Proposed Projects Prop 84 Drought Emergency Funding
Five project proposals have been submitted so far for consideration as part of Ventura River watershed’s portion of the Watershed Coalition of Ventura County’s (WCVC) 2014 Drought Solicitation grant application. In addition, one regional (countywide) project proposal has been submitted. These 6 project proposals will be considered by the Watershed Council at the May 8, 2014 Council meeting. The Council will need to indicate which projects they support, and a ranking of the projects will need to be provided to the WCVC Steering Committee for the next round of consideration. It is possible that one additional regional landscape water use efficiency proposal may come forward soon. Project proponents will provide a 5-minute presentation on their projects and respond to questions. Project information is provided below for review ahead of the meeting. This includes a one-page project description, a location map, and a form that addresses some of the more specific grant requirements and ranking criteria. I will consolidate some of the key information from the projects into one spreadsheet for Council members to use at the meeting for evaluating the projects. The guidelines and proposal solicitation package (PSP) for the drought grant can be found here: http://www.water.ca.gov/irwm/grants/ Eligibility for this funding is limited to projects that meet at least one of these four project types:
- Provide immediate regional drought preparedness
- Increase local water supply reliability and the delivery of safe drinking water
- Assist water suppliers and regions to implement conservation programs and measures that are not locally cost-effective
- Reduce water quality conflicts or ecosystem conflicts created by the drought
Thank you project proponents! We look forward to hearing about your projects. Proposed Project Information (Note: pdf files will load in your browser, the Excel form and Word docs will download): 1. Efficiency Metering – Westside Ventura Project description + map + form 2. Lake Casitas Aeration Project Project description Map Form 3. Foster Park Wells Completion Improvement Project Project description Map Form 4. Stormwater Capture Drying Bed Capacity Improvement Project description Map Form 5. San Antonio Creek Arundo Removal Project Project description Map Form 6. Ventura County Agricultural Water Use Efficiency Program (countywide project; no map provided) Project description Form
May 8 Council Meeting The Ventura River Watershed Council will meet on Thursday, May 8, 2014, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, in the Topping Room of the Foster Library, 651 E. Main Street. On the agenda: the review of proposed projects for drought emergency funding, discussed above; review of the draft Ventura River watershed section of the IRWMP (Integrated Regional Water Management Plan) update; and review of the revised work plan and schedule for the extended (6-month) watershed coordinator grant. The agenda will be distributed soon.
FREE Graywater Workshops! The Ventura County Building and Safety Division will be hosting a series of “how to” workshops for homeowners wanting to convert their clothes washers to simple irrigation systems. Gray water from single-family residential clothes washing machines can now be used to irrigate shrubs, flowers and trees, with little else except some valves, piping and good maintenance practices. 
During these workshops, homeowners will learn the steps necessary to successfully install the piping and drainage systems needed for irrigation with laundry gray water. Also, materials will be provided at these workshops for homeowners to take with them which will include:
- A parts and materials list, including estimated retail prices, necessary to
- install a basic LGDS.
- List of tools needed to install a basic LGDS.
- Details, guidelines and instructions for a basic LGDS.
The workshops will also feature a hands-on demonstration of what a completed LGDS should look like. The workshops are scheduled to be held at 800 South Victoria Ave, Ventura, California in Room 311 at the Ventura County Hall of Administration (Enter off of Telephone road and park in Lot G). All Workshops will be held in room 311 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on the following dates: May 8, 2014 May 22 2014 June 5, 2014 June 19, 2014 Additional dates will be added soon. To register, e-mail Marie.Becerra@Ventura.org or call (805) 654-2795, 7:15 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
Upcoming Coastal Beaches Grant – May be Appropriate for Inland Projects An announcement for the final round of funding for the Coastal Beaches Initiative Grant is out, with applications due June 12, 2014. Apparently the program administrators may be considering also funding projects located upstream in freshwater. See the link below for more information about the program. Patricia Leary is the contact for the program (contact info on webpage) and may be interested in hearing interest in projects located out of immediate coastal waters. If you have a project that would otherwise improve water quality but is not on the coast, it might be worth contacting her to find out if it would be eligible for this last round. www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/beaches/cbi_projects/index.shtml
Governor Brown Issues Executive Order on April 25, 2014 to Redouble State Drought Actions Governor Brown has issued a second emergency proclamation regarding the on-going drought. The January 17, 2014 proclamation remains in full force and effect except as modified by today’s Proclamation of a Continued State of Emergency. According to the Administration, this proclamation will enable several important actions to be taken urgently as we head into several months of the dry season. The proclamation expedites the approval of water transfers, emergency drinking water projects , and habitat monitoring and protection. It also streamlines normal regulations to enable fire protection, recycled water projects, and purchasing of equipment for emergency drought response. The proclamation also calls on Californians to take specific actions to avoid wasting water including limiting lawn watering and car washing, recommends that schools, parks and golf courses limit the use of potable water for irrigation; and asks that hotels and restaurants give customers options to conserve water by only serving water upon request and other measures. The Water Board will work with local water agencies to ensure such water conservation measures are implemented. The Governor’s order and other up-to-date information on the state’s drought response is always available at www.drought.ca.gov.