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California’s Roads, Dams And Other Infrastructure Get ‘C-‘ From America’s Civil Engineers

/in , /by /Times of San Diegoby Chris Jennewein

California’s infrastructure, from highways to levees to water systems, received an overall grade of “C-” from the American Society of Civil Engineers in its annual evaluation. The Golden State’s airports, wastewater systems and ports received the highest grade at “C+,” while energy came in at a near-failing “D-” in the report released last week. “Recent investments have been made across all 17 categories that comprise the state’s infrastructure network,” the ASCE noted. “However California is playing catch-up after years of under-investment and must identify investment needs for resilient infrastructure in preparation for future natural and man-made disasters.”

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Water Authority Sponsors Photo Contest To Highlight San Diego’s Agricultural Bounty

/in , /by /Times of San Diegoby Chris Jennewein Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

If you’re an amateur photographer with an eye for nature’s agricultural bounty, the San Diego County Water Authority has a contest for you. The water authority is marking Water Awareness Month with a contest on Instagram and Twitter that runs through the end of May. Take a photo of locally grown fruits, vegetables, flowers or nursery plants and tag it with #B2UbyH2O when you post on social media. Winners will be drawn randomly each week. The contest is intended to highlight the significance of agriculture to the regional economy.

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Plunging Into San Diego River Days — Even At Creek Behind El Cajon Mall

/in , /by /Times of San Diegoby Ken Stone

San Diego River Days isn’t all about the namesake waterway. It’s also about a creek behind an El Cajon mall. On Saturday, the annual civic celebration kicked off with events including ones at Parkway Plaza — which gave a tributary some TLC. “We’re targeting a project in Forester Creek because in particular it’s very polluted and we see a lot of trash,” said Marina Varano, outreach and engagement coordinator for the San Diego River Park Foundation. When it rains, the waste flows enters the San Diego River, she said, “so we want to engage the community in environmental stewardship.”

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Colorado To Make Tough Decisions When It Comes To Water Usage In Drought Contingency Plan

/in , /by /Summit Daily (Frisco, Colo.)by Deepan Dutta

The water battle is over, but the war has just begun. At the 26th annual Summit County State of the River conference at the Silverthorne Pavilion this past Tuesday, the mood was light because of robust snowpack in the mountains and the recent approval of a drought contingency plan to lower water usage during critical shortages among states in the Lower Colorado River Basin — Nevada, Arizona and California. However, when it comes to water, consistency is preferred over short-term victories, and the West is still in the midst of a long-term water shortage in Lake Powell and Lake Mead, primary reservoirs that serve 40 million people.

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5 Takeaways From Newsom’s Revised Budget Plan

/in , /by /CALmatters (Sacramento)by Judy Lin

Buoyed by California’s strong economy, Gov. Gavin Newsom sent state lawmakers a revised budget on Thursday that boosts his already-hefty January proposal to $213.6 billion. Ka-ching! Public schools will reap most of the gains if the Democratic-controlled Legislature rolls with him. Newsom also upped his ante on the housing crisis with a proposed $1 billion more to combat homelessness. Still, Californians can expect some fiscal debate: Some Democrats want to go further on Medi-Cal spending, and others are leery of Newsom’s tax ideas, such as the sales tax break he wants to give on tampons. And Newsom acknowledged the lessons of past budget exuberance, sounding for all the world like a certain frugal predecessor. Here are five key takeaways:

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Millions For Climate, Environmental Priorities In Newsom’s May Budget

/in , /by /KQED (San Francisco)by Kevin Stark

California Gov. Gavin Newsom threw some more money into the environmental pot Thursday as part of the state’s May budget revision. The new funding includes about $250 million for climate-related programs, thanks to the state’s cap-and-trade program, and $75 million to fund an assessment of wildfire protection plans. The update of his January budget proposal, required by the state constitution, reflects tax revenue collected through April 15. The record $213.5 billion spending plan includes about $4 billion in additional revenue above his January budget. The Legislature now has until June 15 to pass a budget for the 2019-20 fiscal year, which begins July 1.

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OPINION: How Better Wastewater Management Can Help California Adapt To Climate Change

/in , /by /CALmatters (Sacramento)by Caitrin Chappelle and Henry McCann

Our public health relies on wastewater management to treat sewage and remove pollutants coming from our homes and businesses. This system is fundamental to protecting our health. In California, treated wastewater also is a critical source of water for the environment, and, increasingly, a source for recycled water. Climate change is worsening water scarcity and flood risks. Advancements in engineering and technology can help prepare wastewater agencies for a changing climate. But significant shifts in policy and planning are needed to address these challenges. Wastewater agencies must reliably remove pollutants even as the quantity and quality of the water they treat declines during droughts, and when large storms push their equipment to the breaking point.

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Capitol-To-Capitol: Finding Better Water Management For California

/in , /by /Fox 40 (Sacramento) by Joe Khalil

When it rains in California, it pours. But when it doesn’t, California’s drought years can have a devastating impact on the state. California’s water experts are looking for ways to better store water during rainy years like 2019 so the state can have it during years when the rain and snow inevitably dry up. “The reality is our system was built for a significant snowpack. It was modeled on a snowpack that probably is not as reliable and won’t be in the future,” Public Policy vice-chairman Ed Manning said. Manning is one of the leaders on water police for this year’s Capitol-to-Capitol program, pushing lawmakers for more funding and better solutions for water storage.

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Paradise Asked For Aid To Deal With Toxic Water System. Gov. Newsom’s Budget Falls Short

/in , /by /The Sacramento Beeby Tony Bizjak

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed budget leaves several Camp Fire-beleaguered agencies hanging, including a water district that has requested a $22 million state bailout while it deals with mass contamination of the Paradise drinking water. Newsom, in his announced budget Thursday, said he would provide $10 million in one-time funds to support Butte County “communities in their recovery from the unprecedented devastation of the Camp Fire.” That amount, though, is considerably less than the $30 million-plus requested by a handful of local governments who say they are struggling to maintain basic services in the wake of the November fire that destroyed most of Paradise, Concow and Magalia, and sent thousands of refugees to temporarily live in Chico, Oroville and other nearby towns.

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With Drought Plan In Place, Colorado River Stakeholders Face Even Tougher Talks Ahead On The River’s Future

/in , /by /Water Education Foundation (Sacramento)by Gary Pitzer

Even as stakeholders in the Colorado River Basin celebrate the recent completion of an unprecedented drought plan intended to stave off a crashing Lake Mead, there is little time to rest. An even larger hurdle lies ahead as they prepare to hammer out the next set of rules that could vastly reshape the river’s future. Set to expire in 2026, the current guidelines for water deliveries and shortage sharing, launched in 2007 amid a multiyear drought, were designed to prevent disputes that could provoke conflict.

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