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Groundwater Resources Association of California
In cooperation with the
California Groundwater Coalition
Present
ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE SYMPOSIUM AND LOBBY DAY
April 15, 2009
Sheraton Grand Hotel, Sacramento
Addressing Key Questions for California Groundwater:
Reallocation? Regulation? Monitoring?
Water Rights? Funding Opportunities?
Registration Forms - http://www.grac.org/legreg.htm
Hotel Information - http://www.grac.org/leghotel
Sponsor Exhibitor Opportunities - http://www.grac.org/se.doc
Sacramento has groundwater on its mind... join us for a dialogue with California's most influential Legislators and Administration Officials:
Jared Huffman, Chairman, Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee
Mike Chrisman, CA Secretary for Natural Resources*
Senator Alex Padilla
Senator Dave Cogdill
Dennis O'Connor, Principal Consultant, Senate NR and Water Committee*
Alan Gordon, Principal Consultant, Senator Joe Simitian
Assembly Member Juan Arambula
Assembly Member Mike Duvall
Assembly Member Mary Salas
Assembly Member Mike Feuer*
Catherine Freeman, Legislative Analyst Office
Invited* - Additional Meetings with Senate and Assembly Water Committee Members TBD
SYMPOSIUM LOCATION: The Symposium will be at the Sheraton Grand Hotel, 1230 J Street, Sacramento, CA 995814, (916) 447-1700. Legislative visits will be at the State Capitol.
SYMPOSIUM SCHEDULE (as of 4/13/09):
8:00 -- Registration, Networking and Continental Breakfast
8:45 -- Welcome and Introductions
GRA President, Jim Strandberg
CGC President, Ken Manning
Moderator, Chris Frahm, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck
9:00 -- California Water Rights Laws – Is It Time for Change?
Catherine Freeman, CA Legislative Analyst Office
Scott Slater, Shareholder, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck
Antonio Rossman, Partner, Rossmann and Moore
The LAO has released a controversial report on water issues which recommends new legislation, including regulating groundwater pumping at the state level and redefining the reasonable use of water to include conservation, efficiency measures and use of technology. Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee Chairwoman Fran Pavley recently convened a hearing on California water rights and water law which focused, among other things, on water rights administration and potential reallocation. How are water rights affected by climate change? Should California abolish appropriative rights? Is it time to regulate groundwater? Our panel of experts will discuss these and other perspectives on the state of California water law and water rights and tell us, is it time for change? And if so, what changes are necessary and why?
10:00 -- Senator Dave Cogdill, Vice-Chairman
Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee
Senator Dave Cogdill of Modesto has introduced SB 371, a water bond measure to ensure California has a safe and reliable water supply now and into the future. The legislation builds upon efforts by the Senator over the past three and a half years to implement comprehensive reforms to California’s water supply and delivery systems. Senator Cogdill will talk about the important role of groundwater as part of a statewide program.
10:15 -- Break
10:30 -- Assembly Member Jared Huffman, Chairman
Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee
As a former member of the Marin Municipal Water District Board and attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, Assembly Member Huffman brings a wealth of practical experience to his new position as Chairman of the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee. A strong proponent of groundwater and integrated management planning, Chairman Huffman will share with our members a view from the Assembly how we move from crisis to supply reliability – and the role groundwater and conjunctive use programs can and must play in the journey.
11:30 -- Assembly Member Hector De La Torre
Assembly Member De La Torre represents the Central Basin region of Southern California where groundwater plays a critical role in the delivery of a safe and reliable water supply. The author of AB 410, Assembly Member De La Torre has proposed that the Department of Water Resources allocate $5 million in bond funding to hydrologic regions for the purpose of preparing salt and nutrient management plans consistent with the State Water Resources Control Board’s recently adopted recycled water policy. GRA supports AB 410 and will learn more about the bill and how it will help ensure that the newly required plans are prepared.
11:00 -- Assembly Member Mike Duvall
This Orange County Republican is proud of his “Showers to Flowers” background as a member of the board of directors of the Orange County Water District. Assembly Member Duvall will talk about the special challenges of recycled water use and what steps the Legislature can take to promote the beneficial use of recycled water. He is the author of AB 1100, supported by GRA, which would allow the bottling of potable reuse demonstration water for educational purposes or to promote water recycling.
11:15 -- Dennis O’Connor, Principal Consultant
Senate Natural Resources & Water Committee
This seasoned committee consultant will update GRA and CGC on the 2009 legislative agenda and provide us with his insights and observations on pending and proposed legislation affecting water rights, potential regulation and water bond proposals.
11:45 -- Alan Gordon, Principal Consultant, Senator Joe Simitian
Senator Simitian has strong views on how we get “from here to there” through the Delta so that water may once again flow to help replenish the state’s groundwater basins. He has convened a number of stakeholder groups to address the critical issues of governance, storage and conveyance and Delta Conservancy and will brief our members on the status of those efforts, the timeline and chances for success.
12:00 -- Luncheon Program
Overview of Pending Legislation -- Paul Bauer, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck
Federal Update -- Tim Parker, GRA Legislative Committee Chairman
Jeff Kightlinger, General Manager, MWD of Southern California
The Importance of Groundwater Storage and Conjunctive Water Management in Metropolitan’s Integrated Resources Plan
Now in his third year as the General Manager of the mighty Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Kightlinger is grappling with double digit supply shortages and rate increases. Responsible for directing the activities of the District to fulfill Metropolitan’s mission of delivering high-quality water to Southern California, Jeff will share his perspectives on how Southern California survives these challenges – and the importance of groundwater storage and conjunctive water management in the long term supply planning for Metropolitan’s 19 million customers.
AFTERNOON MEETINGS*
1:30 -- Assembly Member Mike Feuer
2:00 -- Assembly Member Mary Salas
2:15 -- Assembly Member Juan Arambula
2:30 -- Assembly Member Joel Anderson
2:45 -- Senator Gloria Negrete McLeod
3:00 -- Senator Alex Padilla
3:30 -- Special Presentation – Central and West Coast Basin Judgment Amendments:
A Groundwater Success Story and New Water Resource for the LA Coastal Plain
This special legislative briefing will update members of the Legislature on the judgment amendments recently filed with the court to allow for local, cooperative management of groundwater resources in the Central and West Coast Basins of Los Angeles. Past groundwater conflicts in this region have been epic. Learn how dozens of water suppliers and stakeholders have worked together to resolve their differences to promote a regional program to manage this local resource and bring economic benefits to the region.
Robb Whitaker, General Manager, Water Replenishment District of So Cal
Mark Cowin, Deputy Director for Integrated Water Mgmt, Dept of Water Resources
Rob Beste, Public Works Director, City of Torrance
Jim Glancy, Director of Water Resources, City of Lakewood
Paul Rowley, District Manager, Central District, Golden State Water Company
Kevin Wattier, General Manager, City of Long Beach Water Department
5:00 -- Cocktail Reception hosted by CH2MHILL
Sheraton Grand Hotel Bar and Lobby
*All meetings subject o Member availability and change
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