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Reclamation Awards $3.5M in Applied Science Grants to Help Water Managers in the Western US

/in , , /by /WaterWorld

The Bureau of Reclamation selected 19 projects to receive $3.5 million in WaterSMART Applied Science Grants to develop tools and information that will inform and support water management decisions. These projects will be matched by more than $4.5 million, non-federal cost-match, supporting a total project cost of $8 million.

Water managers need the most updated information to ensure they are making the best water management decisions,” said Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman. “Applied Science Grants fund tool development and studies that help make western water more reliable.”

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California is Dry With no Rain in Sight. Should We Start Worrying About Drought and Wildfire?

/in , , /by /The Sacramento Bee by Dale Kasler

California’s alarmingly dry winter continues, with no meaningful snow or rain in sight. Although it’s far too soon to predict a drought, experts said wildfire risks could worsen this summer as a result of the shortage of precipitation.

And while the rainy season still has more than two months left, a persistent high-pressure ridge over the Pacific is keeping wet weather at bay, just as it did during the five-year drought, said Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at UCLA. Swain said it’s possible parts of Northern California “could go completely dry in the month of February.”

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San Marcos Student Jordan Chan Wins Statewide Video Contest

/in , , /by /Water News Network

Mission Hills High School student Jordan Chan of San Marcos won third-place in the statewide 2020 California Special Districts Association video scholarship competition. The “Districts Make The Difference” contest is designed to promote public awareness and understanding of the special districts providing communities with essential services like water, sanitation, healthcare, fire protection, and parks.

Chan received his $500 scholarship prize at the February Vallecitos Water District board meeting. He received recognition from state legislators and CSDA representatives. Chan was honored with a proclamation from San Marcos Mayor Rebecca Jones, and certificates of recognition from the offices of State Senator Brian Jones and State Assemblywoman Marie Waldron.

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Otay Water District Names New General Manager

/in , , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribune by Karen Pearlman

The Otay Water District Board of Directors last week unanimously appointed Assistant Chief of Water Operations Jose Martinez as the organization’s next general manager.

Martinez, 40, will succeed Mark Watton, who represented the water interests of Otay, the county and the state for more than 30 years.

The board said it will negotiate contract terms and vote on Martinez’s salary at its March 11 board meeting. His appointment is effective March 1.

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Water is Colorado’s Most Critical Resource. So Why isn’t it Central to Every Local Land-Use Decision?

/in , , /by /The Colorado Sun (Denver, Colo.)by Moe Clark

In the early 1980s, the small city of Woodland Park started strategically planning how to protect its water supply for the future.

“Because we have all junior water rights and a limited water supply, we knew we must be very careful about how we grow,” said Sally Riley, planning director for Woodland Park, which is home to approximately 7,500 people in the mountains west of Colorado Springs. “We’ve pretty much mapped out exactly how our 6.5 square miles are going to grow.”

To ensure that they don’t develop beyond the limits of their water supply, Riley says the city has closely integrated its land-use decisions with local water conservation and efficiency goals that align with the Colorado Water Plan.

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How Native Tribes are Taking the Lead on Planning for Climate Change

/in , , /by /Yale Environment 360by Nicola Jones

On a hot summer’s day, marine ecologist Courtney Greiner walks the shore of a rocky Washington beach at low tide with a handful of staff and interns. They stake out the ground and hunch down, digging up the top two inches of mud, silt, and gravel looking for baby clams.

For thousands of years, the indigenous peoples of the West Coast would build rock walls at the low tide line, allowing sand to pile up behind them, making the slope of the beach gentler, and expanding the area of the intertidal zone that clams like to call home.

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Opinion: FPUD and Rainbow Make Brave Move to Save Ratepayers Money

/in , , /by /Village News (Fallbrook, Calif.)by Ann Wade Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

Over the holidays, I received a letter from the San Diego County Water Authority designed to make customers of Fallbrook Public Utility District and Rainbow Municipal Water District worry. The tone of the letter alluded that if the two districts de-annex from the Water Authority, the reliability of our water supply would be at risk and our water prices could go up.

Since I have been to several community meetings where this change was discussed, I knew this insinuation was not true. FPUD and Rainbow have researched this option specifically to keep water rates down for our districts.

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The Artful California Native Garden By CNPS

/in , , /by /San Diego Reader

The California Native Plant Society-San Diego Chapter presents its eighth annual Garden Tour, The Artful California Native Garden: Native Gardens and Art Tour of East County. Spend the day exploring and learning from these gardens that illustrate plants that create habitat, dry stream-bed bioswales, adjacent natural areas, water catchment devices, slope gardens, charming water features, bridges, sculptures and more. Enjoy meeting artists in many of the gardens who will be creating and selling their California native garden themed artwork and crafts Be inspired this Spring!

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Opinion: A Safe and Healthy Water Supply and Our Commitment to You

/in , , /by /Valley Roadrunner (Pauma Valley, Calif.)by Gary Arant Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

Every time you turn on the tap to draw water to drink, cook or bathe, you expect that the water will be safe and healthy to use, and that’s what you should expect. That’s not true in every part of the World, or even in some parts of California, but it is true here in the Valley Center Municipal Water District service area.

We are confident in saying that our highest priority here at VCMWD is managing, monitoring and testing the water supply to ensure it meets all stringent federal and state drinking water standards.

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Harris & Associates Given Rainbow MWD Design Contract for Pipeline Upgrades

/in , , /by /Village News by Joe Naiman

Harris & Associates has been awarded the Rainbow Municipal Water District contract for the design portion of the district’s next pipeline upgrade project.

A 4-0 Rainbow board vote Jan. 28, with Helene Brazier absent, authorized Rainbow general manager Tom Kennedy to execute a contract with Harris & Associates and appropriated the $399,540 Harris & Associates will be paid.

“This is the second phase of our ongoing effort to take care of our highest-priority pipelines,” Kennedy said.

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