Department of Water Resources
California Water News
A daily compilation for DWR personnel of significant news articles and comment
July 13, 2009
1. Top Items–
$33.3B Energy and Water Appropriations Bill Heads to House Floor
N.Y. Times
Arnold should call in the God Squad
Vacaville Reporter
Politicians can't get dam thing done
Modesto Bee
Surge in water saving
Santa Rosa Press Democrat
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$33.3B Energy and Water Appropriations Bill Heads to House Floor
N.Y. Times-7/13/09
By Ben Geman and Taryn Luntz
The House will take up the $33.3 billion fiscal 2010 energy and water spending bill this week as Democratic leaders in that chamber push to complete all appropriations measures before the August break.
The bill funds the Energy Department, Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation and several independent agencies.
It supports increases in renewable energy, efficiency and science funding but also breaks with the Obama administration in some key areas.
For instance, the bill does not go along with a DOE plan to end research into hydrogen vehicles and instead provides $40 million for the effort, and also greatly pares back a $280 million plan to create eight multidisciplinary "energy innovation hubs."
The Rules Committee meets tomorrow afternoon, which means the bill would likely be on the floor the next day. Democrats are expected to allow debate on only a limited number of amendments. Lawmakers have submitted roughly 100 amendments to the Rules Committee, which will greatly pare down the list tomorrow.
Examples of amendments include Rep. Jeff Flake's (R-Ariz.) ongoing effort to slash various earmarks; Energy and Commerce Committee ranking member Joe Barton's (R-Texas) proposal to reverse the decision to abandon the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump; and several amendments to cut funding for the overall bill or specific programs.
Two California Democrats -- Reps. Jim Costa and Dennis Cardoza -- want to boost spending for the California Bay-Delta restoration program by $10 million by cutting funding for the Bureau of Reclamation commissioner's office by the same amount.
A bipartisan amendment backed by six members including Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) and Bob Inglis (R-S.C.) would provide an additional $45 million for various DOE hydrogen initiatives.
The energy and water bill is also moving ahead in the Senate. The full Appropriations Committee approved its version last week (E&E Daily, July 10).
Negotiating an eventual House-Senate agreement would feature Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), who oversees the energy and water spending panel, working with Rep. Ed Pastor (D-Ariz.). Pastor is at the helm of the House Energy and Water Development Subcommittee because Chairman Pete Visclosky (D-Ind.) has temporarily stepped aside during an investigation of his office's ties to a now-defunct defense lobbying firm.
Dorgan said last week that he knows Pastor and his fond of him, but added "I haven't worked with him much at all." But Dorgan nonetheless predicted a smooth process. "I've known Ed for some years and look forward to working with him in conference," Dorgan said last week. "I don't think we'll have difficulty."
Overall, the bill provides $26.9 billion for DOE, which according to the House Appropriations Committee is $86 million above current spending.
It provides $2.25 billion for renewable energy and energy efficiency programs, which is $321 million above current year spending but $68.6 million below the White House request.
The bill provides $4.94 billion for DOE's Office of Science. That funding level is slightly higher than the White House request and more than $170 million above fiscal 2009 spending.
For nuclear energy research, the bill provides $812 million, which is more than $50 million above the request and $20 million above current spending, according to the committee.
House appropriators followed the president's request for funding fossil energy research at about $260 million below current spending. That $618 million budget is geared toward research and development for carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects and alternative fuel technologies.
However, the recent economic stimulus law also provides $3.4 billion for CCS programs and indeed steered billions in other funding toward DOE renewable energy, efficiency and other programs.
The bill boosts spending for water projects overall, increasing funding for the Army Corps of Engineers but cutting money for the Bureau of Reclamation.
The Army Corps would win $5.5 billion under the measure, a $139 million increase over fiscal 2009 levels that largely would fund improvements to existing projects.
The proposal is $416 million above the Obama administration's request and about $100 million higher than the number approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee last week.
The corps' operations and maintenance budget would see the biggest increase, climbing $309 million from current levels to $2.5 billion in fiscal 2010. The cash infusion is aimed at tackling "the over $1 billion backlog of operations and maintenance needs of navigation infrastructure critical to the U.S. economy," according to the bill summary.
Money for construction would dip $19 million to $2.1 billion, and the investigations budget, which funds studies related to corps projects, would see a $26 million cut to $142 million in fiscal 2010.
Flood-damage reduction projects in the Mississippi River Valley would see the largest budget cut under the measure, losing $133 million from fiscal 2009 levels.
The spending bill would cut the budget for Reclamation by $38 million, slicing $10 million from the $920 million provided this year for the agency's water account. The account finances water development, management and restoration in the 17 Western states.
The California Bay-Delta restoration project, which aims to improve water quality and reliability in the San Joaquin River Delta, would see a $9 million cut, and the Central Valley project restoration fund would lose $21 million.#
Arnold should call in the God Squad
Vacaville Reporter-7/12/09
By Brandon M. Middleton and Damien M. Schiff
Opinion
Thousands of Californians are suffering from a severe water shortage, and the Obama administration has added insult to injury.
In June, the National Marine Fisheries Service issued an Endangered Species Act "biological opinion" on the effects that state and federal water projects have on Chinook salmon, steelhead, green sturgeon and killer whales.
The service's action puts these species well above humans on the totem pole and threatens to impose new and drastic cuts in water deliveries to municipalities and farmers in the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California.
The administration's decision could not come at a worse time. A number of San Joaquin Valley communities are already experiencing staggering unemployment rates -- as high as 40 percent in some cases.
Some farmers have been forced to idle farmland as a result of receiving only 10 percent of their historic contracted water supplies.
Water deliveries will be cut back even further under the new biological opinion -- the fisheries service projects a total water loss of 330,000 acre-feet per year (enough to meet the annual water needs of nearly 1 million people), but other agencies, such as the California Department of Water Resources, consider that a low estimate.
The latest federal biological opinion comes on top of a December 2008 decision by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that resulted in cutting water deliveries to the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California, as part of regulatory efforts to help a small fish, the delta smelt.
In other words, federal environmental restrictions and regulations are jeopardizing the livelihoods of thousands throughout California, and food for millions of American consumers.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger clearly understands the absurd nature of the Endangered Species Act water cutbacks. "This federal biological opinion puts fish above the needs of millions of Californians and the health and security of the world's eighth largest economy," he said, noting further that the federal government's fish-before-people policy is "killing our economy and undermining the integrity of the Endangered Species Act."
In April, the governor took time to join farmworkers, farmers and community leaders in a march for water, and he was quick to point out at the march that Washington needs to listen more carefully to the concerns of California. Indeed, he concluded by stating, "I will not quit until we get water, because we need water."
The governor can and should put powerful action behind those words, by appealing to the Obama Administration for immediate relief. The longer this latest biological opinion is allowed to stand, the more likely some of the world's most productive farmland will become a government-created wasteland.
Fortunately, the Endangered Species Act allows for such an appeal. State governors have authority to ask the Secretary of the Interior to convene a special committee.
This Endangered Species Committee, also known as the "God Squad," can determine whether to exempt a project from the burdens of the Endangered Species Act. The God Squad would be able to exempt California's water projects from newly proposed restrictions.
The situation is desperate. By formally requesting the Obama administration to convene the God Squad, the governor would be following through on his promise to fight on behalf of California farmers, farmworkers, businesses and all water consumers.#
The authors are attorneys with Pacific Legal Foundation in Sacramento, a legal watchdog for property rights and a balanced approach to environmental regulations. Visit www.pacificlegal.org.
http://www.thereporter.com/ci_12820503?IADID=Search-www.thereporter.com-www.thereporter.com
Politicians can't get dam thing done
Modesto Bee-7/12/09
Opinion
The politicians are scrambling for political cover as California's water crisis gets more serious because of a drought in its third year and because of environmental restrictions on how much water can flow in the Golden State.
They don't want their constituents to know they've been ducking this issue for years, so they periodically fire off news releases demanding action. But they've been unable to compromise on water issues, just as they've been unable to address long-term financial issues. That dirty little secret is finally getting out to California residents, and many are becoming angry.
Gov. Schwarzenegger and the Legislature have an opportunity to come together behind a comprehensive water plan that would create surface storage, expand underground storage through water banking and increase water availability through conservation efforts. Sen. Dave Cogdill, R-Modesto, is an especially strong legislator on water issues and we would hope that he will have a key role in the plan.
Getting an agreement will require sitting down with the warring factions, chiefly environmentalists who oppose dams and farming interests who think dams are their salvation. Both sides have overstated their cases, which means there's lots of room for negotiation.
But it also will take the cooperation of the federal government. The feds must help pay for new water projects and take another look at environmental laws that restrict water flows.
California's congressional Democrats, especially House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, cannot remain silent on this issue any longer.
Water politics are complicated, but a solution can be found because everyone knows the issues and what's at stake. The various sides have been making the same arguments for decades.
They must be willing to compromise because stubbornness is the only thing standing in the way of a comprehensive water plan.
We believe that even in a drought year there is adequate water available for farm, urban and environmental uses if we manage this crucial resource properly. That means having balance in our water policy and a willingness to find common ground.
California's population has doubled since the last major water project was built in the state, and demand for water has gone up by an even greater factor.
The political pressure for a water deal has been increasing because big water users in Southern California cities have become concerned. It was one thing when Los Angeles political interests could side with environmentalists against valley farmers. But now Los Angeles residents are facing water rationing, and that's making their elected leaders nervous.
Here in the northern San Joaquin Valley, the pain is not distributed evenly. Farmers within the Modesto and Turlock irrigation districts are getting conservative but adequate allotments, but they're not
not hurting anything like their counterparts on the West Side, some of whom had to leave fields fallow.
The time couldn't be more critical for a comprehensive water plan.
The state budget is and should be the No. 1 priority in Sacramento, but addressing the long-term water needs has to be a close second.#
http://www.modbee.com/opinion/story/778819.html
Surge in water saving
Santa Rosa Press Democrat-7/12/09
By Kerry Benefiels
Margaret Partlow was getting tired of watering the asphalt.
Partlow, who manages the Santa Rosa Southside shopping center on Santa Rosa Avenue that is home to REI and Cost Plus World Market, turned to the city of Santa Rosa for help last year.
She signed on with the city’s “Green Exchange” program, which offers rebates to customers who pull out lush lawns and replace them with drought-resistant plants.
“It just used to bother me to death that we had to water that grass, which has a berm so water runs down onto the parking lot — there is hardly any way to avoid it,” she said. “We thought it was crazy. Why are we watering asphalt?”
As the heat of July marches on, evidence of water conservation is becoming increasingly obvious as homeowners cut back on sprinkler time or abandon lawns altogether in exchange for more drought-resistant plants.
Cities across the county are reporting a voluntary drop in water use in the 25 percent range, matching state demands to the Sonoma County Water Agency that it achieve a 25 percent reduction in the amount of water it pumps from the Russian River.
Santa Rosa created the “Green Exchange” program in the face of increasing restrictions on how much water municipalities can use.
Southside is just one of the approximately 575 Santa Rosa water customers who have taken part in the Green Exchange program. Another 1,300 are lined up to go a little less green in the name of water conservation.
One of them is Evan Peterson, who decided just a few weeks ago to rip out his lawn.
“You’re helping the community and you’re helping yourself by paying less money for water, and it’s less work because you don’t have to mow,” he said Saturday afternoon.
He and his wife, Samira, had spent a day laying down a mulch of wood chips to replace the grass they had been trying to keep green in the front lawn of their home on Sonoma Avenue.
“I ripped out my lawn completely,” Peterson said. “I capped off all my existing sprinklers except for two and made them a drip system.”
He’s spent about $1,500 and expects to get about $300 back from the city. He’s already started cutting back on water use, dropping about 2,000 to 3,000 gallons a month from the 11,000 or so he used last summer. With the lawn gone, he expects water use to drop significantly more.
The water cutbacks and changes to landscaping in front yards are happening across the county.
The water agency’s customers are the cities of Santa Rosa, Windsor, Rohnert Park, Cotati, Petaluma and Sonoma and the Valley of the Moon, North Marin and Marin Municipal water districts. Together they serve 600,000 people.
In Windsor, the town council earlier this month adopted mandatory water conservation measures that require residents east of Highway 101 to irrigate only on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Those who live west of the freeway can use their sprinklers on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
In Rohnert Park, the city sponsors free audits of water use at homes and businesses. Armed with information, Rohnert Park residents have cut back, said Darren Jenkins, public works director.
Usage has plummeted approximately 40 percent since 2004, he said.
“We are doing more than our share of the 25 percent,” he said. “When you see numbers like that, a lot of that is water use behavior and efficiency.”
“We are giving them information because a lot of times the person paying the bills may be in Arkansas,” Jenkins said. “They may not know how much they are using.”
Water use in May in Santa Rosa was down 25 percent from usage a year ago, according to Burke. In April, the difference was 23.5 percent. Figures for June are not yet available but officials said savings should remain on pace with May’s numbers.
“Our customers have answered the call,” said Jennifer Burke, senior water resources planner for the city of Santa Rosa.
On Spring Creek Drive, Lois and Jim Havness have replaced their front and backyard lawns with drought-tolerant plants.
“I wanted plants that would attract the bees and make the environment sound,” said Lois Havness. As a result, she said, their water bill has been reduced by about a third.
The effects of less water are also showing up at public parks.
Conservation efforts coupled with budget woes that have cut into Santa Rosa’s water and maintenance budget are expected to lead to brown grass at smaller neighborhood parks. City workers are concentrating on maintaining larger, high-use community parks like Howarth and Franklin.
“We’ve reduced our watering program so that we place an emphasis on trying to keep the most heavily used turf areas going,” said Marc (cq)Richardson, Santa Rosa’s assistant city manager, who oversees the renamed Recreation, Parks and Community Services Department.
“It’s in our neighborhood parks where people are going to see it most,” Richardson said of the grassy brown-outs. “You are not going to see that right now, more in the fall.”#
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090712/ARTICLES/907129949/1349?Title=Surge-in-water-saving
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