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As Lake Mead continues to decline, Arizona officials say there is
a 61 percent chance of a first-ever shortage declaration in 2017.
Mead is now at 1,089 feet above sea level, or 42 percent of
capacity. If the reservoir drops to elevation 1075, a level
one shortage would be declared, reducing supplies to Arizona and
Nevada.
Drought, the new sustainable groundwater law, the water bond, the
Salton Sea and the Bay-Delta will all be discussed at the
32nd Annual Executive Briefing to be held March 25 in
Sacramento.
“The Value of Water: Building Momentum in 2015” will
feature some top speakers, including DWR Director Mark Cowin,
California Water Commissioner Joe Del Bosque and Cal EPA
Undersecretary Gordon Burns.
When it comes to flooding in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta,
it’s not a matter of “if,” but “when.”
The Water Education Foundation’s latest video, “Getting
Prepared: Preventing Flood Contamination in the Delta”
(running time 17.35) takes a look at the real threats of flooding
in the Delta and what to do to minimize the damage when it
happens.
Speakers at next week’s Water 101 Workshop in the Sacramento area
will talk about California’s new groundwater law and the
important role that groundwater plays in the state’s supply.
The 2015 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act became effective
Jan. 1. It was passed by the state Legislature last fall, making
California the last state in the West to regulate groundwater
pumping.
California voters last year passed a $7.5 billion bond water bond
amid one of the worst droughts in the state’s history. What’s in
the water bond and where is the money going to go?
Get the answers from Kim Delfino, member of the California Water
Commission, at the Water Education Foundation’s Water 101 Workshop
Feb 5-6 in West Sacramento.
The largest single portion of bond money was the $2.7 billion
earmarked for the Commission to allocate for storage projects.
Our annual Lower Colorado River Tour now has two options to
benefit attendees: early bird prices and a starting and end point
in California.
The March 11-13 Lower Colorado River Tour begins in Las Vegas and
ends at California’s Ontario Airport. But those concerned
about out-of-state travel can now take the option of beginning
and ending the tour in Ontario.
Two dozen water experts and decision-makers will be on hand at
the WATER 2015 program hosted by Capitol Weekly and the UC
Center. The day-long event will be Feb. 19 in Sacramento. The
Water Education is a cosponsor and Executive Director
Jennifer Bowles is moderating a panel.
As the multiyear drought continues across the Colorado River
Basin and the two main reservoirs along the river reach lower and
lower levels, federal officials and the major users of the
river’s water are seeking to avert crisis conditions and offering
millions of dollars to stimulate new water conservation
proposals, writes Water Education Foundation Writer Gary Pitzer.
Pitzer covers “The Colorado River System Conservation Program:
Wringing Even More Savings from the System” in the recently
published Winter 2014/2015 edition of River Report.
Lake Mead recently reached its lowest level since it filled in
the 1930s, and there is concern that if the drought
continues the nation’s largest reservoir will drop and
reach ”shortage” conditions. A federal, multi-state effort
is now underway to retain water in the reservoir and avoid a
shortage.
Learn more about these efforts and see the reservoir and Hoover
Dam firsthand on the Water Education Foundation’s March
11-13 tour of the Lower Colorado River.
California DWR Director Mark Cowin Among Top Speakers
California DWR Director Mark Cowin is among the top speakers at
the Water Education Foundation’s March 25 Executive
Briefing in Sacramento.
Taking a look at significant developments that occurred last year
such as the water bond and the new groundwater law, “The
Value of Water: Building Momentum in 2015″ will
feature discussions on next steps of these major actions.
The 2012 landmark Colorado River Basin Study identified a major
disparity between future water supply and demand, and established
three workgroups to figure out how to close the gap. The newest
issue of Western Water magazine takes a look at the process and
progress in the last two years.
Great Opportunity for New Board Members and Anyone Interested in
Learning More
Go beyond the headlines of California’s drought and groundwater
issues and gain a deeper understanding of the state’s water
issues at our Water 101 workshop on Feb. 5-6 in West Sacramento.
Signups are now underway for the Water Education Foundation’s
March 11-13 tour of the Lower Colorado River. Don’t miss this
opportunity to visit key sites along the “lifeblood of the
Southwest,” including a private tour of Hoover Dam, Central
Arizona Project’s Mark Wilmer pumping plant, the Havasu
National Wildlife refuge, farms in the Imperial and Coachella
valleys, and the Salton Sea.
The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, the water bond and
the question of long-term water management are among the
important and timely topics to be addressed at this
year’s Executive Briefing, the Water Education Foundation’s
annual conference.
The 32nd annual event, “The Value of Water: Building Momentum
in 2015,” will feature key speakers and top experts in their
fields. The Briefing will be March 25 at the Red
Lion Woodlake Hotel and Conference Center in Sacramento.
The year may be coming to a close, but there’s still time to help
support the Water Education
Foundation. Your tax-deductible gift will help us continue our
mission to provide unbiased information on water issues through
facilitation, education and outreach, as we have for 37 years.
If you spend money on Black Friday or Cyber Monday, please
consider taking part in #GivingTuesday tomorrow when
charities, families, businesses, community centers and students
around the world will come together for one common purpose: to
celebrate generosity and to give.
#GivingTuesday inspires people to give back to communities,
charities and causes they support. Please consider kicking
off your holiday season with an end-of-year, tax-deductible
donations to the Water Education Foundation, a 501(c)3
nonprofit.
Learn the Basics and Beyond of Water in California
As drought and groundwater issues continue to dominate headlines,
attend our popular Water 101 workshop to gain a deeper
understanding of the key issues associated with the
life-sustaining resource from the new groundwater law, to water
rights, to how water moves across the state.
Leading policymakers and experts will serve as the
teachers of this 1-1/2 day workshop on Feb. 5-6 at
the Civic Center Galleria in West Sacramento.
With Cyber Monday just days away, remember that you can help the
Water Education Foundation when shopping online. The Foundation
is a participant in the AmazonSmile Foundation program,
which allows Amazon customers to designate a 501(c)(3)
nonprofit organization to receive 0.5% of the purchase price of
products bought.
The Water Education Foundation will be among the
nation’s charities and nonprofits participating in #GivingTuesday on Dec. 2.
Coinciding with Thanksgiving and the kickoff of the holiday
shopping season, #GivingTuesday harnesses the power of social
media to create a national moment around the holidays dedicated
to giving, similar to how Black Friday and Cyber Monday have
become days that are synonymous with holiday shopping.
