February 2011 - Metropolitan Water District of Southern ...edmsidm.mwdh2o.com/idmweb/cache/MWD EDMS/003721181-1.pdfFebruary 2011 a t ENGINEERING SERVICES ... February to celebrate

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ENGINEERING SERVICES 2-3

BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY 4

WATER SYSTEM OPERATIONS 4-7

WATER SUPPLY CONDITIONS 8

WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 9

BAY-DELTA INITIATIVES 10

c o n t e n t s

HUMAN RESOURCES 11-12

REAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT 12

FINANCE 13

EXTERNAL AFFAIRS 14-15

BUSINESS OUTREACH 16

D a t e d : F e b r u a r y 2 8 , 2 0 1 1

This report identifies the actions/activities taking place during the month that support the

objectives of the General Manager’s Fiscal Year 2010/11 Business Plan.

METROPOLITAN CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Metropolitan’s Black Employees Association hosted a number of events during the month of February to celebrate Black History Month. Events were open to all Metropolitan employees. General Manager Jeff Kightlinger helped a team of employees to victory during a round of Family Feud and Chief Administrative Officer Gilbert Ivey spoke during opening ceremonies. Other events included a viewing of Lena Horn's Stormy Weather, a fish fry, poetry reading, a Valentine flower sale to raise funds for college scholarships, a lunchtime speaker from Kaiser Permanente Medical, and collection efforts for Change 4 Haiti to fight cholera outbreak and assist with earthquake relief.

Men in Black Fish Fry

Orators participating in Poet’s Corner

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California—General Manager’s Monthly Activity Report 2

E N G I N E E R I N G S E R V I C E S g r o u p

CAPITAL INVESTMENT PLAN

CRA Conveyance Reliability Program—This program was established to maintain reliability of the Colorado River Aqueduct canals, tunnels, conduits, siphons, and reservoirs. Recent activities include the following:

Eagle Mountain Pumping Plant Delivery Pipe Expansion Joint Repair—Repairs of leaking expansion joints on the delivery pipes were completed during a 19-day shutdown of the CRA.

Access Covers and Water Tanks Safety Improvements—Construction is 68 percent complete and is scheduled to be complete by May 2011.

Fault Current Protection Upgrades—Construction and testing activities of the fault current protection upgrades were completed at all five CRA pumping plants (Intake, Gene, Eagle Mountain, Iron Mountain, and Hinds) during a 19-day shutdown of the CRA.

Replace / Rehabilitate Projects for Conveyance and Distribution System

Conveyance and Distribution System Rehabilitation Program—This program was initiated to maintain reliable deliveries through specific repair and rehabilitation projects on Metropolitan’s pipelines, reservoirs, and control structures. Recent activities include the following:

Allen-McColloch Pipeline Repairs—Replacement of 8 precast concrete vault structures was completed in preparation for the planned pipeline repairs, which are scheduled to take place during an eight‑day shutdown beginning in late February 2011.

Calabasas Feeder Repairs—Notice to proceed was issued and permits were obtained in preparation for the planned pipeline repairs using carbon fiber lining, which are scheduled to take place during an 11-day shutdown in April 2011.

Upper Feeder Service Connection Repairs—Air-release pipe relocation activities are underway in preparation for the planned service connection repairs, which are scheduled to take place during a five-day shutdown in March 2011.

Additional Projects

Oxidation Retrofit Program—This program was established to add pre-ozonation to provide disinfection, control tastes and odors, and reduce the level of disinfection by-products in the finished water at all five of Metropolitan’s treatment plants. This program will enable Metropolitan to meet state and federal drinking water regulations and consists of multiple, staged construction contracts. With three of the five treatment plants – Jensen, Mills, and Skinner – completed and placed into service, there are two remaining plants to be completed. Recent activities for these two plants include the following:

Diemer ORP

Ozone Facilities—Construction is 64 percent

complete and is scheduled to be complete by mid-2012.

Southern California Edison 66kV Substation—Startup and testing of the new electrical facilities are ongoing. Connection to the new SCE 66kv substation is scheduled to be complete in March 2011.

Weymouth ORP

Switchgear Building—Construction is 47 percent complete and is scheduled to be complete by June 2011.

Inlet Conduit Relocation—Construction is 79 percent complete and is scheduled to be complete by April 2011.

[photo on page 3]

Allen-McColloch Pipeline Repairs—Installation of

New Vault Segment


Replace/Rehabilitate Projects for Water Treatment Plants

Treatment Plant Improvements Program—This program was initiated to maintain reliability and to improve operating efficiency of Metropolitan’s water treatment plants through specific improvement projects. Recent activities include the following:

E N G I N E E R I N G S E R V I C E S g r o u p

CAPITAL INVESTMENT PLAN

Weymouth Junction Structure Seismic Upgrades—Bypass Vault in Foreground

Weymouth Water Treatment Plant

Electrical Upgrades—Construction is 47 percent complete and is scheduled to be complete by mid‑2012.

Rapid Mix Systems—Construction is 79 percent complete and is scheduled to be complete by May 2011.

Junction Structure Seismic Upgrades—Construction is 84 percent complete and is scheduled to be complete by May 2011.

Diemer Water Treatment Plant

Fire and Potable Water Pump Station—Construction is 40 percent complete and is scheduled to be complete by October 2011.

Electrical Upgrades—Construction of Stage 1 is 95 percent complete and is scheduled to be complete by December 2011.

Diemer North Access Road—Construction is 62 percent complete and is scheduled to be complete by mid-2011.

Mills Water Treatment Plant

Electrical Buildings Nos. 1 & 2 Seismic Upgrades—Construction is 40 percent complete and is scheduled to be complete by June 2011.

Weymouth Inlet Conduit Relocation—Box Conduit Transition to 144‖ Steel Pipe (related info on page 2)


B u s i n e s s t e c h n o l o g y g r o u p

BUSINESS PROCESSES

Business Improvements

In conjunction with the upgrade to Metropolitan's e-mail system, staff rolled out a standardized security disclaimer that appears at the bottom of all email messages sent from Metropolitan. This new language is in compliance with best practices and helps prevent unauthorized usage of information sent via emails.

“This communication, together with any attachments or embedded links, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain information that is confidential or legally protected. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any review, disclosure, copying, dissemination, distribution or use of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the sender immediately by return e-mail message and delete the original and all copies of the communication, along with any attachments or embedded links, from your system.”

IT Security staff recently completed the procurement of new encryption software to enhance security and provide safeguards to protect sensitive data stored on laptop hard drives in the event the devices are lost or stolen. Final preparations are currently underway to begin rolling out the software to users. Deployment is scheduled to begin in the February/March timeframe.

W A T E R S Y S T E M O P E R A T I O N S

SYSTEM RELIABILITY

Refurbished 36‖ conical plug valve for the Monterey valve vault.

(See related information page 5)

Fabricated and mortar lined pipe sections for Allen-McCulloch Pipeline repairs.

(See related information page 5)



SYSTEM RELIABILITY

System Operations

System Operations delivered approximately 103,000 AF of water to meet member agency demands in February 2011, which averages 3,700 AF per day. This delivery was 58 percent greater than was delivered in February 2009. Deliveries were volatile during the month, with peak deliveries of 5,400 AF/day early in the month, and dropping to 2,100 AF/day with the onset of wet weather and the completion of several full service groundwater replenishment deliveries.

Additionally, 3,500 AF was delivered to Desert Water Agency and Coachella Valley Water District in exchange for their State Water Project Table A supplies. Pumping on the Colorado River

Aqueduct was reduced to five-pump flow because of lower Desert/Coachella deliveries, low system demand, and system changes to maximize the delivery of surplus State Water Project supplies available in late February.

State Water Project deliveries of 87,000 AF in February included 32,000 AF delivered via the Inland Feeder, which increased Diamond Valley Lake storage to 695,000 AF.

System Operations continues to maximize power generation whenever possible. For the month of February, Metropolitan's hydroelectric plants generated an average of 32 megawatts per hour for a total of 21,800 megawatts. Generation was reduced because of lower water demands.

Maintenance / Shutdowns

Several major shutdowns occurred in February. They included a 19-day Colorado River Aqueduct shutdown from February 1-20 to perform electrical upgrades at the pumping plants, to clean nearly 50 miles of siphons and tunnels, and to perform other repairs. On February 26, another major shutdown began that affected Lake Mathews, the Upper and Lower Feeders, the Diemer treatment plant, and the Allen McCulloch Pipeline. These shutdowns included pipeline inspections, repairs, quagga mussel cleaning, and electrical upgrades at the Diemer plant as part of the ozone retrofit project.

On February 8, the treated portion of the Lower Feeder was shut down for five days. This shutdown allowed Metropolitan and its contractor to replace five plug valves, perform pre-stressed concrete cylinder pipe inspection and to perform other maintenance work.

Operations Support Services (see photos on page 4)

Staff continued an assessment of Metropolitan’s emergency generators to improve their reliability. New maintenance and operations standards are under development for the generators.

Patrol roads throughout the Eastern and Desert regions that were damaged during the heavy rains in late December and early January were restored prior to the commencement of the CRA shutdown.

Staff began refurbishment of a 36-inch conical plug valve for the Monterey valve vault, which will enhance operational flexibility on the Palos Verdes Feeder. Installation will be performed during the Upper Feeder shutdown scheduled in March 2011.

Ten pipe sections were fabricated for three repair sites along the Allen-McCulloch Pipeline. The pipe sections will be installed during the February shutdown.

Transition of tunnel cleaning machine.


Emergency Management

Staff made a presentation on Metropolitan’s emergency response system at a regional emergency planning seminar held at the California Institute of Technology. Topics included the reliability built into the system and Metropolitan’s emergency response processes, which included descriptions of the emergency patrols, reporting system, emergency exercise program, and emergency communications methods. Staff continued preparations for a major emergency exercise planned for April.


SYSTEM RELIABILITIY

Environmental, Health and Safety

On February 5, South Coast Air Quality Management District’s Board adopted a rule which reinstated emissions reduction credits for agencies providing essential public services. This rule allows Metropolitan to install large, diesel emergency generators without purchasing emissions credits on the open market.

Apprenticeship Training Program

Seventeen new pre-apprentices began ―Study Skills‖ training classes to improve their ability to excel in the classroom portion of their four-year program. The curriculum includes identifying individual learning styles, comprehension strategies for technical texts, and balancing academics with work and home life. Apprentices are also continuing with required health and safety training to establish a solid foundation of safe work practices.

Security Management

Security staff observed suspicious activity at the Carson and Alameda Pressure Control Station and acted promptly to prevent burglary and vandalism. In this incident, an intruder cut Metropolitan’s lock and replaced it with his own. Security staff removed the intruder’s lock, replaced it with Metropolitan’s lock and chain, and then placed the facility under enhanced physical and video monitoring. Video surveillance later revealed a suspicious individual who returned to the facility on a bicycle and departed hastily upon seeing the fortified gate and a security officer approaching.

Security also assisted in the safe removal of an object that appeared to be an unexploded bomb of World War II vintage that Metropolitan crews discovered during the Colorado River Aqueduct shutdown. Staff arranged for the device to be isolated from employees until local police bomb-disposal experts could remove it.

Unexploded bomb of World War II vintage found during the CRA shutdown.



WATER QUALITY

Protect Source Water Quality

Staff participated in the Lake Mead Water Quality Forum on January 25 to share data and provide updates on water quality activities. Staff also met with Las Vegas area wastewater agencies to discuss their upcoming discharge permit renewals and their plans to control phosphorus entering Lake Mead.

On January 31, the California Department of Toxic Substance Control certified the final Environmental Impact Report for the chromium-6 groundwater remediation at the Pacific Gas and Electric’s Topock Compressor Station. On January 26, the U.S. Department of Interior certified the Record of Decision. The agencies have selected in-situ treatment with freshwater flushing for the groundwater remediation. PG&E is charged with developing the corrective measures implementation work plan within 90 days. The cleanup will help protect the Colorado River from chromium-6 contamination.

Manage Water Treatment

The latest total dissolved solids results from December for Weymouth, Diemer and Skinner water treatment plants were 448, 454, and 469 mg/L, respectively. The target blends at the Weymouth, Diemer, and Skinner treatment plants were maintained at 45 percent State Water Project.

In February, the Jensen plant supported the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power during their two‑week shutdown of the Los Angeles Aqueduct Filtration Plant. During this period, the flows at Jensen increased by more than 300 million gallons per day.

At the end of February, the Diemer plant was shut down for one week to complete electrical improvements and other work as part of the ozone retrofit project. Staff closely coordinated with Orange County water agencies in advance of this shutdown.

Future Regulations

Staff participated in technical advisory workgroups regarding regulatory activities on chromium-6, perchlorate, and fluoride. Water quality staff submitted a comment letter to the California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment in response to their proposed public health goal for chromium 6.

Staff prepared legislative analyses of U.S. Senate Bills S.78 (perchlorate) and S.79 (chromium-6). Staff also prepared an analysis for State Assembly Bill AB 403 (chromium-6). Staff will bring recommendations for positions on these bills to the Board in March.

Current Distribution & Storage

2/28/2011 Percent of

Storage (AF) Capacity

Lake Mathews 154,759 AF 85%

Lake Skinner 39,175 AF 89%

DVL 694,980 AF 86%

Lake Perris 73,747 AF 56%

Useful information:

AF = acre-foot, the volume of water to cover an acre of land, one-foot deep.

Approximately 326,000 gallons of water, serves annual needs of two typical California families.

TAF=thousand acre-feet

Manage System Power Operations

Metropolitan owns and operates 330 miles of high-voltage electrical transmission lines. In February, Metropolitan reported to the Western Electricity Coordinating Council its compliance with national electrical reliability standards for critical assets that could impact the regional electrical transmission system.

ENERGY MANAGEMENT


W A T E R S U P P L Y C O N D I T I O N S


Long-Term Regional Conservation Plan

Long-Term Conservation Plan—Staff is continuing to work with the member agencies to develop the Long‑Term Conservation Plan that will help achieve the water use efficiency target in the 2010 Integrated Resources Plan Update. A workshop was held to develop near-term strategies that will contribute to market transformation, a key concept in the draft plan.

W A T E R R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T

WATER SUPPLY RELIABILITY

WATER SUPPLY

Seawater Desalination

Executive Director Named—CalDesal recently announced the selection of Ron Davis as its first Executive Director. Ron joins CalDesal after six years as the State Legislative Director for the Association of California Water Agencies. Ron has already met with the legislative directors for all CalDesal Board Members, and will be convening a strategy meeting with the Executive Committee to outline a short- and long-term strategy.

State Water Project

Revised SWP 2011 Water Order—Metropolitan submitted a revised SWP 2011 water order to DWR that incorporates the 60 percent allocation determination. The water order positions Metropolitan to take advantage of interruptible (Article 21) supplies that may become available during February and March and provides for storage of

water in the Central Valley storage programs.

Water Conservation Program

Turf Replacement Grant Submittal—Metropolitan submitted an application to United State Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSmart grant program for turf replacement. Under the proposed two-year project, Metropolitan would provide up to $1 million in incentives that would be matched by an additional $1 million by Reclamation. Selections will be announced in April 2011.


Near-Term Measures

Turbidity Forecasting—This winter, Metropolitan staff implemented a project to test the ability to forecast Delta turbidity conditions and the movement of adult Delta smelt as related to turbidity, as a means to potentially develop a tool to manage water project operations to protect Delta smelt. Staff, with assistance from a consulting team, has been producing forecasts of Delta turbidity and adult Delta smelt movement since the second week of December 2010. Demonstration of turbidity forecasting capability continued through February. Forecasting elements include (1) upstream turbidity transport, (2) Delta turbidity transport, (3) adult smelt behavior, (4) bio‑statistical modeling of adult smelt

showing up at the export pumps, and (5) information dissemination through the web. Weekly updates have been provided to Metropolitan management, and several meetings have been held since December 2010 with Department of Water Resources, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff to provide briefings on advances in forecasting. A final consultant report for the 2011 Delta smelt spawning season will be produced that summarizes results, insights and recommendations for further work. This report will likely be finalized by June 2011.

B A Y - D E L T A I N I T I A T I V E S

BAY-DELTA SOLUTIONS

Long-Term Measures

Delta Stewardship Council—On February 14, the Delta Stewardship Council (DSC) released the first staff draft Delta Plan for review. A key part of the DSC agenda for February 24-25 and for a March 10-11, 2011 DSC workshop will be an in-depth discussion on the development of the Delta Plan. The draft Delta Plan is designed to present key findings and conceptual strategies for the DSC to discuss and receive stakeholder input. The draft Delta Plan includes chapters on the purpose of the Delta Plan, water resources, Delta ecosystem, reducing Delta flood risk, and the Delta as an evolving place. Following the Council meetings, revisions will be made to produce the next draft. Metropolitan staff is reviewing the draft Delta Plan and working with the state and federal water contractors to develop written comments on the draft Delta Plan. The water contractor comments focus on support for the co-equal goals of improving water supply reliability and Delta ecosystem restoration, recommendations for key elements to include in the draft Delta Plan that would address the Delta policy goals incorporated in the Delta Reform Act of 2009, and specific comments on the draft Delta Plan regarding the appropriate scope for the plan and role of the DSC in activities discussed in the draft Delta Plan.

Emergency Preparedness

Delta Emergency Preparedness—A briefing with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Department of Water Resources executives in February provided a status report and continued support of the Delta Flood Emergency Preparedness, Response and Recovery Program (EPRRP), including a commitment to complete a draft EPRRP in 2011. Commitments have been received from Army Corps Sacramento District staff to sign a Federal Cost Sharing Agreement (FCSA), pending confirmation of local funding commitments by DWR, to facilitate landside levee fill along the emergency freshwater pathway at Bacon Island. DWR Flood Management executive staff has committed to resolve FCSA local funding issues. Landside fill would have the effect of reducing levee slumping during a major earthquake.


H U M A N R E S O U R C E S

HUMAN RESOURCES EXCELLENCE

Workers’ Compensation / Medical

Conducted initial investigations on 10 injury incidents.

Submitted 7 new claims to Metropolitan’s workers’ compensation claim administrator.

Settlements were negotiated in 1 claim, finalized in 3 claims, and 8 claim files were closed.

Conducted Medvans at Mills, Lake Skinner and Lake Mathews facilities.

Arranged 22 medical evaluations (DMV medical surveillance, etc).

Addressed 4 accommodation issues.

Risk Management

The Risk Management Unit completed a projected 64 incident reports communicating instances of Metropolitan property damage, liability, workplace injuries, regulatory visits and spills.

Risk Management completed a projected 52 risk assessments on contracts, including professional service agreements, construction contracts, entry permits, special events and film permits.

Employee Relations

Employee Relations staff helped roll-out a training program on drug and alcohol awareness. The program introduces all employees to tell-tale signs of drug or alcohol use and reinforces their responsibility under Metropolitan policy to report suspected use to management. Managers and supervisors completed a separate program in 2009, designed exclusively for management.

Total Compensation

Hosted two financial planning workshops at the headquarters facility on February 28 in coordination with CalPERS, Great-West and Financial Finesse.

The Financial Planning workshop included 16 participants and is offered to all employees regardless of age with supervisor approval. The workshop focuses on establishing financial goals, building and protecting that wealth. Topics include

HIGH PERFORMANCE WORKPLACE

Management Excellence

Continue to provide face-to-face coaching and consultations for eight established managers along with ongoing coaching administration of four engagements with external coaches, including oversight, ongoing updates and three-way conferences.

investments, real estate, insurance, debt management and a brief overview on estate planning.

The Achieving Your Dream Retirement workshop included 15 participants and is offered to all employees regardless of age with supervisor approval. Employees learn about CalPERS pension benefits and 401(k) and 457 plan options to help them learn in advance what they should consider for preparing for their dream retirement.

Talent Acquisition

One new temporary employee started employment at Metropolitan in February.

MyJobs, Metropolitan’s new online job application and automated applicant tracking system, was deployed in February. External and internal candidates can submit resumes and applications online, as well as create personal Job Agents for automatic notification of future job opportunities.


H U M A N R E S O U R C E S

HUMAN RESOURCES EXCELLENCE

Learning and Development

MyLearning, Metropolitan’s enterprise learning management system, was fully implemented and went ―live‖ on January 31. Talent Management staff delivered demonstration sessions of the system at Headquarters, while Water System Operations staff conducted demos at all Metropolitan facilities. Online course enrollments, electronic supervisory approvals, training plan creation and automated record-keeping are some of the features of MyLearning that will support the learning and development of employees. An expanded online curriculum is being phased-in through the system.

Drug and Alcohol Awareness, a mandatory one-hour class for all employees, was kicked-off on February 16. The class is presented jointly by the Employee Assistance Program consultant and Employee Relations staff. Course sessions are scheduled to take place at various Metropolitan facilities for March, April and May.

New MyLearning IntraMet link on Training website:

Classes were delivered on topics including Conflict Resolution, Preparing for Job Interviews, and Teamwork.

Property for Future Water Infrastructure and other Real Property Goals

A one-day entry permit was issued to Warner Bros. Television for filming of scenes for the television series ―The Mentalist‖. Filming occurred in portions of the Courtyard patio area at the Metropolitan Headquarters Building.

A license granted to Castaic Water Agency was amended to extend the term to year to year to allow continued invasive on-site investigations and temporary construction activities to install and maintain an expanded turnout over a portion of the Foothill Feeder right of way.

An entry permit was granted to the County of Riverside for access onto portions of property near Lake Mathews to conduct non-invasive inspections and surveys in conjunction with a proposed road project.

R e a l p r o p e r t y d e v e l o p m e n t a n d m a n a g e m e n t

REAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

Recreation Facilities Diamond Valley Lake

Approximately 74,000 anglers have visited Diamond Valley Lake, and 12,600 private boats have launched since the reopening of the boat ramp December 2009. Increased launch fees collected through February are estimated to be $79,000.


F I N A N C E a s o f J a n u a r y 3 1 , 2 0 1 1

Excludes Bond Construction and Other Trust Funds Activity Excludes Bond Construction and Other Trust Funds Activity


Public Information Programs

Efforts and activities included:

Coordinated an editorial board meeting with the Orange County Register and Metropolitan Board Chairman John Foley, General Manager Kightlinger and Deputy General Manager Waade to discuss water challenges facing Southern California and how Metropolitan is responding.

Set up separate interviews with Chief Financial Officer Thomas and reporters for the San Diego Business Journal, Ventura County Star and San Diego Union-Tribune to discuss rising water rates.

Provided information to reporters for the Riverside Press-Enterprise about rising storage levels at Diamond Valley Lake.

Arranged interview with interim Chief Financial Officer DeBacker and reporter for the Bond Buyer publication for a story associated with municipal financing.

Support Board with Communications and Working Relationships

Directors Brown, Friedman, the General Manager and staff from Metropolitan, Burbank and Glendale provided a legislative briefing for Assemblyman Mike Gatto in his district office. The group discussed Metropolitan’s legislative priorities, water policies and local infrastructure projects within his district.

Staff organized and Metropolitan sponsored a luncheon with the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership, San Gabriel Valley Legislative Coalition of Chambers, and the San Gabriel Valley Public

Affairs Network featuring Senator Ed Hernandez. Attending on behalf of Metropolitan were Directors David De Jesus, the General Manager and Legislative Services staff.

Public Education / Advertising Conservation Efforts

Online search on Google Search and the Google Content Network continues this month. Links to bewaterwise.com appear when keywords such as ―water,‖ ―California weather,‖ and ―water rebates‖ are searched for by Southern California users. Nearly 27,000 people visited bewaterwise.com in January.

E x t e r n a l a f f a i r s

COMMUNICATIONS

LEGISLATIVE AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS

Community Outreach

Efforts and activities included:

Over 400 unique visits to the Education Web Site from February 1 through14.

Eleven Diamond Valley Lake field trips were conducted (grades four through six) for more than 350 students from Hemet, Lake Elsinore, Menifee, Perris and Temecula Valley school districts. Staff conducted three in-class presentations at three schools for 96 fourth- and fifth-grade students. Staff hosted nine field trips for over 500 students in collaboration with the Western Science Center outreach program.

Coordinate / Communicate Day-to-Day Efforts

Staff conducted outreach efforts to the communities of Pasadena, Lake Forest, Downey and Norwalk regarding impacts of the Upper Feeder Construction Project work sites, the Allen-McColloch Pipeline Project, and the Lower Feeder Shutdown.


State Legislation

Metropolitan Water District/California Municipal Utilities Association will pursue both regulatory and legislative tracks to help ensure that water conservation expertise is integrated into decision making by the Building Standards Commission.

AB 157 (Jeffries, R-Riverside) was recently introduced. This measure would reduce the dollar amount of 2012 water bond by 25 percent bringing the total from $11.14 billion to about $8.25 billion.

In late January, Jerry Meral, former Deputy Director of Department of Water Resources during Governor Brown’s first term, was named Deputy Secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency in charge of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan. Dr. Meral retired as Executive Director of the Planning and Conservation League in 2003.

In late January, Senate President pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg announced his committee assignments for the 2011/12 session. Senator Fran Pavley (D-Los Angeles) was named Chair of the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee and Senator Doug LaMalfa (R-Redding) as Vice Chair of the committee. Two of the remaining seven members of the Senate water committee are from Metropolitan’s service area: Senator Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego) and Senator Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima).

The Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee convened a hearing on February 1 in Sacramento to explore the ―Management of California’s Groundwater Resources.‖

Local Government

General Manager Kightlinger was a featured speaker at the Legislative Committee of the Los Angeles Business Council. Other speakers included Mark Cowin, Director, Department of Water, and Jim Yannotta, Assistant Director of Water Resources, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.

In coordination with the member agencies and business community, Metropolitan is coordinating an outreach campaign to secure letters of support for H.R. 470 (Heck, R-NV) the Hoover Power Allocation Act of 2011.

Staff provided water supply outlook presentations to the Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and the El Segundo Chamber of Commerce Government Relations Committee,

E x t e r n a l a f f a i r s

LEGISLATIVE AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS

highlighting the Delta and the District’s current efforts to secure water supply reliability through the BDCP.

In coordination with the Long Beach Water Department, staff provided a water supply outlook presentation to the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee, focusing on ongoing challenges in the Delta and Metropolitan’s current efforts to secure water supply reliability through the BDCP.

Federal Legislation

Staff attended a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee D.C. Hearing on February 2 on two measures, S. 78 and S. 79 that would require the Environmental Protection Agency to set drinking water standards on perchlorate and chromium-6, respectively.

Staff attended a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Informational Hearing on February 3 regarding the issue of the safety and use of chemicals in connection with drinking water treatment facilities.

Assistant General Manager Patterson worked with Bay Delta Conservation Plan stakeholders, including California Deputy Resources Secretary Meral, to brief members of the California Congressional Delegation on the current progress of the BDCP. In addition to meeting with more than a dozen House Members, the group also briefed officials at the White House Council on Environmental Quality as well as the Office of Management and Budget. A briefing for House and Senate Committee staff was conducted and the group completed this D.C. schedule with a briefing for the Director of Civil Works for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Policy and Legislative Strategies


About Metropolitan

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a consortium of 26 cities and water districts that provides drinking water to nearly 19 million people in parts of Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura Counties.

Metropolitan's Mission is to provide its service area with adequate and reliable supplies of high-quality water to meet present and future needs in an environmentally and economically responsible way.

www.MWDH2O.com

www.BeWaterWise.com

General Manager: Jeffrey Kightlinger

Office of the GM No.: 213 217-6139

E-Mail: [email protected]

700 No. Alameda Street

Los Angeles, CA 90012

General No.: 213 217-6000

B U S I N E S S O U T R E A C H

Metropolitan attended the Southern California Minority Business Development Council’s annual Minority Business Opportunity Day held at the Palms Conference Center in Industry. Metropolitan also participated in the Expo, matchmaking, and networking events.

Staff partnered with the San Diego County Water Authority to support the City of Santee at their second Annual Small Business Expo. Staff also participated on a procurement panel to approximately 100 business owners.

Metropolitan participated as a Pavilion Sponsor with the San Fernando Valley Economic Alliance’s - Valley Business Expo ’11. Over 250 small and local businesses participated in the expo. Metropolitan staff had an opportunity to participate on a panel to discuss government procurement opportunities.

Business Outreach continued to support the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce by attending the 122

nd Inaugural Dinner. Governor Jerry Brown was a speaker at the event. Metropolitan Directors Laura

Friedman, Robert Wunderlich, John Murray and Aaron Grunfeld attended the event.

Staff participated in a Construction Industry panel presentation at Westwood College’s School of Construction Management in Torrance. Staff shared information on accessing construction industry jobs and internships, and gave tips for preparing to enter the work force, and accessing professional development through networking and joining industry associations.

Engineering and Business Outreach staff attended the annual Construction Management Association of America Owner’s Night. This annual event draws a large number of construction firms and consulting firms. Other owners who attended were the Port of Long Beach, Port of Los Angeles, Orange County Transportation Agency, and Caltrans.

Business Outreach coordinated a National Association of Women in Construction keynote speaking engagement for Metropolitan’s Senior Ecologist Ellen Mackey. Ellen engaged and educated the audience by teaching California Native gardening techniques and how to create an attractive, colorful garden while minimizing use of soil amendments and supplemental irrigation systems.

Documents

February 2011 - Metropolitan Water District of Southern ...edmsidm.mwdh2o.com/idmweb/cache/MWD EDMS/003721181-1.pdfFebruary 2011 a t ENGINEERING SERVICES ... February to celebrate