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$9 Billion California Water Bond Trailing In Early Returns

Californians were leaning against borrowing $9 billion for water projects Tuesday in a state where water scarcity often pits city dwellers, farmers, anglers and environmentalists against one another. About 53 percent of voters opposed Proposition 3 with about 3.6 million votes counted. The bond measure devoted money to storage and dam repairs, watershed and fisheries improvements, and habitat protection and restoration. Much of the $8.9 billion was earmarked for conservancies and state parks to restore and protect watersheds, and to nonprofits and local agencies for river parkways.

Brown, Newsom Send State Water Board Letter Requesting To Delay Wednesday’s Vote

Those who depend on the Stanislaus, Tuolumne and Merced rivers for agriculture and drinking water may have received a reprieve Tuesday night. The State Water Resources Control Board was set to adopt a proposal to double the amount of water allowed to flow unimpeded down the rivers and out to the Sacramento-San Joaquin delta on Wednesday. Instead, the board received a written request from Gov. Jerry Brown’s office and Governor-elect Gavin Newsom to postpone the vote until Dec. 12.

Trial Date Set For Oroville Dam Lawsuits Against DWR

A trial date has been set to hear several lawsuits against the state Department of Water Resources over the Oroville Dam crisis. The court scheduled the trial for June 1, 2020 during the second case management conference Friday in the Sacramento County Superior Court. Nearly all cases against DWR over the spillway crisis are being considered together through what is called a coordinated proceeding. A few new parties have been added to the proceeding since the last conference, including PG&E, Butte County and Mary’s Gone Crackers with Richard Wilbur Ranch, Inc.

OPINION: Natural Resources Chief: California Is Fully Committed To The Salton Sea’s Future

The Salton Sea has been an anomaly since its very formation. Created when the entire Colorado River flowed unchecked into the Salton Sink for two years beginning in 1905, the modern-day Salton Sea is a changed ecosystem that supports introduced fish and a major stop on the Pacific Migratory Flyway. Flows into the sea have declined over time, leaving higher concentrations of various contaminants. Coupled with evaporation, the result is a shrinking, increasingly saline lake. Previously submerged lake bed — known as playa  —  is being exposed, creating dust that can be hazardous as it dries and becomes airborne.

Predicting San Diego Rainfall Cause To Rejoice

Correlation is not the same as causation. But it can be fun to play with correlation, especially when causation starts to grow cloudy. As the deadline nears for entry in the Union-Tribune’s 17th annual Precipitation Prediction Contest, here’s some correlation to chew on, if you haven’t already entered: Since 1850, San Diego has recorded at least 0.5 of an inch of rain in October 44 times, including this year (0.57). That’s a little more than one fourth of the years. Of those 44 years with a wet October, the entire season ended up wet 26 times, or about 59 percent of the time.

SFID To Vote On Water Rate Increases Dec. 20

The Rancho Santa Fe Association is pushing back against the Santa Fe Irrigation District’s proposed water rate increases. The water district is proposing three percent water rate increases over the next three years and is scheduled to vote at a Dec. 20 hearing. If approved, the new rate would be implemented on Jan. 1. “The Rancho Santa Fe Association is protesting the rates,” said RSF Association Manager Christy Whalen at the Nov. 1 Association board meeting. “We are one of the largest users in the district and we are looking for a more equitable rate structure.”

New Director Representing City Of San Fernando Joins MWD Board

San Fernando’s public works director and city engineer was sworn in Tuesday as the city’s representative on the board of directors of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Yazdan “Yaz” Emrani succeeds San Fernando Mayor Sylvia Ballin, who had served on the 38-member board since September 2007. Emrani has 30 years of experience in civil and environmental engineering, including planning, design and construction management of infrastructure improvement projects in both the public and private sectors.

As More People Move To The Inland Empire, How Is There Going To Be Enough Water?

With all of the new housing going up and considering we’re in a drought area, how is local government going to provide enough water? Water scarcity is an issue people in Southern California think about a lot. California experienced one of the worst droughts in state history from 2011 to 2017. Governor Jerry Brown declared a drought State of Emergency in 2014, calling for statewide water conservation. By 2022, California residents will need to limit their indoor water use to 55 gallons of water per person a day. And by 2030, that number will drop to 50 gallons.