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ACWA
NEWS
Storms Allow Temporary Increase in Delta Pumping
ACWA’s • Member • Newsletter
The National Marine Fisheries Service on April 1 approved a temporary easing of pumping restrictions in the Delta due to recent storms. The move is increasing pumping levels from about 1,500 cfs to 6,000 cfs, which should result in an additional 10,000 acre-feet per day in water exports from the estuary during the next few days. See story on page 7.
Snowpack Still Below Normal Despite Recent Rains California’s snowpack still measures far below average despite the state’s recent band of storms, suggesting that the summer snowmelt runoff will offer little relief during the current drought. On April 1 snow surveyors with California Department of Water Resources conducted the first snowpack reading of spring, finding that the Sierra snowpack is just 32% of normal. The April 1 reading is considered a bellwether for how much water runoff will be available in the coming dry months of summer for farms and communities.
“We’re already seeing farmland fallowed and cities scrambling for water supplies,” DWR Director Mark Cowin said in a prepared statement after the snow survey results were released. “We can hope that conditions improve, but time is running out and conservation is the only tool we have against nature’s whim.” February and March storms brought some promise to the state after the record-breaking dry months of December and January, but the recent rains have not broken the drought’s three-year grip as reservoirs, rainfall totals and the snowpack remain critically low. Snow Continued on page 7
ACWA Board Acts on Water Conservation, Groundwater Sustainability Recommendations With drought conditions putting water supply challenges in the spotlight this year, ACWA’s Board of Directors on March 28 approved a strategic plan for 2014-‘15 and took action on two key topics: water conservation and groundwater sustainability. The 2014-’15 Strategic and Business Plan identifies strategic goals for the association in the areas of leadership, advocacy, information
and service and outlines priority actions. The plan will be available soon at www.acwa.com. On the water conservation front, the Board adopted a resolution urging water agencies throughout the state to request heightened water conservation from their customers. The resolution calls on members to take formal action asking their customers to ramp up their conservation efforts as drought conditions acwa board Continued on page 5
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Former Las Vegas Water Chief to Headline at ACWA Spring Conference
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AB 1331 Clears Senate Committee; New Water Bond Bill Emerges
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Proposed Federal Rule Would Expand Clean Water Act Protections
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ACWA Members in Santa Cruz Area Work Together in Dry Times
ACWA News is a publication of the Association of California Water Agencies 910 K Street, Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95814-3512 Periodicals postage paid at Sacramento, CA. POSTMASTER: send address changes and subscription requests to ACWA News, 910 K Street, Suite 100 Sacramento, CA 95814-3514 Phone: 916.441.4545 Fax: 916.561.7124 Website: acwa.com Executive Director Timothy Quinn Deputy Executive Director for External Affairs and Operations Jennifer Persike Director of Communications Lisa Lien-Mager Communications Specialist Pamela Martineau Communications Specialist Matt Williams Graphic Designer Katherine Causland Copyright 2014. All Rights Reserved. Call ACWA for Permission to Reprint. USPS 334030 Digital Only
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Former Las Vegas Water Chief to Headline at ACWA’s 2014 Spring Conference in Monterey For a quarter century, former Las Vegas water chief Pat Mulroy kept water flowing to the nation’s driest city as its metropolitan area added more than a million new residents. During breakfast on Wednesday, May 7, at ACWA’s Spring Conference & Exhibition in Monterey, Mulroy will share her insights about the ever-changing landscape of water management in the West and the lessons she has learned during more than two decades at the helm of the Las Vegas Valley Water District and the Southern Nevada Water Authority. Mulroy, who stepped down from both positions in February, is a leading voice on Western and national water issues and is known far and wide to be an influential and determined leader who was unafraid to take on big projects and big battles to ensure Las Vegas has a secure water supply. A “third straw” that will allow Las Vegas to continue pumping at a lower level from Lake Mead is slated to be completed in 2015 and work continues on piping system that will allow the city to tap into rural groundwater.
River basin are more interconnected than many people realize and what happens in California’s Bay-Delta and on the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains affects the entire Western region, she said. New levels of collaboration and innovative partnerships are required. “The Western United States will be drawn closer together than ever before,” Mulroy said in her remarks four years ago. “It will be about what each one of us can contribute.” Mulroy’s 2014 keynote is one of more than 80 interesting and informative program sessions in the works for the conference on May 6-9 in Monterey. This year’s conference theme is “Running on Empty: Investing to Move the Needle.” Kim Marotta, director of sustainability for MillerCoors, is the featured speaker at the luncheon on Wednesday, May 7. Marotta, who joined MillerCoors in 2004, will talk about the company’s efforts and successes in protecting and preserving local water resources through its nationwide water stewardship program.
Her remarks at ACWA’s 2014 Spring Conference & Exhibition should resonate this year, with California in the midst of one its most serious droughts — the sort of dry spell that is the norm in Las Vegas.
MillerCoors is working toward reducing water usage by 15% to 3.5 barrels of water per barrel of beer. The company also has partnered with barley farmers to improve practices of these suppliers in order to protect water quality.
Mulroy last spoke to ACWA members at the 2010 Fall Conference, which came after another prolonged dry spell. She said Western states must figure out how to sustain communities and businesses with less water. The seven states in the Colorado
The deadline to register online for ACWA’s 2014 Spring Conference & Exhibition is April 10. Exhibition space is still available. For more information, please go to acwa.com.
Water Bond
AB 1331 Clears Senate Committee; New Water Bond Bill Emerges Legislation that would place an $8 billion water bond on the November ballot cleared the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee March 25 after a lengthy hearing. AB 1331 by Assembly Member Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) was approved with amendments on a 7-2 vote. The proposed bond would authorize $1 billion in funding for safe drinking water projects, $1.5 billion for protecting rivers, streams and watersheds, $2 billion for regional drought preparedness and water reliability projects, $1 billion for Delta sustainability and $2.5 billion for water storage. Prior to his presentation on AB 1331, Rendon said he had amended another bill – AB 2554 – to serve as a vehicle on the Assembly side to continue the dialog on the water bond. AB 2554 as amended March 24 would place an $8.5 billion water bond measure on the ballot with funding amounts and categories similar to those in AB 1331, except for storage. AB 2554 would authorize $3 billion in storage dollars, continuously appropriated. Rendon told committee members he is “fully committed” to working with lawmakers in a transparent process to craft a bond bill that addresses key priorities and responds to water supply concerns raised by local stakeholders in a series of regional hearings on the need for a 2014 water bond.
“A lot of final decisions will be decided as (the legislation) reaches the floor,” Rendon said. “I wanted to be sure there was a vehicle to continue the conversation.” He noted that the legislative leadership would be involved in those decisions, with a deadline approaching this summer to act on the bond. “If we miss the June 26 deadline to act, we are stuck with the current bond that is destined for failure.” The existing $11.14 billion bond measure, passed by the Legislature as part of the 2009 comprehensive water package, will remain on the November ballot unless the Legislature acts to amend or remove it by a two-thirds vote. Prior to voting on AB 1331, committee members posed detailed questions about the measure and over 20 amendments proposed by committee staff to resolve various policy concerns. Several members noted a number of issues have yet to be addressed, including any link between a water bond and the Bay Delta Conservation Plan. Cindy Tuck, ACWA’s deputy executive director for government relations, told the committee that ACWA continues to have an “opposed-unless-amended” position on AB 1331 but appreciates that the author recently increased his proposed funding for storage and has accepted several suggested amendments from ACWA.
Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) moved approval of the bill with the addition of some of the amendments from the committee analysis that Rendon had rejected earlier in the hearing. For example, one of the amendments proposed to give control for appropriating funding for storage projects to the Legislature. The committee passed the bill with the additional amendments on a partisan 7-2 vote. Both Republican committee members — Vice Chair Anthony Cannella (R-Ceres) and Sen. Jean Fuller (R-Bakersfield) — noted that the measure would need continuous appropriation of the storage dollars for them to vote for it. ACWA has advocated consistently that any bond on the November ballot include $3 billion continuously appropriated for above- and below-ground storage, consistent with the $11.14 bond currently set for the ballot. In addition to storage, ACWA has identified adequate funding for Delta sustainability, safe drinking water for disadvantaged communities, groundwater cleanup and local resources development projects, including Integrated Regional Water Management programs, as other priorities for the bond. AB 1331 now goes to the Senate Environmental Quality Committee.
Poll: Public Support for Water Bond Increases, Conservation Goes Up Californians are increasingly concerned about the state’s water supply and are more receptive to approving a water bond on the November ballot, according to a poll released March 25. Half of likely voters said they would vote yes on an $11.1 billion bond, while only 32% said they would vote no, according to a Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) survey, which polled 1,700 Californians on March 11-18. One year ago only 42% said they would vote in favor of the bond, so support has increased eight percentage points. Several legislative proposals are circulat-
ing the Capitol that would reduce the amount of the bond. Nearly six in 10 voters said they would vote for a downsized bond, according to the PPIC pollsters. This also dovetails with last year’s findings, which indicated that 55% of likely voters would approve a smaller measure. The drought also appears to be making an impact on residents’ attitudes and actions. Nearly all Californians (92%) said they and their family have taken steps to reduce water use in response to the drought. According to the survey, 57% said they have “a lot.”
Fifty-five percent of respondents called the state’s water supply “a big problem,” a record high for this survey. In a 2009 survey conducted at the tail end of California’s last major drought, only 44% said it was a big problem. More Californians say water and drought are the state’s biggest issue. Jobs and the economy still was identified most often (32%) as the No. 1 issue by the survey respondents, but water and drought (15%) gained significant ground in one year. In March 2013, the economy (45%) dominated water (2%) as an issue. April 4, 2014 • 3
Federal Relations
Proposed Federal Rule Would Expand Clean Water Act Protections The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued on March 25 a proposed clarification to waters protected under the federal Clean Water Act. The proposed rule appears to expand protections by categorizing most intermittent and ephemeral streams and wetlands as protected under the Clean Water Act. The move potentially could put more waterways under federal jurisdiction. Court cases the past decade have made it increasingly difficult to determine what is and isn’t protected, especially for small and interconnected streams, wetlands, ditches and ponds. The scope of what should be protected remains in dispute. Federal officials denied the proposed rule amounts to an expansion of oversight. “To be clear, our proposal does not add to or expand the scope of waters historically protected under the Clean Water Act. It clarifies which waters are
protected, and which waters are not,” EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy said. Officials noted that the proposed rule preserves Clean Water Act Section 404 permitting exemptions and exclusions for farming, ranching and other agricultural activities. EPA said the proposal was developed in partnership with the Army Corps of Engineers with input from the business community, using the “best available science.” ACWA has provided input on Clean Water Act issues for several years. In 2011, the association, along with numerous other organizations, asked EPA and the Corps to withdraw draft guidance on waters protected by the Clean Water Act and proceed to a formal rulemaking process. The agencies did so in September 2013 and immediately submitted a draft rule to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review without further public input.
submitted comments objecting to EPA’s submission of a rule to OMB for review before the scientific study justifying the rule was completed. On March 4, ACWA and the Western Coalition of Arid States sent a letter to EPA seeking more time for the Science Advisory Board (SAB) panel to complete a consensus document. Although the scientific study remains under review, EPA released a draft of the proposed rule on Clean Water Act jurisdiction for public comment in late March. ACWA plans to review the proposed rule and provide comments.
In October, ACWA, along with the Family Farm Alliance and others,
States and Water Associations Urge Funding for Streamgages A broad coalition of states and water organizations is again urging the federal government to fully fund the nation’s network of streamgages, calling them “essential” in the face of drought and flooding impacts. Officials from 36 states and a coalition of state and national water organizations including ACWA signed a letter sent in March to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment & Related Agencies asking for its support so that the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) can provide funding for the two programs that maintain streamgage data. There are approximately 8,000 active streamgages in the USGS system, including 3,500 active streamgages in National Streamflow Information Program (NSIP) and 3,300 in the
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Cooperative Water Program (CWP). The coalition said 90% of the NSIP streamgages don’t have reliable federal funding, adding that the Interior Department and USGS budgets for the streamgage programs “have not kept up with our nation’s needs.” The streamgages instead rely on a patchwork of funds contributed each year by hundreds of cost-sharing partners at the state, local and tribal levels. During fiscal year 2013, $161.5 million funded the National Streamgage Network. Almost half of that came from state and lcoal partners. “The coordinated NSIP and CWP monitoring programs serve as the stethoscope on America’s rivers and water supplies, and the USGS must lead
U.S. Geological Survey Streamgaging …from the National Streamflow Information Program This Fact Sheet is one in a series that highlights information or recent research findings from the USGS National Streamflow Information Program (NSIP). The investigations and scientific results reported in this series require a nationally consistent streamgaging network with stable long-term monitoring sites and a rigorous program of data, quality assurance, management, archiving, and synthesis. NSIP produces multipurpose, unbiased surface-water information that is readily accessible to all.
Introduction The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) started its first streamgage in 1889 on the Rio Grande River in New Mexico to help determine if there was adequate water for irrigation purposes to encourage new development and western expansion. The USGS currently (2007) operates about 7,400 streamgages nationwide (fig. 1) as part of the National Streamflow Information Program (NSIP). These streamgages provide streamflow information for a wide variety of uses including flood prediction, water management and allocation, engineering design, research, operation of locks and dams, and recreational safety and enjoyment. These streamgages are operated by the USGS, in partnerships with more than 800 Federal, State, Tribal, and local cooperating agencies. In 2007, about 91 percent of these streamgages electronically record and transmit streamflow information to the World Wide Web in near real-time (http:// waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis). Most of these streamgages transmit the information by satellite, although telephone and radio telemetry also are used in some streamgages. The purpose of this report is to describe how the USGS obtains streamflow information. Streamgaging generally involves (1) obtaining a continuous record of stage—the height of the water surface at a location along a stream or river, (2) obtaining periodic measurements of discharge (the quantity of water passing a location along a stream), (3) defining the natural but often changing relation between the stage and discharge, and (4) using the stageU.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey
Real-time streamgage, 91 percent Nonreal-time streamgage, 9 percent
Figure 1. Current (as of 2006) U.S. Geological Survey streamgaging network.
discharge relation developed in step 3 to convert the continuously measured stage into estimates of streamflow or discharge. Each of these four steps is explained in greater detail below.
Measuring Stage Most USGS streamgages measure stage and consist of a structure in which instruments used to measure, store, and transmit the stream-stage information are housed. Stage, sometimes called gage height, can be measured using a variety of methods. One common approach is with a stilling well in the river bank (see fig. 2) or attached to a bridge pier. Water from the river enters and leaves the stilling well through underwater pipes allowing the water surface in the Printed on recycled paper
stilling well to be at the same elevation as the water surface in the river. The stage is then measured inside the stilling well using a float or a pressure, optic, or acoustic sensor. The measured stage value is stored in an electronic data recorder on a regular interval, usually every 15 minutes. At some streamgage sites, a stilling well is not feasible or is not cost effective to install. As an alternative, stage can be determined by measuring the pressure required to maintain a small flow of gas through a tube and bubbled out at a fixed location under water in the stream. The measured pressure is directly related to the height of water over the tube outlet in the stream. As the depth of water above the tube outlet increases, more pressure is required to push the gas bubbles through the tube. Fact Sheet 2005–3131 March 2007
America’s water community in water data and science,” the letter said.
Hydropower
Workshop Highlights the Benefits of Small Hydropower Projects ACWA member agencies are leading the charge to evaluate and construct renewable power projects that meet California’s renewable portfolio standards and Clean Air Act goals. In doing so, they’re also making wise investments on behalf of their ratepayers. At the ACWA Small Hydro Workshop on March 21 at the Cucamonga Valley Water District Frontier Project, participants learned about smaller, inconduit hydroelectric projects. NLine Energy, an ACWA Preferred Provider, presented programs on site selection, permitting, technologies and financing. Rick Hansen, general manager of Three Valleys Municipal Water District, and Doug Headrick, general manager of San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District, shared their experiences with small hydro projects. Attendees also
toured the Fontana Water Company’s Sandhill Water Treatment Plant and Small Hydro facility in Rialto. Many cities, counties, and water districts are concluding that small hydroelectric projects are technically and financially feasible and come with favorable interest rates and terms. Ruben Rojas, executive deputy director of the California Infrastructure Bank, shared with workshop participants the ins and outs of third-party financing options as an alternative to deploying reserve funds or bonds. Moreover, small hydro projects are producing positive net-cash flow on an annual basis and are drought resistant. NLine Energy offers a no-cost feasibility assessment through ACWA’s Preferred Provider Program. For information, contact Matt Swindle at (916) 235-6852 or mswindle@nlineenergy.com.
ACWA’s Small Hydro Workshop on March 21 toured the Cucamonga Valley Water District Frontier Project (top) and heard a presentation from Matt Swindle of NLine Energy (bottom).
acwa board Continued from page 1
persist and potentially intensify in the near future. ACWA President John Coleman stressed that water conservation is more critical today than ever before. “California’s public water agencies have been and must continue to be leaders in wise water management and water use efficiency,” Coleman said in a written statement released after adoption of the resolution. “Reducing water use has been standard practice in California for more than a decade, but given the severity of this drought and the impacts starting to be felt across the state’s economy, it is imperative that all residents step up their conservation efforts now. Californians historically have responded to requests for conservation because it is the right thing to do. It is time once again for water agencies to make that ask.”
The resolution recognizes the need for all Californians to do what they can to use water wisely to maximize supplies this year and protect water reserves in case drought conditions continue next year. ACWA Executive Director Timothy Quinn said during the Board meeting that the resolution “leaves the flexibility of action at the local level.” Following Gov. Jerry Brown’s Jan. 17 drought emergency declaration and accompanying request for Californians to reduce water use, hundreds of local water agencies have implemented voluntary or mandatory conservation measures. Many others are waiting to assess water supply conditions in early April and will decide what action may be needed at that time. ACWA believes it is critical that all public water agencies — whether severely impacted by drought shortages this year
or not — go on record recognizing the statewide drought and issue a formal call for heightened conservation now and over the coming summer months. Also at the March 28 meeting, the Board approved recommendations from the Groundwater Sustainability Task Force formed last fall to identify ways to strengthen sustainable groundwater management throughout the state. ACWA will use the recommendations to provide input to the Brown Administration and others as policy discussions unfold in the coming weeks in the legislative and regulatory arenas. Watch for further details on the groundwater sustainability recommendations and more complete coverage of the March 28 ACWA Board of Directors meeting in the April 21 issue of ACWA News.
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ACWA Regions
Left photo: (l to r) City of Santa Cruz water director Rosemary Menard and general managers from Central WD (Ralph Bracamonte), Pajaro Valley WMA (Mary Bannister), Soquel Creek WD (Kim Adamson) and Scotts Valley WD (Piret Harmon)discuss working together as a community. Center photo: (l to r) Thomas Niesar, senior water resource engineer, Alameda County WD; Stephanie Locke-Pintar, water demand manager, Monterey Peninsula WMD; and Toby Goddard, administrative service manager, city of Santa Cruz; share how their agencies are reacting to drought conditions. Right photo: Attendees tour the Watsonville Area Water Recycling Project.
ACWA Members in Santa Cruz Area Work Together in Dry Times By Dick Quigley, Region 5 Chair
ACWA Region 5 hosted its annual spring program on March 23 and 24 in Santa Cruz, titled “Working Together in Dry Times – How the Santa Cruz Water Community is Collaborating for Solutions.” Association members in the Santa Cruz area face unique water supply challenges that make working together vital, especially when drought conditions persist as they do today. Many lessons learned were shared during Region 5’s two-day program. On March 23, attendees gathered for a program and walking tour of the Watsonville Area Water Recycling Facility, a joint project by Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency (PVWMA) and the city of Watsonville. PVWMA General Manager Mary Bannister and Senior Hydrologist Brian Lockwood led our group around the facility and explained how the project exemplifies cooperation among municipal, governmental and agricultural stakeholders in order to protect water resources. After the tour, a networking opportunity followed at an evening reception that included a brief program from Watsonville Water Division Manager Steve Palmisano. Watsonville is Region 5’s newest member, so we were pleased to meet Steve and learn more about the city’s water operations. Changes to the chromium-6 MCL drinking water 6 • ACWA NEWS
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standard and its impact on the city were topics of particular interest. The program continued the following morning on March 24. ACWA Vice President Kathy Tiegs joined me in welcoming the members to Santa Cruz and our program. Executive Director Timothy Quinn kicked things off with an update that included information about ACWA’s Groundwater Sustainability Task Force, the drought, the association’s Statewide Water Action Plan and the water bond. The first panel discussion of the day, “Regional Interagency Collaboration,” focused on how agencies and stakeholder groups can work together successfully. Kearns & West Senior Mediator Eric Poncelet’s presentation outlined seven principles and best practices for effective collaboration. Santa Cruz County Resource Conservation District Director John Ricker then talked about the area’s history of collaboration and what has worked. Wrapping up the discussion, Santa Cruz Regional Water Management Foundation Program Director Tim Carson focused his presentation on the area’s Integrated Regional Water Management Planning efforts. Up next, in a roundtable format, we heard directly from the agencies themselves. Scotts Valley Water District General Manager Piret Harmon moderated the panel, “Working Together
as a Community,” which featured general managers Kim Adamson from Soquel Creek Water District, Mary Bannister from Pajaro Valley WMA, Ralph Bracamonte from Central Water District and Rosemary Menard, the water director for the city of Santa Cruz. It was interesting to hear how unique each agency is, and at the same time how they make an effort to work together on chromium-6, the drought, salt water intrusion, groundwater and other issues. Finishing up the day, Taj Dufour, chief engineer at Soquel Creek Water District and vice chair of ACWA’s Drought Action Group, led a discussion about the drought. Taj reported on the Drought Action Group’s activities and invited representatives from agencies throughout Region 5 to report on how they are coping with the drought. We heard from City of Santa Cruz Administrative Services Manager Toby Goddard, Monterey Peninsula Water Management District Water Demand Manager Stephanie Locke-Pintar, and Alameda County Water District Senior Water Resource Engineer Thomas Niesar. It was fascinating to hear how each agency’s account of the drought’s impact differed depending on their location and water sources. All of the presentations from the event are available on the ACWA website at www.acwa.com. Region 5’s next program is scheduled on Oct. 5-6 in Livermore.
Drought Watch
Storms Allow Temporary Easing of Delta Pumping Restrictions The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) on April 1 approved a temporary easing of pumping restrictions in the Delta that will increase water exports from the estuary by as much as 10,000 acre-feet a day over the next week or two. Officials from NMFS announced the temporary adjustment of the regulation April 1 during a conference call with reporters. Mark Cowin, director of the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), who also was on the call, said the easing of the seasonal pumping restrictions won’t jeopardize protected salmonoid and is “consistent with the federal Endangered Species Act.” “The adjustment will remain in effect as long as the rivers carrying stormwater
into the Delta continue to run relatively high,” said Cowin. “We expect that to last for at least a week and we’ll see how long those inflows are sustained.” The temporary change is allowable in part because more water is moving through the system due to recent storms. The adjustment increases pumping levels from about 1,500 cfs to 6,000 cfs a day over the next few days. DWR has set its initial water allocation estimate from the State Water Project at zero percent this year. It is unclear whether that estimate will change. California remains mired in drought despite the recent spate of storms. On April 1, manual snowpack readings in the Sierra revealed a statewide snowpack water
Despite recent storms, Frank Gehrke, Department of Water Resources chief of snow surveys, and the state’s network of electronic sensors measured the snowpack at less than a third of average statewide on April 1. Photo courtesy DWR
content at just 32% of normal for that date.
Snow Continued from page 1
The April 1 manual and electronic readings — taken when snowpack normally is at its peak before melting into streams and reservoirs — record the snowpack’s statewide water content at just 32% of average. Electronic readings indicate that snowpack water content in the state’s northern mountains is 23% of normal. The electronic readings for the central and southern Sierra are 38% and 31% of normal, respectively. Reservoirs also are at precipitously low levels. As of the beginning of April, Lake Oroville in Butte County, the State Water Project’s (SWP) principal reservoir, is at only 49% of its 3.5 million acre-foot capacity (64% of its historical average for the date). Shasta Lake north of Redding, California’s and the federal Central Valley Project’s (CVP) largest reservoir, is at 48% of its 4.5 million acre-foot capacity (60% of its historical average). San Luis Reservoir, a critical south-of-Delta reservoir for both the SWP and CVP, is a mere 42% of its 2 million acre-foot capacity (46% of average for this time of year) due both to dry weather and Delta pumping restrictions to protect salmon and Delta smelt.
Snow surveyors from DWR and cooperating agencies manually measure snowpack water content on or about the first of the month from January through May to supplement and check the accuracy of real-time electronic readings. This year’s final manual survey is scheduled for May 1. The year’s first measurement Jan. 3 showed the snowpack at just 20% of average. On Jan. 30, the state’s snow water content measured at a record-low 12% of normal. By Feb. 27, the snowpack reading had risen to 27% of average for that date due to a band of winter storms, but the reading was still well below average. On January 31, after the winter’s dismal snow surveys, DWR set its allocation of SWP water at zero. The allocation has not been increased. The only previous zero water delivery estimate was for agriculture in the drought year of 1991, but cities that year received 30% of requested amounts. Despite the “zero” allocation, DWR has continued to deliver water essential for health and safety and nearly all people and areas served by the SWP also have other sources of water.
Deliveries could still be boosted by improving hydrology. The final SWP allocation for calendar year 2013 was 35% of the slightly more than 4 million acre-feet requested by the 29 public agencies that collectively supply more than 25 million people and nearly a million acres of irrigated farmland. In 2012, the final allocation was 65% of the requested 4 million acre-feet. It was 80% in 2011, up dramatically from an initial allocation of 25%. The final allocation was 50% in 2010, 40% in 2009, 35% in 2008, and 60% in 2007. The last 100% allocation — difficult to achieve even in wet years because of Delta pumping restrictions to protect threatened and endangered fish — was in 2006. Although 2013 was the driest calendar year on record for much of California, last-minute November and December storms in 2012 — the first year of the current drought — replenished major reservoirs to somewhat mitigate dry conditions. That reservoir cushion is now gone. This year is on track to perhaps be California’s fifth or sixth driest year, with its final ranking to be determined. April 4, 2014 • 7
Newswatch
Deadline Extended to April 11 for California Water Projects Survey ACWA and its partnering state agencies continue to seek responses from local water agencies on an important survey that will help identify potential projects that could provide local or statewide benefits. The submission deadline for responses has been extended to April 11. Go to acwa.com to take the survey. ACWA is conducting this survey in cooperation with the California Water Commission, Delta Stewardship Council and
the Department of Water Resources. The goal of this effort is to identify and compile a comprehensive inventory of projects and programs that can add new or expand existing surface or groundwater storage capacity, improve water supply reliability and improve operational efficiency. The information collected through this survey, which may be made public, will be used to help ongoing planning efforts and to inform the state’s current and future actions. ACWA may also use
the survey information as the association continues to assist in a comprehensive water action plan for California. Should you have questions, please contact Danielle Blacet, ACWA Special Projects Manager, at 916-441-4545 or danielleb@acwa.com, or Sue Sims, California Water Commission executive officer, at 916-653-5544 or susan.sims@ water.ca.gov.
Rowland Water District Diversifies Supply With Groundwater For the first time since it was formed more than 60 years ago, Rowland Water District is no longer entirely dependent on imported water. An interconnection has been constructed that allows Rowland Water District to tap into a groundwater supply in southeast Los Angeles County. The project was developed through a partnership with La Habra Heights
County Water District, Orchard Dale Water District and Walnut Valley Water District. Three years in the making, the project is expected to reduce Rowland Water District’s reliance on imported water by 20%. “This is a major step forward for Rowland Water District, developing
groundwater supplies and reducing our need to purchase imported water,” said Ken Deck, the district’s general manager. “We are working to protect our customers from the rising cost of imported potable water and working with our neighboring water districts to secure this new supply source.”
Children Converge in Irvine to Get Hands-On Water Education More than 7,000 third to fifth graders had fun learning about water resources, the environment and recycling March 26-27 on the University of California, Irvine campus. Hosted by the Orange County Water District, Disneyland Resort, the National Water Research
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Institute and the Orange County Water District Groundwater Guardian Team, the 18th Annual Children’s Water Education Festival teaches children to be aware of their environment through hands-on educational activities. Volunteers from more than
55 public and private organizations provided interactive presentations, including National Geographic, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the UCLA Department of of Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences.
Newswatch
Arena Operator Teaming With Water Agencies to Promote Conservation Some of the biggest concert venues and sports arenas in California are helping to conserve water and are partnering with local water agencies in a monthlong campaign to raise awareness about the drought.
AEG, the operator of STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and several other major entertainment facilities around the world, is encouraging its employees, guests and the general public to save water with a series of events running from World Water Day (March 22) through Earth Day (April 22). ACWA member agencies are prominently involved. Cucamonga Valley Water District will host an Earth Day Open House on April 5, sponsored and promoted by Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario. Los Angeles Depart-
ment of Water and Power highlighted water conservation tips and incentives at STAPLES Center during the NBA’s Green Week beginning April 3. A West Basin Municipal Water District informational station also will be located at the StubHub Center in Carson.
“Thousands of people pass through our doors every day, giving us a unique opportunity to reach the public,” said John Marler, AEG’s senior director of energy and environment systems. “With this campaign, we’re taking advantage of that opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of water conservation not only in our AEG Facilities venues in California, where the drought has been particularly severe, but throughout the nation.” The Los Angeles-based company is utilizing signage in its venues along with
social and online media to encourage everyone to take small conservation steps that can help lead to big water savings. In 2007, AEG set a companywide goal to reduce water consumption per event attendee by 20% by 2020. The company said it is nearing that conservation target, in part by installing low-flow toilets and faucets at its venues and utilizing reclaimed water for outdoor irrigation.
West Basin Reaches 150 Billion Gallons Mark of Recycled Water West Basin Municipal Water District reached a new milestone in February — 150 billion gallons of recycled water have been produced at its Edward C. Little Water Recycling Facility in El Segundo. This quantity would serve approximately 3.7 million people for a year. West Basin began recycling water following the droughts of the late 1980s and early 1990s when the district’s board of directors embarked on a program to diversify the district’s water supply. The Edward C. Little Water Recycling Facility, operational since 1995, was
recently expanded to increase its capacity from 30 to approximately 45 million gallons of recycled water per day.
benefit of bringing down the salinity of the groundwater by adding ultra-pure, near distilled quality water.”
“This water recycling facility is unique, in fact, it is the only one in the world that makes five types of usable water out of wastewater,” said Donald L. Dear, West Basin board vice president. “One of the five purified waters is injected along the west coast basin to form an underground wall of water that protects local groundwater from seawater intrusion. West Basin’s protection of the seawater barrier has the additional
The five types of “designer” waters the plant produces are irrigation water (tertiary disinfected); cooling tower water (nitrified); low-pressure boiler feed water (single pass reverse osmosis); high-pressure boiler feed water (double pass reverse osmosis); and indirect drinking water (microfiltration, reverse osmosis and ultraviolet light with hydrogen peroxide).
Kids Find Groundwater Treasures at Festival The Water Replenishment District of Southern California (WRD) hosted its seventh-annual “Treasure Beneath Our Feet” Groundwater Festival on March 15 at its headquarters in Lakewood. More than 2,500 people enjoyed the festival’s environmental exhibits, educational
activities and practical information. There were free activities, games, prizes and giveaways, as well as an aquarium on wheels. WRS also recognized Assembly Member Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) and Congresswoman Janice Hahn (D-44).
April 4, 2014 • 9
People News
Legal Scholar Known for Public Trust Doctrine Passes Away at 78 Legal scholar Joseph Sax, known for formulating legal doctrine that natural resources are a public trust, has died at the age of 78. Sax was among the vanguard of lawyers in the 1960s and 1970s who specialized in the emerging field of environmental law in an era when President Richard Nixon signed the Clean Air Act and created the Environmental Protection Agency. Reaching back to Roman law, Sax argued that the oceans, shorelines, the air and some land are so important that citizens have the right to sue to
protect them against government and private overreach. Sax’s “public trust doctrine,” as it came to be known, was used in nearly 300 federal and state court decisions between 1997 and 2008, according to The New York Times, and is found within the constitutions or laws of at least a dozen states and several nations. Sax also had a hand in California water issues. The State Water Board commissioned Sax to issue a report interpreting the state’s jurisdiction over groundwater. The Sax report, issued in 2002, recommended that California make substantial changes to its groundwater regulatory system.
Sax attended ACWA’s 2002 Spring Conference to discuss his findings. Sax was born in Chicago in 1936. He eventually graduated from Harvard and the University of Chicago Law School, later working for the Justice Department before joining the University of Colorado in the early 1960s, where he worked to slow development on the Colorado River. Sax later served as counsel to Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt during the Clinton administration, working on strategies to protect endangered species’ habitats. Sax also taught law at the University of California, Berkeley.
Metropolitan Water District Chairman John Foley Passes Away John V. “Jack” Foley, an Orange County water leader and retired U.S. Army colonel, passed away March 21 after a battle with cancer at the age of 83. At the time of his death, Foley was serving his second two-year term as Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s chairman. He also previously presided as chairman from December 1993 through 1998. One of the longest tenured Metropolitan directors, he represented the Municipal Water District of Orange County since August 1989. “The water community has lost a wise and thoughtful voice of reason that will be sorely missed in the coming years as we make decisions that will shape water policy for future generations,” said Metropolitan General Manager Jeffrey Kightlinger, who directed the Metropolitan flag to be flown at half-staff at all district facilities in Foley’s honor. “Jack was a consummate gentleman who knew how to bring people together to solve big problems and advance real solutions,” he said. “We extend our heartfelt sympathies to his wife Mary Jan, and his family.” 10 • ACWA NEWS
Vol. 42 | Digital
Foley was first elected chairman in the wake of the 1987-92 drought, which in 1991 triggered shortages and rationing throughout the Southland for the first time in district history. Under Foley’s leadership, Metropolitan’s board initiated a public process that spanned more than two-and-a-half years of workshops and meetings, culminating in 1996 with the adoption of Metropolitan’s Integrated Resources Plan. “Jack always thought the IRP was a genuine breakthrough for the water industry,” Kightlinger said. “Instead of relying primarily on imported water, through the IRP, Metropolitan chose to expand conservation and diversify its water supply portfolio with local resource investments like water recycling, groundwater recovery and expanded storage, which allowed more water to be captured in wet years for use during dry years.” The investment in storage was highlighted in 1995 when the district, under Foley’s leadership, broke ground on construction of Diamond Valley Lake in southwest Riverside County, the largest reservoir in Southern California. The importance of storage has been evident in Foley’s latest turn as chair.
Despite current drought conditions, Metropolitan is meeting water demands in 2014 by tapping its stored reserves and avoiding mandatory cutbacks. Foley retired as general manager of the Moulton Niguel Water District in 2008. He previously served as general manager of the Aliso Water Management Agency, from 1976 to 1979. He was appointed a member of the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board by then-Gov. George Deukmejian in 1986 and chaired the board for two years. In 1994, he was appointed by then-Gov. Pete Wilson to serve on the Bay/Delta Oversight Council and was subsequently appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Interior to serve on the Bay Delta Advisory Council. A West Point graduate and U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam and Korean wars, Foley’s last military assignment was as district engineer in five southwestern states for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers until his retirement in 1976. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the West Point Association of Graduates. A celebration of Foley’s life is planned at 11 a.m. on April 26 at El Niguel Country Club in Laguna Niguel.
CALENDAR April 7 – 9
Green California Summit and Exposition is set for April 7-9 at the Sacramento Convention Center. For registration and more information go to http://www. green-technology.org/gcsummit/education-program. html.
16 The 2nd Annual Climate Change Water and Society (CCWAS) IGERT State of the Science workshop is set for April 16. “Climate Change and the Future of Groundwater in California” aims to bring together scientists, water managers, policy and decision makers, engineers and other interested stakeholders to identify key challenges and solutions for a sustainable groundwater future. More details can be found in the attached flyer and at http://ccwas. ucdavis.edu/State_of_the_Science_and_Policy_ Workshop/2014/.
May
6 – 9
16
June 2
August 13 – 14
ACWA’s 2014 Spring Conference & Exhibition is May 6-9 at the Portola and Marriott Hotels, Monterey. This year’s conference theme is “Running on Empty: Investing to Move the Needle.” Register online at www.acwa.com. Registration deadline is April 10. For more information contact ACWA’s Member Services and Events Department at events@acwa.com or 916.441.4545. O.C. Water Summit on May 16 will bring together more than 500 Southern California business professionals with international, national and state water industry stakeholders, elected officials, environmentalists, scientists and community leaders to discuss ongoing global water issues and how water supply challenges impact our economy and public safety. Prominent authors, world-renowned experts and distinguished speakers also will be a part of this critical dialog. Visit www.ocwatersummit.com for more information.
ACWA Events
Other Events
information contact ACWA’s Member Services and Events Department at events@acwa.com or 916.441.4545.
September 9 – 12
October
The International Water Association is holding a specialists’ conference for water basin science and management Sept. 9 to 12 in San Francisco. More information on the conference is http://iwa2014sanfrancisco.org/. Questions may be directed to Chelsea Spier at 209.946.2595, iwa2014wrbm@gmail.com.
5 – 6
ACWA Region 5 & 6 joint program is Oct. 5 – 6 in Livermore, CA. For more information please contact Regional & Member Services Specialist Ana Torres at anat@acwa.com.
17
ACWA Region 6 & 7 joint program is Oct. 17 in Visalia, CA. For more information please contact Regional & Member Services Specialist Ana Torres at anat@acwa.com.
December 2 – 5
ACWA’s 2014 Fall Conference & Exhibition is Dec. 2 – 5 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt, San Diego. For more information contact ACWA’s Member Services and Events Department at
MCWRA & ACWA Region 3 Joint Program is set for June 6 at Wedgewood Sequoia Mansion, Placerville. For more information please contact Regional Affairs Representative Katie Dahl at katied@acwa.com or Regional & Member Services Specialist Ana Torres at anat@acwa.com.
ACWA’s 2014 Regulatory Summit is set for Aug. 13-14. Location is to be determind. For more
April 4, 2014 • 11
classifieds
Association of California Water Agencies 910 K Street, Suite 100 Sacramento, CA 95814-3577
Position Open Media and Communications Specialist
Periodicals Postage Paid at Sacramento, CA
Time Valued Material
City of Sacramento The City of Sacramento, Department of Utilities has an immediate opening for a Media and Communications Specialist. This position will serve as the department’s SACRAMENTO, main spokesperson,CALIFORNIA community liaison, and marketing strategist, marketing the City’s innovative and progressive water resources, outreach and regulatory programs, such as stormwater, floodplain and sanitary sewer management and water conservation.
910 K STREET
TWO SUITES AVAILABLE
For more information and to apply, go to www.cityofsacramento.org/personnel. Final Filing Deadline: 4/18/14. EOE
Contra Costa Water District Hosts Sister Agency from Belize Through International Program In March, the Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) hosted representatives from Belize Water Services as part of an international program that pairs water agencies around the globe with the goal of improving safe and reliable water supplies. On this trip, staff from Belize Water Services shadowed CCWD staff on day-today operations. They even visited ACWA’s office in Sacramento to attend one of the association’s subcommittee meetings.
Office for Lease
Prime Downtown Location
Three suites available in Sacramento, one block from the State Capital (910 K St.). • Suite 350 – 1,850 sq. ft. Suite 300 – 2,200 sq. ft. Suite 340 – 578 sq. ft. • Move-in ready office space • Immediate access to Interstate 5 and Interstate 80 • Walking distance to Westfield Downtown Shopping Center, restaurants, and hotels • Centrally located in the heart of the Sacramento Central Business District For more information, contact Mark Tabak: 916.288.4818 or mark.tabak@cushwake.com
the information
400 Capitol Mall, Suite 650 Sacramento, CA 95814 cushmanwakefield.com
The Water Operators Partnership (WOP) between the two water agencies began in 2011 under a United Nations program that supports international cooperation. Funding for the program is provided by the Global Water Operators Partnership Alliance and other organizations. CCWD was the first water utility in the U.S. to be selected for this cooperative
program. Since 2011, CCWD and Belize Water Services have both had employees travel to the other’s service area to facilitate onsite review of operations and programs. “This partnership continues to be a valuable opportunity for CCWD to share our experiences as a water provider. At the same time, CCWD is benefitting from the information exchange about common challenges and ways to improve our services, ” said CCWD Board President Joseph L. Campbell.
WateRuse Names Santa Clara Valley Water District Large Agency of the Year WateReuse California named Santa Clara Valley Water District “Recycled Water Agency of the Year - Large” at an awards luncheon on March 17 at the 2014 California Annual Conference in Newport Beach.
nonpotable recycled water use in 2013. In collaboration with the recycled water producers, the district has plans to continue this recycled water expansion use to approximately 50,000 acre-feet by 2035.
The Santa Clara Valley Water District manages water resources in Santa Clara County, serving two million people covering 15 cities and towns. The district recently constructed an advanced purification center with nearly 10,000 acre-feet of recycled water. In addition, Santa Clara County achieved 20,000 acre-feet of
The WateReuse Association of California is a nonprofit organization founded in 1990 whose mission is “to advance the beneficial and efficient uses of high-quality, locally produced, sustainable water sources for the betterment of society and the environment through advocacy, education and outreach, research, and membership.”