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Proposed Decision Favors California in Delta Tunnel Project Dispute

/in , /by /CourtHouse News Service Sacramentoby Alan Riquelmy

A draft decision issued Monday on appeals to California’s Delta Conveyance Project appears to hand the state a major win in its battle to make the massive project a reality.

However, while discarding most of the appeals against the project, the recommendation to the Delta Stewardship Council calls for sending two issues about the project back to the state Department of Water Resources for reconsideration. It also wants yearly reports from the department about its outreach efforts to tribes and various agencies.

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San Diego Has So Much Excess Drinking Water That It’s Selling It to States in Desperate Need

/in , /by /The Cool Down San Diegoby Hope Nguyen Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

As the climate reshapes the rules of survival, flexibility may become the most valuable resource. In a striking example of adaptation, San Diego is turning ocean water into a potential lifeline for the drought-stricken West, according to the Wall Street Journal.

With the flow of the Colorado River steadily declining, Arizona and Nevada are negotiating a first-of-its-kind agreement with the San Diego County Water Authority to secure a more reliable drinking water supply from the region’s state-of-the-art desalination facility.

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Experts Say Scottsdale Could Lose Majority of Colorado River Water Supply in Near Future

/in , /by /ABC 15 Arizonaby Josh Kristianto

Scottsdale could lose as much as 80% of its Colorado River water supply in the coming years, according to an expert who spoke at a community water forum Monday night — a warning that left many residents concerned about the city’s long‑term water security.

Roughly 70% of Scottsdale’s municipal tap water comes from the Colorado River, a source that has been under increasing strain from drought, population growth, and shrinking reservoirs. That dependence, experts said, makes the city especially vulnerable.

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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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