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

/in , /by /San Francisco Chronicleby Jim Blickenstaff

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.

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Rainfall Prediction Contest Winner Has Weather In His Genes

/in , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby Robert Krier

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.

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

/in , /by /Pasadena Star-Newsby Richard K. De Atley

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.

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Arizona Officials Look To Reach Colorado River Drought Deal

/in , /by /Arizona’s Family (Phoenix)

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.

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1st Measurable Rain Since May To Follow Rosa Into California

/in , /by /AccuWeatherby Kristina Pydynowski

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.

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OPINION: Proposition 3 Will Pay For A Multitude Of Water Needs

/in , /by /The Sacramento Beeby Jerry Meral

California needs clean, safe and reliable water supplies. We also would greatly benefit from the improved flood management Proposition 3 would provide. The measure on the Nov. 6 ballot includes $400 million to implement the Central Valley Flood Control Plan and repair Oroville Dam. Climate change is worsening the threat of floods. Sacramento is the nation’s second most flood-prone city after New Orleans. We need all the help we can get to improve our levees, widen the floodplain to accommodate higher Sacramento River flows and improve and repair upstream flood control dams such as Oroville.

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