This week’s Water Plan eNews includes:

• Draft environmental goals report outlines climate change strategy for California
• USGS looking to fund data providers for groundwater monitoring network
• Water board’s direct potable reuse group sets next meeting for Jan. 19
• Small communities program releases draft guidelines for flood risk reduction
• Water commission to discuss Water Storage Investment Program draft regulations
• Two new reports highlight the benefits of landscape conservation cooperatives
• Agricultural workshop to offer water management strategies for perennial crops

Public Policy Institute Water Policy Center, November 2015. California’s water allocation system hampers its ability to meet the state’s needs, especially in times of drought. At its heart is an unusually complex array of water rights. This report summarizes challenges and suggests reforms to strengthen the state’s ability to weather droughts and shifting economic demands for water, while maintaining the existing seniority of water rights. Click here for full report.

This week’s Water Plan eNews includes:

• Applications being accepted for $16 million in irrigation project funding
• Comment deadline for climate change plans extended to Dec. 10
• Climate change diagram available to assist California tribes in preparing for impacts
• Newsletter puts a spotlight on the concern over harmful algal blooms
• PPIC assembles fact sheet on California’s water quality challenges
• Water leaders class releases final report on managing drought
• Webinar offering details on how to grow a watershed investment fund

This week’s Water Plan eNews includes:

• Water utilities will be the focus of next month’s International Water and Climate Forum
• Office of Sustainable Water Solutions releases latest newsletter
• UC Davis soil index identifies farmland suitable for groundwater recharge
• Irrigation district offering workshop on well drilling in the Central Valley
• Water commission posts updated draft regulations for water storage program
• Report suggests reforms for California’s water allocation system
• State and federal water collaboration discussed at EPA meeting

This week’s Water Plan eNews includes:

• Rebates still available for Californians who replace lawn, toilets
• DWR begins implementation of new groundwater basin boundary regulations
• Summit sets goal of one million more acre-feet of water for California
• New video explains the benefits of EIFDs in California
• Water management session to be included at transportation planning conference
• SWAP companion plans open for public comments through Jan. 15

Executive order includes new provisions to help localities capture stormwater from potential high precipitation events; $5 million in assistance for small water systems. Click here to read press release and executive order.

Amy Graff, SFGate – Researchers from UC Davis and UC Cooperative Extension are testing a new method for capturing some of that underutilized water by diverting it from rivers into the network of canals running through Central Valley farmland. This irrigation system sits empty during the rainy months, and the scientists are looking at filling some canals with water and directing it onto suitable farmland where it can seep underground. Click here for full article.

This week’s Water Plan eNews includes:

• Process guide offers a look at the development of California Water Plan Update 2013
• Draft guidelines posted for $10 million worth of water use efficiency loans
• Comment period for flood reduction program runs through Dec. 11
• DWR provides guidelines for local agencies looking to form GSAs
• Naturally occurring water contaminants to be discussed at two-day symposium
• California Water Commission changes this month’s meeting date to Nov. 19
• Delta interagency committee meeting next week in Sacramento

CAL FIRE has just announced $5,000,000 available through the State Responsibility Area Fire Prevention Fund for projects that reduce the wildfire threat to habitable structures in a State Responsibility Area (SRA).   The maximum grant is $100,000, of which no more than $40,000 can be for equipment.  No match is required, though it does add to the competitiveness of the proposed project.  Eligible grantees include local government, fire districts, community services districts, water districts, special districts, certified local conservation corps, Fire Safe Councils, and other 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations.

Qualifying projects and activities include those related to hazardous fuel reduction, fire prevention planning, fire prevention education, and training that reduce the risk and potential impact of wildfire on habitable structures in the SRA. Examples include, but are not limited to:

Hazardous Fuel Reduction

• Vegetation clearance in critical locations to reduce wildfire intensity and rate of spread
• Creation or maintenance of fuel breaks in strategic locations, as identified in CAL FIRE Unit Fire Plans, a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP), or similar strategic planning document
• Removing ladder fuels to reduce the risk of crown fires
• Removing dead and dying trees
• Community level fire prevention programs, such as community chipping days, roadside chipping, and green waste bin programs
• Elective tree removal (thinning) to improve forest health to withstand wildfire
• Modification of vegetation adjacent to roads to provide for safer ingress and egress of evacuating residents and responding emergency personnel
• Reduction of fuel loading around critical firefighting infrastructure such as fire hydrants, water drafting locations, and staging areas

 Fire Prevention Education and Training

• Fire prevention public education

 Fire Prevention Planning

• Wildfire risk or related mapping
• Creation of strategic wildfire planning documents, such as a CWPP

Applications are due on January 7, 2016.  Please review the web site and the Procedural Guide for more information.

This week’s Water Plan eNews includes:

• $231 million of integrated water management projects recommended for funding
• All appendices for California’s Groundwater Update 2013 posted online
• Applications being accepted from counties with stressed basins
• SWRCB sets new date for groundwater sustainability workshop
• Webinar on outdoor water use and water-efficient landscape offered tomorrow
• Drought response training being offered by the Local Government Commission
• DWR to host 10 UWMP workshops for water suppliers beginning Nov. 13