You are now in California and the U.S. category.

California Water Regulators Extend Emergency Drought Regulations

California water regulators on Wednesday extended emergency drought regulations, despite calls to eliminate them after heavy rain and snow this winter. The action by the State Water Resources Control Board in Sacramento extends the drought rules which were set to expire at the end of this month, until the agency can reassess the state’s water situation in May when California’s rainy season typically draws to a close. Rain has refilled state reservoirs, and major snow storms have boosted water supply. Drought conditions have eased across most of the state, and Northern California has emerged from the drought.

 

Drought’s Not Over Yet—State Water Board Urges More Conservation

California may be getting near-record rain and snow, but the state Water Resources Control Board isn’t ready to call an end to the drought. The board on Wednesday extended its existing water conservation regulations, which prohibit wasteful practices such as watering lawns right after rain, until the next meeting in May. “We are beyond happy that water conditions continue to improve this year, but the rainy season isn’t over yet and some areas of the state continue to suffer significant drought impacts,” said Chair Felicia Marcus.

California Retains Drought Measures

Water regulators in California on Wednesday extended what are now largely symbolic conservation measures lingering from the drought after the state has seen one of the wettest winters in years. Regulators decided to retain the measures at least until spring as a precaution against the possible return of dry weather. “I don’t think there’s just one way to go,” Felicia Marcus, chair off the State Water Resources Control Board, said after several local water districts urged members to lift the regulations. “The better decision is to extend it and see later where we are.”

 

OPINION: Brown’s Big Legacy Projects Could Be Trump’s Targets

Gov. Jerry Brown devoted most of last month’s State of the State address to excoriating Donald Trump, who had been president for just four days. “We have seen the bald assertion of alternative facts,” Brown complained. “We have heard the blatant attacks on science. Familiar signposts of our democracy – truth, civility, working together – have been obscured or swept aside.” However, buried in Brown’s anti-Trump screed were two paragraphs of semi-cordiality:

 

OPINION: Outrageous Water Charge For Our Agricultural Ranch

Yesterday our ranch got this water bill from Yuima.   The charge last month for the MET/SDCWA FIXED FEE was $297.41.  This month it is $3400.82 and Yuima tells me that we will pay that every month.  They also said it is a complete pass through to those two entities. Our ranch is struggling and we have lost a considerable amount of money the last two year.  Our well levels have decreased and our usage of Yuima water has greatly increased.  This month and last month were small but we have paid as much as $59K for one month.

Otay Water District’s Ambitious Plan to Bring in Desalinated Water From Mexico

Even as California residents debate whether we are free from the drought, local water agencies are looking for ways to increase their water supply. The Otay Water District is working on a project that would involve desalinated water from a new plant being built in Rosarito, Mexico. The district wants to build a 3.5 mile pipeline from the U.S-Mexico border to its 36.7 million gallon reservoir in Otay Mesa. The pipeline would transport some of that desalinated water to customers in Spring Valley, La Presa, Rancho San Diego, Jamul and eastern Chula Vista.