Rancho Water Receives Award for Excellence in Budget Preparation
The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) has awarded the Rancho California Water District (Rancho Water/District) the GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for significant achievement in governmental budgeting. This is the 17th year that Rancho Water has received this award. The GFOA plays a pivotal role in advancing excellence in government finance by providing best practices, professional development, and resources for public agencies. As a leading authority in the field, GFOA recognizes entities that exemplify outstanding budgeting practices. Award recipients must show exemplary effort to improve the quality of budgeting and provide an excellent example for other governments throughout North America. To attain this distinguished award, Rancho Water adhered to nationally recognized guidelines, demonstrating that its budget presentation met the following criteria:- A comprehensive policy document
- A strategic financial plan
- An operational guide
- An effective communications device
Gloria Dizmang Resigns from PWD Board Due to Health Issues
PALMDALE– Gloria Dizmang, a Palmdale Water District (PWD) Board of Director for more than two terms, has vacated her Division 3 seat after experiencing ongoing health problems. Her resignation was effective Dec. 31, 2023. Dizmang had hoped to finish her term, which expires in December 2024, but physical challenges made it not possible. “I was elected to represent the people of Division 3 and make informed decisions on their behalf, but I cannot do that when I am physically unable to travel or attend meetings,” Dizmang said. “I loved being on the Board. I was proud to serve. I will miss it very much.” The PWD Board has 60 days from her resignation date to address the vacancy. “The remaining Board members and I are saddened by Gloria’ departure,” said Board President Don Wilson. “She was a very important part of the team. She brought great ideas, a wonderful sense of humor and unwavering support for the Board and staff. We will truly miss her.” Dizmang, a longtime AV educator, served on the PWD Board for one term from 2011-2015. She lost her seat but was reappointed in April 2019 to fill that position when it became vacant. With no opposition in the November 2020 elections, she retained her seat. During her first term, she was instrumental in starting PWD’s Rate Assistance Program, which offers a discount on the monthly service fee to eligible seniors 62 and older, veterans of any age and low-income families using non-water rate revenues. The program has been going strong since 2015. Today, more than 700 ratepayers receive assistance. In 2013, Dizmang was the inspiration behind PWD’s “Before the First Drop” campaign to educate customers about the cost to the District before they get one drop of water. More recently, she has been a strong supporter of partnerships with other water agencies, including Oxnard-based United Water Conservation District. She actively represented PWD at the Palmdale Fin and Feather Club, Special Districts Association of North Los Angeles County, and the Association of California Water Districts JPIA. Dizmang has lived in the Antelope Valley since 1965. She was an educator and administrator for the Antelope Valley Union High School District for 36 years and a 30-year adjunct professor for A.V. College. She retired from teaching in 2020. Her other civic involvement includes serving as a rent negotiator for the city of Palmdale and as president of the Palmdale Civic Authority. Since 1918, the Palmdale Water District has provided high-quality water at a reasonable cost. We pride ourselves on providing great customer care; advocating for local water issues that help our residents; educating the community on water-use efficiency; and leading our region in researching and implementing emerging technologies that increase operational efficiency. For more information about PWD, visit www.palmdalewater.org.###
CARB Selects ACWA Staffer for Clean Fleets Regulations Implementation Group
SACRAMENTO – The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has selected ACWA State Relations Advocate Nick Blair as a member of the newly formed Truck Regulation Implementation Group (TRIG), which is meeting quarterly to help CARB work through Advanced Clean Fleets Regulation implementation issues.
The new Advanced Clean Fleets Regulation requires vehicle fleet owners and operators, including all public agencies, to start purchasing zero-emission vehicles starting Jan. 1.
ACWA has been actively engaged in the development of the regulation for several years and last year advocated in the Legislature on behalf of member agencies for a bill that provides flexibility in regulatory compliance.
As a member of the TRIG, ACWA will be able to inform CARB about any implementation challenges for public water agencies. Blair is also one of 26 representatives selected to the TRIG’s Rule Provisions Workgroup, which will address key rule implementation issues critical to successful ACF implementation.
Moulton Niguel Water District Awarded $10.3 Million Federal Grant
LAGUNA HILLS – Moulton Niguel Water District has been awarded $10.3 million in federal grants to strengthen and improve its wastewater infrastructure in South Orange County.
The $10.3 million grant administered by the California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) and funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program will fund Moulton Niguel’s replacement of nearly two miles of sewer force mains located in Laguna Niguel Regional Park.
The pipelines, which were originally installed in 1980, are critical wastewater infrastructure in South Orange County, moving more than half of all District wastewater from its collection system to the local treatment plant.
“Moulton Niguel is investing in our local infrastructure to ensure ongoing safe and reliable water and wastewater services for our customers,” said Moulton Niguel President Duane D. Cave, who has more than four decades of experience in the utility industry.
Approximately 75 percent of the project’s expected construction costs will be covered by federal funds. The District began pursuing federal support for the project in 2019 as a way to mitigate the risk of infrastructure damage during seismic and severe storm events.
“We are grateful to our partners at FEMA Region 9 and the CalOES for their ongoing support as well as U.S. Senator Alex Padilla and our Orange County congressional delegation for their help in securing this federal grant,” said Vice President Brian S. Probolsky, who met with officials in Washington, D.C. and Sacramento about the federal grant. “We will continue to work with our federal and state representatives to pursue more grant opportunities.”
Moulton Niguel engineered the project to maintain uninterrupted service throughout construction. The project will also use a state-of-the-art trenchless construction technique, called microtunneling, at five creek crossings to minimize the impact on the natural environment.
“Moulton Niguel is well-known for its innovation in the water industry and for implementing capital and water efficiency projects that save significant amounts of water, money, and future maintenance costs that then deliver savings to consumers,” said Rep. Mike Levin, who represents Laguna Niguel and portions of South Orange County. “We were proud to support the District’s grant application and help secure the $10 million grant that will expand Moulton Niguel’s efforts and capacities.”
In addition to ensuring reliable infrastructure, this project will benefit the District’s OASIS Water Resources Center concept to develop a local water supply. Moulton Niguel is evaluating the opportunity to line and repurpose one of the existing pipelines to convey urban runoff from Aliso Creek as part of the OASIS project. Ultimately, this will reduce urban runoff discharges to improve the local creeks and beaches.
“Congratulations to Moulton Niguel on this very significant $10 million FEMA grant,” stated U.S. Senator Alex Padilla. “I look forward to assisting them on future grant requests to support their OASIS direct potable reuse project and other projects that incentivize residents to use water more efficiently.”
Moulton Niguel Water District delivers high-quality drinking water, recycled water, and wastewater services to customers in Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Mission Viejo, Laguna Hills, Dana Point, and San Juan Capistrano. A leader in water conservation and environmental protection, Moulton Niguel maintains the lowest average water bill in South Orange County.First Snow Survey Finds Below Average Conditions
SACRAMENTO – The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today conducted the first snow survey of the season at Phillips Station. The manual survey recorded 7.5 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 3 inches, which is 30 percent of average for this location. The snow water equivalent measures the amount of water contained in the snowpack and is a key component of DWR’s water supply forecast. Statewide the snowpack is 25 percent of average for this date.
After one of the largest snowpacks on record last season, the start of this water year has been dry despite some recent storms in the last weeks of December that provided a small boost in the snowpack. While state reservoirs are still above average for this time of year and strong El Niño conditions are present in the Pacific Ocean, the outlook for the rest of the winter remains highly uncertain.
“California saw firsthand last year how historic drought conditions can quickly give way to unprecedented, dangerous flooding,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “Although El Niño does not guarantee an above average water year, California is preparing for the possibility of more extreme storms while increasing our climate resilience for the next drought.”
DWR’s electronic readings from 130 stations placed throughout the state indicate that the statewide snowpack’s snow water equivalent is 2.5 inches, or 25 percent of average for this date, compared to 185 percent on this date last year.
“While we are glad the recent storms brought a small boost to the snowpack, the dry fall and below average conditions today shows how fast water conditions can change,” said DWR’s Snow Surveys and Water Supply Forecasting Unit Manager Sean de Guzman. “It’s still far too early to say what kind of water year we will have, and it will be important for Californians to pay attention to their forecasts and conserve water, rain or shine.”
Last year, California experienced climate whiplash when the driest three year-period on record ended with extreme storm events in January and March that caused damage and flooding across the state. These extreme weather events highlight the need for all Californians to prepare for flood risk. DWR is working with tribal, federal, state, and local partners to provide flood resources and training to communities across the state.
The State-Federal Flood Operations Center (FOC) has pre-positioned flood fight materials at more locations across the state and is starting this winter with more supplies on hand, including 2.2 million more sandbags. This fall, DWR coordinated pre-flood season meetings with emergency response agencies across the state and organized 38 flood-fight trainings for city, county, state and tribal agencies to prepare for possible local emergencies.
One year ago, the January survey at the Phillips location showed a water content of 177 percent of average and was followed by a series of damaging atmospheric river storms in January and March that caused flood impacts across the state and produced one of the largest snowpacks on record.
In addition to deploying resources including over 1.9 million sandbags across the state last year, the FOC coordinated a joint state, federal and local response to snowmelt-driven flooding concerns and prepared for the historic snowmelt by providing hydraulic and hydrologic modeling and snowmelt forecasts that allowed agencies to deploy resources, reinforce levees and protect communities.
On average, the Sierra snowpack supplies about 30 percent of California’s water needs. Its natural ability to store water is why the Sierra snowpack is often referred to as California’s “frozen reservoir.” Data from these snow surveys and forecasts produced by DWR’s Snow Surveys and Water Supply Forecasting Unit are important factors in determining how DWR manages the state’s water resources. Due to last year’s above average conditions and historic snowpack, a total of 3.5 million acre-feet of water was captured in State Water Project (SWP) reservoirs. Lake Oroville, the SWP’s largest reservoir, is currently at 130 percent of average to date and state water managers are prepared to capture and store as much water as possible.
DWR conducts five media-oriented snow surveys at Phillips Station each winter near the first of each month, January through April and, if necessary, May. The next survey is tentatively scheduled for February 1.
Yuba Water Agency Names Chairman and Vice-Chairman for 2024
MARYSVILLE – During its first meeting of the year on Jan. 2, Yuba Water Agency’s Board of Directors named Jon Messick as chairman and Gary Bradford as vice-chairman for 2024. The board voted unanimously on both positions.
“I appreciate the board’s vote of confidence to lead this year,” Messick said. “There are some really big, really important efforts all coming to fruition this year, and I’m honored to be trusted with a leadership role as we advance strategic priorities that will have a lasting impact on Yuba County.”
Yuba Water’s seven-member governing board is comprised of all five members of Yuba County’s Board of Supervisors, plus two at-large, elected positions representing North and South Yuba County. Messick joined the agency’s board in 2023 following his election to the Yuba County Board of Supervisors representing District 5, which includes Yuba County’s foothill communities.
Bradford was named vice-chairman after serving as chair for the past two years. Bradford has served on the board since 2017 through his role as a Yuba County supervisor representing District 4, which includes Plumas Lake and Wheatland.
Yuba Water’s board works with the agency’s general manager to set policy and make decisions related to the agency’s missions of flood risk reduction, water supply reliability, fish habitat protection and enhancement, hydroelectric power generation and recreation at New Bullards Bar Reservoir. Their work is guided by a five-year strategic plan.
Learn more about Yuba Water’s board of directors and missions at yubawater.org.
Yuba Water Agency is a stand-alone public agency committed to the sustainable management of our water resources for flood risk reduction and reliable water supply, enabled through clean power generation, in support of the environment and quality of life for the people of Yuba County.