The Barbed Wire - February 7, 2014

State Water Board Announces Drought Related Actions

Responding to record dry conditions and diminishing water supplies in the State’s major rivers and reservoirs, the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) announced two key actions late last week to protect public health and safety from more severe water shortages, should extreme drought conditions continue. 

State Water Board Executive Director Tom Howard has approved a petition to adjust water quality requirements in the Sacramento San Joaquin Delta, allowing the State Water Project and the federal Central Valley Project to conserve water supplies in upstream reservoirs, and more effectively operate their facilities in response to ongoing drought conditions.  In addition, the State Water Board announced that notices will be issued beginning next week to “junior priority” water-right holders to curtail their diversions of water from the Sacramento and San Joaquin River systems.  Both of these actions were included in the Governor’s recent Drought State of Emergency Declaration.

The State Water Board’s order approving the petition makes temporary urgency changes in the required amount of outflows into the Delta, enabling water to be conserved in reservoirs in case of continued drought.  The order, while in effect for six months, will be updated on an as-needed basis as conditions evolve.  As a result of the order, the State and Federal water projects will save approximately 150,000 acre feet of water in upstream reservoirs in February.  The saved water will be available later in the year for uses in the public interest.  If dry conditions persist, and this order is amended, an additional 150,000 acre feet of water will be preserved in March, and an even greater amount in April. Additional water savings can be achieved through a reduction in water deliveries.

Although the order is effective immediately, the State Water Board will hold a workshop February 18-19 to hear from the public and interested parties on the order or other actions that the Board should be taking.

The State Water Board, acting on instructions in the Governor’s Drought State of Emergency Declaration, notified water rights holders on January 17, 2014 that they may be ordered to halt or reduce water diversions if drought conditions worsen.  Next week, the State Water Board will begin issuing formal curtailment notices.  The first notices will be sent to junior water-right holders in the Sacramento/San Joaquin watershed.  All information will be posted on the State Water Board’s drought webpage as soon as it has been released.

For additional information, please contact RCRC Legislative Advocate Kathy Mannion at 916.447.4806 or kmannion@rcrcnet.org.

Federal and State Governments Coordinating on Drought Response

On Wednesday, Department of Water Resources (DWR) Director Mark Cowin joined U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) Commissioner Michael L. Connor and Administrators from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), National Integrated Drought Information System, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at a press conference in Sacramento to demonstrate a united and coordinated federal response to record-breaking drought conditions in California. 

Reclamation and NRCS announced the availability of up to $14 million in funding for water districts and farmers to build resilience to drought with projects that improve water management. The announcement follows action Tuesday by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to make $20 million available for agricultural water conservation efforts throughout California.

Federal officials also committed to accelerate water transfers and exchanges and provide operational flexibility as necessary to support projects that might help stretch California’s water supplies. Reclamation released its 2014 Central Valley Project Water Plan, which outlines numerous specific actions to help water users better manage their supplies through drought.

For additional information, please contact RCRC Legislative Advocate Kathy Mannion at 916.447.4806 or kmannion@rcrcnet.org.

Expedited Rim Fire Salvage Logging Clears First House

Earlier this week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed House Amendment 554 by Representative Tom McClintock (R-CA).  This amendment added language to HR 2954, a wider public lands package, that would expedite the post-Rim Fire timber salvage process on federal Forest Service lands around, but not within the boundaries of, Yosemite National Park.  The bill would allow for an expedited environmental review process for salvage and restoration projects in those areas, dramatically decreasing the amount of time and costs associated with completing these activities. 

House Amendment 554 was one component of a package of several bills passed by the House which address public lands issues.  The Administration and critics both within and outside of Congress were quick to oppose the amendment and the package, and, to date, neither California Senator has expressed support.

In the meantime, salvage and restoration work has commenced on large swathes of private lands ravaged by the fire.  Additionally, the United States Forest Service (USFS) has proposed, and is working through the approval process for, restoration work on nearly 30,000 acres of dead trees that are endangering citizens or roadways.  USFS estimates that they should be through their environmental review and other processes on these acres by April, with work starting in August. 

RCRC is encouraging Congress to find ways to expedite restoration work in and around Yosemite National Park and throughout the counties devastated by the Rim Fire.  Additionally, RCRC is urging Congress to ensure continuing funding for fire prevention efforts throughout the state and the west, and to not overlook the need for increased forest management while focused on the important work of aiding those regions devastated by the Rim Fire.

For additional information, please contact RCRC Legislative Advocate Cyndi Hillery at 916.447.4806 or chillery@rcrcnet.org.

Congress Passes Farm Bill

The U.S. Senate agreed upon and passed the five-year Farm Bill this week that will have wide reaching impacts for rural California counties. This action follows the House passing the same bill last week. 

The Farm Bill will cost $956 billion, and is headed to the White House and President Obama’s expected signature. One of the most important components for rural counties is the inclusion of a one-year extension of federal Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funding, which compensates counties for the loss of property tax revenue when land is taken into federal ownership. Other more controversial aspects of the Farm Bill include dairy policy, crop insurance changes, water conservation, and the level of support for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps.

Hearing Held to Consider Pending Forestry Legislation

Earlier this week, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on legislation that would impact forests across California, and nationwide. 

The first bill - the Oregon & California Land Grant Act of 2013 (O&C) - would roughly double timber harvests on specific federal lands in the State of Oregon, while protecting old growth trees with added species protections in forests across Oregon. The second bill, the National Forest Jobs and Management Act of 2014, requires the Forest Service to develop logging projects on 7.5 million acres nationwide over a 15-year period. The 7.5 million acres is part of 44.1 million acres that the Forest Service has previously identified as appropriate for timber production. The overall emphasis of the hearing was to find a way to ensure people in rural areas are able to earn a living while concurrently protecting natural resources.

House Passes Drought Bill; CA Senators Will Propose Alternative

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a Central Valley drought relief bill this week that would cap water supply for environmental purposes, extend existing irrigation contracts, and reduce certain environmental restrictions in Central Valley watersheds. 

H.R. 3964 was authored by Republicans in the Central Valley, and cosponsored by most California Republicans. The bill was adopted on a mostly party-line vote of 229 to 191, with Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA) one of seven Democrats to vote for the bill. The bill is similar to legislation passed in the House two years ago, and like that bill, H.R. 3964 is not expected to be considered in the Senate. Senators Boxer and Feinstein oppose the bill’s alteration of the San Joaquin River restoration program and are expected to introduce an alternate drought relief bill next week.

House Committee Considers Bills to Encourage New Water Storage Projects

Earlier this week, the House Natural Resources Committee conducted a hearing on three proposals to encourage the construction of new water storage projects. H.R. 3980 would seek to expedite environmental review and permitting of new facilities, placing the Bureau of Reclamation in charge of permitting facilities on public lands managed by the Departments of Agriculture and Interior. H.R. 3981 would allow for accelerated repayment of existing Bureau of Reclamation contracts, allowing receipts to be deposited into a Reclamation Surface Storage Account that non-federal public agencies could tap for water supply, improved drainage, and other purposes. The Committee also heard testimony on a proposal to amend the Secure Water Act of 2009 to authorize $400 million per year for new storage facilities.

For additional information on federal matters, please contact RCRC Senior Legislative Advocate Paul A. Smith at 916.447.4806 or psmith@rcrcnet.org.

Events/Notices

RCRC Hosts Webinar on CalPERS Proposed Demographic Assumption Changes

Later this month, the CalPERS Board of Administration will meet to consider and take action on a number of proposed demographic assumption changes, which could ultimately impact employer (and possibly employee) contribution rates. 

In an effort to better articulate these proposed changes and their impacts, RCRC will be hosting a free Webinar, including a presentation by senior CalPERS staff.

Subject         

Pending CalPERS Proposed Demographic and Economic Assumption Changes, Projected Contribution Rates, and More

Date

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Time

10:30 a.m. – noon

To register for this Webinar, please click here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing the Webinar link and dial-in information (the email will come from NHFTrainer@nhfloan.org). 

To suggest topics or request specific items be addressed during the Webinar, please email CalPERS staff in advance at William_Kasirye@CalPERS.ca.gov.

Universal Pre-Application Now Available for Safe Drinking Water Funds

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has announced the availability of the new Universal Pre-Application for the CDPH Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SDWSRF) Program. 

The new Universal Pre-Application (UPA) can be accessed here.

For additional information on the new UPA system, please contact Uyen.Trinh-Le@cdph.ca.gov or Joshua.Ruehlig@cdph.ca.gov.