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ACWA’s • Member • Newsletter
Gov. Jerry Brown is surrounded by reporters during a press briefing in his office Nov. 5, the day after California voters overwhelmingly approved Brown’s reelection and Propositions 1 and 2. Proposition 1, the water bond, will fund $7.545 billion in water system improvements and water programs such as recycling, conservation and groundwater cleanup. Proposition 2, the so-called Rainy Day Fund, requires a percentage of the budget be set aside for lean years.
Voters Approve Proposition 1 by Decisive Margin California voters approved Proposition 1 by a substantial margin Nov. 4, authorizing $7.545 billion in funding for a range of water projects and programs as part of a new era in water management. Election returns posted by the Secretary of State’s office showed Proposition 1 winning by a 67% – 33% vote, the largest margin ever for a water bond. Proposition 2, the so-called Rainy Day Fund, also was approved by a wide margin of voters. Gov. Jerry Brown, who campaigned for
Propositions 1 and 2 and made their passage a top priority, hailed the success of both measures in remarks to reporters Tuesday night. “I just spent the last several months saying, ‘save water, save money,’” said Brown. “These are pillars because water is life. It is the basis of our well-being and also our economy.” ACWA Executive Director Timothy Quinn also applauded the outcome. He called passage of Proposition 1 a victory for California and the culmination of years of effort to advance a water bond that will reinvest in the state’s waPROP. 1 Continued on page 9
State Board Reports First-Ever Per Capita Water Use Estimates for Urban Agencies Around the State The State Water Resources Control Board on Nov. 4 released first-ever monthly estimates of daily per capita water use by residential customers for nearly 400 urban agencies around the state. The monthly estimates, based on data submitted by urban agencies under emergency conservation regulations adopted by the State Board in July, showed that water use varies widely by hydrologic region. Factors such as
climate, population density and lot size tend to account for much of the variation, State Board staff noted in presenting the data. The San Francisco Bay region, for example, averaged 85.2 gallons per person per day in September, according to the State Board estimates. The Colorado River hydrologic region, which includes hotter inland areas such as Palm Springs and the Mojave Desert, averaged 251.9 gallons per person per day. State Board Continued on page 4
2 Volume 42 | Digital November 7, 2014
Australian Expert to Share Insight on Drought at ACWA Conference
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DWR Releases Updated California Water Plan
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State Board to Hold Workshops on Safe Drinking Water Plan
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San Joaquin Valley Members Reflect on a Year of Crisis and Opportunity
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 Emily Allshouse Graphic Designer Katherine Causland Outreach and Social Media Specialist Marie Meade Copyright 2014. All Rights Reserved. Call ACWA for Permission to Reprint. USPS 334030 Digital Only
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Australian Expert to Share Insights from Millennium Drought at ACWA Fall Conference With California in the midst of one of its worst droughts in years, ACWA members will hear lessons from the most severe drought in Australia’s history from Dr. Stuart White during the Dec. 3 opening breakfast keynote address at ACWA’s Fall Conference & Exhibition in San Diego.
efficiency and strategy projects, and for countless articles and resources on sustainability subjects. In 2012 he was awarded the Australian Museum Eureka Prize for Environmental Research.
Former Senate Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg also will address conference attendees that day in a keynote address at Wednesday’s luncheon. Steinberg will reflect on major water-related accomplishments in 2014 and during his tenure in the Legislature.
On Thursday, Dec. 4, water law expert Eric Garner will discuss California’s historic groundwater legislation at the luncheon program. Friday’s breakfast program features political analysis with State Treasurer Bill Lockyer and Tony Krvaric, vice chair of the California Republican Party and chair of the Republican Party of San Diego County.
White, director of the Institute for Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology Sydney, will provide insights from Australia’s “Millennium Drought,” which spanned from 1995 to 2009 and left agricultural, urban, and rural areas devastated. White has gained international recognition for his work serving as the principal on numerous water supply, design,
In his keynote remarks, White will discuss how Australian water managers handled daily challenges and the strategies they used to motivate citizens, implement restrictions and adjust water pricing after the drought.
The conference, which will take place at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego Dec. 2-5, is themed “Moment of Truth: One State, One Water Future.” More information on the conference is available at http://www.acwa.com/events/ acwa-2014-fall-conference-exhibition.
DWR Outlines Key Priorities in Updated California Water Plan After five years of preparation and significant input from stakeholders, the California Department of Water Resources on Oct. 30 released its updated California Water Plan which places significant emphasis on integrated regional water management and multi-agency collaboration. The voluminous document – dubbed Update 2013 due to its original expected date of completion – outlines the goals state water managers hope to see implemented in California’s water system through 2050. Among its top priorities is the implementation of Gov. Jerry Brown’s five-year California Water Action Plan. The update contains 300 specific actions to support the governor’s plan, which include expanding water storage capacity, providing safe drinking water and making conservation a way of life. “When it comes to water our challenges are as diverse as our state of 38 million people,” said Secretary of Natural Resources John Laird in a conference call with reporters. “Right now we face one of the most extreme droughts in modern times.” Laird added that the water plan update is “the most comprehensive guide to statewide water challenges and solutions.” “We have never produced a plan before that has depended so heavily on the
involvement of so many stakeholders,” said Laird. The plan also focuses on the need for stable funding for investments in water innovation and infrastructure. According to the document, local entities such as water districts, cities, counties and utilities spend about $18 billion a year on water, as compared with the roughly $2 billion spent annually by the state and federal governments. Update 2013 predicts that California will need investments of $200 billion over the next few decades just to maintain its current system and about $500 billion to upgrade it. ACWA participated in and helped coordinate water agency stakeholder input by serving on the DWR Public Advisory Committee, which helped inform the technical and policy landscape for the CA Water Plan. Mark Cowin, director of DWR, said that the current drought is “testing the system” and the water plan “lays out a basic approach of improving the resiliency of our water system and facing future challenges.” One of the key themes of the document is a call for increased intergovernmental collaboration from the federal, state and local levels as well as the integration of land use planning with water planning.
“California’s complex water system features federal and state water projects, hundreds of local water districts, large coastal cities, and vast tracts of farmland,” Cowin said in a prepared statement. “To manage our water wisely, Californians need a shared understanding of our challenges and a vision for the future. The California Water Plan Update 2013 delivers that and creates a path forward.” Officials released a “highlights” booklet of the plan and its first three volumes. The remaining two volumes will be released in a few weeks. Update 2013 includes summaries of over 30 water/resource management strategies available throughout California as well as a snapshot of regional water conditions and a range of future climate change scenarios. The water plan is available www. waterplan.water.ca.gov/cwpu2013/ final/.
California’s Drought Likely to Persist in Much of State, Forecasters Say California’s record-breaking drought likely will persist in many parts of the state this winter and could intensify in some areas, according to a recent winter forecast by the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center. According to the three-month forecast released Oct. 16, drought is expected to improve in California’s southern and northwestern regions, but improvement is not expected until December or January. The remainder of the state is expected to remain unseasonably dry.
“Complete drought recovery in California this winter is highly unlikely. While we’re predicting at least a 2-in-3 chance that winter precipitation will be near or above normal throughout the state, with such widespread, extreme deficits, recovery will be slow,” Mike Halpert, acting director of the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center. More than half of California is suffering from exceptional drought — the worst category — with 2013 being the driest year on record. In addition to
being exceptionally dry, California has experienced unseasonably warm weather with 2012 and 2013 ranking in the top 10 of its warmest years. The calendar year 2014 is shaping up to be California’s warmest year on record. Weather forecasters aren’t ruling out the possibility of an El Niño weather pattern developing this winter, but predict that if such a weather pattern were to occur, it would be weak, offering little precipitation to quench drought-parched regions of the state.
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State Board to Hold Workshops on Safe Drinking Water Plan The State Water Resources Control Board will sponsor a series of workshops throughout the state in coming weeks to present an overview of the draft Safe Drinking Water Plan for California. Members of the public are invited to comment on the document by noon on Dec. 15. A quorum of State Board members may be present at the workshop and may provide input, pose questions, or provide direction to staff, but will not take action. The State Board released a draft of the Safe Drinking Water Plan for California on Oct. 6. The plan contains elements required by law such as: the State Board’s assessment of the overall quality of the state’s drinking water and identification of specific water quality problems; an analysis of the known and potential health risks that may be associated with drinking water contamination in California; discussion of contaminants found in public water systems with fewer than
10,000 service connections and costs of requiring those systems to meet drinking water standards and public health goals; and specific recommendations to improve drinking water quality. The Safe Drinking Water Plan and the notice of opportunity to comment are available to view or download on the State Board’s website at www. waterboards.ca.gov/drinking_water/ safedrinkingwaterplan. For a paper copy contact Stormy Hinkley at (916) 5529123 or Stormy.Hinkley@waterboards. ca.gov. The State Board encourages people to submit their comments in writing. Comment letters may be emailed to commentletters@waterboards.ca.gov Write in the subject line “Comment Letter – Safe Drinking Water Plan.” Comment letters may be sent by mail to Jeanine Townsend, Clerk to the Board, State Water Resources Control Board, 1001 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814.
The public workshops are as follows: •
Redding, Nov. 12, 2 p.m., Central Valley Regional board Redding Office, 364 Knollcrest Drive, Suite 205;
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Los Angeles, Nov. 21, 10 a.m., Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, 700 North Alameda St.;
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Coachella, Dec. 1, 4 p.m., 51501 Tyler St. and Sacramento, Dec. 3, 10 a.m., Cal/EPA Building, 1001 I St.
The Dec. 3 meeting will be telecast www.calepa.ca.gov/broadcast/.
State board Continued from page 1
State Board staff cautioned against using the water use data to compare water suppliers or even hydrologic regions, saying there are too many complexities and variables involved. The data can be useful, however, for water suppliers to track and self-evaluate their own performance over time, staff said. State Board Chair Felicia Marcus echoed that theme and noted that “people should not be rushing to judgment.” She suggested that water suppliers could use the information to inform local decisions about the need for additional conservation measures. “This (information) really does help us gain a better sense than simply looking at percentage reductions, since different areas of the state have been conserving for longer than other areas,” Marcus said. “This gives us a useful view of what’s possible. The transparency of it should lead some agencies and residents to wonder whether 4 • ACWA NEWS
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they need to do more,” she said. In addition to the per capita use estimates, the State Board also released monthly water production numbers for September as submitted by water suppliers. The data, which showed that statewide urban water use was down an average of 10.3% in September 2014 as compared to September 2013, suggests that conservation efforts leveled off somewhat in September after three consecutive months of year-over-year improvement. Average reductions in water use also varied by hydrologic region, with the Sacramento River region reporting a 16.6% average reduction in September and the Central Coast region reporting a 15.9% reduction. State Board staff cited several noteworthy reductions by individual agencies, including the City of Oxnard, which reported a 14% reduction in what already was a low baseline; Contra Costa
Water District (22% reduction); the City of Davis (28% reduction); the City of Oakdale (20% reduction); the City of Grover Beach (52% reduction); and Desert Water Agency (11% reduction in a region that averaged 6.7%). State Board staff said 87% of urban water suppliers reported they have imposed mandatory restrictions on water use, up 6% from the previous month. Staff also announced that a toll-free phone number would be established for residents to report water waste. The number should be up and running before summer 2015. A workshop on conservation also is being planned for Southern California in December. The State Board per capita water use and monthly production data is available at www.waterboards.ca.gov/waterrights/ water_issues/programs/drought/ conservation_reporting_info.shtml.
Higher Food Prices, Drought Water Bank Possible if 2015 Comes Up Dry, Water Officials Tell Members of State Board of Food and Agriculture From a potential drought water bank to increased food prices and assistance for unemployed farmworkers, water planners on the local, state and federal levels are gearing up for a possible dry 2015. That was the overview delivered Nov. 4 by water officials from many agencies who appeared before the California State Board of Food and Agriculture to discuss how another dry year might impact groundwater, agriculture, food prices, and water system operations. The discussion was part of a briefing on plans for 2015. Richard Howitt, a resource economist with the University of California, Davis and its Center for Watershed Sciences, said food prices increased by 0.3% in 2014 over 2013 prices. He said the “buffer stock” of groundwater helped growers mitigate the loss of surface water and keep operations going. He cautioned that the buffer might not be there in 2015 if aquifers are low due to increased pumping in 2014. Food prices could go up by as much as 10%-15% in 2015 if major cutbacks in water deliveries continue and wells go dry, Howitt added. Howitt also recommended that the state consider adopting some sort of clearing house for information on water sales that are occurring, including the going prices of water and what sales have been completed. He said purchasers of water were provided with little information this year about availability and price. “Farmers this year were flying blind in terms of water markets…and some got blind-sided,” said Howitt. Jay Lund, professor of environmental engineering at UC Davis and director of its Center for Watershed Sciences, said California is going into 2015 with 5 million acre-feet less than average of groundwater and 1 million acre-feet less than average of surface water. He added that one positive element of the drought is it has fostered more cross agency cooperation.
Karla Nemeth, deputy secretary for water policy at the California Natural Resources Agency, outlined the food aid and rental assistance the state has deployed to laid off agricultural workers this year. She said such assistance also would be offered if 2015 proves to be another dry year. Nemeth added that state and federal officials are “rolling up their sleeves” and working together to discuss operations of the Central Valley Project and State Water Project should the state experience another dry year. She added that more data on operations may be available in a month. The state also is helping to lead a “guided discussion” about a potential drought water bank if it were needed, Nemeth added. Nemeth said the state has made improvements in water conservation, but more is needed. She said more restrictions on water use and possibly rationing could occur if the drought worsens. Gordon Burns, undersecretary of CalEPA, presented the board with details on the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act that was passed by the Legislature this year. He said the overarching goal of the act is to empower local entities to manage the groundwater resource.
sponsored by the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water. California Water Commissioner Kim Delfino also spoke before the board and talked about how passage of Proposition 1 — the water bond — would give the state more money to increase storage projects. The Water Commission will be the entity that disperses that money. She said the process of determining the public benefits of specific projects would begin in earnest in January should the bond pass. “I think it’s an opportunity to make wise investments to improve the Delta and groundwater recharge and also look at additional storage, even surface storage,” Delfino said. Dave Orth, also a member of the California Water Commission who provided significant input on the groundwater management act, said it is critical that the state take an “integrated perspective” on its water and not operate in silos. He said the governor’s water action plan is a good example of an integrated approach. Orth added that there is a lot of misinformation about what the new groundwater act actually does and officials need to help the various stakeholders more thoroughly understand the legislation.
“It’s not aimed at the drought,” Burns said of the act. “Groundwater sustainability is a long-term problem that needs a long-term solution.” Burns added that the state also needs to expand its water storage — both surface and groundwater — and adhere to a statewide plan such as the Gov. Jerry Brown’s California Water Action Plan. Burns said that legislation likely will be introduced next year that seeks to reform the groundwater adjudication process. An informational hearing on potential adjudication reforms is scheduled Nov. 20 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Capitol room 112. The hearing is November 7, 2014 • 5
Left photo: Region 6 Chair Dave Orth welcomes everyone to the San Joaquin Valley Water Forum. Center: What’s Next for San Joaquin Water Management panelists: Timothy Quinn, executive director, ACWA; Gary Bardini, deputy director, CA Department of Water Resources; Dorene D’Adamo, board member, State Water Resources Control Board; Matt Hurley, general manager, Angiola Water District; and Tricia Stever Blattler, executive director, Tulare County Farm Bureau. Right photo: Senators Jean Fuller and Andy Vidak, and Assembly Members Jim Patterson, Henry Perea, and Rudy Salas provide perspectives during a Capitol panel.
San Joaquin Valley Members Reflect on a Year of Crisis and Opportunity By Region 7 Chair Bill Taube
ACWA members gathered once again in Visalia for our Regions 6 & 7 San Joaquin Valley Water Forum on Oct. 17. More than 120 water industry experts and leaders from throughout the San Joaquin Valley were in attendance, eager to hear about the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act and from their local representatives in the Capitol. ACWA President John Coleman and Vice President Kathy Tiegs kicked off the program with an update on what ACWA has been working on and activities and events to come. ACWA Region 6 Chair Dave Orth moderated the first panel, “What’s Next for San Joaquin Water Management?” The panel included speakers that represented a myriad of perspectives on the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. Setting the stage for the panel discussion, ACWA Executive Director Timothy Quinn spoke first and gave an overview of California’s eventful year in water, which included information about the Governor Jerry Brown’s California Water Action Plan, the water bond on the Nov. 4 ballot, groundwater legislation, and key steps toward advancing a comprehensive plan. Next, Gary Bardini, deputy director of integrated water management at the Department of Water Resources, and Dorene D’Adamo, a member of the State Water Resources Control Board, provided a state-level perspective on the 6 • ACWA NEWS
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groundwater legislation. Bardini spoke in more detail about the legislation and what is ahead in the implementation process. D’Adamo focused her remarks on the boxes that need to be checked for locals to be in compliance with the new legislation, and what happens if some actions are not taken. She assured the audience that the State Board does not want to get in the way of water managers managing their aquifers, and that by “checking the boxes” it will shield local managers from state intervention. Rounding out the panel were the local perspectives. Angiola Water District General Manager Matt Hurley spoke about how he will be managing water moving forward in light of the new legislation, which he described as an important step in preserving and prolonging a natural resource for generations to come. Tricia Stever Blattler, the executive director of the Tulare County Farm Bureau, also spoke and gave the local agricultural perspective on the legislation, outlining concerns that many in the farming community have with the legislation. Hurley and Blattler both agreed that it is more important than ever to work together as a community to ensure groundwater continues to be managed at the local level. The second panel, “Perspectives from the Capitol,” was moderated by ACWA State Relations Director Wendy Ridderbusch. The local legislator participants included Sens.
Jean Fuller (R-Bakersfield) and Andy Vidak (R-Hanford), and Assembly Members Jim Patterson (D-Fresno), Henry Perea (D-Fresno), and Rudy Salas (D-Bakersfield). The panel discussion began with each legislator giving a self-introduction and listing his or her priorities in office. Ridderbusch then led the panel through a lengthy discussion that included how the water bond on the Nov. 4 ballot came to be, local priorities for financing through the water bond, views on the groundwater legislation, additional legislation that may be sought next year, and moving forward with implementing the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. We had a great turn out in Visalia and a lot of good information and ideas were shared. The materials and presentations from the program are available at www. acwa.com/content/region-6/2014regions-6-7-san-joaquin-valley-waterforum. I’d like to extend a special thank you to the event sponsors that helped make this event a success – RMC Water and Technology, Baker Manock & Jensen, and Provost & Pritchard Engineering Group. Thank you! Up next, ACWA Regions 6 & 7 are working on a program that will be featured at ACWA’s Fall Conference in San Diego, titled “Planning for the Next Flood.” We hope to see you there.
Left photo: Region 5 members pose Oct. 19 during a tour of Del Valle Pumping Plant and Dam. Center: Dr. Phil Duffy, senior advisor to the National Science & Technology Council discusses climate change effects on Tri-Valley water. Right: Creative Approaches to Achieving Water Reliability Panel: Jill Duerig, general manager, Zone 7 Water Agency; John Marchand, mayor of City of Livermore; Garth Hall, assistant officer, Water Supply Division of Santa Clara Valley Water District; Paula Kehoe, director of water resources, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission; Gary Wolff, executive director for StopWaste.org.
Region 5 Members Study Creative Approaches to Water Reliability By Region 5 Chair Dick Quigley
ACWA Region 5 members gathered in Livermore on Oct. 19 – 20 for our 2014 fall event, titled “Creative Approaches to Watershed Reliability in the Tri-Valley.” With water managers having to do more with less these days, Region 5 decided to host a program on outside-the-box approaches to water reliability to showcase how local districts are making the current water supplies work for them. Our program began on Sunday, Oct. 19, with a tour of Del Valle Pumping plant, led by Jim Odom from Department of Water Resources, where we learned how the plant is used to store water off of the South Bay Aqueduct. Next, we headed to Las Positas Vineyards for a networking opportunity and program. Livermore Mayor John Marchard welcomed everyone to Livermore, and ACWA Vice President Kathy Tiegs updated attendees on ACWA activities and upcoming programs and events. ACWA/JPIA Chief Executive Officer Andy Sells updated us on what is happening in the insurance world. On Monday, Oct. 20, we met at Livermore’s Martinelli Center for presentations and idea sharing. David Aladjem, a partner at Downey Brand, set the stage with a presentation about water supply reliability and an overview of the Tri-Valley water supply and where it’s headed. The first panel, “Creative Approaches to Achieving Water Reliability,” was moderated by Zone 7 Water Agency General Manager Jill Duerig. Marchand
gave the history of the South Bay Aqueduct and its Improvements and Enlargements Project. Next, Santa Clara Valley Water District’s Water Supply Division Assistant Officer Garth Hall gave an overview of water supply history in the Santa Clara Valley and the district’s new Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center project. San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Director of Water Resources Paula Kehoe spoke about a regulatory blueprint for non-potable water use and innovations the SFPUC building is employing to reuse the rain and stormwater. Rounding out the panel was Stopwaste.org Executive Director Gary Wollf, who told us Australia’s story of dealing with its historic drought and the innovative and creative ways that Australia developed to conserve and reuse water. Dublin San Ramon Services District General Manager Bert Michalczyk brought the conversation closer to home with the panel he moderated, “Local Efforts Toward Water Reliability & Sustainability.” CalDesal Executive Director Ron Davis talked about the future of desalination projects in California and how these projects provide a local option for districts to create more water supply. City of Livermore Assistant Public Works Director Darren Greenwood talked about the area’s current water supply, local recycled water programs, and opportunities for collaboration among the local Tri-Valley
districts. Zone 7 Water Agency Integrated Planning Manager Carol Mahoney spoke about reliability and sustainability in the district’s service area in a changing time. A local rancher, Paul Banke with WP Cattle Company, wrapped up with his groundlevel perspective on running a business with a dwindling water supply, stressing that water needs to be stored and reused to be sustainable. After a brief break for lunch, ACWA President John Coleman reflected on a busy water year in California with his presentation, “2014 Retrospective.” The program concluded with Dr. Phil Duffy’s presentation, “Climate Change Effects on the Tri-Valley.” Dr. Duffy, on assignment from Lawrence Livermore Laboratory to the White House National Science and Technology Council, explained that current warming conditions are too rapid to be entirely natural and are likely a result of human greenhouse gases. His presentation described how water management planning will need to adjust to changing conditions. The Region 5 program was a great success. All of the event materials and presentations can be found on the ACWA website www.acwa.com/content/region5/2014-region-5-fall-event-creativeapproaches-watershed-reliability-tri-valley. We are grateful to our sponsors: The Covello Group, Downey Brand, Santa Clara Valley Water District, and Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty. November 7, 2014 • 7
Multi-Faceted Strategy Needed to Meet California’s Water Challenges California will need to take an “all-ofthe-above” strategy to meet the challenges of drought and water supply reliability, including increased conservation, bolstered water storage and implementation of Gov. Jerry Brown’s statewide water action plan. That was the overarching message delivered Oct. 28 to reporters by Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior Michael Connor in comments made following his keynote address at the Bay-Delta Science Conference in Sacramento. During his public address to the opening plenary session, Connor called for increased scientific collaboration with policy makers and outlined the challenges of climate change and the perils facing the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Connor spoke further about California’s current water challenges in comments made after the address, telling reporters that federal officials are working closely with state officials in planning for a possible dry 2015. “It will be incredibly important…to conserve water as much as possible… and continue to be judicious in how we manage our reservoirs,” Connor said of meeting the challenges of a dry 2015. The deputy secretary also said ad-
ditional water storage above and below ground is needed to “make use of those high flow events.”
Joaquin Delta. He said there are “very diverse interests that rely on the Delta” that have “created a set of polarized actions.”
“We’ve got to have new water infrastructure to help us preserve that water supply so it can be used later on,” said Connor.
Connor added that without the Endangered Species Act restrictions placed on the operations of the Delta, the “ecosystem would be in much more trouble.”
Connor did not identify any particular new storage projects, saying only that federal officials are looking at a potential dam raise at San Luis Reservoir. Connor said there is a lot of “planning actively going on to make sure we are well-prepared” in the event of another dry year.
“The status quo is not sustainable for economic or ecosystem needs,” he said.
“There’s still water in the system so there are still opportunities to make transfers,” said Connor, adding later that “as the system dries up, there is less opportunity to make adjustments.”
After his keynote address, Connor was asked by a reporter about the fate of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan. Connor said he is still “optimistic” that “there are ways to make this project viable.”
In both his public address to the plenary session and his comments to reporters, Connor praised Gov. Jerry Brown’s California Water Action Plan, saying it is the type of “comprehensive approach to water management” that the state needs.
“There is an exhaustive effort to look hard at operational strategies,” said Connor.
During his public address, Connor said the Obama Administration is committed to the coequal goals of ecosystem restoration and water supply reliability in California. He said the DOI is highly focused on the water needs of California and the fragility of the Sacramento-San
Connor, in speaking to the people gathered for the science conference, said that collaboration among scientists and policy makers is what’s needed to make good decisions about the Delta.
He added that “new investments are going to be needed to stabilize water reliability.” Chuck Bonham, director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, introduced Connor to the plenary session. He stressed the importance of the theme of the conference title “Making Connections.” .
Water Experts to Discuss Mono Lake During Nov. 17 Symposium The UC Berkeley School of Law along with stakeholders in Mono Lake will convene a symposium in Sacramento on Nov. 17 to mark the 20th anniversary of the State Water Resources Control Board’s decision to integrate the Water Code, Fish and Game Code and the common law of public trust to protect the lake and its tributary creeks. ACWA is a co-sponsor of the symposium. The symposium will address a number of fundamental questions such as: What are the actual results of implementation 8 • ACWA NEWS
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of the decision and what does the decision mean for other water rights, as the State Board seeks to determine how best to protect public trust uses of the Delta and Central Valley rivers?
trol Board; Geoffrey McQuilkin, Mono Lake Committee and others.
Panel presentations will feature: Timothy Quinn, executive director of ACWA; Lester Snow, executive director of California Water Foundation; Marty Adams, Los Angeles Department of Water & Power; Martha Davis, Inland Empire Utilities Association (formerly of the Mono Lake Committee); Felicia Marcus, chair of the State Water Resources Con-
It will run from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Check-in begins at 8:00 a.m. Lunch and coffee will be served, and a reception will follow immediately after the program
The symposium will be held in the Byron Sher Auditorium at CalEPA Headquarters in Sacramento.
More information at www.law. berkeley.edu/MonoLake20.htm. Space is limited. Preregistration at www. regonline.com/Register/Checkin. aspx?EventID=1623013.
Durable Foul-Release Coatings Found to Control Invasive Mussels The Bureau of Reclamation has released a report that finds that silicone foul release coatings are the most promising for deterring mussel attachment in flowing and static water.
said in a written statement. “Though we have tested many different coatings, three durable foul-release coatings are showing promise in managing mussels.”
The report summarizes six years of testing coatings to control the attachment of quagga and zebra mussels to water and power facilities. Since the study began in 2008, the Bureau has tested more than 100 coatings and materials, according to the Bureau press release.
The silicon epoxy allowed mussels to attach but were easily cleaned for the first 12 months of exposure. Two experimental formulations prevented mussel attachment for the first 18 months. The three durable foul release coatings will be tested further, the Bureau release stated.
“Controlling attachment of invasive quagga and zebra mussels on Bureau of Reclamation facilities is important to ensure water delivery and hydropower generation,” principal researcher Allen Skaja
Though aquatic vegetation and algae may provide a surface for attachment, the coatings can be easily cleaned with no measurable force. However, the silicone foul release coatings are soft and easily
damaged, according to the study. The testing was conducted at Parker Dam on the Colorado River. Invasive mussels at this location reproduce yearround and have a high growth rate. Each coating system was tested in static and flowing water conditions at the dam. Each coating system was evaluated approximately every six months, about every May and November. The research was funded by the Bureau’s Research and Development Office where research is conducted to develop and deploy successful solutions to improve water management practices, increase water supply and ensure costeffective power generation operations.
PROP. 1 Continued from page 1
ter system and jumpstart the comprehensive, statewide water action plan needed for the future. “The success of Proposition 1 reinforces that the public understands our water supply challenges as we move through a multi-year drought. At its core, Proposition 1 advances an all-of-the-above strategy that includes everything from local resources to water storage to safe drinking water. It makes the single-largest investment ever in programs such as water recycling, conservation, stormwater capture, desalination and groundwater remediation and cleanup. These programs together will play a major role in meeting local and regional water needs in the coming decades,” Quinn said. “Those investments will be complemented by the most significant state funding for water storage in a half-century. This funding will be matched — on a competitive basis — with local and regional dollars for 21st century water storage projects that add much-needed flexibility and resiliency to our water system. We will also take a major step forward in investing in watersheds and safe drinking water improvements, particularly in disadvantaged communities.
“Together with the comprehensive water plan outlined by Gov. Jerry Brown, Proposition 1 is part of an evolution in California water that opens the door to the most substantial progress in decades.” Quinn’s statement is available at www. acwa.com/news/2014-water-bond/acwaapplauds-passage-proposition-1. Passage of Proposition 1 drew broad praise from members of California’s water community and others. Rich Atwater, executive director of the Southern California Water Committee, issued a statement election night praising the passage of Proposition 1, calling it a “crucial investment.” “Southern California is committed to expanding local water supplies, and Prop. 1 will help the region build on the significant progress already made by advancing water projects close to home,” Atwater wrote. Lester Snow, executive director of the California Water Foundation, issued a statement saying the work on water system improvements will now begin. “Now that California voters have passed Proposition 1, the hard work begins. We should view this new influx of bond funding as an important down
Gov. Jerry Brown poses with Orange County Water District directors and former Assemblyman Jose Solorio Oct. 28 after an educational presentation on Propositions 1 and 2.
payment on a long-term fix of our state’s serious water challenges,” Snow wrote. Ann Notthoff, director of California Advocacy for the Natural Resource Defense Council, issued the following statement: “California voters get it. We need to act now to protect what precious little water we have and make smart investments to protect our water future. Prop. 1 funds major investments in 21st century solutions that are long overdue…,” she wrote. Details on Proposition 1 are available www.acwa.com/spotlight/2014-waterbond. November 7, 2014 • 9
NEWSWATCH
Upper San Gabriel Valley MWD Declares Supply Emergency The Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District declared a water supply emergency on Oct. 22 in response to record-low groundwater levels. This action follows three consecutive dry years with the winter of 2013-14 being a historically dry year. Groundwater levels in the Main San Gabriel Basin will
continue to drop if this winter doesn’t provide above-average rainfall and there is not enough imported water available from Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the district said in a release. Groundwater levels could drop an additional 20 feet or more with another dry winter and without deliveries of imported water.
“Today’s action by the board is necessary to continue the reliable and safe operation of the Basin’s water supply,” said Upper District Board President Anthony Fellow. “Groundwater levels continue to hit record lows and weather forecasts predict continued drought-like conditions.” .
Sonoma County WA Adopts Groundwater Management Plan The Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) Board of Directors on Oct. 7 adopted a voluntary Groundwater Management Plan for the Santa Rosa Plain after a USGS study found that the basin may face unsustainable conditions in the future. The newly adopted groundwater management plan will help SCWA comply with provisions of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, which was enacted by Gov. Jerry Brown in midSeptember and requires the adoption of sustainability plans for groundwater basins statewide within five years. The plan was developed by the Basin Advisory Panel, which will continue to provide input and guidance for studies, projects, and programs conducted under the plan. Stream flow measurements and voluntary groundwater level monitoring
data will be used to prioritize groundwater sustainability projects. “This data driven plan puts Sonoma County ahead of the curve when it comes to creating sustainable groundwater levels which will benefit generations of residents,” said SCWA Board Member Mike McGuire. “Climate change is real and we have to be prepared for longer, dryer times.” “Implementing this plan will increase coordination between county departments that can create successful-benefit projects,” added SCWA Board Chair David Rabbitt. “Increasing data on groundwater levels will help us make better decisions when it comes to using water supply wisely.” A copy of the groundwater management plan is available on SCWA’s
website at www.sonomacountywater.org/ srgroundwater.
MWDOC Launches “OC Water Smart” Water Use Efficiency Website The Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) in mid-October launched a new water use efficiency website at www.ocwatersmart.com. The website will provide Orange County residents and businesses with valuable resources to help save water and money.
The website is optimized for mobile users and features information on rebates for water efficient devices, turf removal, home water surveys, business assistance programs, and other watersaving resources available in Orange County.
According to MWDOC Water Use Efficiency Program Manager Joe Berg, the district’s programs are already saving 13 billion gallons of water per year – enough water to serve 100,000 Orange County households every year. The new website is expected to help residents and businesses have even more water.
“We are in the midst of one of the worst droughts in California history, and Orange County residents are responding to our call for increased water efficiency,” said Larry Dick, MWDOC Board President. “We believe the new website will make it even easier for our customers to get rebates and access programs that
10 • ACWA NEWS
Vol. 42 | Digital
will help them reduce their daily water use during this serious drought.” .
CALENDAR
ACWA Events
Other Events
November
12 – 14 The 2014 NWRA Annual Conference at the prestigious Hotel Del Coronado in Coronado, California is Nov. 12 – 14. Online registration is available at www.shop.nwra.org/main.sc. Mono Lake at 20: Past, Present and Future, a Berkeley Law Symposium is set for Nov. 17 at Byron Sher Auditorium, CalEPA Headquarters, Sacramento. For more information and registration go to www.law. berkeley.edu/MonoLake20.htm.
17
December
ACWA’s 2014 Fall Conference & Exhibition is Dec. 2 – 5 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt, San Diego. Registration available online at www.acwa. com. Deadline for online registration is Nov. 7. For more information contact ACWA’s Member Services and Events Department at events@acwa.com or 916.441.4545.
2 – 5
2015 January 12
15
28
Managing Drought program, hosted by PPIC, is set for Jan. 12 at the Sheraton Grand Sacramento. Registration deadline is January 6. For more information go to www.ppic.org/main/event. asp?i=1623. Water rates workshop for Northern California is set for Jan. 15. Learn from experts and peers how to design rates that provide for stable renvenue in challenging times while still sending effective conservation signals. More information coming soon.
February 25 – 26
May
5 – 8
Water rates workshop for Southern California is set for Jan. 28. Learn from experts and peers how to design rates that provide for stable renvenue in challenging times while still sending effective conservation signals. More information coming soon.
Prime Downtown Location Three suites available in Sacramento, one block from the State Capital (910 K St.). • Suite 350 – 1,850 sq. ft., Suite 300 – 2,200 sq. ft. , Suite 340 – 578 sq. ft. • Move-in ready office space • Immediate access to Interstate 5 and Interstate 80 • Walking distance to Westfield Downtown Shopping Center, restaurants, and hotels • Centrally located in the heart of the Sacramento Central Business District For more information, contact Mark Tabak: 916.288.4818 or mark.tabak@cushwake.com
ACWA’s 2015 DC Conference is set for Feb. 25 – 26 at the Liaison Hotel in Washington, D.C. For more information contact ACWA’s Member Services and Events Department at events@ acwa.com or 916.441.4545.
ACWA’s 2015 Spring Conference & Exhibition is May 5 – 8 at the Sacramento Convention Center and surrounding hotels. For more information contact ACWA’s Member Services and Events Department at events@acwa.com or 916.441.4545.
Office for Lease November 7, 2014 • 11
Association of California Water Agencies 910 K Street, Suite 100 Sacramento, CA 95814-3577
Periodicals Postage Paid at Sacramento, CA
Time Valued Material
EMWD Receives Energy Management Award from AWWA In October, the Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) was awarded the “Outstanding Energy Management Award” by the American Water Works Association’s California-Nevada section. The award is presented to water agencies that demonstrate outstanding leadership in energy management while operating water supply and distribution systems. EMWD’s Energy Management Plan has saved millions annually by reducing its overall energy consumption. The district has also significantly reduced its energy demand through its recycled water and conservation programs.
EMWD uses green energy at several of its water reclamation facilities. The district also uses fuel cell technology at two of the plants that covert methane gas from the treatment process into energy that is used to power nearly one-third of those plants. Next year EMWD plans to contract solar facilities at its four active water reclamation facilities and its groundwater desalination plant. Later this year, EMWD is expected to complete its 500kW solar farm at its Perris headquarters, which once operational will make EMWD’s operation and administrative centers grid-neutral and save
an estimated $200,000 annually over the next two decades. “We are certainly proud and appreciative of this honor,” said EMWD Board President Philip E. Paule. “Our board and staff are committed to doing all we can to proactively manage our energy usage as we continue to strive for energy independence. By doing so, we are able to help stabilize costs for our ratepayers and serve as good stewards to the environment.” .
Cucamonga Valley Water District Dedicates Water Treatment Plant Cucamonga Valley Water District (CVWD) held a special dedication ceremony on Oct. 24 at its Arthur H. Bridge Water Treatment Plant (Bridge Plant) to showcase renovations to repair damage caused by storms in 2010 and to replace treatment technology at the Bridge Plant and its Cucamonga Canyon intake facilities.
which accounts for 10% of the district’s water supply. Combined with ground water supplies, canyon water sources are assisting CVWD with becoming less reliant on imported water. The renovated Bridge Plant can treat up to three million gallons per day of high-quality canyon water in order to serve CVWD’s nearly 200,000 customers.
The $4.26 million project, which began in 2013, received partial grant funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the California Emergency Management Agency. The renovations were completed in June 2014.
“Projects like the rehabilitation of the Cucamonga Canyon intake facilities and Bridge Plant upgrades enable the District to diversify our water supply and reduce reliance on imported water,” said Oscar Gonzalez, CVWD board president in a press release. “Through increased use of canyon water, groundwater, and recycled
The Bridge Plant was constructed in 1997 to treat Cucamonga Canyon water,
water for non-potable uses, CVWD can continue to guarantee its customers a reliable water supply now and into the future.” For more information about CVWD please visit www.cvwdwater.com.