ACWA e-News for March 14, 2012

An Assembly committee will hold an oversight hearing March 20 on recycled water and future opportunities to expand its use.

The Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee hearing will look at the current state of recycled water policy and use as well as new draft regulations for indirect potable reuse.

A webinar offered by the U.S. Geological Survey on Wednesday, March 21, will focus on managing groundwater and surface water as a single resource.

“Managing Water Above and Below” will highlight findings and innovative modeling being used in Sonoma County and how science and modeling are informing water resource decisions on managing groundwater and surface water as a single resource. Registrants will receive an email with teleconferencing details and other information about the session.

The Delta Stewardship Council will discuss development of the sixth staff draft of the Delta Plan and other topics at its March 15-16 meeting in West Sacramento.

Science, costs and alternatives for fixing water supply and ecosystem problems in the Delta were key themes discussed at an informational hearing March 13 before a state Senate committee.

A new report by U.C. Davis’ Thomas Harter and Jay Lund looks at sources, treatments and funding options for dealing with nitrate in California’s drinking water.

The report, titled Addressing Nitrate in California’s Drinking Water, focuses on Tulare Lake Basin and Salinas Valley groundwater. View a live video stream of the report release under the title "Public UC Davis Nitrate Report Release."

The House Energy and Water appropriations subcommittee on March 7 held a hearing to examine President Obama’s FY 2013 budget request for the Army Corps.  

Testifying for the Corps was Assistant Secretary of the Army Jo-Ellen Darcy.  The President’s request includes $4.731 billion in discretionary appropriations which represents a reduction of $271 million, or about 5 percent, from the 2012 enacted level.

Nancy Sutley, Chairwoman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, was called before the House Natural Resources Committee to testify on her Council’s budget request.  

This budget hearing for an executive branch office, with a total budget of $3.1 million, was the first in recent memory. Chairwoman Sutley is President’s Obama’s chief environmental advisor and CEQ is coming under increasing scrutiny from Republicans as they clash with President Obama on environmental issues.

The House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies, chaired by Congressman Dan Lungren (R-3) met on Wed. March 7 to discuss the Chemical Facilities Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) Program, its reauthorization and a leaked internal memo outlining failures in the program.

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies met Wed. March 7 to discuss the President’s budget recommendation for the Department of Agriculture, and it’s Conservation Reserve Program. 

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