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Thousands Rally for Water in Fresno An estimated 4,000 growers, farmworkers and local elected officials gathered at Fresno City Hall today for another major water rally organized by the California Latino Water Coalition.The rally featured more than 12 speakers calling for immediate action to alleviate water shortages that have left thousands of acres idle in the Central Valley and contributed to high unemployment rates. The shortages stem from three consecutive dry years and regulatory actions in the Delta to protect species. Carrying signs with messages such as “No Water, No Future” and “If you like foreign oil, you’ll like foreign food,” participants marched for several blocks around downtown Fresno. Assembly Member Danny Gilmore (R-Hanford) said there is a critical need for solutions this year. “There are a lot of issues that are important to California, but nothing is more important than water,” he said. Organizers of the event said they plan to take their call for action to Southern California and the Bay Area. The rally was the second major event organized this year by the California Latino Water Coalition. Several thousand people took part in a four-day march in early April that started in Mendota and culminated in a rally at San Luis Reservoir.  Salazar Announces $134.3 Million for Water Recycling  U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar today announced that 27 water recycling projects in the West will receive a total of $134.3 million in federal funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).Twenty-six of the projects are in California. Ranging from construction of pipelines to expansion of pump stations and facilities to treat impaired groundwater, the projects will increase the production and delivery of recycled water and help improve local water supply reliability. The California projects collectively total more than $650 million. Today’s announcement brings total funding for California water-related activities funding under the Interior portion of ARRA to $381 million. ACWA Executive Director Timothy Quinn called the funding a huge victory for California. “These dollars are a much-needed for boost for California, which leads the nation in developing and implementing water recycling projects to stretch every drop of water in the state,” he said. Quinn also thanked California’s congressional delegation for its efforts to secure the funding. The list of projects is available here. Governor Declares Budget Emergency; Calls Special Legislative Session  Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger today proclaimed a fiscal emergency and called a special legislative session under Proposition 58 to address the emergency. He also ordered three furlough days every month for state agencies in an effort to save cash for vital state functions and services.Meanwhile, State Controller John Chiang warned that if lawmakers and the governor do not agree by the end of today on a plan to close the $26 billion budget deficit, he will begin issuing IOUs instead of cash payments from the state. Interior Secretary Announces Point Person on California Water Shortages  At a town hall meeting Sunday in Fresno, U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said federal agencies are taking steps to alleviate the impacts of water shortages and announced the appointment of Deputy Secretary David J. Hayes as the point person on California water supply issues for Interior and the Obama Administration.“We are here in the Central Valley to listen and hear directly from those suffering the impacts of the water shortage,” Salazar told growers and others at Fresno State. “This community has my commitment, and the commitment of the Obama Administration, that we will work with state and local officials to address continuing conflicts associated with transporting water from northern California through the Bay Delta – that includes fisheries-related conflicts and other deteriorating environmental conditions in the Bay Delta.” Steps outlined by Salazar include renewed federal involvement in the Bay-Delta Conservation Plan, expedited review of the “two gates” project and other efforts to add flexibility to water delivery systems, and $160 million in Recovery Act funding to be directed to the Central Valley Project. Salazar was joined at the town hall meeting by Hayes, Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Mike Connor and members of the California congressional delegation. Related content Interior news release Photo gallery Governor Designates Lester Snow as Lead on Drought, Water Challenges  One day after Interior Secretary Ken Salazar appointed a federal point person on California water, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced that Department of Water Resources Director Lester Snow will serve as the state’s lead in coordinating state actions to deal with short- and long-term water challenges.“California’s water shortage is a real crisis - just as severe as an earthquake or raging wildfire - and it must be treated with the same urgency as any other emergency,” Schwarzenegger said in a statement. “I welcome the Obama administration’s first step in designating a point person to work on this crisis and coordinate federal efforts with our state efforts.” The governor said he remains committed to achieving comprehensive water reform this year and pledged to work with all partners to improve the state’s aging water supply infrastructure. |
Biologists Rescue 26 Spring-Run Salmon on Butte Creek State and federal biologists captured and transported 26 spring-run Chinook salmon yesterday that were stranded in Butte Creek near Chico. The fish, which are listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act, had become stranded in a “thermal block” created by rising water temperatures in the lower reach of the creek.The rescue effort by the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) included netting the fish, implanting radio transmitters in them and moving them upstream to cooler water so they can continue their spawning migration. “Without human intervention to capture and move these fish, we would have seen a high mortality rate,” DFG Fishery Manager Joe Johnson said. DWR Sends Updated Drought Report to Governor  The Department of Water Resources has issued a new report updating drought conditions and impacts through mid-2009. The report, submitted yesterday to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, says the 2007-’09 period is the 12th-driest on record and marks a period of “unprecedented restrictions” on state and federal water deliveries through the Delta. It notes that impacts experienced in the present three-year drought are relatively more severe than those experienced during prior dry conditions, such as the first three years of the 1997-’92 drought. The increased severity is directly related to increased regulatory restrictions to protect listed fish species, the addition of 9 million more people to California since 1990, and expanded acreage devoted to permanent plantings on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley. Though the report does not recommend additional emergency measures to deal with the drought at this time, it stresses the importance of preparing for the possibility of a dry 2010. New Save Our Water Billboards Debut This Week  New Save Our Water billboards went up this week in Chico, Oroville and Southern California this week as part of the Department of Water Resources’ Lakes and Reservoir Appreciation Week, July 1-7.Save Our Water materials will be handed out at various events around the state. The statewide public education program is a partnership between ACWA and the California Department of Water Resources. It continues to attract new partners and ambassadors. ACWA member agencies will be receiving information this week on how they can support the program. Details, including examples of how agencies can provide in-kind support to extend the program’s reach at the local level, have been mailed to general managers at all ACWA member agencies. More on the program can be found at www.saveourh2o.org. For more information on becoming a partner, contact ACWA Outreach Specialist Ellen Manolis. Registration Available for ACWA's 2009 Water Law Workshop  ACWA's 2009 Water Law Workshop is set for Sept. 17-18 in Costa Mesa. The event is geared toward legal professionals and others interested in the latest developments in California water law. More information and registration details are here. ACWA Regions 5 & 8 Host Joint Event July 24  ACWA Regions 5 & 8 are hosting a joint program and field tour to discuss a collaborative effort in implementing a water quality management plan for the Santa Clara River Watershed, specific to salt management. “A Case Study: Working Together for the Upper Santa Clara River Watershed” will explore the cooperation between the Regional Water Quality Control Board, the sanitation districts, the Ventura County Agricultural Community and several local water agencies to develop a comprehensive Total Maximum Daily Load chloride management plan.The event is Friday, July 24, from 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Castaic Lake Water Agency in Santa Clarita. For more information visit www.acwa.com. Save the Date: Region 3 South Lake Tahoe Tour Mark your calendars for the ACWA Region 3 two-day bus tour August 27-28. Highlights of the tour include the South Tahoe Public Utility District Wastewater Treatment Plant, Harvey Place Dam and Reservoir, ranchlands using recycled water, the Angora Fire area and a discussion on quagga mussels and invasive species. For more information, contact ACWA Regional Affairs Representative Marcia Wulff.  Written and Designed by Association of California Water Agencies. ACWA eNews is a free, weekly email publication. 916.441.4545 • Fax 916.325.4849 910 K Street, Suite 100 • Sacramento, CA 95814 www.acwa.com | |||
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