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Regional Photo Contest Highlights The Value of Water Across the San Diego Region

San Diego, Calif. – Sharing images that highlight the importance of safe and reliable water supplies in San Diego County will win valuable prizes for dozens of participants during a social media contest that spans Water Awareness Month in May.

Talks Continue on Bond Funding For Water Storage

Allocation of storage funding from the Proposition 1 water bond moves another step closer next week, when the California Water Commission meets to discuss revised staff recommendations for investing in the public benefits of storage projects.

Delta Tunnels: Bill To Phase Out Delta Stewardship Council Fails In Committee

The Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee Tuesday failed to approve AB 1826, Assemblymember Jim Frazier’s bill to end the Delta Stewardship Council in 2020 and transfer its duties to the Delta Protection Coalition.

California’s Next Megaflood Would Be Worse Than Eight Hurricane Katrinas

Worse than the 1906 earthquake. Worse than eight Hurricane Katrinas. Worse than every wildfire in California history, combined. The world’s first trillion-dollar natural disaster. A wintertime megaflood in California could turn out to be the worst natural disaster in U.S. history by far, and we are making it much more likely, according to an alarming study published this week in Nature Climate Change.

Opinion: To Feed The Nation, Farmers Need Water

Founded in 2009, the California Water Alliance is the leading educational voice and authority on California water. The Alliance is a 501c4 nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that advocates for the water needs of California families, cities, businesses, farms, and the environment. The California Water Alliance is working to assist the farming community in multiple ways. Being transparent is at the forefront. William Bourdeau is executive VP of Harris Farms and a board member of the Alliance. The alliance is telling the truth and being transparent, and that is very important, he said.

Local Districts Oppose ‘Water Taxes’

The Calaveras County Water District and 149 other similar agencies have joined the Association of California Water Agencies’ (ACWA) coalition against a state budget trailer bill that would impose a tax on water district customers in order to ensure safe drinking water. The Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Act Budget Trailer Bill (BTB) is an effort by Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration and other proponents to advance the proposals made in Senate Bill 623 (Monning), which was suspended in August.

DWR Increases Water Supply Allocation To State Water Contractors

The California Department of Water Resources on Tuesday announced a statewide increase in State Water Project allocations for 2018. SWP contractors can now expect to receive 30 percent of their requests, up from the initial 15 percent allocation in December and the 20 percent announced in January.

County Urged To Declare Border Sewage Spills A State of Emergency

A group of concerned San Diegans urged the county Wednesday to declare a state of emergency in the South Bay because of constant sewage seepage into county waters. The resident group called “Citizens Against Sewage” and San Diego State University (SDSU) students rallied outside the county’s administration center in San Diego to call attention to a flow of sewage-polluted water from Mexico that consistently flows into the Tijuana River on the United States side of the border.

State Water Tax Bill Opposed by San Diego County Taxpayers Association

The first ever proposed tax on water usage is making its way through the California State Assembly. SB623, the “Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund” bill, would charge every household in the state an additional 95 cents a month, which would pay to operate treatment plants in rural areas where water is polluted. Under existing law, the California Drinking Water Act requires that the State Water Resources Control Board provide resources ensuring drinking water safety, and the tax would supply money for the fund to finance water improvement projects throughout the state.

California Voters Will Consider Two Water Bonds This Election Cycle

Two different water bonds are set to appear on the California ballot this election season, after a $9 billion measure gathered enough signatures to qualify in November, according to the Secretary of State’s Office on Wednesday. Primarily backed by farmers, water districts and conservation groups, the ballot initiative would split funding between each of their priorities, distributing $3 billion to water quality improvement projects, $3 billion to watersheds and fisheries, and about $1 billion to protect habitats. The rest of the funding, about $2 billion, would be divvied up between water delivery and storage projects.