The Sierra Nevada Conservancy has launched their Proposition 1 Grant Program for Fiscal Years 2015-2016 and 2016-2017. The information for the program is now available on the Sierra Nevada Conservancy Web site (see their grants page) at www.sierranevada.ca.gov.  The first deadline for application submission is Tuesday, September 1, 2015. This grant cycle will award up to $10 million to projects that improve forest health, consistent with Proposition 1, the Sierra Nevada Watershed Improvement Program and statutory authority.

This week’s Water Plan eNews includes:

• California headwaters to be included in federal drought relief effort
• Webinar will provide details on turf replacement initiative for California
• Information for water managers to be offered at water restrictions webinar
• Conservation information available to landowners on new NRCS Web site
• Advisory committee will discuss public benefits of water storage projects
• Legislature receives safe drinking water plan from water resources board

SACRAMENTO — With drought conditions continuing into the summer months, the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) announced today that there is insufficient water available for senior water right holders with a priority date of 1903 or later in the San Joaquin and Sacramento watersheds and the Delta. The need for further curtailment of more senior rights and curtailments in other watersheds is being assessed weekly. Click here for news release.

EPA and Corps release summary of new definitions and regulations for “Waters of the United States” under the Clean Water Act. Click here for summary.

The RWMG extended the deadline for project proponents to submit signed MOUs by Sunday, June 14^th at 5:00 p.m.  In order to have your projects considered for inclusion in the IRWM Plan, the sponsoring agency MUST submit a signed MOU by that deadline.  The extension on the MOU portion of the submittal is to allow Boards time to meet and sign the MOU. This applies to project proponents only; those wishing to sign the MOU for the UFR IRWM Program may do so at any time. Please contact UFR.contact@gmail.com with any questions.

Step 1 Conceptual Project Summaries are still due by Monday, June 1^st at 5:00 p.m.

This week’s Water Plan eNews includes:

• Two more regional chapters released as part of California’s Groundwater Update 2013
• Report on California’s water storage offers ideas for improvement
• Exploring the possibilities for resolving groundwater disputes in California
• Ag committee to discuss changes for water management guidebook
• Grant applications being accepted for ag irrigation projects
• Office of Sustainable Water Solutions highlights projects in small communities

Presentation by Gary Freeman, Principal Hydrologist, PG&E

The May 4th Drought Update includes a summary of current conditions and the week’s key action items. Click here to view the update.

Upper Feather River IRWM Request for Projects

By the Upper Feather River Regional Water Management Group

The Upper Feather River Regional Water Management Group (RWMG) is soliciting projects for the purpose of developing a list of implementation projects for inclusion in the Upper Feather River Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Plan. Collectively, these projects will seek to address regionally adopted goals and objectives adopted for the Plan, the California Water Plan Resource Management Strategies, and Department of Water Resources’ priorities for projects. Projects developed through this process will undergo a selection process for inclusion in the IRWM Plan Update as implementation projects, which will then be eligible for future Department of Water Resources IRWM grant funding opportunities. The Project Solicitation forms, instructions, eligibility, and submittal deadlines are available on the website at (http://featherriver.org/documents/).

A key goal of the IRWM Plan Update process is to garner input from residents, Tribes, and water managers in the region. The RWMG, which is responsible for the overall planning process and Plan approval, relies on involvement in the Workgroups and through public input to ensure all water management challenges and opportunities are identified and considered in the planning process. The RWMG is committed to ensuring that the new Plan reflects the priorities of people and water managers in the region. One of the benefits of developing a Department of Water Resources compliant IRWM Plan is that it will support local and regional efforts to secure competitive statewide grant funding for those projects that are selected for inclusion in the IRWM Plan. Progress on the project solicitation and the Plan Update may be monitored through the website, including news, updates, and upcoming meetings and workshops (http://featherriver.org/).

The April 14th Drought Update includes a summary of current conditions and the week’s key action items.  Click here to view the update.