Barbed Wire - October 31, 2014

October 31, 2014
Water Curtailments Temporarily Lifted
Department of Water Resources Releases the California Water Plan Update 2013
State Board of Food and Agriculture to Discuss Drought Planning and Groundwater Management
Children Now Grades California Counties
2014 Local Streets and Roads Needs Assessment Released
California Transportation Commission Executive Director Announces Retirement
Caltrans Announces Workshops to Update the Interregional Transportation Strategic Plan
Next Steps in the Active Transportation Program Project Process
REGULATORY UPDATE

Water Curtailments Temporarily Lifted

The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) has started to temporarily lift water rights curtailments for post-1914 appropriative water rights holders based on upcoming precipitation events.  Due to timing concerns, the State Water Board will only provide electronic notification of these short-term opportunities, distributed on a real-time basis via the Drought e-mail subscription, available here (select Water Rights and then Drought Updates).  Water right holders should monitor the State Water Board’s e-mail notices and/or website to take advantage of these temporary actions. 

Department of Water Resources Releases the California Water Plan Update 2013

This week, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced the formal release of the final California Water Plan Update 2013 (Update 2013).  The Update 2013 is designed to work in tandem, and help implement, the Governor’s Water Action Plan.  The Update 2013, as well as the Highlights booklet, can be accessed here

The California Water Plan is updated every five years, and is intended to serve as the strategic plan for developing and managing the State’s limited water resources.  RCRC staff served as a member of the Public Advisory Committee throughout the development of the Update 2013 to help ensure the policy concerns of RCRC member counties, such as land use, were addressed.

State Board of Food and Agriculture to Discuss Drought Planning and Groundwater Management

The California State Board of Food and Agriculture will discuss drought planning, groundwater management, implementation of the California Water Action Plan, and other water-related issues of concern to California agriculture at its upcoming meeting in Sacramento. 

The list of invited speakers includes:

  • Richard Howitt and Jay Lund, UC Davis;
  • Karla Nemeth, California Natural Resources Agency;
  • Gordon Burns, California Environmental Protection Agency;
  • California Water Commission Members  Joe Del Bosque, Kimberly Delfino, and David Orth;
  • Glenda Humiston, USDA Rural Development;
  • Carlos Suarez, USDA State Conservationist;
  •  Jeff Yasui, USDA Risk Management Agency;
  • Jacque Johnson, USDA Farm Service Agency

The meeting will be held Tuesday, November 4, 2014 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Department of Food and Agriculture:

Department of Food and Agriculture

Main Auditorium

1220 N Street

Sacramento, CA 95814

The meeting will also be streamed online, accessed here.

Children Now Grades California Counties

Children Now, a federal, state, and local advocacy organization focused on the well-being of children released a county-by-county report card highlighting each county’s performance in health, education, and child welfare.  RCRC member county El Dorado made the top of the list for education, while other RCRC member counties ranked toward the top of the list for overall economic well-being.  Several RCRC member counties ranked low in the education and health categories, further emphasizing the need for improved access to healthcare and educational opportunities in the smallest and most rural counties.  The complete scorecard can be found here.

2014 Local Streets and Roads Needs Assessment Released

This week, the California State Association of Counties and the League of California Cities, along with local transportation stakeholders, released the 2014 Local Streets and Roads Needs Assessment (LSR Report).  The LSR report is the only report of its kind that provides detailed analysis of the condition of our local transportation system.  The LSR Report finds that over the next ten years the local transportation system will have a $78.3 billion funding shortfall, compared to a $71.4 billion funding shortfall just six years ago.  Additionally, the report finds that over the next decade 25% of roads will be in a “failed” condition, meaning they are so far deteriorated they fall into a category deemed “failed” according to the Pavement Condition Index which provides standardized measurements for pavement conditions.  To see the condition of your county’s local streets and roads, view the LSR Report here

California Transportation Commission Executive Director Announces Retirement

The California Transportation Commission’s (CTC) Executive Director, Andre Boutros, announced that he will retire from the CTC at the end of the year.  Mr. Boutros was appointed to head the CTC in early 2013.  Prior to his appointment as Executive Director of the CTC, Mr. Boutros served in various leadership positions, including Chief Deputy Director, Chief of Staff, and as a primary policy advisor to the CTC.  Additionally, Mr. Boutros held various positions with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans).  The CTC is charged with the responsibility of programming billions of dollars annually for transportation projects across the state in partnership with regional transportation agencies and Caltrans, and advises the California Transportation Agency and the State Legislature on transportation policy issues.

Caltrans Announces Workshops to Update the Interregional Transportation Strategic Plan

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is in the process of updating the Interregional Transportation Strategic Plan (ITSP), and has announced five workshops across the state as well as an upcoming webinar to support the process of updating the ITSP document.  The ITSP is intended to guide funding decisions for the Interregional Transportation Improvement Plan, which identifies specific interregional transportation projects and priorities for the state that support the movement of people, vehicles, and goods. 

RCRC strongly encourages local transportation partners to participate in one of the upcoming workshops to ensure that your interregional transportation challenges are considered as Caltrans begins to update the ITSP document.  The final ITSP will be submitted to the California Transportation Commission for approval no later than June 30, 2015.  Full details on the workshops can be accessed here

Next Steps in the Active Transportation Program Project Process

The California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) held a webinar yesterday to provide an overview of the next steps for entities that were awarded an Active Transportation Program (ATP) grant.  The presentation discussed in great detail the overall specifics of the ATP program, including how to request State-only funding, project programming information, receipt of allocation distributions, requesting time extensions, and overall project implementation.  Caltrans will soon be making a copy of the ATP webinar and slideshow available on their website, accessed here

RCRC has heard a variety of concerns from our local transportation stakeholders regarding the application and award process for Cycle 1 of the ATP program.  Over the next several months, RCRC will be working with our local transportation stakeholders to better understand the issues with implementation, and to help influence the development of ATP Guidelines/Program for the next cycle of ATP funding.  CalTrans anticipates that applications for the Cycle 2 of the ATP program will be open in Spring 2015.

REGULATORY UPDATE

RCRC members are encouraged to submit comments on regulatory matters to state and federal regulatory bodies, and to provide a copy to RCRC’s Government Affairs staff.  Click “Read More” to access information related to the current status of regulations impacting California’s rural counties.  

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Threatened Species Status for West Coast Distinct Population Segment of Fisher: Proposes to list the west coast distinct population of fisher as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.  Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Status: Draft published on October 7, 2014 for a 90-day comment period, comments due January 5, 2015.  Proposed regulation and related documents can be accessedhere. RCRC Comments: Staff is seeking input from member counties.  RCRC Advocate: Staci Heatonsheaton@rcrcnet.org

Definition of “Waters of the United States” Under the Clean Water Act: Changes the definition of “Waters of the United States” in the Clean Water Act and expands federal jurisdiction over waterways.  Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Status: Draft published on April 21, 2014 for public comment, comment deadline extended to November 14, 2014. Proposed regulation and related documents can be accessed hereRCRC Comments: Click here RCRC Advocate: Staci Heaton sheaton@rcrcnet.org

Draft Guidelines for Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program: Preliminary draft guidelines for the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program.  Agency: The Strategic Growth Council (SGC) Status: Draft language released September 22, 2014, comments due October 31, 2014.  The draft guidelines can be accessed here.  RCRC Comments: RCRC is concerned that it will be difficult for rural counties to compete for these funds, especially if they adopt the CalEnviroScreen as the sole tool for selecting “disadvantaged communities.”  RCRC's comment letter can be accessed here.  A map detailing the proposed regions for the AHSC Program can be accessed here.  RCRC Advocate: Mary Pitto mpitto@rcrcnet.org

Preliminary Discussion Draft of Updates to the CEQA Guidelines: The preliminary discussion draft of updates to the CEQA Guidelines to implement SB 743 (Steinberg, 2013), and address the evaluation of transportation impacts under CEQA.  Agency: The Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) Status: Draft language released August 6, 2014, comments extended to November 21, 2014.  Comments should be submitted to CEQA.Guidelines@ceres.ca.govRCRC Comments:  Staff is seeking input from member counties.  A copy of the preliminary discussion draft can be accessed here.  RCRC Advocate:  Mary Pitto mpitto@rcrcnet.org

Proposed Green Building Code Amendments: Preliminary discussion proposed change to the green building standards for the 2015 Triennial Code Adoption Cycle.  Agency: California Building Standards Commission (CBSC) Status: The CBSC has convened its first meeting for the Green Building Focus Group to begin development of proposed changes to the Green Building Code.  A copy of the preliminary discussion drafts can be accessed here.  RCRC Comments:  Staff is seeking input from member counties.  RCRC Advocate: Mary Pitto mpitto@rcrcnet.org