Governor

Program:
Implementation of the Water Conservation Act
Administrating Agency: Resources Agency
Bond: Proposition 84
Department Name: Department of Water Resources
Bond Statute: Ch. 2, Section: 75026
Implementing Statute: Water Conservation Act of 2009

Front-end Accountability

Senate Bill X7-7, enacted in November 2009. The bill mandates water conservation, measurement, and reporting activities for urban and agricultural water suppliers. DWR is tasked with revising funding criteria to make non-compliant water suppliers ineligible to receive state grants and loans after July 1, 2013. DWR is also tasked with updating BMP’s, EWMP’s, and updating water management planning guidebooks.  DWR’s Water Use and Efficiency Branch is leading the effort to implement those actions in coordination with several entities as specified in the law namely, California Urban Water Conservation Council (CUWCC), Agricultural Water Management Council (AWMC), California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), California Department of Public Health (CDPH), California Bay Delta Authority (CBDA) or its successor agency, and State Water Resource Control Board (SWRCB).

Section 10608.60(b) of the bill authorizes the expenditure of funds made available by Section 75026, 75027(a)(12) and (b) of the Public Resources Code, consistent with Division 43 (commencing with Section 75001) of the Public Resources Code and upon appropriation by the Legislature, for direct expenditures to implement Part 2.55, Division 6 of the Water Code, Sustainable Water Use and Demand Reduction.

No projects have yet been entered into the system for this bond program.

In-Progress Accountability

Funds authorized under Chapter 2 of Proposition 84 for water conservation activities will be used primarily by Department of Water Resources (DWR) staff, with a small portion for contracts for consultants to complete specific, short-term tasks related to the work described above. Stakeholder committees will be formed to help DWR guide the processes. Internal weekly matrix project team meetings will be held with key DWR staff to maintain communication and coordination, monitor work progress towards the stated objectives and schedule, and resolve any issues. On a continuous basis the program manager will review the status of budget expenditures by program components, to ensure that annual budget allocation is not exceeded. All projects will be tracked in Microsoft Project.  The program manager will also oversee all consultant contracts and review invoices to verify that deliverables are acceptable, and the work is completed to the satisfaction of the DWR. Program status, issues and accomplishments will be regularly reported to DWR management. Progress will be reported in Legislative Reports, Regulations and other project scoping reports will be posted on the SB X7-7 WUE website on a continuous basis as each project proceeds.

Follow-up Accountability

DWR will publish all updated Guidebooks and EWMP’s and make available to the public through workshops and the web. 

Regulations will be published in the CA Code of Regulations as specified by the Office of Administrative Law.  

Reports to the Legislature will include the “Methodology for Determining Agricultural water Use Efficiency” and “Alternative CII BMP’s”.

DWR will report semi-annually to the bond accountability website on progress. Department of Finance, Office of State Audits and Evaluations will perform periodic audit of expenditures.

Other project scoping reports and all final materials pertaining to all projects will be posted on the SB X7-7 WUE website.