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OPINION: Cap-And-Trade Fees Were Supposed To Have Dedicated Uses. Lawmakers Don’t Care.

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

In 2006, when California adopted Assembly Bill 32 — the state’s landmark climate change law forcing a long-term shift to cleaner forms of energy — the measure initially faced concerns that it would increase the energy bills of poor households. Lawmakers responded to this concern by including language in the bill that said emission fees paid by polluters in the state cap-and-trade market set up by the measure would be used not just for projects that helped the environment but to limit the measure’s effects — including higher gas prices — on the poor.

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Wave Water Park Proposed For Former Drive-In Site In Oceanside

/in , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby Phil Diehl

Zephyr Partners last week floated the idea of a wave water park as part of a development proposed for the former Oceanside drive-in property, more than 90 acres along the San Luis Rey River just east of the city’s airport. The perfect machine-made wave would attract surfers from hundreds of miles away and would capitalize on the city’s beach-town reputation, said Michael Grehl, a senior vice president for Zephyr.

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Can California Better Use Winter Storms To Refill Its Aquifers?

/in , , /by /PHYS.org (Los Angeles)by Felicity Barringer

The general long-term forecast for California as climate change intensifies: more frequent droughts, intermittently interrupted by years when big storms bring rain more quickly than the water infrastructure can handle. This bipolar weather will have profound implications for the state’s $50 billion agriculture industry and the elaborate network of reservoirs, canals, and aqueducts that store and distribute water. A system built for irrigation and flood protection must adapt to accommodate more conservation. “The effects of climate change are necessitating wholesale changes in how water is managed in California,” the state Department of Water Resources wrote in a June 2018 white paper.

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Los Olivos Board Presents Options For Sewage Treatment

/in , /by /Santa Ynez Valley Starby Raiza Giorgi

All options are still on the table in developing a wastewater treatment system in Los Olivos, but the community needs to pick one quickly — before the state takes over the decision, according to the Los Olivos Community Services District. In a special meeting May 30, the LOCSD board presented a range of wastewater treatment options after spending the last year meeting with the California Regional Water Quality Control Board and Santa Barbara County Environmental Health Services.

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Hurtado Secures $15M For Area Drinking Water Projects

/in , /by /The Porterville Recorder (Porterville, Calif.)

State Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger) announced Monday she has secured a $15 million one-time investment of General Funds for the southern Central Valley. The funds will address failing water systems that deliver safe clean drinking water to California’s most vulnerable communities. “Access to clean drinking water is one of the main reasons why I chose to run for office,” said Senator Melissa Hurtado. “One million-plus people don’t have access to safe, clean drinking water and this issue disproportionately affects my community, often keeping me up at night.”

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OPINION: California Legislature Must Act To Protect Environment From Trump’s Assaults

/in , , /by /CALmatters (Sacramento)by Terry Tamminen

California is facing an unprecedented and reckless assault by the federal government on our water quality, air quality, worker safety, fish and wildlife and public lands. Existing federal protections in those areas keep California a special place and keep Californians healthy. But those protections are threatened. Our state government is fighting back, but the past two years have revealed where state law must be strengthened. For decades, state regulators have relied on federal protections for endangered species to meet California’s independent state legal requirement to protect imperiled species like Northern California’s spring run Chinook salmon.

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Reclamation Gives Westside Farmers Another Nudge For Water

/in , /by /The San Joaquin Valley Sun

The Bureau of Reclamation once again revised its allocation for westside farmers in the San Joaquin Valley, announcing Friday it would provide 75 percent of its contracted amount of water. The announcement is an increase of five percent from late May. Since February, the Bureau’s water allocations for agricultural use in the Central Valley Project have more than doubled – first starting at 35 percent. However, sustained rainfall into the month of May perpetually forced revisions akin to Friday’s announcement.

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OPINION: It’s Time To Finally Adopt A Russian River Plan

/in , /by /The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, Calif.)

Here’s a safe prediction: Generations to come will be thankful for everything done today to protect the Russian River. Here’s another: Restoring and preserving the river’s health will become more challenging and expensive each time action is delayed. As reported in The Press Democrat by Staff Writer Mary Callahan, delay has been a central feature of the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board’s efforts to adopt a plan to protect and improve the Russian River’s water quality. The delay so far has been excusable — earlier drafts of the plan needed refinements, and California’s water quality regulations have changed — but now it’s time to move forward. The third iteration since 2015 of the regional water board’s staff report and draft action plan for the Russian River are now out for review and comment.

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Long Beach Joins International Dancers To Bring Attention To Water Issues

/in , , /by /Press-Telegram (Long Beach)by Stephanie Stutzman

Dancers are coordinating around the world Saturday to bring attention to water issues that impact global environments. The event is called Global Water Dances and features a collection of dancers from different backgrounds from around the world. The first organized dance happened in 2011 and involved dancers from 67 locations. On Saturday, dancers in more than 150 locations will be participating. Long Beach first performed in 2017, led by artistic director Vannia Ibarguen, at Rosie’s Dog Beach. This year, the performance is happening at Marine Stadium Park, and the public is welcome to spectate as well as participate in the show.

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Teresa Acosta Joins Race For Carlsbad City Council District 4

/in , /by /North Coast Current (Encinitas, Calif.) Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

Carlsbad business owner Teresa Acosta announced June 12 that she is running for a seat on the City Council next year, the second non-incumbent in the race for District 4. Acosta joins Phil Urbina, who launched his campaign April 28. The 2020 election will be the second for Carlsbad under a new district-based system of representation. “I am passionate about living in Carlsbad and am running to put my experience, skills, and energies to work on the council to maintain our top-notch quality of life,” Acosta said in her announcement. “I will focus on key infrastructure issues, safe neighborhoods, environmental stewardship, and supporting our local small businesses.”

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