LEGISLATIVE BULLETIN
February 27, 2023
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State and Federal Water Allocations Improve in Wake of Water Supply E.O.
As reported in last week’s Legislative Bulletin, Governor Gavin Newsom recently issued an executive order “to extend available [water] supplies, protect water reserves, and maintain critical flows for fish and wildlife.”
Perhaps most significantly, the Order encouraged the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to “consider modifying requirements for reservoir releases or diversion limitations in Central Valley Project or State Water Project facilities to…provide opportunities to maintain or to expand water supplies north and south of the Delta” by waiving certain water quality standards in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
In response to the Executive Order, the California Department of Water Resources and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation immediately filed a joint Temporary Urgency Change Petition with the SWRCB “to ensure the availability of an adequate water supply” for the Central Valley Project and State Water Project, citing the authority granted to the SWRCB under the Executive Order.
On Tuesday, the SWRCB issued an order approving the Temporary Urgency Change Petition. The following day, the Bureau of Reclamation announced that Central Valley Project water users would receive 35% of their water allotment and the California Department of Water Resources announced that the State Water Project would likewise deliver 35% of requested water supplies this year.
For more information on Governor Newsom’s Executive Order, see last week’s edition of Legislative Bulletin.
FSA Accepting ECP Applications to Restore Damage from Severe Winter Storms
USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has announced that it will accept applications through April 14 for Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) funds to address damages “to eligible farmland, fences, and conservation structures” caused by the series of severe atmospheric rivers which hit the state from late December to mid-January. Producers in 41 California counties are eligible for ECP funds. For more information, see the February 13 edition of Legislative Bulletin.
USDA Designates Stanislaus Co. a Primary Natural Disaster Area Due to Excessive Heat
Earlier this month the U.S. Department of Agriculture designated Stanislaus County as a primary natural disaster area due to “Excessively high temperatures that occurred from September 1, 2022, through September 9, 2022.” Ranchers in Stanislaus County and bordering counties may be eligible for assistance from the Farm Service Agency (FSA), including FSA emergency loans which can be used for purposes such as replacing equipment or livestock. The application deadline is September 13, 2023; for more information see the February 13 edition of Legislative Bulletin.
SWRCB Extends Curtailment Suspensions Within Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Scott River Watersheds
On Tuesday, the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) announced via email that all water rights curtailments in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta watershed remain suspended. While the announcement did not detail a projected end date for the suspensions, the SWRCB has stated that “Notice of any reimposed curtailments will be provided by email and web posting at least 48 hours prior to going into effect.” Water rights holders within the Delta watershed are encouraged to monitor the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Watershed Drought & Curtailment Information Webpage for further updates.
This afternoon the SWRCB announced via email that curtailments within the Scott River watershed remain suspended through midnight next Tuesday, March 7, so long as flows of 200 cubic feet per second (cfs) are maintained at the Fort Jones gage; if flows dip below 200cfs, diversion under all water rights listed in Addendum 43 must immediately cease (while neither the announcement nor Addendum 43 had been posted online as of press time, both will shortly be available on the Scott River and Shasta River Watersheds Drought Response Webpage).
Water rights curtailment suspensions and conditional curtailments for the Shasta River, Russian River, Deer Creek and Mill Creek watersheds remain unchanged from the statuses reported in the January 30 edition of Legislative Bulletin.
New Episode of Stories from California Cattle Country
Stories from California Cattle Country, “Santa Maria Style BBQ & the Importance of Community with Wayne Stahl and Sue Bench” is out now. To listen to the episode, click here. Stories from California Cattle Country is produced by The California Cattlemen’s Foundation with support from the California Cattle Council. If you want a glimpse into our travels, follow the podcast’s Instagram account @calcattlecountry.
Upcoming CCA Events
Feeder Meeting
May 24 – 26, San Diego, CA, Marriott Marquis
Early bird registration for the California Cattlemen’s Association Feeder Council and Arizona Cattle Feeders Association Meeting is now open. Register by 3/6 to attend at the best price. Prices will increase 3/7. To Register click here.
The CCA room block is not yet open for reservations. Watch in the coming weeks for a link and full details on booking in the block to be sent out and posted on the event page of our website.
Upcoming Industry Events
Cattle Health Online Webinar Series
March 1 – March 29, 2023, 5:30 – 7:00pm, Virtual
UC Cooperative Extension and UC Davis Veterinary Medicine are hosting the Cattle Health Online Webinar Series. Webinars will be held Wednesday evenings in March from 5:30-7:00pm. Sessions cover topics important to cattle health and management.
3/1- Beef Quality Assurance Training & Certification
3/8- Time to Help During Calving
3/15 – Mystery of Calf Abortions
3/22 – Bugging Beef – Internal Parasites
3/29 – Bugging Beef – External Parasites
The event is FREE to participate. To register for the webinars click here.
For questions or assistance please contact Tracy Schohr, UC Cooperative Extension Livestock and Natural Resources Advisor for Plumas, Sierra and Butte Counties at tkschohr@ucanr.edu or 916-716-2643 (text or call).
Video recordings and additional resources from previous webinars can be found at https://ucanr.edu/sites/Rangelands/CattleHealth/.
UCCE Offers AB 589 Water Measurement and Reporting Course
March 2, Davis, CA
The University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) will offer a water measurement and reporting course, as authorized by CCA-sponsored AB 589 (2017) and SB 880 (2022), on Thurs., March 2. There will be a limited number of trainings offered in 2023, so early registration is encouraged. Registration is $30; for further details and to register for the training, click here or contact Larry Forero.
NCBA Producer Education Webinar Series
March 16 – March 30, 7:00pm (Central), Virtual
3/16 – What Does the Drought Really Cost You? To register, click here.
3/30 – New Vaccine Technologies: An Addition to Our Animal Health Toolbox. To register, click here.
To view previous webinars click here.
UC Davis Bovine Artificial Insemination Clinic
March 27-29, 2023, Davis, CA, In Person
The UC Davis Young Cattlemen’s Association will host a Bovine Artificial Insemination Clinic March 27-29 at the UC Davis Feedlot and Beef Barn. Veterinarians from the UC Davis School of Medicine will teach the clinic. The cost for non YCA members is $425 and $375 for YCA Members. For more information and to register contact Davisyoungcattlemens@gmail.com.
Industry News
Capture And Collar Efforts Underway For Wolves, Elk And Deer In Northeastern California California Department of Fish and Wildlife “The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) this week initiated efforts to capture wolves, elk and deer by helicopter in northeastern California and outfit the animals with GPS collars. The capturing and collaring will continue through the end of the month as weather allows.” To continue reading, click here.
Federal agency proposes California spotted owl protection Associated Press News “Federal wildlife officials on Wednesday announced a proposal to classify one of two dwindling California spotted owl populations as endangered after a lawsuit by conservation groups required the government to reassess a Trump administration decision not to protect the brown and white birds.” To continue reading, click here.
Snowfall tops 6.5 feet and rainfall tops 5 inches across Southern California CNN “A winter storm dumped massive amounts of precipitation across southern California this weekend, including more than 6.5 feet of snow to Mountain High and more than 5 inches of rain to Cucamonga Canyon.” To continue reading, click here.
Brazil to halt beef exports to China after mad cow disease case Reuters“Brazil’s beef exports to China will be halted starting Thursday, Feb. 23 after a case of mad cow disease was confirmed in the northern state of Para, the country’s agriculture and livestock ministry said on Wednesday.” To continue reading, click here.
A New episode of Sorting Pen: The California Cattleman Podcast is out now. While at the 2023 Cattle Industry Convention earlier this month Katie sat down with the Public Land Council and NCBA’s Natural Resources Associate Director Sigrid Johannes to discuss what the groups are working on in D.C. on behalf of California ranchers on both public and private lands. Hear about the two regulatory lawsuits NCBA recently filed in January against the Biden Administration and more in this episode. To listen to the episode click here.
