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<br />e) <br /> <br />e) <br /> <br />,\ <br /> <br />McDaniels initiated a water measurement program within the District to identify water use <br />patterns, areas ofloss, and problem areas. <br /> <br />The Contra Costa Water District created an accurate, large-scale water budget program. The <br />District uses a measuring method that incorporates horticultural factors. The District is also <br />completing a water budget notification project to allow individual reports to be created so <br />customers can compare water consumption rates and calculate savings from improved water <br />management. <br /> <br />The San Jacinto Basin Resources Conservation District created a partnership with the Integrated <br />Water Management Mobile Laboratory to assess and develop ways to improve the efficiency of <br />irrigation systems. The project is anticipated to save approximately 400 acre-feet of water per <br />year. <br /> <br />The Tom Green Water Control and Improvement District #1 is located in west-central Texas and <br />supplies water to 117 farms and irrigates 10,000 acres. It has modernized its operations, by <br />developing an effective water conservation plan and implementing measures to increase the <br />efficiency of its delivery system. The District has been able to increase its delivery efficiency <br />from 6l percent in 1997 to 91 percent in 2002 <br /> <br />EPA and Army Corps Issue Wetlands Decision: On Dec. 16 President Bush, the <br />Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) announced <br />that they would not issue a new rule on federal regulatory jurisdiction over isolated wetlands as a <br />result ofthe U.S. Supreme Court's 2001 decision in the case of Solid Waste Agency of Northern <br />Cook County v. U.S, Army Corps of Engineers (commonly referred to as to "SW ANCC") in <br />which the Court overturned the Corps' assertion of federal jurisdiction over certain isolated <br />wetlands based on the presence of migratory birds. <br /> <br />Interior Secretary Announces Challenge Grant Program for Conservation Projects: On <br />Jan. 13 Interior Secretary Norton announced a $4 million grant program for conservation and <br />water efficiency projects. Reclamation wiU be accept proposals for matching grants from <br />irrigation and water districts. The proposals must have matching non-federal funds of at least 50 <br />percent. Notice of the criteria, processes, and deadlines for applications win be published in mid <br />to late February at www.grants.gov. <br /> <br />Norton Appoints New Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water and Science: Interior Secretary <br />Norton has appointed Jason Peltier of Cali fomi a as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water and <br />Science. Peltier will assist Bennett Raley in management oversight and policy direction for <br />Reclamation and the USGS. Peltier worked with the California Bay Delta Authority and served <br />in a federal leadership role in coordinating and managing the participation of the ten federal <br />agencies engaged with the CALFED process. He will now help to complete construction ofthe <br />. Central Utah Project. <br /> <br />Statewide <br /> <br />Severance Tax Trust Fund Operational Account Deadline Approaching: Our deadline for <br />submitting requests for funds is Jan. 31. We will forward the requests that have been submitted <br />to you for review in March. A copy ofthe application and a fact sheet about these funds is <br />available on our web site. <br /> <br />CWCB Members Reappointed: On Jan. 15 the Senate AgOCultureand Natural Resources <br />Committee held a confirmation hearing on the appointment of three board members whose terms <br />expired last year, but who were not re-appointed soon enough for a confirmation hearing to be <br />held. The appointments of Eric Wilkinson, Bob Burr and Keith Catlin were unanimously <br />approved and forwarded to the full state Senate for consideration. <br /> <br />5 <br />