You are now in Agency News News category.

Otay Water District Logo

Otay Water District Board Member Gary Croucher Elected as Vice Chair of San Diego County Water Authority Board

Spring Valley, CA – Today, Board member of the Otay Water District Gary Croucher, officially will begin to serve his two-year term as Vice Chair of the San Diego County Water Authority’s Board of Directors. At its Sept. 27 meeting, the Water Authority Board unanimously elected Croucher as incoming Vice Chair, along with Jim Madaffer from the City of San Diego as incoming Chair and Christy Guerin from Olivenhain Municipal Water District as incoming Secretary.

Olivenhain Municipal Water District Logo landscape design workshops

Prepare Your Home for the Upcoming Fire Season

Encinitas, CA—Olivenhain Municipal Water District invites local residents to attend a workshop that will cover the fundamentals of landscaping for fire protection. This free event will be held on Thursday, October 18, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve’s Interpretive Center Honoring Susan J. Varty.

California Ends Another Dry Water Year

California began a new water year Monday with some rain falling or in the immediate forecast after 12 months of below-average precipitation. The Department of Water Resources said the Oct.1-Sept. 30 water year that ended Sunday was marked by hot and dry conditions, except for sporadic significant precipitation. During the period, the statewide snowpack was just 58 percent of average by April 1, a dramatic reversal from the previous water year in which the pack reached 159 percent of average.

Tropical Storm Rosa Brings Flood Threat To 12 Million People In The Southwest

The remnants of Hurricane Rosa are forecast to bring heavy rain and the threat of flash flooding to the Southwest over the next few days. The now-tropical storm – which had been as strong as a Category 4 hurricane – is poised to make landfall along Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula on Monday evening, where heavy rain was already being reported.

OPINION: California Prop. 3 — Vote Yes To Pay For Watershed, Water Supply And Water Projects

Flint, Mich., isn’t the only place where tap water is poisonous. Shockingly, more than 1 million California residents are exposed to unsafe tap water each year in our homes, schools and public buildings. Latino and low-income communities are suffering the most. At the same time, longer droughts and shrinking Sierra snowpack endanger the water supplies of millions more Californians, and threaten extinction for salmon and other wildlife. More extreme storms have exposed vulnerable old dams and canals that need maintenance to protect us from floods and deliver water to homes and farms.

OPINION: California Prop. 3 Shifts Water Project Costs But Not Benefits To All Taxpayers

What’s being sold as commonality between Republicans and Democrats on environmental concerns based on support for Proposition 3 is a false premise. Prop. 3 is not what it appears to be. There are several bad ideas incorporated in this $8.9 billion bond statewide bond measure. A shift of the fiscal burden for water delivery systems from corporate agriculture and water agencies to the general public. How? The bonds would be repaid out of the state’s general fund, thus all taxpayers, not just the project beneficiaries, would foot the bills. Another good deal for large, well-connected water interests, and one more bad deal for the average taxpayer.

Rainfall Prediction Contest Winner Has Weather In His Genes

No investigations are planned, but David Schug, the winner of the Union-Tribune’s 15th annual Precipitation Prediction Contest, may have had an unfair advantage: His father was a weatherman. Schug predicted San Diego would get 3.5 inches of rain during the 2017-18 rainfall year, which ran from Oct. 1, 2017 to Sunday (Sept. 30). The city’s actual total, as measured at San Diego International Airport, site of the city’s official weather station, was 3.34 inches. It was the second driest year in city history.

Southern California, Parched And Wary, Hopes For Rain, Readies For Flash Floods

Southern California got ready Monday for the first storm of the new rain season, due midweek, while also preparing for possible debris flows as the threatening remnants of tropical storm Rosa rolled through the mountain and desert areas. For a time Monday afternoon, authorities issued a voluntary flood evacuation for San Jacinto Mountain communities in the area of the Cranston fire that burned near Idyllwild as Rosa’s clouds headed north from Baja. That voluntary evacuation notice was lifted early Monday evening.

Arizona Officials Look To Reach Colorado River Drought Deal

Progress is being made in talks toward a set of agreements for cities, farmers and tribes to share in Colorado River water cutbacks, according to Arizona water officials. The Arizona Republic reports that the state water officials also want to join in a larger proposed deal to prevent Lake Mead from dropping even further. Arizona water managers have been leading a series of biweekly meetings since July to work out details of the proposed drought-contingency plan. Two officials leading the talks said they’re optimistic about finalizing agreements within Arizona in November so the state Legislature can sign off in January.

1st Measurable Rain Since May To Follow Rosa Into California

While most of California will miss out on Rosa’s soaking rain, a storm on its heels will bring the first measurable rain since May to San Francisco, Los Angeles and other cities Tuesday into Wednesday. In California, the rain and flood risk associated with Rosa is expected to remain confined to the state’s southeastern corner early this week. Rough seas stirred up by Rosa will still continue to plague Southern California through Monday. Rip currents can endanger surfers or anyone who attempts to enter the water, and minor coastal flooding may occur at high tide.