Grant Support Partnership Boosts Local Water Agency Projects
BEAUMONT – The San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency (SGPWA) Board of Directors recently approved an agreement to provide $1.5 million in gap funding support to Banning Heights Mutual Water Company (BHMWC). The Company will advance emergency drought relief measures by installing a new storage reservoir and production well in Banning Heights.
BHMWC originally received a $3.8 million grant as part of the Small Community Program Drought Relief Program. This project enables BHMWC to bolster storage capacity, enhancing the Pass area’s access to reliable water. The project also allows BHMWC to purchase emergency water supplies. This work and SGPWA’s funding assistance are urgent as Southern California is forecast to experience dry conditions this year following two years of rain.
“Gap funding is a bridge between local water projects and grant funds, helping smaller agencies build big projects faster and advancing our regional water supply goals,” SGPWA President Mickey Valdivia said. “SGPWA understands that using financial tools effectively is vital to helping water retailers fully leverage state funding for their communities and the entire Pass area.”
Through this project, BHMWC provides immediate water supply relief to the Banning Heights community. Banning Heights was severely impacted by the 2020 Apple Fire and its effect on the Whitewater Flume Supply. The fire injured one person and destroyed 14 structures in the Cherry Valley area, in addition to impacting water supplies for approximately 1,200 residents.
Through its gap funding program, SGPWA delivers much-needed small system support to local agencies. In recent years, SGPWA has disbursed $8.3 million in gap funding to water districts in Cabazon, Calimesa and Banning. These multi-agency partnerships support residents through sustainable water projects that might not get completed otherwise. SGPWA initiated its gap funding program in 2022 and has recouped most of its outlays, underscoring the success of the gap funding model.
BHMWC’s project is slated for completion in June 2025. Learn more at www.sgpwa.com.
Key Water Bills Advance Out of Committees
SACRAMENTO — A bill co-sponsored by ACWA tightening penalties for water theft and a second bill proposing a low-income rate assistance program for water, on which ACWA is seeking amendments, passed out of committees today in the state Legislature.
SB 394 (Allen) passed out of the Senate Local Government Committee with a 7-0 vote and was referred to Senate Judiciary Committee. Co-sponsored by ACWA and Las Virgenes Municipal Water District, the bill would allow local agencies providing water services to adopt an ordinance with enhanced penalties for water theft from a fire hydrant and help to address inefficiencies in current penalties.
Dave Pedersen, General Manager at Las Virgenes Municipal Water District, provided lead testimony in support of the bill alongside Julia Hall, ACWA Director of State Legislative Relations.
A fact sheet is available with more information about the bill. In February, ACWA sent a Legislative Alert urging members to join a coalition in support of SB 394. Member agencies can still join the coalition in time for the next support letter by completing an online form by March 24 at noon.
A second bill, SB 350 (Durazo, D-Los Angeles) passed out of the Senate Environmental Quality Committee, which referred it to the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee.
The bill would require the State Water Resources Control Board to create a statewide low-income rate assistance (LIRA) program. ACWA believes a water and wastewater low-income rate assistance program — if designed in a reasonable, efficient and effective manner — is an appropriate approach. However, ACWA has an oppose-unless-amended position on the bill and is leading a coalition that seeks amendments to maximize the funding spent on direct assistance to ratepayers, enhance public process and reduce unreasonable burdens on water providers.
ACWA Senior State Relations Advocate Soren Nelson reiterated those points during his testimony before the Senate Environmental Quality Committee.
“ACWA is not philosophically opposed to a statewide program. In fact, quite the opposite,” Nelson said.
A number of agencies and organizations within the coalition also added their support for ACWA’s position during the hearing.
In March, ACWA submitted a letter outlining concerns with SB 350 and also distributed a Legislative Alert urging members to join the oppose-unless-amended coalition. Members can still join the coalition by completing an online form.
ACWA 2024 Year in Review Now Available
ACWA’s “2024 Year in Review” publication is now available to read and download online. Member agencies will also be receiving a printed copy next week.
The annual publication outlines ACWA’s advocacy wins, awards and services provided to members, as well as events and statistics on association activity during the previous year.
Read all about the big wins and tough challenges we faced together last in the “2024 Year in Review” by downloading the complete document on the ACWA website at acwa.com/resources.
New Report Outlines FIRO Benefits
OROVILLE – A new report released in March shows that changes to reservoir operations at Lake Oroville and New Bullards Bar Reservoir can further reduce flood risk for communities along the Yuba and Feather rivers during extreme atmospheric river storm events and potentially benefit water supply during drier periods, according to a Department of Water Resources (DWR) news release.
The approach, known as Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations, or FIRO, uses improved monitoring, weather, and runoff projections to build more flexibility and efficiency into reservoir operations.
In the largest FIRO assessment to date, DWR and Yuba Water Agency partnered with the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes (CW3E) at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) Engineering Research and Development Center to evaluate if FIRO could be implemented at both reservoirs to reduce downstream flood risk without negatively impacting water supplies. Lake Oroville is managed by DWR and New Bullards Bar is managed by Yuba Water.
Using historical forecasts, reservoir storage and river flow data, scientists found that FIRO, combined with a planned second spillway at New Bullards Bar, could provide additional flood storage capacity in the Yuba-Feather system and reduce downstream peak flows during prolonged storms like the 1986 and 1997 floods that devastated Yuba County.
To fully realize the benefits of FIRO, Yuba Water is planning operational changes, continued atmospheric river monitoring, and the construction of a new Atmospheric River Control (ARC) Spillway at New Bullards Bar. The second spillway will have gates 31.5 feet lower than the dam’s existing spillway gates, allowing the agency to release water before large, threatening storms hit, when there is enough downstream channel capacity to handle the flows.
“The ARC Spillway will help realize the full benefits of FIRO in our region by reducing peak flows downstream and decreasing stress on our levee system during large atmospheric river events,” explained Yuba Water’s Director of Resource Planning John James. “With both FIRO and the ARC Spillway, we’re essentially gaining the amount of flood storage that would historically only be created through building additional infrastructure. In this case, we’re enhancing existing infrastructure and using the latest in science and technology to modernize flood operations and improve public safety.”
The ARC Spillway project is currently at 100% design with Yuba Water actively pursuing state and federal grant funding. Yuba Water anticipates construction could begin as soon as 2027. The existing spillway capacity at Oroville Dam is already adequate to fully realize the benefits of FIRO.
FIRO is also being implemented successfully at Lake Mendocino in the Russian River watershed in Northern California and will soon be integrated into operations at Prado Dam in the Santa Ana River watershed in Southern California. As the largest and most complex FIRO assessment to date and the first with a primary goal of reducing flood risk, the Yuba-Feather FIRO Program continues establishing FIRO’s benefit in California as an important part of a comprehensive water management and resilience strategy.
ACWD Receives Prestigious AAA Credit Ratings from Major Credit Agencies
FREMONT – The Alameda County Water District has officially received AAA ratings from both S&P Global Ratings and Moody’s Ratings for its 2025 Water System Revenue Bonds. This marks an upgrade from AA1 for Moody’s and makes ACWD only the second water district in the state to receive an AAA rating from Moody’s. In its released credit opinion, Moody’s stated that ACWD benefits from “a robust financial position that is supported by timely rate increases, adherence to adopted financial policies that exceed legal requirements and sophisticated multi-year capital planning.” The opinion added that the district’s “diverse water supply, history of resilience during periods of drought and large Bay Area customer base with very high resident incomes are additional credit strengths.” S&P echoed similar sentiments and stated that the AAA rating it granted reflects the district’s highly strategic, long-term management policies and financial practices, which have resulted in an exceptional financial-risk profile. “These ratings are a testament to our proactive resource management and financial policies aimed at careful management of the funds our customers entrust to us. Our organization is strategic, thoughtful, nimble, and long-term focused with comprehensive plans for drought, diversifying our water resources, and preparation for environmental factors such as earthquakes and wildfires,” said Judy Huang, ACWD Board President. S&P Global Ratings is a credit rating agency that publishes financial research and analysis on stocks, bonds, and commodities. Moody’s Ratings is a bond credit rating service providing international financial research on bonds issued by commercial and government entities. Moody’s and S&P are regarded as two of the Big Three credit rating agencies.# # #
Since 1914, the Alameda County Water District has supplied water to the residents and businesses of southern Alameda County. ACWD supplies drinking water to the 342,000 people living in the cities of Fremont, Newark and Union City. For more information, please visit www.acwd.org.EBMUD and Alphabet Rockers Drop “H2FLOW” Music Video in Honor of World Water Day
OAKLAND – The East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) announces the release of “H2FLOW,” a music and video collaboration with the Grammy Award-winning Alphabet Rockers and Oakland elementary school students to celebrate World Water Day on March 22, 2025. Watch the H2FLOW music video. To support World Water Day, a United Nations observance that promotes access to safe water, EBMUD partnered with musical powerhouses Tommy Soulati Shepherd and Kaitlin McGaw of the Oakland-based Alphabet Rockers to sing the story of water. Featuring a blend of rap and rhythm, this song highlights the journey of each drop from the Mokelumne River to the tap and encourages listeners to skip bottled water and “drink the clean water flow – just like that.” “We set out to create a love song to water and celebrate what this vital resource brings to our community,” said McGaw. “Music inspires, and our goal for this song is to empower people to cherish and protect every drop of water.” A class of 27 students from Piedmont Avenue Elementary School in Oakland visited EBMUD facilities and participated in a songwriting workshop to inspire the lyrics for “H2FLOW.” A visit to San Pablo Reservoir and a tour of a water treatment plant, offered students behind-the-scenes experiences to learn about the source, treatment and delivery of high-quality drinking water. “This was an unforgettable opportunity to be scientists and songwriters – from testing the water at the reservoir to writing verses for this song,” said Dexter Coleman, Piedmont Avenue Elementary School teacher. “Our kids connected science and artistry to create something truly moving.” During the workshop, led by Shepherd and McGaw, students learned about song structure and helped write verses about the different stages of the water journey. This effort culminated in students singing the chorus in “H2FLOW.” This musical endeavor is part of EBMUD’s revitalized education program that offers experiential learning opportunities including school field trips, facility tours, webinars, public events and a Community Water Academy. The program supports a key pillar in EBMUD’s mission to preserve and protect the environment for future generations. “This song invites young minds to connect with water, science and sustainability in a lyrical way,” said EBMUD Board President Marguerite Young, of Ward 3. “We’re proud of this song and the opportunities we offer to inspire a new generation to protect our most precious resource – water.” Alphabet Rockers will perform “H2FLOW” live at the Oakland Roots Soccer Club Earth Day event on Saturday, April 19, 2025, 1 p.m.###
The East Bay Municipal Utility District has a proud history of providing high-quality drinking water for 1.4 million customers in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. EBMUD’s wastewater system serves 740,000 customers and helps protect the ecosystem of San Francisco Bay. EBMUD is a not-for-profit public agency established in 1923.
Kings Groundwater Agencies Continue to Hit Major Milestones
FRESNO – Local agencies in the Kings Subbasin have once again met a major milestone under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), ensuring groundwater management remains in local leaders’ hands. The seven Groundwater Sustainability Agencies in the Kings submitted their first Periodic Evaluation to the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) ahead of the January 31 deadline, reporting on their progress over the last five years. At the same time, they also submitted updated Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs) addressing state-requested corrections – critical to maintaining their local control status. The submittals reflect more than the agency managers’ ability to complete statutory deliverables on time; it is symbolic of their commitment to keep the region on track with SGMA and ensure locally led efforts remain intact. “These submissions aren’t just about checking boxes; they reflect years of coordinated effort,” stated Kassy Chauhan, North Kings GSA Executive Officer. “We need to drive this locally, with the input of our stakeholders, rather than be at the mercy of state agencies.” SGMA, enacted in 2014, requires groundwater subbasins in areas with a history of chronic over-pumping to halt groundwater overdraft and achieve sustainability by 2040. Besides developing new projects and programs to meet the objective, the agencies face a myriad of administrative deadlines under SGMA. If missed, the subbasin risks oversight by the State Water Resources Control Board – known to come with a one-size-fits-all approach of stringent pumping restrictions, aggressive fee structures, and data reporting – all implemented at a break-neck pace. “When it comes to developing solutions in the Kings, we make sure our landowners know what’s going on, they can provide their two cents,” stated Justin Mendes, North Fork Kings GSA General Manager. “Local control protects our ability to do things our way and on our timeframe, within whatever flexibility SGMA affords us.” Beyond planning and reporting, the Kings Subbasin has invested considerable effort building new infrastructure projects to increase surface water capture and recharge capacity since first submitting their GSPs in 2020. The Periodic Evaluation reports the Kings Subbasin completed more than 30 projects that recharged over 150,000 acre-feet between water years 2020 and 2023, with additional recharge beyond that vast sum in water year 2024. “By investing in both planning and infrastructure, we’re making real progress and providing direct benefit to our growers, residents, and businesses,” stated Chauhan. Even with drier conditions during 2020 – 2022 water years, the GSAs have met their initial 2025 sustainability targets thanks to swift execution on high-impact solutions. Across the subbasin, the agencies continue to monitor the aquifer and ensure targets appropriately set the region up for sustainability by the 2040 deadline. While the Kings Subbasin earned approval on their GSPs from DWR in 2023, a significant accomplishment, DWR required the GSAs to revise the Plans further to address certain “corrective actions” to fill data gaps and develop a domestic well mitigation program. Since then, the GSAs have aggressively addressed them not just on paper but with decisive action. In the southwest corner of the subbasin, the North Fork Kings GSA ran a 9-month well registration campaign in 2024 that included extensive outreach and support to well owners and resulted in 86% of parcels registering under the program. Several GSAs in the subbasin including the McMullin Area GSA, “MAGSA”, and North Kings GSA have developed similar programs to increase their data network and better understand deep aquifer pumping. Further north, the North Kings GSA and MAGSA are leading the charge on a multi-agency interconnected surface water study along the San Joaquin River. North Kings GSA and MAGSA have entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Madera Subbasin GSAs, Friant Water Authority, the US Bureau of Reclamation, and the San Joaquin River Restoration Administrator to further investigate the issue. The launch of the Kings Subbasin Domestic Well Mitigation Program puts in place funding and administrative mechanisms to support residents relying on domestic wells for water supply if their wells go dry due to declining groundwater levels. The program is available subbasin-wide, and each GSA has been able to tailor it according to their unique setting.###
The Kings Subbasin is located in the southern part of the San Joaquin Valley and comprised of seven Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs): Central Kings, James, Kings River East, McMullin Area, North Fork Kings, North Kings, and South Kings. The GSAs are implementing individual Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs) and operate under a Coordination Agreement to achieve groundwater sustainability together by 2040 under California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), signed into law in 2014.ACWA Leading Coalition Seeking Amendments on LIRA Bill
SACRAMENTO —ACWA is urging member agencies to join an association-led coalition to oppose a bill that proposes a low-income rate assistance (LIRA) program unless it is appropriately amended to be more workable and efficient.
ACWA submitted a letter on March 12 outlining how SB 350 (Durazo, D-Los Angeles), as currently drafted, could be improved to better serve communities and reduce unreasonable burdens on public water agencies. More information about the bill and on joining the coalition is available in the Alert online. Member login is required.
If enacted into law, the bill would require the State Water Resources Control Board to create a water rate assistance program to provide financial assistance for both drinking water and wastewater services to low-income residential ratepayers. The bill has been double-referred to the Senate Environmental Quality Committee and Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee. It is currently scheduled to be heard on March 19 by the Senate Environmental Quality Committee.
ACWA believes a water and wastewater low-income rate assistance program – if designed in a reasonable, efficient and effective manner – is an appropriate approach. However, SB 350 could be improved to maximize the funding spent on direct assistance to ratepayers, enhance public process and reduce unreasonable burdens on water providers. Also, any LIRA legislation must recognize and allow to continue local LIRA programs already operating through a number of ACWA member agencies.
WVWD Receives GFOA “Triple Crown” Award for Excellence in Financial Reporting
RIALTO — West Valley Water District (WVWD) is delighted to announce it has received the distinguished Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Triple Crown award for the second year in a row. This award recognizes WVWD’s excellence in financial reporting and budget presentation for the Fiscal Year 2023. To receive the Triple Crown, government agencies must receive its three highest awards: The Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting, the Popular Annual Financial Reporting Award, and the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award. “On behalf of the Board, I would like to commend the Finance team for their outstanding work and dedication to the highest financial standards,” said WVWD Board President Greg Young. “This award is more evidence of the District’s commitment to excellence and transparency and helps build customer confidence in all that we are doing.” The District has a history of financial excellence. Since 2012, WVWD has consistently earned the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. It has also been awarded the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award since 2021 and the Popular Annual Financial Reporting Award every year since 2021. The GFOA, which includes more than 25,000 members, was founded in 1906 to advance excellence in public finance throughout the United States and Canada. “We have a talented finance team, and they have worked diligently to ensure effective financial stewardship throughout the District,” said WVWD General Manager John Thiel. “This award certifies that we are achieving the highest standards of financial reporting in terms of accuracy, transparency, accountability, and integrity, which is integral to our mission of serving the community at the highest level as a model public utility.” For more information about WVWD and its commitment to financial transparency, as well as to read the award-winning reports, please visit www.wvwd.org/transparency.# # #
The West Valley Water District has proudly served the Southern California communities of Bloomington, Colton, Fontana, Rialto, San Bernardino, and Jurupa Valley since 1952. Through name changes and consolidation, the mission has always remained the same: to provide customers with safe, high quality, and reliable water service at a reasonable rate and in a sustainable manner. The District provides water for over 100,000 customers and is overseen by a five-member, publicly elected Board of Directors.Marin Water Pursuing Largest Water Supply Measure in 40 Years
CORTE MADERA– The Marin Water Board of Directors has directed District staff to proceed with design and environmental review for a new conveyance pipeline and pumping plant that will bolster water supply reliability in times of drought by diverting excess winter water from Sonoma County’s Russian River to a local Marin Water reservoir.
At 1,485 square miles, the Russian River Watershed is 40 times larger than the watershed feeding Marin Water’s seven local reservoirs, capturing tremendous amounts of water during winter rainfall events, often swelling and frequently flooding. Records show that even during drought years there are plentiful “winter water” supplies in the Russian River between October and May resulting from winter rainfall, even after accounting for the in-stream water required to support aquatic life. This winter water source is not reliant on Sonoma County’s stored supply but instead capitalizes on rainfall and excess river flows, which currently stream out to the Pacific Ocean.
If ultimately constructed, the project would provide the infrastructure needed to capture and move excess water to be stored in Marin Water’s reservoirs for later use, adding to the resilience of the North Bay’s overall water supply during droughts.
The project proposes a pumping plant and a 36-inch-wide pipeline running 13.2 miles from the North Marin Aqueduct to Marin Water’s Nicasio Reservoir. During dry years, the new infrastructure could replenish the District’s local water supply with as much as 3,800 acre-feet of stored water. Potential future phases of this project could increase replenishment of stored water to up to 8,100 acre-feet. The project would mark the District’s largest water supply resiliency project in 40 years.
“This conveyance project is the most appropriate and logical next step for Marin Water to take in support of a comprehensive solutions package aimed at addressing the water supply needs of our customers,” said Matt Samson, Marin Water Board President. “The project’s implementation timeline will allow us to increase our water supply within a few years, buying time while we focus on additional projects that will ultimately provide sufficient water supplies to further protect us from severe drought. The project also offers the district flexibility when evaluating additional large scale projects, contributing to the overall resilience of our water supply.”
The Board’s Tuesday action marks a significant milestone within the District’s Integrated Water Supply Roadmap efforts and was coupled with a directive to continue work on the following other water supply resiliency measures outlined in the Roadmap:
• Partnering with customers through robust and innovative water efficiency programs, which have already helped reduce future annual water needs by 2,000 acre-feet.
• Investigating the feasibility of expanding local reservoirs, with a focus on modifications to existing spillways and possible expansion of Kent Lake.
• Monitoring desalination technological advances and cost. Pursuing opportunities for grant funding or public-private partnership funding for recycled water projects.
• Identifying and evaluating other potential water supply opportunities, such as groundwater banking, as they arise.
• Developing deeper understanding of the current state of science on climate change, including the rate of change and potential effects on water resources.
The Board’s action, which could set the stage for the largest water supply project since Kent Lake was expanded in 1982, comes amid other ongoing water supply resiliency efforts, including design and environmental review work to raise the spillway at the Nicasio Reservoir and implementation of other in-system improvements that will generate additional increases in the District’s available water supply.
The planned conveyance pipeline and new pumping station, as well as the additional measures being pursued, are the result of efforts started amid the recovery from the District’s 2021 water shortage emergency. Those efforts included the launch of a strategic water supply assessment, which guided the development of an integrated Water Supply Roadmap. The Roadmap is organized into five broad strategies, each with a range of projects, that – when integrated – are designed to address the District’s water supply needs to ensure a more resilient system.
Learn more about the Winter Water Conveyance Project and the rest of the Water Supply Roadmap work the District is implementing to secure a resilient water supply for its customers now, and in the future, by visiting marinwater.org/WaterSupplyRoadmap.