On July 5, 2012 California lawmakers voted to delay voters’ consideration of an $11 billion water bond for another two years, from November 2012 to November 2014.

The newly created state agency known as the Delta Stewardship Council has taken shape and recently took its first gentle steps into the tepid waters of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta’s management.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said June 29 that a statewide vote on the $11 billion water should be postponed until 2012.

In July, the State Water Resources Control Board (“State Board”) plans to issue draft “flow criteria for the Delta ecosystem necessary to protect public trust resources.” (Water Code § 85086(c)(1).)

Statements of Diversion and Use

California congressmen Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) and Dave Cogdill (R-Modesto) have sponsored legislation that would modify the $11.14 billion bond measure slated for voter approval in November pursuant to the 2009 omnibus water legislation (SB X7-2 [“SB 2”]). Assembly Bill 2775 (“AB 2775”) would amend the bond measure to delete a provision allowing nongovernmental entities to participate in water storage projects funded by bond proceeds.

The State Water Resources Control Board ("State Board") is requesting applications to fill at least 12 new water rights enforcement positions, including investigators, environmental scientists and water resource control engineers.

In the November 2, 2010 statewide general election, voters will be asked to approve the $11.14 billion bond measure associated with SB X7-2 (“SB 2”), the “Safe, Clean and Reliable Drinking Water Supply Act of 2010.” The bond measure would authorize funds for drought relief, regional water supply projects, Delta sustainability projects, water storage, watershed conservation, groundwater cleanup and protection, and water recycling and conservation. A straight majority vote is required to pass the bond measure.

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) has unveiled its Online Submittal Tool (DOST) for Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) updates. The DOST website is available here and the online user manual is available here.

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) has adopted an emergency regulation and begun a public comment and hearing process on formal regulations to implement agricultural water use efficiency requirements established in SB 7, part of the significant water legislation package adopted in 2009. The new regulations require most agricultural water suppliers providing water to 25,000 irrigated acres or more (excluding acres receiving only recycled water), as well as some that provide water to as few as 10,000 acres, to "measure surface and groundwater that it delivers to its customers" pursuant to certain accuracy standards. The suppliers must retain measurement records and report certain information regarding the records in their Agricultural Water Management Plan updates. DWR will accept written comments on the proposed regulations through September 6, 2011, and will hold hearings in Sacramento on August 24, and in Fresno on September 8. More information is available here.