ACWA e-News for November 9, 2011

ACWA issued a statement today on the release of a draft environmental impact report (EIR) for the Delta Stewardship Council's Delta Plan, saying the draft report does not create a clear path for meeting the  co-equal goals in the Delta and potentially misses a cirtical opportunity to make real progress.  

Read the full statement here.

Elections for ACWA president and vice president for the 2012-’13 term are set for Nov. 30 at ACWA’s 2011 Fall Conference & exhibition in Anaheim.

The ACWA Nominating Committee has issued a slate that recommends current Vice President Randy Record for ACWA president and current Federal Affairs Committee Chair John Coleman for ACWA vice president.

The vote will take place during the general session immediately following the luncheon program. The session is expected to begin at 1:30 p.m.

Beginning in January, ACWA's printed newsletter, ACWA News, will be published on a new schedule that will include one printed issue and one electronic issue per month.

The change, approved by ACWA's Board of Directors as part of the 2012 budget, will allow the association to reduce costs for printing and postage while still providing timely information to members and other key audiences.

ACWA and the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) are calling on the water community to complete an online survey regarding groundwater management activities in California.

The survey is aimed at compiling information on groundwater management efforts statewide to share with policy makers and other stakeholders.

The California Natural Resources Agency announced last week it is revising its meeting schedule to allow for more opportunity for public interaction and interaction between stakeholders.

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has announced the availability of two new WaterSMART grant opportunities. The grants support Title XVI and Water and Energy Efficiency programs. For more information of the programs, view the press releases below. 

WaterSMART Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse Program Construction Grant Funding Opportunity Now Available

The House Natural Resources Committee held an oversight hearing on President Obama’s National Ocean Policy on Oct. 24. President Obama signed an executive order creating an Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force in June 2009. 

The U.S. EPA’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System pesticide general permit for aquatic pesticide applications went into effect Oct. 31 but has little regulatory effect on California water agencies.

EPA has assigned California primacy for the implementation and enforcement of the federal Clean Water Act, including NPDES permits. This authority has been assigned to the State Water Resources Control Board, which had previously adopted several NPDES permits for aquatic pesticide applications.  

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a final research plan today to assess impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources.

The study, requested by Congress, will look at the full cycle of water-related activities in hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, from the mixing of chemicals to the injection of fracturing fluids to the treatment and disposal of wastewater.

Read PDF Version

Sacramento, CA — California water policy and financing infrastructure improvements in a down economy will be in focus at the Association of California Water Agencies’ (ACWA) 2011 Fall Conference & Exhibition at the Anaheim Marriott Nov. 29-Dec. 2. More than 1,700 local water leaders are expected to attend the event, themed “Financing Our Future.”