The Department of Water Resources is now accepting applications for Prop. 84 water quality grants for Delta region projects. Projects are eligible based on their water quality criteria and geographic area.

Applications are due Aug. 13 and may be submitted via e-mail. An informational workshop will be held at 10 a.m. July 29 at DWR’s Bay-Delta Office, 1416 Ninth Street in Sacramento, Room 210.

A National Academy of Sciences panel tasked with reviewing the science behind current Delta protection measures kicked off a three-day meeting in Sacramento this week.

The panel on Sustainable Water and Environmental Management in the California Bay-Delta convened in open session July 13 to hear presentations on the Bay-Delta Conservation Plan, Delta contaminants and other issues. State and federal officials updated the panel on the BDCP, which is on track to issue a draft plan in November 2010.

Californians are learning how to have a beautiful, water efficient garden this summer at the 2010 California State Fair, where the Save Our Water program is hosting a special landscaping exhibit through Aug.1.

On July 8, following its monthly El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Diagnostic Discussion, the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center announced its opinion that La Niña conditions have begun to develop and will last through early 2011.

Today Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the projects that will be funded in fiscal year 2010 by the Department of Agriculture’s Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI).

An initiative aimed at preventing the state from taking, diverting or borrowing local government revenues has qualified for the ballot. The Secretary of State’s office announced last week that the Local Taxpayer, Public Safety and Transportation Protection Act of 2010 will appear on the November 2010 ballot as Proposition 22.

Online registration opened today for workshops to be held in August throughout the state to discuss the draft SBX7 6 Groundwater Elevation Monitoring Program. These six workshops, hosted by ACWA and the Department of Water Resources (DWR) will offer attendees the opportunities to learn about the program, volunteer criteria, ask questions, and provide public input while the provisions are in draft form.