California reservoir water levels are in “incredible shape,” with all of the state’s major reservoirs at or above 100 percent of historical average for this time of year, according to data from the state’s Department of Water Resources (DWR).
One of North America’s longest rivers, the Rio Grande — or Rio Bravo as it’s called in Mexico — has a history as deep as it is long. Indigenous people have tapped it for countless generations and it was a key artery for Spanish conquistadors centuries ago.
Today, the Rio Grande-Bravo water basin is in crisis.
The latest storm hitting the region is helping bring San Diego County’s reservoirs back toward healthier levels.
“The average is very high for November. Last year, we had less than a quarter of an inch and this year we’re getting almost above three inches in San Diego County,” said Efren Lopez, Senior Water Resources Specialist with San Diego County Water Authority.
A feared hike in water costs for local farmers won’t be as bad as first expected following a reversal from the San Diego County Water Authority.
Water officials have bailed on earlier plans to sharply reduce a special water-rate discount enjoyed by many San Diego-area farmers — a discount the agricultural sector sees as a key policy keeping their struggling industry afloat.
Publicly owned systems deliver more than 80 percent of the water that is a survival necessity for homes and industry. Their general reliability masks long-term neglect.
Much of the country’s water infrastructure was built in the 1970s and ’80s. Years of deferred maintenance for many systems have created serious problems — the American Civil Society of Engineers this year gave the country’s water infrastructure grades ranging from a C- to a D. At the same time, states have become increasingly responsible for funding water systems. In 1981, the federal government provided more than $25 billion in capital investment for water infrastructure, almost half of the total for the year. By 2021, this had decreased to $4 billion, 7 percent of total funding.
Arizona will provide taxpayer money to help private companies develop plans for at least two and possibly three desalination plants in California or Mexico under proposals approved by a state agency’s board on Wednesday.
The Water Infrastructure Finance Authority board also approved initial development of several other projects from the two applicants that proposed new Arizona water supplies and made it past a lengthy review process. Those proposals would rely on treating wastewater, capturing storm water and storing it underground or making agricultural irrigation more efficient, with the projects located in California, Colorado, Utah or Mexico.
Forecasts for San Diego County on Thursday called for yet another storm, albeit weaker, to hit the area, bringing more wet weather.
“The next low-pressure system from the northwest will bring more widespread showers late Thursday afternoon into Friday,” said the National Weather Service.
The Maui County Department of Water Supply is taking the first steps toward developing its first publicly owned desalination facility in West Maui. The project would extend the arid region’s water resources beyond current ground and surface water limitations that currently force the department to cope with a Stage 2 water shortage.
With a desalination plant, the department would have additional water resources to meet growing demand including direly needed housing developments, such as the 500-home Pulelehua project, which is currently stalled without available water.
California’s water year is off to a great start, thanks in large part to the past week’s stormy stretch for the state. The water year began on Oct. 1 and continues until Sept. 30 next year.
Since the start of the water year, Sacramento has seen nearly 5 inches of rain at Executive Airport. That is more than three times the normal amount of rain for this point in the season.
Feelings were running high—and interest was evident—as hundreds of people turned out for our fall conference last week in Sacramento. The lunchtime program featured a panel of five experts representing water interests from across the state.
The day opened with a short video celebrating the PPIC Water Policy Center’s first 10 years, followed by a welcome by center director Letitia Grenier, who thanked the audience for braving the rain to attend. “An atmospheric river decided to come to our water conference this year, which is very on-brand,” she said with a smile.
