California’s 124 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) span our state’s entire coastline to conserve tidepools, sandy beaches, submarine canyons, estuaries, and kelp forests, and to protect all life that depends on these unique places. Established 10 years ago through a science-based and community-driven process, California's MPA Network is now among the largest, most sophisticated marine conservation efforts anywhere in the world. State agencies have recently released a comprehensive assessment of how the MPA Network performed over its first decade, revealing where MPAs are making a difference and scientific questions that remain.

Join experts and community leaders to learn more about how California’s MPA Network is working to safeguard natural and cultural resources, as well as lessons learned and next steps for adaptive management.

Commission Meeting to Include Expert Panel on Drought Preparedness and Response, State Water Project Briefing on Operational Flexibility

The California Water Commission will hold a meeting on Wednesday, February 15 in Sacramento. The meeting is open to the public and will also be live streamed online. Agenda items include a panel of experts who will explore long-term drought preparedness and response, a briefing on maintaining the State Water Project’s operational flexibility, and an informational overview of the Big Notch Project.

California Water Commission meeting
When: 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, February 15
Where: California Natural Resources Building, 715 P Street, Sacramento, 95814
Info: (916) 873-5774, www.cwc.ca.gov
The meeting will be live streamed at https://www.water-ca.com/.
To comment remotely, Zoom login information can be found on the public participation guide.

Drought Expert Panel – Preparedness and Response Strategies

In support of Water Resilience Portfolio Action 26.3, the Commission is engaging experts, interested parties, and the public in discussions about strategies to protect communities and fish and wildlife in the event of long-term drought. This month’s panel will cover practitioner and policy perspectives on implementation of drought preparedness and response strategies. The panel will include:

Heather Cooley, Director of Research at the Pacific Institute.
Jeffrey Mount, Senior Fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California.
James Sarmento, Executive Director of Cultural Resources for the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians.
Elizabeth Salomone, General Manager of the Mendocino County Russian River Flood Control and Water Conservation Improvement District and Association of California Water Agencies Region 1 Board Member.
David W. Pedersen, P.E., General Manager of the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District.
Tom Butler, Vice President of the Sutter Basin Corporation and California Rice Commission, California Rice Producers Chairman and Executive Committee member.
More information on the Commission’s work to develop strategies to protect communities and fish and wildlife in the event of long-term drought can be found at cwc.ca.gov/Water-Resilience-Portfolio.



State Water Project Briefing: Maintaining Operational Flexibility

At this meeting, Department of Water Resources (DWR) staff will brief the Commission on how it works to maintain operational flexibility of the State Water Project (SWP), including dealing with drought and flood at the same time, the limiting factors to system flexibility, and the challenges faced by operators that reduce its flexibility. Presenters include:

SWP Deputy Director Ted Craddock, who will offer opening remarks.
SWP Assistant Deputy Director John Yarbrough, who will discuss the ability of the SWP to manage through drought and flood and how DWR is addressing the project’s operational flexibility.
Los Angeles County Works Deputy Director Keith Lilley, who will explain how his department harvested and stored excess water during the January storms.
For more on the State Water Project Annual Review, visit https://cwc.ca.gov/Programs-and-Topics.

Resolutions of Necessity for the Big Notch Project

The Commission will also hear evidence in support of Resolutions of Necessity (RONs) for the Yolo Bypass Salmonid Habitat Restoration and Fish Passage Project. Also known as the Big Notch Project, this is a 30,000-acre floodplain habitat restoration and fish passage project in the Yolo Bypass in Yolo County. DWR cannot commence an eminent domain proceeding unless the Commission first adopts an RON. At this meeting, DWR staff will present an overview of the Big Notch Project, including its goals and impacts on SWP operations, as well as information regarding the specific properties listed on the agenda. No action will be taken to adopt RONs for these properties at this meeting.

For more information on the Commission’s role in eminent domain proceedings, visit https://cwc.ca.gov/Programs-and-Topics.

INVITATION FOR TRIBES TO PARTICIPATE AS TASK FORCE MEMBERS!

Background: Senate Bill 552 directs DWR, in collaboration with the State Water Board and other relevant
state agencies, to establish a standing interagency drought and water shortage task force for the State.

The purpose and scope of this task force is to facilitate proactive state planning and coordination for pre-
drought planning, drought emergency response, and post-drought recovery; to develop strategies to enhance collaboration between various fields; and to develop these plans, responses, and strategies in a way that considers all types of water users. Task Force Structure: The task force membership will include representatives from a wide range of water-relevant interested parties. One appointee from eight different state agencies will participate on the task force, and two appointees from each of the following groups will be selected to participate: local governments, community-based organizations, Tribal representation, nonprofit technical assistance providers, the public, agriculture, environment, public water systems, and experts in land use planning, water resilience, and water infrastructure.

Eligibility:
Each non-state agency member is expected to serve on the DRIP Collaborative for a two-year
term.
Two members will be selected to represent each of the following membership categories:
• Tribes
• Public water systems (urban and small water suppliers)
• Environmental
• Local Government
• Agriculture
• Non-profit technical assistance providers
• The public
• Community-based organizations
• Experts in land use planning, water resilience, and water infrastructure

How to Become a Member: If you are interested in becoming a member of the DRIP Collaborative, submit the task force member interest form today!
Instructions: Please address each of the following questions to help us understand your interest in participating as a member in the California
Drought Resilience Interagency and Partners Collaborative:

1. What membership category are you interested in representing, and to what region do you bring expertise and focus?

2. Are you able to commit to attending three DRIP Collaborative meetings per year for the 2-year term?

3. What would you expect to contribute to the DRIP Collaborative in terms of improving coordination to support drought resilience in California?

4. Describe a positive experience of effectively collaborating across interested parties and what made it effective.

Format: Please fill out the form that can be found at the read more button below to submit the answers to the above questions.

Alternatively, you may use the PDF template available here to submit by email to [log in to unmask]

When to Submit: Submit your letter of interest by February 24, 2023.

Questions: For questions, please send an email to [log in to unmask] or call Julie Ekstrom at 916-
612-4371.

The State and DWR are committed to ensuring publicly accessible and equitable inclusion in future meetings. Translation services will be made available upon request.

Rekindling Culture and Fire is CIBA’s new initiative that promotes the reintroduction and increase of cultural burns to promote safe and healthy traditional gathering areas on public, tribal, and private lands in collaboration with California Indian basketweavers. Registration form can be found at the read more button below.

This webinar series, hosted by the Office of Research and Development, is focused on communicating research and tools intended to help communities and local decision-makers protect their assets and reduce vulnerabilities. Topics include site remediation and restoration, community health and wellbeing, and community resilience.

EPA will use your registration information solely for this event and for invitations to future events. We will not share your information with any third party.

It is EPA's policy to make reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities wishing to participate in the Agency's programs and activities, pursuant to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. 791. Any request for accommodation should be made to Sam Whately at [log in to unmask] in advance of the webinar.

For future viewing, a closed-captioned recording of this webinar will be made available on EPA’s YouTube site.

NOTE: The first and last name provided below will be as it appears on the Certificate of Attendance.

To register, please hit the read more button below to be redirected to the registration page.

The Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program (ICARP) released the Call-for-applications for the FY 2023-24 Adaptation Planning Grant Program. A total of $6.6 million in funding is available in this round to help fill local, regional, and tribal planning needs, identify climate resilience priorities, and support the development of a pipeline of climate-resilient infrastructure projects.



Our staff can help interested parties submit their intention to apply and write a competitive proposal at no cost to your agency. If a grant is awarded, we are equipped to provide a wide range of services, such as conducting outreach to residents, facilitating the public engagement process, and leading or assisting with project management. CivicWell can also support the development of a competitive bid process to identify Technical Consultants for the project.

Please complete the form no later than February 28, 2023, if you are interested in partnering on an application. The form can be found in the read more button below. Complete applications are due on March 31, 2023.