NSWA Letter to State Board / MT Democrat posts Op-ED / Curtailment – San Joaquin River Watershed / Water Commission SAC / New MCWRA Member – County of Alpine
(NSWA) North State Water Alliance – Letter to State Water Board
In a letter to the State Water Board, the North State Water Alliance (Alliance), of which MCWRA is a founding member, expressed significant concerns with the draft conservation regulations and particularly the authority relied upon by the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to impose mandatory conservation targets for various water agencies.
Read more: Marcus.urbanregsapr2015
Mountain Democrat Newspaper – Conservation Framework Flawed
My turn- Water conservation target framework flawed (1)
Curtailment San Joaquin River Watershed / POST -1914 Water Rights
On April 23, the State Water Board notified all holders of post-1914 appropriative water rights within the San Joaquin River watershed of the need to immediately stop diverting under their post-1914 water rights.
The Water Board notification goes on to assert that future curtailment of pre-1914 water rights in the San Joaquin River are likely.
“Please be advised that, if you continue to divert under a claim of pre-1914 right, most or all pre-1914 rights in the San Joaquin River watershed are likely to be curtailed later this year due to the extreme dry conditions.”
Water Board Notification: http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/waterrights/water_issues/programs/drought/docs/sjrg_2015_curtail.pdf
This follows a April 13, 2015 letter MCWRA sent to Tom Howard, Executive Director, State Water Board specifically concerned with the SWRCB’s notices of potential future curtailments, which suggest an intention to take the unprecedented actions of curtailing vested pre-1914 appropriative rights and requiring reductions of riparian water rights.
“The SWRCB has not yet revealed how it proposes to implement curtailments to pre-1914 users, or require reductions of riparian users. If the SWRCB determines to take action to prohibit or reduce diversions by riparian and pre-1914 appropriative water right holders, any such action should clearly be preceded by adherence to all applicable procedural requirements, including factual findings, including a clear showing of necessity, demonstrating that the action is lawful.”
Letter to State Water Board Executive Director Tom Howard: 041315 – SWRCB Letter – Tom Howard – Curtailments
Water Commission Stakeholders Advisory Committee – MCWRA Participant
Proposition 1 requires the Commission to develop regulations and guidelines through a public process and had convened the Stakeholders Advisory Committee (SAC) to seek technical and policy input from stakeholder representatives. The SAC is a balanced advisory body, chartered by invitation to provide comments, data, and supporting information to the Commission. The committee includes members from statewide interests including water supply, environmental, agriculture, flood control, tribal interests, conservation, and others. The committee meets monthly.
On April 1, MCWRA Executive Director John Kingsbury participated in the first meeting. Kingsbury said, ” the Water Commission is taking this process very seriously and I am honored to have been invited to participate as a support entity to the Commission”.
The Water Storage Investment Program (WSIP) will fund the public benefits associated with storage projects. Public benefits are defined in the Water Bond under the following categories:
- Ecosystem improvements
- Water quality improvements
- Flood control benefits
- Emergency response
- Recreational purpose
Newest MCWRA Member : County of Alpine
At its April 21 meeting, the County of Alpine Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to join MCWRA as an Associate Member.
I am delighted that the County finds value to join MCWRA and excited about the opportunity to advocate for their water interests, said John Kingsbury, MCWRA executive director.
As of the 2010 census, the population in Alpine County was 1,175. making it the least populous county in California. The county seat is Markleeville.
Link to the County of Alpine website
