A new state-commissioned report finds that Mono Lake in California’s Eastern Sierra has only a 1 in 3 chance of reaching its target water level by mid-century if current water exports to Los Angeles continue.
The report suggests that halting water exports would significantly increase the likelihood of the lake reaching its target, but climate change could still lower lake levels by up to 6.5 feet by the end of the century.
Following pressure from powerful California growers, the Trump administration’s Interior Department announced Tuesday that it will put $40 million toward efforts to raise Shasta Dam — a controversial project that opponents say could swamp sacred sites and harm a protected river.
North of Redding, the 602-foot-high dam on the Sacramento River forms California’s largest reservoir, storing more than 40% of the water socked away for irrigating Central Valley farmland.
The Trump administration announced Tuesday it will spend $540 million on water infrastructure projects in California, much of it to repair aging and sinking canals in the Central Valley.
The largest share, $235 million, will be used to rehabilitate the Delta-Mendota Canal, which carries water to farmlands. An additional $200 million will help continue repairs on the Friant-Kern Canal, another major conduit for water in the valley.
First, a candidate with ties to a ten billion dollar data center project is also running for a board seat on Imperial County’s water and power agency. Then, we’ll tell you how and why trust in elections has decreased. Also, a look at e-bike injuries as the full San Diego City Council will soon make a decision on proposed e-bike regulations.
And, Nascar is coming to Naval Air Station North Island. Plus, the Coronado Unified School District might be tightening its cell phone policies.
In the middle of the desert sits a sign: “Caution docks may be slippery.” They are not.
In fact, there’s not a drop of water to be seen at Antelope Point Marina, which once sat near the shore of Lake Powell, the nation’s second-largest reservoir. The sparkling Colorado River now laps at the Glen Canyon walls about 180 feet below, completely invisible from a dock that once floated atop the water.
Unseasonably warm weather this week is raising concerns among firefighters in San Diego County, as dry conditions increase the risk of wildfires.
Cal Fire and San Diego County Fire officials say higher temperatures can quickly dry out vegetation, creating ideal fuel for fast-moving fires.
There are only a few months remaining before cities and towns learn how much water they will have to do without starting on Oct. 1. That’s when the current agreement between seven states and Mexico to share Colorado River expires.
Since the states have been unable to come to a new agreement, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation will dictate the terms of a new policy going forward. And it will likely be less water for everyone.
Burnet Wohlford’s family built Escondido’s water supply. More than a century ago, his great-grandfather, Alvin, directed water to the area from the San Luis Rey River along a rock and brush canal. It’s a legacy built into the landscape, the dammed reservoir northeast of town bearing the family’s name.
But all these years later, the water system Wohlford’s family helped build is the very thing making life harder for him.
Carlsbad is almost 400 miles away from Phoenix; however, a plant in the Southern California city that turns ocean water into drinking water could help Arizonans in the future. But it wouldn’t work in the way you’re probably thinking: the new proposal is suggesting a water exchange between the states without having to build expensive pipelines.
The San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA) recently signed a memorandum of understanding to explore whether a water transfer of this kind is legal and feasible. The SDCWA is proposing desalinated water stays in the San Diego area, then a similar amount from California’s Colorado River Water supply would be available in places like Arizona and Nevada. That is if the states are willing to pay for it.
The San Diego County Water Authority said it will continue efforts to sell water to other regions of the state thanks to robust local supplies. The authority released a draft of its Urban Water Management Plan on Thursday that forecasts ample supply through 2050, even if there are multiple dry years.
“Thanks to the water authority’s water supply investments, San Diego County is well positioned to meet future water demands with reliable supplies,” said Director of Water Resources Jeff Stephenson.
