Category Archives: Uncategorized

CA Abandoned Mine Prioritization Tool Public Workshop – 11/3/16

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SAVE THE DATE: November 3, 2016

PUBLIC WORKSHOP

California Abandoned Mine Prioritization Tool
Draft Attributes, Evaluation, and Risk Screening Levels

You are invited to attend a public workshop to review draft work products for the California Abandoned Mine Prioritization Tool (CAMPT). CAMPT is focusing on ways legacy abandoned mine sites in California can be prioritized for various types of action based on chemical and physical hazards they pose to the public and the environment. The draft work products created to date include attributes, data sources, and evaluation ranges that comprise the decision criteria for ranking the mine sites.

In addition, three screening tiers (Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3) and the mine site investigation activities associated with each tier will be presented, along with example scenarios of how the attributes contribute to analyses and ranking of hazards in each tier.

Finally, participants will be able to learn about the analytical approach underpinning CAMPT using examples from similar decision-support tools.

Your input is sought regarding the comprehensiveness, application, and evaluation of available screening data, existing risk assessment guidelines and criteria, and approved chemical contamination thresholds proposed for incorporation into the tool. These thresholds are intended to support government agency analyses and ranking of hazards from abandoned mines, and the risks posed to human health and the environment from those hazards in California.

Date and time: November 3, 2016, 11:00 – 2:00 p.m. (1:00 p.m. Central)

You can attend in person or online. Please RSVP with your preference.

Join the WebEx Meeting:

Meeting number: 743 374 302

Meeting Password: pFq9WAU@

If you are not using a computer, then you may join by phone:

Call-in toll-free number (Verizon): 1-877-996-5588 (US)

Attendee access code: 207 612 3

California Water Plan eNews – 10/5/16

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This week’s California Water Plan eNews includes:

• Public invited to participate in orientation webinar for Update 2018 committee
• Energy commission looking for innovative water conservation technologies
• Workshop series will look at affordable water for low-income Californians
• October newsletter available from Office of Sustainable Water Solutions
• Conservation conference will try to unite urban and rural communities
• Water and politics on the agenda for annual agribusiness conference
• Some lessons for applying collaborative science to large ecosystems

California Water Plan eNews – 9/28/16

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This week’s California Water Plan eNews includes:

  • Delta speaker series will feature presentation by DWR director
  • Water shortage contingency plans on the agenda for next week’s technical workshop
  • Workshop will look at drought vulnerability and improving water resilience
  • A discussion of State water policy in the event of another dry year
  • Water board asking for public input on SGMA implementation fee schedule
  • SWAMP Newsletter covers algal blooms portal and pesticide monitoring programs
  • Web portal will feature water quality conditions in the Sacramento River Watershed

Grant Funding Available – Sierra Nevada Meadow Restoration Program

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In 2009, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation launched its Sierra Nevada Meadow Restoration Program to replenish the health and biodiversity of the mountain meadow regions. The program focuses on creating the momentum to restore and protect thousands of acres of meadows in the Sierra Nevada, focused both on research and implementation projects. Key conservation actions for this program include:

  • Quantifying ecosystem service benefits: conducting hydrologic and water quality assessments to predict and measure changes in groundwater levels and downstream flow
  • Building organizational capacity: providing capacity-building in watersheds where restoration planning and implementation is limited
  • Repairing meadow degradation: supporting restoration projects in meadow systems in which it will be possible to quantify benefits
  • Ensuring long-term protection: supporting land protection and deploying best management practices
  • Garnering support of ranching community: improving information flow and providing technical assistance
  • Monitoring and documenting ecological and biological responses to meadow restoration

For the upcoming round of funding, pre-proposal applications that focus on benefits for, and recovery of, the Southwestern willow flycatcher, Yosemite toad, Lahontan cutthroat trout, and/or Eagle Lake rainbow trout are specifically encouraged. In addition, pre-proposal applicants with projects for restoration of priority meadows that have the potential to amplify benefits associated with restoration of fire-scarred areas on California’s national forests are encouraged to contact the program lead.

Pre-proposals are due October 13. Application information can be found here.

Sierra Nevada Conservancy: Funding Opportunities Newsletter

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Sierra Nevada Conservancy

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES NEWSLETTER

October-November 2016

Have you missed the Urban Streams Restoration Program? This Department of Water Resources grant provides funding to reduce flooding and erosion, restore or protect the natural ecological values of streams, and promote community involvement and stewardship. The last round of funding was in 2014 and some of us have been waiting for another round of funding to be released. It looks like that will not happen until 2018, but the good news is that starting in 2017 program staff will make themselves available to provide technical assistance to help communities plan their projects and prepare for successful grant applications. Keep an eye on the Urban Streams Restoration Program web site for upcoming information about this assistance program.

Upcoming grants that might be of interest:

And keep your eye out for these soon-to-be-released opportunities:

  • The Federal Lands Access Program funds improvements to roads and other transportation facilities (bridges, trails, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, etc.) that provide access to federal lands with high recreation use or economic benefits. Eligible activities include work on parking areas and trailheads, provisions for pedestrians and bicycles, mitigation measures to reduce wildlife mortality while maintaining habitat connectivity, roadside rest areas, etc. A new ‘call for projects’ is scheduled for January 2017.
  • As part of the Cooperative Watershed Management Program, the Bureau of Reclamation WaterSMART Program will provide grant funding for on‑the‑ground watershed management projects. These will be follow-ups to the previous grants that helped establish or develop watershed groups. Draft evaluation criteria for this round of funding should be released soon.

New Capacity Building and Community Development Grant Research Memo

The Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC) Funding Team makes it easy for you to find grant opportunities. We research and compile funding sources for various types of projects. You can find these memos on the Funding Opportunities Web Page. Each memo is updated at least once per year. The latest research memo focuses on funding for Capacity Building and Community Development. Recently updated research memos include Riparian, Wetland, and Aquatic Habitat Restoration, and Habitat Preservation funding.

Congratulations to the Sierra Streams Institute on their award of almost $100,000 from the Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART Program for further development of the Bear River Watershed Group.

Your SNC Area Representative can help you set up an individual consultation with the SNC Funding Team to get advice about specific funding opportunities or general fund development strategies. To take advantage of this resource, contact your Area Representative.

Grant Writing Workshops are available to help build the capacity of organizations that serve the Sierra Nevada Region. If you are interested in organizing or attending a workshop, contact your Area Representative.

California Water Plan eNews – 9/21/16

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This week’s California Water Plan eNews includes:

  • Water agencies participating in California’s Native American Day celebration
  • Advisory group will discuss ways to quantify efficiency of agricultural water use
  • Strategic Growth Council provides a vision for linking land use to climate policy
  • The effects of fire will be discussed at watershed forum tomorrow in Chico
  • Work begins on tidal restoration project for they Suisun Marsh
  • Two-day DSC meeting will include single-year water transfers public hearing
  • CCST marks 28 years of promoting science and technology in California

AB 2480 recognizes source watershed as infrastructure

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AB 2480 recognizes source watersheds as infrastructure and a critical component of the state’s water system. The legislation also calls for a prioritized and comprehensive investment plan to restore and conserve key watersheds. AB 2480 is the first step in putting together a comprehensive system to reduce these risks and promote water security and adaptation under climate change.

The bill, AB 2480 (authored by Richard Bloom, D-Santa Monica), officially recognizes five critical Sierra Nevada and Cascade watersheds as important pieces of the state’s water infrastructure. It enshrines in state policy the importance of restoring forests, meadows and streams in these watersheds, and make such projects eligible for state water-project grant funding.

California_Watersheds_Map

Sierra Valley Art & Ag Trail – October 1, 2016

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Travel the Sierra Valley Art & Ag Trail, for views of Sierra Valley Bar Quilts and opportunities to visit market farms, working ranches, a pumpkin patch, and to sample the wares of artists of every color – weaver, welder, potter, painter, photographer, carver, jeweler, pyrographer, wood-worker, boatbuilder, furniture maker, blacksmith, stained glass artist, basketmaker and more!

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Groundwater Resources Association Conference – September 28-29, 2016

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On September 28-29, the Groundwater Resources Association of California will host its 2016 Conference and 25th Annual Meeting, which will provide policy makers, practitioners, researchers and educators the opportunity to learn about the current policies, regulations and technical challenges affecting the protection, use and management of groundwater in California. This year’s conference contains expanded sessions addressing the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. In addition, there will be several sessions on ongoing and emerging water quality issues.

To view the conference agenda, please visit:

https://www.grac.org/media/files/files/9393d294/2016_AnnualGRAConference.pdf

California Water Plan eNews – 8/24/16

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This week’s California Water Plan eNews includes:

  • Date set for first California Water Plan Update 2018 plenary meeting
  • 2015 UMWP data available for public access on Water Use Efficiency website
  • Program puts spotlight on the impacts of long-term water conservation
  • Water quality symposium highlights posted in a series of 15 videos
  • Technical reference offers methods for quantifying water storage project benefits
  • Outlining the steps to identify and manage climate change refugia