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Extreme Heat, Drought Will Permanently Scar California and Its Social Fabric

/in , , /by /Los Angeles Timesby Hayley Smith

Unprecedented dryness across the western United States is meeting with increasingly warm temperatures to create climate conditions so extreme that the landscape of California could permanently and profoundly change, a growing number of scientists say.

The Golden State’s great drying has already begun to reduce snowpack, worsen wildfires and dry out soils, and researchers say that trend will likely continue, along with the widespread loss of trees and other significant shifts.

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Water Deal to Keep Taps Flowing in Bakersfield Even as Lake Isabella Levels Continue to Drop

/in , , /by /SJV Waterby Lois Henry

Bakersfield City water managers learned from California’s last “epic” drought – don’t wait to make a deal.

In 2015,  city water managers scrambled to keep taps flowing for more than 20,000 Bakersfield residents as the Kern River ran so low the city had zero water entitlement coming down the river.

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LA Council Calls for Reports on Regional Drought, Conservation Measures

/in , , /by /Spectrum News 1

Calling the regional drought a major emergency in need of long-term regional solutions, the Los Angeles City Council Wednesday requested a series of reports on projected municipal water supplies and expansion of efforts to recycle water and support long-term conservation.

“We keep talking about drought and, honestly, we’re past talking about drought, because drought implies temporary cycles,” Councilman Paul Krekorian said. “Water shortages in Southern California are endemic, long- lasting, almost certainly permanent.

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More Beauty, Less Water Wins Sweetwater Authority’s 2022 Landscape Contest

/in , , /by /Water News Network

The Sweetwater Authority named Nancy Cavanah of Chula Vista its 2022 winner of the WaterSmart Landscape Contest. Cavanah was recognized at the Authority’s June Governing Board meeting.

The Cavanah’s landscape was selected from a diverse pool of applicants as the best example of how to create a beautiful landscape using less water.

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Lack of Water Access Costs U.S. $8.6B Each Year

/in , , /by /AP Newsby Leah Willingham

At least 2 million Americans don’t have running water or a working toilet at home, a crisis that costs the U.S. economy $8.58 billion each year, according to a report released Tuesday by nonprofit DigDeep.

These water access issues disproportionately impact Indigenous tribes, people of color, immigrants, low-income people and those living in rural areas — communities that have been largely excluded from past investments in water infrastructure, according to the report.

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Grass Is a Water Hog. Here’s How to Create a Drought-Tolerant Yard.

/in , , /by /The Washington Postby Laura Daily

With numerous municipalities and states considering or enacting strict limits on residential grass, you may have considered ditching your home’s turf. Xeriscaping — or designing a landscape that needs little irrigation to survive — is no longer a radical idea, even if you don’t live in an area where lawns are being restricted. Traditional lawn grasses are thirsty.

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Newly Opened Menifee Desalination Facility Will Provide Water for 15,000 Residents

/in , , /by /KVCR-FM by Jonathan Linden

Eastern Municipal Water District opened the “Perris II Desalter” facility last week, which has become the third such facility for the agency.

“This is truly a critical facility for us to be able to continue to serve our customers in a reliable and resilient fashion, especially given that we are facing historic drought conditions,” said EMWD general manager Joe Mouawad.

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The West Just Experienced an Aspect of the Climate Crisis That Scientists Have Warned of for Years

/in , , /by /The Mercury Newsby Rachel Ramirez and Brandon Miller

The West saw an aspect of the climate crisis play out this month that scientists have warned of for years.

In the middle of a prolonged, water shortage-inducing megadrought, one area, Yellowstone, was overwhelmed in mid-June by drenching rainfall and rapid snowmelt that — instead of replenishing the ground over a matter of weeks or months — created a torrent of flash flooding that ripped out roads and bridges and caused severe damage to one of the country’s most cherished national parks.

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Pipelines? Desalination? Turf Removal? Arizona Commits $1B to Augment, Conserve Water Supplies

/in , , /by /AZ Centralby Brandon Loomis

The Colorado River’s precipitous decline pushed Arizona lawmakers to deliver Gov. Doug Ducey’s $1 billion water augmentation fund — and then some — late Friday, their final night in session.

Before the votes, the growing urgency for addressing the state’s oncoming water shortage and the long timeline for approving and building new water projects nearly sank the legislation.

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Landscape Diversity Showcased By 2022 Olivenhain Municipal Water District Contest Winner

/in , , /by /Water News Network

Mike and Cathy Godfrey’s water-efficient landscape design is the winner of the Olivenhain Municipal Water District’s 2022 WaterSmart Landscape Contest.

“Maximizing water efficiency outdoors is especially important as drought conditions remain in effect across the state,” said OMWD Board Director Neal Meyers. “Showcasing the diversity and beauty of California-friendly landscaping can encourage others to swap their grass for climate-appropriate designs and bring awareness to the benefits of sustainable landscaping.”

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