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Water Board Moves to Dismiss Record Fine Against Irrigation District

/in /by /Los Angeles Times by Bettina Boxall

State water regulators are proposing to dismiss a record $1.5-million fine they intended to levy against a Northern California irrigation district accused of ignoring drought-related cuts in water diversions.

The State Water Resources Control Board slapped the fine on the Byron Bethany Irrigation District last summer for continuing to divert supplies after the board ordered senior rights holders to stop river and stream withdrawals.

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You Can Thank the Drought for Improved Water Quality at Southern California Beaches

/in /by /Los Angeles Times by Jason Song

Water quality at Southern California beaches has shown marked improvement for the second year in a row in what experts say is a continuing byproduct of the severe drought that has cut polluted runoff into the Pacific Ocean.

About 97% of Southern California beaches received an A or B grade for water quality during the busy summer months, according to the annual Beach Report Card released by Heal the Bay, an environmental group.

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SWRCB and MWD Relax Water Use Restrictions

/in /by /Valley Roadrunner (Valley Center) Quoted: Gary Arant

Over the last few weeks, things have happened in Sacramento and Los Angeles to dramatically reduce the water use restrictions that have impacted Valley Center and all of California for well over the last year.

While the El Niño was somewhat of a bust, it still provided enough rain and snowpack to California’s key watershed to move the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) in Sacramento and the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) Board in Los Angeles to loosen the reins outside landscape irrigation and water use by commercial agriculture.

 

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Program Offers ‘Ray of Hope’ For Lagging Avocado Industry

/in /by /Village News (Fallbrook) by Tim O'Leary

A program aimed at softening the blow of costly irrigation system upgrades may bring relief for local avocado growers who are struggling to survive unrelenting surges in their water bills.

“It’s been very, very challenging to address these water issues,” Tom Bellamore, president of California Avocado Commission, told a group of growers at a May 17 workshop held in Fallbrook. “This may provide some ray of hope.” The gathering attracted about 100 growers, grove managers, association officials and other participants to the forum that focused on a cost-sharing program launched by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

 

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