ACWA News December 16, 2016 by ACWA

NEWS

VOL.

12 Dec. 16, 2016

ACWA’s new brand provides a dramatic backdrop as Vice President Brent Hastey speaks at the Nov. 30 luncheon at the ACWA 2016 Fall Conference & Exhibition in Anaheim. At right, the new logo and tag line are seen in the Exhibit Hall after the unveiling. See inside for more conference coverage.

Bringing Water Together: ACWA Unveils its New Brand with Dramatic Flair In a debut dubbed “The Big Reveal,” ACWA unveiled a new logo and tag line at its 2016 Fall Conference & Exhibition with a special video presentation, dramatic banner drop and other activities. There were no visible signs of the new branding until the luncheon Wednesday, Nov. 30. The new brand reflects the association’s position as the leading organization where the state’s public water agencies come together to advance solutions. The tag line — “Bringing Water Together” — also was featured as the conference theme.

The new look is the most significant change ACWA has made to its visual identity since 1994. The new branding was unveiled to the general membership in a conference luncheon debut that featured a video in which ACWA leaders talked about how ACWA’s evolving presence in the water community warrants a refresh of its brand. “The timing to rebrand ACWA couldn’t be better than right now,” ACWA President Kathleen Tiegs said in the debut video. “Water isn’t static, nor is ACWA.” NEW BRAND Continued on page 6

Recent Rains Boost Key Reservoirs December storms have boosted storage in several key reservoirs in Northern and Central California, but warmer temperatures could diminish critical Sierra snowpack.

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation began flood releases from Folsom Dam on Dec. 13, doubling releases from 3,000 cubic-feet per second to 8,000 cfs. Folsom Lake held just over 625,000 RESERVOIRS Continued on page 10

Improving ACWA’s Relevance to Agricultural Water Agency Members

Water Community Prepares Comment Letters on LongTerm Conservation Framework

Congress Sends Historic Water Bill to President Capping a week of dramatic developments, Congress sent legislation to President Barack Obama that marks the most significant federal policy change for California water in decades. S. 612, the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN), addresses the nation’s water infrastructure needs and includes provisions to address lead in drinking water, respond to historic drought in California and the West and authorize key investments in drought preparedness and environmental improvements. It passed the U.S. Senate on a 78-21 vote late Dec. 9, one day after clearing the House of Representatives on a 360-61 vote. ACWA strongly supported its passage.

State to Require Water Systems to Sample for Lead in Schools

CONGRESS Continued on page 5

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 916.441.4545 | www.acwa.com Executive Director Timothy Quinn Deputy Executive Director of External Affairs & Member Services 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 2016. 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 LienMager at lisalm@acwa.com or 916.441.4545. Connect with us online: facebook.com/acwawater twitter.com/acwawater

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S COLUMN • TIMOTHY QUINN

Improving ACWA’s Relevance to Agricultural Water Agency Members There is no better venue than an ACWA conference to get the pulse of local water agency managers and directors. Between the formal panel discussions and the informal conversations throughout the week, our conferences are rich with opportunities to hear the concerns and opinions of folks on the front lines of providing water to cities and farms in California. One theme I heard throughout our recent Anaheim conference was growing concern about the future of California agriculture and a desire for ACWA to better assist our members that serve this critical part of our state’s economy. Many of these concerns were voiced at a standing-room-only meeting convened by Region 6 Vice Chair Bill Diedrich, who has been asked to lead an ACWA advisory group to address ag issues. The Anaheim meeting followed earlier listening sessions held this fall in the San Joaquin Valley and the Sacramento Valley to help shape what we are calling the “Ag Initiative,” which is one of the priority goals in the ACWA Board’s current strategic plan. These sessions have been extremely constructive and reinforced for me how challenging the regulatory environment has become for our agricultural members. Whether it’s the state’s Irrigated Lands Program, new requirements under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), Endangered Species Act implementation or the latest proposals for unimpaired flows, there are decisions and processes pending with huge implications for the long-term sustainability of agriculture in California. Understandably, agricultural water agencies dealing with these issues on a daily basis feel subject to attack on multiple fronts. They would like to see their concerns and priorities better reflected in ACWA’s conferences, committee activities and communications efforts. They would like assurance that the association founded by five irrigation districts back in 1910 has not forgotten its agricultural roots or the importance of a sustainable

agricultural economy to the entire state. One thing that’s clear to me is that a key step in getting agricultural members more engaged in ACWA is to make sure the association is relevant to accomplishing their goals. With that in mind, we are creating a large and diverse working group to help ACWA prioritize issues of interest to our agricultural members and to identify effective partners — such as the California Farm Water Coalition, California Farm Bureau Federation, Western Growers Association and others — we can work with to extend our reach. An online survey has been distributed to help capture the highest priority issues and gather a better understanding of current ACWA initiatives that are most important and relevant to our ag members. This feedback will go a long way toward setting priorities for this initiative and determining how we can better serve our members moving forward. The survey can found be at http://svy.mk/2hiOCjg. A bright spot in recent days has been Congressional action on water legislation that would restore some needed balance to water project operations and move us closer to the coequal goals. The bill, on the President Obama’s desk at the time of this writing, should help improve water supplies for California agriculture as well as urban areas of the state. I don’t subscribe to the idea that we are locked in a zero sum game. Advances for either urban or agricultural agencies need not come at the expense of the other. Right now, our agricultural economy is on the front line in the conflict over water policy at both the state and federal levels. That has consequences for the entire state. We have an opportunity to inject some balance back into the policy equation and pursue comprehensive solutions that work for ACWA’s ag and urban members alike. I welcome your comments and look forward to further dialog and actions in the coming weeks.

Water Community Prepares Comment Letters on Long-Term Water Conservation Framework for Urban and Ag Sectors Working closely with a broad crosssection of members and other water associations, ACWA was poised to submit a joint comment letter on the state’s draft long-term conservation framework as ACWA News went to press. The letter reflects input from hundreds of urban water agencies and builds on a previously submitted letter dated Oct. 18 that offered detailed recommendations for the framework. A separate comment letter was being prepared to convey ACWA’s comments on the agricultural supplier elements of the draft framework document. Released jointly on Nov. 30 by the California Department of Water Resources, the State Water Resources Control Board, the Public Utilities Commission, the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the Energy Commission, the draft framework aims to redefine conservation for both the urban and agricultural sectors. It outlines a process for developing new permanent urban water use targets beyond the current “20x2020” requirements and includes new requirements for water shortage

contingency plans and enhanced leak detection and repair. On the agricultural side, the draft framework calls for water districts serving 10,000 acres or more to prepare updated Agricultural Water Management Plans that quantify water use efficiency and include plans for water supply shortages.

Comments on Urban Provisions In the joint comment letter prepared by ACWA, the water community states its commitment to defining a successful framework and promoting long-term water-use efficiency. It voices concern, however, with giving state agencies broad authority to determine future water-use budgets or performance measures without a formal stakeholder involvement process. The letter also expresses general support for developing agency-specific wateruse efficiency targets based on locally relevant water demand metrics and stands to be established through a stakeholder process and pilot projects, with compliance by 2025. Specific recommendations include creating an alternative target-setting approach

that can be customized to unique local conditions, removing recycled water for indoor or CII uses from water production / use calculations for determining compliance with 2025 targets, and adding a provision for local variances to accommodate unique uses, such as providing water for large animals, swamp coolers and food production, and adding language clearly stating the state’s intent to preserve existing water rights. The comment letter will be available on ACWA’s website once it is submitted.

Next Steps State agencies are scheduled to release a final framework document by Jan. 20. The Brown Administration is expected to sponsor legislation to make any statutory changes recommended in the final framework report. ACWA’s State Legislative Committee has formed two working groups (one for agricultural requirements and one for urban requirements) to address all legislation that may be introduced on this issue. Members with questions about the draft framework should contact ACWA State Regulatory Relations Director Dave Bolland at daveb@acwa.com.

Key Provisions of Draft Long-Term Water Conservation Framework State agencies on Nov. 30 released a draft framework for long-term conservation that addresses both urban and agricultural water use. Key provisions of the plan include: •

Permanent bans on wasteful water practices such as hosing driveways and excessive watering of lawns

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New requirement for water suppliers to submit five-year drought risk assessments

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Technical assistance and incentives to aid water suppliers in finding and repairing leaks

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Improved drought resiliency for small, rural water agencies

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New water-use standards for urban water suppliers based on local conditions with compliance by 2025

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New requirement for agricultural water suppliers to create an annual water budget, a drought plan and measures for increasing efficiency.

Some of the actions described in the draft plan will require legislation to provide new or expanded state authority. Others can be implemented under existing authorities. The recommendations are designed to achieve the main objectives of Gov. Jerry Brown’s Executive Order B-37-16, which was issued May 9. The framework is at www.water.ca.gov.

DECEMBER 16, 2016 • 3

ACWA BOARD

ACWA to Comment on Flow Proposals ACWA is coordinating with members agencies to develop formal comments on both Phase I and Phase II of the State Water Resources Control Board’s proposals to update flow objectives for priority rivers and streams in the BayDelta watershed. The proposals are part of the State Water Board’s broader update to its Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan, which is required every three years. The State Water Board’s flow proposals have been identified as a priority issue for ACWA as part of its Boardidentified Ag Initiative.

Outgoing Board Members Recognized The ACWA Board of Directors honored three outgoing Board members at its Nov. 18 meeting in Sacramento. Top: Paul Bartkiewicz, outside counsel for Yuba County Water Agency and long-time chair of the State Legislative Committee, is retiring at the end of 2016 and relocating to Boston. He intends to maintain some level of activity in California water. Middle: Shauna Lorance, general manager of San Juan Water District and chair of the Business Development Committee, is retiring from her agency but will continue to work in the water industry in a consulting role. Bottom: Bill George, chair of Region 3, was not re-elected to the El Dorado Irrigation District Board of Directors in November. He will continue to participate in the Mountain Counties Water Resources Association into 2017. ACWA Board President Kathleen Tiegs thanked the outgoing Board members for their service and many contributions to ACWA over the years.

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Phase 1 – San Joaquin River The Phase I process involves updates to flow requirements on the lower San Joaquin River and salinity objectives for the southern Delta. The State Water Board has recirculated a draft revised Substitute Environmental Document (SED) that calls for water users to leave significantly more water in the river and its tributaries from Feb. 1 through June 30 each year for fish and wildlife beneficial uses and salinity control. The proposal would greatly impact water users that rely on the San Joaquin River and its tributaries. A broad coalition of water suppliers, local governments and others has organized an outreach campaign to educate key audiences and encourage residents and stakeholders to speak out against the proposal. Details can be found at www.worthyourfight.org. The State Water Board began a series of public hearings on the Phase I proposal and the SED on Nov. 29 in Sacramento. Additional hearings will be Dec. 16 in Stockton, Dec. 19 in Merced, Dec. 20 in Modesto and Jan. 3 in Sacramento. Written comments are due Jan. 17. The latest schedule indicates the State Water Board will issue a final proposal and SED for public comment in May 2017 and consider adoption in July 2017.

Phase II – Sacramento River, Delta outflows, In-Delta flows, Export Limits and Reverse Flows The Phase II process addresses potential new flow requirements for the Sacramento River and its tributaries, changes to Delta outflow requirements, new in-Delta flow requirements, and new cold water habitat protection requirements. The State Water Board has issued a working draft scientific basis report for the Phase II process to receive early scientific input prior to submitting it for external peer review. It has also developed a hydrology and systems operation model to help evaluate various alternative regulatory requirements. An informational workshop on the scientific report was held Dec. 7, and written comments are due Dec. 16. There will be additional opportunities for public participation and comment as the Phase II process moves forward. According to the latest schedule, the State Water Board will launch the independent peer review of the report in 2017, and release a draft SED and draft proposed changes to the Bay-Delta Plan for public comment in summer 2017. It will consider adoption in spring 2018.

Additional Phases Phase III will involve changes to water rights and other measures to implement changes from Phases I and II. Phase IV will involve developing and implementing flow objectives for priority Delta tributaries outside of the Bay-Delta Plan updates. Questions Members with questions or comments should contact ACWA Regulatory Advocate Rebecca Franklin at rebeccaf@acwa.com.

State to Require Water Systems to Sample for Lead in Schools The State Water Resources Control Board has begun notifying public water systems of a new requirement to test schools in their service area for lead if requested by school officials. The state’s Division of Drinking Water will begin issuing amended permits to all community water systems serving a K-12 school the week of Dec. 20. Under the amended permit, systems that receive a request from school officials will have 60 days to make contact with the school to schedule a meeting to develop a sampling plan. Systems will have a total of 90 days from the time the request is received to finalize the sampling plan and conduct sampling

at the school. As an alternative, systems may submit a sampling schedule to the Division of Drinking Water if the 90-day schedule cannot be met. Water systems will be responsible for all the costs associated with collecting samples, analysis and reporting results to the Division of Drinking Water and the school. Systems will not be responsible, however, for the cost of replacing or upgrading any fountains or school plumbing systems if needed to address lead exceedances. Schools covered by the requirement include all schools found in the California School Directory, which includes private, charter, magnet and

non-public K-12 schools. Preschools and day-care centers are not included. ACWA’s Water Quality Committee has formed a Lead Testing in Schools Work Group to discuss the requirement and help prepare ACWA members to comply. In addition, ACWA’s Communications Committee has a subcommittee that will develop messaging and outreach resources. Details will be available soon at www.acwa.com. Members with questions should contact ACWA State Relations Analyst Adam Borchard at adamb@acwa.com.

CONGRESS Continued from page 1

“This legislation is important to California’s water future and is consistent with our state’s policy of managing water resources for the coequal goals of enhancing ecosystem health and improving water supply reliability,” ACWA Executive Director Timothy Quinn said in a statement after the Senate action. “We commend House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Senator Dianne Feinstein for their diligence in crafting a bill that moves us toward the coequal goals. We also appreciate the hard work and support of the California congressional delegation to bring this legislation to fruition after five years of effort.” S. 612 includes the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2016 and would authorize numerous projects in California, including restoration of the Los Angeles River, Lake Tahoe, and the Salton Sea. Additionally it would help ACWA member agencies work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on stormwater capture projects and groundwater recharge projects, and provide direction to the Corps to engage in environmental infrastructure projects, including water recycling projects.

The legislation also would improve the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program by making drought mitigation projects explicitly eligible for WIFIA loan assistance and providing all WIFIA loan recipients with the option to finance application fees charged by EPA. ACWA believes the California drought language, supported by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-23) and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), reflected a balanced compromise that would help provide improved water supplies without violating the Endangered Species Act (ESA) or existing biological opinions. The language would increase flexibility for federal and state agencies during wet weather events to operate the water projects in a way that maximizes water available for urban and agricultural water users while at same time protecting listed fish species. The drought provision also would promote local water supply development. The bill would authorize $558 million for new water infrastructure, including $515 million for storage, water recycling and reuse, and desalination projects. It also would make the Title XVI water

recycling program a competitive grant program and remove the requirement that each project must be individually authorized by Congress. ACWA thanks member agencies that sent letters to their House and Senate representatives in support of the bill. In one such letter to Feinstein, officials with Eastern Municipal Water District said the bill would allow the federal government to “help water agencies reclaim hundreds of thousands of acre-feet of water to counteract the effects of the devastating drought in the Western United States.” The letter was signed by EMWD Board President Randy Record and EMWD General Manager Paul Jones. Hicham ElTal, Merced Irrigation District deputy general manager of water supply rights and supply, said in a statement that the “authorizations included in this legislation are of significant importance in our ongoing effort to eventually complete the New Exchequer Storage Enhancement Project. Significant work remains. However, MID is absolutely better positioned to move forward with the project as a result of this legislation.” .

DECEMBER 16, 2016 • 5

2016 Fall Conference & Exhibition Programs Focus on Local Projects, Branding, Coequal Goals, Conservation and More Here are some highlights from programs at ACWA’s 2016 Fall Conference & Exhibition in Anaheim Nov. 29-Dec. 2. More stories on the conference will run in the January issue of ACWA News.

Coequal Goals, State-Federal Partnership in Focus Prospects for improving the state-federal partnership and advancing collaborative solutions were discussed at a Statewide Issue Forum on Nov. 30. California Department of Water Resources Director Mark Cowin, Friant Water Authority Director Jason Phillips, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California General Manager Jeff Kightlinger and Northern California Water Association President David Guy offered their takes on what the change in federal administrations may mean for pursuing California’s policy of coequal goals. ACWA Executive Director Timothy Quinn moderated the panel.

“I think there are a lot of opportunities, and ACWA can play a big role in forging those collaborative relationships,” Cowin said. Phillips urged stakeholders to remain focused on the coequal goals. “That should be our North Star,” he said, noting that that the stakes are high for water users south of the Delta that have seen substantial reductions in survey water deliveries in recent years. Guy called on California’s water community to work together. “The opportunity lies with us as a group to come together. We have a good framework here in the state.”

Connecting with the Public – Creating an Agency Brand Whether an agency is large or small, ag or urban, a strong brand identity is very important. That sentiment was the resounding opinion of the panelists who

participated in the Wednesday, Nov. 30 Statewide Issue Forum on branding. The program was aimed at reinforcing the fact that the public is more aware and involved in water issues than ever before and needs to identify and connect with their water provider. ACWA Deputy Executive Director External Affairs / Member Services Jennifer Persike moderated the program and said: “Like any other product or service, customers need to know what they can expect from their water provider. The brand defines who you are and what you do.” Sue Stephenson, community affairs supervisor, Dublin San Ramon Water District, added: “The brand is the promise and is the connection with the customer.” Branding processes can range in cost, but can be scaled to the agency. Anjanette Shadley, special projects & office manager for Western Canal Water Continued on page 7

NEW BRAND Continued from page 1

The new branding was developed completely in-house by ACWA staff under the direction of a Board-appointed work group, and led by ACWA Deputy Executive Director for External Affairs and Member Services Jennifer Persike. The effort was approved by the ACWA Board of Directors in July 2016. ACWA Graphic Designer Katherine Causland designed the logo and accompanying materials with the help of Event Resource Specialist Avon Alfaro. ACWA Executive Director Timothy Quinn said the new branding reflects the “vitality” of the association. “Obviously there are many organizations engaged in water policy today. What sets ACWA apart from the others, however, is our statewide perspective and the big tent we provide,” said Quinn. “Sim6 • ACWANEWS

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ply put, we bring water together – the people, the issues and the solutions.” “ACWA’s new brand reflects the vitality and the relevance of the association today, and where we are headed in the future,” Quinn added. The logo incorporates the idea of water and movement, with waves symbolizing ACWA members coming together as a unified whole. The tag line — “Bringing Water Together” — is meant to inspire and capture the essence of ACWA. It reflects the concepts that ACWA is both the place where the water community comes together to connect, network and learn, and the place where water issues are discussed and policy is developed and advocated. “Like the issue of water itself, ACWA has established a public profile. The new

logo positions ACWA for the future and better connects the association with its members,” said Persike. The new logo and tag line have been incorporated throughout ACWA’s entire business system, including its collaterals, publications, and web site. ACWA members who use the ACWA logo are asked to swap out the old logo with the new one on all ACWA materials they send out. A member toolkit on the rebranding is available at www.acwa.com/newlook.

Continued from page 6

District said: “You can do this even if you are a small agency. It helps to build trust in your community.” As a new workforce begins to move into the water industry, branding becomes even more important, said Joone Lopez, general manager of Moulton Niguel MWD: “Agencies must be relevant and forward thinking to attract the next generation of employees. Branding is a key part of your external identity.” Finally, to be successful, the panelists all agreed that you must have buy-in from your employees, boards and customers. “We took the time to gather input from all key audiences to ensure that our branding would resonate and be embraced,” commented Jolene Walsh, Sr. director, public and government affairs, Eastern Municipal Water District.

Think Global, Act Local: Why Local Projects Matter Region 8 hosted a standing room only program Nov. 30 where panelists discussed the importance of local water supply reliability projects in Southern California. It was moderated by Region 8 Board Member Michael Holmes and featured Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Director of Water Resources David Pettijohn, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Colorado River Resources Manager William Hasencamp, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Assistant General Manager and Chief Operating Officer Debra Man, West Basin Municipal Water District General Manager Richard Nagel, and Los Angeles County Public Works Chief Deputy Director Mark Pestrella. The panelists discussed a wide range of topics including Owens Valley and Colorado River water supply, as well as water recycling, desalination, stormwater capture and MS4 permitting. The consensus from the room was that there needs to be an all-of-the-above approach to water supply moving forward.

How Corporate California is Raising the Bar on Conservation and Sustainability A Statewide Issue Forum on Nov. 30 examined how corporations in California are taking major steps to improve water efficiency in their operations and processes. Several speakers at the forum said sustainability practices are an important element of their day-to-day operations, and many of those efforts require unique partnerships. “It is critical that we build public; private partnerships to leverage our sustainability initiatives,” said Nancy Limon, western region group director for public affairs and communications for Coca-Cola. Tim Suydam, senior water manager with Stone Brewing, said the company is “on a continuous improvement path to deliver craft beer with the least negative impact.” Suydam added that conservation is important in the brewing business because “brewing is very water intensive.” Jim Altman, director of west coast operations for Altman Plants, said the company’s conservation efforts “have reduced water use by 50% over the past three years through a variety of innovative strategies.” “We are one of the largest nursery operations in the country, with over 400 acres currently in production,” said Hessler. “Reliability of supply is of utmost importance to our company.” Frank Burns, president of APANA/ COSTCO, said that his company has “found that it takes technology and data to find water waste. “ “The data has allowed our front-line people to solve problems in real time,” said Burns.

Look for more conference coverage in the January 2017 issue of ACWA News.

Top: (l-r) Panelists ACWA Executive Director Timothy Quinn, DWR Director Mark Cowin, Northern California Water Association President David Guy, Friant Water Authority Director Jason Phillips and Metropolitan Water District of Southern California General Manager Jeffrey Kightlinger discuss prospects for advancing the coequal goals. Second Photo: ACWA Deputy Executive Director for External Affairs/ Members Services Jennifer Persike discusses the importance of branding. Third Photo: Conference goers listen to a panel on the importance of local water supply reliability projects. Bottom: John Arena, manager of business outreach & innovation at Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, moderates a panel on corporate California’s sustainability efforts.

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S P OT L I G H T

City of Redding Water Utility: Stewards of the City’s Water Supply in a Place Known for its Intense Heat DISTRICT FACTS Location Shasta County Number of Customers Served More than 28,000 homes and businesses comprising approximately 80,000 people Established 1941 Water Sources Sacramento River, Whiskeytown Lake and Redding Groundwater Basin Notable Projects • Water Main Replacement Program •

Water Treatment Plant Upgrades including Filter-toWaste System

Website www.cityofredding.org/ departments/publicworks/public-worksutilities/water-utility

ith volcanoes on one side and the blazing Central Valley on the other, it seems that Redding’s identity is dominated by heat. It’s true that average highs in August stay closer to 100°F than 95, heat is a big topic of conversation, and air conditioning is all-important, but the history of Redding has been shaped even more by its water resources – economically and environmentally. And the City of Redding’s Water Utility is the steward of that precious resource. The city is situated on the Sacramento River, and early years saw devastating floods. The construction of Shasta Dam in the 1930s and ‘40s brought jobs, population growth and new businesses to the rural area. The city’s next wave of growth came with the construction of the Whiskeytown Dam from 1960 through 1963.

Sundial Bridge, Turtle Bay Exploration Park – and Water Today, the city is known as a hub of arts and environmental values, with much focus on Sundial Bridge and Turtle Bay Exploration Park on the Sacramento River. Water, as always, is the theme. As for the nuts and bolts of water supply, the City of Redding Water Utility has operated Redding’s water system since 1939. Today, the agency serves about 80,000 people with a robust supply of both surface water and groundwater. “We’re very lucky that we have a variety of sources,” said Josh Watkins, water utility manager. “It allows us redundancy and flexibility, especially given that some of the sources are more affected by drought and cutbacks.”

“The Redding aquifer recharges extremely well. It’s estimated that it holds more water than Lake Shasta, which holds 4.5 million acre-feet.” — Josh Watkins, water utility manager

Opposite Page: The Sacramento River twines through the City of Redding. Right: The Sundial Bridge, designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and opened in 2004, celebrates the Sacramento River’s environmental and esthetic value along with human creativity and ingenuity. (Photo credit: Doug Kerr, Albany, NY)

Bottom: (left) Pump Station No. Three is used to move water from the Foothill plant into the Buckeye zone of the city, to supplement when the zone’s demand exceeds the capability of the Buckeye Water Treatment Plant. (right) Pump Station No. One, built in 1937 and upgraded numerous times, sends Sacramento River water to the Foothill Treatment Plant.

Surface water from the Sacramento River and Whiskeytown Lake provide almost three-quarters of the agency’s water. City wells provide the rest, pumped from the Redding Groundwater Basin.

Pre-1914 Water Rights from the Sacramento River Redding has pre-1914 water diversion rights for the Sacramento River. Under its contracts with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the city is allocated up to 21,000 acre-feet per year of Sacramento River water. Water is pumped from the river to the Foothill Water Treatment Plant. This facility processes 24 million gallons per day and can be expanded to 42 mgd capacity. The city also contracts with Reclamation for up to 6,140 acre-feet per year from Whiskeytown Lake. This gorgeous reservoir on Clear Creek is largely fed by Trinity River water brought from Lewiston Reservoir via the Clear Creek Tunnel. Water exits the lake by the Spring Creek Tunnel, and a water line carries it from there to the city’s Buckeye Water Treatment Plant. The lake is several hundred

feet higher in elevation than the plant, so the system is gravity-fed with no pumping needed. Water from the Buckeye plant supplies the northwest part of the city.

“We have also been holding open houses for a rate change,” Watkins said, and mailing ballots to both property owners and tenants.

The rest of the city’s water comes from 16 city wells.

“We want them all to have a chance to have their voices heard,” he added.

Forming a Groundwater Sustainability Agency “We have a very healthy groundwater basin,” said Watkins. “The Redding aquifer recharges extremely well. It’s estimated that it holds more water than Lake Shasta, which holds 4.5 million acre-feet.”

Serving more than 28,000 homes and businesses, the utility operates an extensive distribution system: approximately 560 miles of water mains, 4,000 hydrants, 12,800 valves and 3,000 cross-connection control devices.

The utility joined with five other local water districts Dec. 12 to hold a public open house about the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act and formation of a Groundwater Sustainability Agency. The Anderson and Enterprise Subbasins of the Redding Basin have been identified as “medium priority” basins. These are not considered critically overdrafted or high priority, but meet the criteria to require management under a Groundwater Sustainability Plan.

The utility works on infrastructure improvements as well as ongoing projects such as annual water main replacements in older parts of the community. According to Watkins, they are wrapping up a $2 million improvement at the Foothill treatment plant, installing a filter-towaste basin which will improve efficiency and water quality. With all this work and planning underway, it’s apparent that the City of Redding Water Utility is a vibrant guardian of the resource it provides.

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CA Data Collaborative: The Future of Water Management Submitted by the Moulton Niguel Water District At first glance, water agencies don’t seem to have much in common with academic universities, social media organizations or technology companies. However, as the California drought worsened and became a global phenomenon, corporate giants like Microsoft, Facebook, and Netflix, and higher education and research institutions such as Stanford, UC Davis and Claremont Graduate University, joined forces with innovative water agencies to help address the California water crisis. With more than a thousand water providers serving over 35 million Californians, the need for comprehensive and consistent data has been a long-standing obstacle to developing meaningful and practical water policies. Thus, the California Data Collaborative (CaDC) was formed. The CaDC is a first-of-its-kind, diverse partnership representing 21 million Californians, initiated by water managers who identified a need to provide agencies throughout California with access to data in a transparent, secure and efficient manner. With the support from cities, water and land planning agencies, and other project collaborators and in-kind services from the public and private sectors, these organizations have come together to ensure California has reliable water today and into the future. Ingesting data from individual agencies and standardizing them into

a centralized, open platform allows for enhanced sharing and understanding of how different policies and demand management strategies work and recognizes the unique conditions of each geographic area. Current agencies include: •

City of Sacramento

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East Bay Municipal Utilities District

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Eastern Municipal Water District

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El Toro Water District

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Inland Empire Utilities Agency

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Irvine Ranch Water District

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Las Virgenes Municipal Water District

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Metropolitan Water District of Southern California

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Monte Vista Water District

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Moulton Niguel Water District

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Santa Margarita Water District

Recognizing an undertaking this large could only be efficiently implemented through collaboration, the agencies helped coordinate an effort to get others throughout the state involved early on. As the “collaborative” continues to grow, the opportunity increases to gather more accurate data to help manage water demands through economies of scale.

Two months after launching in January 2016, the CaDC was honored at the White House Water Summit for its innovative approach to develop new data infrastructure. In just one year, the CaDC also has held its inaugural Data Summit in partnership with Stanford University, and discussed the future of data application and water management at Bloomberg’s Data For Good Exchange conference, the Senate Subcommittee on Modernizing Government hearing, chaired by Sen. Robert Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys), and most recently, the White House’s California Water Data Challenge. The California water crisis will not solve itself. Water agencies, state officials, and our communities will have to continue working together to inform data-driven policies to ensure water reliability for generations to come. This concept is further highlighted in the state’s most recent release of its long-term water efficiency framework draft, which outlines objectives for achieving longterm water efficiency that will meet the ‘new normal’ drought conditions that California will undoubtedly continue to face in the future. RESOURCE

www.californiadatacollaborative.com

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acre-feet on Dec. 13, which is 133% of the historical average for the date.

than last year’s figures of 30% and 43% respectively.

Lake Shasta held just over 3 million acrefeet of water on Dec. 13, which is 109% of its average for this date, compared to 49% of average on this date last year. Don Pedro Reservoir was at 104% of its average for the date, compared to 49% of average a year ago. Trinity Lake and Lake Oroville were still below average, hovering around 70%, but still better

Precipitation in the northern Sierra also is up compared to last year. Using CDEC data for the eight-station index, precipitation since Oct. 1 is almost 23 inches. That is 225% of last year’s precipitation for the same period, and 178% of average.

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However, precipitation and reservoir levels are not the total picture, officials

caution. Snowpack water content in spring is a factor in water supply. Warmer storms that bring rain to high elevations instead of snow, along with expected higher winter temperatures in the Sierra, typically diminish the snowpack. For more information and updates, visit the CDEC website at cdec.water. ca.gov.

California “Steadfast” in Fighting Climate Change, Nichols Says ANAHEIM – California will remain “absolutely steadfast” in its commitment to addressing the problems of a changing climate, regardless of shifts in policy that may emanate from the nation’s capital following the November election, Mary Nichols, chair of the California Air Resources Board, said Dec. 1.

“We are absolutely steadfast in California in our commitment to addressing the problems of climate change,” said Nichols.

Nichols, delivering a keynote address at the Thursday Luncheon at ACWA’s Fall Conference & Exhibition, outlined her board’s position and the stance of the Brown Administration in adhering to plans to reduce carbon emissions in an effort to combat changing climate.

“We’re looking at 2030 and we’re actually doubling down on our climate leadership,” she said.

“We’re still pursuing all of the things we were prior to the election,” Nichols said earlier. Nichols said that improving energy efficiency is key among the state’s goals, with California on track to beat the 2020 goal. These changes also are good for the economy because improving energy efficiency is “actually a stimulus to new investments,” she said.

Nichols added that collaboration among industries and government is critical to reaching those goals.

“We need to be looking at both the land and the water system as part of the picture,” said Nichols. Nichols added that some of the investments water systems are making to combat drought also are helping to combat climate change by reducing emissions. “They are becoming part of the solution,” she said of water agencies, adding that the state has been helping by investing over $70 million in water efficiency projects. Throughout her address, Nichols stressed that continuing collaboration is one of the most important factors to making strides in combating climate change. “The more we can find to work together on, the more we can accomplish,” she said.

Predicting Atmospheric Rivers Key to Better Water Management ANAHEIM – Atmospheric rivers can deliver as much as half of a region’s water supply in California and predicting these episodic events could help water managers better plan for water releases and flood control.

which are streams of moisture in the atmosphere that deliver large amounts of rain or snow in a matter of days.

That was the overarching message conveyed Nov. 30 in a keynote address delivered by Dr. Martin Ralph during Opening Breakfast at ACWA’s 2016 Fall Conference & Exhibition. Ralph is director of the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego.

“Hurricane forecasting has improved tremendously in the last 20 years,” said Ralph. “The question is — can we do it with atmospheric rivers? Can we look out farther to a week and a month?”

Ralph is one of the nation’s most eminent researchers of atmospheric rivers,

“It’s almost like water in the streams running in the mountains,” Ralph said of atmospheric rivers, “only the water is vapor (in the atmosphere).” Ralph said the study of atmospheric rivers is gaining traction and drawing the level of interest hurricanes have experienced over the past 20 years.

The ability to predict such weather events would greatly enhance water management, said Ralph, by allowing water managers to hold back water when they know a big wet weather event is coming.

“We’re leading the way in California by challenging ourselves to advance predictions and connect findings to the pragmatic needs of water managers,” Ralph said Ralph said that 85% of the floods that occur in Sonoma County are the result of atmospheric rivers. “If we can predict when atmospheric rivers are coming we can preserve the water we have,” he said. Predicting atmospheric rivers would be especially important in California, which has the “most variable hydro climate in the U.S.,” said Ralph. “Here out West we have very different needs for (weather) information,” said Ralph. Atmospheric rivers also play critical roles in ending drought, Ralph added. “Droughts are often ended by a very wet month,” said Ralph. DECEMBER 16, 2016 • 11

FEDERAL RELATIONS

ACWA Brings People Together at 2016 Fall Conference 1. (l-r) ACWA Executive Director Timothy Quinn, Past President John Coleman, President Kathleen Tiegs and Vice President Brent Hastey welcome attendees to the Exhibition Hall. 2. (l) President Kathleen Tiegs invites Region 5 Vice Chair Bill Rosen to share his thoughts at the Dec. 1 luncheon. 3. Vice President Brent Hastey introduces panelists at the Friday Hans Doe Breakfast.

4. (l-r) ACWA Executive Director, External Affairs/Member Services Jennifer Persike joins ACWA President Kathleen Tiegs during the Opening Breakfast Wednesday. 5. ACWA Events Coordinator Teresa Taylor peels back a label on ACWA’s event sign to reveal the new ACWA logo.

6. (l-r) Region 5 Board Member Dick Quigley and Carl Morrison, president of Morrison & Associates, chat during the Networking Continental Breakfast. 7. (l-r) Paul Jones, general manager of Eastern Municipal Water District, and Brian Powell, director of planning for EMWD, chat with another conference attendee. 8. (l-r) Stacy Taylor, external affairs manager at Mesa Water District, and Marc Marcantonio, general manager of Yorba Linda Water District, take a time out from their busy schedule at the ACWA Conference.

9. (l-r) ACWA Deputy Executive Director, Government Relations Cindy Tuck joins Mary Nichols, chair of the California Air Resources Board, before Nichols’ keynote address Thursday.

10. (l-r) Erin Mackey, of Brown and Caldwell, and Melanie Mow Schumacher, Special Projects/Community Dialogue Manager at Soquel Creek Water District, network at the Wednesday Opening Breakfast. 11. (l-r) ACWA Executive Director Timothy Quinn congratulates Kathy Cole, legislative advocate at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, on receiving ACWA’s 2016 Emissary Award.

12. (l-r) Ryan Bezerra, an attorney at Bartkiewicz, Kronick & Shanahan; Jennifer Buckman, general counsel for Friant Water Authority; and Rob Roscoe, general manager of Sacramento Suburban Water District, share a moment.

Autonomous Systems and Aerial Robotics Key to Water Future ANAHEIM – Autonomous systems and aerial robotics will play key roles in water management systems in coming years, allowing for the development of new water sustainability platforms, predicted Keith Coleman of the Tesla Foundation. Coleman delivered a keynote address Nov. 30 at the Wednesday Luncheon at ACWA’s Fall Conference & Exhibition. As chief strategy officer for the Tesla Foundation, Coleman outlined what he called the transition to “Industry 4.0” where massive amounts of data and hyperconnectivity allow new levels of connection to the physical world in various industries.

A key part of hyperconnectivity will come through autonomous systems and aerial robotics, which Coleman says will enable water managers to innovate and efficiently develop water sustainability platforms. Coleman said he believes there have been four areas of industrial revolution throughout history: farming, factories, information, and now revolution 4.0 — the Age of Autonomous Systems. He said the nation is currently transitioning from the Age of Information to the Age of Autonomy.

mapping and other jobs, particularly for water managers. But these aerial and autonomous systems, with their connections to computer systems, also will pose new security threats for water managers, since the systems could be hacked. Water agencies will need to grapple with this potential cyber threat. Coleman added that it still isn’t fully clear how robotics will change industries. Increasingly, however, unmanned aerial systems are being developed in industries and at universities throughout the nation.

“Robotics clearly is at the forefront of this Industrial Revolution,” said Coleman.

”There is a lot of innovation occurring in a variety of industries,” Coleman said, referencing innovation with robotics.

Coleman said unmanned aerial systems — such as drones — will play an increasingly important role in asset

“It’s going to become much more normalized,” he added. “Young people are looking at it as normal.” .

Panel Explores Political Environment Following 2016 Election ANAHEIM – What’s in store politically on the state and federal levels following the November 2016 election? That question was explored Dec. 2 by political insiders during a panel at the Friday Breakfast at ACWA’s Fall Conference & Exhibition. The three-person panel consisted of: David Reynolds, ACWA director of federal relations; Wendy Ridderbusch, ACWA director of state relations; and John Freshman, senior director of government affairs at Best, Best & Krieger. Reynolds began the discussion by showing a map of the United States with Democratic blue states highlighted along with Republican red states. The map, he said, indicates the nation is divided. He showed a map of California, which also revealed similar divisions. “We have urban and rural divides and coastal and inland divides,” he said. Reynolds said that in order to achieve significant goals on California water policy Californians need to unite.

“If we’re not united, we won’t get anything done,” he said. Reynolds also theorized that having a strong relationship with House Majority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA-23) will be very important to California water interests. Ridderbusch discussed California’s political climate following the election, stressing that the Democrats now hold super majorities in both houses of the state Legislature. “California is the opposite image of what is in DC,” Ridderbusch said, referencing how in DC the Presidency and both houses of Congress are Republican controlled. Ridderbusch said the passage of Prop. 54 is good news. The measure requires all bills to be in print for 72 hours before they can be voted on. She also said she is concerned the state could again launch an effort to place a public goods charge on water.

(l-r): David Reynolds, ACWA director of federal relations; Wendy Ridderbusch, ACWA director of state relations; and John Freshman, senior director of government affairs at Best, Best & Krieger.

Freshman said Californians need to work to resolve their water disputes “because people are quite frankly sick and tired of it.” He said it is time to “get something solved in the Delta so we can move on.” Freshman said the state needs to focus on its water infrastructure. “Stop the North versus South. Stop the environmentalist versus developer,” said Freshman. “Speak with one voice, and that voice needs to be water infrastructure.” . DECEMBER 16, 2016 • 13

San Joaquin Valley Regions 6 & 7 Host Legislative Water Forum in Visalia By ACWA Region 7 Chair David Bixler Regions 6 & 7 jointly hosted Merced Madera the San Joaquin Fresno Valley Water Tulare Forum in Kings Visalia on October Kern 14. The annual event attracted more than 70 attendees and included updates from local legislators and information about the big issues facing water management throughout the Valley. The program began with the “Perspectives from the Capitol” panel discussion featuring Assemblymembers Devon Mathis (R-Visalia) and Jim Patterson (R-Fresno). ACWA Region 6 Chair Matt Hurley moderated the discussion about the Delta, water transfers, storage, legislative super majorities, and other issues.

Top: John Austin, NPS retired division chief, describes plants’ reactions and adaptations to drought. Middle: (l-r) ACWA Region 6 Chair Matt Hurley, Assemblymember Devon Mathis and Assemblymember Jim Patterson present “Perspectives from the Capitol.” Bottom: (l-r) Samuel Boland-Brien, SGMA program manager, State Water Board; Trevor Joseph, supervising engineer geologist and SGM section chief, DWR; Mark Nordberg, senior engineering geologist, DWR; and moderator Eric Averett, ACWA Region 7 board member and general manager, Rosedale-Rio Bravo Water Storage District present the panel on SGMA compliance.

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Following the political discussion, John Austin, a retired scientist and division chief with the National Park Service, returned to the program for a second year to talk about “Drought, from the Perspective of Plants.” Austin’s presentation showed how plants respond and strive to survive in the changing climate conditions seen in California. His talk covered the history of California’s changing climate for the past 11,000 years. After a break for lunch, ACWA Executive Director Timothy Quinn shared an ACWA update. Quinn updated the attendees on the ACWA

Board’s Strategic and Business Plan, including the policy and organizational initiatives identified in the plan. ACWA’s Agricultural Initiative was the spotlight of Quinn’s update, including information on upcoming listening sessions and opportunities for agricultural members to engage in ACWA activities. Wrapping up the day was a discussion titled “Sustainable Groundwater Management Act: Compliance…The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.” ACWA Region 7 Board Member Eric Averett moderated panelists: Mark Nordberg, senior engineering geologist, CA Department of Water Resources; Trevor Joseph, supervising engineer geologist, SGMA Section Chief, CA Department of Water Resources; and Samuel Bold-Brien, SGMA program manager, State Water Resources Control Board. This panel highlighted what is expected in the GSA formation process and the implications of not forming a GSA. This year’s program was a great success and full of helpful information and insight important to water management in the San Joaquin Valley. Thank you to all of the speakers who volunteered their time to participate in this year’s program. Presentations from this year’s event are available on the ACWA website at www.acwa.com/ content/region-6/acwa-joint-region-67-water-forum-visalia-ca. For information about future ACWA Region 6 & 7 activities, visit www.acwa.com.

Region Meetings and Events in 2017 Watch for an all-new round of region events in 2017. Visit www.acwa.com/content/event-registration.

Region 10 Discusses Indirect Potable Reuse, Tours Carlsbad Desalination Facility By ACWA Region 10 Chair Brian Brady More than 80 ACWA members gathered San Diego October 28 at Vista Irrigation District for a one-day Region 10 program and tour titled, “Advanced Water Purification: The Road to Resilience.” Orange

The event opened with ACWA Region 10 Board Member and Vista Irrigation District President Richard Vasquez welcoming everyone. ACWA President Kathleen Tiegs provided an update on ACWA activities including ACWA’s new monthly Priority Issues Update and an overview of the “Meet the President” initiative. ACWA Executive Director Timothy Quinn outlined ACWA’s 2016 priority goals and the year’s progress. The first panel was moderated by ACWA Region 10 Chair Cathy Green, and included Orange County Water District (OCWD) General Manager Michael Markus, Mesa Water District General Manager Paul Shoenberger, and City of San Diego Director of Public Utilities Halla Razak. Panelists discussed their large scale Indirect Potable Reuse projects. Markus discussed OCWD’s Groundwater Replenishment System, Shoenberger discussed Mesa Water District’s Mesa Water Reliability Facility, and Razak gave an overview of the City of San Diego’s Pure Water San Diego Program.

I moderated the second panel which included Padre Dam Municipal Water District General Manager Allen Carlisle, Santa Margarita Water District General Manager Dan Ferons, and Moulton Niguel Water District General Manager Joone Lopez. Panelists discussed their smaller scale Indirect Potable Reuse projects. Carlisle spoke about Padre Dam’s Advanced Water Purification. Ferons addressed the San Juan Watershed Project, which would produce 8,220 acre feet per year of local water supply. Lopez discussed Moulton Niguel Water District’s consideration of IPR projects. The panels were followed by a thoughtprovoking town hall style discussion moderated by ACWA Region 10 Board Member Larry McKenney. The discussion included San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board Executive Officer David Gibson and State Water Resources Control Board Recycled Water Unit Chief Randy Barnard. Topics explored included regulatory issues around IPR and DPR projects, hurdles facing projects, and resources available to project proponents. Later, the San Diego County Water Authority Director of Water Resources provided a tour of the Carlsbad Desalination Plant. I want to thank Vista Irrigation District for hosting our event. For those who were not able to attend, all of the event materials are available on ACWA’s website www.acwa.com.

Top: Attendees learn about the Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant on a tour presented by the San Diego County Water Authority. Middle: Attendees listen to presentations during the event. Bottom: (l-r) OCWD GM Michael Markus, City of San Diego Director of Public Utilities Halla Razak and Mesa Water District GM Paul Shoenberger share their experience with large scale Indirect Potable Reuse projects in the first panel.

DECEMBER 16, 2016 • 15

Encouraging Permanent Change to Remain Focus of Save Our Water in 2017 The Save Our Water 2016 program successes and agency involvement were highlighted at ACWA’s 2016 Fall Conference & Exhibition in Anaheim with a video recap that was shown to attendees at the opening Wednesday breakfast on Nov. 30. The video summarized the full range of public education activities, from TV and radio clips to examples of partnerships with local water agencies. The video also was featured at the new interactive Save Our Water booth in the Exhibit Hall that was visited by hundreds of attendees. Plans for Save Our Water’s 2017 efforts were another topic at the conference,

with the program’s continued focus on encouraging Californian’s to make permanent changes both inside and out to save water. The program’s “Water Conservation. It’s For Life” messaging will again be the theme next year. This focus is consistent with the efforts of local water agencies all around the state and helps to reinforce the Gov. Jerry Brown’s May executive order that conservation is part of the California Lifestyle. During the conference, agencies provided feedback on new opportunities for 2017. With shifting drought conditions and changes in public awareness and interest, partnerships with local water agencies and businesses will be even

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more important to Save Our Water’s continued success. Regardless of the amount of precipitation California will see this winter, Save Our Water will continue to reinforce that “Water Conservation. It’s for Life.” “We thank all of ACWA’s members for their ongoing collaboration with Save Our Water and their commitment to public outreach,” said Jennifer Persike, administrator of Save Our Water and ACWA deputy executive director for external affairs and member services. More information on messaging is at www.saveourwater.com/toolkit.

13 million

BILLBOARDS IMPRESSIONS

560,000 WEBSITE VISITS

350,000 TWITTER IMPRESSIONS

114 million

10 million

RADIO IMPRESSIONS

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FACEBOOK IMPRESSIONS

300,000

INSTAGRAM POST VIEWS

MEMBER NEWS

TUD Receives Funding For Protection of Tuolumne Main Canal Through a collaborative partnership, Tuolumne Utilities District was awarded $496,000 on Dec. 8 in grant funding from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy to implement a critical fuel break along the Tuolumne Main Canal which conveys water from Lyons Reservoir. The Lyons-South Fork Watershed Forest Resiliency project is a collaborative effort to increase forest health, resiliency to wildfires and beetle outbreaks, and protect adjacent communities. The project will provide protection to critical sections of the South Fork Stanislaus River and infrastructure that benefits Tuolumne County and the ecoregion. The forest resiliency project area encompasses 733 acres of multiple-ownership forestland within the SF Stanislaus River watershed between Lyons Reservoir and the communities of Twain Harte and Mi-Wuk Village. In anticipation of a wildfire potentially jumping the river, the project’s eastern end includes the north side of the SF Stanislaus River below Lyons Reservoir to address the high fuel loading on these extremely steep slopes. The collaborative partners on the project also include: Stanislaus National Forest, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Sierra Pacific Industries and Highway 108 FireSafe Council.

The wooden flumes that make up much of the Tuolumne Main Canal are susceptible to damage by wildfire.

Thomas Haglund, general manager of TUD, said the district’s board of directors “identified fire protection for the water flume system as a high priority.” “The flume and ditch system originating at Lyons Reservoir are susceptible to wildfire. This grant will help to greatly reduce the threat of wildfire to this area,” said Haglund. “The district had many collaborative partners working on this grant application and we are thankful for their time, support and dedication to have this project recognized and funded

by the SNC organization.” The LSFWFR Project will help protect the PG&E’s Tuolumne Main Canal, a historic feature consisting of a series of wooden flumes and connected canals. It is the primary drinking water conveyance system for TUD and 90% of the residents of Tuolumne County. If a wildfire destroyed a section of the flume it is estimated that most of the residents of Tuolumne County would be without drinking water for more than a month.

Santa Clara Valley WD Launches Flood Protection Project Santa Clara Valley Water District is poised to begin construction of two flood control basins, a key component of its Permanente Creek Flood Protection Project. The district held public meetings in November to update the community on the

project, which focuses on improvements in flood protection, structural repair, sediment reduction and habitat restoration in an area that has seen 12 major floods in the past 100 years. Construction is beginning for flood detention basins at McKelvey and Rancho San Antonio Parks. Along with the rest of the project, the basins are planned to protect 2,200 parcels in Mountain View and Los

Altos from 100-year storm events. “During a large storm, the basins will hold water from going downstream,” District Engineer Lotina Nishijima was quoted in the Los Altos Town Crier. “Without them, we would need to build more and higher floodwalls.” The project also includes habitat enhancement and infrastructure improvements at the parks. DECEMBER 16, 2016 • 17

MEMBER NEWS

East Valley Water District Wins Award for Community Relations The East Valley Water District has been honored by the Inland Empire chapter of the Public Relations Society of America with a Polaris Award for its 2015 drought outreach program. The annual Polaris awards recognize public relations tactics and programs that successfully incorporate sound research, planning, execution and evaluation. The district was honored for its extensive public outreach program titled “On Our Way to 28.” Under emergency drought regulations in 2015, the district was required to reduce water consumption by 28%. Subsequently, district staff, together

with an ad-hoc committee of the Board of Directors, created the outreach campaign that combined publicity, education, events and rebates to build awareness and compliance with the 28% water use reduction. “The fundamental goal of the district’s drought campaign was to communicate the importance of making lasting and permanent changes,” said John Mura, general manager/CEO of East Valley. “Our staff focused on engaging customers and communicating the importance of efficient water use.” .

EVWD Public Affairs Conservation Manager Kelly Malloy (left) and Conservation Coordinator Janett Robledo (center) accept a Polaris Award for EVWD’s outreach campaign “On Our Way to 28.”

Fair Oaks WD Wins Financial Reporting Award for 15th Time The Fair Oaks Water District has announced that the district has been awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. The award recognizes public entities for exemplifying high standards in governmental accounting and financial reporting. The GFOA is a nonprofit professional association serving approximately 17,500 government finance professionals. This

is the 15th consecutive year that the association has recognized FOWD with the Certificate of Achievement. “This is another example of the professionalism, attention to detail, and integrity that the FOWD’s executive team and staff demonstrate on a regular basis,” FOWD Board President Dave Underwood stated in a press release. “FOWD customers are in good hands being served water with transparency and frugality during times where such attributes are difficult to find. The

board is very proud of the executive team and staff that serve water to the people of FOWD.” .

Inland Empire and Chino Basin Receive Storm Water Grant The Inland Empire Utilities Agency and Chino Basin Watermaster have been awarded a $10 million grant toward a storm water capture and groundwater recharge project by the State Water Resources Control Board. The funding was awarded under the Proposition 1 Storm Water Grant Program. The project includes improvements to three storm water facilities and is designed to increase efficiency

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in capturing, conveying and recharging approximately 3,166 acre-feet per year of storm water and 2,905 acre-feet per year of recycled water. “This project will provide multiple benefits, including an increase in surface water and recycled water runoff capture, an increase in recharge at the basin sites and a reduction in energy demand through a decrease in imported water demand, leading to a reduction of water rates for

the region’s residents,” said IEUA Board Member and Watermaster Board Chairman Steven J. Elie. “The multi-benefit storm water project will contribute to sustained, long-term water benefits for the entire region, and represents remarkable cooperation among all the cities and water districts in the region, who have committed to match the grant for the project.” .

PEOPLE NEWS Dublin San Ramon SD Hires Jeff Carson as New Operations Manager Dublin San Ramon Services District has hired Jeff Carson as its new operations manager. Carson will be responsible for wastewater, drinking water, and recycled water operations.

Jeff Carson

Carson has 19 years of wastewater industry experience in the Bay Area. Before joining DSRSD, he was operations and maintenance manager for the City of Hayward’s water polPruim Named General Manager at Vallecitos WD The Vallecitos Water District has announced the hiring of Glenn Pruim as its new general manager. Pruim, a registered engineer, has extensive experience with Carlsbad Municipal and San Dieguito Water District, Encinitas and Carlsbad sanitary districts, and the cities of San Diego and Encinitas.

Glenn Pruim

“We are excited to have Glenn join us,” said Vallecitos Board President Mike Sannella. “After a nationwide search we selected the ideal candidate: a general manager with skills in

lution control facility, helping launch awardwinning renewable energy and water recycling projects. “Jeff is a strong leader who continually improves operations through systematic training and sustaining a culture of teamwork,” says Dan McIntyre, DSRSD general manager. “His experience in Hayward deploying state-of-the art technologies to recover energy and water from wastewater fit well with the district’s strategic goals.” . drinking water, desalinated water, recycled water and wastewater collection — and also one who knows and understands California’s water woes as well as the local North County community.” Pruim said he is “very excited about the opportunity to join Vallecitos.” “In my previous positions with Carlsbad and Encinitas, I have worked side by side with Vallecitos on water and wastewater issues and have always been impressed by their leadership and professionalism. I’ve also been a Vallecitos customer for the past 14 years and have received excellent service,” said Pruim.

Schroeder Elected to Fair Oaks WD Board Pete Schroeder, a Fair Oaks businessman and active community member, was elected to the Fair Oaks Water District Board of Directors in the November general election. He will represent the district’s Division III, for a fouryear term.

Schroeder also has served on the boards of the Fair Oaks Rotary Club and Chamber of Commerce and was named Fair Oaks Citizen of the Year in 2014. In 2015, he founded Fair Oaks Community Action Partnerships, which brings together organizations in an effort of support and cooperation.

Miller and Reznicek Elected Officers for Vista Irrigation District Board The Vista Irrigation District Board of Directors has elected Marty Miller as its president and Randy Reznicek as its vice-president for 2017.

vember 2011, and chaired the district’s public affairs, water sustainability, and Warner Ranch committees. Reznicek has served on the board since January 2015 and has chaired the water sustainability and public affairs committees.

Pete Schroeder

Miller, a board member since 2008, has represented the district on the San Diego County Water Authority Board of Directors since No-

Miller and Reznicek are joined by directors Richard Vásquez, Paul Dorey and Jo MacKenzie to form the current VID Board of Directors.

Marty Miller

DECEMBER 16, 2016 • 19

MOST CLICKED

Here are some of the latest mostclicked stories on ACWA’s website, www.acwa.com. Be sure to subscribe to ACWA’s eNews to get the latest news in your email box each week. See www.acwa.com/newsletters/ ACWA-eNews for more.

Association of California Water Agencies 910 K Street, Suite 100 Sacramento, CA 95814-3577

Periodicals Postage PAID Sacramento, CA

Time Valued Material

Congress Sends Water Legislation to President — 12/12/2016 WRDA Added to Compromise Bill; Action Possible This Week — 12/07/2016

UPCOMING EVENTS

Urban Californians Continue to Conserve Water Robustly — 12/06/2016 Governor Announces Appointments to Regional Water Quality Control Boards — 12/05/2016 PPIC Water Policy Center Calls for “Grand Compromise” on the Delta — 12/05/2016

FEBRUARY 2017 2 A Water 101 educational program sponsored by Water

Eduction Foundation will be at the West Sacramento City Hall, West Sacramento. The program will look at the historical, legal and management aspects of water in California as well as key water issues facing the state, including drought, groundwater management and the Delta. Top speakers include: Lester Snow, former California Natural Resources Secretary; Alf Brandt, senior counsel for the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee; Jennifer Harder, assistant professor at McGeorge Law School; and Jennifer Persike, ACWA deputy executive director, external affairs and member services. For more information contact the Water Education Foundation at (916) 444-6240.

TWITTER CHATTER CA SNC@CAsWatershed • Dec. 8 • SNC awards first $10 million in #Prop1 grants, supports Sierra Nevada Watershed Improvement Program. Michael Doyle@MichaelDoyle10 • Dec 8 • House overwhelmingly passes #Cawater bill, 360-61, setting stage for Senate action. ACWA@ACWAWater • Dec 7 • Water year off to a better start, conservation improves http://lat. ms/2h6JkF7 via @BCWaterNews ACWA@ACWAWater • Nov 30 • Bringing Water Together: New Branding unveiled at #ACWAConf today! CA – DWR@CA_DWR • Nov 29 • Wettest start in 30 years to rainy season in Northern California, but don’t forget the #drought

28 – Mar. 2

ACWA DC2017 conference is set for Feb. 28 to March 1, 2017 at the St. Regis Hotel in Washington, D.C. Online registration & cancellation deadline is February 10, 2017. For registration and more information go to www.acwa.com/events/acwa-dc2016washington-dc-conference.

MARCH 2017 8 ACWA 2017 Legislative Symposium is set for March 8, 2017 at the Sacramento Convention Center. More details to come.

ACWA DC2017

Annual Washington D.C. Conference

FEBRUARY 28 – MARCH 1, 2017 St. Regis Hotel, Washington D.C.