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Turf Rebate Recipients Will Have to Decide How to Report Funds on Federal Taxes

Southern Californians who received cash rebates for replacing their lawns with drought-tolerant landscaping will soon get a federal tax form in the mail reporting the amount, but water officials said Thursday it is still not clear whether the reimbursement will be taxable.

 

Officials from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California — which funded a $340-million incentive program — say they are sending 1099 forms to turf rebate recipients of $600 or more and leaving reporting up to participants and their tax advisers.

Possible Reason for Unusual Rain Pattern This El Nino

I have stated this before and I will say it again. This has not been your typical strong El Nino West Coast winter, at least through what looks like now much of January.

 

The Pacific Northwest has been consistently wet. Most of western Washington and Oregon are 30 to 60 percent above normal in precipitation since Oct. 1. Northern and north-central California are about normal while the Sierra snow is anywhere from normal to 25 percent above normal. Meanwhile, from San Luis Obispo on south precipitation totals are averaging 30 to 40 percent below normal. For Southern California, three of the five usually wettest months have already gone by.

How California Cities Can Capitalize on El Nino’s Rains

With January more than half over and the much-hyped dousing of southern California by El Nino-related storms nowhere to be seen, weather experts are urging patience.

 

The smattering of short-lived El Nino-driven storms that hit California in early January were actually ahead of schedule, experts told the Los Angeles Times this week. In previous El Nino years, the majority of the rainfall has occurred in February, March, and even April and May.

Cal Poly Researchers Find Ways to Help Pool Owners Conserve

 

If you want to enjoy your home swimming pool and still save water, Cal Poly researchers said it’s possible you just need to cover up.

Pool owners can help the state enough water for about half a million people to use each year.

 

Misgana Muleta, associate professor at Cal Poly’s Civil and Environmental Engineering department said, “The number we had was up to 55,000 acres of water can be saved. Which is good enough to provide a city of half a million in population with water for the entire year.”

OPINION: Sierra Is White with Snow, but More Drought Solutions Needed

Yes, it’s nice to see snow, and those Californians dreaming of a white Christmas saw that dream come true in the Sierra. But dreaming isn’t going to solve the state’s long-term water problems.

 

For that, we need shared strategy and cooperation.

The drought brought unprecedented change to the Sierra Nevada headwaters. Tree mortality rates are up to 50 percent in some mixed-conifer forest areas. A record number of acres have experienced high-intensity wildfires.

More Rain on the Way in Northern California

There’s a run on umbrellas, people are flocking to the slopes and the big wave surfers are celebrating the swells.

 

There’s been nearly a dozen days of rain in Northern California already this month and more is to come in the upcoming days and weeks. This is great for skiers, farmers and water users but the rain is hardly the end of the four-year dry spell. State water managers say California’s snowpack needs to be at 150 percent of normal on April 1 to signal an end to drought.

Mission Accomplished: Sacramentans Cut Water Use in Drought By 30 Percent In 2015

It seemed like a tall order: California drought regulators were demanding that urban residents slash water consumption by 25 percent, and even more in the Sacramento area.

 

Sacramento residents met the state’s mandate. The region reduced water use by 30 percent in calendar 2015, according to data released Thursday by the Sacramento Regional Water Authority.

Turf Rebate Recipients Will Have to Decide How to Report Funds on Federal Taxes

Southern Californians who received cash rebates for replacing their lawns with drought-tolerant landscaping will soon get a federal tax form in the mail reporting the amount, but water officials said Thursday it is still not clear whether the reimbursement will be taxable.

 

Officials from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California — which funded a $340-million incentive program — say they are sending 1099 forms to turf rebate recipients of $600 or more and leaving reporting up to participants and their tax advisers.

Feinstein Water Plan Would Fund Recycling, Desalination and Storage

California’s congressional delegation continued to wrangle over how to respond to the Golden State’s water crisis Thursday when Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) released what she called a “discussion draft” of proposed legislation.

 

Feinstein said in a statement that the bill addresses long-term and short-term water concerns.

“In my 23 years in the Senate, this has been the most difficult bill to put together. The maxim that whiskey’s for drinking and water’s for fighting is alive and well in California,” she said.

KPBS Drought Tracker Update: Dry in San Diego, Stormy Up North

 

San Diego has stayed pretty dry after an early burst of El Niño-driven storms drenched Southern California in early January. But recent storms in Northern California have kept rain and snow levels climbing steadily.

 

So far this wet season, statewide rain and snowfall have been just about average. The latest update from the KPBS Drought Tracker shows that average trend holding strong.