ACWA e-News for August 25, 2010

The two-part ACWA centennial video, titled “A Century of Leadership, Vision for the Future,” is now available for purchase. The 22-minute video debuted at the 2010 ACWA Spring Conference in Monterey and highlights the evolution of ACWA, telling the story of California water through important milestones and important people that have shaped the association. The purchase price is $10, which includes UPS shipping.

Nominations and entries for ACWA’s Emissary Award and Theodore Roosevelt Award are now being accepted. The deadline to submit application materials is Oct. 1.

ACWA’s Emissary Award was established in 2006 and recognizes individual ACWA member volunteers who have made remarkable and visible contributions to the enhancement, protection or development of water resources in California by participating in, supporting and advancing ACWA's goals. Nomination forms may be downloaded here.

The Delta Vision Foundation will host a Water Leaders Roundtable and conversation with members of Delta Stewardship Council on Wednesday, Sept. 22, in Sacramento.

Open to the public, the event will focus on the framework to monitor and evaluate progress on implementation of the Delta Vision Strategic Plan, released in 2008.  

ACWA-sponsored legislation addressing penalties for wastewater discharge reporting passed off the Assembly floor today and now returns to the Senate for concurrence with amendments made in the Assembly.

SB 1284 (Ducheny) addresses high penalties for water agencies and others for failing to report there was no wastewater discharge or failing to report a discharge that did not violate environmental standards.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released a draft regulatory and enforcement proposal Aug. 20 regarding the Clean Water Act. The proposal seeks to enlarge the scope of the Clean Water Act, including expanding new rules and regulations aimed at cleaning and protecting water bodies.  

U.S. EPA’s Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Jared Blumenfeld is expected to sign a proposed rule today establishing a ban on all sewage discharges from large cruise ships and most other large ocean-going ships to the marine waters along California’s entire coastline. 

The Bureau of Reclamation has released draft environmental documents finding no significant impact would stem from a water distribution project linking the California Aqueduct to a local district canal in the southern San Joaquin Valley.

The Delta Stewardship Council has posted the third and final draft of its Interim Delta Plan. The council is set to adopt the plan at its Aug. 27 meeting in Sacramento.

Comments on the final draft submitted by Monday, Aug. 23, will be provided to council members prior to the meeting.

ACWA submitted comments on previous drafts emphasizing the need for early actions and a flexible approach to meeting the co-equal goals of a restored Delta ecosystem and improved water supply reliability.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed ACWA-sponsored legislation on liability issues related to quagga mussels.

AB 1929 (Hall) clarifies existing law to ensure that water system operators who implement invasive species control plans are not subject to unwarranted civil and criminal penalties.

ACWA sponsored similar legislation in 2009, but the measure was unexpectedly vetoed due to concerns that the state would be liable if local agencies were given immunity from liability. Those concerns were addressed with the Department of Fish and Game.

The bill takes effect on Jan. 1, 2011.

A group of water agencies and counties in the Sacramento Valley has formed a joint powers authority to pursue development of the proposed Sites Reservoir Project.