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Senate Approves $37.5B Measure to Fund Energy, Water

The Senate on Thursday approved a $37.5 billion measure to fund energy and water programs next year, the first of the 12 spending bills lawmakers must approve to keep the government operating.

On a vote of 90-8, senators backed the legislation that would fund the Energy Department as well as infrastructure projects administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation. Spending on energy and water programs beginning Oct. 1 would increase by $355 million over current levels.

Supporters said the measure would strengthen U.S. nuclear deterrence, promote energy security and improve flood-control projects nationwide.

Supervisors’ Work Session Dives Into County Water Issues

The first of five evening study sessions hosted by the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors was well attended Thursday night, and Supervisor Kathy Miller considered the meeting a success.Thursday’s work session focused on a variety of water issues facing the county, including the status of the Bay Conservation Delta Plan and the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, as well as the status of litigation against the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California over its acquisition of Delta wetlands properties, among other topics.

California Irrigation-Drainage Disputes Targeted in New Bill

California’s tireless water warriors have something fresh to fight over, with the introduction of a bill to resolve an irrigation drainage dispute that affects three modest-sized San Joaquin Valley water districts, as well as the much bigger Westlands Water District.

The bill by Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, would relieve the federal government of its duty to provide irrigation drainage, and relieve the water districts of their debt. “We’re trying to solve some water problems here,” Costa said Thursday. His bill covers the San Luis, Panoche and Pacheco water districts, which are north of Westlands.

So the Drought Has You Watering Less? It Won’t Matter Much

Gov. Jerry Brown wants to forbid you from hosing down the driveway. And he is really cranky about lawn watering. But corporate agriculture is free to plant all the water-gulping nut orchards it desires, even in a semi-desert. This is the essence of the governor’s new long-term drought policy that he announced Monday.

Brown intends to make permanent some urban water conservation rules that had been temporary. He also plans to give communities more flexibility to decide how much water they should save, depending on local conditions. But it’s basically hands off agriculture.

San Diego Explained: SANDAG’s Big Tax Hike Proposal

The San Diego Association of Governments wants to put a tax increase on the November ballot. The measure proposes a half-cent sales tax increase on county residents to fund transportation and infrastructure around the county for the next 40 years.

The proposed tax hike already has a number of critics. It’s being opposed by environmentalists and community leaders who don’t like the way the money would be used. About 40 percent of the money would go toward public transit, according to the proposal, including things like a new trolley line from San Ysidro to Kearney Mesa and improvements on existing bus services.

BLOG: Plant Taps Pacific Ocean As Source Of Drinking Water

With its dedication in December 2015, the $1 billion Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant opened a spigot to the Pacific Ocean, creating a new, drought-proof source of drinking water for 3.1 million people in San Diego County, CA.

As the largest ocean desalination plant in the nation and Western Hemisphere, the Carlsbad Plant is considered the future of water desalination in the U.S. by its proponents.

Water District Spends $2.2M Telling You to Conserve: Two Days Ago Restrictions Ended

Two days after it ended restricted water deliveries to its member agencies thanks to improved statewide supply, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Thursday began a $2.2 million advertising effort to encourage residents to continue conserving.

“El Nino helped, but after drawing down our reserves the last four years to record low levels, we all must continue using water as wisely as possible to rebuild those reserves and be prepared for what lies ahead,” MWD General Manager Jeffrey Kightlinger said.