The Barbed Wire - September 18, 2015

September 18, 2015
Wildfire Borrowing
USDA Offers Help to Fire-Affected Farmers and Ranchers
Sierra Nevada Snow Pack Historically Low
State Water Board Halts Development of Statewide Grazing Regulations
Congress Facing Deadline for Enacting Federal Government Funding Bills
CA House Members ask State for Comment Period Extension on Bay Delta
BULLETIN BOARD
REGULATORY UPDATE

Wildfire Borrowing

In a letter sent to Capitol Hill this week, three federal agencies pleaded for more money for wildfire suppression to finish out the fiscal year.  White House Office of Management and Budget Director Shaun Donovan, Department of the Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, and Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack penned a letter notifying members of Congress that the federal accounts that manage wildfire suppression funds were running out of money for the second time this year.  

In August, the agencies transferred $450 million from non-suppression accounts to help float the agencies through the end of the fiscal year.  The agencies are now moving another $250 million into suppression accounts to finish the remaining thirteen days of the fiscal year.  The letter from the agencies also asked Congress to pass the Wildfire Disaster Funding Act, a measure that would allow federal land management agencies to set aside disaster funds in an amount equal to 30 percent of the ten-year average cost of fighting fires to fight the costliest fires.  This authority would protect funding for fire prevention, forest management, watershed improvement, infrastructure repair, and other desperately needed projects throughout the fiscal year.  However, the letter specifically requests that Congress not re-open the Stafford Act, the governing mechanism over other disasters.

Sierra Nevada Snow Pack Historically Low

Researchers at the University of Arizona released the findings of a study conducted in the Sierra Nevada that suggests the mountain range snowpack is at its lowest level in nearly 500 years.  Researchers took tree ring samples from blue oak trees and were able to “reconstruct” snowpack levels based on the information gathered from those samples.  The article was published in the journal Nature Climate Change.  

State Water Board Halts Development of Statewide Grazing Regulations

On Wednesday, the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) unanimously approved a resolution to halt development of the Grazing Regulatory Action Project, also known as GRAP.  The program, officially initiated last year, would have established statewide monitoring and reporting requirements on grazing operations on both public and private lands, and would likely have resulted in requiring ranchers to pay additional fees to the State.  

When GRAP was launched in 2014 it was met with immediate concern and controversy from the ranching community, local governments, academia, and other stakeholders.  Many felt that State Water Board staff had not demonstrated sufficient scientific evidence that new regulations were warranted, and urged both the State and Regional Boards to work with grazing operators to address water quality issues using voluntary programs.  RCRC worked with other stakeholders to oppose GRAP, and supported the resolution to discontinue the program.

The resolution, along with links to comments and the State Water Board’s response to comments, can be accessed here.

Congress Facing Deadline for Enacting Federal Government Funding Bills

With fewer than 10 days before the end of the federal fiscal year, Congress is making little progress toward a Continuing Resolution that will keep the federal government open after September 30, 2015.  House and Senate leaders have begun discussions on a short-term funding bill, but a visit from Pope Francis next week will reduce the workweek.  And, pressure from conservatives to prohibit funding for Planned Parenthood is making it difficult to reach an agreement in time.  

Under the most optimistic scenario, Congress will pass a Continuing Resolution until late November or early December without any provisos, such as Planned Parenthood restrictions, that could trigger a Presidential veto.  This would provide sufficient time to negotiate a major legislative package before the end of the year that would fund the federal government for the remainder of Federal Fiscal Year 2016, increase the debt ceiling, extend certain expiring tax provisions, and continue highway programs set to expire on October 31, 2015.  With so many moving parts in such a volatile political season, the complicated package could fall apart, resulting in a government shut-down.

CA House Members ask State for Comment Period Extension on Bay Delta

Last week, a bipartisan group of House Members from northern California and the Central Valley wrote a letter to Governor Jerry Brown asking for the State to extend the current public comment period on the latest plan to reconstruct the Bay Delta water hub. The State released the new Bay Delta plan in May, and has already extended the public comment period once, from August 31, 2015 to October 30, 2015.  

The Bay Delta plan, now called the California Water Fix, is no longer seeking the status of a federal Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) and State Natural Communities Conservation Plan (NCCP) and therefore the revised project eliminates the restoration of about 100,000 acres of habitat for fish and other species, part of the State's commitment to "co-equal goals" of water supply reliability and environmental protection.  The new version reduces the habitat restoration under the plan to 2,100 acres to mitigate for the construction and operation of the new water facilities. 

 

In the letter to Governor Brown the lawmakers wrote that the plan to tunnel underneath the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to reroute water deliveries around endangered fish is too complex to evaluate by the end of October.  The letter focused on the size and complexity of the documents.  This letter is the first time Republican House Members who represent the Central Valley have expressed written reservations about the plan.

 

Also sent to the Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, U.S. EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker, and California Natural Resources Secretary John Laird, the letter was signed by Reps. Jeff Denham (R), John Garamendi (D), Doug LaMalfa (R), Jared Huffman (D), Tom McClintock (R), Mike Thompson (D), Doris Matsui (D), Ami Bera (D), Jerry McNerney (D), Mark DeSaulnier (D) and Eric Swalwell (D).  The letter can be accessed here.

 

BULLETIN BOARD

CDFA Seeks Comments on Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is seeking public comments on new program priorities being developed for the 2016 Special Crop Block Grant Program. Please submit comments to grants@cdfa.ca.gov beginning September 18, 2015 at 5 p.m. until October 2, 2015 at 5 p.m. The proposed program priorities may be accessed here.

Proposition 1 Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Grant Program Public Scoping Workshop

Click here

October 15 Sierra Cascades Dialog: Planning Tomorrow’s Forests Today

The USDA Forest Service has scheduled the next Sierra Cascades Dialog for Thursday, October 15, 2015 at the Lions Gate Hotel in McClellan, CA.  The session, entitled Planning Tomorrow’s Forests Today: Pacific Crest Trail, Wilderness, Wild and Scenic Rivers, and Species of Conservation Concern, will cover four topics of interest in the current and future forest plan revisions being undertaken by the USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region.  Full details can be accessed here.

Request for Public Comments – Proposed NOFA Regarding Drought-Related Water Laterals Installations

Click here

Study Claims Flooding Farms in Winter May Help Replenish Groundwater

Click here

UCS Groundwater Report: Setting Measurable Objectives to Achieve Sustainable Groundwater Management in California

Click here

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.  

Draft Resolution for the Discontinuation of Discussions Regarding a Statewide Approach to Addressing Water Quality Impacts from Livestock Grazing.  Halts the development of the Grazing Regulatory Action Project (GRAP).  Agency: State Water Resources Control Board Status: Draft published for public comment, comment period ends September 3, 2015.  Board consideration expected at the September 16, 2015 meeting.  Draft resolution and related documents can be accessed hereRCRC Comments: Click here RCRC Advocate: Staci Heaton sheaton@rcrcnet.org