NEWS
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Vol. 41 | Digital
CALENDAR September 13
ACWA Region 9 Tour & Program is Friday, Sept. 13, at East Valley Water District, Highland. For more information contact ACWA Regional Affairs Representatives Marcia Wulff at marciaw@acwa.com.
20
The annual Steve Hall Fierce Competitor Golf Tournament, in honor of former ACWA Executive Director Steve Hall, will take place at Darkhorse Golf Club, Auburn, CA on Friday, Sept. 20. For more information visit https://acwa.eventready.com/index. cfm?fuseaction=reg.page&event_id=1451.
22 – 23
October 3 – 4
ACWA Region 5 Tour & Program is Sept. 22 – 23 in Carmel-by-the-Sea. The program will focus on regional water reliability and tour the Chateau Julien Wine Estate. Registration is available online until Sept. 17 at https://acwa.eventready.com/index. cfm?fuseaction=reg.page&event_id=1457. For more information contact Region & Member Services Specialist Ana Torres at anat@acwa.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, 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.
17
17
4th Annual California Water Series is Thursday, Oct. 17, at McConnell Foundation’s Lema Ranch, Redding. This educational forum will discuss the Bay Delta Conservation Plan and Northern California water. For more information contact ACWA Regional Affairs Representative Marcia Wulff at marciaw@acwa.com ACWA Region 10 will host a program in Orange County on Thursday, Oct. 17. Registration will be available online on Sept. 9. For more information contact Regional Affairs Representative Marcia Wulff at marciaw@acwa.com.
ACWA Events
Other Events
18
ACWA Region 3 / Mountain Counties Water Resources Association will hold a joint meeting Friday, Oct. 18, at The Ridge Golf Club and Events Center, Auburn. For more information visit www. mountaincountieswater.com or contact Executive Director John Kingsbury at johnkingsbury. mcwra@gmail.com.
24 – 25
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
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
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.
September 6, 2013 • 15
Continued from page 14
demonstrating the ability to lead and succeed as general manager, assistant manager or equivalent high-level administrative position. Understands complex water supply and groundwater issues, with a focus on specific district functions and experience in wastewater treatment operations.
Association of California Water Agencies 910 K Street, Suite 100 Sacramento, CA 95814-3577
Periodicals Postage Paid at Sacramento, CA
Time Valued Material
Has a history of working with governing boards to establish clear channels of communication, build trust, define roles and develop positive, open relations. Demonstrated ability to develop solid Board/ Management relations. A history of setting up systems and procedures that ensure accountability while providing the flexibility to meet the water management requirements of the community. Has the ability to recruit, hire and develop the best staff and the ability to know when and how to terminate an employee who is not meeting the District’s requirements. Has vision – creates an exciting vision for employees; can work with various parts of the community to develop an agency vision that is a consensus of very diverse interests. Successful experience in management of consultants and contractors. An understanding of the importance of developing working partnerships with businesses and community groups. A person who gets out from behind the desk and works at bringing people together to get things done. Understanding of environmental and permitting issues. A good manager of time and resources. A willingness to delegate, where appropriate. Able to communicate clearly both orally and in writing. Willing to work long hours. A bachelors degree in public administration, engineering, business administration or similar is required.
have a working knowledge of California water policies and politics, surface water and groundwater management, flood control systems and regulations, and strong finance, communications, and leadership skills. Kings County Water District covers 143,000 acres of prime farmland in the Northeastern corner of Kings County and is governed by a five member publicly elected Board of Directors. The District was formed in 1954 to protect, preserve and enhance the water resources within its boundary. It owns surface water rights on the Kings and Kaweah Rivers and has programs for groundwater recharge and banking as well as wastewater recycling. The District owns or operates over 1,000 acres of groundwater recharge and floodwater layoff sites. The current Groundwater Management Plan is compliant with SB-1938 law. The District offers an excellant salary and benefit package (DOQ). Candidates should submit resumes, salary history, and three professional references to – Kings County Water District, 200 North Campus Drive, Hanford, CA 93230. The deadline for receiving resumes is October 1, 2013.
Submit resumes to: Joshua Basin Water District, PO Box 725, Joshua Tree, CA 92252; or email to jbwd.gm.search@gmail.com. Job description available at the District website: www.jbwd.com. No phone calls please. EOE
Water Transfer Request for Information
General Manager
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP)
Kings County Water District As a result of a pending retirement, Kings County Water District is seeking applications for a General Manager. The Board of Directors desires a candidate with registration as a Civil or Agricultural Engineer in the State of California. Knowledge of San Joaquin Valley agricultural and urban water issues and operations is required. The candidate must
The City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is exploring the potential for developing water transfers to replace a portion of Los Angeles Aqueduct water used for environmental enhancements in the eastern Sierra Nevada. Interested parties are invited to respond to LADWP’s Water Transfer Request for Information (RFI) issued to solicit information regarding water
supplies available for transfers including associated water rights and entitlements, potential recovery and delivery limitations, location(s) of delivery, water quality and other information. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) holds an exclusive contractual right to deliver State Water Project (SWP) entitlement water into its service territory, which includes the City of Los Angeles. Therefore, only non-SWP supplies will be considered by LADWP. LADWP seeks a partnership with one or more entities to develop and implement a water transfer in mid-2014 whereby nonSWP water is delivered either directly or by exchange into LADWP’s service area. LADWP’s desired quantity to be transferred is up to 40,000 acre-feet annually and may be obtained from a single supply or a combination of several supplies. The selection of suppliers and supplies will be at the discretion of LADWP. The City of Los Angeles employs an online Business Assistance Virtual Network (BAVN) system for posting its bidding and other business opportunities. Interested parties must have a registered BAVN account in order to access and download the Water Transfer RFI and associated documents. Registration is easy and free. Please log on to BAVN at http://labavn.org. All proposal submittals are due no later than 2:00 p.m. on November 7, 2013. Any questions related to this advertisement should be submitted via electronic mail to LADWP’s Utility Buyer, Heather Tarumoto, at heather.tarumoto@ ladwp.com.