ACWANEWS
ACWA’s Member Newsletter • www.acwa.com
San Luis Reservoir, south of Los Banos, looks near-empty in this Aug. 4 photo. The reservoir hit its lowest level in 27 years this summer, despite healthy winter rains and a near-full Shasta Lake. Diminished releases from Shasta to preserve cold water for salmon, as well as salinity problems in the Delta, sharply reduced pumping in the Delta, which cut deliveries to San Luis and other water users.
Low San Luis Reservoir Sparks Concern Over CVP Management San Luis Reservoir hit a 27-year low this month, despite healthy winter storms and above-average water levels at Shasta Lake. The exceptionally low San Luis has sparked concerns over the operation of the Central Valley Project, with critics saying federal officials are over-emphasizing species protection at the expense of other water uses. “These pictures (of a low San Luis) speak volumes about the gross mismanagement of the Central Valley Project,” said Byron-Bethany Irrigation District General Manager Rick Gilmore. “We simply cannot continue to prioritize failing environmental policies over the survival of agriculture.” Shasta Lake, near Redding, is at 109% of historic average for this
date, but federal officials have sharply reduced its releases in an attempt to preserve cold water for winter-run salmon, which have suffered sharp declines during the drought. Those cutbacks in flows were required under a temperature control plan for the Sacramento River developed by the National Marine Fisheries Service and other federal agencies. Salinity problems in the Delta also have required cutbacks in pumping, according to federal officials. Two king tides in July pushed saltwater from the ocean further east into the Delta. Typically, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation would release about 13,000 cubic feet per second of water from Shasta to travel down the Sacramento River to the Sacramento-San Joaquin SAN LUIS Continued on page 7
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August 19, 2016
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Executive Director’s Column: Low San Luis Reservoir Highlights Broken System
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ACWA Board Moves Forward With Organization-Related Priorities
ACWA Members Assist with Emergency Action to Help Delta Smelt Sacramento Valley water districts took part in a coordinated effort in July to improve habitat conditions for Delta smelt. The emergency action, carried out in cooperation with state and federal agencies, focused on a critically important component of Delta smelt survival: food abundance and availability. The effort involved a limited “pulse flow” designed to push phytoplankton-rich water down into the Delta, where it could spur a large zooplankton bloom, thereby providing critical food supplies to young Delta smelt. Experts agree that habitat loss and the introduction of nonnative DELTA SMELT Continued on page 7
6
Congress on Summer Vacation; Many Bills Up for Vote in 19, September AUGUST 2016 • 1
ACWA News is a publication of the Association of California Water Agencies Periodicals postage paid at Sacramento, CA. POSTMASTER: send address changes and subscription requests to ACWA News, 910 K Street, Suite 100 Sacramento, CA 95814-3514 Phone: 916.441.4545 Website: acwa.com Executive Director Timothy Quinn Deputy Executive Director 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
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S COLUMN • TIMOTHY QUINN
Low San Luis Reservoir Highlights Broken System If you need a sign that the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is broken, look no further than San Luis Reservoir. Despite nearaverage precipitation this year and healthy storage in other north state reservoirs, San Luis is so precipitously low that deliveries were nearly shut off in early August. Meanwhile Shasta Lake, the state’s largest reservoir, sits at 109% of its historic average for the date. What’s wrong with this picture? In a nutshell, we have a water system that is broken from a physical and policy standpoint. Recent developments illustrate the problem. Earlier this year, during the El Niño storms that provided at least some respite from the drought, federal officials overcautiously kept pumping levels very low to protect Delta smelt, which prevented water from being delivered for storage in San Luis and later to farms and cities south of the Delta. Not long after that, other federal officials decided to reserve significant volumes of water in Shasta this summer to keep it cold for winter-run salmon. Their plan restricted releases into the Sacramento River so much that some growers were at risk of supply disruptions. Delta salinity problems exacerbated by the low flows made it extremely difficult to move water into San Luis, to the point that the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation exhausted its share of stored water in the reservoir and struggled to maintain even minimal deliveries to agricultural water users south of the Delta. Algae problems in the low reservoir are creating water quality challenges for urban users in the Santa Clara Valley that rely on San Luis. This scenario underscores the peril of regulatory agencies focusing almost exclusively on species protection at the expense of water supply. Moreover, efforts to protect endangered fish virtually always narrowly focus on a single element — temperature control or flows — while failing to address other important factors affecting the species. Allowing a single-stressor approach
to drive water management decisions only serves to maximize conflict between species protection and water supply, while failing to adequately serve either. And we continue to lose water supply every day as a result. No one wants to see the demise of fish species. In fact, the water community is demonstrating quite the opposite with major investments by several water agencies to improve habitat and fish passage for salmon populations. Through the Salmon Recovery Program, funded in large part by water agencies, more than 200,000 tons of gravel has been deposited into waterways, improving salmon spawning ground. Fish screens also have been built to protect fish migrating up the river to spawn. In recent decades, entire streams have been reconfigured using comprehensive management tools to provide habitat for salmon, while protecting the ability to provide reliable water supplies, sometimes with spectacular results. Another bright spot is the Delta Smelt Resiliency Strategy released by the Brown Administration this summer. Though still relying on unproven flow elements (this time requiring increased flows during the summer months when they would never occur naturally), the strategy emphasizes multiple stressors and puts a comprehensive, lifecycle approach to saving Delta smelt on the table for the first time. The water community strongly supports the California policy of coequal goals. Sadly, actions by regulatory agencies continue to undermine that policy. Anyone driving past San Luis Reservoir this summer can see the result. We need a comprehensive strategy for managing water supply and our aquatic resources if we are to achieve the coequal goals. Our environment, and our economy, can’t wait.
ACWA BOARD
ACWA Board Moves Forward With Organization-Related Priorities The ACWA Board of Directors took steps to advance four key organizational goals with approval of various action items at the July 29 meeting. Board members also heard updates on legislative and regulatory issues and activities to advance ACWA’s policyrelated goals, including long-term conservation and drought policy, water markets / water transfers, investments in water storage and other topics. Earlier this year, the Board identified five organization-related goals and six policy-related goals as priorities for 2016 as part of its Strategic and Business Plan for the two-year Board term. Updates on the goals will be presented to the Board throughout the term. The Board took the following actions on organizational goals on July 28: Long-Term Finances: The Board approved a framework to develop a long-range financial plan to ensure ACWA remains strong and financially sustainable into the future. Framework elements include long-term staff development and succession planning, a compensation strategy, options regarding ACWA’s headquarters building in downtown Sacramento, and strategies for increasing non-dues revenue. The Board approved creation of an advisory group to help assess alternatives regarding the building and authorized use of a consultant to help develop a plan to expand non-dues revenue. Next Generation: The Board authorized creation of a Next Generation
Advisory Committee to help plan and implement a new initiative to assist members with recruiting and engaging the next generation. The committee, led by ACWA President Kathleen Tiegs, will include both next generation participants as well as established water managers. The initiative will focus on creating a suite of tools and opportunities to help develop young professionals and introduce and engage the next generation of water leaders to ACWA. Agricultural Initiative: The Board approved a framework for a new initiative to improve engagement and involvement by ACWA’s agricultural members. The effort will include outreach activities as well as strategic initiatives to support the needs of agricultural members and ensure ACWA remains relevant to those members. The Board also approved formation of an advisory group headed by Region 6 Vice Chair Bill Diedrich to help shape and guide the initiative. Integrated Marketing / Communications / Outreach Plan: The Board heard a full presentation and approved key concepts recommended by a Board-level work group to update the ACWA brand, including the logo and tagline. A rollout plan is being developed to unveil the new branding at ACWA’s 2016 Fall Conference & Exhibition.
Updates on Key Issues Also at the July 28 meeting, Board members heard updates on the State Water Resources Control Board’s
modified emergency conservation regulation and ACWA’s ongoing external affairs and outreach efforts on the issue. A communications toolkit and other resources have been distributed to ACWA members, and ACWA continues to reach out to media on the regulation and its focus on drought preparedness and ongoing water use efficiency. ACWA Deputy Executive Director for External Affairs and Member Services Jennifer Persike updated the Board on 2016 plans for Save Our Water, the state’s official conservation and education program managed by ACWA in partnership with DWR. The program is launching statewide paid media effort including radio, outdoor, digital and social media ads with the “Water Conservation: It’s for Life” messaging. ACWA President Kathleen Tiegs provided an update on meetings and events held throughout the state as part of the “Meet the President” initiative. ACWA has hosted 10 events to date, while Tiegs has participated in numerous one-on-one or small group meetings reaching more than 100 member agencies by the end of July.
Board Workshop Prior to the July 29 meeting, the Board held a half-day workshop on July 28 on the topics of water marketing and transfers, California WaterFix and regulatory issues, and development of a long-range plan for ACWA’s financial sustainability and staff resources.
Registration Open for ACWA’s 2016 Fall Conference & Exhibition Registration is now open for ACWA’s 2016 Fall Conference & Exhibition at the Anaheim Marriott Hotel in Anaheim Nov. 29 – Dec. 2. The conference will feature about 80
different events including programs, town hall meetings, state issue forums and keynote addresses. A more detailed list of speakers and programs will be released soon.
Online registration and cancellation closes Nov. 1 at 4:30 p.m. Registration is available at www.acwa.com/events/ acwa-2016-fall-conference-exhibition.
AUGUST 19, 2016 • 3
State Water Board Launches Hearings on California WaterFix The State Water Resources Control Board in late July launched a series of public hearings on the California Department of Water Resources’ request to add three new points of diversion in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta for the California WaterFix project. The opening of the first three-day set of hearings began with policy statements from California Natural Resources Secretary John Laird, and officials from the U.S. Department of the Interior. Numerous opponents of the project also spoke.
and wildlife, recreation, and other public trust issues. DWR has presented evidence in a petition showing that the proposed change will neither initiate a new water right nor injure any other legal user of water. Key points from the petition state: •
WaterFix would create more flexibility to better balance water quality and water supply (and fish protection which will be discussed in Part II).
•
DWR and the U.S. Bureau do not seek a new or expanded water right or any modifications to the water quality standards upstream or downstream of the proposed diversion points.
The hearings are being held at the EPA Building, 1001 I St., Sacramento. For regular updates on the hearings, follow the new California WaterFix blog at www.californiawaterfix.com/ state-water-board/. The questions before the State Water Board, defined by the members themselves for Part I of the hearings, are narrow. The questions ask: Does the new point of diversion alter water flows or affect water quality such that there would be injury to any legal user of the water, and does the project in effect initiate a new water right? Part II of the hearings, expected to begin in early 2017, will address fish
•
•
DWR has a proven track record of meeting the State Water Board’s Delta water quality standards and WaterFix would operate within the standards established by the State Water Board. Meeting existing or future water quality standards would be easier with the flexibility provided by California WaterFix. WaterFix will be operated in real-time. While modeling can perform an assessment of potential
water operation effects, water project operators handle complex situations on a daily basis to stay in compliance with water quality standards. Part I of the hearings is expected to take several months. A schedule of the hearings can be found at www.waterboards.ca.gov/ board_info/calendar/index.shtm with tentative hearing dates (as needed) scheduled through January 2017. On days scheduled, the hearing begins at 9 a.m. Officials with DWR and the Bureau also have released a revised biological assessment for the California WaterFix project to federal agencies with a request to begin the formal consultation process under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. The biological assessment released to the National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service presents a species-by-species analysis of the project’s potential effects.The newly released biological assessment articulates how WaterFix would be operated to meet the needs of endangered species. A biological assessment is required to obtain incidental take authorization under ESA.
“Stress Test” Results Reveal Drought Preparedness in California “Stress test” results released by the State Water Resources Control Board on Aug. 16 revealed that a majority of California water agencies have enough water supply to last three additional dry years. Many agencies with enough supply also chose to continue water-use restrictions, data indicated. Of the 379 suppliers that submitted “stress tests,” 36 indicated that they would face supply shortages in 2019 and therefore must meet a conservation standard equal to the shortage amount. Other suppliers reported no supply 4 • ACWANEWS
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gap, but stated a commitment to ongoing conservation. Felicia Marcus, chair of the State Water Board, highlighted during the meeting that a zero gap in water supply under the “stress tests” does not equate to zero conservation. “The bottom line is zero does not mean zero,” said Marcus. The so-called “stress tests” follow a formula established by the State Water Board that requires agencies to show
they have enough supply for three additional dry years. The method was developed as an alternative to the former state-mandated emergency conservation regulation that based conservation standards solely on usage levels compared with 2013. Dave Bolland, special projects manager for ACWA, told the board that water agencies are “staying the course” in terms of conservation. “A significant number of agencies are Continued on page 5
State Holds Workshop on New Water Standard for 1,2,3-TCP The State Water Resources Control Board conducted a series of workshops in July on development of a drinking water standard for 1,2,3-Trichloropropane (or 1,2,3-TCP), a chemical used as an industrial solvent that also was an ingredient in soil fumigants widely used for decades. The first workshop was held July 20 in Sacramento to discuss development of a maximum contaminant level (MCL) for 1,2,3-TCP and gather input on the State Water Board’s preliminary staff MCL recommendation of 5 parts per trillion (ppt). Workshops also were held in Bakersfield on July 26 and Fresno on July 28 where the public was provided an opportunity to ask questions and participate in the discussion. According to monitoring data submitted by public water systems from 2001 to 2015, the chemical has been detected in 471 wells in California at concentrations between 5 ppt and 10,000 ppt. The most affected counties are Kern, Fresno, Tulare, Merced and Los Angeles. The chemical is considered a probable carcinogen. The State Water Board intends to release a draft rulemaking package in fall or winter of 2016, with adoption of a final MCL anticipated in spring 2017. The Office of Environmental Health
Hazard Assessment set a public health goal (PHG) for 1,2,3TCP of 0.7 ppt in 2009. PHGs are established solely on the basis of health effects data and do not consider technical or economic feasibility. PHGs are not regulatory requirements. There is no federal MCL for 1,2,3-TCP. The state established a notification level of 5 ppt for 1,2,3-TCP in 2009. Public water systems are required to notify customers if 1,2,3-TCP is detected above the notification level.
1,2,3-TCP Concentrations Above 5 ppt Draft
Del Norte
Siskiyou
Modoc
Shasta
Humboldt Trinity
Lassen
Tehama Glenn
Mendocino
Plumas Butte
Average Concentration of 1,2,3-TCP Based on average of all samples for each well 150 ppt 70 ppt 35 ppt 15 ppt 7 ppt
Number of wells impacted at each concentration
5 ppt
289
Sierra
20 60 104 174 245
YubaNevada Placer Lake Colusa Sutter
El Dorado Yolo Alpine SonomaNapa SacramentoAmador Solano Calaveras Marin Tuolumne Contra Costa San Joaquin San FranciscoAlameda Stanislaus Mariposa San Mateo Merced Madera Santa Clara Santa Cruz
Mono
Fresno
San Benito
Inyo Tulare
Monterey
Kings
San Luis Obispo
Kern San Bernardino
Santa Barbara Ventura
Los Angeles
¶
Orange
Riverside
San Diego
Imperial
Legend ! 1,2,3 Trichloropropane Detection above 5 ppt ! Drinking Water Wells 0
25
50
100
150
ACWA will work with the Water Quality Committee’s Safe Drinking Water Subcommittee to coordinate its response to any proposed MCL regulation.
200 Miles
1,2,3-TCP = Trichloropropane ppt = parts per trillion
For more information contact ACWA Senior Regulatory Advocate Adam W. Robin, adamr@acwa.com. RESOURCE www.waterboards.ca.gov/drinking_ water/certlic/drinkingwater/123TCP. shtml
Continued from page 4
continuing to stay the course in terms of local conservation commitments they are making,” said Bolland. The State Water Board issued nine informational orders to water suppliers whose submissions were incomplete. Marcus said the “stress test” results reveal drought preparedness, while offering customers a glimpse into the
operations of their local districts. “Demonstrating adequate preparation for drought through developing supplies like local storage, recycling, groundwater banking and other means is great. Sharing that information with customers in an accessible way is also a critical piece of developing consumer comfort and confidence,” Marcus said in a written statement. “Being
prepared, however, is not a license to abandon conservation, because one thing we know is we can’t know what next year or the next will bring.” More information on the “stress tests” is available here: www.waterboards. ca.gov/water_issues/programs/ conservation_portal/emergency_ regulation.shtml.
AUGUST 19, 2016 • 5
FEDERAL ISSUES
Congress on Summer Vacation; Many Bills Up for Vote in September Both the House and Senate adjourned for summer recess in mid-July, following a flurry of activity on a number of bills. The two chambers will reconvene Sept. 6 to take action on many bills that still await final vote. Here is a summary of some bills of interest to ACWA members:
Appropriations Made to U.S. EPA The House passed its version of the 2017 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill on an almost partyline vote of 231-197 on July 15. This $32 billion bill funds the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of the Interior and a host of independent agencies. It is typically a lightning rod for controversial amendments and its passage marks the first time the bill has made it out of the chamber since 2009. The bill includes Rep. David Valadao’s (R-21) California drought relief bill, H.R. 2898, as well as a rider preventing the implementation of the “Waters of the United States” rule expanding the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act. The bill provides $7.98 billion for EPA, down $164 million from 2016. Funding for the State Revolving Fund program remains robust. Under the bill, the Clean Water SRF program would receive $1 billion, representing a reduction of $390 million from FY 2016 and the Drinking Water SRF program would receive $1.1 billion, an increase of $207 million from FY 2016. Additionally, the bill funds the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation program (WIFIA) for the first time providing an additional $45 million to support water infrastructure projects. The White House issued a veto threat on the House bill citing spending cuts and policy riders. The Senate Appropriations Committee passed its version of the 2017 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill on a party-line vote of 16-14 on June 16. 6 • ACWANEWS
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This bill has not yet been debated on the Senate floor.
reforms to forestry management would short circuit environmental protections.
Senate and House Agree to Conference Energy Bill After weeks of anticipation, the Senate agreed by 84 votes to proceed to a conference with the House on the two chambers’ versions of the energy bill H.R. 8 and S. 2012. Among the differences between the two bills is that the House bill, H.R. 8, contains Valadao’s (R-21) California drought bill H.R. 2898, and the Senate bill does not. Only after a supposed agreement to drop all sections of the bills for which the White House had issued veto threats did the Senate appoint conferees. However, this agreement now seems to be in jeopardy. After the Senate voted to go to conference with the House, Rep. Rob Bishop (R-UT), chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources, took the final hours before the summer recess to assert that there was never an agreement to remove all portions of H.R. 8 that have received veto threats.
WRDA Consideration in September Both the House and Senate have put off floor consideration of their respective Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) bills until September. Provisions of interest to ACWA members in the WRDA bills include: 1) Authorizing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to engage in environmental infrastructure projects, including water supply and water recycling projects; 2) Including language to allow project sponsors to pay for the Corps to revise outdated operational documents for their reservoirs; and 3) Authorizing the Corps to enter into agreements with non-federal partners to engage in water conservation projects including stormwater capture and groundwater recharge projects.
Senate Committee Approves Sen. Flake’s Drought Bill The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources approved Sen. Jeff Flake’s (R-AZ) Western Water Supply and Planning Enhancement Act of 2016 (S. 2902) along a party-line vote of 12-10 on July 13. This action represents progress on drought relief policy and the bill could potentially be expanded during floor consideration or in conference with the House. The bill includes language on reservoir reoperations, protection of state water rights, and federal support for rural and tribal irrigation projects and also seeks to provide for streamlining of the regulatory process to facilitate new storage projects. Committee Democrats expressed concerns about whether compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act as well as
Wildfire – Headwaters Legislation Stalls A draft bipartisan bill by U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Jim Risch (RID) called the “Wildfire Budgeting, Response, and Forest Management Act” was not included in a July 12 markup by the Senate Energy Committee. The lack of inclusion was due to continued disagreement over how to fix the “fire borrowing” issue decimating the budget of the U.S. Forest Service. As a fallback position, Republicans instead passed S. 2902, by Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) with some wildfire provisions. S. 2902 contains ACWA-supported provisions from House-passed wildfire legislation, H.R. 2647, on fire borrowing, increasing the pace and scale of forest restoration, and collaboration. It is uncertain if House and Senate staff will be able to use committee passage of the Flake bill to enter into negotiations over a final, compromise wildfire bill for consideration this fall.
SAN LUIS Continued from page 1
Delta. From there, some water would be drawn from the pumps near Tracy to make its way to San Luis for deliveries. But this year, federal officials have significantly cut back flows from Shasta, which has severely diminished pumping in the Delta. Water deliveries to farms and cities south of the Delta nearly halted entirely earlier this month, until officials increased releases for a limited period. The perilously low San Luis has created algae problems in the reservoir, impacting Santa Clara Valley Water District, which draws some of its supply from San Luis. Algae is safe to drink, but causes odor and taste issues. Santa Clara Valley Water District Board Chair Barbara Keegan said the low reservoir has created challenges. “The low level of San Luis Reservoir has created significant operational
challenges for us this summer,” said Keegan. “We’ve had to turn to our local reservoirs to help mitigate taste and odor issues, and we have had less water for environmental releases for local fisheries. Also our efforts to replenish our groundwater basins have been slowed.” Jason Peltier, executive director of the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority, criticized the operation of the CVP by federal officials. “The broken state of San Luis Reservoir reflects the broader reality that the CVP, as a water supply project, has been broken by the policy choices of the federal government,” said Peltier.
“Outflow to maintain salinity standards were significantly higher than we were expecting,” said Hunt. Hunt stressed that things will improve at San Luis when salinity standards change in mid-August. He said he expects exports to double once the lower salinity standards kick in. “Things are starting to improve,” said Hunt.
Shane Hunt, a spokesman for the Bureau, said it isn’t only protection of salmon that has led to lower releases. Salinity problems in the Delta are a huge driver in the cutbacks.
Meanwhile, the issue of flows in the Delta is being studied by federal officials this month. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NMFS are reexamining the regulations that govern the Delta.
bloom in the Rio Vista area of the lower Sacramento River. It has since been theorized that this production could benefit Delta smelt if it could be replicated annually.
period it participated (July 11 through July 26). Other participants included Reclamation District 108, Reclamation District 2035 and Knaggs Ranch LLC.
DELTA SMELT Continued from page 1
competitors, such as the overbite clam, have decimated food supplies across the Delta. Food web impacts are thought to be one of the major factors responsible for the decline of Delta smelt and other native fish species. Changes in food abundance have ecosystem-wide implications, which can affect water supplies for the state’s communities and agricultural economies. “Innovative solutions like these, to address the myriad of challenges for endangered species, take the work of many, and GCID is happy we could assist in carrying out this effort for the Delta smelt,” Glenn-Colusa Irrigation District General Manager Thaddeus Bettner said. “GCID is committed to being part of the ongoing efforts to effectively and creatively manage water for various beneficial purposes.” In 2011 and 2012, following largerthan-normal agricultural return-flows from the Yolo bypass, scientists observed an unusual phytoplankton
Based on this theory, from July 11 through Aug. 1, state and federal agencies worked with Sacramento Valley water districts and other local partners to convey Sacramento River water down the Colusa Basin Drain, through the Knights Landing Ridge Cut, past the Wallace Weir, through the Yolo Bypass, and into the Delta. As a part of this effort, Glenn-Colusa Irrigation District coordinated with the Tehama Colusa Canal Authority to allow GCID to divert 150 cubic-feet per second (cfs) through its canal system, and conveyed an additional 200 cfs from the main pump station down the district’s drainage system, leaving the district’s boundaries at Davis Weir. GCID delivered approximately 10,000 acre-feet of water during the time
Due to the planned late summer/fall 2016 re-construction of the Wallace Weir to benefit endangered Chinook salmon species, this year’s emergency Delta smelt action occurred in July. Subsequent years’ plankton-production efforts will likely occur in the fall. The California Department of Water Resources is currently collecting data, and agencies will begin to report on the impacts of the actions soon. Agencies will study each aspect of the emergency action so that future efforts can be as effective as possible. For example, state scientists will measure effects on water quality, phytoplankton and zooplankton abundance, clam abundance, and other key variables at multiple Delta locations to better understand the ecological mechanisms of phytoplankton blooms. AUGUST 19, 2016 • 7
SPOTLIGHT
Woodland-Davis Surface Water Project: Sacramento River Water Now Flows from Long-Awaited Regional Project DISTRICT
FACTS
Location Southeast of Woodland and north of Davis Number of Customers: Over 125,000 people Service Area Cities of Woodland and Davis, UC Davis, parts of Yolo County Water Sources Sacramento River water Infrastructure New Joint Intake Facility on Sacramento River in partnership with RD2035, new 5 mile Raw Water Pipeline, new 30 mgd Regional Water Treatment Facility, 11 miles of new treated water transmission mains to Davis, Woodland and UC Davis, improvements to existing distribution systems in Woodland, Davis and UC Davis to receive and distribute treated surface water. Project Website www.wdcwa.com
A vision hatched in the early 1990s came to fruition this summer when Sacramento River water began flowing to two Yolo County cities from a long-awaited new regional water treatment facility. More than 300 people attended a dedication ceremony July 28 at the Woodland-Davis Clean Water Agency’s treatment plant located between the cities of Woodland and Davis. Local elected officials from those cities, as well as Yolo County supervisors and some state officials, praised the long-awaited launch and reflected on the years of regional cooperation that occurred in order for the project to become a reality. Sen. Lois Wolk (D-Davis) said the idea for the $279 million project began in about 1994 when she served on the Davis City Council. Wolk said a major motivator for the project was the desire to bring higher quality water to Davis and Woodland, both of which relied solely on groundwater. Wolk added that the amount of regional cooperation and coordination needed to pursue the project was “truly monumental.” The project is operated by a joint powers authority, the Woodland-Davis Clean Water Agency, which consists of officials from Woodland, Davis, UC Davis, and Yolo County. The project includes involvement from state and federal officials as it is over 95% funded through low-interest loans from the State Water Resources Control Board and federal and state grants.
Formal planning for the state-of-the-art project began in 2009, which culminated in a $144 million Design-Build-Operate contract being awarded to a team led by CH2M. At the dedication ceremony, Dennis Diemer, general manager of WDCWA, called the facility a “legacy project” that came in “ahead of schedule and under budget.” Construction of the project launched in 2014 and the facility began water deliveries to Woodland and Davis in June 2016. Increased water deliveries to both cities will be phased in over coming months. The project draws water from the Sacramento River through water rights secured in 2011. The surface water is treated at the plant then introduced to augment the groundwater supplies to both cities. The augmentation improves overall water quality in both cities so they can meet current and future water quality regulations, especially chromium-6. Several drinking water wells in both Davis and Woodland have exceeded the levels of the standard. According to materials from WDCWA, surface water will slowly be introduced into both cities’ systems to allow them to adapt to the new water source. Groundwater will be used as needed during higher demand periods and typically will be blended with surface water before being delivered to customers. Woodland also is constructing aquifer storage and recovery wells to allow for the banking of surplus treated surface water in new groundwater wells for times when water
“This is resilience, this and the pipes that bring (water) to our communities. This represents adaptation to the real challenges we are experiencing.” — Davis Mayor Rob Davis
Davis Mayor Rob Davis praised the project during the dedication ceremony.
plant allows for pH and chlorine residual adjustment and the addition of a corrosion and pipe scale inhibitor to the finished water. Both Woodland and Davis also have taken steps to reduce the potential for discolored water and other corrosion by completing flushing of their distribution lines. During introduction of surface water, both cities will conduct weekly water testing — before and after the flush of surface water — to ensure water quality is maintained.
“This is resilience, this and the pipes that bring (water) to our communities. This represents adaptation to the real challenges we are experiencing,” said Davis.
A dedication ceremony for the water intake facility on the Sacramento River, which is a joint project of WDCWA and Reclamation District 2035, is scheduled for Sept. 13.
demands are greatest, such as peak times and summer months. The water treatment facility can supply up to 30 million gallons of water per day. Of that, Woodland’s share of treated surface water will be 18 million gallons per day, while Davis’ share is 10.2 million gallons per day, and UC Davis’ share will be 1.8 million gallons per day.
Top left: Local, state and federal officials gather at the treatment plant dedication July 28 and cut a symbolic ribbon to honor the long-awaited project’s opening. Top right: Elected officials and others unveil the dedication plaque for the regional water treatment facility. They are: (l-r) Davis Mayor Rob Davis, Sen. Lois Wolk (D-Davis), Davis Mayor Pro Tempore Brett Lee, WoodlandDavis Clean Water Agency General Manager Dennis Diemer, and Yolo County Supervisor Don Saylor.
Project planners worked to deliver the highest quality water possible. The treatment
Left: These pipes offer a glimpse into the inner workings of the newly operational regional water treatment facility which treats Sacramento River water then delivers it to the cities of Woodland and Davis for blending with groundwater. Right: An aerial view of the treatment plant on the outskirts of Woodland illustrates its significant size. The plant is capable of providing up to 30 million gallons of water per day.
AUGUST 19, 2016 • 9
ACWA MEMBERS ARE THE
MOST PIECE
Dear ACWA Members: Members are the most important piece of the Association. Appropriately, we want to underscore our members’ value and have designated August as Member Appreciation Month at ACWA. The Association would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your time, expertise, and hard work to advance the water policy initiatives that are so important to our collective membership and industry. ACWA’s diverse membership continues to be highly respected by the state Legislature, Congress, regulators and other key audiences. We appreciate our members’ participation and owe the success of our annual conferences and activities throughout the year to our members. It’s with your knowledge and insight, the time you’ve volunteered to serve on ACWA regions and committees, and your continued interest in coming together as a water community that ensures the success of these activities year after year. With help from our members, ACWA has continued to work toward solutions in 2016. This year, in an effort to maximize our success, the Board of Directors identified the following initiatives as top priorities for the Association:
Policy Initiatives • Develop long-term conservation and drought policy • Advance water storage investments • Promote policy advances on headwaters • Advance sound policy on water markets/water transfers • Provide leadership on drinking water solutions for disadvantaged communities • Ensure Delta solutions are part of a comprehensive plan
Organizational Initiatives • Develop long-range plan for financial sustainability and staff resources • Assist ACWA members with recruiting and engaging the next generation • Improve involvement by ACWA’s agricultural members • Maximize the “Meet ACWA’s President” initiative • Implement the Integrated Marketing / Communications / Outreach Plan
Member Appreciation Month is an opportunity to acknowledge and thank all of our valued members for their contributions. ACWA has planned several appreciation activities throughout the month and we encourage you to visit www.acwa.com to learn more about these activities, as well as all the benefits and services available to you as members. Like every piece of a puzzle, our members are an integral part in addressing statewide water issues. Thank you for your valued membership, and we look forward to our continued partnership in advancing the goals of the water community. Sincerely,
Kathleen Tiegs ACWA President
10 • ACWANEWS
Brent Hastey ACWA Vice President
Vol. 44 No. for8 your ACWA membership!
AUGUST 19, 2016 • 11
WATER NEWS DIGEST Conservation Advisory Groups Named The California Department of Water Resources has announced that an urban advisory group and an agricultural advisory group have been named to help implement Gov. Jerry Brown’s executive order making water conservation a California way of life. The advisory groups include ACWA staff and representatives of several ACWA member agencies. The urban group will hold its first meeting on Aug. 15, and the agricultural group will meet Aug. 25. A meeting agenda and other details will be posted as they are developed on DWR’s Water Use Efficiency web page at www.water.ca.gov/ wateruseefficiency/conservation/. DWR is working with other state agencies to develop a framework to carry out elements of the executive order, with the goal of issuing a proposed draft framework by Jan. 10, 2017. The schedule provides time to conduct essential engagement with the interested parties, and to identify legislation needed to implement the framework.
Donner Lake to Receive Water Exchange In an effort to maintain higher water levels at Donner Lake through August, a series of water exchange transactions will begin under the Truckee River Operating Agreement crafted in December 2015.
The TROA provides new mechanisms for federal, states (California and Nevada), tribal and local agencies to address challenging water management issues. This week, parties to the TROA agreed to the Donner Lake effort. Due to quickly diminishing runoff in the Truckee River Basin watershed this summer, local reservoirs, including Donner Lake, are being drawn down faster than normal. The upper 12 feet of Donner Lake is reservoir storage owned and operated by the Truckee Meadows Water Authority. To maintain Donner Lake levels as high as feasible through August, the California Department of Water Resources proposed a series of complex water exchanges between TMWA and the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe in Nevada.
PPIC Report Calls for Reforms of State’s Water Management The Public Policy Institute of California has released a new report, titled “Accounting for California’s Water,” with 12 specific recommendations aimed at improving the way the state tracks water resources. According to the PPIC, its recommendations are based on best practices in 11 other states, Australia and Spain. Recommendations address a range of issues including improving and standardizing water data collection and transparency, streamlining water rights, clarifying environmental requirements and expanding water
transfers. Among the recommendations is a call for a centralized, real-time flow estimation and monitoring for river basins to allow better coordination among water right-holders, facilitation of cooperative agreements, and improvement of environmental outcomes. The report is at www.ppic.org/main/ publication.asp?i=1206.
Toxic Algae Warning Issued The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board and California State Parks on Aug. 4 issued a warning for San Luis Reservoir and O’Neill Forebay due to potential health risks associated with toxic blue-green algae. Water sampling results at San Luis showed the highest level of toxic algae. O’Neill Forebay and the North Beach Swim area also have been impacted. Health advisories are now posted at those sites urging people and pets to avoid contact with the water. San Luis Reservoir provides drinking water to many parts of California. In recent weeks, similar toxic algae warnings have been issued for other major reservoirs including Shasta Lake and Lake Oroville. According to the California Department of Public Health, blue-green algae, known as cyanobacteria, occurs naturally in surface waters but can quickly multiply into a toxic bloom especially in warmer, summer months.
The Huell Howser Best in Blue is Calling for Entries. The award recognizes outstanding achievements by public water agencies in communicating with customers, legislators, media and the public. The award will be presented at ACWA’s 2016 Fall Conference & Exhibition. Details and entry forms are at www.acwa.com
ENTRY DEADLINE SEPT. 1 12 • ACWANEWS
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Court Rejects Effort to Overturn District’s Water Rate Increases An Orange County judge ruled in late July that a local water district may increase monthly water rates as an urgency measure to offset a decline in revenues during the drought and such action is not subject to repeal through the referendum process. Judge Robert J. Moss ruled in favor of the Yorba Linda Water District in a suit filed in January by the Yorba Linda Taxpayers Association. The suit asked that the water rate increase be repealed or placed on a ballot for voters to decide. Yorba Linda Water District Board of Directors voted in September 2015 to increase monthly water rates by $25 to address an $8 million revenue shortfall experienced as a result of the state’s mandatory conservation regulation. The State Water Resources Control Board’s emergency regulation required Yorba Linda to reduce water use by 36% compared to 2013 levels.
In response to the district’s actions, the YLTA circulated a referendum petition demanding that the increase be reconsidered by the district and repealed or placed on the ballot for the next regular election for the voters to decide. The district declined to either repeal the resolution or place the issue before the voters. YLTA challenged the district’s actions. The judge noted in his ruling that while the district’s revenues declined significantly due to the drought, its operating expenses were largely fixed. Without the rate increases, the district would not be able to cover its expenses and would default on its debt obligations. As a result, the judge noted, granting YLTA’s petition would have serious consequences for the district. The judge further noted that while voters have the right to challenge legislative enactments through the
referendum process, the right is not unlimited. California Constitution article II, section 9 specifically precludes certain types of legislative enactments from the referendum process, in particular urgency statutes. The district argued, and the court agreed, that the resolution adopting the rate increases was an urgency measure enacted in response to drought conditions and therefore was not subject to the referendum process. The court also found “that the essential governmental function of providing safe, clean, potable water might be impaired” if the referendum were allowed to proceed. In an unusual move, the court allowed the submission of amicus letters to address the impact of the statewide drought on local water agencies. An amicus letter was submitted by ACWA and 11 local water agencies in support of the district.
CWC Hosts Briefings on Water Storage Technical Document The California Water Commission is scheduled to host three public briefings this month on the Technical Reference Document for the Water Storage Investment Program. The briefings are scheduled: Aug. 23 in Fresno, Aug. 25 in Auburn, and Aug. 30 in Pleasant Hill. During the briefings, CWC staff will provide an overview of the Technical Reference Document and provide attendees with the opportunity to ask questions regarding the document. Formal comments on the WSIP regulations will not be recorded during the briefings. The CWC is developing the WSIP to distribute funds from Proposition 1 for the public benefits of eligible
water storage projects. The Technical Reference Document supports applicants’ project analyses and quantification of public benefits and assists applicants in producing competitive, technically sound applications. The briefings are open to all interested parties, however the intended audience is the technical staff responsible for running models and conducting the technical and economic analyses on proposed projects for the WSIP. The agenda and meeting materials will be posted on the CWC website at cwc. ca.gov/Pages/Home.aspx Only the briefing Aug. 30 in Pleasant Hill will be webcast live at: cwc. videossc.com/.
For more information about the WSIP visit the CWC website at: cwc.ca.gov/ Pages/PublicBenefits1.aspx. More details on the meeting locations and times follow: •
Tuesday, Aug. 23: 1 – 3 p.m., Woodward Park Regional Library, 944 E. Perrin Ave., Fresno.
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Thursday, Aug. 25: 1 – 3:p.m., U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 11641 Blocker Dr., Auburn.
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Tuesday, Aug. 30: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., Pleasant Hill Community Center, 320 Civic Dr., Pleasant Hill.
AUGUST 19, 2016 • 13
“Water Conservation: It’s For Life” Marketing Goes Statewide; New Spanish Website Launched Save Our Water’s “Water Conservation: It’s For Life” summer public education campaign shifted into high gear this month with a full statewide marketing effort consisting of radio, outdoor, digital and social media ads. Campaign messaging takes a positive approach to encourage Californians to continue to conserve and make permanent changes to save water as part of the “California Lifestyle.” The program’s radio, digital and outdoor ads can be seen and heard across California. More than 70 large billboards and posters featuring the “It’s For Life” message have sprung up; including two dozen in the Los Angeles area, 18 in the Central Valley and 15 throughout the Bay Area. The outdoor placements are in prominent and high-trafficked areas ensuring that the Save Our Water message will be seen millions of times. “This campaign aims to help Californians maintain their strong commitment to saving water by providing ideas, tools and inspiration to help make saving water an everyday
habit,” said Jennifer Persike, deputy executive director of external affairs and member services for ACWA. “‘Water Conservation: It’s For Life’ is also an umbrella effort that water agencies and communities around the state are using to encourage saving on the local level.” Save Our Water’s conservation toolkit for water agencies and businesses has been fully updated with all campaign materials, which can be easily customized with logos and local information. Additional materials such as infographics, tip sheets, web and social media graphics, and posters have been uploaded to the site and are available for use. The program also has launched a full Spanish-language version of the all-new Save Our Water website. This is the first time all sections of the site have been fully translated into Spanish. The new websites are easier to navigate and are designed to help Californians find ideas, tips and other key information to make conservation a permanent part of their lifestyle.
Save Our Water also is hosting a webinar on Aug. 23 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. to provide an update on public education efforts and to review opportunities to partner. Additional marketing opportunities — including low-cost partnerships on local TV stations — will be discussed. For more information on how to attend, please email brendan@saveourwater.com.
ACWA Seeks Candidates to Fill Region 1 Board Vacancy ACWA is seeking interested candidates to fill a vacancy on its Region 1 Board for the 2016-’17 term. Members of the Region 1 Board determine the direction and focus of region issues and activities, support the fulfillment of ACWA’s goals and play an integral role in the leadership of the association as a whole. The deadline to apply is Aug. 31. Region 1 is comprised of nine counties: Marin, Napa, Sonoma, Lake, Mendocino, Humboldt, Trinity, Del Norte, and Siskiyou Counties. 14 • ACWANEWS
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Interested individuals within ACWA member agencies located in Region 1 are encouraged review the Role of the Regions and Responsibilities and Region 1 Rules and Regulations on the ACWA website prior to submitting their nomination packet. To apply for the Region 1 Board, please complete the following steps: •
Complete a Region Board Candidate Nomination Form
•
Obtain a resolution in support from your agency’s board of directors
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Submit all requested information by Aug. 31, 2016.
The Region 1 Board will make its appointment following the application deadline and will inform the region of the results. More information is available at www. acwa.com/content/region-1/acwaregion-1-board-call-candidates. Those with questions may contact ACWA Regional Affairs Representative Katie Dahl or ACWA Region & Member Services Specialist Ana Torres at (916) 441-4545.
Friant Water Organizations Sign Memorandum of Agreement Friant Water Authority and Friant North Authority on July 26 signed a memorandum of agreement establishing areas in which the two organizations plan to work together, including legislative and regulatory affairs, communication, water operations and technical analysis. The FWA is a joint-powers authority formed in 2004 by water agencies receiving supplies from the Friant
Division of the Central Valley Project. Its primary purpose is to operate and maintain the Friant-Kern Canal. The FNA, originally called the Friant North Alliance, was formed in 2015 by four northern Friant Division districts to advance common interests and objectives with respect to their Friant Division water supplies. “Our water users need us to work together with a unified voice to protect
Friant Division water supplies,” FNA Executive Officer Dave Orth said in a statement. “FNA will continue to be a tireless advocate for our farmers in the northern portion of the Friant Division, but when it comes to the critical issues and challenges in California water — the Delta, weathering the historic drought, and working with other water users — Friant’s interests are one.” .
Sept. 1 Deadline Approaches to Honor ACWA’s Best and Brightest Looking for an opportunity to honor those unsung heroes who work tirelessly for the good of ACWA? Or has your agency launched an innovative communications program that deserves broader recognition? If so, Sept. 1 is a date to track.
The Huell Howser Best in Blue Award honors outstanding public water agency efforts in communicating with customers and others. The award focuses on innovation and transparency, while taking agencies’ budgets into consideration.
The deadline for two of ACWA’s prestigious awards — the Huell Howser Best in Blue Award and the ACWA Emissary Award — is Sept. 1. Both awards will be presented at ACWA’s Fall Conference & Exhibition in Anaheim Nov. 29-Dec. 2.
A variety of communications programs are eligible, including short and longterm public outreach, crisis communications, and other efforts. School education programs are not eligible for this award.
The Emissary Award recognizes individual ACWA member volunteers who have made remarkable and visible contributions to water resources in California by participating in, supporting and advancing ACWA’s goals. Guidelines and official entry forms are available at www.acwa.com. RESOURCE Best in Blue entry form: www.acwa. com/content/best-blue-achievingcommunications-excellence Emissary entry form: www.acwa.com/ content/emissary-award
LOOKING FOR ACWA LEADERS Emissary: a person on a mission to represent an organization. ACWA is full of such leaders who make outstanding contributions to California water through voluntary service to ACWA. We want to honor these vital emissaries. Nominate a leader for the 2016 Emissary Award. Learn more at www.acwa.com/content/awards/awards.
2015 Emissary Award Recipient Paul M. Bartkiewicz
Partner, Bartkiewicz, Kronick & Shanahan
Chair, ACWA State Legislative Committee
RECOGNIZE OUR LEADERS. NOMINATE NOW.
ACWA
EMISSARY AWARD
2016
Recognizing Remarkable Contributions DEADLINE SEPT. 1
“Paul Bartkiewicz has a long record of leadership on some of the most critical issues facing California water.” — John Coleman, ACWA past president
AUGUST 19, 2016 • 15
Member News
RWA Celebrates 15 Years of Water Reliability and Conservation The Regional Water Authority celebrated its 15th anniversary on July 14 with a luncheon keynoted by Dave Cogdill, former senator and president & CEO of the California Building Industry Association. The luncheon included nearly 200 water industry leaders, and federal, state and local policymakers and their staff. During the luncheon, Sen. Ted Gaines (R-El Dorado Hills) and Assembly Member Beth Gaines (R-El Dorado Hills) presented resolutions from the California Senate and Assembly recognizing RWA for its achievements including: •
•
Obtaining and managing more than $80 million of state and federal grant funds to conduct planning and implement water supply, water quality and environmental restoration projects. Facilitating implementation of a regional conjunctive use
program that supports reduced diversions from the American River in dry years. •
Developing the award-winning Regional Water Efficiency Program that assists water providers in implementing water conservation best management practices.
In a written statement, U.S. Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA) also thanked the authority for making the Sacramento region “stronger and more resilient.” ACWA President Kathleen Tiegs also commended the authority in writing for its collaboration over the years, calling the progress made by RWA and its members “inspiring.”
RWA Executive Director John Woodling (center) displays a Senate resolution honoring the authority for 15 years of collaboration on July 14. Woodling is joined by: (l-r) Assembly Member Beth Gaines (R-El Dorado Hills), Sen. Ted Gaines (R-El Dorado Hills), and Lincoln Mayor Spencer Short.
RWA was established in 2001 after a two-year process to create a unified approach to regional water issues. The authority represents 22 water suppliers in Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado, Yolo and Sutter counties.
“A lot of what RWA has accomplished was because of our vision for collaboration to tackle any challenge or take advantage of any opportunity,” said RWA Executive Director John Woodling.
San Diego County WA Storage Project Earns International Honors San Diego County Water Authority’s Emergency and Carryover Storage Project — a multi-decade effort to increase the reliability and resiliency of the region’s water system — has won the Engineering News-Record’s Award of Merit in the annual Global Best Projects competition. Major components of the $1.5 billion project include: Olivenhain Dam and Reservoir, San Vicente Dam Raise, San Vicente Pipeline and Pump Station, Lake Hodges Pipeline and Pump Station. Shortly after the completion of the San Vicente Dam Raise project in 2014,
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the district was able to store 100,000 acre-feet of conserved water, which has proven invaluable in recent years. In total, the Emergency & Carryover Storage Project has added more than 190,000 acre-feet of locally controlled storage and is expected to meet the county’s emergency water needs through 2030. “It took more than three decades of planning, investments and engineering expertise to execute this visionary strategy, along with extraordinary focus and determination by the Water Authority and its 24 member agencies,” SDCWA Board Chair Mark Weston said in a statement. “Everyone who
played a part in the project — from our contractors to our staff — is proud that they helped secure the future of San Diego County for our children and grandchildren.” .
Member News
Nevada Irrigation District Pump Station Wins Engineering Award Nevada Irrigation District has earned the Project of the Year Award from the Sacramento Chapter of the American Public Works Association for its new pump station on the DS Canal above Nevada City.
ity to pump water from the DS Canal up to the Cascade Canal or across the Deer Creek canyon to NID’s Snow Mountain system. The $2.5 million project is designed to provide emergency and backup water supplies as needed.
NID Engineering Manager Gary D. King and Project Engineer Adrian Schneider accepted the award at the annual APWA Project of The Year Luncheon on July 29 in Sacramento.
The project was completed under contact by Gateway Pacific, Inc. with Bennett Engineering Services as engineering consultant.
NID’s newly completed Siphon Lane Pump Station gives the district the abil-
The Sacramento chapter of the APWA services a 24-county area in Northern California.
Representatives from NID, Gateway Pacific and Bennett Engineering celebrate NID’s award for Project of the Year for its new pump station during a July 29 awards ceremony.
ACWA and Sonoma County Water Agency Co-Host Federal Briefing Atmospheric rivers, weather forecasting technology and the potential benefits to water management were among the topics explored during a federal briefing hosted by the Sonoma County Water Agency, ACWA, Western States Water Council and Scripps Institute of Oceanography on July 13. Moderated by SCWA Director Shirlee Zane, the briefing included presentations from: Louis Uccellini, with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Services and the National Weather Service; Cary Talbot, with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Jeanine Jones, with the Western States Water Council; and
Marty Ralph, with UC San Diego/ Scripps Institution of Oceanography. SCWA and an interagency, crossdisciplinary team of experts is exploring the viability of utilizing forecasts of atmospheric rivers and their heavy precipitation in operational decisions at key western reservoirs that have been plagued by drought, including Lake Mendocino. The improved climate modeling and technology for predicting the impact of atmospheric rivers help to mitigate flood risks and ensure dam safety, among other benefits. Presentations from the July 13 briefing are available at www.scwa.ca.gov/ar.
Shirlee Zane with Sonoma County Water Agency (far left) poses with speakers from Sonoma County Water Agency’s July 13 federal briefing on atmospheric rivers and their potential benefits to water management.
Bureau Awards Padre Dam $4.5 Million for Recycling Projects In July, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation awarded Padre Dam Municipal Water District $4.5 million in Title XVI funding for water recycling and reuse projects. The district plans to use the funds to expand its Ray Stoyer Water Recycling Facility and begin construction of the East County Advanced Water Purification Facility. In 2015, the district in partnership with Helix Water District, City of El
Cajon and the County of San Diego, opened the East County Advanced Water Purification Demonstration Facility, which takes recycled water from Padre Dam’s Ray Stoyer Water Recycling Facility and treats it.
and General Manager Allen Carlisle. “Additionally, it reduces East County’s need to send our wastewater over 20 miles to the Point Loma Metropolitan Wastewater Treatment Facility and decreases discharges to the ocean.”
“Our Advanced Water Purification Program could produce an additional 4,000 acre-feet of new potable water each year reducing East County’s dependence on imported water,” said Padre Dam CEO
The project has received a total of $10.7 million in various grants, including $6 million in Proposition 84 funding from the State Water Resources Control Board earlier this year. AUGUST 19, 2016 • 17
People News
Steven L. Stockton
Long-Time U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Director Retires After 40 Years U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Director of Civil Works Steven L. Stockton has retired after 40 years of service.
contingency and emergency response, operation, and maintenance activities for the Corps’ Civil Works Program. The Civil Works Program is a $10 billion a year program of water and related land resources and employs of more than 25,000 civilians.
Stockton served the Corps in numerous capacities, including various positions with the Geotechnical Branch of the Corps in Portland, Oregon and a stint as director of Regional Business, South Pacific Division in San Francisco.
Stockton also has served as governor on the World Water Council Board of Governors, represented the Corps in the United Nation’s Advisory Board High-Experts and Leaders Panel on Water and Disasters, served in several national and international water resources committees, and received more than a dozen awards from various professional and governmental organizations.
As director of civil works, he led, managed and directed policy development, programming, planning, design, construction,
DSRSD Names Zavadil New Engineering Services Manager and District Engineer The Dublin San Ramon Services District Board of Directors on July 20 appointed Judy A. Zavadil as its new engineering services manager and district engineer. The position became vacant following the promotion of Daniel McIntyre to general manager. Judy A. Zavadil
Dick Quigley
Zavadil most recently served as the DSRSD’s principal engineer and supervisor of the district’s Capitol Improvement and Asset
Zone 7 Water Agency Board Names President and Vice President for FY 2016-’17 During its board meeting in July, Zone 7 Water Agency’s Board of Directors named Dick Quigley as board president and John Greci as vice president for the 2016-’17 fiscal year. Zone 7 Water Agency is overseen by a seven-member Board of Directors, elected by the community to serve four-year terms. Quigley, a retired Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory senior logistics coordinator, was recently elected to his fourth term on Zone 7’s board. He serves on the district’s Finance and Liaison committees.
John Greci
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Management Division. As engineering services manager, Zavadil will oversee planning, permitting, capital improvements, asset management, and clean water and water conservation programs. She has 28 years of experience as a civil engineer in both public and private sectors. “Judy has strong leadership, coaching, and management skills, and is a recognized champion for continuous improvement in the district,” McIntyre said in a statement.
Quigley also has been heavily involved in ACWA, serving on ACWA’s Board of Directors, Energy and Local Government committees, Outreach task force and as a member of ACWA’s Region 5, where he previously served as Region 5 board chair. Greci, who has served on the Zone 7 Board since 1994, is a retired Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory supervisor in groundwater cleanup and environmental quality. He serves on the district’s Administrative and Water Resources committees.
OBITUARY
SBVWCD Mourns Loss of Long-Time Board Member Manny Aranda
The San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District on Aug. 3 announced the passing of long-time board member Manuel “Manny” Aranda, Jr. Aranda served the district for 22 years and represented its division 3, encompassing areas within the cities of Loma Linda, Redlands, and San Bernardino. He also served as the district’s representative on the ACWA Communications Committee, California Special Districts Association Professional Development Committee and San Bernardino County Special Districts Association.
During his tenure, Aranda held the offices of vice president and president, and chaired several committees. As a lawyer in private practice for over 25 years, he also provided invaluable legal services to the district. In a statement announcing Aranda’s passing, the district expressed its condolences to his family and friends, as well as local community members. “Manny championed efforts to raise public awareness of water related issues. He was the district’s outreach
ambassador. He consistently made presentations to community groups of all sorts to keep the critical importance of judicious use and conservation of water resources always prominent in the public consciousness. He was a tireless supporter of policies and projects that enhanced conservation efforts for the district,” the statement read. “Manny was well known and had many friends in the area. Manny will be greatly missed by the board and staff of the San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District.” .
EMPLOYMENT Operations Manager Dublin San Ramon Services District The Dublin San Ramon Services District provides water, wastewater, and recycled water to more than 171,000 people. Located in Dublin, California, the Operations Manager serves as an integral part of the District’s Senior Management Team by overseeing the Operations Department ($14.3 million budget and 62 staff ) in Plant Operations (wastewater and recycled water); Electrical Maintenance; Mechanical Maintenance; Analytical Laboratory; Field Operations (collections, water, and recycled water); and Safety and Environmental Compliance. Reporting to the General Manager, the ideal candidate will possess strong leadership and management skills as well as be a strategically oriented, self-assured professional with an entrepreneurial spirit. Requires 10 years of increasingly responsible experience for a large wastewater or water treatment facility, including 5 years of supervisory responsibility; public sector experience is desired. Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s preferred. PE certificate, Grade V WTPO’s certificate, or D5 with T1 is preferred. Salary for this at-will position is $172,203 – $210,471 with an excellent
benefits package including CalPERS Retirement. Apply by sending compelling cover letter, resume, current salary, current number of FTE supervised/ managed, and current budget oversight to apply@ralphandersen.com. Apply by September 9, 2016. Confidential inquires welcomed to Heather Renschler, Ralph Andersen & Associates, (916) 630-4900. Detailed brochure available at www. ralphandersen.com.
Water Quality / Regulatory Compliance Specialist Water Replenishment District of Southern California The Water Replenishment District of Southern California (WRD or the District) is seeking a highly organized, experienced and meticulous to detail water resources engineer, geologist, geochemist, hydrogeologist, environmental scientist, or other water quality professional to manage the District’s various permits for recycled water recharge and groundwater discharges to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. These permits are required to replenish the groundwater basins that WRD manages using recycled water and for other discharges related to our Regional Groundwater Monitoring
Program and other activities. The job will require complex technical analysis and administrative tasks to successfully ensure compliance with all applicable permits in a timely manner. In addition, performance and assistance with other projects and programs related to water quality, groundwater levels and groundwater management will be required. Interest candidates can apply by going to the District web site at www.wrd. org, selecting the JOBS & RFPs tab to print an application and see the full job description. Supplemental materials such as a resume are encouraged to be submitted however, no candidate will be considered without a fully completed and signed employment application. Application deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, September 16, 2016. Completed applications along with supplemental materials may be submitted as follows: J H Shaunessy Water Replenishment District of Southern California 4040 Paramount Blvd. Lakewood, CA 90712 jshaunessy@wrd.org Via fax: 562-275-4211
AUGUST 19, 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.
Periodicals Postage PAID Sacramento, CA
Association of California Water Agencies 910 K Street, Suite 100 Sacramento, CA 95814-3577
Time Valued Material
New PPIC Report Recommends Reforms to State’s Water Management — 08/09/2016 Toxic Algae Warning Issued for San Luis Reservoir and O’Neill Forebay — 08/04/2016
UPCOMING EVENTS
Officials Release Biological Assessment of California WaterFix — 08/03/2016
VISIT ACWA.COM FOR COMPLETE LISTING
CWC Hosts Briefings on Water Storage Technical Document — 08/02/2016
ENDS SEPT 1
TWITTER CHATTER ACWA @ACWAWater • Jul 25 • State Water Board Launches Hearings on CA WaterFix Jeffrey Kightlinger @8thGenCA • Jul 23 • Last five years in LA driest period in recorded history. West wide drought ACWA @ACWAWater • Aug. 4 • New Program Pays Central Valley Farmers to Grow Wildlife Habitat
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UC Water Institute @ucanrwater • Aug.8 • New UC research indicates #drought slowing growth of Douglas fir trees across western US http://bit. ly/2b8TuTN BC Water News @BCWaterNews • Aug. 8 • Outbreak of aquatic algae blooms across California’s waters is part of a global problem @matt_ weiser
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NOW OPEN
ACWA 2016 Continuing Legal Education for water professionals will take place at the Bahia Resort Hotel in San Diego. For more information and registration go to www. acwa.com/events/acwa-2016continuing-legal-educationwater-professionals.
GI
15 – 16
W!
SEPTEMBER 2016
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Conservation Strong in June Under New “Stress Test” Approach — 08/02/2016
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ACWA Region 5 Co-Hosts Agricultural Program and Bahia Resort Hotel Tour on Sept. 18-19 at Byron Bethany Irrigation District. The San Diego | Sept. 15–16 tour will include stops at the U.C. Davis Fish Conservation and Culture Laboratory and Frog Hollow Farm. For more information go to www.acwa.com/events/save-dateacwa-region-5-program-tour-september-18-19-2016. The annual Steve Hall Fierce Competitor Golf Tournament will be at DarkHorse Golf Club, Auburn, CA. This event is to help raise funds for the Stephen K. Hall ACWA Water Law & Policy Scholarship and ALS research. For more information and registration go to www.acwa.com/ events/2016-steve-hall-fierce-competitor-golf-tournament.
OCTOBER 2016 3 – 4
REGISTRATION
NOW OPEN ENDS SEPT 26
ACWA 2016 Regulatory Summit, Water and Energy: Beyond the Nexus, will take place at the Hilton Sacramento Arden West, Sacramento. For more information and registration go to www.acwa.com/events/ acwa-2016-regulatory-summit.
NOVEMBER 2016 29 – Dec. 2 REGISTRATION
NOW OPEN ENDS NOV 1
ACWA’s 2016 Fall Conference & Exhibition will take place in the Anaheim Marriott Hotel in Anaheim. For more information and registration go to www.acwa.com/events/acwa-2016-fall-conferenceexhibition or contact Melanie Medina at melaniem@acwa.com.