Department of Water Resources
A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
July 30, 2009
5. Agencies, Programs, People �
House bill helps Natomas levee certification
Sacramento
By Melanie Turner
$44.M stimulus funding for Santa Clara Valley
San Jose
By Journal staff
Water districts rush to replace state funding losses
San Diego Union-Tribune
The State Worker: Schwarzenegger takes hard line on furloughs
Sacramento
Activist, water official Alexander Forman dies
San Francisco Chronicle
Perdue warns of more water wars, calls for national policy
The Atlanta
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House bill helps Natomas levee certification
Sacramento
By Melanie Turner
The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday unanimously passed legislation by Congresswoman Doris Matsui of
The region has faced a "bureaucratic obstacle" when it comes to landing federal funding for the project, Matsui spokeswoman Mara Lee said. The city of Sacramento and the state of California have devoted millions of dollars toward flood protection, however when the Federal Emergency Management Agency looks at making flood designations it does not take into account local and state improvements, she said.
Only communities with federally funded levee improvements are eligible for what's called an A-99 designation.
The legislation will clarify FEMA's criteria for an A-99 flood zone designation, ensuring that FEMA takes local, state and federal funding into account when determining flood zone designations.
As federal support has dwindled, states and communities across the country are investing millions of dollars into flood infrastructure. The bill will allow those investments to be recognized by FEMA.
"I am extremely encouraged by today's passage of my legislation, which will go a long way to address the concerns of those who live and work in areas such as Natomas," Matsui said, in a news release. "This bill is a common sense policy that will enhance the Natomas Levee Improvement Program and protect those that call Natomas home by clarifying thresholds for A-99 flood designations so that we can move significantly closer to 200-year flood protection."
The Senate is considering a similar bill. #
http://sacramento.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2009/07/27/daily32.html
$44.M stimulus funding for Santa Clara Valley
San Jose
By Journal staff
The Santa Clara Valley Water District said on Wednesday that it has received $44.1 million for five "shovel-ready" projects.
The projects, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, are aimed at improving flood protection, transportation and water treatment facilities.
"Receiving such a significant amount of money from the federal government will provide a much needed boost to some very important projects," said water district board Chair Sig Sanchez.
In addition to creating jobs for construction crews, engineers, electricians, tractor operators, truck drivers, cement finishers and others, the water district said it will also need to purchase major supplies such as pipelines and steel.
Water district staff said construction will begin within the next several months on these five projects:
Lower Silver Creek ($18 million): This project is designed to remove 3,800 parcels from the 1 percent floodplain and improve stream habitat values.
Downtown Guadalupe River Bridges 3 and 4 ($12.5 million): These bridges are the final phase of the Downtown Guadalupe River Project construction. The project will provideflood protection to downtown San José, protect and improve water quality of the river, preserve and enhance the river's habitat, fish and wildlife, and provide recreational and open space benefits.
South Bay Water Recycling Advanced Treatment Facility Project ($8.25 million): This facility will allow expanded use of recycled water from the San Jose Recycled Water Plant by improving the quality for non-potable purposes such as landscape irrigation.
South County Recycled Water Master Plan ($4.35 million) ― The plan includes construction of about 5 miles of recycled water pipelines in the
Pond A8 notch construction ($1 million): This project is intended to increase the tidal flow in Alviso Slough and help maintain the channel and increase salinity in the waters. #
http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2009/07/27/daily60.html
Water districts rush to replace state funding losses
San Diego Union -Tribune � 7/29/09
By Michael Gardner and Mike Lee
Already pressured by tight supplies and sharply criticized for previous rate hikes, several water districts in
Final decisions are expected to trickle out after water agencies analyze how much they will lose, probably about 8 percent of the total property taxes they collect.
The choices, managers say, will be difficult: tap reserves, raise rates, delay projects, trim services or even take out loans.
"The local ratepayers end up paying one way or the other," said Keith Lewinger, general manager of the Fallbrook Public Utility District. "All Sacramento did in my mind was shift the blame-game from themselves to the local agencies that now have to pass through some sort of increased fee to make up for the money that Sacramento just stole."
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger this week signed a comprehensive budget-balancing plan that relies on borrowing about $2 billion from property taxes used by cities, counties and special districts for local services.
"It's fine for (state legislators) to say that they have passed a balanced budget without raising taxes," said Gary Arant, general manager of Valley Center Municipal Water District.
"But the fact of the matter is that at some point that shortage of revenue either translates into lower services or increased of cost of services. There is no free lunch here."
Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders say the $24 billion gap between state revenues and spending left them little choice but to reach into local tills. The money must be repaid with interest no later than June 30, 2013, as required under a ballot measure approved by voters.
The repayment structure is a relief for some water managers. During the last diversion, in 2004, water districts absorbed the lion's share of the $800 million taken over two budget cycles because, lawmakers reasoned, the districts could raise rates to cover the loss. Water districts commonly use a combination of property taxes and rates to pay for services.
"It is a much better world now than we were living in," explained Tim Quinn, executive director of the Association of California Water Agencies.
"Our members got hit very hard with no payback (in 2004)."
For example, the San Diego County Water Authority will never see the $9.4 million shipped to the state during that period. Now, the nearly $750,000 it expects to lose will be returned with interest.
Eric Sandler, the water authority's chief financial officer, said the board will probably decide to tap its reserves of about $43 million to cover the shortfall.
"It's absolutely a lot of money," Sandler said. "But the impact on us will be much less than on our member agencies."
Retail water districts "are going through some of the most difficult financial times ever," said Quinn, noting the added burdens of drought, fewer water sales and more regulations.
Arant expects
"We are seeing a lot of different variables acting to hurt us financially," Arant said.
The district's board aims to avoid another rate increase even if it means scaling back facility upgrades. Deferring projects comes with costs as well, he said, including inflation.
In Fallbrook, Lewinger is thankful that the tax raid "is not nearly as catastrophic as it could have been." But he's not happy with the projected $160,000 loss. It put capital improvement projects on hold in 2004 when the state raided local funds. Today, a reservoir and pump stations need updating.
"Delaying projects again does not appear to be a viable option and we will probably we looking at some kind of a surcharge to our customers to make up that $160,000," he said.
At the Olivenhain Municipal Water District in Encinitas, leaders are hoping to avoid levying higher rates but leaving open the possibility of an added fee, said Rainy Selamat, finance manager for Olivenhain.
The agency's customers already are bracing for a roughly 9 percent jump in their water rates starting in September. Rate increases are on tap countywide to cover the rising costs of supplies.
Some of the larger water districts, such as Otay, don't anticipate a direct impact on customers. Otay will likely lose about $300,000 out of an overall budget of $113 million.
"We will take money out of the reserves and book it as a loan to the state," said Mark Watton, general manager at Otay.
http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/jul/29/bn29rates185728/?metro&zIndex=140592
The State Worker: Schwarzenegger takes hard line on furloughs
Sacramento
By Jon Ortiz
You can say a lot of things about Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's furloughs, but you can't say he's caved to pressure to let some employees go back to being furlough-free.
Now six months into the governor's furloughs, many state workers and their employers don't understand why they're taking a 14 percent reduction in hours and pay. It has to do with "special funds" and the general fund.
Of the $2.2 billion estimated savings from furloughing 235,000 state workers three days each month this fiscal year, $1.3 billion comes from workers paid from the general fund. The rest comes from wages paid partly or exclusively from special funds, like DMV fees, or federal money.
The $85 billion general fund is
Administration officials say that across-the-board furloughs are fair since most departments get at least a little general fund money. Plus, the general fund can tap special funds for short-term loans, so they need to run lean, officials say.
Still, some furloughs cost money. The Los Angeles Times recently reported that at the Franchise Tax Board, they've cost the state $177.4 million in collections so far, climbing to $550 million over the next three years.
The tax board asked for a get-off-furlough card. The administration's response: Work harder.
"State agencies and departments have a responsibility to fulfill their functions despite furloughs," Schwarzenegger spokeswoman Rachel Cameron told the Times.
At the Kern County Water Agency, General Manager James Beck asked the governor to exempt some state workers who, he said, "are critical to the operation and maintenance of the State Water Project."
The project feeds the thirsty
"Ironically, the furloughs ... potentially cause further harm to the state's economy," Beck wrote, by messing with service to Valley farmers. Contractors pay for the project, so these furloughs don't help the general fund.
The Department of Personnel Administration told Beck that the water project's state employees can be told to take the furlough's 14 percent pay hit now and take the time off later, Chief Deputy Director Debbie Endsley told Beck.
The policy, she said, ensures workers' "continued commitment to operational efficiency with no reduction in the quality or quantity of service they provide." #
http://www.sacbee.com/737/story/2067585.html
Activist, water official Alexander Forman dies
San Francisco
By Peter Fimrite
A memorial celebration is planned Sept. 12 for Alexander H. Forman, a longtime civil rights, environmental and nuclear-free activist who was president of the Marin Municipal Water District board of directors.
Mr. Forman, who worked for many years as a medical professional, died July 9 at his
Born in
He attended
He led a student strike against racial discrimination at
Mr. Forman received masters' degrees in sociology at
After training at
Mr. Forman co-founded the San Francisco Nuclear Freeze Initiative, and in 1985 was a featured speaker at a rally on the 40th anniversary of the atomic bombing of
He and his wife, Lauren Vanett, moved to
In 2000, Mr. Forman was elected to the Marin Municipal Water District board where he championed water conservation and fought against a proposed $20 million pipeline bringing
The memorial will be held at 2 p.m. Sept. 12 at the
In addition to his wife of 30 years, he is survived by his sister, Lesley Fishelman of
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/25/BA2A18S514.DTL
Perdue warns of more water wars, calls for national policy
The Atlanta
By Aaron Gould Sheinin and Bob Keefe
Gov. Sonny Perdue on Wednesday called for a national water policy, warning that more than a dozen other states could face the same crisis now dogging
But Perdue, in a meeting with editors and reporters at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, also warned that if
Among other highlights of the hour-long interview, Perdue:
● Said he is more than willing to negotiate a solution with
● Was more critical of Alabama Gov. Bob Riley, who in 2007 nixed a water-use agreement with
● Insisted that
● Pledged that
Perdue, along with several members of the state's congressional delegation, believe that there are at least 48 other federal reservoirs in 17 states from which jurisdictions draw drinking water despite water supply not being an intended use.
That is the crux of the federal lawsuit that has ensnared
Creating a national policy, Perdue said, could solve Georgia's problem as well as those of the 17 other potentially impacted states, should Magnuson's ruling be upheld and be used as a precedent. Even Magnuson, for instance, expressed incredulity that the Corps never updated its own rules to allow water use.
Perdue said he would travel to
Those 17 other states who potentially face the same problem had better be prepared, Perdue warned. "Other states and other municipalities may be at threat in the same way if this ruling is upheld."
Perdue said the issue never had to come to this.
"Do I believe we've been treated fairly?" Perdue said. "No. Do I believe other states have used federal laws that don't have anything to do with the issue? Yes. But the fact is we are neighbors. I'd love to sit down and get an agreement."
That echoes what Riley said to reporters in
"We can't begin to look at this as one metropolitan area," Riley said.
That, Perdue said, has never been a problem: "I don't know anyone has that attitude."
But Perdue was critical of Riley's defection from a 2007 agreement that could have alleviated much of the controversy. The two states had even picked a location to sign the deal, he said. But then
And when Interior Secretary Ken Salazar agreed to visit
"If I stand up and say I'm willing to negotiate, but I never can make it and I don't come, what does that say?" Perdue said.
Regardless, Perdue said,
The state's contingency plans could include what's known as interbasin transfers, meaning redirecting water from one basin to another, or tapping the rivers that flow into
"The state of
http://www.ajc.com/news/perdue-warns-of-more-103759.html
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