Public Sessions scheduled regarding governor’s water conservation executive order

Three Public Listening Sessions have been scheduled for early June by three California water agencies regarding implementation of Executive Order B-37-16 (EO) issued by Governor Jerry Brown earlier this month.  The sessions will emphasize building on the conservation accomplished during California’s five-year drought and the implementation of Actions One and Five of the governor’s California Water Action Plan.

The California Department of Water Resources, the State Water Resources Control Board and the California Department of Food and Agriculture have scheduled the sessions to include an overview on the Executive Order, as issued on May 9, including key directives and agency responsibilities and making conservation a way of life and managing for dry periods.

Following the overview will be an extensive open comment period for the public. Attendees are urged to identify key topics and suggestions they would like the state agencies to consider in the coming months.  A soon-to-be-formed urban and agricultural stakeholder committees will participate with the state agencies later this year in the executive order implementation.

Materials for the meeting will be posted at http://www.water.ca.gov/calendar/index.cfm no later than 5 pm on June 1. Organizers ask that you please print and bring your own copies of these materials.

The new Executive Order calls for water use efficiency improvements that include:

• Developing new urban water use targets that generate more water conservation than existing SBX7-7 requirements
• Reducing water loss
• Improving urban Water Shortage Contingency Plans and reporting requirements
• New requirements for agricultural water suppliers

The initial listening session will include two specific sessions, one highlighting urban issues and the other will focus on agricultural concerns of the Executive Order.  The second day’s agenda will address urban directives whereas the third session will highlight agricultural and rural water shortage contingency planning directives of the governor’s EO, as follows:

Listening Session 1: Friday, June 3, Sacramento, CA

Department of Water Resources, Auditorium, 1416 Ninth Street Sacramento

Urban Session 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM; Agricultural Session 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

A live audio feed will be available at this session.

Listening Session 2: Monday, June 6, Los Angeles, CA

Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, 700 N. Alameda Street, Los Angeles, Headquarters Building Board Room, First Floor

Urban Session 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Listening Session 3: Tuesday, June 7, Tulare, CA

Southern California Edison, 4175 South Laspina Street, Tulare, Energy Education Center

Agricultural and Rural Water Session 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM