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Opinion: Own Up to Bringing Water to Farmers and Help Put Food on American Families’ Tables

/in , /by /The Bakersfield Californianby Sen. Shannon Grove and Kristi Diener

California’s agriculture industry helps feed the world. California grows more than 400 food and fiber products including a third of the country’s vegetables and two-thirds of the nation’s fruits and nuts. In fact, 99.9 percent of our nation’s commodities, including peaches, artichokes, olives, pistachios, almonds, walnuts, and so many others, are grown right here in the Golden State. Further, we lead the nation in the supply of 75 total foods, such as broccoli, mandarins, carrots, corn, strawberries and more.

Food security for families depends on the ability of California farmers to continue producing. Growing food successfully depends on countless risk factors, such as weather changes, water allocations, labor availability and trade stability.

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Slow-Moving Storm Brings Much-Needed Rain to Southern California

/in , , /by /AccuWeather by Brandon Buckingham

In the wake of a storm that brought the first measurable rainfall to parts California in over a month, a second storm and much more efficient rain-producer will affect Southern California, southern Nevada and Arizona into Thursday.

“While the new storm will cause some trouble in in terms of isolated flash flooding, mudslides, severe thunderstorms and a major hassle for motorists, the storm will be very beneficial for drought and wildfire concerns,” according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.

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California’s ‘Salad Bowl’ Recharges Depleted Aquifer

/in , , /by /Governing by Carl Smith

A newly opened water treatment plant in Monterey, Calif., will replenish a vital regional groundwater resource with recycled water at a rate of millions of gallons per day. On an annual basis, the Pure Water Monterey treatment plant will inject at least 3,500 acre feet of water, equivalent to more than a billion gallons, into the Seaside Basin.

For two decades, Monterey One Water, formerly the Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency, has been recycling wastewater for irrigation in what’s called the “salad bowl of the world” where almost two-thirds of American leaf lettuce is grown. In addition to purifying wastewater, Pure Water is expanding to recycle agricultural drainage water, agricultural wash water and storm water runoff.

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State Water Contractors Pick Sides in Lawsuit over Trump’s Water Boost

/in , /by /The Sunby Alex Tavlian

The State Water Contractors, an association of water agencies drawing water from California’s State Water Project, is wading into the newest showdown in the Golden State’s Water Wars.

Tuesday, the association filed a motion to intervene as a defendant in a lawsuit filed by the Natural Resources Defense Council, Defenders of Wildlife, along with a handful of other environmental nonprofits.

The suit, launched in mid-December, is companion litigation to a suit launched by California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Xavier Becerra last month.

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Grossmont High School senior Avery McFedries won first place in the Color category. Photo: Helix Water District

Ten High School Photographers Honored by Helix Water District

/in , /by

Ten East County high school students were honored for their winning photos in the 2020 Helix Water District High School Photo Contest. The winning photographers were recognized at the February 26 board of directors meeting.

This year’s photo contest challenged high school photographers to highlight the importance and beauty of water in our everyday lives. Entrants were asked to show how water is used in homes and landscapes, in local businesses, for irrigating public spaces and parks, producing the goods we use and foods we eat, street cleaning, and firefighting.

Water flows through everything we do. Indoors, we use water for drinking, washing, cooking, and cleaning. Outdoors, we use water to fill our swimming pools, wash our cars and grow plants in our yards.

High school students living or attending school within Helix’s service area were eligible to enter, which includes La Mesa, Lemon Grove, El Cajon, Spring Valley, and areas of Lakeside. Sixty-nine students from three schools entered the annual competition.

First-place winners received a $150 cash prize; second place received $100; honorable mention received  $50.

The 2020 Helix Water District High School Photo Contest winners are:

Black & White Category

First Place – Rylee Koval, Santana High School, Grade 10

First Place – Rylee Koval, Santana High School, Grade 10

First Place – Rylee Koval, Santana High School, Grade 10

Second Place – Faith Farrell, Santana High School, Grade 12

Second Place – Faith Farrell, Santana High School, Grade 12

Second Place – Faith Farrell, Santana High School, Grade 12

Third Place – Bri Massaro, Grossmont High School, Grade 10

Third Place – Bri Massaro, Grossmont High School, Grade 10

Third Place – Bri Massaro, Grossmont High School, Grade 10

Honorable Mention – Faith Rowe, Santana High School, Grade 10

Honorable Mention – Faith Rowe, Santana High School, Grade 10

Honorable Mention – Faith Rowe, Santana High School, Grade 10

Honorable Mention – Mirna Dawood, Grossmont High School, Grade 10

Honorable Mention – Mirna Dawood, Grossmont High School, Grade 10

Honorable Mention – Mirna Dawood, Grossmont High School, Grade 10

Color Category

First Place – Avery McFedries, Grossmont High School, Grade 12

First Place – Avery McFedries, Grossmont High School, Grade 12

First Place – Avery McFedries, Grossmont High School, Grade 12

Second Place – Emily McCann, Grossmont High School, Grade 10

Second Place – Emily McCann, Grossmont High School, Grade 10

Second Place – Emily McCann, Grossmont High School, Grade 10

Third Place – Fernando Lara, Grossmont High School, Grade 12

Third Place – Fernando Lara, Grossmont High School, Grade 12

Third Place – Fernando Lara, Grossmont High School, Grade 12

Honorable Mention – Jaqueline Aguilar, Grossmont High School, Grade 12

Honorable Mention – Jaqueline Aguilar, Grossmont High School, Grade 12

Honorable Mention – Jaqueline Aguilar, Grossmont High School, Grade 12

Honorable Mention – Daneca Perez Opinion, Grossmont High School, Grade 11

Honorable Mention – Daneca Perez Opinion, Grossmont High School, Grade 11

Honorable Mention – Daneca Perez Opinion, Grossmont High School, Grade 11

The winning photos will be on display through May at the district’s administration office at 7811 University Avenue in La Mesa. The photos are also posted on the district’s Facebook page.

READ MORE: Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve 2019 Photo Contest Winners Inspired By Nature

 

Discover Climate-Appropriate Plants to Suit Your Landscape at a Free Workshop on March 24

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Encinitas, CA—Olivenhain Municipal Water District and San Dieguito Water District are offering a free workshop to assist residents in selecting climate-appropriate plants for their landscapes. The workshop will be held Tuesday, March 24, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Encinitas Community Center, located at 1140 Oakcrest Park Drive in Encinitas.

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Guest Column: Taking Steps to Resolve Water Lawsuits

/in , , /by /Pomerado Newsby Jim Madaffer Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

After securing more than $350 million for water supply projects in the San Diego region – along with other benefits – the San Diego County Water Authority’s Board of Directors on Feb. 27 voted to dismiss related claims against its Los Angeles-based supplier, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

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Southern California May See Its Biggest Soaking This Week Since Christmas; Some Flooding, Debris Flows Possible

/in , , /by /The Weather Channelby Linda Lam and Jonathan Erdman

This week, Southern California may have its most soaking rain since Christmas after parts of Northern California picked up their first rain since January. To say it has been dry recently in the Golden State is an understatement. The state just had its driest February in 126 years, according to NOAA. Drought has also returned. About one-third of California is in moderate drought, and nearly 70% of the Golden State is abnormally dry, according to the latest report from the U.S. Drought Monitor. Reservoirs remain in fairly good shape, but the snow-water equivalent (how much water is in the snowpack) in the Sierra Nevada is about half of what is expected at this time of year.

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Implementing Solutions for Tijuana River to Meet Clean Water Act Requirements

/in , , /by /KUSI Newsby Dan Plante

Twenty-five to 35 million gallons of raw sewage is pouring into the ocean every day and could keep flowing all summer long. Imperial Beach Mayor Serge Dedina tweeted Friday about the fluctuating flow rate of the Tijuana River, which could indicate that parts of Mexico are using the river as an open sewer. Dedina recently told KUSI “this could be the worst round of pollution we have ever seen coming at us. In 2017, we had 250 million gallons spilled, now we have 50 million gallons, a minimum of 50 million gallons every single day.”

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Grass or Artificial Turf? Oceanside Weighs Pros and Cons

/in , , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby Phil Diehl

Artificial turf is not the way to squeeze more time out of Oceanside’s playing fields, members of the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission said last week. Health concerns, maintenance costs, and the disposal of the worn-out plastic all need more study, said Commissioner Diane Strader. Several of the commissioners said the city should build more grass fields, not install fake turf on existing ones. The Oceanside City Council asked staffers on Dec. 4 to study the feasibility of using artificial turf at some parks as a way to get more play time on the existing fields. Parks and Recreation Division Manager Mark Olson presented a report to the commission last week and it’s tentatively set for a presentation at the council’s March 25 meeting.

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