RCRC April Board Meeting Canceled – June Board Meeting Slated for Merced County
Due to the worldwide events surrounding Coronavirus (COVID-19), the April meeting of the RCRC Board of Directors has been canceled. The meeting was scheduled to occur in Merced County next week, as it is customary to hold one board meeting a year in the County of the Chair.
Currently, plans are underway to hold the June meeting of the RCRC Board of Directors in Merced County on June 16-18, 2020. As the status of California’s stay-at-home order is re-evaluated in the coming weeks, arrangements are subject to change. The latest information and registration for the June meeting of the RCRC Board of Directors is available here.
State Water Resources Control Board to Hold Public Workshop About Clean Water State Revolving Fund
The State Water Board's Division of Financial Assistance (DFA) will be conducting a public workshop and webinar to discuss the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) Intended Use Plans (IUP). This is an opportunity to hear about the changes to the CWSRF and DWSRF Programs in this year’s IUPs and ask questions about the proposed changes. The workshop will also provide the status of the Programs, the proposed schedule for the State Water Board’s consideration and approval of the IUPs, and the Division’s implementation plans.
The meeting will occur through remote presence only, on April 29, 2020 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. For additional information, or for details about how to watch or participate in the meeting see the notice here.
County Drought Advisory Group – Public Review Draft
The Department of Water Resources (DWR) has released the public review draft of the report, “Small Water Suppliers and Rural Communities at Risk of Drought and Water Shortage Vulnerability and Recommendations and Guidance to Address the Planning Needs of these Communities” (appendices available here). The report assesses the drought risk to small water districts and rural communities, provides recommendations to improve planning for drought and water shortage, and highlights two new web tools that provide vulnerability assessment.
RCRC is reviewing the draft for comment and, upon initial review, several recommendations directed specifically at counties may raise potential concerns. Counties are encouraged to review the report and provide comments. Comments may be submitted to DWR using a webform, or by email and must be received by 5:00 p.m. on June 19, 2020. Two DWR webinars are planned during the comment period, to discuss the report and the risk scoring tool. DWR will announce webinar details at a later date.
WIR Conference Gathering Cancelled - Stay Tuned for Alternative Dates
Due to the rapidly changing coronavirus (COVID-19) situation across the nation, after painstakingly thorough consideration, the 2020 National Association of Counties’ (NACo) Western Interstate Region (WIR) Conference scheduled to take place at Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite, has been cancelled. The letter from WIR President, Supervisor Kevin Cann of Mariposa County, to the WIR Board of Directors may be viewed here.
A tremendous program was planned, and the conference team is exploring alternative options for members to utilize, including the possibility of the 2021 Conference being held in California. We encourage you to keep the WIR conference dates on your calendar. And, please plan to participate in virtual meetings and upcoming WIR workshops that may be offered as a partial replacement for Mariposa County in 2020.
For the latest WIR Conference updates, click here.