The Tuolumne County Resource Conservation District releases the Notice of Award for System Modeling of Climate Change Impacts in the Tuolumne-Stanislaus Watershed project. The TCRCD has awarded this project to River Focus, Inc in collaboration with UC Merced and the Sierra Nevada Research Institute to develop a comprehensive system model that simulates and assesses the impacts of climate change on the Tuolumne-Stanislaus Watershed to be included as a part of the document. The goal is to inform future water management, conservation planning, and policy decisions based on robust scientific modeling and data analysis.
Special District Awards Earned By Tuolumne Utilities District
Tuolumne Utilities District accepted two of the highest honors available to California special districts at its monthly board meeting today. Read more here: Mymotherlode article
TUD Expands Wildfire Defense With New Fire Water Draft Points
Tuolumne Utilities District is expanding Tuolumne County’s wildfire defense network with the addition of four new fire water draft points, giving firefighters faster access to raw water for suppression in remote areas while preserving potable supplies for residents. Read more here: Mymotherlode article
RFP released for System Modeling of Climate Change Impacts in the Tuolumne-Stanislaus Watershed
The Tuolumne County Resource Conservation District (TCRCD), on behalf of TStan-IRWM, was awarded a WaterSMART grant from the Bureau of Reclamation Cooperative Watershed Management Program to update the T–Stan Regional Water Management Plan. The TCRCD is seeking proposals from qualified consultants, academic institutions, or firms to develop a comprehensive system model that simulates and assesses the impacts of climate change on the Tuolumne-Stanislaus Watershed to be included as a part of the document. The goal is to inform future water management, conservation planning, and policy decisions based on robust scientific modeling and data analysis. The full RFP is available here. Proposals are due November 5, 2025 to renata@tcrcd.org.
Addendum with questions and answers is available here: TSTAN Modeling RFP-Addendum. Second Addendum Released here: TSTAN Modeling RFP-Addendum (1)
CDFW Updates Beaver Restoration Pilot Projects
Director Bonham said, “We are finding in some of our scientific work that when beavers are on the landscape in the Sierra, the way they can create wet meadows serves as a firebreak that can slow down or even stop catastrophic wildfire.”
Read more here: Mymotherlode article
Major Groveland Infrastructure Project Launched To Enhance Local Water System
The total construction costs are estimated at $1,073,500.00 and paid entirely by the Urban Multibenefit Drought Relief Grant from the State of California Department of Water Resources. Read more here: Mymotherlode article
California thins its forests, then burns the wood. Is there a better idea?
In California’s never-ending effort to thin its forests to prevent devastating wildfires, crews are removing millions of tons of small trees and brush every year. And then most of it goes up in smoke. Read more at: Modesto Bee Article
Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians, TUD tout new water tank project
In April 2022, the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians announced that the tribe had been awarded about $3.6 million in funding to install a water tank and improve and replace water infrastructure on the Tuolumne Rancheria. The awards drew from two phases of the state DWR Urban and Multibenefit Drought Relief Grant program.
The tribe’s grant applications were completed through the Tuolumne-Stanislaus Integrated Regional Water Management Authority. Read more at: Union Democrat Article
Twain Harte Stormwater Project Completed
The Twain Harte grant funded the replacement of outdated storm drains, installed stormwater capture technology, and created bioswales, or landscapes, that filter out pollutants to slow and capture runoff. “This project is like a dream come true,” said Twain Harte Community Services District General Manager Tom Trott. Read more here: Mymotherlode article
DWR Awards $29 Million to Underrepresented Communities and Tribes for Drought Relief
The Tuolumne-Stanislaus Integrated Regional Water Management Authority will receive $525,000 to address drinking water reliability for underrepresented communities in the Tuolumne-Stanislaus region and specifically address the human right to water for unhoused residents. California law states that every person has the right to clean, safe, and affordable drinking water. Read more here: https://water.ca.gov/News/News-Releases/2022/June-22/DWR-Awards-%2429-Million-to-Underrepresented-Communities-and-Tribes-for-Drought-Relief?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians Awarded $3.6 Million in State Funding to Improve Water Infrastructure on Tribal Lands
TUOLUMNE, CA: The Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians announces that the Tribe has been awarded approximately $3.6 million in funding to install a water tank as well as improve and replace water infrastructure on the Tuolumne Rancheria. The awards draw from two phases of the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) Urban and Multi-benefit Drought Relief Grant program. The grant applications were completed by the Tribe through the Tuolumne-Stanislaus Integrated Regional Water Management Authority (T-Stan IRWMA). Read more at: Tuolumne_PressRelease_WaterInfrastructureUpgrade_220412
Major Grant Touted to Transform Twain Harte
Twain Harte, CA – A new grant will help Twain Harte turn stormwater into a resource, say community leaders.
The $3.75 million in funding was awarded to the Twain Harte Community Services District through the State Water Resources Control Board’s Stormwater Grant Program. It will be used to construct the Twain Harte Community Stormwater Enhancement Project.
The district called it an “amazing win” for the community in a press release. Also, noting that it “will enhance water quality in our creek and lake, rehabilitate our failing storm drain system, improve water supply reliability, reduce erosion, create fire-safe landscapes and provide fun, interactive education that will empower residents to do the same on their properties.”
The project incorporates simple, innovative stormwater improvements throughout the community, and turns “stormwater into a resource,” advised district officials. They added that coupled with outdoor education labs in Twain Harte Meadows Park makes the “community a model and learning center for other communities.”
The district provided this list of project improvements through four main subprojects shown in the graphic and outlined here:
County Storm Drain Rehabilitation
- Rehabilitation of deteriorated storm drain from the shopping center to the park, eliminating the risk of dangerous sinkholes, improving water quality, and reducing sedimentation in the creek.
- New sidewalk and gutters along the east side of Joaquin Gully through downtown to provide better stormwater flows and pedestrian access.
Twain Harte School Stormwater Capture
- A large tank to capture and clean stormwater from the storm drain, providing water for their field, reducing the need for treated water supply, and reducing creek flows in storms.
- Several smaller tanks to capture rainwater off building roofs to be used for landscaping, reducing the need for treated water supply.
Twain Harte CSD Office Stormwater Enhancements
- Removal of paved parking area and installation of a larger permeable parking area to support parking for the fire facility, reducing existing flooding issues.
- Bioswales to slow stormwater and filter/clean it before it flows downtown and into the creek.
- Rain tanks to capture rainwater off building roofs to water landscaping and keep area hydrated and more fire safe.
Twain Harte Meadows Park
- Constructs more than half of the Twain Harte Meadows Park – everything except large outdoor pavilion, bathrooms and parking lot.
- Recreation and educational demonstration site for a variety of stormwater re-use techniques, including hands-on outdoor learning labs in Meadows Park.
The project is a collaborative effort between Twain Harte CSD, Tuolumne County, Twain Harte School, Tuolumne Stanislaus Integrated Regional Water Management Authority, and Tuolumne County Resources Conservation District. The grant agreement is expected to be finalized in the fall and then get underway.
New Tools Indicate How Thinning and Fire Affect Forest Water Use and Boost Runoff
Forest-management actions such as mechanical thinning and prescribed burns do not just reduce the risk of severe wildfire and promote forest health — these practices can also contribute to significant increases in downstream water availability.
New research from UC Merced’s Sierra Nevada Research Institute (SNRI) provides the tools to help estimate and verify those changes. Read more at: UC Merced Study Concludes Forest Management Produces Downstream Water Benefits 20-7
Federal Funding Opportunities
WestFAST News highlights multiple federal funding opportunities at: https://secureservercdn.net/198.71.233.51/y6u.adc.myftpupload.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/MAY-2020-WestFAST-Newsletter.pdf
SNC Funding Newsletter June-July
Please see the link to review multiple funding opportunities. https://sierranevada.ca.gov/funding/funding-opportunities-newsletter/