ACWA News May 22, 2015

ACWANews

ACWA’s Member Newsletter • www.acwa.com

Left: ACWA President John Coleman and ACWA Executive Director Timothy Quinn escort Gov. Jerry Brown into the Sheraton Grand Nave Ballroom May 6 for an address to ACWA members. Center: Brown discusses water issues at the luncheon program.

Above: The governor looks at a photo plaque commemorating his leadership on water.

Urban Water Suppliers Gear Up for State’s First-Ever Mandatory Water Reductions California’s first-ever statewide urban mandatory water use reductions officially came online May 18, and water suppliers throughout the state continued to respond by adopting enhanced water conservation ordinances and stepping up public outreach.

The emergency urban conservation regulation was adopted May 5 by the State Water Resources Control Board and went into effect following approval by the Office of Administrative Law. It is intended to help the state meet the 25% statewide reduction in urban water use ordered by Gov. Jerry Brown.

State Water Board officials said the emergency regulation is needed to conserve water throughout California, especially if the current drought drags on into subsequent years.

Vol.

43

05

May 22, 2015

2

“Today we set a high but achievable bar, with the goal of stretching urban California’s water supply,” Felicia Marcus, chair of the State Water Board, said in a statement after the vote. “We have to face the reality that this drought may continue and prepare as if that’s the case… It’s the responsible thing to do.”

In an effort to provide support to urban water suppliers in meeting the mandates of the new regulation, ACWA was working with the Brown Administration and the State Water Board — in collaboration with the League of California Cities and the California State Association of Counties — to host of series of webinars in May to update suppliers about tools and resources available for implementation. Details can be found at www.acwa.com/2015Drought-Regs-Webinars.

Drought Continued on page 19

Responding to Extraordinary Times, Challenges in 2015

3

Governor’s Revised Budget Seeks $2.2 Billion for Emergency Drought Response

Governor Brown, State Leaders Headline ACWA Spring Conference From a luncheon address

by Gov. Jerry Brown to upto-the-minute water policy updates from top state leaders, ACWA’s Spring Conference & Exhibition in Sacramento May 5-8 provided attendees with a timely overview of the state’s fast-changing water arena during a time of drought.

The conference, themed “Mission: Possible, Taking Charge of Change,” featured town hall meetings on topics such as Proposition 1 implementation, the future of water storage and the state’s Conference Continued on page 9

10

Next Steps on New Urban Water Conservation May 22, 2015 • 1 Regulation Explored

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.

Connect with us online: facebook.com/acwawater twitter.com/acwawater

Special Message • John Coleman & Timothy Quinn

Responding to Extraordinary Times, Challenges in 2015 As ACWA member agencies gear up for a difficult summer, we wanted to update you on recent activities, tools and assistance available to local water agencies.

Drought response has been a top priority since Governor Brown’s initial drought emergency declaration in January 2014.

This year our efforts expanded significantly with the governor’s April 1 executive order and subsequent emergency regulations to implement a mandatory statewide reduction in urban water use.

ACWA’s core response has been to support the goals of the April 1 executive order while actively engaging with the State Water Resources Control Board and the Brown Administration to determine the best path forward. We have advocated strongly for flexibility, fairness and protection of local agency investments at every opportunity. That advocacy continues.

Throughout the State Water Board’s process, ACWA has moved quickly to confer with members and identify concerns with the board’s approach. In conference calls and meetings with the State Water Board staff, we voiced concern that using a residential gallons per-capita per-day (R-GPCD) metric to assign conservation targets did not fairly reflect local conditions or properly account for previous conservation efforts or local water supply reliability investments.

We continued to raise those concerns in extensive comment letters submitted on April 13 and April 22. Though the State Water Board staff incorporated a few of the changes advocated by ACWA and water agencies in the final proposal released April 28, the board ultimately did not include most of our significant recommendations in the final emergency regulations adopted May 5. It did, however, commit to a “work group” process to consider these and other issues.

Moving Forward Now that the emergency regulations are in effect, ACWA is focused on providing maximum support and resources to its

members as they work to meet their state-mandated water use reduction targets. Here are some resources available to ACWA members: Immediate support: ACWA is working with Brown Administration and the State Water Board to host a series of webinars on the emergency regulations and available tools and resources. Details are at www.acwa.com/2015Drought-Regs-Webinars.

Technical tools: ACWA members can access model water shortage contingency plans, ordinances and other tools through the California Urban Water Conservation Council’s website at www.cuwcc.org.

Save Our Water resources: Tools for reaching consumers are available through the Save Our Water program, which is managed by ACWA in partnership with the Department of Water Resources. See www.saveourwater.com.

Regional education and outreach: ACWA will be reaching out to members with information and resources through regional meetings and member visits in the coming months.

Communications assistance: ACWA’s new interactive feature at droughtresponse.acwa.com showcases member agency programs to reduce water use and respond to drought. Additional tools are being developed to assist with communications needs on topics such as water rate increases and more.

We continue to identify other opportunities to assist members and advance their interests. If you have specific suggestions, please let us know or contact ACWA Special Projects Manager Dave Bolland at daveb@ acwa.com. For more about Save Our Water, contact ACWA Deputy Executive Director for External Affairs and Operations Jennifer Persike at jenniferp@acwa.com.

Governor Seeks $2.2 Billion for Emergency Drought Response Gov. Jerry Brown unveiled a revised budget proposal May 14 that calls for $2.2 billion in additional spending in 2015-’16 for immediate response to drought impacts.

The proposed drought funding — a combination of accelerated spending from Proposition 1, new dollars from the state’s general fund and Cap and Trade revenues — would be targeted at water conservation programs, local water supply protection and expansion, and emergency response.

Specifically included is $4 million from the general fund for the Save Our Water program, which is managed by ACWA in partnership with the California Department of Water Resources and serves as the state’s official water conservation outreach program. The budget proposal notes the funds will be used to help reach the state’s largest residential water users with focused information to reduce their water use.

At a Capitol press conference, the governor said the drought funding would assist farmworkers, expand urban and agricultural water conservation, develop local supplies and provide incentives for watersaving technologies. He said the spending is designed to accelerate key actions outlined in his California Water Action Plan.

“Instead of being a grab-bag created by legislative back and forth, this has a cohesiveness created by the Water Action

Plan,” he said. “It all fits together.”

The $2.2 billion in proposed new drought response spending would augment the $1.9 billion previously appropriated by the Legislature through the last state budget and emergency drought legislation enacted in February 2014 and March 2015.

The proposed budget summary document is available www.ebudget.ca.gov.

Some key water-related spending areas and funding sources outlined in the May revision include (this is not a complete list):

Protecting and Expanding Local Water Supplies • $1.7 billion, available over the next three years, for programs administered by the State Water Resources Control Board, including: • $784 million for projects that clean up groundwater contamination (Prop. 1) • $475 million for water recycling and advanced treatment projects (Prop. 1) • $180 million for safe drinking projects, with priority on small systems in disadvantaged communities (Prop. 1) • $110 million for programs administered by the DWR, including: • $60 million to support local groundwater sustainability planning efforts (Prop. 1)

Water Conservation • $104 million for urban water conservation programs, including: • $43 million for consumer rebate programs to replace inefficient dishwashers and toilets and save energy • $27 million to replace lawns in underserved communities with water-efficient landscaping

Emergency Response • $22.2 million for the Office of Emergency Services to support local jurisdictions for drought related projects, including restoring / replacing public infrastructure damaged by drought and delivering potable water (general fund) • $1.4 million for the State Water Board to increase enforcement of water use restrictions and conduct additional inspections of diversion facilities to verify compliance with water rights laws (general fund)

Additional Local Enforcement Authority The May revision also proposes legislation on additional enforcement authority for local agencies to help achieve mandatory water conservation targets.

The proposed legislative language was not immediately available.

The Senate and Assembly budget subcommittees will continue to meet in coming weeks to consider the governor’s budget proposal. The Legislature is expected to vote on the budget by the June 15 deadline.

ACWA Region Elections for 2016-2017 Term Open Through June 30 The call for candidates to serve on the region boards for 2016-2017 term is now open and will close on June 30.

Interested candidates must submit a nomination form and a signed resolution of support from their agency’s

board of directors to ACWA no later than the June 30 deadline. Region election information and materials are available at www.acwa.com/content/ region-elections.

ACWA Region

Elections May 22, 2015 • 3

Appellate Court Rules San Juan Capistrano’s 2010 Tiered Rates Violated Proposition 218; Governor Expresses Concern The Fourth District Court of Appeal on April 20 ruled that the City of San Juan Capistrano’s 2010 rate structure violated Proposition 218 because it was not based on the actual cost of service.

“The water agency here did not try to calculate the cost of actually providing water at its various tier levels. It merely allocated all its costs among the price tier levels, based not on costs, but on pre-determined usage budgets,” Acting Presiding Justice William W. Bedsworth wrote in the opinion.

Following a 2013 Superior Court ruling that originally invalidated its rates, San Juan Capistrano adjusted its tiers to tie water charges to actual cost of

service. In a statement issued after the April ruling, the city said it is analyzing the appellate court ruling and considering its options.

While the appellate court ruling does not invalidate other tiered rate structures, experts say it could have implications for water agencies implementing conservation-based rates.

Gov. Jerry Brown was among those expressing concern.

“The practical effect of the court’s decision is to put a straitjacket on local government at a time when maximum flexibility is needed,” Brown said in a statement responding to the ruling.

ACWA Executive Director Timothy Quinn also responded to the ruling.

“While the appellate court did not pass judgment on the legality of these rate structures in general, it did impose constraints that could make it much harder for agencies to implement them. To the extent this decision is an impediment to using rates as a conservation mechanism, it would be a significant concern to water managers across the state,” said Quinn. resource Applellate court opinion: www.acwa. com/sites/default/files/news/waterrates/2015/04/san-juan-capistranoappeals-court-opinion-4-20-15.pdf

State Water Board Adopts Framework for Ocean Desalination In anticipation of more communities in California constructing coastal desalination facilities, the State Water Resources Control Board on May 6 adopted the state’s first environmental framework for the construction and monitoring of the projects.

The environmental framework — an amendment to the state’s Water Quality Control Plan for the Ocean Waters of California (Ocean Plan) — seeks to protect marine life and water quality during both the construction and operation of coastal desalination facilities.

According to a statement from the State Water Board, the amendment seeks to provide regional water boards a “statewide, uniform and consistent process” when permitting desalination facilities.

The amendment also includes monitoring and reporting requirements.

“Desalination is one of several tools communities can use in appropriate circumstances to gain greater water

4 • ACWANEWS

Vol. 43 No. 5

security,” said State Water Board Chair Felicia Marcus. “This amendment will provide a consistent framework for communities and industry as they consider desalination, while protecting the coastal marine environment.”

The amendment to the Ocean Plan was developed over several years and involved commissioning experts to study the best techniques to minimize and mitigate the impacts of seawater intakes and effects of brine discharges.

Public workshops were held to gather stakeholder feedback and the State Water Board held a public hearing and two public comment periods on the amendment.

According to a State Water Board press release, the amendment requires new or expanded seawater desalination plants to use the best available site, design, technology, and mitigation measures feasible to minimize intake and mortality of marine life. The

amendment also identifies preferred technologies, however alternative intake and disposal methods can be used if demonstrated to be as protective of marine life as the preferred technologies.

For more information on the environmental framework and coastal desalination projects please visit www. waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/ programs/ocean/desalination/.

ACWA-Sponsored Chromium-6 Compliance Bill Passes Out of Senate Judiciary Committee With no opposition and an immediate motion to move the bill, ACWAsponsored SB 385 (Hueso), which would establish a carefully monitored process for public water systems to work toward and achieve compliance with the new chromium-6 drinking water standard, passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on May 12 with a 7-0 vote.

During the hearing, bill author Sen. Ben Hueso (D-San Diego) also formally accepted negotiated amendments related to notice language that the author’s staff and ACWA had negotiated prior to the hearing and that were included in the committee’s analysis.

Although time constraints limited the length of allowed testimony, ACWA would like to thank ACWA member agencies that testified in support of SB 385 during the hearing including Coachella Valley Water District, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Indio Water Authority, City of Watsonville, Rio Linda Elverta Community Water District, Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District, San Diego County Water Authority and Sacramento Suburban Water District.

For questions on SB 385 please contact ACWA Deputy Executive Director for Government Relations Cindy Tuck at cindyt@acwa.com or (916) 441-4545.

Curtailment Notices Issued for Sacramento River Watershed and Delta for Second Year The State Water Resources Control Board announced May 1 that it is issuing curtailment notices to all junior waterright holders within the Sacramento River watershed and Delta due to insufficient flows along the Sacramento River.

Most of the 5,740 junior water-rights being curtailed in the Sacramento River watershed and Delta are for agricultural use. The curtailed rights are held by 2,772 individuals and entities.

Curtailment notices also were mailed out to 1,611 junior water-right holders in the San Joaquin River and Scott River watersheds.

A total of 4,421 (77%) of the water-rights holders receiving the curtailment notices in the Sacramento watershed and Delta list agricultural uses as either the only or one of the uses for the water. Agricultural uses — such as irrigation, stockpond or livestock watering — are listed as the sole water use for 3,018 (53%) of the water rights.

This is the second consecutive year that junior water-right holders on the Sacramento River Watershed and Delta have been curtailed. In pre-drought years, these water-right holders reported average diversions of 5 million acre-feet from June through September.

According to a press release from the State Water Board, water-right holders under a curtailment notice can still access water previously stored for them in reservoirs.

If that’s not available, they must find another source of water, such as groundwater or purchased water, or stop using water. Water right holders are cautioned that groundwater resources are significantly depleted in some areas. Violations of curtailment notices are subject to fines up to $1,000 per day and $2,500 per acre-foot of water, cease and desist orders or prosecution in court.

The notice can be viewed at: www. waterboards.ca.gov/waterrights/ water_issues/programs/drought/water_ availability.shtml.

ACWA-Sponsored CEQA Bill AB 291 Clears Assembly, Headed to Senate ACWA-sponsored AB 291 (Medina), which seeks to reduce confusion and administrative burdens under current California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) notification requirements for multi-county water projects, cleared the Assembly following a floor vote on April 30. The bill has been assigned to the Senate Environmental Quality Committee.

As amended on April 15, AB 291 would require local agencies to submit a CEQA notice of determination to the Office of Planning and Research to be posted on the CEQAnet website. Local agencies also would be required to file the notice with the county clerk in their home county and send a copy by certified mail to each county affected by the water project.

ACWA would like to thank Assembly Member Jose Medina (D-Riverside) for supporting this common-sense measure and authoring AB 291. In addition, ACWA thanks the member agencies and stakeholders that sent support letters and advocated for AB 291 during hearings of the Assembly Natural Resources and the Assembly Appropriations committees.

The McGeorge School of Law 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.

May 22, 2015 • 5

Scenes from ACWA’s Spring Conference & Exhibition where more than 1,600 water managers and leaders gathered in Sacramento May 5-8. Left: (l-r) Retiring Placer County Water Agency General Manager David Breninger is presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the May 6 luncheon. He is joined by his wife Linda Breninger, Municipal Water District of Orange County Director and ACWA Board Member Linda Ackerman, ACWA Director of Federal Affairs David Reynolds and ACWA Executive Director Timothy Quinn. Center: An overflowing crowd listens to panelists May 6 at a statewide issue forum on the fourth year of drought.

Right: Exhibitors with the Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California display their wares in the Exhibition Hall.

Assembly Member Levine Calls for Increased Collaboration Speaking during the opening breakfast at ACWA’s 2015 Spring Conference & Exhibition May 6, Assembly Member Marc Levine (D-San Rafael) discussed a range of current water policy issues and provided insight into how the Legislature plans to address them during the 2015-’16 legislative session.

Levine’s remarks centered on the need for increased collaboration in responding to the drought and finding new solutions for many of the state’s water challenges in such an uncertain time for California water. Levine is the new chair of the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee.

“There are many words that we can use to describe the state of our water situation in California right now, but one of the words that really comes to mind is uncertainty,” said Levine. “Nevertheless, one thing is certain. No water agency can get through this water crisis in isolation.”

Watch for more conference coverage — including stories on award recipients and region events — in our June issue.

6 • ACWANEWS

Vol. 43 No. 5

“As we enter our fourth year of drought, the need for innovative, creative, and enduring water solutions could not be more apparent,” he added.

Levine highlighted recent legislative efforts related to water issues including an informational Proposition 1 hearing held by the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee, saying the hearing was intended to ensure accountability for implementation of the water bond.

Levine said the Legislature intends to provide similar accountability for the disbursement of emergency drought funds.

During his address, the Assembly member also briefly acknowledged the uncertainty of some policy issues following the recent ruling on San Juan Capistrano’s tiered rates and discussed the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. “Now we have a difficult task of trying to get back on track and manage that resource sustainably,” Levine said in reference to SGMA and managing groundwater. “If SGMA is to work then we have to work together in ways that we haven’t in the past.”

According to Levine, the Legislature remains cautious as it evaluates potential refinements to the newly enacted groundwater law. He believes that the state must fully understand the scope of the groundwater problem and the process that has been laid out before it begins to make adjustments. Streamlining the groundwater basin adjudication process is among the refinements that may be considered by the Legislature.

“The challenges ahead of us in this drought are tremendous, and I look forward to working with ACWA,” Levine concluded.

Gov. Brown Tells Water Managers They Are “on the Front Lines” of Drought Speaking to an overflowing crowd at ACWA’s spring conference luncheon May 6, Gov. Jerry Brown told water managers they are “on the front lines” of the drought and his administration is “here to back you up.”

In a wide-ranging, 20-minute address that touched on everything from climate change to threatened species in California, Brown sent the message to water managers that the state is in the midst of changing times in the water arena and stakeholders must rise to the challenge.

future” and with climate change, the state can expect to see more of them.

“Things are changing and we need to change,” said Brown. “This drought is the catalyst for that.”

Saying water managers will need to continue to be creative to develop strategies to maximize the benefits of water, Brown stressed that his administration wants to “make it easier for you to build things,” such as water projects.

Brown also thanked water managers for stepping up to react to new regulations as the state grapples with drought.

Brown also referenced the importance of securing the state’s water conveyance system through California Water Fix, the project formerly known as the Bay Delta Conservation Plan. He said several governors have been working on the issue for decades and his administration estimates it has put in more than 1 million staff hours on the project.

“We just kind of launch the missile and you do the particularizing and talk to your neighbors and get them to do it,” Brown said of the drought-related proposals coming from his administration. “And I really want to thank you for that.”

In a reference to his first term as governor 40 years ago, Brown quipped that if California doesn’t fix its water conveyance problems now, he will come back in another 40 years as governor and try again to fix them.

Brown stressed that what the state does over the next few years in the arena of water will have lasting implications for generations to come. He said water leaders worked in partnership with the Administration on passage of Proposition 1 and should continue to work together on its implementation which is intended to be done within the context of the California Water Action Plan.

Throughout his address, Brown stressed the need for Californians to “live more efficiently” to protect the environmental resources of “Spaceship Earth.” At the end of his speech, ACWA President John Coleman presented Brown with a photo montage of images from throughout the years of his governorship. He also presented Brown with a dog bowl with the Save Our Water logo to present to Brown’s dog Sutter. The Governor’s Office later tweeted a photo of Sutter with the bowl.

“This drought will test our imagination, our science and our political capacity to collaborate,” Brown said.

Brown also cautioned that droughts are a “part of California’s past and

Top: Gov. Brown addresses water managers and members of the media in a wide-ranging address at the Wednesday luncheon during ACWA’s Spring Conference. Center: Members of the media follow Gov. Brown as he leaves the luncheon at the Sheraton Grand. Bottom: First Dog Sutter Brown snoozes next to his new Save Our Water bowl that was given to Gov. Jerry Brown following Brown’s luncheon address. The Governor’s Office tweeted the photo of Sutter later that day.

May 22, 2015 • 7

Water Commission Chair Joe Byrne Discusses Complexities of Proposition 1, Encourages Regional Thinking and Creativity California Water Commission Chair Joe Byrne discussed the commission’s role in dispersing $2.7 billion in Proposition 1 water storage funds during the Thursday lunch at ACWA’s 2015 Spring Conference & Exhibition.

Byrne called on water agencies to think regionally, collaborate, be creative, and to continue to participate in the commission’s regulatory process as it works to interpret the language in statute.

According to Byrne, the commission has been working heavily with the State Water Resources Control Board and the Department of Fish and Wildlife to begin to determine a methodology for quantifying different types of water storage project benefits, including the requirement to fund ecosystem and Delta improvements.

“There has to be a means for us to ensure that the public benefits are going

to occur,” said Byrne.

In discussing how the commission will evaluate projects, he noted that applicants will be required to complete a feasibility study to help the commission determine whether the project is viable and if it should receive funding.

“This isn’t your typical grant program,” said Byrne. “It’s going to force people to think of the ecosystem benefits. We’re really going to have to think differently.”

Byrne discussed a number of other complexities that face the commission, including the requirement that the Office of Administrative Law review project guidelines and how the commission might prioritize potential projects.

“You get a sense of how complicated this is going to be,” he said.

Byrne also discussed the stakeholder advisory process and the commission’s

commitment to providing an open and transparent process.

“I can’t emphasize enough, my encouragement to you to come and participate,” said Byrne. “This is complicated.

We want to work with people to figure out how they can be eligible.” .

Treasurer Chiang Touts State’s Economic Recovery, Innovation During a luncheon address May 6 following Gov. Jerry Brown’s remarks, State Treasurer John Chiang detailed California’s rebound from the economic downturn and stressed that the state needs to continue to invest in its critical infrastructure.

Chiang said California — once compared unfavorably to Greece and Puerto Rico for its economic woes — now has the “most robust economic recovery today in the United States of America.”

He said the state’s austerity measures and increased financial transparency have increased its standing on Wall Street and subsequently its bond ratings.

“You understand it all too well,” Chiang said later, referring to the water managers assembled.

Chiang added that he believes the state’s innovative spirit will play a key role in increasing investments in infrastructure for the future.

“This is a place of innovation…we build the appropriate infrastructure to capture the long view,” he said.

Chiang told water managers to seek help from his staff if they are looking for advice on finding the best funding for projects.

“Our sacrifices, our actions, have saved Californians billions of dollars for the future,” said Chiang.

“So you can protect your financial interests. So you can have the best products available,” he said. “Make sure that your financial staff is working with us.”

The state treasurer added that the state hasn’t “made significant enough investments in California’s infrastructure.”

“At the end of the day, it’s all about us coming together at this critical time,” said Chiang.

8 • ACWANEWS

Vol. 43 No. 5

“Think of this as an exciting opportunity for you to stand up, rise and meet the challenges of California,” he added.

Chiang said that the cost of retiree health care is an area of the state’s finances that still needs to be addressed because the state is “paying the minimum on the credit card.”.

Water Policy Expert Describes “Extraordinary Period of Reform” in California Water Dr. Jeffrey Mount, senior fellow with the new Water Policy Center of the Public Policy Institute of California, told ACWA members May 8 that the state is in an “extraordinary period of reform” in terms of water policy.

Addressing ACWA members at the Hans Doe Past Presidents’ Breakfast at the close of ACWA’s Spring Conference & Exhibition, Mount detailed the role of the new Water Policy Center and the changes underway in California’s water policy. Mount said the drought is pushing water managers to think about needed changes in the system. He added that the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act will bring needed reforms to the management of groundwater in California.

“The drought is key. It’s how we get change done, because now we have your attention,” said Mount.

Mount said the PPIC’s new Water Policy Center exists to provide scienceand research-based policy briefs and discussion about water policy issues and possible alternatives. He said that often the “bridge between policy and the science that supports policy is rickety and in some cases broken.”

“What we really need is someone to step up and provide alternatives,” Mount said, adding that the new Water Policy Center hopes to provide such alternatives.

Mount added that it is important to “bust myths” about water and the new policy center is intended to be a “neutral party that beats on those myths.”

The Water Policy Center, which launched April 2, already has issued nine policy briefs on issues ranging from the Delta to climate change to paying for water.

“Our mission is to use these targeted, regularly refreshed products to spur innovation in water management,” Mount said of the briefs.

Mount added that the new center is committed to developing performance standards for water management that are quantifiable. ACWA Executive Director Timothy Quinn is vice chair of the Water Policy Center Board of Directors.

vided an update on the Save Our Water program, a water conservation outreach program co-managed by ACWA and the Department of Water Resources.

Persike shared the results of a poll commissioned by ACWA that indicated that members of the public “in numbers that we’ve never seen know we have a (water) problem.”

“They also know that they need to take action,” added Persike.

“It is our mission to be used and to be useful,” Mount said of the center.

Andy Sells, president of ACWA/JPIA, opened the breakfast with an overview of the insurance authority. He said the insurance authority was able to return more than $3 million in insurance rate monies to more than 100 water districts.

Preceding Mount’s talk, ACWA Deputy Executive Director for External Affairs and Operations Jennifer Persike pro-

“Our trainings and interactions with members reduce exposure to risk,” said Sells.

Other town hall meetings, statewide issue forums, panels, plenary sessions and water industry trends programs included: a region forum titled “To Grow or Not to Grow: Urban Water Management Plans 2015,” a water industry trends program that explored the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, a finance program on maintaining fiscal sustainability in times of drought and a statewide issue forum on water and the future of farming in California.

Here are some in-depth highlights from programs:

Conference Continued from page 1

newly adopted regulation mandating statewide water use reductions of 25%.

A plenary session was held on the state’s imperiled headwaters and a statewide issue forum featuring California Natural Resources Secretary John Laird explored the issues surrounding California’s fourth year of drought.

Keynote speakers included State Treasurer John Chiang, Assembly Member Marc Levine (D-San Rafael), California Water Commission Chair Joseph Byrne and Jeffrey Mount, senior fellow with the Public Policy Institute of California. (See keynote addresses, pages 6-8.)

Presentations from many of the programs will be available at www.acwa. com. Pre-recorded webcasts also will be available in coming weeks.

Headwaters Plenary Session Looks at Role of Upper Watersheds Strategies for improving the resiliency of California’s watersheds and headwaters areas were in focus at a special plenary session on May 7.

The session featured an overview of ACWA’s recently released Headwaters Framework and presentations by experts involved in managing forested lands and researching the role headConference Continued on page 11

May 22, 2015 • 9

Town Hall: Next Steps on New Urban Water Conservation Regulation Explored; Work Groups Forming to Address Concerns California’s newly adopted urban water conservation regulation was explored in depth during a town hall meeting May 7 at ACWA’s Spring Conference & Exhibition where water managers joined state officials to discuss the implementation of the sweeping regulation that mandates statewide water use cutbacks.

State Water Resources Control Board Chair Felicia Marcus provided a highlevel overview of the reasoning behind the regulation, saying it was developed quickly ahead of the summer months to achieve the greatest savings during the period of highest water use. It also is intended to meet Gov. Jerry Brown’s emergency executive order to achieve an overall 25% mandatory reduction in water use.

State and local officials discuss the intricacies and challenges of the newly adopted mandatory urban water conservation regulation at a town hall meeting May 7 at ACWA’s Spring Conference. They are: (l-r) Felicia Marcus, chair of the State Water Resources Control Board; Rob Roscoe, general manager of Sacramento Suburban Water District; and Joone Lopez, general manager of Moulton Niguel Water District. Marcus stressed that the regulators attempted to “be fair” with the new rule. Lopez said water managers “have to be leaders.”

Marcus acknowledged that the regulation is “asking a lot,” but regulators “tried our best to be fair,” she said.

hard it will be for districts to explain to customers that their rates are going up, while they water use is going down.

Marcus explained that the regulation, passed by the State Water Board May 5, sets conservation mandates, but contains few provisions regarding prohibitions on actions. She stressed that the State Water Board will be available to work with water districts to help them meet their targets and plans to establish a web page outlining best practices for water conservation.

Marcus added that enforcement of the measure will be “progressive” and the State Water Board would use its authority to levy $10,000 fines only in the most “egregious” cases.

“It leaves it to you all to figure out how to get there because you all know your customer base,” Marcus said.

Roscoe said he understands the need for the regulation, but believes there were “missed opportunities” in its development, such as taking into account climate zones, population density, and water losses during conveyance.

Marcus said she understands that the mandatory conservation measures also pose financial challenges to districts that will lose money by selling less water. She said she understands how

Marcus was joined on the panel by Joone Lopez, general manager of Moulton Niguel Water District, and Rob Roscoe, general manager of Sacramento Suburban Water District.

Lopez said water managers are feeling uncomfortable with the regulation, in

ACWA 2015 Spring Conference & Exhibition 10 • ACWANEWS

Vol. 43 No. 5

part because the speed at which it was adopted.

“It feels rushed. It feels disruptive. It feels uncomfortable,” said Lopez. “But this is an emergency.”

“We have to be strong. We have to be leaders,” Lopez told the water managers.

ACWA Special Projects Manager Dave Bolland moderated the town hall meeting. He advised water managers to study the regulation carefully. Bolland and Marcus stressed that some work groups at the State Water Board are being established where stakeholders can discuss issues such as climate zones and regional water targets.

“I know we are in challenging times…,” said Marcus.

“How do you deal with the drought of the century?” she asked later.

Conference Continued from page 9

waters areas play in the state’s water supply system.

Martha Conklin, professor of engineering at UC Merced, described current research looking at the health of trees, the nexus between forest density and runoff, and the potential benefits of vegetation removal in key areas.

“Work is underway to see how much runoff can be gained by reducing biomass,” Conklin said. “We can likely get better yields. The research will help determine how much.”

Steve LaMar, a member of the Irvine Ranch Water District Board of Directors and a key participant in ACWA’s headwaters efforts, said there is a critical need for water managers in every part of the state to understand the connection between healthy headwaters and the state’s water supply.

“If we do this right, everyone wins,” LaMar said.

Issue Forum Looks at Fourth Drought Year in California Top-level state leaders examined the drought and its continuing grip on California at a statewide issue forum on May 6.

Natural Resources Secretary John Laird dispelled popular myths about water use and causes of the drought, while Cal/EPA Undersecretary Gordon Burns, Department of Water Resources Director Mark Cowin and Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Charlton Bonham outlined response actions and plans already underway for 2016.

Noting that the state had just endured the driest three-year period in 1,200 years, Laird said it is incumbent on all Californians to do their part and reduce water use. “Every person is a soldier in this fight,” he said.

Burns called the drought a “teaching moment” and suggested the conservation ethic now on display must continue even after the drought.

Cowin said water managers must cope with the current challenges but also continue to make long-term investments and improvements. “This drought will change California. Our job, your job, is to get through this drought, but also look for long-term changes,” Cowin said.

Bonham noted that droughts are a catalyst for change. “It’s on you, us, all of California… to beat this drought,” Bonham said. “Let’s get going.”

Proposition 1 – Water Bond Implementation in a Nutshell ACWA Deputy Executive Director for Government Relations Cindy Tuck moderated a statewide issue forum May 7 where top level officials from numerous state agencies described the process for developing guidelines that will determine how Proposition 1 water bond funds will be dispersed.

“These guidelines are really the rules of the road for how the money goes out,” said Tuck.

Janelle Beland, undersecretary of the California Natural Resources Agency, stressed that the disbursement of Proposition 1 funds will be done in the context of Gov. Jerry Brown’s California Water Action Plan, which lays out a statewide plan for water over the next five years.

“The two are inextricably linked,” said Beland, adding that the overarching goals of Proposition 1 and the CWAP are to improve California water reliability, resilience and to improve restoration. The Resources Agency has established a bond accountability website with more information on the draft guidelines at bondaccountability.resources.ca.gov/Guidelines. aspx?PropositionPK=48 Paula Landis, chief of the Division of Integrated Water Management at the California Department of Water Resources, outlined some of the guidelines her division is developing in regard to

IRWM funds. She said officials want to “encourage a way of thinking that water management is not about one aspect, it’s integrated.”

Landis added that the 50% local cost share may be waived or reduced for projects that directly benefit disadvantaged communities.

Integrated Regional Water Management in Focus On May 7, a statewide issue forum moderated by City of San Diego’s Public Utilities Department Governmental Affairs Manager Cathleen Pieroni explored long-term strategies to address the future of Integrated Regional Water Management in California.

The panel included: Gary Bardini, deputy director, Department of Water Resources; Michael Floyd, project manager, DWR; Steven Moore, board member, State Water Resources Control Board; and ACWA Executive Director Timothy Quinn.

Bardini and Moore discussed the “next generation” of IRWM and both called for collaboration, cooperation and commitment in addressing IRWM challenges. Floyd gave an in-depth sneak peek of DWR’s soon-to-bereleased IRWM strategic plan intended to inform the Legislature and guide future program decisions.

(l-r) ACWA President John Coleman, California Natural Resources Secretary John Laird, CalEPA Undersecretary Gordon Burns, DWR Director Mark Cowin and DFW Director Charlton Bonham discuss the impacts and responses to California’s fourth year of drought.

May 22, 2015 • 11

Spotlight

Elk Grove Water District: Proud to be a “Hometown” Water Provider for Over a Century District

facts

Location City of Elk Grove Number of Customers Served Approximately 37,000 customers, mainly within Elk Grove in Sacramento County Water Source Central Basin Groundwater and limited surface water from Sacramento County Water Agency Notable Projects • 2015 Water Meter Retrofit / Installation • Hampton Village Water Treatment Plan Renovation • Feasibility Study on Automatic Meter Instrumentation Website www.egwd.org

Elk Grove Water District has been around for more than 120 years, and during that lengthy tenure it has worn five different names.

Despite the fact it has changed ownership and names on more than one occasion, one thing has always remained the same – its sense of pride in being a “hometown” water provider with a solid commitment to customers.

“We are proud to be the ‘hometown’ water service. We have really great customer service.

Customers can come in the door, walk right into my office and we can deal with their specific problem,” said EGWD General Manager Mark Madison. “We’re doing a lot of really cool stuff here.”

Some of that cool stuff includes offering customers free landscape irrigation audits, and thanks to its partnership with SMUD and the Sacramento Tree Foundation, free mulch to help conserve water for tree irrigation. But it’s not just a few freebies and an open door policy that proves EGWD’s commitment to its customers, the district also has been working for years to reduce its costs and debts.

Several years ago, due to the slumping economy, a voluntary employee cost control program was implemented by staff in an effort to help ensure the district’s long-term financial health. It wasn’t easy and it required some tough sacrifices — like forgoing raises, revising retirement benefits and freezing some of the district’s positions — but staff remained committed.

According to Madison, the employee cost control program has saved the district approximately $2 million dollars over the past two years and those savings have translated directly to customers through lower water rate increases.

Earlier this year, EGWD also took another big step to save millions — it refinanced some $30 million in bond debt that is estimated to save the district $5 million over the next 19 years.

“Our attitude is that it’s not our money, it’s our customers’ money. Our job is to manage our customers’ money in the best way possible,” said Madison.

EGWD’s engrained value of strong fiscal responsibility also extends to its unique governance structure. And to understand its governance structure, it helps to understand its name changes and history. When it formed 120 years ago, the district was known as the Elk Grove Water Company. After being sold to a private family, it operated for more than 100 years as Elk Grove Water Works until the late 1990s when the district was purchased by the Florin Resource Conservation District.

Under the umbrella of FRCD, it was set up as a department of the special district and transitioned into a public agency known as the Elk Grove Water Service and in 2010 the district changed its name again to become the Elk Grove Water District.

As a department within the FRCD, EGWD is set up as a separately financed enterprise

“I’m extremely proud of this district. We’ve changed from being reactive to being a proactive water agency.” — Mark Madison, general manager of EGWD

fund and must keep all of its activities and finances separate and isolated from its parent district. But just because EGWD and FRCD don’t share finances, doesn’t mean they don’t share priorities. Both entities place a high priority on groundwater resource preservation.

Although a small amount of water the district serves on the east side of its service area comes from Sacramento County Water Agency’s new surface water treatment plant, groundwater is especially important to EGWD since it is the district’s primary source of water.

“Elk Grove Water District participates heavily with other agencies in the region, including the Sacramento Central Groundwater Authority, to manage groundwater in the region and comply with the new Sustainable Groundwater Management Act of 2014,” said Madison. “A groundwater sustainability agency has not yet been identified, but Elk Grove Water District will be actively engaged with the GSA for this basin.”

As the oldest supplier of water in Elk Grove, the district also has had to contend with aging infrastructure. Enter EGWD’s highly skilled in-house operations crew. In addition to thousands of hours the crew puts in every year to maintain pipes, crew members also work on a number of projects aimed at enhancing the district’s source water capacity, and improving reliability and water quality.

EGWD is currently refurbishing its Hampton Village Water Treatment Plant to further enhance its source water capacity. The district also recently completed a major retrofit project — installing water meters for all of its customers — 10 years ahead of the state’s 2025 deadline. The district funded the project largely with grant monies and used mostly in-house labor to keep customer costs low.

“We have worked so hard, for so long, with in-house crews to complete our water meter project. The quality of those water meter installations are second to none, but don’t give me the credit, it all goes to our field crews,” says Madison.

With the water meter project under its belt, EGWD is turning some of its attention to another proactive measure. It is currently conducting a feasibility study on automatic meter instrumentation that could potentially track customer use on a real time basis.

Madison says a lot of factors need to be considered in determining whether the district can implement an AMI system — including, of course, finances — but he remains optimistic that the study is a good first step.

Page 10: EGWD’s in-house operations crew members Gerardo Rodriguez Mora and Sal Mendoza work to install new water meters for customers as part of the district’s recently completed meter retrofit project. By using in-house crews and grant funding for the project, the district was able to keep customer costs low.

Above Left: EGWD Water Treatment Operator Wilfredo Quintero teaches a group of Girl Scouts about the water treatment process as part of a public outreach tour.

Above Right: The refurbishment of the EGWD Hampton Road Water Treatment Plant is nearly complete and will help provide clean, safe drinking water to the district’s approximately 37,000 customers.

“I’m extremely proud of this district. We’ve changed from being reactive to being a proactive water agency,” says Madison.

May 22, 2015 • 13

Coalition Negotiates Return of Spring-Run Salmon and Steelhead to North Yuba River Spring-run Chinook salmon — and possibly steelhead — could return to their spawning grounds in the North Yuba River under a tentative agreement reached in early May by a broad coalition of environmental groups and local, federal and state agencies.

If finalized, the agreement would launch California’s first-ever “collect and transport” program to move salmon around dams too tall for fish ladders. The framework of the agreement reached May 7 was crafted by a new coalition called the Yuba Salmon Partnership Initiative.

“This initiative is an ambitious undertaking to restore spring-run Chinook and steelhead in miles of historic pristine habitat in the Sierra Nevada Mountains,” Charlton Bonham, director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, said in prepared statement. The CDFW is a member of the new partnership.

“This long-term experiment has been successful in several Pacific Northwest states and we hope for a similar outcome in California. A project of this importance wouldn’t be possible without a robust partnership, and considering the state’s unprecedented drought, it couldn’t be happening at a more crucial time for these fish,” added Bonham.

The coalition includes three agencies and three conservation groups: the CDFW, National Marine Fisheries Ser-

vice (NOAA Fisheries), Yuba County Water Agency, American Rivers, Trout Unlimited and California Sportfishing Protection Alliance.

While the complete program has not yet been developed, the coalition reached agreement on non-binding terms that will guide negotiations on a more detailed and binding settlement agreement, possibly by next year.

According to the CDFW, the salmon reintroduction program as outlined in the framework, would truck adult salmon upstream past dams to spawning habitat. Juvenile salmon collected in special facilities above New Bullards Bar Dam would be trucked downstream for rearing and migration to the sea. The effort would first focus on spring-run Chinook salmon, but if successful, could extend to steelhead.

The framework also proposes actions in the Lower Yuba River downstream of Englebright Dam to restore salmon spawning and rearing habitat.

According to the coalition, following the completion of a settlement agreement, a pilot program could begin within five to seven years and reintroduction could begin within 10-15 years. The coalition estimates the project could cost $400-500 million over its 50-year life.

“Reuniting salmon with their historic habitat into the North Yuba River through a collaborative, voluntary

Officials announce a tentative agreement May 7 at the State Capitol that seeks to bring spring-run Chinook salmon back to the North Yuba River. (l-r) Pictured are: Steve Rothert, of American Rivers; Charlton Bonham, director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife; John Nicoletti, chair, Yuba County Water Agency; and Will Stelle, regional administrator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

initiative is a worthwhile endeavor that we believe will ultimately benefit our environment, the people of Yuba County and all of California,” said YCWA Board Chair John Nicoletti in a statement.

YCWA already has committed up to $100 million over the life of the project.

“YCWA’s commitment of up to $100 million for this initiative is a terrific jumpstart to the program, but the long-term success will require the leadership and support of all of the initiative’s partners. We’re counting on all of our partners to help fund the program through its 50-year life,” said YCWA General Manager Curt Aikens of the agency’s investment. resource www.dfg.ca.gov/fish/Resources/Chinook/ YSPI/

DWR Offering SGMA Support Services to Local Public Agencies The California Department of Water Resources is now offering facilitation support services to local public agencies that need assistance with Sustainable Groundwater Management Act requirements such as forming a groundwater sustainability agency or developing a groundwater sustainability plan.

The services offered include strategic planning, stakeholder assessments, 14 • ACWANEWS

Vol. 43 No. 5

meeting facilitation, mediation, governance assessment and public outreach. Local agencies must meeting minimum eligibility requirements to qualify for assistance under the program including demonstrating a commitment to working collaboratively with other agencies and providing logistical and administrative support.

According to DWR, requests for

assistance will be evaluated by on a first-come, first-served basis, and levels of support will vary. Priority will be given to newly forming groups and groups that have not received facilitation support previously. resource water.ca.gov/irwm/partnership/ facilitation_services.cfm

State, Federal Agencies and Settlement Contractors Agree on Water Operations Federal and state agencies in mid-April reached agreement with Sacramento River Settlement Contractors on an integrated framework of actions for operations of the Central Valley Project and State Water Project during the next six months of drought.

The agreement, which runs from mid-April through November, is intended to help officials flexibly manage and operate the systems to serve multiple beneficial purposes for water as California moves through its fourth year of drought. The agreement seeks to balance water for cities and rural communities, farms, fish and wildlife and habitats in the Sacramento Valley. The suite of actions also seeks to provide water for areas of the state that are in dire need of additional water supplies.

Agencies involved in developing the plan include the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which supplies the SRSC with water from the federal Central Valley Project, the California Department of Water Resources, California State Water Resources Control Board, National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

“This framework was developed through close collaboration with all the agencies and our water contractors, and builds on what we learned last year about how to manage through extreme drought,” said David

Murillo, regional director for the Bureau.

“Working together is our best hope for maximizing supplies and getting through what is undoubtedly going to be a tough year.”

The framework attempts to look at the system as a whole and balance its many needs.

Issues at play include: •

supplies to agricultural senior water right holders like the SRSC

•

volumes and timing of transfer water to junior water right holders

•

upstream temperature management for winter-run Chinook salmon

•

in-basin habitat needs for wildlife, including giant garter snake and refuges

•

Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta outflow to benefit fish including delta smelt and longfin smelt

•

salinity management in the Delta for drinking water quality

The federal and state agencies and SRSC’s will have regular meetings to coordinate these actions and will work closely together throughout the year to assure the effective implementation of this plan. resource www.usbr.gov/mp/drought/docs/ SacRiver_Framework_FactSheet.pdf

State Board Hosts Meetings on Groundwater The State Water Resources Control Board is set to host three meetings throughout the state to provide information on pending funds to address groundwater sustainability and cleanup projects and allow stakeholders to provide input on the scope and process the State Board will use to select projects eligible for available funding through Proposition 1 and the SB 445 Site Cleanup Subaccount Program (SCAP).

The State Board has announced the following meetings: Fresno – June 2 at 1 p.m. at the Central

Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board, Kings Conference Room Sacramento – June 4 at 10 a.m. at the Cal/ EPA building, Coastal Hearing Room Southern California – TBD The State Board also is expected to announce more information about its Southern California meeting when the final date and location has been determined.

DWR’s New Groundwater Report Intended to Support SGMA Implementation The California Department of Water Resources has completed a new groundwater report that provides “foundational” data and analyses on the state’s 515 groundwater basins and sub-basins and is intended to support implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act of 2014.

The full report — titled “California’s Groundwater Update 2013: A Compilation of Enhanced Content for California Water Plan Update 2013” — contains information on the state’s basins, aquifers and well infrastructure as well as analyses of groundwater monitoring efforts, aquifer conditions in response to extraction, groundwater management practices and conjunctive management programs, according to DWR. Main sections of the report were released in April and the remaining sections of the report covering hydrologic region groundwater updates, will be released over the next several months, according to DWR. For more information or to read available sections of the report visit: www.waterplan. water.ca.gov/topics/ groundwater/index.cfm.

resource www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/ programs/grants_loans/docs/gqfswn.pdf

May 22, 2015 • 15

Construction Begins on Emergency Drought Barrier in Delta In an effort to protect the water quality of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, the Department of Water Resources in the first week of May launched construction of a temporary emergency drought barrier on West False River to help deter saltwater intrusion during drought.

The barrier, which is being constructed after obtaining all necessary state and federal permits, is intended to help block saltwater from flowing into the central Delta and contaminating water supplies for millions of Californians during a fourth consecutive summer of drought.

It is the first time a drought barrier has been constructed in the Delta since the drought of 1976-’77.

“California’s four-year drought is one of the worst in our recorded history,” said DWR Director Mark Cowin. “With 2015 turning out to be warmer and drier than normal, water conservation is crucially important. The rock barrier in the Delta is an undesirable

but necessary tool for freshwater conservation.”

According to a press release from DWR, state and federal water and wildlife officials, working as a Real-Time Drought Operations Management Team, determined that the barrier would help deter the tidal push of saltwater from San Francisco Bay into the central Delta. The barrier is approximately 750-foot-wide and is essentially a pile of rocks with a 48-inch pipe embedded within it parallel to the river’s flow. It will span the river but still allow limited water flow upstream and downstream, depending upon tides.

The emergency barrier also will help mitigate a worst-case circumstance this summer in which upstream reservoirs lack sufficient water to meet the minimum outflow requirements to limit Delta salinity intrusion.

In addition to a levee modification permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and a California Endangered Species Act permit from the California

Department of Fish and Wildlife, DWR sought and received a Temporary Urgency Change Permit renewal from the State Water Resources Control Board. DWR also must consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service on protections for Delta smelt, Chinook salmon and other listed species.

On May 4, DWR authorized the Dutra Group of San Rafael to begin construction at the site, 0.4 miles from where West False River flows into the San Joaquin River. Installation will last several weeks using basketballsized rocks transported by barge to the barrier’s location between Bradford and Jersey islands. The barrier will be removed by mid-November.

Design, installation, monitoring, mitigation and removal are estimated to cost roughly $22 million; the cost for removal is set at $18 million. Costs are to be paid with a mix of funding from Proposition 50, a $3.4 billion water bond approved by voters in November 2002, and general fund dollars.

During a panel titled “The New Reality – Addressing California’s Water Challenge” speakers talk about the state’s water present and future at a gathering at the USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy on April 27. Sponsored by the Institute and the Public Policy Institute of California, panelists included: Left: (l-r) Felicia Marcus, chair, State Water Resources Control Board; Timothy Quinn, executive director, ACWA; Marcie Edwards, general manager, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power; Vito Chiesa, Stanislaus County supervisor and president of the California State Association of Counties; and moderator, Mark Baldassare, president and CEO, PPIC. Right: Timothy Quinn meets with former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

16 • ACWANEWS

Vol. 43 No. 5

Save Our Water Ramping Up Message to Californians to Conserve Summer Months Will be Critical to Meeting New Mandatory Water Use Reductions With the hot, dry summer months approaching, Save Our Water received an infusion of additional funding through emergency drought legislation to broaden and intensify its conservation messaging campaign during California’s fourth year of drought.

ACWA administers Save Our Water, the official statewide water conservation education program, in partnership with the Department of Water Resources.

The Save Our Water program received a special shout-out in Gov. Jerry Brown’s revised budget proposal, released May 14, when it was targeted for $4 million in additional funding.

If approved by the Legislature, these funds will be available to the program on July 1, 2015.

The spring marketing effort — which included radio and digital radio, social media, outdoor billboards and mall posters, print media, direct consumer outreach and Spanish language outreach — is expected to result in 350 million impressions.

Planning already is underway for the expanded summer and fall effort. Messaging will be shifting to underscore the need for immediate conservation as required under the state’s first-ever mandatory water use reductions adopted by the State

Water Resources Control Board May 5. Particular focus will be placed on outdoor irrigation and reducing or ceasing the irrigation of ornamental turf. The campaign will be structured to target the 220 communities in the state that face the highest conservation standards – 36% over 2013 levels.

Other initial summer plans include expanded online tools, including an all-new water calculator, as well as more toolkit items for water agencies.

The campaign also includes plans for a sharable/viral campaign to encourage Californians to share their efforts with each other. Messaging will be refined based on a targeted survey planned to take place in May. Save Our Water messaging will continue to reach Californians throughout the state, however the bulk of the messaging will be targeted in the following media markets: Sacramento, Fresno, Central Coast/Santa Barbara, Bakersfield, Chico-Redding and Palm Springs

Local Agencies Join the “Keep Saving California” Campaign Save Our Water designed the Keep Saving CA effort to encourage local water agency participation. This strategy allows SOW to maximize budget, amplify messages and give local partners exposure. Messages and

marketing activities have been tailored to suit local messages and needs and more than 15 agencies have signed on directly for media buys, including Santa Clara Valley Water District, Mesa Water, and City of Pasadena.

Partnership on the Keep Saving campaign was a centerpiece of Save Our Water’s presence at the Spring ACWA Conference. Many agencies expressed interest in using campaign materials and potentially contributing financially for additional placements in their area. The SOW team continues outreach following the conference to secure additional partnerships through summer and into fall.

In addition to paid opportunities to partner on the “Keep Saving” campaign, Save Our Water has made all the campaign collateral available for use — for free — through the saveourwater.com water agency toolkit. Included in the toolkit are turnkey art pieces, billboards, digital ads, and radio ads. Dozens of agencies statewide have downloaded materials to use in their local water conservation efforts. More materials will be added for the summer program.

SOW Twitter feed also has been recognized as one of the top state government accounts – featured daily in “Top California State Government Tweets” for reaching a wide audience.

The Save Our Water program debuted new outreach tools in recent weeks. Left: A shower cling offers people a reminder to keep showers short. Top Right: Billboards similar to this are spreading throughout the state offering Californians tips on ways to conserve. Bottom Right: Conservation tips in different formats are offered on social media for people to share.

May 22, 2015 • 17

Agreement Reached to Provide CVP Water to Friant Division The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and water users in the Central Valley crafted an agreement that will provide about 60,000 acre-feet of Central Valley Project water to growers in the CVP’s Friant Division this summer, the Bureau announced May 14.

The agreement — reached May 7 — is the result of weeks of negotiations among members of the San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors Water Authority, Friant Division contractors, Westlands Water District, the Bureau and other agencies.

“Thanks to unprecedented collaboration between districts on both the west and east sides of the San Joaquin Valley, about 60,000 acrefeet of water will be made available as much-needed relief to our Friant Division,” David Murillo, director of the Bureau’s Mid-Pacific Region said in a prepared statement.

According to information provided by the Bureau, the plan would leave water that the Exchange Contractors would be entitled to in Millerton Lake, making it available for Friant Division contractors, rather than having the

Bureau make equivalent releases down the San Joaquin River, as was done last year to provide a partial supply to the Exchange Contractors.

“The deal has a lot of pieces, but the gist of it is that Friant contractors are going to be securing some supplies either by purchase, exchange or timeshifting exchanges in the San Luis Reservoir,” said Friant Water Authority Acting General Manager Eric R. Quinley. “The amount of Millerton deliveries Friant contractors can expect to receive varies by district; however, most contractors will receive a supply that is roughly equivalent to 5 percent of Class 1 entitlement.”

Several water transactions make the deal possible, including: a land fallowing and transfer program put forth by the Exchange Contractors and an exchange of State Water Project and other non-CVP supplies in San Luis Reservoir for supplies in Millerton Lake put forth by the Delano-Earlimart Irrigation District and the Kern-Tulare Water District. Westlands Water District also agreed to defer delivery of about 13,195 acre-feet until at least the

fall of 2015 when critically low storage levels in San Luis Reservoir are not of imminent concern.

“This water supply makes a dire situation manageable and proves what we can accomplish through the power of collaboration,” said Eric Borba, chairman of the Friant Water Authority board. “We sincerely appreciate the Exchange Contractors’ bold step to put forth an offer to work with us, and extend a special thanks to Westlands for voluntarily putting the final piece on the table to seal the deal.”

Thomas Birmingham, Westlands Water District’s general manager, said: “The current drought conditions demand maximum cooperation among water agencies. Westlands entered into this agreement because it was the right thing to do in order to enable Reclamation to make water available to farmers and communities on the east side of the Valley.”

The Friant Water Authority is coordinating the agreement and payment logistics for the Friant contractors.

Valadao Seeks to Expedite California Water Storage Projects Rep. David Valadao (CA-21) on April 27 offered an amendment to the FY2016 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill that seeks to expedite the development of several water infrastructure projects in California.

expansion projects and two dam creation proposals by specific deadlines.

The deadlines must include a timeline for completion, draft environmental impact statement, final environmental impact statement, and record of decision and are as follows:

The amendment, offered during a markup of the bill by the House Appropriations Committee, passed out of the full committee via unanimous consent. It the amendment passes, it would instruct the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to finish and submit feasibility studies for three dam

1) The Shasta expansion and Temperance Flat dam by Dec. 31, 2015

18 • ACWANEWS

Vol. 43 No. 5

2) The Los Vaqueros expansion and Sites dam by Nov. 30, 2016 3) The San Luis dam expansion by Dec. 31, 2017

When asked about his amendment, Valadao said that “each of the five studies were authorized by Congress over a decade ago.”

“If California had some of these dams or expansions in place, we wouldn’t be in the disastrous situation we are in today,” Valadao continued. “In fact, these dams, if completed, could deliver as much as 79% of the mandated 1.5 million acre-feet of water restrictions recently implemented by Governor Brown.” .

Drought Continued from page 1

Special Webinar Series

Urban Water Conservation in Drought With emergency drought regulations on mandatory urban water conservation set to take effect May 15, local water managers, utility directors and staff are invited to register for a special webinar series presented by the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) and the Brown Administration.

AudieNCe

Offered in partnership with the League of California Cities and the California State Association of Counties (CSAC), the webinars will provide an overview by the State Water Resources Control Board of the emergency regulations adopted May 5 and identify tools and resources available to water agencies as they work to meet conservation targets ranging from 4% to 36%.

SPACe iS LiMiTed

There is no cost to participate in the webinars, but space is limited to the first 1,000 people to register for each webinar. Register early!

These webinars are presented in partnership with:

Webinar 1 Thursday, May 21 • 10 a.m. to noon Urban Water Conservation: Agency Assistance and Tools Topics: · New state conservation funding (turf, appliance rebates) · Outdoor irrigation regulations for new construction · Permit streamlining efforts for critical water supply projects · Technical tools available to water agencies · Save Our Water – The State’s Official Water Conservation Outreach Program Registration link: attendee.gotowebinar.com/ register/5263037073156943106

Water agency managers, utility directors, conservation staff, city and county managers / staff.

No cost to attend. Space is limited to the first 1,000 people to register for each webinar. Register early.

MORe iNfORMATiON for more information, visit www. acwa.com/2015-drought-RegsWebinars. for information on the emergency regulations, visit www. waterboards.ca.gov/waterrights/ water_issues/programs/drought/ emergency_mandatory_regulations. shtml.

Webinar 2 Tuesday, May 26 • 10 a.m. to noon Emergency Regulations, Enforcement and Water Rate Structures Topics: · Key elements of new emergency drought regulations for large systems · Water conservation rate structures

Webinar 3 Tuesday, May 26 • 1 to 2:30 p.m.

Regulations for Small Systems Topics: · Key elements of new drought regulations for small systems · One-time report · Reporting water waste complaint portal

· Conservation water rates, drought surcharges and penalties in light of the Capistrano case · Approaches to enforcement – case studies

Registration link: attendee.gotowebinar.com/ register/4176871317518975490

Registration link: attendee.gotowebinar.com/ register/2658332509921947905

The final regulation approved by the State Water Board changed little from the most recent iteration of the regulation that was released April 28.

The regulation adopted May 5 assigns urban water suppliers into nine tiers of conservation mandates ranging from 4% to 36% based on residential percapita daily water use (R-GPCD). The baseline for conservation usage is the same period in 2013 and the mandated reductions will be calculated cumulatively over the next nine months.

Urban water suppliers also must now report commercial, industrial and institutional water use, but may do so as an aggregate, rather than in separate categories.

Max Gomberg, a staff scientist with the State Water Board, said staff has waded through more than 700 comments on the proposed regulation framework.

Many of comments raised concerns that the tiers do not take local climates, past water use reductions or water supply investments into consideration.

ACWA’s comment letter is at www. acwa.com.

Dave Bolland, special projects manager for ACWA, outlined many of ACWA’s concerns during the State Water Board’s hearing. Bolland, like many other speakers, thanked the State Water Board staff for the immense amount of time they have spent writing the regulation and holding meetings with stakeholders in such a short time frame.

Bolland reiterated ACWA’s position that climate zones should be considered in the conservation targets, more target tiers should be added and suppliers should be given credit for new supplies.

“There just needs to be more time to talk about it,” Marcus said in reference to the proposed climate zones.

Gomberg said many water suppliers also are concerned about the economic impacts of mandatory reductions.

Gomberg said the State Water Board will establish working groups of stakeholders to address some of the concerns raised. ACWA will engage actively in the workings groups.

Throughout California, water suppliers have been gearing up to meet the new mandates. The City of Roseville — which must cut usage by 28% over 2013 levels — restricted lawn watering to Mondays and Fridays. It also forbade new turf grass landscaping. West Sacramento limited outdoor watering to one day per week with no watering permitted Mondays through Fridays, except in food producing gardens and farms.

In San Jose, single-family residences with water meters will be given monthly water allotments requiring cuts in usage of 30% over 2013 figures.

The San Diego County Water Authority restricted irrigation of ornamental landscapes to no more than two days a week and bolstered its regional conservation and outreach by $1 million.

The list of new restrictions continues to grow among water suppliers throughout California.

Dozens of local water agency officials and members of the public testified to the State Water Board on the regulation at the May 5 hearing, expressing various concerns about the methodologies used to develop the tiers. Gary Arant, general manager of Valley Center Water District, and an ACWA Board member, cautioned that the regulations could have long-term implications.

“Keep in mind that these are short-term measures to deal with an emergency, but some shortterm measures can have long-term ramifications,” said Arant.

At the May meeting, the State Water Board also received a report on March water conservation data that indicated the state had achieved just 3.6% water conservation in March over the same month in 2013. Cumulatively, since the state began tracking water conservation last summer, Californians have conserved about 9% of the water used during the same period in 2013.

Data on the March conservation targets and documents related to the regulation framework is available at www. swrcb.ca.gov.

ACWA encourages water agencies to carefully review the regulation, especially the assigned conservation standard for water use reduction which your agency will be required to achieve during the 270-day effective period for the emergency regulation. resource ACWA’s comment letter: www.acwa. com/content/acwa-comment-letterstate-water-resources-control-boardsmandatory-conservation-proposed-r-0

May 22, 2015 • 19

Governor Brown Announces New Dual Approach to Delta Gov. Jerry Brown on April 30 unveiled a new dual approach to improving water conveyance and ecosystem health in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta through two projects – California WaterFix and California EcoRestore.

The projects are an adaptation of the former Bay Delta Conservation Plan.

Brown announced the new approach during a press conference in Oakland where he was joined by top federal and state officials. The governor stated in a press release that the dual projects would “accelerate the restoration of the Delta’s ecosystem and fix the state’s aging water infrastructure.”

approach is “directly responsive to public feedback gathered through the Bay Delta Conservation Plan environmental review process, addresses scientific uncertainty, and reinforces the importance of the co-equal goals.”

According to state officials, California EcoRestore will pursue more than 30,000 acres of fish and wildlife habitat restoration in the next three to four years. More information on California EcoRestore’s habitat restoration targets and timelines is available here.

California WaterFix — which was Alternative 4a of the former BDCP

“The need to modernize the state’s water supply system is more apparent now than ever as the threat of an earthquake looms over us and the state is plagued with drought,” Erlewine added.

Jeffrey Kightlinger, general manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, said in a statement that MWD appreciates the “exhaustive” efforts of the Brown and Obama administrations.

“Metropolitan appreciates the exhaustive efforts of the Brown and Obama administrations to identify a comprehensive solution in the

“We can’t just cross our fingers, hoping for the best in the Delta,” Brown said in the statement. “Fish populations are at an all-time low. Bold action is imperative. We’ve listened to the public and carefully studied the science. This revised plan is the absolute best path forward.”

The governor’s proposed approach no longer seeks a 50-year permit, but would upgrade Delta conveyance and restore habitat through separate permitting tracks. The approach bifurcates the former BDCP, which proposed to simultaneously advance new water conveyance and habitat restoration in the Delta.

Michael L. Connor, deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior, also expressed his support for the plan.

“The state, through Governor Brown’s leadership, has been a strong partner working with us to improve California’s water infrastructure while restoring the Delta,” said Connor. “The plan announced today, which has been greatly improved in response to public input, will secure California’s water future and a healthier, sustainable BayDelta ecosystem.”

Officials with the California Natural Resources Agency said the new

20 • ACWANEWS

Vol. 43 No. 5

— will be available for public comment through a Recirculated Draft EIR/Supplemental EIS expected for release in the coming months, the Resources Agency statement read.

More information on California WaterFix is available at www. californiawaterfix.com.

Terry Erlewine, general manager of the State Water Contractors, said in a written statement that the new approach is “an option we need to carefully consider.”

“An unprecedented amount of research, analysis and outreach has been dedicated throughout the past eight years to advancing a solution for the Delta,” Erlewine said in the statement.”

If the results of those efforts point to a new approach that still meets the goals of securing water supplies and restoring the environment, then it’s an option we need to carefully consider.”

Delta that both restores habitat and provides for reliable water supplies for California,” said Kightlinger.

“Our State Water Project supply is at risk long-term if California does not confront this challenge and take decisive action. We will thoroughly review with our board this new proposal to advance the modernization of the Delta water system and restoration of the ecosystem on separate, but coordinated tracks.

Metropolitan has long stood ready to invest in a Delta solution that works for both the environment and California economy. Any successful final plan must do both.”

For more information on today’s announcement see additional fact sheets at cert1.mail-west. com/7rmzZymM/yuzjanmc/zZgtm/ t431/a34/bhnb/ga21/2zZluw.

Member News

San Diego Public Utilities Department Wins U.S. Water Prize The City of San Diego Public Utilities Department in April was awarded the U.S. Water Prize for its Pure Water San Diego water purification demonstration project, which established the viability of supplementing local drinking water supplies with purified recycled water.

The U.S. Water Prize, awarded by the U.S. Water Alliance, was created five

years ago to honor organizations whose actions further the goal of one-water sustainability.

“Pure Water San Diego will provide one-third of the City of San Diego’s water supply upon completion in 2035, with the first 15 million gallons per day being produced by 2023,” said San Diego Public Utilities Director Halla

Razak. “Water supply independence is an ever important goal because of the increased pressure on imported water supplies due to recurring droughts, rising population, increasing costs, and climate change. The city is committed to controlling more of its own destiny by implementing potable reuse.” .

East Valley Water District Receives Award for Budget Presentation East Valley Water District in April was awarded the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its 2014-’15 fiscal year budget by the Government Finance Officers Association.

To receive the award, the district satisfied nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation in the areas of policy documentation, financial plan, operations guide, and communications.

The budget document was rated as proficient in all four categories and met

the 14 mandatory criteria within those categories to receive the award.

easily be reviewed and understood by a broad audience.”

“The annual budget development requires participation from staff at all levels of the organization in order to serve as a guide for projects and programs,” said EVWD General Manager/ CEO John Mura in a statement. “The district goes to great lengths to create a budget document that not only reflects our complex operation, but presents the information in a manner that can

“This award recognizes a sound financial plan focused on our commitment to leadership, partnership, and stewardship,” added EVWD Board Chair James Morales, Jr. The 2014-’15 fiscal year budget, along with previous adopted budgets, can be accessed on EVWD’s website at www. eastvalley.org/budget.

Eastern MWD Announces Two New Water Education Books Eastern Municipal Water District is proud to announce it has released two new books to join its award-winning line of classroom education materials written and illustrated by area students as part of its annual “Write Off” contest.

The two new books — “Lily and the Seven Drops” and “The California Drought: Learning What It’s All About” — were announced at EMWD’s annual student recognition event, held on April 23 in EMWD’s Board Room.

“These books are two more examples of how well the students in our service area understand the importance of water conservation,” EMWD President Randy Record said. “Each year, we look forward to seeing the work the contestants produce, and each year we are impressed.

“We look forward to bringing these new books into classrooms throughout our service area and using them to further spread the importance of using water wisely.”

“Lily and the Seven Drops” was written

by Vista Verde Middle School students Jasmine McGary and Michelle Sivitos.

It was illustrated by Calvary Murrieta Christian School student Minji Hong.

In the story, Lily must share water conservation tips to help free her seven water drop friends from Evil Queen Ivana, who has held them captive and likes to waste water.

The book will be incorporated into grade appropriate classroom curriculum for first, second and third grade classrooms.

“The California Drought: Learning

What It’s All About,” focuses on students who learn valuable lessons about the state’s historic drought while on a classroom field trip. The book was written and illustrated by Abby Roth, who attends Calvary Murrieta Christian School. It is written in a fun and engaging rhyming style and will be used for upper elementary students.

In conjunction with the release of the book, EMWD designs grade-level appropriate curriculum that will be used in classrooms across the region as part of EMWD’s extensive classroom education program.

Beginning in the fall, the two new books will be available for download as e-books on the iPad, Kindle Fire and Nook Color from www.emwd.org/ebooks.

EMWD is the only water agency in California to produce e-books.

May 22, 2015 • 21

What question do your customers ask most frequently about the drought?

April Feedback

Here are excerpts from replies sent to acwanews@acwa.com.

Desert Water Agency – The question we get the most is “I’ve already done so much to reduce my water use, how can I save another 36%?” We answer them by saying that we are trying to reduce water 36% as a community, not household by household. We want everyone to pitch in to do their part but we know that people who have already changed their landscaping, installed water efficient appliances and practice water smart behaviors don’t have much more room for improvement and we appreciate that they were proactive.

El Dorado Irrigation District – While we are getting a lot of inquiries regarding the drought, the most common questions we get are the three below with the majority being the penalizing question.

“Do we have enough water for next year?”

“Will I be penalized if I don’t meet the 28% reduction?”

“What if I have conserved all that I can conserve?”

California Farm Water Coalition – Farmers of an estimated 2.8 million acres in the Central Valley are receiving ZERO surface water allocations this year from their contracts and they are asking, “Why do people continue to say agriculture got a pass on water supply cuts? Farm water supplies have been cut significantly during the past two years. Other farmers are seeing their allocations reduced by up to 80%. When California accounts for up to half of the nation’s fresh fruits, nuts and vegetables that’s significant for anyone who likes fresh produce. “ WESTERN MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT

Western Municipal Water District – As Western is out in the community or interacting with customers directly in the office or on the phone, the questions we hear the most regarding extremely dry times in California are: • • •

I have already changed my yard to drought-tolerant landscaping; how is it possible for me to cut back even more?

Am I being asked to conserve for more growth?

Will I be fined for watering my lawn?

Employment Assistant General Manager Delano-Earlimart Irrigation District Delano-Earlimart Irrigation District is looking for a skilled manager to fill the newly created position of Assistant General Manager (AGM).

The annual salary is competitive with a full range of benefits. Deadline for submitting a resume is June 10, 2015.

DEID serves irrigation water to over 400 customers covering 56,500 acres of prime farm land in southern Tulare and northern Kern counties. DEID is the largest Class 1 contractor in the Friant Division of the CVP with annual average deliveries of 125,000 acre-feet. Deliveries are made through a closed distribution system including 170 miles of pipelines and 18 pumping plants.

Permanent plantings cover over 90 percent of the planted acreage.

The successful candidate will possess significant promotional potential as this position is part of the District’s recently developed succession plan for the General Manager (GM) position. The successful candidate will provide immediate staff support to the GM while also receiving training to assume the GM role in the future.

The position reports to the GM with close interaction with other staff members and the Board of Directors.

This position requires established managerial skills and knowledge of water systems.

The AGM will assist in all aspects of District administration, operations, personnel, planning and budgeting. Communication skills, both written and verbal are critical. The ability to work collaboratively with regional partners in a leadership role is required.

Presenting ideas and positions in a public setting is an important skill as well.

How are your customers responding to turf rebates and other water conservation incentives?

Minimum education requirement is a bachelor’s degree in business, public administration, engineering or a closely related field. A minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional water utility administration at the managerial level is also required

Email your answer to acwanews@acwa.com

by June 9, 2015. Please put in subject line “Feedback May 2015.”

For more information and/or to submit a detailed resume, including salary history, contact:

Send us your feedback!

Western Employers Consultants P.O. Box 2055 Bakersfield, CA 93303 or btroxel@bak.rr.com EOE/M-F

22 • ACWANEWS

Vol. 43 No. 5

People News Central Basin Announces New General Manager and Finance Director The Central Basin Municipal Water District in April announced the selection of Kevin Hunt as the district’s general manager and Josh Betta as its new finance director.

Hunt, who has served as the district’s interim general manager since November 2014, is a registered civil engineer and previously served as the general manager of the Municipal Water District of Orange County for nine years prior to coming to Central Basin. He

MWD Board Welcomes Galleano as WMWD Representative The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California on May 12 welcomed Donald D. Galleano to its board of directors as its Western Municipal Water District representative. Galleano succeeds Thomas P. Evans who has served as MWD’s WMWD representative since July 2009.

Photo Courtesy of The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California

Galleano, who has served on WMWD board since 2005, currently serves as its president

Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District Selects Paul Helliker as General Manager The Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District announced on April 30 that Paul Helliker has been selected to serve as the district’s next general manager, following the summer retirement of Carol Rische, who has been with the district for nearly 20 years. Helliker is expected to begin in late May or early June and will work directly with Rische before she retires in late July or early August.

Helliker has more than 30 years experience in federal, state and local environmental and water utility programs. His prior experience includes serving as the deputy director for Delta and statewide management at the Department of Water Resources where he oversaw three divisions responsible for environmental planning and compliance activi-

also held leadership positions at Psoma, a topranked engineering firm, and is a founder and board member of the Urban Water Institute.

Betta has more than 25 years of financial experience, having served in the government sector for 15 years as chief financial officers for three Los Angeles County cities including Bell, Glendora and South Pasadena. Betta was part of significant reform efforts in Bell after the city faced a compensation scandal in 2010.

His work with Glendora and South Pasadena also included efforts to implement transparent, communicative financial policies.

and represents Eastvale, Jurapa Valley, Mira Loma, Rubidoux and Glen Avon. He also currently serves on the boards of the Chino Basin Watermaster, the Los Angeles County Fair Association, the National Orange Show Foundation Board, and the Pacific Rim Wine Competition. His prior experience includes service to the boards of the Jurupa Community Services District, the Western Riverside County Businessman’s Association, the Jurupa Chamber of Commerce, and the Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority. ties for the State Water Project and the state’s flood management system. He also previously served as the general manager at the Marin Municipal Water District.

“We are pleased that our current and new managers will be afforded the opportunity to work together for two months. This will facilitation a strong orientation for Mr. Helliker, and a smooth transition for the organization,” said HBMWD Board President Barbara Hecathorn in a statement.

“HBMWD has a strong culture of teamwork, collaboration and levering relationships to advance the district’s and north coast interests. The board is confident Mr. Helliker will be able to lead our organization and continue to advance our interests,” said HBMWD Board Vice President and former ACWA Board Member Aldaron Laird.

May 22, 2015 • 23

Most Clicked Here are some of May’s most-clicked 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

Governor’s Revised Budget Seeks $2.2 Billion for Emergency Drought Response — 05/14/2015 ACWA-Sponsored Chromium-6 Compliance Bill Sails Out of Senate Judiciary Committee — 05/12/2015

Upcoming Events

Next Steps on New Urban Water Conservation Regulation Explored — 05/07/2015

Visit acwa.com for complete listing

State Board Adopts Final Regulation on Mandated Urban Water Use Reductions — 05/06/2015

Twitter Chatter

31

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.

24 – 26

Bay-Delta Tour 2015, sponsored by the Water Education Foundation, takes participants to the heart of California water policy — the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and San Francisco Bay. For more information, visit www.watereducation.org/tour/bay-delta-tour-2015

Trending on Twitter During ACWA Spring Conference

Joshua Cosgrove@joshua_cosgrove • May 4 | Tim Quinn of @ACWAWater talking...what else, water. #CaDrought @nccwd Jim Graydon, S ierra Club CA a nd California ISO • May 4 | This is water week in Sacramento, the ACWA Conference is going to be the talk of the town, especially in light of the coming water rulings.

MWD of SoCal @mwdh2o • M ay 6 | We can do this together...the #cadrought is the catalyst for change – said @JerryBrownGov at #ACWAconf @ACWAWater 36 Retweets 9 favorites TulareBasinWatershed • May 6 | Laird @ACWAwater “This is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone has a part of this and we have to work together.” #CAwater #cadrought 6 Retweets Debra Kahn @debra_kahn • May 6 | Bonham calls for fortitude @ACWA Water, per Moby Dick: ’We need that fixed and fearless forward dedication of our glance to beat this drought’

July 2015 24

ACWA Region 1 is hosting a Marin Water Forum at the Lodge at Tiburon, Tiburon CA. Online registration will be available on June 1.

For full event details, go to www.acwa.com.

August 2015 17 – 19

Smart H2O Summit will be held at the San Francisco Marriott. More information available at www.smarth2osummit.com/attend.html.

28 – 29

DesalTech2015, the International Conference on emerging water desalination technologies in municipal and industrial applications, will take place in San Diego. For full event details, visit www. desaltech2015.com.

September 2015 10 – 11

ACWA’s 2015 Continuing Legal Education will be held at the Waterfront Hotel in Oakland, CA. More information coming soon.

24 – 25

A groundwater tour sponsored by the Water Education Foundation will travel through the Sacramento region to view sites that explore groundwater issues. For more information, visit www.watereducation. org/tour/groundwater-tour-2015.

October 2015 14

ACWA’s 2015 Regulatory Summit will be held at Double Tree Hotel, Ontario. More information coming soon.