ACWA e-News for July 3, 2012

Legislation that would move the $11.14 billion water bond to the November 2014 ballot passed in the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee July 2 on a bipartisan 6-0 vote.

The Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee rejected a bill July 3 that would have exempted some developments and projects in the Delta from having to comply with the final version of the Delta Plan.

ACWA-supported legislation aimed at expediting funding for safe drinking water projects and allowing homeowners to install and operate rainwater capture systems cleared the Senate Environmental Quality Committee on July 2.

Saying a reliable water supply is key to the long-term economic stability of Silicon Valley, the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California, a consortium of business groups is calling on state and federal officials to move forward with the Bay Delta Conservation Plan.

A government reorganization plan proposed by Gov. Jerry Brown became official today.

The plan, which will be implemented over the next year, cuts the number of state agencies from 12 to 10 and eliminates or consolidates dozens of departments and entities. The plan changes the reporting relationships of dozens of entities to improve coordination and efficiency, aiming to make government more responsive to the public.  

The plan originally included merging the Delta Stewardship Council with the Natural Resources Agency, but was rewritten to exclude that proposal.

A new report by the California Economic Summit identifies water reliability and investment as critical to the future of the state’s economy.

Compiled by civic and other leaders from across California, the 2012 Summit Action Plan proposes seven initiatives for ensuring short- and long-term economic success and presents recommendations on the state and local level.

The Delta Stewardship Council will meet Thursday, July 12, to focus entirely on revising the final staff draft Delta Plan.

The meeting will take place from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Ramada Inn & Suites at 1250 Halyard Drive in West Sacramento.

Click here for an agenda and visit the DSC website for more information.

Got a program worth talking about? Consider entering your agency's outstanding public affairs efforts in ACWA's new Best in Blue Award: Achieving Communications Excellence.

Unveiled in May, the award honors public water agencies for their efforts in communicating with customers, legislators, media, the public and others. The award focuses on innovation, transparency and use of available funds.

A comprehensive flood protection plan for the Sacramento and San Joaquin river basins was adopted today in Sacramento after six months of public comment and input.

The Central Valley Flood Protection Board unanimously adopted the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan, which lays out a strategy for providing 200-year flood protection to homes and businesses in the Central Valley’s urban areas and reducing flood risks to rural and agricultural areas.  

The House Appropriations Committee approved the FY 2013 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill on June 28 by a vote of 26 to 19.  The $28 billion dollar bill funds the Department of Interior, EPA and various other agencies.  It drastically reduces EPA’s State Revolving Fund allocating just $689 million for the clean water SRF, over $710 million less than in FY 2012, and $829 million for the drinking water SRF, $89 million less than in FY 2012.

ACWA member Einar Maisch, Director of Strategic Affairs at Placer County Water Agency, testified at a House Resources Committee hearing held on June 27.  The hearing examined the impacts of mandatory conditioning requirements by federal agencies on hydropower facilities. During his opening remarks, Maisch compared Placer’s permitting experience with that of their northern neighbor’s, the Drum-Spaulding/Yuba-Bear projects. 

The Delta Independent Science Board will meet July 9-10 to discuss its reviews of science programs in the Delta, the Bay Delta Conservation Plan Draft Environmental Impact Report/Statement, the Delta Science Program and the Delta ISB workplan.

The meeting will take place from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day at 980 9th St. in Sacramento. Get more information and a meeting agenda here.