Fires, Favors and Wolves
In the wake of the recent Kincade fire in Northern California, Sonoma Water’s Assistant General Manager Michael Thompson shared his agency’s experience with us at the Winter Conference. Read more about the recent disaster experience in the article “10 Minutes with Michael Thompson” from BC Water News.

 

A Changing Water Landscape
It’s no secret that the landscape of water is ever-changing, so how do we keep up? Check out this article from The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) on their continued engagement with water issues like climate change, freshwater ecosystems, and sustainable groundwater management.

 

CalOES/FEMA Grant Portal Training
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Grants Portal training is coming up through California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES), and special districts are strongly encouraged to participate. It’s a great opportunity for districts to get trained on how to set up an account and pre-load all their essential information and documents so that financial assistance is expedited in the event of a catastrophic incident.

Please see below for the California Office of Emergency Services/ FEMA training schedule and registration information on Grants Portal webinars.

Register for one – all four sessions will cover similar topics and materials:

Meeting Name:   Cal OES-Applicant-Grants Portal-Webinar

Summary:             Introduction to Grants Portal

Dates/Times:

  • 02/06/2020 8:00 am – 10:30 am
  • 02/06/2020 1:30 pm – 4:00 pm
  • 02/07/2020 8:00 am – 10:30 pm
  • 02/07/2020 1:30 pm – 4:00 pm

Join the meeting. For Audio, dial the conference number and enter the pin when prompted:  Conference number 800-320-4330, Participant Code 715338.

CalOES is encouraging local agencies to participate in a webinar to jump start the Grants Portal account set up process. It is their hope that local agencies with critical infrastructure, such as Special Districts, will create an account and pre-load essential documentation prior to the onset of any need for assistance so the award of funding and recovery process can be jumpstarted should disaster strike and future need arise.

 

SCAP Biennial Biosolids Survey
Check out the SCAP Biennial Biosolids Survey conducted by the Southern California Alliance of POTWs (SCAP). It contains interesting and up-to-date information on biosolids production, management, cost, staffing, planning, co-digestion, and challenges facing Southern California agencies. Many thanks to SCAP Executive Director Steve Jepsen for sharing this survey and to his agency volunteers for their work in collecting and compiling the data. Please contact Greg Kester if you have any questions or comments.