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Paradox of Plenty: Why California Can Be Wet and Still Short on Water

/in , /by /The Business Journal Fresnoby Jeff Macon

For much of California’s agricultural history, a wet winter brought relief. Reservoirs filled, rivers ran high, and growers assumed surface water deliveries would follow. Today, that assumption no longer holds. Even in years marked by heavy storms and strong reservoir storage, California water allocation anxiety persists.

The disconnect reflects a fundamental shift in water management. California’s system is now governed as much by regulation, environmental constraints, groundwater limits and operational rules as by precipitation totals. In short, flood years no longer guarantee reliable water.

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Does Your HOA Have ‘Nonfunctional Turf’?

/in , /by /San Diego Union-Tribuneby Kelly G. Richardson

In 2029, a new law will ban watering of “nonfunctional turf” with potable water. What is nonfunctional turf, and must your HOA prepare to remove it?

In 2023, the Legislature passed Assembly Bill 1572 and created Water Code Section 10608.14, applicable to properties including common interest developments. This new statute requires various property owners, including HOAs, to either remove nonfunctional turf or begin irrigating it with reclaimed water. HOAs must comply before 2029. Since most HOAs do not have reclaimed water readily available to them without great expense, many HOAs are erroneously assuming they must remove grass areas not regularly used by residents.

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Inflation Drives Up Costs for Major Sacramento Area Public Works Projects

/in , /by /CBS News Sacramentoby James Taylor

From building bridges to water and power plants, several public works projects in the Sacramento region are being impacted by rising costs. UC Davis economics professor Derek Stimel says large-scale projects face much higher risks from inflation.

“You have the war with Iran and all the uncertainty and all the impacts on oil prices and transportation costs because so much of this material that is needed for these big projects is imported,” Stimel said.

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Western States Need Water. San Diego Has Extra. Will They Make a Deal?

/in , /by /The New York Timesby Scott Dance Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

As most Western communities expect to grapple with water shortages this summer and fall, one is looking to share its unlikely surplus.

San Diego County in California spent nearly $1 billion on a desalination plant after a 1990s drought left it with scarce supply. Now, with the seawater-to-tap water plant running at just one-third of capacity, its water utility is shopping around deals to sell its water across the West.

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Record US Drought Sparks Worries About Fires, Water Supply and Food Prices

/in , /by /Fox 5 San Diegoby Seth Borenstein

Drought in the contiguous United States has reached record levels for this time of year, weather data shows. Meteorologists said it’s a bad sign for the upcoming wildfire season, food prices and western water issues.

More than 61% of the Lower 48 states is in moderate to exceptional drought — including 97% of the Southeast and two-thirds of the West — according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. It’s the highest levels for this time of year since the drought monitor began in 2000.

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EMWD To Obtain SDCWA Conserved Water

/in , /by /My Valley News Riversideby Joe Naiman Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

A water transfer agreement for the sale of San Diego County Water Authority supply to the Eastern Municipal Water District was approved by both the EMWD and the SDCWA boards.The EMWD board approved the agreement on a 5-0 vote April 1. The CWA board unanimously approved the transfer April 9. Eastern will purchase a minimum of 10,000 acre-feet of water annually from the CWA.

“This is a historic agreement for our region. It enhances water supply reliability for Eastern, for our growing community. It’s an incredibly effective way to manage water resources for Southern California,” said EMWD general manager Joe Mouawad.“This agreement’s fabulous. It just shows we’re here to do what’s in the best interests of our ratepayers,” said EWMD board president Stephen Corona.

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Why Is San Diego Looking To Sell Its Water?

/in , /by /KOGO News San Diegoby Jack Cronin Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

The County Water Authority already has long term sales agreements with the Eastern and Western Municipal Water Districts in Riverside County.

The Wall Street Journal reports both the Southern Nevada Water Authority and the Arizona Department of Water Resources are signing exploratory agreements.

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The Ocean off California Keeps Breaking Heat Records

/in , /by /Los Angeles Timesby Hayley Smith

An extreme marine heat wave is simmering the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, and experts are warning that it could affect coastal weather and ecosystems for months.

The ocean heat wave started forming at the end of last year but has worsened in recent weeks, according to readings from the Scripps Pier in La Jolla, which has broken more than 25 daily temperature records this year. The surface water temperature on Wednesday was 68.5 degrees — 7.7 degrees above average for the date. The sea bottom was 67.6 degrees, the hottest April 15 in about 100 years of records.

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San Diego County Water Authority Resets With Supply Deals

/in , /by /The Bond Buyerby Keeley Webster Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

The San Diego County Water Authority has finalized two long-term water supply agreements with neighboring water districts, securing a potential revenue stream of $660 million and, it says, establishing a new model for regional water cooperation in Southern California.

The SDCWA, a wholesale water provider with no direct retail customers, sells water to 22 member agencies, including cities, special districts and the 125,000-acre Camp Pendleton Marine Corps base, primarily located in northern San Diego County.

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Bay Area City Becomes First To Ban Data Centers Over Power and Water Concerns

/in , /by /San Francisco Chronicle by Aidin Vaziri

Oakley has become the first Bay Area city to temporarily ban new data centers, signaling a more cautious approach as other parts of Silicon Valley continue to line up projects to meet rising demand for artificial intelligence.

The Oakley City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to impose a 45-day moratorium on data center projects, barring the city from accepting or processing related land-use applications. Under state law, the ban can be extended in phases to last up to two years.

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