ACWANews
ACWA’s Member Newsletter • www.acwa.com
Lake McClure in western Mariposa County is at a mere 9% of its capacity in mid-March as a fourth year of drought unfolds. Merced Irrigation District is warning its growers to expect no surface allocations from Lake McClure for the 2015 irrigation season. Under federal and state regulations, no stored water can be diverted for irrigation once the reservoir has fallen below 11.5%, or 115,000 acre-feet. This Feb. 4 photo shows the extremely low lake. Photo Credit: DWR, Florence Low
State Board Mandates Outdoor Watering Restrictions Statewide as Drought Worsens With the Sierra snowpack dwindling and precipitation at record-breaking low levels, the State Water Resources Control Board on March 17 mandated that urban water agencies adopt restrictions on outdoor watering and cautioned that it may consider “more significant” actions in weeks to come. The restrictions were adopted as the State Board extended existing emergency water conservation regulations and added a few more in an effort to push residents to conserve even more water as the state lurches toward its fourth year of drought. The State Board action was preceded by a sobering report on the drought, which stated that statewide, as of March 16, the snow water content was just 13% of average for that date – lower than the same period during the state’s record-breaking drought of 1977.
“We are experiencing the lowest snowpack and the driest January in recorded history, and communities around the state are already suffering severely from the prior three years of drought,” State Board Chair Felicia Marcus said in a press release announcing the action. “If the drought continues through next winter and we do not conserve more — the consequences could be even more catastrophic than they already are. Today’s action is just a tune-up and a reminder to act, and we will consider more significant actions in the weeks to come.” The new emergency regulations include additional reporting mandates for water agencies which require them to report to the State Board on water conservation enforcement efforts as well as the number of days they allow outdoor irrigation. The regulation also mandates State Board Continued on page 16
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March 20, 2015
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Headwaters Framework Gets Official Launch
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ACWA-Sponsored Bill on Chromium-6 Compliance Introduced
Poll: Vast Majority Willing to Conserve Regardless of Drought As California enters a fourth year of drought, a new statewide poll reveals that the vast majority of Californians — some 90% — are willing to make significant changes to conserve water both inside and out and more than 80% believe it’s important to conserve water whether the state is in drought or not. The statewide poll of 801 registered voters — commissioned by the ACWA in partnership with the statewide conservation education program Save Our Water — also found that 80% of Californians view the drought and water shortages as “extremely” or “very” serious problems. Some 86% of polled residents believe that California is PoLL 1 Continued on page 8
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Save Our Water to Launch “Keep Saving California” Message March 20, 2015 • 1
ACWA News is a publication of the Association of California Water Agencies 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 Website: acwa.com Executive Director Timothy Quinn Deputy Executive Director for External Affairs and Operations Jennifer Persike Director of Communications Lisa Lien-Mager Communications Specialist Pamela Martineau Communications Specialist Emily Allshouse Graphic Designer Katherine Causland Outreach and Social Media Specialist Marie Meade Copyright 2015. All Rights Reserved. Call ACWA for Permission to Reprint. USPS 334030
Questions on Classifieds? ACWA public agency members may post job descriptions, RFPs, items for sale and other miscellaneous classified ads in ACWA News and/or online at acwa.com. More information is at acwa.com or contact Director of Communications Lisa Lien-Mager at lisalm@ acwa.com or 916.441.4545.
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Headwaters Framework Gets Official Launch After more than two years of work by members throughout the state, ACWA is set to formally release a new policy framework that makes specific recommendations designed to improve the resiliency of water resources through effective headwaters management. The framework, “Improving the Resiliency of California’s Headwaters,” also emphasizes improved coordination among state, federal and local water managers as well as between upstream and downstream water users. The official release of ACWA’s document is being coordinated with separate but complementary efforts by The Nature Conservancy and the Sierra Nevada Conservancy. The three organizations are planning a joint release to elevate the importance of healthy headwaters and benefits of collaboration. “This drought makes it clear that we need to look at each and every component of our water management system, from the Sierra forests and watersheds that feed our rivers and streams to the water storage and delivery infrastructure we rely on to serve cities, farms and businesses,” Quinn said. “At a time when we can’t take a single drop for granted, it’s critical that we engage partners from one end of the state to the other to improve the resilience of our headwaters areas for the benefit of people and the environment today and into the future.” Developed by ACWA’s Headwaters Framework Working Group, the document details the role that headwaters play in California’s water management system, outlines the benefits of healthy headwaters, identifies current challenges and provides a brief history of headwaters management. The framework makes nearly 30 specific recommendations in the areas of improved planning, coordination and implementation, managing headwaters resources, research and financing headwaters improvements. The final framework document and a fact sheet are available at www.acwa.com/headwaters. “The release of ACWA’s framework document caps more than two years of work by
ACWA members and key partners. In crafting this document, ACWA engaged members from every region in the state — from Sierra regions above the rim dams to the Central Valley and coastal areas — and we all share the recognition that more effective headwaters management could provide multiple benefits to water users statewide,” said ACWA President John Coleman. “As a water leader from the southern part of the state, I can attest that water users in every part of California are affected by the health of our headwaters. We need to do everything we can to work together to advance strategies that will protect headwaters and in turn the water we all depend on,” said Irvine Ranch Water District Board Member Steve La Mar, who was vice chair of the Headwaters Working Group. California’s headwaters are garnering renewed attention from several groups. The Nature Conservancy recently released a report that is the first ever assessment to estimate the link between ecological forest management, water quantity, and potential economic benefits for water agencies and utilities in the northern Sierra Nevada. On March 4, the Sierra Nevada Conservancy and the U.S. Forest Service launched the Sierra Nevada Watershed Improvement Program, a coordinated and integrated effort to restore the health of California’s primary watersheds.
President’s Column • John Coleman
California’s Headwaters: ACWA Joins Critical Effort to Engage Partners, Focus Statewide Attention Upstream This month, ACWA is pleased to release its Headwaters Framework – a well-crafted, member-driven document outlining the benefits of healthy headwaters and recommending ways to improve the resiliency and sustainability of California’s precious areas where so much of our state’s water begins. The release of this framework, formally titled “Improving the Resiliency of California’s Headwaters – A Framework,” caps more than two years of intense work by ACWA members and key partners to bring headwaters issues to the forefront. As you may recall, ACWA convened a working group in early 2013 to develop some overarching policy principles that were adopted by the ACWA Board of Directors in March 2013. The group, headed by former Region 3 Chair and ACWA Board Member Bob Dean, then turned its focus to drafting a framework document that
would build on the policy principles and offer detailed recommendations. ACWA’s headwaters effort has been noteworthy in several ways. First, it has engaged members from every region of the state, reflecting the importance of headwaters areas to our state’s water supply. Representatives of member agencies from Sierra regions above the rim dams to communities in the Central Valley and coastal areas came together in a shared recognition that more effective management of headwaters areas could provide multiple benefits to the state’s water management system and the environment, including increased water supply reliability, improved water quality downstream and reduced impacts due from catastrophic wildfires. Release of the document could not be more timely. Given the severity of the drought, the destruction caused
by recent wildfires and ongoing changes in our climate, it is imperative that we focus attention upstream and make decisions that will improve conditions in California’s headwaters now and into the future. Based on our discussions during the recent DC Conference, many members of Congress and regulators are beginning to realize the importance of healthy headwaters. You’ll be hearing a lot more about headwaters efforts in the coming months as we identify early priorities for implementation. I encourage all members to attend a special plenary session on headwaters at the ACWA Spring Conference & Exhibition in Sacramento in May and engage in this worthy effort.
Executive Director’s Column • Timothy Quinn
Amid Drought, Some Encouraging Signs of Progress in 2015 With March tracking as the driest on record and the snowpack dismally low, California is looking at another difficult water year. But amid the challenges, there are encouraging signs of progress and collaboration. Statewide polling released by ACWA on March 17 suggests an overwhelming majority of Californians are willing to make significant changes to reduce their water use – regardless of whether we are in a drought. This is a significant shift. ACWA member agencies have spent and will continue to spend millions of dollars to educate their customers on the need for conservation, and this sea change in public opinion shows their efforts are having an impact. As this important
work continues, ACWA is providing tools and support through the Save Our Water program, which is asking consumers to “Keep Saving California.” (See separate stories pages 1 and 9.) Another encouraging sign is emerging attention and collaboration on headwaters. ACWA is working with numerous partners, including The Nature Conservancy and the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, to raise the visibility of the issue and pursue new initiatives to improve the resiliency of headwaters areas. Later this month, ACWA’s Board of Directors will consider a new policy paper and recommendations for the future of water storage in California.
Crafted by the Water Storage Policy Task Force appointed by President John Coleman last year, the policy paper and recommendations are designed to articulate a strong vision for the future of water storage as a vital tool to meet the coequal goals and advance the “all-of-the-above” approach we need. At a time when we can’t take a single drop of water for granted, these efforts collectively put ACWA squarely on the forefront of solutions.
March 20, 2015 • 3
2015 Drought Briefing Slated for April 9 ACWA in partnership with several organizations will present a 2015 drought briefing April 9 that will examine the impacts and responses to California’s fourth year of drought. Titled – “2015 Drought Briefing – Four Years and Counting: Impacts and Actions” – the briefing will examine the outlook for 2015 and the impacts that can be expected on water operations, the environment, fire response, agriculture and water conservation.
CEQA Notification Bill Introduced in Assembly ACWA is co-sponsoring a bill that would streamline the notification process for certain water projects subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). AB 291 by Assembly Member Jose Medina (D-Riverside) would allow a local agency that is implementing a multicounty water project to satisfy CEQA’s notification requirement by posting a notice on the CEQAnet website (www. ceqanet.ca.gov) and with the county clerk in the agency’s home county. Under current law, local agencies are required to post CEQA notices in “each county in which the project will be located.” While this is a straightforward requirement for land use projects, local agencies implementing multi-county water projects
can face an array of different submissions requirements from each county, posing significant logistical challenges. AB 291 would not create any new exemptions to CEQA or otherwise change how local agencies analyze the environmental impacts of water projects under CEQA. It would improve public access to notice for many water projects by making them available on CEQAnet. The McGeorge Law School Legislative and Public Policy Clinic is a co-sponsor of the bill. Questions about AB 291 may be directed to ACWA Legislative Advocate Whitnie Wiley at whitniew@acwa.com.
The briefing will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Crest Theatre, 1013 K St., Sacramento. It also will be webcast live. The event and webcast are free of charge but participants must register ahead of time. Register at www.surveymonkey. com/s/drought2015.
State Agency Updates PHG for Perchlorate
For more information go to www.acwa.com or contact Paula Currie at (916) 4414545.
“This updated public health goal reflects infants’ increased susceptibility to the health effects of perchlorate,” said OEHHA Director Dr. George Alexeeff. “It is set at a level that would provide health protection for people of all ages.”
2015 Drought Four Years and Counting: Impacts and Actions
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The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) on Feb. 27 published an updated public health goal (PHG) for perchlorate in drinking water of 1 part per billion (ppb), citing new research related to the health impacts of perchlorate on infants.
Though the updated PHG is not an enforceable regulatory standard and does not change California’s existing maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 6 ppb for perchlorate or the detection limit for purposes of reporting (DLR) of 4 ppb, state law requires the State Water Resources Control Board’s Division of Drinking Water to use a PHG as guidance in setting an MCL. State law also requires the Division of Drinking Water to set MCLs as close to the corresponding PHG as economically and technologically feasible, while placing primary emphasis on the protection of
public health. PHGs are established solely on the basis of public health data and do not take into account technical or economic feasibility of treating the contaminant in drinking water. A PHG identifies a level of a contaminant in drinking water that OEHHA determines poses no significant public health risk when consumed over a lifetime. According to OEHHA, drinking water still can be acceptable for public consumption if it contains contaminants at levels higher than the PHG. State law requires public water systems to provide annual consumer confidence reports to customers that describe the source of water and list the current level of contaminants, their PHGs and their primary MCLs. California’s perchlorate MCL was set in 2007. There is no federal drinking water standard for perchlorate. For more information on OEHHA’s PHG including a fact sheet and a technical support document that provides information on the health effects of perchlorate in drinking water, please visit www.oehha. ca.gov/water/phg/2015perchlorate.html.
ACWA-Sponsored Bill on Chromium-6 Compliance Introduced ACWA-sponsored legislation that would aid compliance with the state’s new drinking water standard for chromium-6 is set to be heard April 15 in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee. The bill, SB 385 by Sen. Ben Hueso (D-San Diego), would establish a carefully monitored process for public water systems to work toward and achieve compliance with the chromium-6 standard. California is the first state in the nation to adopt a drinking water standard for chromium-6. Public water systems are committed to meeting the standard, but the timeline provided for compliance does not recognize the complex steps water systems must take to achieve the standard. The steps involved — from designing appropriate treatment systems to securing financing to building and testing new treatment
facilities — can take up to five years or more and cost millions of dollars. SB 385 would address the challenge by authorizing the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to grant a time-limited variance to public water systems that meet strict conditions and demonstrate they are taking needed steps to comply with the standard by the earliest feasible date. The variance would not exempt any water systems from compliance or delay steps a water system must take to achieve compliance. The SWRCB oversees the state’s water quality and is responsible for enforcing the chromium-6 standard. “For California’s public water systems, delivering water that meets or surpasses all state and federal drinking water standards is job one,” ACWA Executive Director Timothy Quinn said in a news release issued Feb. 25. “Unfortunately,
some water systems will be deemed out of compliance with the new chromium-6 standard in 2015 even though it was not feasible for them to install appropriate treatment facilities to comply within the very short timeline provided. “SB 385 does not seek to weaken the chromium-6 standard or delay its implementation. It simply creates a path for water systems to work toward compliance without being deemed in violation as long as strict safeguards are met,” Quinn said. ACWA has prepared a fact sheet and FAQ on SB 385 that are available on its Chromium-6 Spotlight page. Questions about SB 385 may be directed to ACWA Deputy Executive Director for Government Relations Cindy Tuck at cindyt@acwa.com.
DWR Releases Draft Strategic Plan for SGMA Implementation The Department of Water Resources has released a draft strategic plan for its Groundwater Sustainability Program that outlines key actions it will take to support local agencies with implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. The draft plan also describes current groundwater conditions in the state, identifies success factors in addressing key challenges, and presents an initial plan for DWR communication and
outreach on SGMA. Under SGMA, DWR must complete multiple activities such as the adoption of regulations for local agencies’ proposed revisions to groundwater basin boundaries and local agencies’ proposed groundwater sustainability plans. DWR also must update its prioritization of basins and conduct groundwater assessments. Public comments on the draft plan can be emailed to sgmps@water.ca.gov or
sent by mail to P.O. Box 942836, Sacramento, CA, 94236, Attn: Lauren Bisnett. There is currently no deadline to submit public comments on the draft strategic plan. resource DWR Draft Plan – water.ca.gov/ groundwater/sgm/pdfs/DWR_GSP_ DraftStrategicPlanMarch2015.pdf Sustainable Groundwater Program – www.water.ca.gov/groundwater/sgm/ index.cfm
Senate Office of Research Releases Report on Drinking Water Regulation The Senate Office of Research has released a new report, titled “The Water We Drink, Part 1: What is California Doing to Ensure Its Water is Safe,” outlining the regulation of California’s drinking water. The report, released in mid-February, provides background on federal and state drinking water requirements, re-
sponsible California agencies and their functions, violation and enforcement data, and information on the process for establishing maximum containment levels. The report is the first of two installments prepared by the Senate Office of Research. The second installment is expected to focus on
the challenges to providing safe, clean and affordable drinking water to disadvantaged communities. resource Report on drinking water – sor.senate. ca.gov/sites/sor.senate.ca.gov/files/ FINAL%20draft%20Part%201%20 Drinking%20Water.pdf
March 20, 2015 • 5
Reclamation Announces Initial Zero Water Allocation for Many California’s continuing dry conditions have prompted the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to announce a second year of a zero initial water allocation for many Central Valley Project agricultural users north and south of the Delta. Senior water rights holders will be receiving some water but at diminished quantities, officials announced Feb. 27. Speaking to reporters during a conference call, David Murillo, regional director for the Bureau, said low reservoir levels as well as sparse snowpack and low snow water content in the Sierra Nevada and Central Valley prompted the initial zero allocation. “Today’s picture is not a pretty one,” Murillo told reporters. “Based on all indicators, we are looking at a fourth year of drought…Unfortunately many agricultural water service contractors may be looking at a second year of receiving no water.” The initial allocation is based on a conservative estimate, federal officials said in a press statement. The allocation will be re-examined on a monthly basis as the water year progresses. Reduced amounts of water are also expected to
be available from the CVP for urban uses, although the Bureau anticipates having adequate supplies to provide for unmet health and safety needs for these water users. Exchange and settlement contractors are expected to receive 75% of their allocation. The initial CVP allocations follow:
North-of-Delta Contractors • Agricultural water service contractors North-of-Delta are allocated 0% of their contract quantity. •
M&I water service contractors North-of-Delta will receive enough water to meet their health and safety needs or at least 25% of their historic use, whichever is greater.
South-of-Delta Contractors • Agricultural water service contractors South-of-Delta are allocated 0% of their contract quantity. •
M&I water service contractors South-of-Delta will receive enough water to meet their health and safety needs or at least 25% of their historic use, whichever is greater.
Friant Division Contractors • Based on DWR’s February 2015 Runoff Forecast for the upper San Joaquin River, contractual requirements to prior right holders, and the overall forecasted operation of the CVP, the Friant Division water supply allocation is 0% of Class 1 and Class 2. •
The Bureau will be working with the Friant contractors to determine what amount of water will made available to meet health and safety needs within the Friant service area.
Eastside Water Service Contractors • Eastside water service contractors (Central San Joaquin Water Conservation District and Stockton East Water District) will receive 0% of their contract quantity due to a lack of available CVP supplies out of New Melones Reservoir. Water supply updates will be made as appropriate and posted on the Bureau’s website at www.usbr.gov/mp/pa/ water.
State Board Releases Proposition 1 Water Recycling Proposal The State Water Resources Control Board on March 13 released its proposed plan to implement Proposition 1 Water Recycling Program funding and its draft amended WRFP guidelines. The State Board also announced it will host three workshops in April to present the items and hear feedback. The workshops will be held: •
April 14 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. in Fresno at the Woodward Park Library
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April 16 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. in Perris at Eastern Municipal Water District
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April 21 from 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. in Sacramento at the Sacrament Area Sewer District / Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District
Registration is not required to attend the workshops. Public comments on the proposed implementation plan and the draft
amended WRFP guidelines can be submitted to the State Board until April 24.
resource Draft WRFP – www.waterboards.ca.gov/ water_issues/programs/grants_loans/ water_recycling/docs/wrfp_prop1_ guidelines.pdf WRFP Website – www.waterboards. ca.gov/water_issues/programs/grants_ loans/water_recycling/proposition1_ funding.shtml
California Supreme Court Decides Berkeley Hillside, Clarifies When Categorical Exemptions Can be Used Under CEQA By Christian Marsh, Andrea Clark, and Rebecca Smith The California Supreme Court on March 2 issued its much-anticipated opinion in Berkeley Hillside Preservation v. City of Berkeley, providing clarity on when public agencies can rely on exemptions in approving projects under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Specifically, the court addressed the “unusual circumstances” exception, which precludes agencies from relying on categorical exemptions “where there is a reasonable possibility that the activity will have a significant effect on the environment due to unusual circumstances.” (CEQA Guidelines § 15300.2.) The court provided some relief for public agencies on the standards of review and scope of the evidence to be considered, but ultimately adopted a “bifurcated approach” to the analysis that ultimately may prove challenging to agencies seeking to comply with CEQA’s strict mandates. In this case, the city had approved construction of a 6,478 square-foot, single-family home and attached 10-car garage on a steep slope in Berkeley. The city found the project exempt from CEQA under the categorical exemptions for single-family homes and infill developments (CEQA Guidelines sections 15303(a) and 15332, respectively). While CEQA requires extensive environmental review for many projects with potentially significant environmental effects, CEQA’s “categorical exemptions” enable expedient implementation of hundreds of routine projects each year (including water projects). Several residents sued, claiming that CEQA’s categorical exemptions did not apply due to “unusual circumstances” – namely the project’s “unusual size, location, nature and scope.” In addition to the building’s size, the challengers argued that to achieve the
home’s proposed elevations, massive grading and retaining walls would be necessary. The appeals court invalidated the exemption, holding that evidence of a potentially significant impact “is itself an unusual circumstance” that precludes reliance on an exemption. After pending for three years, the Supreme Court reversed the appeals court and settled four important questions: First, the court held that determining whether the unusual circumstances exception applies is a two-step inquiry: 1) the agency must first evaluate whether there are any unusual circumstances; and 2) the agency must then determine whether there is a reasonable possibility that the activity will have a significant effect on the environment due to the unusual circumstances. According to the court, the appeals court “erred by holding that a potentially significant environmental effect itself constitutes an unusual circumstance” – such a construction “would render useless and unnecessary the statutes the Legislature passed to identify and make exempt classes of projects that have no significant environmental effect.” (Slip Op., pp. 16, 20.) Second, while seemingly at odds with the court’s clear delineation of the two-step inquiry, the court held that a project’s significant environmental effects could nevertheless evince an unusual circumstance: “[E]vidence that the project will have a significant effect does tend to prove that some circumstance of the project is unusual.” (Slip Op., pp. 20-21.) Third, the court provided useful guidance clarifying that the local setting is important: “In determining whether the environmental effects of a proposed project are unusual or typical, local agencies have discretion
to consider conditions in the vicinity of the proposed project.” (Slip Op., p. 41.) Thus, for example, while replacement of a water pipeline in an existing rightof-way might be typical in an urban area, placement of a pipeline in pristine habitat might be deemed uncommon (or unusual). Fourth, the court settled the longstanding question of whether courts should provide deference to an agency in its exemption determination. Here, the court applied a “bifurcated” approach. While the determination as to whether “unusual circumstances” exist is reviewed under the deferential “substantial evidence” standard, the question of whether an unusual circumstance gives rise to possible adverse impacts is reviewed under the less-deferential “fair argument” standard. (Slip Op., pp. 33-34.) The court reasoned that this bifurcated approach makes sense because, “when unusual circumstances are established, . . . the typical environmental effects of projects in an exempt category no longer control.” (Slip Op., p. 36.) The court has provided important clarity concerning the steps in the inquiry and the standards of review. Particularly helpful is the court’s guidance that local conditions can be considered in determining whether circumstances are unusual. The decision is perplexing, however, in that it signals that evidence of adverse impacts must also be considered. When combined with the “bifurcated approach” to the standard of review, the court has left enough ambiguity to spawn more litigation over the exemptions and their exceptions. Downey Brand attorneys Christian Marsh and Andrea Clark filed an amicus curiae brief in support of the appeal on behalf of ACWA. March 20, 2015 • 7
Stanford University Report Recommends Water Usage Fee A newly released report from Stanford University’s Water in the West program recommends a fee on Californians’ water usage to help pay for water infrastructure and management. The report is titled “Funding Water Projects in Times of Financial Uncertainty: The Case for a Public Goods Charge in California.” A Feb. 18 press release from Stanford’s Water in the West program describes the report’s findings, saying it details how a “public goods charge (PGC)” could be a powerful tool for funding water needs despite obstacles such as the state’s restrictive fiscal regulations and a lack of dedicated funding for “orphan” water projects such as household efficiency initiatives and new technology investments.
Report co-author Newsha Ajami, director of urban water policy at Water in the West, wrote in the press release that there is “considerable confusion, uncertainty and misinformation about what a water PGC would mean for ratepayers.” “Our research is intended to clarify some of these ambiguities,” Ajami added. The report states that many water projects in California are currently partially funded with municipal bonds, some of which must be approved by voters. A recent example is the voterapproved Proposition 1, the $7.5 billion bond approved in November. The study states that Proposition 1 is a “good start” but not nearly enough to provide sustainable funding for projects
such as monitoring and evaluation of water resources. The report adds that “bonds can be problematic in general because they are often expensive, unreliable and unfairly distributed.” The report goes on to outline support for a public goods charge saying its revenue could be shared among local and broader-scale projects, not only for public projects such as customer rebates for water-efficient appliances, but also for increasing water innovation statewide. Funding for the report was provided by the California Water Foundation, the National Science Foundation, the National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center for Reinventing the Nation’s Urban Water Infrastructure, and Stanford University.
Poll Continued from page 1
in a state of persistent water shortage.
opinion and bodes well for our future.”
The polling also indicates that Californians nearly universally agree that the drought is the most pressing problem facing the state and is more concerning than the economy, education, health care costs and taxes.
The Department of Water Resources is a partner with ACWA on Save Our Water. Mark Cowin, director of DWR, noted that the poll indicates Californians have been getting the message about the state’s ongoing drought.
“California is indeed a dry state that can expect to see persistent droughts in its future. This polling underscores the fact that a vast majority of Californians understand this new normal,” said ACWA Executive Director Timothy Quinn. “But the poll also shows that an overwhelming majority of Californians are willing to significantly change their water usage whether we are in drought or not. This is a sea change in public
“We are heartened to see that Californians understand the severity of this persistent drought and are willing to step up and conserve,” said Cowin. “We will need everyone to keep doing their part.”
90%
80%
of Californians
willing to make significant changes to conserve water
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The poll of registered voters was conducted Feb. 22 – March 1 by the polling firm Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates, or FM3. Its findings arrive as the State Water
86%
of Californians
of Californians
view the drought and water shortages as very serious problems
believe that California is in a state of persisten water shortage
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Resources Control Board prepared to act on proposed new emergency water conservation regulations and extend existing ones as the state remains locked in a grinding fourth year of drought. The Sierra snowpack is at record low levels and January was among the driest months on record. “This poll’s findings stand out among our many years of tracking water issues in California,” said Dave Metz, principal of FM3. “We’ve never seen such a huge majority recognize the severity of the water crisis as well as such a large group that views the water problems as ongoing and warranting continued conservation.” A summary of the poll’s findings is available at www.acwa.com/spotlight/ attitudes-water-conservation. The Save Our Water program is using the poll’s findings to improve outreach to consumers this summer and to help local water agencies develop their own outreach programs on drought and conservation.
Save Our Water to Launch “Keep Saving California” Message As a fourth consecutive year of drought unfolds, the statewide Save Our Water program is poised to launch new messaging, tools and public education efforts in late March. Save Our Water, which is administered by ACWA in partnerships with the California Department of Water Resources and serves as the state’s official statewide water conservation education program, is set to roll out new messaging focused on encouraging Californians to keep saving water through the drought and to make long-term changes in the way they use water. The program’s new “Keep Saving California” slogan acknowledges the efforts many Californians already have made and seeks to motivate them to continue to find additional ways to save water. The new messaging will be part of a statewide education / marketing campaign supported by a revamped website complete with new conservation tools.
Spring Marketing Plan Save Our Water’s new statewide public education campaign will kick off in late March and run through June. Activities will be scaled to the program’s budget, but will include •
Radio and digital radio
•
Digital and social media
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Outdoor media
•
Print media
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Local on-the-ground events in partnership with radio stations
•
Spanish-language (radio and digital)
The program is targeting three key audiences: consumers, water and other agencies, and businesses. Tools are being developed for each audience. The campaign is designed to maximize local partnerships with water agencies. Messages and visuals can be tailored to suit local audiences, with opportunities for partners to cost-share in the campaign’s paid media efforts, such as radio and TV ads, to increase visibility.
Partner Outreach Save Our Water previewed some of the partnership opportunities during a March 5 webinar. Over the next several weeks the program will engage in localized outreach to partners seeking involvement in the campaign. Business outreach also continues, including a March 6 presentation by Jennifer Persike, ACWA’s deputy executive director of external affairs and operations, and Save Our Water Program Manager Brendan Wonnacott to the water subcommittee of the Bay Area Council in San Francisco. The council is very interested in pursuing a partnership with Save Our Water and assisting in outreach to corporations throughout the Bay Area.
Save Our Water Social Media Efforts to ramp up social media presence include daily social media engagement with key influencers and media stakeholders. Paid efforts have expanded from being largely centered on Facebook posts to include promoted Twitter activity, helping the program’s social channels grow organically with engaged Californians.
Keep Saving
Save Our Water’s current social media reach includes 109,106 fans on Facebook (1.5% growth since January) and 19,269 followers on Twitter (4.6% growth since January).
Upcoming Save Our Water Efforts As the spring public education launch nears, Save Our Water is already planning for its efforts this summer. Initial plans include expanded online tools, including an all-new water calculator, as well as more toolkit items for water agencies. A summer-centric public education campaign is also in the works. Updating State Water Resources Control Board/Governor’s Drought Task Force Persike and Nancy Vogel, director of public affairs for DWR, presented indepth updates in February to both the State Water Resources Control Board and the Governor’s Drought Task Force. Both groups were updated on Save Our Water’s plans to help Californians make lasting and permanent reductions in the amount of water they use every day. The update coincided with the State Board’s release of a report on urban water use showing Californians saved 29.9 billion gallons of water in December 2014, representing a 22.2% reduction in water use from December 2013.
CA March 20, 2015 • 9
Spotlight
City of Ventura: Coastal City Puts Conservation, Water Quality in the Spotlight with Programs District
facts
Location City of Ventura Number of Customers Served 32,000 Established 1923 Water Source Ventura River, Lake Casitas and groundwater from three discreet basins – Mound, Santa Paula and Oxnard. Notable Projects • Water Take 1 Film Contest • “Don’t Wash Your Car” Challenge • Potable Reuse Pilot Study Website www.cityofventura. net/water
Known for its scenic ocean views and surfing spots, the city of Ventura occupies a stretch of California coast that has been inhabited for at least 10,000 years. The city is adding to that rich history by carving out a niche at the forefront of water management in California today. From an international film contest to research studies designed to protect habitat and resources, Ventura Water is finding ways to engage its community and highlight the importance of water to its future. With extended drought underscoring the need for a more diverse water supply portfolio, Ventura Water has several projects in the works to showcase the value of water and pursue opportunities to increase local water supply reliability. The city’s three main sources of water — the Ventura River, Lake Casitas and groundwater from three discreet basins — provide the foundation for projects aimed at ensuring sustainability into the future.
Film Contest Garners International Attention You’ve heard of Cannes, Sundance and Toronto, but in the water world Ventura’s International Water Take 1 Film Contest is the premier destination. The brainchild of Ventura Water General Manager Shana Epstein, the film contest is in its third year and showcases 51 films in 2015. “We chose to do an online film contest with a water focus because members of our community, as well as on a national and global level, must begin to recognize the importance of water and its infrastructure,” explained Ep-
stein. “With the contest, we hoped to engage intelligent and creative conversation between leadership, businesses and the community.” Water Take 1 features short films of under five minutes in length that address the topic of water in any genre, including documentary, drama, comedy, animation, sci-fi or experimental. Over the years, sponsors such as Patagonia (headquartered in Ventura) and agribusiness and engineering firms have supported the festival, while strategic partners such as Surfriders Foundation and the Alliance for Water Efficiency are actively involved in the project. The 2015 videos can be viewed online at www.watertake1.com/videos/watch/we-needwater/.
Challenge Gets Traction in Car-Loving Southern California Water Take 1 isn’t Ventura Water’s only foray into garnering widespread media attention. Radio spots for the city’s 2014 Don’t Wash Your Car Challenge caught the attention of the Wall Street Journal, which produced a video (on.wsj.com/1AkA6FN ) and ran a front page article in September 2014. Using Save Our Water’s summer 2014 “Californian’s Don’t Waste” campaign, the radio ads challenged citizens to stop washing their cars during the months of July and August. Drivers with the dirtiest cars could win anything from a water bottle to full auto detailing. Pictures of the dirty cars often shown with the words “Don’t Wash Me” written on the dust-caked windows were posted on Facebook.
“Whether it’s potable, recycled, reused — it’s all one resource.” — Shana Epstein, general manager of Ventura Water 10 • ACWANEWS
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Page 10: “Don’t Wash Your Car” competitors use conservation messages to explain caked-on dirt. Top right: Ventura Water staff and organizers of the Water Take 1 contest gather at a reception last November at the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach Hotel. (l-r) Rachael Shapiro, Debra Martinez, Nancy Broschart, Karen Waln, Shana Epstein, Mark Jordon, and Joe McDermott. Top and Bottom left: Dirty windows in Ventura are a canvas for the artwork of the artistically inclined.
Some of Ventura’s “dirty cars” were also featured nationally on the Weather Channel with Sam Champion interviewing Ventura Mayor Cheryl Heitmann, who claimed she actually had the grimiest car.
Santa Clara River Potable Reuse Pilot Study Ventura Water has several research projects in the works, including a pilot study to determine the feasibility of blending groundwater with potable reuse water that has been filtered with reverse osmosis rather than discharging it directly back into the Santa Clara River Estuary.
“If it is determined that we can blend the potable reuse water with groundwater, we will see this as an opportunity to diversify our portfolio,” said Epstein. The red carpet, the national coverage, or the everyday challenges — what is Epstein most proud of when asked about Ventura Water? “I am proud of our professionals and the way they have grabbed the concept of One Water. Whether it’s potable, recycled, reused — it’s all one resource. It’s all integrated, and we have to work together to protect it,” says Epstein.
“(The film contest) engages people, especially young people, about where our water comes from and the serious issues impacting our water supply.” — contest judge Jeffrey Kightlinger, general manager of Metropolitan Water District of Southern California March 20, 2015 • 11
Case Study
Nevada Irrigation District’s Auburn Ravine Fish Passage Project: Build It and the Fish Will Come
Problem The sometimes hundreds of miles-long migration of fish — particularly salmon — back to their spawning grounds is one of nature’s most captivating and enduring mysteries. Why do fish need to spawn where they hatched? Why is this cycle embedded so deeply in fish DNA? No one knows the full answer to these questions, but we do know that migratory fish will make that long trek, and in some cases mankind must recreate the natural passage so the cycle endures. That was the case in Placer County where a waterfall caused by tail water erosion below a water measurement station impeded the passage of fish in Auburn Ravine Creek near Lincoln. The water measurement station is owned and operated by Nevada County-based Nevada Irrigation District. In 2011, NID, working in partnership with Placer County, Granite Bay Flycasters and the Dry Creek Conservancy, set out to fix the water highway in Auburn Ravine so fish could cruise on through to higher elevations. That waterway fix is known as the Auburn Ravine Fish Passage Project.
Approach In 2010, fisherman and residents in the Lincoln area counted at least 30 fall run Chinook salmon in Auburn Ravine Creek in Lincoln. The fish had not been spotted in the waterway for years and their arrival begged the question: what had changed? The changes that freed up the fish passage were several small modifications to downstream irrigation water diversion points
in Sutter and Placer counties. That change brought salmon as high as Lincoln, but from there the journey to higher elevations was truncated due to the water measurement station’s tail water erosion. Inquiring minds began to wonder if bringing back more natural conditions in other spots in Auburn Ravine Creek would lure salmon to even higher heights. The hunt for a fix to the tail waters of the water measurement station was on. NID and Placer County sketched out the preliminary details of a project that that would allow fish migration at any flow level over and through the six-foot barrier at the water measurement station. The effort became known as the Auburn Ravine Fish Passage Project, with NID as the lead agency and further funding coming from a CALFED grant to Placer County, the Dry Creek Conservancy and Granite Bay Flycasters.
“The Auburn Ravine Fish Passage Project reflects the district’s commitment to provide its customers with a high level of service while reducing our impact to the environment.” — Remleh Scherzinger, NID general manager 12 • ACWANEWS
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The Auburn Ravine Fish Passage Project transformed a section of Auburn Ravine Creek to remove impediments to fish migration. The ultimate result is pictured here after construction of fish-friendly rock chutes and step pools and the planting of native shrubs along the banks.
Have an idea for a case study? We’d love to hear it. Please email your suggestion to acwanews@acwa.com, and put case study in the subject line.
Project planning and environmental studies got underway in early 2011 and construction was scheduled for a two-month window that fall, starting Oct. 1. NID and its partners had to address issues of access, noise and dust during the construction phase since the project was located in the Lincoln Crossing Nature Preserve which is surrounded by homes and frequented by nature lovers. A temporary bypass in the creek was built for use during the construction phase to allow for continued downstream flows. With the temporary bypass in place, 200 feet of the overgrown creek channel was cleared and tapered back to a more natural form. Rock chutes and step pools were built into the streambed to mimic a natural fishway. Concrete cutoff walls to stem erosion were built into the channel and stabilized by large rocks and other materials. Nativeplants were added to the stream banks and surrounding areas were restored to preconstruction conditions. The improvements in total stopped the tail water erosion, vastly improving fish passage. NID agreed to monitor the site for five years to ensure that the grasses and trees that were planted continue to provide suitable habitat. Remleh Scherzinger, NID general manager, says the project, which is located at the Highway 65 Gaging Station, reflects the values of the district and its mission. “As an entity responsible for protecting the public trust, it is critical for the Nevada Irrigation District to conduct itself in a transparent and sustainable manner,” says Scherzinger. “The Auburn Ravine Fish Passage Project reflects the district’s commitment to provide its customers with a high level of service while reducing our impact to the environment.”
Results In January 2013, following the first full fall migration season, more than 270 salmon were spotted in the one-mile stretch of Auburn Ravine above the fish passage project. Thus, the mysterious fish migration carries on with one less impediment in the long journey.
Top: Contractor Preston Pipelines places rock in the channel using heavy equipment. Center: The channel, with its new concrete cutoff walls to stem erosion and large rocks to help stabilize the walls, is pictured before the addition of native plants. Bottom: NID Project Inspector Dale Smith and consultant Bernadette Bezy of Stantec clean fish exclusion screens.
(Left) Rep. Jeff Denham poses with members of ACWA’s leadership team during the ACWA DC Conference in February. Pictured are: (l-r) ACWA Executive Director Timothy Quinn, Rep. Jeff Denham, ACWA Vice President Kathy Tiegs, and ACWA President John Coleman. (Center) Rep. Grace Napolitano addresses attendees during a reception on Feb. 26. (Right) (l-r) ACWA Vice President Kathy Tiegs, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Estevan López, and ACWA President John Coleman talk about California water issues at ACWA’s DC Conference.
Drought, Clean Water Act Focus of DC Conference More than 100 ACWA members traveled to Washington, D.C. for ACWA’s 2015 DC Conference Feb. 24-26. Attendees traversed ice and snow and endured D.C.’s cold weather to advocate for California water issues and engage with Obama Administration officials and members of California’s congressional delegation.
Cockrell with a resolution from by the ACWA Board of Directions honoring his 35 years of exemplary federal service. Cockrell handled U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation budget issues for the Senate Appropriations Committee for the past 15 years and has been a resource for ACWA members.
Opening Breakfast Sets Stage The conference began with a panel featuring congressional staff that provided insights on what to expect from the congressional agenda in 2015. Participants included Roger Cockrell, long-time professional staff member for Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee; Kiel Weaver, the Republican staff director of the House Water, Power and Oceans Subcommittee; and Matthew Muirragui, professional staff member for the House Natural Resources Committee.
Obama Administration Speakers U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Senior Policy Advisor Ellen Glinsky discussed EPA’s involvement in the National Drought Resilience Partnerships that coordinate federal response to drought. She also addressed EPA’s involvement with elements of the California Water Action Plan outlined by Gov. Jerry Brown, and the proposed rule affecting waters of the United States. Glinsky said she had read ACWA’s comment letter on the proposed rule and indicated EPA is working to address ACWA’s concerns.
Weaver outlined the agenda for the new Water, Power and Oceans subcomittee and said an initial focus this year will be fisheries issues. The subcommittee also will likely hold hearings on California’s ongoing drought, he said.
New Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Estevan López said he was coming up to speed on California water issues after spending most of his career working on Colorado River issues. He noted that initial 2015 water allocations for the Central Valley Project were due to be released soon and would
Just before the panel, ACWA presented 14 • ACWANEWS
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be worse than those issued last year. He indicated that if there were to be federal drought legislation, it should not tie the federal government’s hands.
DC Insiders Panel Next up was a DC Insiders Panel that covered prospects for water legislation, appropriations bills and the 2016 presidential election. Participants Nancy Williams of Schramm, Williams, and Associates and Ryan Yates with the American Farm Bureau provided a thoughtful analysis of the 2014 Congress. Following the panel, conference attendees enjoyed a tour of the Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress and then posed for the traditional photo on the Capitol steps.
Congressional Address Program U.S. Rep. David Valadao (R-21) discussed efforts to pass a California drought bill last Congress and his continued work to help San Joaquin Valley farmers. He described ongoing efforts to craft legislation that he believe will win the support of the Republican delegation and one or both of California’s senators. He voiced his frustration with the State Water
(Left) ACWA DC Conference attendees pose on the steps on the Capitol. (Above) (l-r)MWD Deputy General Manager of External Affairs Dee Zinke, ACWA Deputy Executive Director for Government Relations Cindy Tuck, and ACWA Federal Affairs Committee Chair Linda Ackerman at the closing breakfast.
Resources Control Board’s rejection of aspects of the Temporary Urgency Change Petition on Delta pumping and hoped it would be revised soon.
that he returned to the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans to “get serious about water storage.”
Rep. Jared Huffman (D-2), the new ranking member of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans, addressed ACWA members next. He noted that federal drought legislation should avoid redirected impacts to State Water Project contractors, and discussed the problem of aging water infrastructure and need for more funding. Huffman also addressed HR 813, the Fixing Operations of Reservoirs to Encompass Climatic and Atmospheric Science Trends Act, or FORECAST Act. The legislation would direct the Army Corps to examine reservoir reoperation using improved weather forecasts and run-off forecasting methods.
Reps. Doug LaMalfa (R-1) and John Garamendi (D-3) jointly addressed conference attendees and announced the introduction of HR 1060, a bill that would accelerate feasibility studies for Sites Reservoir. They noted that if Sites were built already there would be greater flexibility in the system today. The two members then addressed questions on a wide variety of topics, including the need for better forest stewardship and the proposed Clean Water Act rule.
Rep. Norma Torres (D-35) voiced her support for recycled water projects. She discussed provisions in the Water for the 21st Century Act, HR 291, to help build water recycling projects and expressed pleasure at being assigned to the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans. Rep. Jeff Denham (R-10) addressed NEPA/CEQA reform and his effort to ensure that if you have met the requirements of CEQA then NEPA also should be satisfied. He also noted
Rep. Ken Calvert (R-42) highlighted recent success in trimming the federal budget noting that EPA staffing levels were being brought back to where they were in 1989. On water issues he lamented the upcoming water allocation announcement from The Bureau and noted that the Colorado River was also at a historically low level. “This is not a good time in the water world,” he said, “but sometimes hard times create opportunity.” Rep. Jim Costa’s (D-16) wide-ranging remarks included a plea to address the drought crisis. He noted that he is working on drought legislation with Sen. Feinstein and thinks this is
the year the drought progresses from “devastating to catastrophic.” He urged water agencies to put their battles behind them and fix the water system so that California can “continue to be the Golden State.”
Closing Breakfast The closing breakfast on Feb. 26 highlighted reports from ACWA’s issue group leaders about their visits to various congressional and Obama Administration offices. ACWA President John Coleman relayed how ports in California were seeing reduced volume due to drought conditions. ACWA Vice President Kathy Tiegs described how ACWA’s support for better forest and headwaters management was positively received on a bipartisan basis. Group leader Ron Sullivan, director of Eastern Municipal Water District, described how ACWA’s message about improving Endangered Species Act implementation was received differently by the various congressional offices. Group leader Dee Zinke, deputy general manager of external affairs for Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, reported that ACWA’s specific examples on how EPA’s proposed changes to the Clean Water Act rule would impact water agency operations were well received.
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DWR Announces Slight Increase in SWP Deliveries to 20% The California Department of Water Resources on March 2 announced that the storms of mid-December and early February allowed officials to make a small increase in water deliveries to most customers of the State Water Project, bumping the allocation from 15% to 20%. The modest 204,000 acre-feet increase in SWP allocation amounts to enough water to meet the needs of approximately 408,000 households for a year, according to a DWR public statement. DWR officials say they can supply the additional water due to runoff from December and February storms that was pumped from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to San Luis Reservoir near Los Banos. The reservoir holds 627,000 acre-feet more water now than it did at this time a year ago. The additional deliveries will bring the
total deliveries to 840,000 acre-feet of water. The 29 public water agencies that take delivery of SWP supplies have requested 4,172,686 acre-feet. A 20% allocation would be the second-lowest since 1991, when agricultural customers of the project got a zero allocation and municipal customers received 30%. Last year, SWP deliveries were 5% of requested amounts for all customers. DWR officials cautioned, however, that despite the storms of December and early February, 2015 is shaping up to be a critically dry fourth consecutive year
of drought. The storms of December and February have left major reservoirs in Northern California with more water now than at this time last year, but most still remain below historical average storage for this time of year. DWR officials added in the statement that water to meet the slight increase in allocation will not come from Lake Oroville in Northern California because officials are seeking to preserve storage in that SWP reservoir to meet demands in late 2015 and next year, if dry conditions persist.
SWP Allocations in Recent Years 65%
80% 50%
35%
60% 40%
35%
5%
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
State Board Continued from page 1
large urban water suppliers to limit outdoor irrigation to two days a week if they haven’t already adopted irrigation limitations in their drought contingency plans. Initially, the State Board proposed giving water agencies without irrigation limits in their drought contingency plans 30-days to adopt the limitations. After requests by ACWA and other groups, the State Board changed the regulation to allow 45-days to adopt or amend drought contingency plans. Dave Bolland, special projects manager for ACWA, testified to the State Board that water agencies should be given “flexibility at the local level” to message “right irrigation practices” to customers, such as the best time of day to water, rather than imposing restrictions on days for watering. Bolland added that it is important that Californians “keep the momentum going” in terms of water conservation. 16 • ACWANEWS
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ACWA’s formal comment letter to the State Board on the regulations is available at www.acwa.com/news/ conservation/state-board-mandatesoutdoor-watering-restrictionsstatewide-drought-worsens. The new regulations also prohibit outdoor watering during — and up to 48-hours after — measureable rainfall. The State Board extended the emergency regulations it adopted in July which limit some forms of outdoor watering and require urban water suppliers to file monthly water production data, among other things. The emergency package was set to expire in April and the State Board extended the regulations for another 270 days. Among the proposed new regulations is a requirement that urban water suppliers promptly notify customers when they are aware of leaks within the customer’s control.
The text of the proposed emergency regulations is at www.waterboards. ca.gov .
Conditions Worsen The State Board adopted the emergency regulations as drought conditions worsen. As of March 16, precipitation in the Northern Sierra 8-station index was 31% of average, which is better than last year’s roughly 20% of average for that date, but still alarmingly low. However, precipitation in the San Joaquin area remained dismally low at 13.5% of average for the date, roughly the same as it was last year. But it is the state’s low snow water content that is especially concerning to officials. Statewide the snow water content hovers at just 13% of average for this date and dips to just 10% of average in the Northern Sierra. The snow water content is lower than in the state’s worst recorded drought year of 1976-’77.
Left: Water law attorney Eric Garner (shown far right) moderates a panel on groundwater adjudication. Center: (l-r) ACWA’s Wendy Ridderbusch and Cindy Tuck pose with luncheon keynote speakers Assembly Members Marc Levine and Frank Bigelow. Right: MWD’s Kathy Cole moderates a panel on Prop. 218.
ACWA Legislative Symposium Looks at Groundwater, Prop. 218 ACWA’s 2015 Legislative Symposium held in Sacramento March 4 focused on key water issues being addressed this legislative session, including the streamlining of groundwater basin adjudications and possible changes to Proposition 218. The day-long conference, held at the Sacramento Convention Center, offered more than 140 attendees an opportunity to hear differing perspectives on water issues facing lawmakers this term. ACWA Vice President Kathy Tiegs opened the conference with welcoming remarks. The first panel — “To Adjudicate or Not to Adjudicate? That is the Question” — explored proposals to streamline the groundwater adjudication process. The streamlining was addressed in the context of how it might intersect with the newly passed Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. Eric Garner, an attorney with Best, Best and Krieger, moderated the panel. Panelist Gordon Burns, undersecretary for the California Environmental Protection Agency, said the Brown Administration is currently studying ways to streamline groundwater basin adjudications. While no specific proposals have been developed, the Administration is seeking to make the process more costeffective, fair, and in harmony with the SGMA. The adjudication streamlining also must be in line with the principles outlined in Gov. Jerry Brown’s California Water Action Plan.
“We want to help put the state on a path to a more sustainable water system generally. Groundwater is a piece of that,” said Burns. Jack Rice, associate counsel for the California Farm Bureau Federation, added that: “We don’t want the adjudication process to become a disruption of SGMA.” Panelists said some of the issues that may need to be addressed within streamlining proposals are: defining the role of State Water Resources Control Board in an adjudicated basin if that basin is on probation with the State Board for non-compliance with SGMA; defining the boundaries of adjudicated basins when the State Board is using Bulletin 118 to set boundaries; and harmonizing the court’s definition of “safe yield” with the SGMA’s definition of “sustainable yield.” A later panel on proposed changes to Prop. 218 was moderated by Kathy Cole, a legislative representative with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Cole said that many water agencies lack the revenue to pursue stormwater projects and Prop. 218 has the potential to “stymie the pursuit” of such projects since it requires the funding stream to be put to the voters. Some stakeholders are proposing a reform to Prop. 218 that would add stormwater to the list of exemptions from Prop. 218 requirements. Others are proposing exemptions that would allow assistance to ratepayers who can’t
pay their water bills. Justin Malan, with EcoConsult, said an exemption for stormwater projects would help local agencies because 80% to 90% of funding for such projects comes from local jurisdictions. Omar Carrillo, of the Community Water Center, stressed that changes in the area of assistance to ratepayers would be especially helpful since the cost of water is likely to rise in coming years. During the lunchtime panel, the chair and vice chair of the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee, talked about what to expect on water issues in the Legislature in 2015. Assembly Member Marc Levine, (D-San Rafael) chair of the committee, said it is important to the Legislature that Proposition 1 money is “spent wisely and efficiently and effectively.” Assembly Member Frank Bigelow (RO’Neals), vice chair of the committee, also said the Legislature will be interested in ensuring that the intent of the Proposition 1 water bond is adhered to during disbursement of the funds. Levine also advised water agencies interested in applying for water bond funds to “make the case early that your agency’s project is the best project.’ Levine added that as the dismal readings of low Sierra snowpack continue, California needs to prepare for a time when the snowpack is diminished and “we don’t get that reservoir of water that is time-released.”. March 20, 2015 • 17
Member News
Sacramento Region Uses Less Water Despite Drier, Warmer Weather The Sacramento region used less water in January compared to the previous two years despite the dry and warm weather, according to local water use data submitted to the State Water Resources Control Board and the Regional Water Authority. According to a press release from RWA, water use in January 2015 dropped 18% compared to the same month last year, and dropped 3% compared to January 2013, the year the State Board uses for comparison. RWA represents water providers in Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado and Yolo counties.
RWA’s Water Efficiency Program Manager Amy Talbot said the difference in water use over the past two years likely lies in weather patterns and landscape water use. “January is typically one of the lowest water use months in the year, as winter rains, rather than sprinkler systems, water landscapes,” Talbot said. “This was the case in January 2013, which followed two months of unusually wet weather that soaked local landscapes, driving water use down overall.’ In contrast, January 2014 and 2015
have been exceedingly dry and unusually warm. “Without Mother Nature watering landscapes, it’s typical for residents to turn on their sprinklers,” Talbot said. “Water use in January 2015, was a whole different story — we’re in drought mode. So, despite the dry, warm weather, residents continued to keep their water use lower overall,” Talbot said. RWA and local water providers urge residents to keep up the great work by continuing to limit outdoor watering.
WBMWD and Gardena Break Ground on Ocean Friendly Garden The West Basin Municipal Water District and the City of Gardena on Feb. 26 broke ground on a new ocean friendly demonstration garden at the Paul A. Rowley Memorial Park and Recreation Center in Gardena. According to the district, the 2,094-squarefoot Rowley Park Ocean Friendly Garden will recapture 1,166 gallons of rainwater in its basins and will save up to 80% of water previously used for landscaping. As part of the groundbreaking ceremony the district hosted a free workshop where local residents and community leaders learned about the sustainable gardening practices used to create the ocean friendly garden. “This Ocean Friendly Garden marks a huge stepping stone for the City of Gardena as the city’s first water conserving garden at a city facility,” said Gardena Council Member Dan Medina in a statement. “We commend all
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the organizations involved for making this happen for our city. We are also looking forward to maintaining this great garden and allowing our residents to learn first-hand how these gardens can make a significant water-saving difference in the midst of this drought.” The garden is part of the WBMWD’s Ocean Friendly Garden program focused on increasing water conservation, permeability and retention while creating aesthetic gardens. The program is targeted towards top water users such as schools, homeowners associations, parks, street medians and residential sites over 1,500 square feet. In addition to creating ocean friendly demonstration gardens, the program also offers residential landscape workshops and smart irrigation controller rebates. To learn more about the program please visit WBMWD’s website at www.westerbasin.org.
City of Gardena Councilmember Dan Medina, West Basin Municipal Water District Director Donald Dear, and Gardena City Manager Mitchell Lansdell pose with community partners during the official groundbreaking ceremony at Rowley Park in Gardena on Feb. 26, 2015.
Mokelumne River Salmon Defy Drought and Return to Spawn More than 12,000 Chinook salmon defied the drought last fall and returned to the Mokelumne River to spawn, creating the river’s fifth-largest run in 74 years, East Bay Municipal Utility District announced in March. The successful fall run is attributed in large part to the Mokelumne River Fish Hatchery project, which is a partnership between EBMUD and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. According to a press release from EBMUD, the 2014 salmon run marks the fourth consecutive year the number of Chinook salmon returning to the Mokelumne River has exceeded 12,000. This is nearly triple the river’s long-term annual average. Of the returning salmon, about one-fourth spawned in the river and the rest were collected at the fish hatchery.
“These positive results indicate that our efforts are successful and our partnerships are working,” EBMUD manager of Fishery and Wildlife Jose D. Setka said in a written statement. “The Delta is already an unwelcoming place for juvenile salmon and the drought makes those conditions worse. Salmon need all the help they can get.” The Mokelumne River is the source of water for 1.3 million people in the East Bay and is the site of Pardee and Camanche Reservoirs. To contend with dry conditions, EBMUD staff released reservoir water and pulsed it downstream to mimic storms. Even with limited amounts of water last year because of the drought, by modifying releases this way last spring, enough savings were achieved to pulse flows to attract adult salmon in the fall. Wood-
bridge Irrigation District, in Lodi, also on the Mokelumne River, changed its dam operations to deliver extra pulses. EBMUD also is supporting a study which explores transporting juvenile salmon from the Mokelumne River by barge and releasing them in the San Francisco Bay. EBMUD’s fishery program now is gearing up for what could be another dry, or worse, critically dry year.
Dublin San Ramon Looks to Secure Water from Yuba County The Dublin San Ramon Services District announced on March 10 that it is seeking approval from various agencies to purchase water from Yuba County Water Agency due to the drought. If the purchase is approved, YCWA will release 1,500 acre-feet of water from New Bullard’s Bar Reservoir that will be conveyed to DSRSD by East Bay Municipal Utilities District. The water will be moved through the Freeport Regional Water Facility, diverted to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s Folsom South Canal, moved into EBMUD’s Mokelume Aqueduct and stored in EBMUD reservoirs until daily deliveries to DSRSD are scheduled to begin on June 1. “Buying water from a new source is
a complicated process that involves federal, state and local agencies, environmental studies, regulatory approvals, and lots of time and persistence, especially in the midst of an epic drought,” said DSRSD Operations Manager Dan Gallagher, “but DSRSD is committed to securing a more reliable water supply so our customers will not be adversely impacted by the drought.” DSRSD normally purchases water from Zone 7 Water Agency, but according to DSRSD Board President Edward Duarte the district was “strongly urged” last year to “seek alternative water supplies” after Zone 7 only received 5% of its allocation from the State Water Project. Duarte says that while the water from YCWA will be more
expensive than water from Zone 7 Water Agency, the purchase will not result in a rate increase for customers because the district will use funds from its water operations fund. In a statement released by DSRSD, YCWA Board Chairman John Nicoletti said that the purchase also will not result in any shortages to irrigation customers in that district. The total cost to purchase, transport, treat and deliver the water will be $2.23 million ($1,750 per acre foot.) The sale proceeds will be used by YCWA for fish and wildlife habitat restoration on the Yuba River and improving flood protection for Yuba County Residents and EBMUD will be reimbursed for the cost of delivering the water.
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EMWD Converting HOA Neighborhood to Recycled Water The Eastern Municipal Water District has announced it is in the final stages of a two-year project to convert a Menifee neighborhood to recycled water for outdoor irrigation. The project was made possible in part by grant funding from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s on-site retrofit pilot project.
“As California continues through its extended drought, it is important that we continue to use our water sources in the most responsible way possible,” EMWD President and MWD Chair Randy Record said in a statement. “Using recycled water to irrigate common areas in homeowners associations accomplishes that goal.”
According to EMWD, by converting to recycled water for outdoor watering, the neighborhood — called The Oasis — will save an estimated 28 acre-feet of potable water each year. The Oasis is the first homeowners’ associationrun neighborhood to take part in the retrofit program.
EMWD also is working on a recycled water retrofit project with McSweeney Ranch HOA in Hemet and with Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District, one of its largest recycled water customers, to convert a park in French Valley through the MWD grant program. In 2014, EMWD says it used 100% of its recycled water for beneficial reuse.
For more information this project visit www.emwd.org. For more information on MWD’s retrofit project visit www. bewaterwise.com/OnSite_Pilot_Program.html.
SDCWA Announces Weekly “Dear Drought Fighter” Column The San Diego County Water Authority and local newspaper U-T San Diego have partnered together on a new water conservation outreach effort – a weekly column titled “Dear Drought Fighter.” The column will appear every Saturday in the newspaper’s Home & Garden section and online. It will feature answers to questions submitted by San Diego residents and is geared towards providing practical ideas, resources and tools to help reduce water use in San
Diego homes and businesses. Residents who email questions to the district also will be eligible for free water conservation tools such as shower timers or soil moisture monitors. SDCWA and U-T San Diego also partnered last year to provide weekly water conservation information in the newspaper’s Home & Garden section. “We really appreciate the leadership shown by U-T San Diego to provide a forum that will help our region make the most of every drop of water in 2015 and beyond,” said SDCWA Board
Chair Mark Weston. “This region has invested heavily in water conservation, driving down per capita water use by more than 20% since 2007. But the likelihood of a fourth straight dry year means we all need to find even more ways to conserve.” For more information on SDCWA’s water conservation efforts please visit www.sdcwa.org/whenindrought. resource U-T San Diego’s Home & Garden – www. utsandiego.com/news/entertainment/ lifestyle/home-and-garden/
Scotts Valley Water District Launches New User-Friendly Website The Scotts Valley Water District has launched its new website aimed at providing improved customer service features and easier access to district information and water-related topics. “With the constantly changing water environment, it’s crucial that we build
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systems that better prepare customers for the future,” said SVWD General Manager Piret Harmon. The website features six easy-to-use buttons at the top on the homepage to help customers find information quickly. The website also features the latest
news, rebates and conservation information, online bill paying, information on district meetings and projects, drought conditions and answers to the district’s “frequently asked questions.” The website can be accessed at www. svwd.org.
People News Cunningham Sworn in to Goleta Water District Board of Directors The Goleta Water District Board of Directors officially swore in re-elected member Jack Cunningham on Dec. 9, 2014. Cunningham was first appointed to the board in 1995 and then elected in 1997. He was re-elected in 2002, 2006, 2010, and again in 2014.
During his tenure with the district, Cunningham has served as the board president three times and as the district’s ACWA/JPIA representative for several years. Before coming to the district, his experience included a long career with United Airlines. He has also serviced as a commissioner of the Santa Barbara Airport and a board member of the local Red Cross Chapter.
Martinez to Represent City of Santa Ana on MWD Board Santa Ana City Council Member Michele Martinez on March 10 officially joined the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s Board of Directors as the city’s representative. Martinez succeeds Daniel Griset, who had served on MWD’s board since 2005.
nology Committee and staffs several other committees. In addition to her role as council member, she also is the director of the Alliance for a Healthy Orange County.
Martinez was elected to the Santa Ana City Council in 2006. She chairs Santa Ana’s Finance, Economic Development & Tech-
Martinez represents Santa Ana on several regional boards including Southern California Association of Governments, Orange County Waste Management Commission, Orange County Council of Governments, and Newport Bay Watershed Executive Council and the board of the League of California Cities Orange County Division.
Governor Brown Announces Appointments to Water Commission Gov. Jerry Brown on March 11 announced the reappointment of Jose Del Bosque to the California Water Commission as well as the new appointments of Paula Daniels and Maria Herrera. All of the positions require Senate confirmation. Paula Daniels, 59, of Los Angeles, is a new appointment to the California Water Commission. Daniels is a Pritzker Environment and Sustainability Education Fellow for 2015. She has worked on issues related to food systems, water and climate as a volunteer at the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research since 2014. She also has extensive experience as an attorney, has served as a senior advisor to the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office, and as a City of Los Angeles Board of Public Works. She also served as a member of the
California Bay-Delta Authority and is a member of the California League of Conservation Voters Education Fund Board of Directors and the Heal the Bay Board of Governors. Jose Del Bosque, Jr., 65, of Los Banos, has been reappointed to the California Water Commission, where he has served since 2010. Del Bosque has been a partner at J and G Contract Labor Inc. since 2005 and president of Empresas Del Bosque Inc. since 1985, and previously served as the manager at Three Star Farms. Del Bosque is director-at-large at the California Melon Research Board, chairman emeritus at the AgSafe Board of Directors and a member of the Western Growers Association and the California Farm Bureau Federation.
Maria Herrera, 32, of Visalia, is a new appointment to the California Water Commission. Herrera has been a community development specialist at Self-Help Enterprises since 2014. Her experience includes roles as a community advocacy director at the Community Water Center and an ag-aid inspector at the California Department of Food and Agriculture. Herrera also is a member of El Quinto Sol de America and la Asociación de Gente Unida por el Agua. The two new members replace Commissioners Kimberly Delfino and Luther Hintz. To read the governor’s full announcement please visit: www.gov. ca.gov/news.php?id=18884.
March 20, 2015 • 21
February Feedback
WATER REPLENISHMENT DISTRICT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
What is your agency’s top priority in applying for Prop. 1 funding? Here are excerpts from replies sent to acwanews@acwa.com.
Water Replenishment District will seek Prop. 1 funding for our Groundwater Reliability Improvement Program (GRIP), which will replace our annual demand for 11,000 acre-feet of imported water. GRIP will create a completely locally sustainable groundwater supply for the 4 million residents within the WRD service area. Palmdale Water District will seek funding for local groundwater storage/conjunctive use projects, recycled water projects, and support for major storage projects for SWP. Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and Mayor Garcetti are committed to ensuring a sustainable water supply and reducing our reliance on imported water. Prop. 1 will provide critical funding for projects in groundwater sustainability, stormwater capture, recycled water and water conservation, which are all critical to achieving these goals. Las Virgenes Municipal Water District is exploring the feasibility of building a recycled water storage reservoir. Mesa Water District’s top priorities with respect for Prop. 1 funding are supporting Orange County Water District’s application for its Groundwater Replenishment System expansion and seeking any available funds for water-wise education and outreach. San Juan Water District’s highest priority for Prop. 1 funding is surface and groundwater storage. Conjunctive use will be necessary to provide the tools to address changing hydrology and regulations in the future. Soquel Creek Water District’s top priority for early Prop. 1 funds would be to focus on sustainable basin management. Basin management can come in the form of groundwater recharge, supplemental supply development, surface water storage or conservation projects.
Send us your feedback!
Will your agency need to adopt changes to your drought contingency plan following the State Board’s March 17 action mandating outdoor watering restrictions? Email your answer to acwanews@acwa.com by April 7, 2015. Please put in subject line “Feedback March 2015.”
New Members
City of Newport Beach City of Azusa, Department of Light and Water ACWA is pleased to welcome two new member agencies – the City of Newport Beach and City of Azusa Department of Light and Water. City of Newport Beach – The City of Newport Beach is located in Orange County 10 miles south of Santa Ana and is home to Newport Harbor. In 2014, the city’s population was 86,874. The City of Newport Beach is a full-service city and provides its residents with nearly all public services including police, fire, water, sewer service, trash collection, libraries, street maintenance, traffic management, parks, and marine safety. City of Azusa, Department of Light and Water – The City of Azusa is located at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains in Los Angeles County. The city’s total population as of the 2010 census was 46,361. As the largest municipallyowned water utility in the San Gabriel Valley, Azusa serves over 20,000 residents and businesses, consuming approximately 10 billion gallons of water per year.
Prime Downtown Location Suite available in Sacramento, one block from the State Capital (910 K St.). • Suite 350 – 1,850 sq. ft. and move-in ready • Immediate access to I-5 and I-80 • 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
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Vol. 43 No. 3
Office for Lease
Employment Executive Director San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority The San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority is accepting applications for the position of Executive Director. The Executive Director reports directly to the 19 member Board of Directors and oversees all aspects of the operations, administration, and financial affairs of the Authority while serving as administrative head of the Authority in its relations with employees, the public, legislative bodies, and federal, state, and public agencies. The Executive Director must have qualities that would allow him/ her to work collaboratively with its diverse 28 member agencies and provide unified representation of Authority membership on common interests such as regulatory and legislative issues, water rights, Central Valley Project (CVP) operations, CVP contracts, drainage and general information dissemination. QUALIFICATIONS: Any combination equivalent to graduation from a four-year college with a B.S. in a related field or equivalent experience; ten years experience relating to water systems operations and resource management, six years of which was in a supervisory capacity. ANNUAL SALARY: Negotiable and will depend on the experience and qualifications
of the successful candidate. Refer to website for comprehensive description and application/resume filing instructions at www.sldmwa.org. Send completed app/resume to San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority, P.O. Box 2157, Los Banos, CA 93635, by 4:00pm Friday, May 15, 2015. Postmarks, emailed or faxed applications will not be accepted. EEO, M/F, Vet/Disabled Employer
General Manager Marina Coast Water District The Marina Coast Water District is headquartered in Marina, California, on the beautiful Monterey Peninsula. In accordance with California County Water District law, the General Manager is appointed by, reports to, and serves at the will of the MCWD Board of Directors. S/ he plans, organizes, directs, administers, reviews, and evaluates the activities and operations of the District, acts as principal advisor to the Board, and works closely with the District’s employees, external agencies and stakeholders. Under general guidance from the Board, the General Manager provides leadership in the implementation of Board policies and the development of strategies, business plans, budgets, programs, procedures, long-range plans and
administrative and personnel management for the District. Requires a Bachelor’s in business administration, public administration, engineering or related field (Master’s highly preferred) and at least five years increasingly responsible professional experience with recent experience in the public sector, water, a public utility or related industry and management and supervisory authority. Apply on-line at www.allianceRC.com. Resume review will begin April 6, 2015. For questions or inquiries, contact Cindy Krebs or Sherrill Uyeda at (562) 901-0769 or ckrebs@alliancerc.com or suyeda@alliancerc. com. EEO/ADA
Questions on Classifieds? ACWA public agency members may post job descriptions, RFPs, items for sale and other miscellaneous classified ads in ACWA News and/or online at acwa.com. More information is at acwa.com or contact Director of Communications Lisa LienMager at lisalm@acwa.com or 916.441.4545.
PCWA and ACWA Boards Honor Retiring GM David Breninger The Placer County Water Agency on March 5 honored retiring General Manager David A. Breninger, who has managed the district since 1992. Breninger also was presented with a resolution from ACWA recognizing his years of service to the district and contributions to state and regional water issues. In a press release announcing Breninger’s retirement, PCWA Board Chairman Primo Santini noted some of the key advances made by the agency under Breninger’s leadership. “To me, your biggest accomplishment is the staff you developed,” Santini said. “You’re leaving us with a bright future. I believe that is the biggest monument you have built.”
Jennifer Persike, deputy executive director for external affairs and operations for ACWA, lauded Breninger’s leadership on water issues at the regional and statewide levels and presented a resolution of appreciation on behalf of the ACWA Board of Directors. Breninger’s March 6 retirement closes out a 48-year career in public service, including the past 23 years with PCWA. Agency accomplishments during his tenure include the construction of the PCWA Business Center, American River Pump Station, and Ophir Pump Station and the successful federal relicensing of the PCWA Middle Fork American River Hydroelectric Project.
He is being succeeded as general manager by the agency’s director of strategic affairs Einar Maisch.
Jennifer Persike, ACWA deputy executive director for external affairs and operations, presents retiring PCWA General Manager David A. Breniger with an ACWA resolution honoring Breninger’s 48-year public service career.
March 20, 2015 • 23
Most Clicked Here are some of January’s mostclicked stories on ACWA’s website, www.acwa.com. Be sure to subscribe to ACWA’s eNews to get the latest news in your email box each week. See www.acwa.com/newsletters/ ACWA-eNews for more.
Periodicals Postage Paid Sacramento, CA
Association of California Water Agencies 910 K Street, Suite 100 Sacramento, CA 95814-3577
Time Valued Material
2015 Drought Briefing “Four Years and Counting” Set for April 9 — 03/11/2015 State Board Releases Updated Emergency Water Conservation Regulations — 03/09/2015
Upcoming Events Visit acwa.com for complete listing
DWR Says Statewide Snowpack at 19% is Lowest Since 1991 — 03/03/2015 OEHHA Updates Public Health Goal for Perchlorate in Drinking Water — 02/27/2015
Twitter Chatter
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April 2015 7 – 8
2015 California Green Summit will be heald at the Sacramento Convention Center in Sacramento. The Summit includes keynote presentations, educational sessions, networking opportunites and an Expo featuring green products and services. For more information go to www.green-technology.org/gcsummit/attend.htm.
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2015 Drought Briefing – Four Years and Counting: Impacts and Actions will be held at the Crest Theatre in Sacramento. The briefing is presented by ACWA. For more information, visit acwa.com.
Recently Trending on Twitter
ACWA @ACWAWater • Feb. 26 | ACWA sponsors Hueso’s #Chromium-6 SB 385 Amy Quinton @CapRadioQuinton • March 3 | Water in the snowpack is just 5 inches or 19 percent of average. Only in March of 1991 was it ever lower. Eric L. Garner @bbkericgarner • March 5 | Enjoyed talking #groundwater during the @ ACWAWater Legislative Symposium. HuffPost Green @HuffPostGreen• March 8 | California Drought Just Broke A 120-Year Record with hottest Feb. SFGate@SFGate • March 13 | Drought-stricken California is preparing to raise the ante on water conservation.
28 – May 1 CWEA Annual Conference 2015 will be held at the Town & Country Resort, San Diego. For registration and more information, go to myac15.com.
May 2015 5 – 8
ACWA’s 2015 Spring Conference & Exhibition will be held at the Sacramento Convention Center and surrounding hotels in Sacramento. For more information contact ACWA’s Member Services and Events Department at events@acwa.com or 916.441.4545.
21 – 22
Water Education Foundation Integrated Regional Water Management 2.0: The Next Generation will be held at the Hilton San Diego Resort. More information available at www. watereducation.org.
June 2015 7 – 10
American Water Works Association Annual Conference will be held at the Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim CA. For more information, visit www.awwa.org/conferences-education/ conferences/annual-conference.aspx.
ACWA 2015 Spring Conference & Exhibition May 5 – 8, 2015 • Sacramento