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SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Bill Dodd (D-Napa) has introduced new legislation that would help create a more robust water market and improve the ability of the state to meet the growing demand for water supply reliability and healthy ecosystems.
The bill, known as the Open and Transparent Water Data Act, would create a water transfer information clearinghouse providing a platform for which water data is shared across the state.
This marks an important first step to move California toward a more effective and flexible water management system.
"The drought has revealed California needs a modern water information system to address the state’s water supply,” said Assemblymember Dodd. “The state does not suffer from a lack of water data, but from a lack of usable water data needed to make smart decisions. This bill will create instant and accessible water information that will better enable water managers to cope with current and future drought conditions.”
"I would like to acknowledge Assemblymember Dodd's leadership on this important aspect of water data collection and management. I also appreciate his willingness to continue working with the water community to refine and improve upon the proposal,” said Grant Davis, general manager of the Sonoma County Water Agency. “The value of creating a statewide clearinghouse is that it allows us to make informed decisions based on data that already exist but are currently out of reach.”
California has a number of databases containing information on hydrology, biology, water quality, the physical environment, and water use.
Unfortunately, water managers have been unable to easily access the growing amount of information to make timely and science-based decisions that will lead California to a more sustainable water future.
“California's current water transfer market is inefficient,” said Jim Wunderman, president and CEO of the Bay Area Council. “With the right market signals, water agencies and private capital will want to invest in conservation and improvement of our water delivery system. California leads the world in developing new and innovative technologies. It’s time to take the first step and invest in a better water information system.”
The act will improve access to important data by creating a statewide water data information system to integrate critical water data in a user friendly, publicly accessible Web site.
The act will also develop open-data protocols for data sharing, transparency, documentation, and quality control that will avoid misunderstandings, reduce disputes and increase the effectiveness of management decisions.
Dodd represents the Fourth Assembly District, which includes all or portions of Napa, Yolo, Sonoma, Lake, Solano, and Colusa counties. You can learn more about Assemblymember Dodd and the district at www.asm.ca.gov/dodd .
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MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – California State Board of Equalization (SBOE) Board Member Fiona Ma, CPA, invites small businesses in Lake County to a free seminar on Tuesday, Feb. 9.
The seminar will take place from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Calpine Geothermal Visitor Center, 15500 Central Park Road in Middletown. Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m.
The seminar is an informative and exciting opportunity for businesses in the Lake County, and will focus on such issues as common sales and use tax problems, a discussion on employees versus independent contractors, record keeping best practices and forms of ownership.
“I encourage every small business owner to take advantage of this wonderful, free opportunity to help their businesses grow and thrive,” said Ma.
“This comprehensive seminar will cover the do’s and don’ts of complying with the appropriate tax laws so that businesses can focus on expanding their market share, hiring new workers and helping our community recover, particularly after the tragic fire season last year,” she said.
Nonprofit seminar topics include property tax exemptions for nonprofit organizations, filing and compliance for exempt organizations, and an overview of what is taxable for fundraising events and sales.
To register call 1-888-847-9652 or visit http://www.boe.ca.gov/cgi-bin/seminar.cgi?FLAG=447 .
Walk-ins are welcome. Registration is not mandatory to attend. This event will not be televised.
Learn more about a variety of other BOE in-person classes at http://www.boe.ca.gov/sutax/sbf.htm ; online seminars can be found at http://www.boe.ca.gov/info/VirtualSeminars/seminars_online.htm .
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SACRAMENTO – Sen. Mike McGuire, chairman of the Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture, announced that the 43rd Annual Zeke Grader Fisheries Forum is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 11, at the State Capitol in Sacramento.
“This has been a challenging year for California fisheries,” Sen. McGuire said. “Between a dreadful salmon season and a disastrous crab season, thousands of hard-working California fishing families are struggling and we need to step up and assist them during this difficult time. Our annual hearing will focus on the need for a disaster declaration and the many other hot issues facing the multi-million dollar fishery and aquaculture industries in California.”
John Laird, California’s Natural Resources Secretary, and Charlton Bonham, Director of the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, will headline this year’s list of speakers and presenters.
Presentations and discussion will focus specifically on crab, salmon, aquaculture and seafood marketing needs.
The agenda features presentations by state agency leaders, commercial and recreational fishing representatives, river advocates, aquaculture producers, and fish processors.
The hearing begins at 10 a.m. and will be held in Room 112 of the Capitol. The public is welcome to attend the hearing. There is no cost to attend.
The hearing will also be live-streamed on the State Senate’s Web site at www.senate.ca.gov .
“It is an honor to carry on this important tradition that was started by a North Coast legislator, former State Senator Barry Keene, more than 40 years ago,” McGuire said. “The fishery and aquaculture harvest has a deep history here in California and continues to be a significant economic driver up and down the coast and we hope folks come out next week and join the conversation.”
Sitting on the Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture with Chair McGuire are Vice Chair Assemblyman Jim Wood, Sen. Jerry Hill, Sen. Jim Nielsen, Sen. Fran Pavley, Assemblyman Katcho Achadjian, Assemblyman Philip Ting and Assemblyman Das Williams.
For more information about the Fisheries Forum visit the Committee Web site at http://fisheries.legislature.ca.gov/ .
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SANTA ROSA, Calif. – The North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board on Thursday adopted general waste discharge requirements (WDRs) for wineries and beverage and food processors that updates 2002 general WDRs for wineries and expands permit coverage to beverage and food processors within the North Coast region.
The North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board includes Del Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, a portion of northern Lake County, Marin, Mendocino, Modoc, Siskiyou, Sonoma and Trinity counties.
In a separate action, the board also adopted a “conditional waiver” that waives requirements for wineries and beverage and food processors discharging less than 1,500 gallons of process wastewater per day.
The board actions increase protection of groundwater quality, streamline the permitting process, improve consistency and incentivize water conservation.
Small wineries and some types of beverage and food processing facilities, such as cheese and potato processors, were not regulated. The board actions expand permit coverage to include the previously unregulated processors and small wineries.
“Updating the requirements and bringing in small wineries and food processors that weren’t a part of the regulation is critical to protecting our groundwater,” said Regional Water Board Executive Officer Matt St. John.
The updated general WDRs provide increased protection of the beneficial uses of groundwater by requiring wineries and beverage and food processors to address nutrients and salinity in their process wastewaters and solids.
The updated general WDRs require wineries and processors to either meet end-of-pipe limitations or monitor groundwater to demonstrate compliance with groundwater water quality standards.
Those facilities that qualify for a “conditional waiver” of requirements are required to employ best management practices such as minimizing the use of non-biodegradable and salt-containing cleaners to reduce impacts to groundwater quality.
Facilities are required to submit an application for coverage under the updated WDRs or conditional waiver as soon as possible. Wineries currently enrolled under the 2002 winery WDRs are required to submit an application by July 28.
Regional Water Board staff reached out to the general public, conducted public workshops and worked extensively with wine industry representatives to develop the new general WDRs and conditional waiver. The proposed requirements were modified in response to comments and input from the public and industry representatives.
For more information on the new WDRs and conditional waiver, visit http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/northcoast/water_issues/programs/wine_beverage_food/ .