NEWS WORTH NOTING: New report on considerations for local groundwater markets; DWR releases PSP for Prop 1 water desalination grants; Public opinion poll shows high level of confidence in San Diego’s water supply reliability.
District 5 Harris Ct., Bldg G, Monterey, CA 93940 Public Opinion Poll Shows High Level of Confidence in San Diego’s Water Supply Reliability New research also reveals consistent support for using water efficiently, supply diversification and value of water service From the San Diego County Water Authority: In the wake of one of the most significant droughts in California’s history, public confidence in the reliability of the San Diego region’s water supply has grown to extraordinarily high levels, according to the San Diego County Water Authority’s most recent public opinion poll.
An overwhelming majority (83 percent) of respondents viewed the region’s water supply as somewhat or very reliable, outpacing results in the 2015 (65 percent) and 2014 (70 percent) surveys.
Residents continued to show overwhelming support (79 percent) for the Water Authority’s supply diversification strategy, which includes Colorado River water transfers, water-use efficiency, local supply development efforts such as groundwater and recycling, and the addition of desalinated seawater in late 2015 from the Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant.
An overwhelming majority of poll respondents – 92 percent – predicted they will use less or about the same amount of water in 2017 as they did the year before.
Nearly a quarter (24 percent) said they would not pay more for additional supplies, up from 16 percent in 2015.
More than four in 10 respondents (41 percent) moderately or strongly agreed that additional rate increases are necessary to support regional water supply reliability, a slight decrease from 2015 (44 percent), but still above 2014 levels (33 percent).
A majority of residents (56 percent) agreed that it costs more to provide a reliable water supply in San Diego County than in most other parts of the country.
Probe Research conducted the 2017 survey by a random telephone sample of 500 respondents (including 150 respondents who only use a mobile phone), and 501 online respondents chosen from a custom panel of San Diego County residents who have agreed to participate in online surveys.
——————— About News Worth Noting: News Worth Noting is a collection of press releases, media statements, and other materials produced by federal, state, and local government agencies, water agencies, and academic institutions, as well as non-profit and advocacy organizations.

Trainer David Brideoake said all signs were positive that Self Sense can hold his brilliant form and bank another Cup at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.
The Adrian and Harry Bull-trained Benzini gets a 2.5kg swing on Self Sense from that run heading to Saturday’s Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m), while Brideoake’s charge also runs into a D.K.
But Brideoake’s not concerned, and said Self Sense’s tour of Australia could continue beyond Saturday with the Listed Grafton Cup (2350m) on July 13.
"He’s worked well this week, he’s recovered well from that race," Brideoake said, after Self Sense claimed his first win since the Listed Kilmore Cup in February 2015.
"He’s in absolutely fine shape, and I’d expect him to go very well again.
Brideoake saddled up a double at Racing.com Park on Sunday, including maiden hurdle winner Wish Come True, and he might make the direct leap into some jumps features this prep.
"His recovery’s quite amazing.
You expect them to blow pretty strongly, but he was good the other day."
Wish Come True was runner-up to Self Sense in the Kilmore Cup two years back, and they have similar tales in that their last-start win was a drought-breaker.
Meanwhile, filly Outback Rain has been dual-accepted for the weekend in both Adelaide and Melbourne, and Brideoake said which way they go depends on track conditions.

NRCS Alabama Announces Drought Funding.
WASHINGTON, June 27, 2017 – USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist for Alabama Ben Malone announced that the agency is providing funding to assist landowners impacted by last year’s extreme drought.
Agricultural producers statewide suffered losses from months with low rainfall.
Funding will be provided through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and will address fencing, water troughs, pasture, hay land re-establishment, wells, and prescribed grazing.
Measures such as planting drought affected cool season grasses such as fescue and installing water tanks and fencing will make lands more sustainable.
“Landowners across the state have weathered the drought for months and these funds will assist them in replenishing losses and doing what they can to help their grazing lands recover,” said State Conservationist Ben Malone.
During the worst of the drought, USDA reported more than $30 million in disaster funds were distributed nationally for livestock feed programs and non-insured disaster support.
In addition, because livestock feed was in short supply, cattle sales were 19% ahead of 2015.
This impacted the value of livestock that was sold.
Alabama landowners who are interested in applying for drought funding should contact their local USDA service center to learn more.

Buffalo County: ‘Worst drought since 1976’.
That summer, the government came through with some assistance and Sinkie was able to make two trips a week to North Dakota for hay.
With little rainfall this year the Sinkie family is reminded of 1976, and they’ve already started looking for hay to get their cattle through the winter months and, possibly, wondering if government assistance will come soon.
With severe drought conditions being reported in six northern South Dakota counties, aid is expected to come to ranchers through the Livestock Forage Program, according to the Associated Press on Friday.
It was the first crop and should have yielded 60 bales.
"But I had to get the first crop off, so if it does rain the second will come."
Even though seed technology has improved to help with drought resistance with very dry conditions "it will help some but not much."
With little crops for feed and little hay, they are looking to keep as many cows as they can through the rest of the summer and the winter months.
According to Sinkie, if no more cattle are sold this summer they will need 600 bales to make it through the winter.
With dry conditions creating dust storms and little crops left to grow the rest of this season is looking grim.

Burgum proclaims statewide fire and drought emergency.
BISMARCK — Gov.
Doug Burgum proclaimed a statewide fire and drought emergency on Monday evening.
He also ordered that all state agencies maintain high levels of readiness.
The executive order activates the State Emergency Operations Plan and authorizes Maj. Gen. Alan Dohrmann, adjutant general of the North Dakota National Guard, to activate the Guard if needed to support local and tribal governments, the governor said in a press release.
Extremely dry conditions, lack of precipitation and high winds have created a fire emergency in North Dakota and have had a detrimental impact on livestock water supplies, crop and pasture conditions, the release stated.
Last week’s U.S. Drought Monitor report showed 8 percent of the state in extreme drought, 32 percent in severe drought, 27 percent in moderate drought and 33 percent abnormally dry.
Conditions are not expected to improve in the near future, the release stated.
"These conditions present a serious threat to the health and safety of local area citizens and their personal property," Burgum said of the fire danger.
"Significant manpower and equipment will be required for response and recovery operations."

Rain Update – 2016: Drought; This Year: Not Even Close.
In 2016, According to Dr. John Christy, “It’s been the driest period for weather-reporting stations in north Alabama dating back, in some cases, to the 1890s.” ( Courtesy: AL.com) The dry period started in the spring where April and May were truly parched.
If we expand it out and compare it to this year, it’s not even close!
Over fifteen inches from the April to June this year.
Everything in the Tennessee Valley is green!
2016 Through June: 22.70″ 2017 Through June: 28.69″ Right now the forecast looks good for more afternoon and early evening storms across the Tennessee Valley.
We have highs in the middle to upper 80s opposed to the unforgiving 90s through the first week of July.
The hottest part of the summer in the Tennessee Valley is late July into early August.
We have a long way to go before the wet season arrives in November and December.
Only a sliver of west Alabama has dry conditions.

BLOG ROUND-UP: Can Sacramento Valley reservoirs adapt to flooding with a warmer climate?
… ” Read more from the California Water Blog here: Can Sacramento Valley reservoirs adapt to flooding with a warmer climate?
the Colorado River Aqueduct, which moves water from the Colorado River to the Metropolitan Water District service area in Southern California.
Also, desalination and reclamation plants are used to address water supply and water quality needs.
The changing face of water leadership: Lori Pottinger writes, “California’s water managers face many challenges—from a changing climate to a growing population.
… ” Read more from the PPIC Blog here: The changing face of water leadership Secrets of salmon success: How lessons learned on Butte Creek can help recover fish in the Sacramento Valley: Jacob Katz writes, “It was great to be on the banks of Butte Creek last week celebrating the success of a collaborative effort to create a working landscape for fish, birds and people.
… ” Read more from the NCWA blog here: Secrets of salmon success: How lessons learned on Butte Creek can help recover fish in the Sacramento Valley Delta status end of June 2017: Tom Cannon writes, “Despite the fact that it is a record wet year with abundant spring snowmelt, early summer conditions in the Delta in 2017 are not looking good.
… ” Read more from the California Fisheries blog here: Delta status end of June 2017 Salton Sea fish, birds in jeopardy even with more mitigation water: John Fleck writes, “One suggested short term tool to deal with the shrinking Salton Sea is to continue putting in more water.
(It’s hairy and I won’t try to explain the whole mess here, read my book or, if you don’t have as much time, read the Desert Sun’s recent opus, which actually does a better job on this than my book, but you should still read my book.)
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Burgum declares statewide fire, drought emergency.
North Dakota Gov.
Doug Burgum has proclaimed a statewide fire and drought emergency, ordering state agencies to “maintain high levels of readiness.” The executive order, issued Monday following a meeting of state agencies that was closed to the public, activates the State Emergency Operations Plan and authorizes the North Dakota National Guard to activate, if needed.
Drought conditions and high winds have created a fire emergency in North Dakota.
The U.S. Drought Monitor report released last week showed 8 percent of the state in extreme drought, 32 percent in severe drought, 27 percent in moderate drought and 33 percent abnormally dry.
The conditions have increased the fire risk for North Dakota, with 30 counties issuing emergency declarations, burn bans or other fire restrictions.
“These conditions present a serious threat to the health and safety of local area citizens and their personal property,” Burgum said in a statement.
“Significant manpower and equipment will be required for response and recovery operations.” Last week, Burgum directed the Department of Emergency Services and other state agencies to coordinate drought and wildfire planning and response efforts.
Information about drought and fire conditions, including counties with burn bans and fireworks restrictions, is available at NDresponse.gov.

Things are worst in the northcentral part of the state, particularly in Corson, Dewey, Campbell, Walworth, McPherson, Edmunds and Potter counties.
Right in the center of this seven county area the drought monitor now indicates extreme drought conditions.
Looking at the U.S. map, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota are the only states currently experiencing severe drought.
Drought is not unusual here.
The conditions were so bad that some people started packing to move back east.
Gov.
More than anyone, our farmers and ranchers are feeling the impact.
In response to the increasingly dry conditions, I have declared a statewide emergency to provide producers some relief.
Under the emergency declaration, farmers and ranchers across the state may cut and bale state highway ditches adjacent to their property.
The emergency declaration, drought task force and the potential availability of CRP acres will provide some relief to those who are suffering from the drought, but government help is limited.

USDA opens up CRP in Montana, Dakotas due to drought.
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue is bringing some relief to drought-stricken Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota by authorizing emergency grazing on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) lands.
All or parts of these states are experiencing severe or extreme drought conditions – indicated as categories D2 and D3 on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
“Due to reduced availability of forage, ranchers in the hardest hit locations have already been culling their herds,” said Perdue.
“Without alternative forage options like grazing CRP lands, livestock producers are faced with the economically devastating potential of herd liquidation.” CRP is a voluntary program administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) available to agricultural producers to help them safeguard environmentally sensitive land and, when needed, provide emergency relief to livestock producers suffering the impacts of certain natural disasters.
Emergency grazing is authorized to begin immediately and extends through Sept. 30, unless conditions improve.
Producers must work with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to develop a modified conservation plan that is site specific, including the authorized grazing duration to reflect local wildlife needs.
FSA State Committees will monitor emergency grazing implementation at the local level to mitigate adverse impact on nesting areas and established CRP vegetation.
“If opening up grazing lands reduces even some of these stressors for these ranchers, then it’s the right thing for us to do.” Eligible CRP participants can use the acreage for grazing their own livestock or may grant another livestock producer use of the CRP acreage.
There will be no CRP annual rental payment reductions assessed for acres grazed.