You are now in San Diego County category.

California’s water problem is severe. Despite 2016 seeing a distinct improvement in precipitation over previous years, to almost average levels in many areas, much of the state is in extreme drought. As well as ordering mandatory water reductions, the state has also been looking to other solutions.

“Shade balls,” the 4-inch wide black plastic balls pictured above blanketing Los Angeles Reservoir, have been touted as one of those solutions. But they’re not. The primary purpose of the release, which went viral last year, was to obey Federal rules on covering drinking water. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) had previously used the balls in smaller reservoirs, and in the case of the Los Angeles Reservoir, says the balls helped the department save more than $250 million over installing a more permanent cover.

Closed for eight years because of a dam-raising project, the San Vicente Reservoir is scheduled to reopen to the public Thursday.

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.

Ever wonder how much recycled water is being created in Orange County? As of September, 2016, the answer is, more than anywhere else. The Orange County Water and Sanitation department announced that they have been able to produce 200 billion gallons of recycled water. That statement, made by officials, is reportedly a “drop in the bucket” for the ground-breaking ability that made this venture the largest project of its kind. The Groundwater Replenishment System is a joint venture between the OC Water District and the OC Sanitation District.

Sunday’s front-page story about how in 1999 the California Public Employees’ Retirement System orchestrated the approval of a 50 percent retroactive pension increase for state employees amounts to an autopsy of a public-policy crime. It is literally incredible that CalPERS told the Legislature that such a huge gift of money would have little or no long-term cost to state taxpayers because the dot-com boom then driving the stock market sky-high would never end. It is also stunning that a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers and Gov. Gray Davis accepted this fairy tale in approving SB 400.