LEGISLATIVE BULLETIN

July 24, 2023

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SWRCB to Host Listening Sessions on SB 88 Water Measurement and Reporting Requirements
The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) announced last week that it will host an in-person listening session on August 10 regarding “water measurement and reporting regulation adopted pursuant to 2015 Senate Bill 88.” The hearing will be held from noon to 4:00pm in the Coastal Hearing Room of the CalEPA headquarters at 1001 I Street in Sacramento.

The in-person hearing is in addition to an August 3 virtual hearing previously reported in Legislative Bulletin. Those wishing to participate in the virtual option must register before noon next Monday, July 31.

According to the announcements, the listening sessions are intended to assist SWRCB staff in “evaluating ways to increase compliance and data quality” relating to the regulations given that “compliance with the requirements remains low, and the quality of diversion data submitted pursuant to the regulation is highly variable.” As a result of the listening session, SWRCB may develop guidance documents, templates or even consider revising its measurement and reporting regulations.

CCA staff is registered for the virtual hearing and intends to appear before the SWRCB at the in-person hearing on the 10^th.

Scott River Watershed Curtailment Suspensions Extended Through July 31; Virtual Webinars Announced
The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) on Tuesday announced that it has extended suspensions of curtailment orders within the Scott River watershed through next Monday, July 31, so long as minimum flows of 50 cubic feet per second (cfs) are sustained at the US Geological Survey’s Fort Jones gage. Should flows dip below 50 cfs, diversions appearing on List A of Addendum 51 must cease diversion immediately.

For the most recent information on other water curtailment orders, see the July 10 edition of Legislative Bulletin.

The SWRCB has also announced that it will hold two virtual webinars in the coming months “about water rights and fisheries in the Scott River and Shasta River watersheds…meant to continue to provide information and an opportunity for engagement on important topics as the drought emergency regulation for the watersheds expires.” A “Water Rights 101” webinar will be held August 3 at 4:00pm to “provide an introduction and overview of key water right concepts related to these watersheds” and a “Fish 101” webinar will be held September 14 at 4:00pm at which staff of the California Department of Fish & Wildlife “will present information on key species, basic habitat needs, and the status of fish populations in the watersheds.” Participation instructions are available here.

As noted above, the currently emergency curtailment regulation for the Scott and Shasta River watersheds is set to expire soon (next Tuesday, August 1, to be exact). The SWRCB recently received a petition asking it to set minimum flow regulations for the Scott River, and the Board is set to consider that petition at its Board meeting on August 15.

CDFA Announces Vacancy on Livestock Identification Advisory Board
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has announced that there is an opening for one Beef Cattle Producer member on the agency’s Livestock Identification Advisory Board. Beef cattle producers interested in filling the vacancy are encouraged to “send a brief resume by August 31, 2023, to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, Bureau of Livestock Identification, Attention: John Suther, 1220 N Street, Sacramento, California 95814.” For additional information, see last week’s edition of Legislative Bulletin.

CCA Seeking Applications for a Membership and Events Coordinator
CCA is hiring a Membership and Events Coordinator to be responsible for managing the organization’s membership programs and coordinating events. This role involves promoting membership benefits, recruiting new members, organizing events and activities, and providing excellent customer service to members. See the full job description and details on applying at https://calcattlemen.org/careers.

Tune into RTAP’s Climate Issues Update for Ranchers Webinar
Tune in to the Climate Issues Update for Ranchers Webinar on Tuesday, Aug. 15 at 5:00pm. The Rancher Technical Assistance Program’s (RTAP) Jack Rice and Noah Lopez will cover carbon market updates, local climate action plan updates and CCA’s Vice President of Government Affairs Kirk Wilbur will provide a legislative climate update. To register for the webinar, click here. 

New Episode of Sorting Pen: The California Cattleman Podcast 
A new episode of Sorting Pen: The California Cattleman Podcast is out now! Tune in as experts from the California Dept. of Food and Agriculture talk about the laws of mobile custom livestock slaughtering in California. To listen to the episode click here.

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Industry News

What to Expect From Wildfire Season in California This Year The New York Times “Compared with recent years, the 2023 fire season in California is off to a slow start. Roughly 22,000 acres have burned in the state so far this year, compared with an average of 120,000 acres by this point in each of the previous five years, according to CalFire, the state’s fire agency. An extraordinarily wet winter and an unusually cool spring and early summer are to thank. But that picture is starting to shift.” To continue reading, click here.

BLM Seeking Applicants for Advisory Council SeatsBureau of Land Management “The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public nominations for positions that are or will soon become vacant on its California Desert District Advisory Council (DAC), Central California Resource Advisory Council (RAC), and the Northern California Resource Advisory Council. A notice was published in the Federal Register today, July 19.” To continue reading, click here.