The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) has released the final 2016 modifications to California’s groundwater basin boundaries, preparing the way for local agencies to bring their groundwater basins into balanced levels under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA).
The new basin boundaries will be included in the interim update of Bulletin 118, due out by January 1, 2017. Another basin boundary modification request period may be held in 2018 based on demand from local agencies and/or GSAs.
Other important near-term dates on the SGMA timeline include:
December 31, 2016: DWR will post a report on Water Available for Replenishment on its website;
November 14-17, 2016: DWR will conduct public meetings for input on its draft topic of Best Management Practices (BMPs);
January 1, 2017: DWR will post BMPs on its website; and,
June 30, 2017: Date by which local agencies in high and medium priority basins must form GSAs that cover the entire basin in order to avoid potential intervention by the State Water Resources Control Board.
Additional information on the groundwater basin boundaries can be accessed here.
State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) staff has released a working draft report for fisheries and flows in the Sacramento River and Bay-Delta. The Report is the next step in the State Water Board’s update of the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan.
Public comment can be submitted in writing by December 16, 2016, and a public workshop will be scheduled for December 7, 2016. Additional information can be accessed here. A fact sheet describing the report can be accessed here. The full report can be accessed here.
Yesterday, the Rural Counties’ Environmental Services Joint Powers Authority (ESJPA), an organization that advocates on behalf of rural counties and provides technical assistance in order for member counties to comply with State and federal environmental regulations, received an update from various State and local agency representatives on a variety of solid waste environmental programs.
The Department of Toxic Substance Control presented on used oil filter compliance, and there were presentations on solid waste landfills dealing with Industrial Storm Water compliance, new Federal landfill emission requirements, and drone mapping. The County of Madera provided a detailed overview of their efforts to upgrade and expand the county landfill, which included a robust discussion on how the county financed the significant infrastructure requirements and the level of partnership required across local and State agency partners to complete the project ahead of schedule. ESJPA members also received updates from CalRecycle (click here), the California Product Stewardship Council, the Carpet America Recovery Effort, the Mattress Recycling Council, and others regarding producer recycling responsibilities. ESJPA staff provided key updates on 2015-16 legislation, including Senate Bill 1383 by Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) regarding Short-Lived Climate Pollutants, various regulatory proposals, and RCRC staff provided an update on Cap-and-Trade Auction Proceeds. Lastly, ESJPA staff reported that a draft Beverage Container Recycling Reform proposal is expected to be unveiled in the Governor’s 2017-18 proposed Budget in January 2017. The next ESJPA meeting is scheduled for Thursday, December 8, 2016 in Sacramento.
The State Water Resources Control Board has begun designing a program that provides State aid to families that require assistance to pay their water bills. The proposal is required to be submitted to the Legislature by February 1, 2018. California would be the first state in the nation to subsidize water bills for its poor residents, but some see this as a wave sweeping the country. Click here for additional information.
Small to Medium-sized Businesses Need High-speed Internet
When a business owner thinks about the essentials absolutely needed to run a business successfully, money, employees, and marketing on are certainly on the list. Broadband should also be included at as a necessity. Broadband is an essential component for pretty much every business on the planet. Gone are the days of dialup, but reliability and speed are still essential to help your business thrive. Click here for additional information.
How Investing in Broadband Can Improve Your Business’s Bottom Line
This article explores the many reasons why broadband is critical for businesses, but if you live in many parts of rural California, is simply is not an option. Rural California needs high-speed broadband to remain competitive and rejuvenate economies.
