ACWA e-News for July 21, 2010

The State Water Resources Control Board today released new flow recommendations for the Delta to protect public trust resources.

Today, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee accepted the House Report of H.R. 4349, the Hoover Power Allocation Act of 2010. The Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee's acceptance the report, without any amendments, significantly enhances the prospects of bringing the bill to the Senate floor.

Yesterday, July 20, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy & Water Development marked up their version of the appropriations bill funding the Department of Energy (DOE), the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Bureau of Reclamation.

The Delta Stewardship Council is set to meet tomorrow afternoon and Friday after touring several facilities in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta tomorrow morning.

On the agenda for discussion is a set of draft guidelines for the newly appointed Delta Independent Science Board, which is charged with reviewing the science underpinning the Bay-Delta Conservation Plan and other programs and activities in the Delta. The final guidelines and charge will be adopted at the ISB’s first meeting.

More than 30 California counties are at high risk of water shortages by mid-century without action to address climate change and reduce water use, according to a report this week by the Natural Resources Defense Council.

The report, based on an analysis by Northern California consulting firm Tetra Tech, identified more than 400 counties in the United States that face an “extremely high risk” of not having enough water to meet demands due to climate change.

Ballot arguments for and against Proposition 18 have been posted for review on the Secretary of State's website.

In addition, the Legislative Analyst's Office has posted analyses of 10 propositions set for the November 2010 ballot. The analyses can be found here.

The State Water Resources Control Board has announced that Tom Howard will become the board’s next executive director in August.

An engineer who has held a variety of positions at the board since 1984, Howard has served as chief deputy director since 2003. His new post becomes effective Aug. 6 upon the retirement of Dorothy Rice.

State Board Chair Charlie Hoppin said Howard has demonstrated leadership ability and a thorough understanding of the state’s complex water issues.

Yesterday, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water marked up the FY 2011 spending bill. The subcommittee approved the $34.6 billion bill by a voice vote after much debate in regards to several sections under the Department of Energy. 

On July 15, Chairwoman Grace Napolitano (D-38) and Ranking Member Tom McClintock (R-4) of the House Water and Power subcommittee, held an oversight hearing examining the Bureau of Reclamation’s commitment and expenditure of stimulus funds, including the $135 million for the Title XVI Water Recycling Program. ACWA member Tony Pack, General Manager of Eastern Municipal Water District, appeared as a witness at the hearing.

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.

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.