Barbed Wire - October 24, 2014

October 24, 2014
USDA Releases "Made in Rural America" Report
DWR Water-Energy Grant Program
Caltrans Releases Survey on Strategic Plan
Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program Comment Deadline Approaching
New Farm Bill Program Aims to Help Farmers Impacted by Drought
EVENTS/NOTICES

USDA Releases "Made in Rural America" Report

Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a state-by-state report titled, Made in Rural America, highlighting the impact USDA investments have had in rural communities across the country.  Each state fact sheet focuses on specific USDA projects and investments in manufacturing, housing, water, and other infrastructure developments that have increased opportunities for rural communities.  

In California, the USDA has invested in 411 rural businesses, including Metal Works in Butte County, which supports nearly 100 jobs in the community.  The California fact sheet can be accessed here.  A complete list of the fact sheets, by state, can be accessed here.

DWR Water-Energy Grant Program

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) released the final Guidelines and Proposal Solicitation Package (PSP) for the 2014 Water-Energy Grant Program.  The goal of the Water-Energy Grant Program is to fund residential, commercial, and institutional water efficiency programs or projects that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and also reduce water and energy use.  The grant program is being managed as part of DWRs Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Grant Program.  

Three workshops will be held to provide general assistance in preparing proposals, which are due by 5:00 p.m. on December 12, 2014.  Details on the workshops can be accessed here.  The PSP can be accessed here.

RCRC has submitted comments to DWR Director Mark Cowin on RCRC’s perspective on the use of CalEPA’s CalEnviroScreen for grant solicitations and awards.  DWR is making $19 million of GHG Reduction Fund monies available, and the Guidelines and PSP states that it is DWR’s intent to award not less than 50 percent ($9.5 million) of the available funding to projects located in or outside of a CalEnviroScreen identified Disadvantaged Community (DAC) with a score of 81 percent or higher.   

As a result of the criteria used to develop CalEnviroScreen, potential project grant applicants in 34 of California’s 58 counties do not quality to compete for the $9.5 million designated in the PSP for projects to benefit CalEnviroScreen identified DACs, and only six of RCRC’s member counties have census tracts in the top 20 percent.  The use of CalEnviroScreen excludes many disadvantaged communities (as commonly defined) from competing for this funding.

RCRC’s letter to DWR Director Mark Cowin can be accessed here.

Caltrans Releases Survey on Strategic Plan

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is currently seeking input from transportation stakeholders to help guide the development of their new Strategic Plan.  Caltrans has developed a survey to help collect input on their goals and objectives that will assist in the development and review of potential performance measures that will help them in the evaluation of meeting the State’s future Strategic Plan objectives.  

The Caltrans Performance Measures survey can be accessed here.  Survey responses are requested by Friday, October 31, 2014.  Please direct any questions to Caltrans Chief of Staff Dara Wheeler at (916) 654-3660, ordara.wheeler@dot.ca.gov

Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program Comment Deadline Approaching

The Strategic Growth Council (SGC) has issued a preliminary Draft of Grant Guidelines and Applications for a new program funded by the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reduction Fund – the California Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program (SALCP).  The SALCP will provide grants for development of Sustainable Agricultural Land Strategic Plans and for agricultural conservation easements.   In future years land management incentives will be added to the program.  

RCRC has submitted comments on the SALCP directed at the use of CalEnviroScreen.  The current SALCP proposal is to provide five additional points toward the total score for planning grant applications impacting CalEnviroScreen identified disadvantaged communities (DACs) in the top 20 percent.  Only six of RCRC’s 34 member counties have census tracts in the top 20 percent.  Thirty-four counties, many of them members of RCRC, do not have a single census tract in the top 20 percent.  RCRC’s comment letter can be accessed here.

The SGC intends to adopt the final SALCP at its December 11, 2014 meeting.  RCRC encourages member counties to submit comments, and send a copy of comments to RCRC Legislative Advocate Kathy Mannion atkmannion@rcrcnet.org.

The draft document can be accessed here.  Written comments will be accepted until Friday, October 31, 2014.  Comments should be submitted to AHSC_AG@sgc.ca.gov.  Additionally, three SALCP workshops have been scheduled.  Details on the workshop can be accessed here.

New Farm Bill Program Aims to Help Farmers Impacted by Drought

This week, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the USDA would begin implementation of a new farm bill program to provide relief to farmers affected by severe weather.  The new program, the Actual Production History (APH) Yield Exclusion, will allow producers who have been impacted by severe weather to receive a higher approved yield on insurance policies through the federal crop insurance program.  Crops eligible in California for the APH Yield Exclusion are rice, corn, wheat, sorghum, and barley.  The new program will be available starting next spring.

EVENTS/NOTICES

DWR Hosts Integrated Regional Water Management Stakeholder Capacity-Building Workshop

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced hosting a workshop to provide tactical assistance to Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) stakeholders, with a particular focus on the needs of tribes, disadvantaged communities, and local agencies.  The workshop will be held simultaneously in Redding, Stockton, Clovis, and Los Angeles, and available via webcast.  Details on the workshops can be accessed here.

California Department of Water Resources Hosts Webinar

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced hosting two informational webinar sessions on the recently released Guidance on General Plan Amendments for Addressing Flood Risk (September 2014).  Detailed information on the informational webinars can be accessed here.

State Water Board Hosts Public Workshops on Safe Drinking Water Plan

The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) announced hosting six public workshops on the draft Safe Drinking Water Plan for California, the State Water Boards assessment of the overall quality of the State’s drinking water and identification of specific water quality problems.  The draft can be accessed here.  Details on the workshops can be accessed here.

OPR Hosts Workshop on Preliminary Discussion Draft Changes to CEQA Guidelines

The Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) will host a public workshop to discuss the Preliminary Discussion Draft of changes to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines implementing Senate Bill 743 (Steinberg 2013).  Details on the workshop, the Preliminary Discussion Draft, and other related materials can be accessed here.