ACWA
NEWS
Snowless Sierra Shows Extent of Worsening Drought
ACWA’s • Member • Newsletter
Volume 42 | No. 7 July 25, 2014
The spectacular Minarets in Madera County normally would be snowcapped in early to mid-summer, but this year their jagged peaks are barren granite. The Minarets tower over the San Joaquin River canyon as they reach up to 12,270 feet and are a prominent feature in the Ansel Adams Wilderness. Photo credit: J. Randall McFarland / Friant Water Authority
State Water Board Adopts Emergency Regulations Mandating Urban Water Conservation in California Reinforcing the message that California’s drought is real and requires extraordinary responses, the State Water Resources Control Board July 15 unanimously passed emergency regulations that prohibit certain outdoor water uses and require water agencies to file monthly reports on water use and production. Believed to be the first of their kind in state history, the emergency regulations would require urban water suppliers to activate their local water shortage contingency plans at a level that triggers mandatory restrictions on outdoor water use. If an agency does not have
such a contingency plan, it must impose the restrictions in the State Water Board’s newly adopted regulations. Some 397 agencies report having such contingency plans, while 49 do not, according to data compiled by the State Water Board. “Not everyone in California realizes how bad the drought is,” said Felicia Marcus, chair of the State Water Board. “This at least sends the message of the bare minimum that folks should do,” Marcus added. Water Board Continued on page 6
Lady Gaga Calls on Californians to Conserve Water in New PSA in Partnership With Save Our Water Lady Gaga sent an official shout-out to Californians on July 16, asking them to conserve water during the state’s worsening drought. Working in partnership with Save Our Water, the official statewide conseration education program, the international pop superstar and five-time Grammy winner released a public service announcement (PSA) asking Califor-
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Water Bond, Groundwater Top Agenda When Legislature Returns
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Governor Brown Announces Appointments to Water Commission
nians to save water during the drought. The PSA is available on SaveOurWater.com, a new microsite designed to help Californians find ways to conserve at home and at work every day. The Lady Gaga PSA also marks the launch of a new public awareness campaign from Save Our Water that urges Californians to undertake extraordinary conservation efforts. The first creative product from the campaign stresses that ‘Brown is the New Green’ and Lady Gaga Continued on page 8
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UC Davis Report Pegs California’s 2014 Losses Due to Drought at $2.2 Billion
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New Report Calls for Tighter Groundwater Management
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 Graphic Designer Katherine Causland Copyright 2014. All Rights Reserved. Call ACWA for Permission to Reprint. USPS 334030 Digital & Print
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Vol. 42 No. 7
Executive Director’s Column
By Timothy Quinn
What Do Lady Gaga and the State Board Have in Common? They Both Want You to Help Save Water The State Water Resources Control Board took the unprecedented step yesterday of ordering mandatory conservation measures to address California’s deepening drought. Less than 24 hours later, pop star Lady Gaga released a public service announcement urging Californians to save water. These are extraordinary times, and we need extraordinary measures like these. Asking California’s urban water users to go the extra mile to avoid wasteful practices and conserve water now will help preserve the water reserves we’ll need if this drought continues in 2015. Water agencies can and should be proud of what they have accomplished in the past two decades. They have made tremendous investments in local strategies such as recycling, groundwater cleanup, conservation and local and regional storage that have made us much better prepared for drought today than any other time in our history. But Mother Nature has delivered a drought unlike any we have experienced. The combination of low reservoirs, nearrecord low rainfall, and a growing population and economy put us in truly uncharted territory. A new report from UC Davis says California’s economy will take a $2.2 billion hit in 2014 as a result of the drought. Some 17,000 jobs will be lost in the agricultural economy as more than 410,000 acres of farmland go unplanted. We can probably multiply that by 2, 3 or 4 if this drought continues for a couple more years.
In many respects, the good work of ACWA member agencies has shielded the average urban water user from the effects of this drought. Outside of drought-stricken agricultural areas, most Californians have not really felt the severity of the situation. That is about to change. We have done a lot to manage water and prepare, but we are definitely peering over the cliff now. The State Board has recognized this, and is basically grabbing Californians by the lapels. The emergency regulations adopted by the Board are a wakeup call for Californians to treat this drought like the serious crisis it is. It’s time for folks to go beyond ordinary measures and do things they wouldn’t normally do to cut back on water use. Take those Navy showers. Let that lawn get brown. Fewer flushes won’t hurt, either. Lady Gaga’s PSA is another sign of the extraordinary times. The PSA, produced in partnership with Save Our Water, marked the launch of a new public awareness campaign that urges Californians to undertake extraordinary conservation efforts such as letting their lawns go brown. Save Our Water is a partnership between ACWA and the California Department of Water Resources. At the end of the day, we believe Californians will rise to the occasion and conserve, as they have in past drought emergencies. Every bit we can save this year will help.
State RElations
Water Bond, Groundwater Top Agenda When Legislature Returns With the Legislature set to return from summer recess on Aug. 4, all eyes will be on the state Capitol as lawmakers debate and potentially act on bills regarding the 2014 water bond, groundwater sustainability and other key topics. Here is a look at priority issues awaiting action in the final four weeks of the 2013-’14 legislative session, which adjourns on Aug. 31.
2014 Water Bond Though legislative leaders had hoped to finish work on a modified water bond before adjourning for summer recess on July 3, more time was needed to reach bipartisan agreement on a downsized measure to replace the existing $11.14 billion bond currently set for the November ballot. Discussions continue in both houses, and the bond has emerged as a top priority when legislators return to the Capitol. On the Senate side, Sen. Lois Wolk (D-Davis) amended her SB 848 just before the summer recess. The measure was reduced from a $10.5 billion bond to a $7.5 billion bond in reaction to the $6 billion initial proposal Gov. Jerry Brown put on the table in late June. Notably, the proposed storage funding in SB 848 has been reduced to $2 billion, continuously appropriated, which is $1 billion short of ACWA’s $3 billion number and the number that Republicans have been advancing. The July 3 amendments also reduced funding for the Delta. ACWA has recommended funding at the $2.25 billion level. However, the governor is proposing that the bond be BDCP neutral and is suggesting an even smaller number for Delta sustainability, $500 million. The appropriate level of Delta funding will be one of the key issues when the Legislature returns on Aug. 4. ACWA currently has an oppose-unlessamended position on SB 848 and is reviewing the latest version of the bill,
which is awaiting action on the Senate floor. Meanwhile in the Assembly, under the leadership of Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) and Assembly Republican Leader Connie Conway (R-Tulare), Assembly Members Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood), Henry Perea (DFresno), and Frank Bigelow (R-O’Neals) have been working with the chair of Assembly Appropriations Committee (Assembly Member Mike Gatto) to reach agreement on an Assembly version of the water bond. This merged proposal may go into AB 2686 (Perea), which is currently at $10.75 billion but it is likely to be downsized to about $8.2 billion. ACWA has a support position on the current version of the bill, which is in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
Groundwater Legislation ACWA continues to actively engage in shaping the groundwater bills moving this year in the Legislature. ACWA staff, along with Dave Orth, general manager of the Kings River Conservation District and a member of ACWA’s Board of Directors, testified June 24 on AB 1739 (Dickinson) in the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee and on SB 1168 (Pavley) in the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee. ACWA currently has a support-if-amended position on both bills as ACWA and other stakeholders work to align the bills with the recommendations made in ACWA’s recent document, “Recommendations for Achieving Groundwater Sustainability.” The Brown Administration has convened a small group of stakeholders to work through the process of consolidating the two bills along with the governor’s proposal for groundwater sustainability. The small group process has given ACWA the opportunity to be at the table and actively involved in the consolidation process. In addition to the small group, the Administration has held a series of three
stakeholder meetings to gather input during the month of July from all those interested in sustainable groundwater management. The issues raised through the stakeholder meetings are being addressed by the small group in order to minimize the issues left unresolved. Both bills have moved through their respective policy committees in the second house, and once the Legislature returns in August the measures will have two more stops in the legislative process before going to the governor for signature. The Brown Administration is parking a potential budget trailer bill in the Legislature, awaiting positive progress on the groundwater sustainability legislation. The budget trailer bill has a shelf life that will last until the Legislature gavels down at the end of August, which means it could be taken up, debated and voted upon up until the close of session. The groundwater budget trailer bill will not advance if the Legislature keeps moving the groundwater sustainability bills through the process. If the policy bills stall, the Administration will likely explore the option of activating the budget trailer bill. ACWA’s strong preference is for reasonable and effective groundwater legislation to be developed in the regular legislative process as opposed to in a budget trailer bill.
Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Plans Originally AB 1249 (Salas) proposed to require that IRWM plans covering an area identified as a nitrate high-risk area by the State Water Resources Control Board or an area that has arsenic, perchlorate or chromium-6 contamination include an explanation of how the plan addresses (or does not address) the contamination. This was problematic since IRWM plans set forth objectives for grant funding and are not a regulatory program. AB 1249 also proposed that the Department of Water Resources, in granting Continued on page 5
July 25, 2014 • 3
State / Federal RElations
Governor Brown Announces Appointments to Water Commission Gov. Jerry Brown on July 14 announced several reappointments to the California Water Commission as well as the new appointment of Armando Quintero, president of the Marin Municipal Water District Board of Directors. All of the positions require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Armando Quintero, 58, of Marin, is the new appointment to the California Water Commission (CWC). Quintero has been director of development at the University of California, Merced Sierra Nevada Research Institute since 2008. He was an independent environmental educator from 1998 to 2008 and held multiple positions at the National Park Service from 1977 to 1998. Quintero is president of the Marin Municipal Water District Board of Directors and is a member of the Los Cenzontles Mexican Arts Center Board of Directors. Andrew Ball, 60, of Piedmont, was reappointed to the California Water Commission, where he has served since 2010. Ball has been Western Region president of Suffolk Construction since 2012. He was chief executive officer at Webcor Builders from 1994 to 2012 and president of AJ
Joseph Byrne, 43, of Los Angeles, was reappointed to the CWC, where he has served since 2010. Byrne has been of counsel at Best Best and Krieger since 2013. He was partner at Burke Williams and Sorensen LLP from 2007 to 2013 and executive director of the Business Executives for National Security, Los Angeles Region from 2005 to 2008. Byrne earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School.
Kimberly Delfino, 46, of Sacramento, has been reappointed to the CWC, where she has served since 2010. Delfino has been California program director at the Defenders of Wildlife since 2000. She was legislative director at the California Public Interest Research Group in 2000 and staff attorney at the U.S. Public Interest Research Group from 1997 to 2000. Delfino earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law.
Daniel Curtin, 66, of Carmichael, was reappointed to the CWC, where he has served since 2010. Curtin has been director of the California Conference of Carpenters since 2001, where he was a legislative advocate from 1987 to 2001. He was chief deputy director at the California Department of Industrial Relations from 1999 to 2001.
Luther Hintz, 76, of Brownsville, was reappointed to the CWC, where he has served since 2010. Hintz was general manager and executive director at Reclamation District 108 from 1994 to 2006 and was manager and principal engineer at Bookman-Edmonston Engineering Inc. from 1962 to 1993. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Jose Del Bosque Jr., 65, of Los Banos, was reappointed to the CWC, where he has served since 2010. Del Bosque has been president of Empresas Del Bosque Inc. since 1985 and a partner at J and G Contract Labor Inc. since 2005. Del Bosque is director-at-large of the California Melon Research Board and chairman emeritus at the AgSafe Board of Directors. He is a member of the Western Growers Association and the California Farm Bureau Federation.
Anthony Saracino, 55, of Sacramento, was reappointed to the CWC, where he has served since 2010. Saracino has been a water resources consultant since 1995. He was principal at Saracino and Mount LLC from 2012 to 2013 and was California water program director at the Nature Conservancy from 2005 to 2012. He is a member of the Water Education Foundation. Saracino earned a Master of Science degree in geology from Colorado State University.
Ball Construction from 1992 to 1994.
House Passes Energy and Water Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2015 The House, on July 11, passed its energy and water appropriations bill for FY 2015 by a vote of 253-170. The bill, which funds the Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of Energy and the Bureau of Reclamation, is funded at a level of $34 billion, a $50 million reduction from FY 2014. That amounts to $5.5 billion for the Corps, the same level at which it was funded the previous year, and $1 billion for the Bureau of Reclamation, a $100 million reduction from the previous year. The bill will now go to the Senate, which is unlikely to take up the House’s 4 • ACWA NEWS
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bill. Because the Senate has not passed its own bill and the fiscal year ends Oct. 1, it is quite likely that a short-term spending measure will have to be passed in order to keep funding these programs.
submitted an amendment that would increase funding for the Army Corps of Engineers Operation and Maintenance account by $57.6 million. The amendment passed by a vote of 281-137.
A number of amendments to the bill were also considered July 10, including several of interest from California members. Rep. Doug LaMalfa (CA-01) submitted an amendment that prohibits funding to regulate certain agricultural activities exempted from regulation under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. The amendment passed by a vote of 239-182. Rep. Janice Hahn (CA-44)
Also included in the bill is a rider that would halt work on a rule related to the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act. Such a rider would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from redefining the meaning of waters of the U.S. President Obama has promised to veto the bill if it reaches his desk.
Drought
UC Davis Report Pegs California’s Drought Losses at $2.2 Billion A new report from UC Davis estimates that California’s economy will take a $2.2 billion hit in 2014 due to the state’s ongoing drought — with about $1.5 billion of that in agricultural losses. The state also will lose about 17,100 seasonal and part-time jobs. The report, from the UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences, was released July 15 at a press briefing in Washington, D.C. The report focuses in large part on the drought’s impact on the agricultural industry and finds that in some areas of the state groundwater use has more than doubled over the previous year, as surface water becomes more scarce. The report estimates that this year’s drought will result in an estimated 6.6 million acre-foot reduction in surface water available to agriculture, which will be partially replaced by increasing groundwater pumping by 5 million acre-feet. The resulting net water shortage of 1.6 million acre-feet will cause losses of $810 million in crop revenue and $203 million in dairy and other livestock value, plus additional groundwater pumping costs of $454 million. These direct costs to agriculture total $1.5 billion. “We have to do a better job of managing groundwater basins to secure the future of agriculture in California,” said Karen Ross, Secretary of the California Department of Food and
Agriculture, which largely funded the UC Davis study. “That’s why we’ve developed the California Water Action Plan and a proposal for local, sustainable groundwater management.” Richard Howitt, professor emeritus of agricultural and resource economics at UC Davis and lead author of the report, called the groundwater situation in California a “slow-moving train wreck,” especially if drought conditions continue into 2015 and beyond. “A well-managed basin is used like a reserve bank account,” said Howitt. Failure to replenish groundwater in wet years continues to reduce groundwater availability to sustain agriculture during drought — particularly more profitable permanent crops, like almonds and grapes, the report said. Other findings of the report estimate that: • 428,000 acres, or 5%, of irrigated cropland is going out of production in the Central Valley, Central Coast and Southern California due to the drought. • The Central Valley is hardest hit, particularly the Tulare Basin, with projected losses of $810 million, or 2.3 percent, in crop revenue; $203 million in dairy and livestock value; and $453 million in additional wellpumping costs.
• Agriculture on the Central Coast and in Southern California will be less affected by this year’s drought, with about 19,150 acres fallowed, $10 million in lost crop revenue and $6.3 million in additional pumping costs. • Overdraft of groundwater is expected to cause additional wells in the Tulare Basin to run dry if the drought continues. • The drought is likely to continue through 2015, regardless of El Niño conditions. • Consumer food prices will be largely unaffected. Higher prices at the grocery store of high-value California crops like nuts, wine grapes and dairy foods are driven more by market demand than by the drought. To forecast the economic effects of the drought, UC Davis researchers used computer models, remote satellite sensing data from NASA, and the latest estimates of State Water Project, federal Central Valley Project and local water deliveries and groundwater pumping capacities. The report’s co-authors include Jay Lund, a director of the university’s Center for Watershed Sciences, UC Davis agricultural economists Josué Medellín-Azuara and Dan Sumner, and Duncan MacEwan of the ERA Economic consulting firm in Davis.
Continued from page 3
IRWM funding, give an automatic preference to projects that implement IRWM plans that address the contamination. Although well-intended, the proposal was problematic because a planning region may have a higher priority need (e.g., to address salt water intrusion that threatens a drinking water supply). The State Legislative Committee took a support-if-amended position on this bill, and members of the committee and staff developed amendments to address these issues. The ACWA-negotiated
amendments are now reflected in the June 30 version of the bill. AB 1249 is set for hearing on Aug. 4 in the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Mokelumne River Wild and Scenic Designation SB 1199 (Hancock) would add specified segments of the Mokelumne River to the California Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Although the bill has been amended to address some issues raised by water agencies, several ACWA
members continue to have concerns with the potential impact to water supply. The Amador Water Agency is in the midst of securing water rights from the Mokelumne River through the State Water Resources Control Board process, and is very concerned that the designation of the river would have an adverse effect on its efforts. ACWA currently has an oppose-unlessamended position on SB 1199.
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Drought Water Board Continued from page 1
In a comment letter to the State Water board, ACWA Executive Director Timothy Quinn said the association supports decisive action to support the worsening drought. “Asking the state’s urban water users to commit to conserving now will help preserve the supplies California will need if this drought continues in 2015,” Quinn continued. Gov. Jerry Brown’s executive orders related to the drought gave the State Water Board authority to adopt such regulations. The regulations could go into effect as early as Aug. 1, depending on when they are approved by the Office of Administrative Law. According to the State Water Board report, 30% of water agencies that responded to the Board’s survey have mandatory restrictions in place, with the remaining 70% saying they have not yet
adopted such restrictions. The regulations adopted in July include prohibitions against: •
The direct application of potable water to driveways and sidewalks for washing.
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Watering of outdoor landscapes that cause runoff to adjacent property, non-irrigated areas, private and public walkways, roadways, parking lots or structures.
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Using a hose to wash an automobile, unless the hose is fitted with a shutoff nozzle.
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Using potable water in a fountain or decorative water feature, unless the water is recirculated.
The regulations provide for the option of assessing a fine of up to $500 for violations, but the fine is not mandatory.
ACWA, in its letter to the State Water Board, asked that the regulation not limit local authority for enforcement actions and asked that the requirement to report gallons per capita daily consumption (GPCD) be removed because of the difficulty in developing accurate data. The State Water Board made some clarifications in the regulations and its accompanying resolution in response to comments by ACWA and others. Specifically, it added language to the resolution that the regulations would not preclude local agencies from exercising their local authority. The board also postponed its requirement that agencies report GPCD until Oct. 15 in order to allow a stakeholder group to work with the Department of Water Resources to develop a uniform formula for calculating GPCD.
Outdoor Water Restrictions Already in Place in Many Areas of State ACWA member agencies are in various stages of aligning their local conservation measures with new emergency regulations adopted July 15 by the State Water Resources Control Board. About 80% of ACWA’s urban water agency members already have water shortage contingency plans in place, according to an informal survey by ACWA earlier this summer. Agencies that have not yet activated the mandatory provisions of their plans will need to do so in response to the emergency regulations. At press time, many ACWA member agencies were scheduled to take action at the next meeting of their boards of directors.
Enforcement Handled Locally Enforcement of the new outdoor restrictions is expected to be handled locally. Agencies have the flexibility to use their existing authorities and processes to enforce the restrictions. Though the emergency regulations provide the option
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of assessing a fine of up to $500 a day for violations, the fines are not mandatory and should be regarded as another tool available to local agencies. Many water agencies respond to violations first with a warning and a courtesy reminder about the restrictions. If the problem is not corrected, many agencies have plans in place that call for further actions such as fines and even installation of flow restrictors if warranted.
Some Examples of Local Agency Reaction East Bay MUD – The restrictions outlined in the emergency regulations are similar to regulations EBMUD already has on the books. The district currently recommends (but does not mandate) that customers water lawns no more than twice a week. The district’s board of directors was scheduled to discuss changes to the district’s existing regulations at press time. Santa Clara Valley Water District – At press time, the agency’s board was
set to vote on hiring up to 10 additional temporary workers to enforce water use restrictions. San Diego County Water Authority – The agency’s board was set to consider on July 24 activating the next stage of the region’s drought response plan and declaring a Level 2 Drought Alert calling for mandatory water conservation measures to prevent water waste. Desert Water Agency – The agency is preparing to enact a drought contingency plan and is developing a conservation ordinance to implement mandatory water use restrictions. The restrictions will go into effect following a public hearing. DWA customers will receive a postcard in the mail in the coming weeks detailing the new mandatory water use regulations. Padre Dam MWD – The agency’s board is scheduled to consider enacting a Level 2 Drought Alert on Aug. 6 that includes mandatory conservation measures.
Water Management
New Report Calls for Tighter Groundwater Management Statewide A newly released report from the California Water Foundation highlights the need for tighter groundwater management throughout California, especially as the state grapples with increased groundwater pumping due to drought. The report, titled An Evaluation of California Groundwater Management Planning, assesses the current condition of groundwater management planning in the state and finds that many groundwater management plans are outdated and lacking important details. The report was released as ongoing discussions occur in the state Capitol about improving groundwater management throughout the state to make it more sustainable. Two bills are currently winding through the Legislature to address the issue – AB 1739 by Assemblyman Roger
Dickinson (D-Sacramento) and SB 1168 by Sen. Fran Pavely (D-Agoura Hills). In April, ACWA released a report titled — Recommendations for Achieving Groundwater Sustainability — that provided proposed solutions to the problem and detailed some basins that are under stress. The report was written by a task force of ACWA members. The CWF report released July 10 reviewed 120 groundwater management plans adopted by local water agencies to manage their groundwater basins. The report found that many districts are effectively managing their groundwater resources, but that many plans lack basic basin management objectives or an implementation strategy for ensuring that objectives will be met. Additionally, 28% of the plans examined were written in 2002
or earlier and have not been updated. Andrew Fahlund, deputy director of CWF, said in a conference call with reporters today that California should require that groundwater plans set specific goals and describe how they intend to meet them. “There is a growing chorus of people who see the need to address this issue,” said Fahlund. In May, CWF released a report of findings and recommendations to achieve sustainable groundwater management in California. Learn more at: http://www. californiawaterfoundation.org. An Evaluation of California Groundwater Management Planning was prepared for CWF by RMC Water and Environment.
CCWD Names Conservation Garden after Longtime Board Member On July 16, the Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) Board of Directors named the agency’s Conservation Garden in recognition of Board Member Bette Boatmun, who has served on the elected board for 40 years. Boatmun began her service representing the cities of Antioch, Pittsburg and parts of Concord on the CCWD Board of Directors in 1974. She is the longest serving member in the agency’s 78 years. CCWD Board President Joseph Campbell said Boatmun is a tireless advocate on water issues. “She is widely known in the community for her dedication and advocacy to provide clean and safe drinking water and educate the public about water conservation,” said Campbell. As a dedicated public servant, Boatmun remains active in other organizations, including the Association of California Water Agencies and the California Special Districts Association, which earned her the 2013 Hollingsworth Award of Excellence.
Boatmun has a long history of leadership positions in water agencies. She served as president of the Contra Costa Water District from 1990 to 1992 and as president of ACWA from 2002 to 2004, and is currently chair of the Governing Board of East County Water Management Association and chair of the Contra Costa Special Districts Association. “It has been an honor and privilege representing the community on water issues locally, in Sacramento and in Washington D.C.,” said Boatmun. “I am truly honored and will keep on carrying the conservation message and other important issues forward.” The garden, now named the Bette Boatmun Conservation Garden, is located at CCWD’s headquarters in Concord and covers 35,000 square feet. It was built in 1991 to represent the many landscape styles and droughtresistant plants suitable for California’s Mediterranean climate. The garden now features more than 70 species of plants and saves an estimated 1 million gallons of water per year.
Former ACWA President and longtime Contra Costa Water District Director Bette Boatmun recently marked 40 years of service on the district’s Board of Directors. In honor of her service, the district has named the water-wise demonstration garden at its Concord headquarters the Bette Boatmun Conservation Garden.
The Conservation Garden is open to the public seven days a week. Garden guides are available to help navigate the plants and pathways. To find out more about the CCWD Conservation Garden, visit www.ccwater.com/conserve/ demogarden.asp. July 25, 2014 • 7
Save our water
The Save Our Water program is educating visitors to the California State Fair with two eye-catching and informative exhibits. (Left) A new indoor exhibit - simulating a house with three rooms - is located in the Counties Building with a kitchen, bathroom and laundry room. Fair-goers can walk through to see different ways of saving water indoors. (Center) The Department of Water Resources’ award-winning outdoor exhibit featuring water-wise garden beds with drought-tolerant plants also is on display in the Farm section. (Right) A DWR staff member explains the difference between a low-flow showerhead and a conventional one as part of the interactive indoor exhibit. The State Fair kicked off July 11 at Cal Expo in Sacramento and runs through July 27. Photo credit: Florence Low, Department of Water Resources
Save Our Water Does Double Duty at 2014 California State Fair; Eye-Catching Exhibits Feature Indoor and Outdoor Water Saving Tips The drought is on and so is the California State Fair. This year, the Save Our Water campaign is turning heads by hosting two exhibits at the fair – one on indoor water conservation and the other on outdoor conservation. The exhibits have garnered extensive media coverage for offering hands-on tips for reducing water use during the drought. Save Our Water is the water conservation campaign co-managed by ACWA and the California Department of Water Resources (DWR). Staff from both organizations is on hand this year to help attendees identify opportunities to conserve.
The outdoor garden area exhibit on outdoor water conservation tips is themed “It’s Easy as 1, 2, 3.” Its featured tips are: 1) Get efficient with your irrigation system. 2) Get smart with new technology. 3) Get green with great plants, compost and mulch. The indoor exhibit is set up to look like a home to inspire fairgoers to conserve water. It offers three islands that focus on saving water in the kitchen, laundry, and bathroom. Each island has an interactive component.
State Fair parking lot. Save Our Water has been connecting Californians to daily drought tips and news via its recently launched “Don’t Waste Summer” campaign. The campaign is devoted to providing daily tips and news on the new microsite — SaveOurWater.com — to help Californians find ways to conserve at home and at work every day. Save Our Water’s Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram are also great resources for Californians looking to join the effort to save water.
In addition, all fairgoers receive a postcard with water-saving tips from Save Our Water when they enter the
To learn more about the Save Our Water program, visit saveourh2o.org.
must take extraordinary measures to save water.”
“With our new campaign and spokespeople like Lady Gaga, we hope to reach every Californian with the important message of conservation.”
Lady gaga Continued from page 1
asks Californians to let their lawns go brown by cutting back watering to twice a month. Additional campaign materials will be released by Save Our Water through the end of the month, including digital and social media ads, lawn signs, billboards and radio ads. “We’re thrilled Lady Gaga has joined the effort to Save Our Water,” said Mark Cowin, director of the California Department of Water Resources. “Conservation has always been a Californian value, but in this drought regular conservation isn’t enough — we 8 • ACWA NEWS
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Save Our Water’s stepped-up campaign comes as the State Water Resources Control Board voted to adopt mandatory water conservation measures for urban water users and suppliers, including prohibitions on outdoor irrigation more than two days per week, washing sidewalks and driveways with water and using hoses without shutoff nozzles to wash cars. “This is no ordinary drought and Lady Gaga is no ordinary superstar,” ACWA Executive Director Timothy Quinn.
To view the Lady Gaga PSA, visit SaveOurWater.com. To download a broadcast quality version, visit https://vimeo. com/100907038. Save Our Water’s Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram are also great resources for Californians looking to join the effort to save water.
save our water
From Lady Gaga to Major League Baseball, Save Our Water is on Point As the drought intensifies through the hot summer, Save Our Water — the partnership between ACWA and the California Department of Water Resources — has accelerated its efforts to urge Californians to step up conservation actions. The program received its biggest boost to date with international pop superstar and five-time Grammy winner Lady Gaga joining the effort with a public service announcement (PSA) urging Californians to join the effort and take extraordinary measures to save water during the drought. The PSA was released on July 16 on Save Our Water’s new microsite, www.SaveOurWater.com, and already has generated more than 1.5 million impressions on Save Our Water’s social media channels. Millions more were reached through traditional television, radio and print news coverage of the PSA. (See story on page 1.) Save Our Water also has launched a
new public awareness campaign letting residents know this drought requires extraordinary conservation efforts. The first creative from the campaign stresses that ‘Brown is the New Green’ and asks Californians to let their lawns go brown by cutting back watering. The campaign will run through the end of August and includes digital and social media ads, lawn signs, billboards and radio ads. All summer Save Our Water has been delivering daily water saving tips and news to Californians through the new microsite SaveOurWater.com. The new site is optimized to improve connections via social media channels and has improved video and updating capabilities. News and tips are also shared on Save Our Water’s social media channels: Facebook (https:// www.facebook.com/pages/Save-OurWater/68570165885) and Twitter (http:// www.twitter.com/saveourwater). Save Our Water also is kicking off
partnerships in July with Major League Baseball teams across the state. Special radio ads featuring popular players will be appearing on the San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Angels, Oakland A’s and San Francisco Giants radio networks through the end of the season. Save Our Water also will be featured inside stadiums with digital ads on scoreboards and pre-game PSAs. With Save Our Water receiving an additional $2 million in the 2014-’15 state budget, the program’s busy summer is continuing with long-term planning for several initiatives to reach Californians with the message of conservation. Initial plans include: • Continued digital and social media success • Enhanced support for local water agency conservation efforts • Expanded public awareness efforts • New website offerings (including Spanish)
Twitter Chatter Lady Gaga
Jerry Brown @JerryBrownGov – July 16, @ladygaga deserves APPLAUSE for #CADrought @Save our Water ad. Kara @ gagamour – July 16, @saveourwater you have a lot of monsters on board with @ladygaga to #SaveOurWater WaterSmart @GetWaterSmart – July 16, The newest proponent of #water #conservation is … @ladygaga?! Sweet! GO-Biz @CAGoBiz – July 16, ONLY IN CALIFORNIA @Lady Gaga asks Californians to conserve H2O for #cadrought with #saveourwater.
BIOCOM @BIOCOMCA – July 16, @California can’t help being beautiful it was ‘Born This Way.’ Join @LadyGaga & help at SaveOurWater.com. Bay Area Council @BayAreaCouncil – July 16, Going gaga over saving water during #CAdrought. New PSA from @ladygaga @ saveourwater. Mojave Water Agency @mojavewater – July 16, California’s drought is big – so big that even of the world’s biggest pop stars has something to say about it!
Drought Puts ACWA Front and Center in State and National Media From Al Jazeera America to the PBS News Hour, national and even international media have turned to ACWA in recent weeks for information and commentary on California’s drought.
ACWA Executive Director Timothy Quinn has responded to scores of press inquiries in the wake of the State Water Resources Control Board’s approval of mandatory statewide water restrictions. During his interviews, Quinn has provided perspective on the drought and
water conservation, highlighting the unprecedented nature of California’s third extremely dry year.
Quinn’s comments have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, the Christian Science Monitor, the Associated Press, The Sacramento Bee, Bloomberg BNA News and other newspapers and local television stations. He was interviewed at length by PBS News Hour Anchor Judy Woodruff along with reporter Craig Miller of KQED during a segment that
aired July 16. ACWA will continue to provide an informed perspective to the media during this ongoing drought. July 25, 2014 • 9
Members shine at ACWA! Member Appreciation Month 2014
FOR YOUR MEMBERSHIP
10 • ACWA NEWS
Vol. 42 No. 7
Member Appreciation
Members Make All the Difference at ACWA With a severe drought across California and myriad other critical water issues facing water agencies, working together to find solutions is more important than ever. August is ACWA’s Member Appreciation Month, and the association will be taking the time to thank its membership for the exemplary work they do.
ACWA has planned various member appreciation activities throughout the month. Please visit www.acwa.com to learn more about these activities and all of ACWA’s services. Members are what shape ACWA’s past, present and future — they are truly the stars that make a difference at ACWA.
FOR YOUR MEMBERSHIP
Gov. Brown Signs Bill Sponsored by Eastern MWD, Elsinore Valley MWD Gov. Jerry Brown on July 21 signed into law a bill that will provide legal protection to municipal water agencies working to provide safe and reliable service to an area of Menifee and Wildomar currently served by a failing private water service. Senate Bill 1130 by Sen. Richard Roth (D-Riverside) became law immediately because of the urgent nature of the bill. It passed both the Senate and Assembly on unanimous votes and received significant support from Assembly Member Melissa Melendez (R-Lake Elsinore). The bill is co-sponsored by Eastern Municipal Water District and Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District. The bill protects Eastern MWD, Elsinore Valley MWD and their wholesale agencies — including the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California — from any past administrative or operational deficiencies of the existing system. Gov. Brown’s staff was briefed on the legislation throughout the process and
had previously expressed its support of the actions by the public water agencies to provide assistance. “This is a moment to celebrate,” said Andy Morris, president of the board of directors for EVMWD. “Despite the many challenges faced, the people of this community will receive access to the clean, reliable drinking water they deserve without laying the burden of cost on our rate payers.” For years, the privately-owned County Water Company of Riverside has served a 140-home enclave that straddles the Menifee and Wildomar border. The groundwater that is pumped is high in nitrates and does not meet federal or state drinking water standards. The infrastructure that serves the community has repeatedly failed and residents often are without water in their homes for even the most basic purposes. In late 2012, EMWD placed a portable water tank in the community to help provide clean drinking water for residents.
Throughout the process to transition service to the responsible public agencies, the two districts have held firm that existing ratepayers would not be placed in a position of funding the process or be in a position of potential legal liability. Senate Bill 1130 provides that necessary legal protection throughout the duration of the transition, which will include the construction of new, reliable infrastructure that will also aid in fire protection for the rural community.
ACWA Debuts New Member Web Portal A new ACWA web portal allowing members to update their contact data, register for ACWA events, access committee rosters and documents and download tools and resources is now up and running.
to better manage member information and respond to member needs.
The portal is part of a robust new Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system that will enable ACWA
Questions should be directed to portal@acwa.com or call 916.441.4545.
ACWA members should watch for an email with an invitation code and instructions that will allow registration on the portal.
July 25, 2014 • 11
Newswatch
Drought-Related Tuolumne Reservoir Project Near Completion Tuolumne Utilities District (TUD) is near completion of a critical droughtrelated reservoir expansion project. “The Matelot Reservoir Expansion project was crucial for the district and one we thought was necessary to help us to continue to supply water to the Columbia area during the drought and also to ensure a water supply to the CAL Fire Columbia Air Attack base,” states Tom Scesa, TUD general manager.
from the existing reservoir to expand the total volume of the reservoir from 6 acre-feet to a volume of 26.2 acrefeet. “This is an essential project that will help us to supply water to this area during the annual ditch outage that occurs in October,” continued Scesa. The increased water supply would supply the Columbia area with about three weeks of water storage.
TUD staff moved quickly to expedite the necessary permits from state and county agencies to complete this highpriority project in six weeks.
The district is in the process of securing drought related funding for this project in the amount of $270,000 through the California Department of Public Health.
TUD construction crews removed an estimated 16,830 cubic yards of sludge
The reservoir is currently filling and should be at its capacity in early August.
Desert Water Agency Debuts Online Videos Along With Electronic CCRs The Desert Water Agency on June 19 launched a high-tech twist to its electronic consumer confidence reports (CCRs), providing customers with online videos that offer more details on various constituents in water and other information such as what causes hard-water spots. In 2013, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency began allowing utilities to distribute CCRs electronically. CCRs are required under the 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). Katie Ruark, public information officer for Desert Water Agency, said the move away from mailing hard copies allowed the agency to develop a more customer-friendly CCR.
“After a successful effort last year (with electronic CCRs), we decided we had the opportunity to do more with the CCR in the online version. The tables can be confusing for customers, and we have found that many customers just have general questions about water quality,” Ruark stated in an email to ACWA.
is still available upon request, but we think the new digital version of the CCR offers our customers much more than a brochure can.” Ruark said that the video format also enhances the agency’s ability to share the information on social media.
Ruark said customers wanted more details on constituents in their water and why they get hard-water spots.
“We have posted some of the videos to Facebook and Twitter and have sent out an email blast about the new CCR to our subscriber list,” said Ruark.
“We incorporated videos on some of our most popular topics so that the CCR would be more customer-friendly and interactive,” said Ruark. “The hard copy
The Desert Water Agency water quality web page is at http://www.dwa. org/2013wqr/.
Wynkon, Blynkon and Nod Enthrall Twitterverse in #NestWatch14 A Brewer’s blackbird nest visible on Western Canal Water District’s webcam enthralled Twitter and Facebook users for several weeks as #NestWatch14 unfolded. Anticipation built as local webcam enthusi-
12 • ACWA NEWS
Vol. 42 No. 7
ast and Chico Enterprise-Record reporter Heather Hacking began tweeting and posting daily happenings on June 16, from the building of the nest to the eggs hatching to the growth of three baby blackbirds. WCWD along with its water and agricultural Twitter cohorts joined in the fun and sponsored a bird-naming contest. The winning names — Wynkon, Blynkon and Nod — were submitted
by a Bay Area webcam fan who said the birds were always asleep when she was observing. The action ended July 6 when the birds flew the nest. The winner received a basket of prizes donated by ACWA, California Farm Bureau Federation, California Farm Water Coalition, Larrabee Farms, Lundberg Family Farms and Far West Rice. The webcam can be viewed at www.westerncanal.com.
NEwswatch
MWD Brings California To Life With New Paid Media Drought Campaign Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s two new television spots present California as a golden-colored, full-bodied mascot in the shape of the state. In one spot, she’s dismayed and discouraged as people waste water and in the second ad a man proclaims all he’s prepared to do to save water and his relationship with California.
Fraser Communications, which created the campaign for MWD.
“This campaign taps into people’s love for California and our lifestyle,” said Renee Fraser, chief executive officer of
More information on water-saving tips and rebates for conservation devices is available at bewaterwise.com.
The 30-second television spots are the latest additions to MWD’s multipronged public outreach and advertising campaign “Don’t Waste Another Minute Wasting Water,” created in cooperation with the district’s 26 member public agencies.
July 25, 2014 • 13
People News
Metropolitan Water District Seats Two New Directors on Board in July Two new members were seated on Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s Board of Directors in early July. Peter Beard, who succeeds Jennifer Fitzgerald as Fullerton’s representative, was named to the board’s Engineering and Operations Committee, the Agriculture and Business Outreach Committee and the Special Committee on Bay Delta. He has been involved in property development and management for more than 40 years, and branched out as a consultant and project manager for major water distributions projects in Orange and Los Angeles counties.
Active in community affairs for more than 20 years, Beard has chaired Fullerton’s Infrastructure Committee and Design Review Committee and has served on the city’s Energy Resource and Management Committee. He is finance chair for Saint Angela Merici Catholic Church in Brea and is a member of the Fullerton Elk’s Lodge. Philip D. Hawkins returns to MWD’s 37-member board, where will again represent Central Basin Municipal Water District as he did from January 2008 to February 2013. Hawkins follows Leticia Vásquez, who succeeded him in February 2013. Re-elected to his fourth term on Cen-
tral Basin’s Board of Directors in June 2012, Hawkins currently serves as board president. His Central Basin district consists of the cities of Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Hawaiian Gardens, Lakewood, Paramount and Signal Hill. A real estate broker since 1977, Hawkins has opened several businesses, including Realty World in Bellflower, Herbert Hawkins Realty, also in Bellflower, Century 21 in Norwalk and the Dean Company. Hawkins was elected to the California Assembly in 1994, representing the 56th Assembly District until 1996. During his Assembly term, he was chairman of the Committee on Housing and Community Development and vice chairman of the Committee on Budget, and served as a member of various other committees.
LADWP Appoints New Chief Sustainability and Economic Officer Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) General Manager Marcie Edwards announced in July that Nancy Sutley has been appointed chief sustainability and economic development officer. Sutley will work directly with the water and power systems, as well as the chief sustainability officer in the mayor’s office, on energy efficiency, water conservation, economic development and electrification of the transportation network, among other key issues.
Sutley is the immediate past chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, where she served from 2009 – 2014, and previously served as Los Angeles deputy mayor for energy and environment, a member of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s Board of Directors and the State Water Resources Control Board, energy advisor to Governor Gray Davis and deputy secretary for policy and intergovernmental relations for the California Environmental Protection Agency. “Nancy Sutley comes to LADWP with
extensive experience in environment, sustainability, energy, and water policies at all governmental levels,” Edwards said. “Her background will be invaluable to LADWP as we continue the transition to a clean energy future, transform our local power grid, and reduce our reliance on imported water through aggressive expansion of our local water supplies and further conservation. Nancy will also serve a key role in ensuring that our investments create economic opportunities that benefit our city and small businesses. She is a great addition to our team.”
CivicSpark Seeks Local Government Climate Change Response Support Over the next three years, CivicSpark will help California communities increase clean energy options, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and take actions to safeguard against climate change impacts. This innovative program was launched by the Local Government Commission and the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, which now invite local governments and other interested organizations to join a webinar July 23, from 14 • ACWA NEWS
Vol. 42 No. 7
9:30-10:30 a.m. to learn about CivicSpark and how to apply for support. Through CivicSpark, the Local Government Commission will work with nine regional partners, 48 AmeriCorps members, and over 200 volunteers to implement sustainable community strategies, respond to climate change and advance clean energy initiatives. CivicSpark teams will provide capacitybuilding support to local governments
through research, planning and pilot project implementation activities, while also supporting volunteer engagement. Register for the CivicSpark Informational Webinar for Local Governments at https:// attendee.gotowebinar.com/ register/1084129819764745986. For more information about CivicSpark, visit its website at www. civicsparkca.org.
CALENDAR August
ACWA Events
October
13 – 14
ACWA’s 2014 Regulatory Summit is set for Aug. 13-14 at the Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel, South Lake Tahoe. This year’s theme is, “Looking Upstream: Managing California’s Headwaters for Sustainability.” For more information contact ACWA’s Member Services and Events Department at events@acwa. com or 916.441.4545.
19 – 20
The Local Government Commission and the State of California are organizing the first California Adaptation Forum in the state capital, to be held Aug. 19-20. This two-day forum will build off last year’s successful National Adaptation Forum in Colorado. The attendance of many California leaders there underscored the need for a California-focused event, which will be held every other year to complement the biennial national forum. More information available at www.californiaadaptationforum.org.
September 9 – 12
The International Water Association is holding a specialists’ conference for water basin science and management Sept. 9 to 12 in San Francisco. More information available at http://iwa2014sanfrancisco. org/. Questions may be directed to Chelsea Spier at 209.946.2595, iwa2014wrbm@gmail.com.
18
ACWA Regions 2 & 4 will jointly host a program on Sept. 18 in the Sacramento area. The halfday program will focus on the effects of climate change on Northern California water storage. More information about this event will be made available on the ACWA website as it becomes available.
19
Steve Hall Fierce Competitor Golf Tournament is set for Sept. 19 at Darkhorse Golf Club, Auburn. For more information contact ACWA’s Member Services and Events Department at events@acwa.com or 916.441.4545
Other Events
6 – 7
CalDesal 3rd Annual Conference is Oct. 6 – 7 in Monterey. The conference will be attended by desalination industry professionals, CalDesal member agency representatives, local and state/federal agency staff and decision makers, California legislators, non-governmental organizations and other special guests. For more information contact Ron Davis at rond@caldesal. org, or by phone at (916) 492-6082.
17
ACWA Region 6 & 7 joint program is Oct. 17 in Visalia. For more information please contact Regional Affairs Representative Katie Dahl at katied@acwa.com.
19 – 20
ACWA Region 5 reception & program is Oct. 19-20 in Livermore. For more information please contact Regional Affairs Representative Katie Dahl at katied@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 events@acwa.com or 916.441.4545.
Got an outreach program worth talking about? Enter your agency’s outstanding public relations efforts in ACWA’s Huell Howser Best in Blue Award!
Calling for Entries
The award recognizes outstanding achievements by public water agencies in communicating with customers, legislators, media and the public. The award will be presented at ACWA’s 2014 Fall Conference & Exhibition. Entries must be submitted by Sept. 2. Details and entry forms are at acwa.com.
July 25, 2014 • 15
to
Office for Lease
Association of California Water Agencies 910 K Street, Suite 100 Sacramento, CA 95814-3577
Prime Downtown Location
Periodicals Postage Paid at Sacramento, CA
Time Valued Material
Three suites available in Sacramento, one 910 K STREET block fromSACRAMENTO, the State Capital (910 K Street). CALIFORNIA • 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 TWO SUITES AVAILABLE • 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 2014 Regulatory Summit
August 13-14, 2014 • Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel, South Lake Tahoe
classifieds
Position Open General Manager
of management/labor relations and negotiation.
Calaveras County Water District The Calaveras County Water District is seeking a general manager who is a proven professional leader with demonstrated leadership, communication, planning, policy, and development experience in the water and wastewater industry. The ideal general manager would be a person who:
ê • Will serve as a role model and mentor
to staff with diverse talents, skills, and personalities and take a lead role in developing and coaching them into a cohesive team to help build and maintain employee morale, creating a more efficient and effective working environment, encouraging the sharing of information and feedback to meet the District’s mission and goals. •
•
•
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400 Capitol Mall, Suite 650
Has the experience andSacramento, ability to CA build 95814 cushmanwakefield.com s to the accuracy ofeffective the informationand productive relationships ut notice, and to any specific listing CA License #: 00616335 with the local labor leadership, respects the labor relations process, and views employees as valuable assets, is able to nurture mutual respect in the conduct
Has previous experience working with a governing board in a political environment, will be able to diplomatically build rapport with the CCWD Board of Directors, establish and execute the goals and objectives for the District, and can be relied upon to provide the best professional recommendations to the board at all times. Brings exceptional communication and public relations skills when interacting with employees and the public and can effectively represent the Calaveras County Water District with diplomacy at all times. Is familiar with local, state, federal, regulatory and legislative laws, policies, initiatives, and challenges of importance to the District, along with understanding the current water resource issues and complexities that impact CCWD, in particular, as well as industry issues affecting California in general.
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Possess strong financial management skills.
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Holds customer service and public relations as a high priority.
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Has the highest ethical standards and will exemplify integrity, work ethic, and collaboration.
Strives to understand the culture and politics of Calaveras County, finds value in making it home, and is actively involved in the community. The ideal candidate will possess a management style that emphasizes teamwork, accountability, participation, communication, collaboration, trust, care, concern and has strategic, analytical and creative problem solving skills. The successful candidate will posses at a minimum: •
Equivalent of a Bachelor’s degree (Master’s degree desired) from an accredited college or university
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At least five years of senior level management experience and technical competency for a complex water and wastewater agency.
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At least five years of background experience in municipal, state, or federal government, military, consulting, or private sector business, or a combination thereof.