You are now in San Diego County category.

Fountains Flowing Again After Drought Restrictions Eased

San Diego’s fountains are flowing again, after the state eased drought restrictions that were in place for more than a year. As of Aug. 1 in the city of San Diego, water restrictions dropped from Level 2 to Level 1, signaling a shift from mandatory to voluntary water restrictions in many cases. The only restriction on fountains is that they use recirculating water, a near-universal design that dates back to electrical pumps more than a century ago. Other water agencies have taken similar actions. Level 2 restrictions lasted from Nov. 1, 2014, to June 30, 2016, said Luis Generoso, the city’s water conservation program manager.

Sacramentans Still Conserving, But Water Use Grew In August

Sacramentans continued to conserve water last month, although their total consumption grew compared with a year earlier.The Sacramento Regional Water Authority said Thursday that water consumption fell by 18 percent in August compared with August 2013, the baseline used by state drought regulators. The conservation rate was below the 22 percent savings achieved in August 2014. That suggests Sacramentans have become somewhat less diligent about conserving water after the state rescinded its mandatory savings program. Nonetheless, water officials pronounced themselves pleased with the results.

Why California May Ban New Small Water Agencies

California’s goal of ensuring universal access to safe drinking water, as mandated in the 2012 Human Right to Water Bill, will come a step closer to being met if Gov. Jerry Brown signs a new measure into law that halts the creation of new small, unsustainable ­– and in many cases dangerous – water districts in the state.

The bill, SB1263, passed through the state assembly and senate in August. It aims to guarantee the safety and reliability of drinking water statewide by encouraging new developments to tie into existing water districts rather than create their own.

California WaterFix Protects Ecosystems and Improves Infrastructure

Not many simple statements can be made about the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, except these: It’s hard to overstate the importance of the region’s resources to California – or the complexity of sharing those resources.

Two out of three Californians depend upon water from the Delta, but nearly every discussion of Delta water centers on fish. That is because the Delta is the largest estuary on the West Coast, a vital migratory corridor and home to several endangered species. Protecting native fish directly affects how much water can be delivered to farms and cities.

Boaters Rejoice: San Vicente Reservoir Opens For First Time in 8 Years

Closed for eight years because of a dam-raising project, the San Vicente Reservoir is scheduled to reopen to the public Thursday morning. The city of San Diego-owned body of water in the East County will be available for boating and fishing. The marina will include a six-lane boat ramp, concessions stand to rent boats and supplies, parking lot for more than 300 vehicles and a picnic area. “This is an exciting day for anglers, water sport enthusiasts, boaters and San Diego families,” Mayor Kevin Faulconer said.

Encinitas Councilman to Lead San Diego County Water Authority Board

San Dieguito Water District representative Mark Muir was Thursday elected chairman of the San Diego County Water Authority Board of Directors. Muir, an Encinitas councilman, succeeds Mark Weston, who chaired the 36-seat SDCWA board for two years during the height of the drought. “While supply conditions have improved this year, our region still faces many important water-related issues and challenges,” Muir said.

Encinitas Councilman Elected Chair of San Diego Water Authority Board

The next two years of leadership on the San Diego County Water Authority’s Board of Directors were cemented Thursday with the election of the agency’s board officers, whose terms will begin Oct. 1. Encinitas City Councilman Mark Muir, who represents the San Dieguito Water District on the Water Authority’s Board and has served as the board’s vice chair for two years, was elected the new chair of the 36-member board, which represents 24 retail member water agencies. Jim Madaffer, board secretary for the past two years as a representative from the city of San Diego, will serve as vice chair.