ACWA Unveils Action Plan for Meeting Future Water Needs; Bold Recommendations Presented to Governor, Legislature.SAN JOSE San Jose, city, United States San Jose (sănəzā`, săn hōzā`), city (1990 pop. 782,248), seat of Santa Clara co., W central Calif.; founded 1777, inc. 1850. , Calif. -- The Association of California California (kăl'ĭfôr`nyə), most populous state in the United States, located in the Far West; bordered by Oregon (N), Nevada and, across the Colorado River, Arizona (E), Mexico (S), and the Pacific Ocean (W). Water Agencies (ACWA ACWA Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America ACWA Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives ACWA Administrative Careers With America ACWA Assembled Chemical Weapons Assessment ACWA American Civil War Association ACWA American Clean Water Association ) today unveiled a forward-looking for·ward-look·ing adj. Concerned with or making provision for the future: forward-looking educators; a forward-looking corporate plan. Adj. 1. action plan for investing in California's water future. The document, titled No Time to Waste: A Blueprint blueprint, white-on-blue photographic print, commonly of a working drawing used during building or manufacturing. The plan is first drawn to scale on a special paper or tracing cloth through which light can penetrate. for California Water, was presented to the Schwarzenegger Administration at the opening session of the Association's annual statewide spring conference at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center. The ACWA Blueprint lays out a diverse mix of actions and investments to help California meet its water supply needs in the coming decades. Developed by a task force representing local public water agencies from throughout the state, the Blueprint is intended to serve as a roadmap A roadmap may refer to:
"When it comes to investing in our water future, there literally is no time to waste," ACWA President Jerry Jer·ry n. pl. Jer·ries Chiefly British Slang A German, especially a German soldier. [Alteration of German. Gladbach Gladbach may refer to:
Key recommendations include improving the existing water conveyance The transfer of ownership or interest in real property from one person to another by a document, such as a deed, lease, or mortgage. conveyance n. system in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta is an expansive inland river delta and estuary in northern California in the United States. It is formed at the western edge of the Central Valley by the confluence of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers and lies just east of where the ; evaluating long-term Long-term Three or more years. In the context of accounting, more than 1 year. long-term 1. Of or relating to a gain or loss in the value of a security that has been held over a specific length of time. Compare short-term. threats to Delta levees and pursuing actions to reduce risks to the state's water supply and the environment; developing additional groundwater groundwater or subsurface water Water that occurs below the surface of the Earth, where it occupies spaces in soils or geologic strata. Most groundwater comes from precipitation, which gradually percolates into the Earth. and surface water storage; and supporting and funding local efforts to expand recycled water use, water use efficiency and desalination desalination or desalting Removal of dissolved salts from seawater and from the salty waters of inland seas, highly mineralized groundwaters, and municipal wastewaters. of seawater seawater Water that makes up the oceans and seas. Seawater is a complex mixture of 96.5% water, 2.5% salts, and small amounts of other substances. Much of the world's magnesium is recovered from seawater, as are large quantities of bromine. and brackish brack·ish adj. 1. Having a somewhat salty taste, especially from containing a mixture of seawater and fresh water: "You could cut the brackish winds with a knife/Here in Nantucket" groundwater. "As the local agencies that deliver water to communities, farms and businesses on a daily basis, ACWA members have a unique perspective on how to meet our future water needs," said ACWA Vice President Randy The name Randy generally derives from the names Randall or Randolph (meaning wolf with a shield). Randy is used as a given name primarily in the US and Canada. Men known as Randy
The Blueprint reflects extensive input from hundreds of public water agencies as well as other water-related organizations. Copies of the document are being sent this week to members of the Legislature and Congress as well as the Schwarzenegger Administration, the Bush Administration and statewide opinion leaders. The document also is being delivered to state and federal agencies involved in water supply and regulatory reg·u·late tr.v. reg·u·lat·ed, reg·u·lat·ing, reg·u·lates 1. To control or direct according to rule, principle, or law. 2. policy. "ACWA's hope is that the Blueprint will help frame the discussion and decision-making decision-making, n the process of coming to a conclusion or making a judgment. decision-making, evidence-based, n a type of informal decision-making that combines clinical expertise, patient concerns, and evidence gathered from required to ensure California's water future for decades to come," Fiorini said. To read the Blueprint and learn more about its development, contact ACWA at 916-441-4545 or visit www.acwa.com. ACWA is a statewide association whose 440 members are responsible for about 90% of the water delivered in California. For more information, visit www.acwa.com.
No Time to Waste: A Blueprint for California Water
Highlights of ACWA's Action Plan for Meeting Future Water Needs
The Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) has released a forward-looking action plan for investing in our water future. "No Time to Waste: A Blueprint for California Water" lays out a diverse mix of actions and investments that will help California meet its water supply needs in the coming decades. Developed by a task force representing local public water agencies from throughout the state, the ACWA Blueprint is intended to serve as a roadmap for state and federal leaders to follow to ensure California has the water supply system it will need to support people, jobs and ecosystems in the future. The Blueprint's recommendations include investments in both infrastructure and programs to improve water supplies, water use efficiency, water quality and environmental health. The recommended actions are designed to address short- and long-term statewide water needs, complement and build on local efforts, and promote integrated regional water management plans that will play a critical role in California's future. ACWA's Blueprint reflects extensive input from hundreds of public water agencies charged with delivering water to cities, farms and communities throughout the state. In addition to the action plan, the Blueprint includes a detailed discussion of pressing regional needs and actions to help address them. Key Recommendations in ACWA's Blueprint Improve the existing Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta water conveyance system to increase flexibility and enhance water supply, water quality, levee levee (lĕv`ē) [Fr.,=raised], embankment built along a river to prevent flooding by high water. Levees are the oldest and the most extensively used method of flood control. stability and environmental protection in the near term. Evaluate long-term threats to the Delta levee and conveyance system and pursue actions to reduce risks to the state's water supply and the environment. Ensure delivery of adequate Colorado River Colorado River River, south-central Argentina. Its major headstreams, the Grande and Barrancas rivers, flow southward from the Andes Mountains and meet to form the Colorado near the Chilean border. It flows southeastward across northern Patagonia and the southern Pampas. supplies for Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, and defend California's rights on the Colorado River. Implement and fund the Sacramento Valley The Sacramento Valley is the portion of the California Central Valley that lies to the north of the San Joaquin-Sacramento Delta in the U.S. state of California. It encompasses all or parts of ten counties. Water Management Program. Develop additional groundwater and surface water storage, including proposed surface storage projects now under study if they are determined to be feasible. Support and fund local efforts to expand recycled water use and implement best management practices for urban and agricultural water use efficiency. Improve the quality of California's drinking water drinking water supply of water available to animals for drinking supplied via nipples, in troughs, dams, ponds and larger natural water sources; an insufficient supply leads to dehydration; it can be the source of infection, e.g. leptospirosis, salmonellosis, or of poisoning, e.g. supplies to safeguard public health and enhance water quality for agriculture and the environment. Work with local agencies to overcome constraints CONSTRAINTS - A language for solving constraints using value inference. ["CONSTRAINTS: A Language for Expressing Almost-Hierarchical Descriptions", G.J. Sussman et al, Artif Intell 14(1):1-39 (Aug 1980)]. to developing seawater and brackish groundwater desalination. Modernize mod·ern·ize v. mo·dern·ized, mo·dern·iz·ing, mo·dern·iz·es v.tr. To make modern in appearance, style, or character; update. v.intr. To accept or adopt modern ways, ideas, or style. the federal Endangered Species Act The federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) (16 U.S.C.A. §§ 1531 et seq.) was enacted to protect animal and plant species from extinction by preserving the ecosystems in which they survive and by providing programs for their conservation. and other laws and regulations to allow water infrastructure projects, water supply and water quality activities to proceed while protecting species and habitats. Expedite ex·pe·dite tr.v. ex·pe·dit·ed, ex·pe·dit·ing, ex·pe·dites 1. To speed up the progress of; accelerate. 2. the approval process for voluntary water transfers. Clarify and expand the state's role in flood control and promote multi-benefit flood control projects. Support integrated regional water management plans. Emerging Issues and Challenges. ACWA's Blueprint discusses several factors that could change both the availability of California's water supply and the most effective strategies for meeting water needs. The factors require longer-term study and action to ensure the state has the water supply system it will need in the future. The factors include: Risks to groundwater quality. Groundwater is a resource California cannot afford to lose. ACWA believes a locally controlled approach to protecting local groundwater basins is required to safeguard aquifers The following is a partial list of aquifers around the world. A of aquifers is also available. North America Canada
2. use to move ahead. Climate change. Though the science continues to evolve, a growing body of data suggests there could be dramatic changes in California's climate and runoff Runoff The procedure of printing the end-of-day prices for every stock on an exchange onto ticker tape. Notes: If the "tape is late" then it can take a long time to print off all the closing prices. patterns over the next few decades. State and federal agencies must expedite their efforts to analyze these changes and their impacts on water supply and flood control. The agencies also must accelerate studies of additional storage and other infrastructure that may be needed to adapt to potential changes. New drinking water issues. The detection of trace amounts of pharmaceuticals, caffeine caffeine (kăfēn`), odorless, slightly bitter alkaloid found in coffee, tea, kola nuts (see cola), ilex plants (the source of the Latin American drink maté), and, in small amounts, in cocoa (see cacao). , cleaners and other household products in water supply sources raises new challenges for drinking water purveyors. Research is needed to determine whether these substances affect public health or the environment and to identify options for reducing their occurrence in water supply sources.
No Time to Waste: A Blueprint for California Water
Questions and Answers about ACWA's Action Plan
for Meeting Future Water Needs
May 2005
Q: Why did ACWA develop this Blueprint?
A: ACWA's Board of Directors believed it was time for the water
community to come forward with a bold policy statement and action plan
for meeting California's future water needs. As the local agencies
that deliver water to communities, businesses and farms on a daily
basis, ACWA members agree that there was a need to articulate the
biggest challenges facing the state's water future and identify a set
of actions to resolve them. They developed the Blueprint to lay out
those issues and provide a roadmap for state and federal officials to
follow to ensure California has the water supply system it will need
in the future.
Q: Who developed the Blueprint, and what was the process?
A: A task force representing public water agency members from
throughout the state was formed in April 2004 to develop the
Blueprint. The task force worked with a drafting committee to identify
key issues and formulate specific recommendations. Extensive input was
solicited from ACWA's 10 regions and its 440 public water agency
members as well as other water-related organizations. A draft of the
Blueprint was sent to all member agencies for comment in December.
Several revisions followed to reflect member input, and the ACWA Board
approved a final draft in March 2005.
Q: Who is the audience for the Blueprint?
A: The Blueprint is aimed at policy leaders and lawmakers at both
the state and federal levels. Its recommendations are geared toward
state legislators, members of Congress, the Schwarzenegger
Administration, the Bush Administration and all state and federal
agencies involved in water supply and regulatory policy. The media,
public and other organizations with an interest in resources issues
are other key audiences.
Q: Is the Blueprint in response to the California Water Plan
Update 2005 (Bulletin 160) or any other process?
A: No. The Blueprint effort was not launched in response to any
other statewide water plan. Instead, it was launched to respond to the
need for a vision for how California can meet its water needs in a
comprehensive way. It is different from Bulletin 160 and other
documents because it was developed from the perspective of local water
agencies that meet water needs every day.
Q: What does ACWA hope to accomplish by launching the Blueprint?
A: ACWA members want to encourage leaders at the state and federal
levels to join them in implementing the solutions set forth in the
Blueprint. ACWA's hope is that the Blueprint will help frame the
discussion and decision-making required to provide all Californians
with adequate supplies of high quality water, a healthy environment
and a strong economy for decades to come.
Q: The Blueprint's Action Plan includes 12 recommended actions.
Are some more important than others? Is it more important to build
storage, for example, than to pursue conservation?
A: The Action Plan was developed as an integrated suite of actions.
No one action is enough to meet California's needs for water supply
reliability, water quality, ecosystem health and water system
flexibility. While ACWA believes the state must make investments in
its backbone water infrastructure, the Association recognizes that
local projects, including water use efficiency and strategies such as
recycling, conjunctive use and voluntary water transfers that stretch
supplies, are equally critical to meeting regional and statewide
needs.
Q: If a specific project or program is not included in the
recommendations, does that mean ACWA does not support it?
A: Not necessarily. ACWA members recognized early on that not every
program and project could be covered in the Blueprint. The Task Force
sought to focus its recommendations on actions involving programs and
projects that must be part of the solution but did not address every
project or program that will be part of the solution.
Q: How do the recommendations in the Blueprint relate to current
or future legislation?
A: ACWA will use the Blueprint as a guide for analyzing current or
future legislation. The Association will consider sponsoring or
supporting measures that are consistent with the Blueprint
recommendations.
Q: In terms of proposed Delta actions, is ACWA recommending
measures that are outside of the current CALFED process?
A: The recommended actions to improve the existing Delta water
conveyance system are consistent with the Delta Improvements Package
now under consideration by state and federal agencies as part of
CALFED. ACWA recommends that the actions go forward whether or not
they are part of the CALFED process.
Q: Many of these recommendations will require money from the state
and federal government. How does ACWA propose to secure those funds
when both budgets are in deficit?
A: ACWA recognizes the reality of the state and federal budgets. We
feel strongly, however, that investment in our water supply
infrastructure is critical and the public interest served by investing
in that infrastructure justifies the expense. While the actions
recommended are not cheap, ACWA believes failing to act will be
costlier still in terms of economic and environmental impacts.
Q: What kind of investment do local agencies propose to put forth?
A: Local water agencies have invested billions of dollars in water
management tools such as groundwater management and conjunctive use,
water recycling, water use efficiency and storage. They will continue
to make those investments at the local and regional levels. In terms
of statewide infrastructure and programs, local agencies are prepared
to pay their share for benefits received because they see the value in
investing in water supply and water quality improvements.
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