WSP01712 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

002793 . rates, This is quite an active issue in the legislature at the moment. This would set aside $15 million with a ~aximum of $400,000 to any .Ine agency which could use the maximum break out. There are 37 agencies that would be able to be helped by the grant provisions. Ground water storage program is moving ahead very well. Recognizing both the need for water conservation and better water management, the Department has been actively negotiating with water agencies to implement pilot ground water storage proj ects, During! .,the excessive runoff of last year we entered into an agreement with: the Mojave Water Agency and we put 22.5000 acre-feet of wate7 in their particular basin for subsequent use in the future. We also entered into an agreement with San Bernadino Valley Municipal Water District and we expect to deliver between five and ~en thousand during the current year, 10 thousand acre-feet and by about 1990 rrave much as 50,000 acre-feet underground for subsequent use during possible dry periods in the future. We're also looking at other possibilities that exist. The question of DWR's energy program, the State Water Project is deficient in energy and we're going to los' energy sources that are now available. So we have been looking at '.)me of the more exotic or unusual type of energy sQurc~s. The lepartment has greatly increased its activity in this in recent months. We pubLished Bulletin 185 which is "Wind in California." This was ' done in conjunction with stJdies of wind turbin generators to supply energy for the project. In a related area we put out Bulletin 187, titled "California Sunshine." This provides a collection of solar , data valuable to solar energy planning. The Department recently became involved with another innovative alternative energy project. It is , a 55 megawatt hybrid geothermal-wood residue plant in which we use geothermal heat to preheat boiler feedwater and then dehydrate wood waste. After the heat has been taken out of that water it is used for greenhouses and other possible uses in the predicted area. Finally on that note the Department's Energy Division is also implementing a program for development of a coal~fired power plant although not everyone is standing in line with open arms welcoming the location of that plant, Another unusual area of activity has to do with the Native American Advisory Committee that has to do with Indian-related water issues which are of concern to the Departments in its water planning efforts, In order to deal more effectively with these issues, Ron Robie, the Director of the Department, established an informal advlsory committee composed of individuals both in and outside of state government who are knowledgeable about the various Native American water issues facing the State to get input and anticipate problems and get away from that difeiculty before it arrives. Then of course, 0ne of the subjects that has been discussed here in the last two days is Proposition 13, a tax limitation initiative. It is having a very slgnificant effect on all levels of state and local government operations. The fiscal pressures are tremendous and many of the very significant pieces of legislation coming out of the legislature at this time are done rather hurridly and some of the wording and some of the verb age that is used in those may result in long term effects that can only be overcome by a two-thirds vote by each House. That's why Ron's immediate attention to that problem :lnSacramento, because things are changing hourly, in trying to protect 'the interest of the State Water Project and be sure that no mistakes are made. That completes my report. For report as distributed, see PART C - ATTACHMENTS. . B-17