California’s perpetual, uber-complex conflict over water progresses much like the tectonic plates that grind against one another beneath its surface.
Periodically, as subterranean friction increases, there’s a sudden movement that we call an earthquake — sometimes imperceptibly small, but occasionally large enough to disrupt and endanger life at the surface.
The power company NRG will need a few extra months to demolish the old Encina Power Station on Carlsbad Boulevard, but the work will start on schedule and there’s no chance of preserving the plant’s signature seaside smokestack, officials said.
The Carlsbad City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved an extension of up to nine months to complete the demolition. Under an agreement NRG signed with the city in 2014, work was required to begin this December and be finished in two years.
Literature promoting the SaddleBrooke Ranch development west of Oracle touts feature after feature — high Sonoran Desert terrain with beautiful mountain views, “multimillion-dollar country club amenities,” an 18-hole championship golf course and more.
The development, now roughly 1,000 homes strong with 5,600 total planned, also has delivered something not promoted — a falling water table.
Sancon Technologies Inc. was awarded the Fallbrook Public Utility District contract for the rehabilitation and relining of FPUD manholes.
A 5-0 FPUD board vote, Oct. 28, approved a contract with the Huntington Beach company, which bid $78,787. Sancon will rehabilitate 22 manholes and one wet well.
FPUD’s capital improvement program includes improving the reliability of the district’s sewer collections system through strategic rehabilitation of existing infrastructure.
Encinitas, Calif. — Olivenhain Municipal Water District connected Village Park Townhomes 2 Homeowners Association to its recycled water system this week. Using recycled water to meet irrigation needs will lower the HOA’s water bills and save an estimated seven million gallons of potable water each year.
“We are happy to see another HOA make the decision to invest in recycled water for irrigation,” said OMWD Board President Ed Sprague. “Converting to locally produced recycled water is a sustainable choice for customers like HOAs, municipalities, golf courses, and schools.”
In November, the Otay Water District launched two holiday-themed Instagram contests — Thankful for Water and Drink Tap December.
“Water is something that we all have in common and often take for granted that we have safe and reliable tap water,” said Otay Water District General Manager Mark Watton. “Through these contests, we encourage the public to show us and the rest of the community why they may be thankful for water as well as why high-quality tap water is important daily.”
It’s been a tough few years for Northern California, disaster-wise. The north state has been hammered in quick succession by catastrophic drought, intense flooding and rampaging wildfires. While it’s reassuring to know such extreme events are historically uncommon, they’re also not simply a result of bad luck.
Scientists have only recently begun to understand that they share a common natural link.
Little rain has fallen in California since the start of the water year on Oct. 1, putting signs of drought back on the map.
The federal Drought Monitor Map, a mechanism to measure drought that’s mainly used in agriculture, shows 81% of the state as abnormally dry. A small portion (4%) of the map near the Arizona border is designated as “moderate drought.”
California got an A-grade for its efforts to protect the state’s beaches in the latest coastal survey from the California-based Surfrider group.
The survey looked at how states with coastlines managed sediment, coastal development, coastal armoring, and sea-level rise.
The state’s proactive coastal policies earned a high rating.
