State Water Board Soliciting Proposals for Water Quality Grant Funding

SACRAMENTO —The State Water Resources Control Board’s Division of Water Quality is soliciting projects to fund through a Water Quality Management Planning Grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The State Water Board will be applying for the grant this summer and anticipates having approximately $2 million for distribution across all selected projects.

The grant is intended to fund development of the plans, data and analyses needed for such activities. A broad range of water quality planning activities may be funded, including but not limited to:

• Conducting water quality monitoring and data collection
• Developing watershed management plans or watershed assessments
• Creating source water protection plans
• Conducting water quality studies and technical analyses (e.g., pollution source identification, load assessments)
• Developing stormwater management plans or nonpoint source pollution control strategies
• Conducting regional water quality needs assessments
• Facilitating stakeholder engagement and public outreach for water quality planning
• Mapping and inventorying water quality conditions or pollution sources

Funds may not be used for procurement of equipment, supplies or implementation of physical projects. More information on eligible projects is available on the EPA’s website.

To apply for funding for a project, fill out the Funding Application and submit your proposal(s) by Jan. 30, 2026.

State Water Board Releases Draft Bay-Delta Plan Documents

SACRAMENTO — The State Water Resources Control Board on Dec. 12 released the latest revision to the Bay-Delta Plan and has scheduled a multiday public hearing Jan. 28-30 for comments. ACWA encourages member agencies to keep those dates in mind and plan on engaging in the public comment process to voice support for the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes (HRL) Program in the plan.

More information is available in Advisory distributed Dec. 12. It can be accessed online, and member login is required.

The Jan. 28-30 public hearings will offer an opportunity to comment on the revised draft updates and a draft Staff Report. In addition, written comments are due to the State Water Board by Feb. 2. The notice includes additional information about the hearing and instructions for submitting comments to the State Water Board.

ACWA is a long-standing supporter of the HRL Program as the best approach to protecting, restoring, and enhancing the Bay-Delta. ACWA is reviewing the revised draft changes and plans to provide oral and written comments to the State Water Board. ACWA staff will continue to engage with its Bay-Delta Working Group to guide ACWA’s advocacy on the Sacramento/Delta update to the Bay-Delta Plan.

Rancho Water Board Re-elects President Brian Brady and Senior Vice President J.D. Harkey

TEMECULA – On December 11, 2025, the Rancho California Water District (Rancho Water/District) Board of Directors re-elected Brian Brady as President and J.D. Harkey as Senior Vice President for the upcoming one-year term beginning in January 2026.

President Brady, first elected to the Board in November 2020, continues to bring extensive expertise and steady guidance to his role. He has previously served as Senior Vice President, chaired the Planning and Administration Committee, and served as an alternate on the Finance and Audit Committee. He also represents Rancho Water as the first alternate on the California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA).

With more than 40 years of engineering and executive leadership experience in both public and private water and electric utilities, President Brady is highly regarded for his deep knowledge of water resource planning, asset management, and strategic utility operations. His career includes serving as General Manager of the Fallbrook Public Utility District, where he worked closely with Camp Pendleton Marine Base on the development of the Santa Margarita River Conjunctive Use Project. He has also served as the Governor’s appointee to the Colorado River Board of California.

“I am grateful for the Board’s continued confidence in my leadership and congratulate Senior Vice President J.D. Harkey on his re-election,” said Brady. “It is an honor to serve our community, and I look forward to continuing the important work ahead as Rancho Water drives forward critical investments in sustainability and infrastructure.”

Senior Vice President Harkey, elected to the Board in November 2022, also returns to his leadership role. He currently is the Chairman of Rancho Water’s Finance and Audit Committee and serves as the Planning and Administration Committee alternate. A long-time Temecula resident and the CEO of Drake Enterprises, Harkey oversees 450 acres of avocado and wine grape farming and brings valuable agricultural and business insight to the Board.

“I appreciate the opportunity to continue serving as Senior Vice President,” said Harkey. “Supporting President Brady and working alongside the Board is a privilege, and I remain committed to helping guide the District as we address both the challenges and opportunities facing our region’s water future.”

Rancho Water congratulates President Brian Brady and Senior Vice President J.D. Harkey on their re-elections and looks forward to their continued leadership as the District advances key projects to strengthen local water reliability, sustainability, and long-term resilience.

Rancho Water Receives Prestigious Information Technology Practices Award

TEMECULA – Rancho California Water District (Rancho Water/District) is proud to announce that its Information Technology (IT) Department has been selected as a recipient of the 2025 MISAC Excellence in Information Technology Practices Award, presented by the Municipal Information Systems Association of California (MISAC).

This distinguished award recognizes public agencies whose IT operations demonstrate exemplary practices, innovation, and efficiency that surpass industry standards.

“Rancho Water is honored to receive this recognition,” said Rancho Water General Manager Jason Martin. “This award underscores our commitment to maintaining secure, modern, and forward-thinking technology systems that support reliable water service for our community.”

Established in 2000, the MISAC Excellence in Information Technology Practices Award recognizes best practices and peer recognition across California’s public agencies. The program is updated annually to reflect evolving technologies, cybersecurity standards, and operational expectations.

To qualify, agencies must complete a comprehensive questionnaire and submit detailed supporting documentation such as IT master plans, GIS plans, disaster recovery plans, and related materials covering subject areas such as disaster preparation and recovery, professional development and training, and budget and strategic planning.

In its award letter to Rancho Water, MISAC congratulated the District on attaining the level of excellence for this award, stating:

“We are proud to recognize agencies for implementing information technology practices that excel in creative and efficient uses of local government resources…The award signifies that your agency met or exceeded MISAC standards in the technology focused areas.”

Rancho Water’s IT Department plays a critical role in supporting the District’s mission of delivering high-quality, reliable water and wastewater services. From cybersecurity enhancements to advanced GIS capabilities and infrastructure modernization, the department continues to champion industry-leading innovative solutions that benefit customers and operations alike.

For more information about Rancho Water’s programs, initiatives, and services, please visit  RanchoWater.com.

Vista Irrigation District Board Elects Officers for 2026

VISTA — The Vista Irrigation District board of directors elected Marty Miller as its president and Jo MacKenzie as its vice-president for 2026 at its annual organizational meeting.

Miller, who has served on the board of directors since 2008, represents division 1, which stretches from Gopher Canyon Road to Vale Terrace Drive in Vista. This will be the fourth time Miller has led the board since being elected.

Miller, who owned a general construction company for over 40 years, has served as chair of the district’s water sustainability, fiscal policy, public affairs and Warner Ranch committees.  He has represented the district on the San Diego County Water Authority (Water Authority) board of directors since 2011. Miller is also a member of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California board of directors representing the Water Authority and a member of the Local Agency Formation Commission Special Districts advisory committee.

MacKenzie has served on the Board of Directors since December 1992 and represents division 5, which includes northeast and southeast Vista, north Twin Oaks Valley and the Bennett area in the city of San Marcos.

MacKenzie has been a member of governing boards and committees of statewide and local organizations for many years. She has been actively involved with the Association of California Water Agencies, the California Special Districts Association and San Diego Local Agency Formation Commission, serving as a representative for special districts. Currently, MacKenzie leads the California Special Districts Association Finance Corporation board of directors as its president and serves as vice-president of the Special District Leadership Foundation board of directors.

Miller and MacKenzie are joined by directors Frank Nuñez (division 2), Peter Kuchinsky (division 3) and Patrick Sanchez (division 4) to form the district’s board of directors.

Vista Irrigation District is a public agency governed by an elected five-member board.  The district provides water service to more than 132,000 people in the city of Vista, and portions of San Marcos, Escondido, Oceanside, and unincorporated areas of the county of San Diego.

MCWD Earns National Recognition for Delivering Clear, Community- Focused Budget

Clean Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project Reopens Dec. 16

To support this funding cycle, CARB has released an Addendum to the Fiscal Year 2024–25 Implementation Manual. The addendum includes important program changes that may impact voucher eligibility and requirements.

Key updates include:

• Eligible fleets can use HVIP vouchers to purchase Class 2b pickups
• Clean Fuel Rewards can now stack with HVIP for Class 8 truck purchases

CARB recommends applicants review the full addendum before submitting a voucher request. Visit https://californiahvip.org/funding/ for details on available funding. For questions, contact info@californiahvip.org.

West Valley Water District Receives Prestigious ACWA Outreach Award

RIALTO – West Valley Water District (WVWD) is proud to announce it has been selected as the winner of the 2025 Overall Outreach Award presented by the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA). This honor, which is awarded to just one agency among almost 500 member agencies statewide, demonstrates exceptional leadership and involvement in advancing ACWA’s legislative and regulatory priorities.

The award, presented to WVWD at the 2025 ACWA Fall Conference, is a testament to the District’s efforts to respond to critical legislation and engage with key legislators to advance water management in California.

“We are honored to be recognized for our efforts to engage with our elected officials, regulatory agencies and water industry peers to improve policies that directly benefit the customers and communities we serve,” said WVWD Board President Kelvin Moore. “We are proud members of ACWA and are grateful to work with them to improve the resiliency and reliability of California’s water system through effective advocacy.”

WVWD staff and board members engaged with state legislators and their staff to educate and advocate key issues reflecting the water industry, both in its region and across the state.

The District’s success reflects its commitment to the legislative principles adopted by the Board in 2024. These principles have served as a clear framework guiding the District’s engagement in both legislative and regulatory matters.

EMWD’s Jeff Armstrong Announces Departure from Metropolitan Board

PERRIS — Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) Board Member Jeff Armstrong announced that he will step down from his position as EMWD’s representative on The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (Metropolitan) Board of Directors, effective December 17, 2025, concluding three years of dedicated service. Armstrong stated he is stepping down to focus on family.

Armstrong will remain on EMWD’s Board of Directors where he represents the Menifee and Perris areas with more than three decades of experience in the water industry. He is also the former General Manager of Rancho California Water District in Temecula.

During his tenure at Metropolitan, Armstrong played a key role in advancing policies related to financial resilience, oversight and accountability, regional water reliability, and equitable representation. His leadership was characterized by thoughtful engagement and a strong commitment to advocating for the interests of EMWD ratepayers.

“Jeff’s extensive financial expertise, operational experience, and representation of our fast-growing region gave him a unique perspective on balancing cost, reliability, and growth,” said EMWD Board President Steve Corona. “On behalf of the entire Board of Directors, we appreciate his contributions to long-term water reliability planning, affordability, and resilience in Southern California.”

“It has been an honor to represent EMWD at Metropolitan,” said Armstrong. “The work we all do on water reliability, water use efficiency, and long-term planning is essential to the future of EMWD’s communities and all of Southern California. I am proud of what we’ve accomplished so far and know the next EMWD representative will continue EMWD’s commitment to ensuring its communities are represented at Metropolitan.”

To ensure continuity of representation on the Metropolitan Board, EMWD will appoint a new delegate at its next Board meeting on Wednesday, December 17, 2025.

Eastern Municipal Water District is the water, wastewater service and recycled water provider to nearly one million people living and working within a 682-square mile service area in western Riverside County and northern San Diego County. It is California’s sixth-largest retail water agency, and its mission is “To deliver value to our diverse customers and the communities we serve by providing safe, reliable, economical and environmentally sustainable water, wastewater and recycled water services.” EMWD is one of 26 member agencies of Metropolitan, which imports water from the State Water Project and Colorado River systems. EMWD’s service area is the fastest-growing within Metropolitan’s 5,500 square mile service area. EMWD receives approximately half of its water supplies through its partnership with Metropolitan. More information can be found at www.emwd.org.

ACWA Awards $10,000 Water Law & Policy Scholarship

SAN DIEGO – The Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) today announced the winner of its 2025 Stephen K. Hall Water Law & Policy scholarship. Oliver Slosser, a law student at University of California, Los Angeles, was selected from a group of exemplary applicants to receive $10,000 to put toward his school tuition costs.

Slosser, Engineering Program Manager at Las Virgenes Municipal Water District and leader of the $466 million Pure Water Project, combines technical expertise with a passion for sustainable water solutions and looks forward to advancing his impact through studies at UCLA.

The scholarship was announced at the 2025 ACWA Fall Conference & Expo in San Diego, where water professionals from throughout California gathered for programs and panel discussions on a variety of key water issues.

“ACWA and its funding partners continue to invest in exceptional graduate-level students who are shaping the future of our industry,” said ACWA President Cathy Green. “We are proud to present this year’s scholarship to Oliver, whose dedication to advancing recycled water infrastructure and ensuring sustainable water solutions exemplifies the next generation of water leaders.”

The scholarship was established in 2007 in honor of former ACWA Executive Director Steve Hall, who passed away in 2010 after a lengthy battle with ALS.

For more information about ACWA’s scholarship programs, including its three undergraduate scholarships, please visit www.acwa.com/about/scholarships.