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Delta Tunnels: Fitch Ratings Downgrades Westlands’ Next Bond Sale

It looks like the politically powerful Westlands Water District, one of the main backers of Governor Jerry Brown’s Delta Tunnels and Congressional legislation to eviscerate protections for Sacramento River Chinook salmon and Delta smelt, is in more financial trouble. Fitch Ratings downgraded the scheduled October 26 bond sale by Westlands from ‘AA-‘ to ‘A+’. Among the issues facing Westlands Water District, Fitch cites shrinking irrigated acreage, previous financial obligations, and the potential for increased “leveraging” to pay for the Delta Tunnels,” according to Restore the Delta (RTD).

OPINION: The Long, Broad View On Drought

As a resident of Mira Monte and dependent for my water supply on Lake Casitas, I have been waiting anxiously to see a candid analysis of the drought crisis. I regret to say that The Star’s front-page article does not come close to answering the questions I have and that I know many of my neighbors share. Due in no small measure to The Star’s own previous reporting, we do now have a reasonably good grasp of the history, and this article rehearsed that history once again.

 

Storms May Be Forerunners Of Real Rainy Season

Thunderstorms that raked a wide area of Southern California this week have raised the thought of an actual rainy season. And, officials are raising the chance of flash flooding this winter. Five years of drought conditions have exacerbated wildfires across the state. Rain is beginning to fall on fire burn scars, making these areas prone to sudden erosion along roads and through neighborhoods.
The State Department of Water Resources is urging awareness of weather conditions and forecasts, the risks and the possibility to evacuate quickly if ordered by local officials.

Storm More Than Doubles Totals For Rainfall Year

Butte County got a best soaking of the rainfall year from the storm that rolled through Monday and Tuesday, with another shot due to arrive Thursday. Wednesday might be the only nice day of the week, according to the National Weather Service, which is forecasting Thursday’s storm could linger until next week. The past storm brought more to the area than it had total so far this rainfall year, which began Oct. 1, roughly doubling the rainfall totals. Monday and Tuesday brought 2.24 inches of rain to Chico, 0.95 inch to Oroville, and about 5.4 inches to Paradise.

Reservoirs Provide Tap Water Yet Significantly Contribute To Climate Change

Hydropower dams are generally thought to be a clean source of electricity. By moving water through turbines, dams can generate large amounts of electricity almost continuously and without causing air pollution. It’s partly for these reasons that more than 3,700 hydroelectric dams are currently proposed or under construction worldwide. But a growing body of science reveals a dark side. It turns out the reservoirs formed by dams are a significant source of greenhouse gases – particularly methane, about 34 times more potent than carbon dioxide. In the last 10 years, dozens of studies have shed light on this problem.

 

OPINION: How To Revive A Dying Delta

Scientific reports published over the past several years have been unambiguous. The delta, the largest estuary on the West Coast, is on the brink of collapse. Starved of freshwater inflow due to dams and water diversions, the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta’s health has faced a precipitous decline over the past few decades. The recently released Bay Delta Water Quality Control Plan offers our last best hope to revive the estuary that defines our region.

San Diego City Council Considers $3B Plan To Recycle Wastewater Into Drinking Water

The San Diego City Council is scheduled Tuesday to consider certifying an environmental impact report for the city’s nearly $3 billion plan to recycle wastewater into drinking water, and approve the plan itself. The EIR received unanimous backing from the council’s Environment Committee two weeks ago.
 Supporters of the so-called “Pure Water San Diego” program say it will provide residents and businesses with a stable, local supply of potable water that won’t be affected by drought or the uncertainties of future water imports. The product will be purified and mixed with water from traditional sources before it’s delivered to customers.

 

BLOG: Study: Reservoirs A ‘Significant’ Contributor To Climate Change

Hydropower dams are generally thought to be a clean source of electricity. By moving water through turbines, dams can generate large amounts of electricity almost continuously and without causing air pollution. It’s partly for these reasons that more than 3,700 hydroelectric dams are currently proposed or under construction worldwide. But a growing body of science reveals a dark side. It turns out the reservoirs formed by dams are a significant source of greenhouse gases – particularly methane, about 34 times more potent than carbon dioxide. In the last 10 years, dozens of studies have shed light on this problem.

 

Municipal Water District of OC Opposes Prop. 53

Directors of the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) unanimously voted to oppose Prop. 53, which would significantly limit local control of major projects and would hinder recovery and repair projects after natural disasters or other emergencies. “Proposition 53 is not just bad public policy, it’s dangerous,” MWDOC President Wayne Osborne said after the October 19 vote. “Water agencies need the ability to quickly and efficiency to repair or rebuild systems after an earthquake or other crisis.”

 

San Diego City Council Approves Recycled Water Plan

The San Diego City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to certify an environmental impact report for the city’s nearly $3 billion plan to recycle wastewater into drinking water, and approved the plan itself. Supporters of the so-called “Pure Water San Diego” program say it will provide residents and businesses with a stable, local supply of potable water that won’t be affected by drought or the uncertainties of future water imports. The product will be purified and mixed with water from traditional sources before it’s delivered to customers.