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Fall, Early Winter 2018 Temperature Outlook: Chilly In October, Then Turning Milder In November And December

/in , /by /The Weather Channelby Brian Donegan

After a warm September for millions of Americans, October is expected to feel much more fall-like across the north-central and northeastern United States, but the chilly weather may be replaced by milder temperatures for the start of winter. Near- or below-average temperatures are expected in October from the northern Plains into the Midwest and Northeast, according to the latest outlook from The Weather Company, an IBM Business. The greatest chance for colder-than-average temperatures will be in the upper Midwest, western Great Lakes and parts of northern New York and northern Vermont.

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Monsoon Storms, Key To Recharging Groundwater, May Become Less Common

/in , /by /News Deeplyby Matt Weiser

MONSOON STORMS IN the desert Southwest are vital for recharging groundwater – but it now appears likely this recharge effect may be compromised by climate change. The major cities of the Southwest – Phoenix, Tucson, Albuquerque, Las Vegas – currently get most of their freshwater from the Colorado River or its tributaries. That river, however, is experiencing its 19th straight drought year, suggesting a new permanent dry state is gripping the giant watershed

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Hurricanes Are Getting Worse. California Should Take Note

/in , /by /Public Policy Institute of California (San Francisco)by Jeffrey Mount

As Hurricane Florence ground its way through the Carolinas this past weekend, climate watchers couldn’t help but notice that the size and behavior of the storm have been eerily reminiscent of Hurricane Harvey, which devastated Houston last year. What made these two hurricanes so destructive was their slow pace and the fact that they were supercharged with moisture from bathtub-warm oceans. It’s a deadly combination that leads to epic, record-setting amounts of rainfall and unprecedented flooding, amplifying damage from the high winds and storm surge typically associated with hurricanes.

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OPINION: WaterFix Opponents Say Project Will Harm California’s Poorest

/in , /by /Courthouse News Service (Pasadena)by Nick Cahill

STOCKTON, Calif. (CN) –With California trudging ahead with a contentious $16.7 billion water project, a cache of environmental and social concerns remain around its plan to replumb the source of drinking water for an estimated 25 million residents. Backed by the state’s largest urban and agricultural water suppliers, outgoing Gov. Jerry Brown wants to build two massive 30-mile-long tunnels and funnel water from California’s largest river directly to farms and cities to the south.

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Agreement Will Pipe Treated Tijuana Water To Baja’s Wine Country

/in , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby Michele Parente

Officials in Baja California’s drought-parched Valle de Guadalupe wine country are toasting a new agreement that will pipe in treated wastewater from Tijuana to irrigate the vineyards. A pact was signed in the Valle de Guadalupe on Sept. 13 between Baja’s governor, Francisco Vega de Lamadrid, and Fabián Yañez, who oversees operations in Latin America for ODIS Asversa, a private Israeli company that specializes in treating wastewater and recycling it for irrigation.

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One Of The Hottest Summers On Record Comes To An End This Week In San Diego

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

The final week of summer in San Diego will start out a little hotter than average, then cool off a bit, says the National Weather Service. But high temperatures and gusty winds will raise the risk of wildfires Tuesday through Thursday in the region’s mountains and deserts. The fall equinox occurs at 6:54 p.m. on Saturday. But for reporting purposes, the weather service defines summer as June, July and August. This year, the mean temperature during that period was 73.6 degrees — making it the third hottest summer on record in San Diego.

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Helix Water District Is Going Electric

/in , /by /Water News Network

Representatives from the Helix Water District, San Diego Gas & Electric, and the cities of El Cajon, La Mesa and Lemon Grove on September 12 celebrated Helix’s new electric vehicle charging stations in conjunction with National Drive Electric Week and Electric Vehicle Day on September 15. Helix installed 10 electric vehicle charging stations at the district’s operations center in El Cajon and 10 more at its administration office in La Mesa through SDG&E’s Power Your Drive program, which funded the equipment and installation. Installing electric vehicle charging stations at its operations center and administration office is the latest cost control initiative undertaken by the Helix Water District.

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Improvements Could Bring More Activities To Diamond Valley Lake Near Hemet

/in , /by /The Press-Enterprise (Riverside)by Craig Shultz

Road improvements and other efforts could lead to longer hours at Diamond Valley Lake near Hemet. “We’re making steps forward all the time. It’s another step,” said Linda Krupa, a Hemet City Councilwoman and chair of a committee looking to increase recreational activities around the drinking-water reservoir. Upgrades have been made to the main access road to protect local wildlife — which is more active at night. Metropolitan Water District, which operates the lake, installed 10 steel plates over concrete culverts on either side of the road to ensure animals can safely cross. It also added rumble strips and signs to slow traffic.

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House Of Representatives Passes Bill That Could Rescue California Desert Hydropower Project

/in , /by /The Desert Sun (Palm Springs)by Sammy Roth

The companies trying to build a massive hydroelectric power plant on the doorstep of Joshua Tree National Park got one step closer to their objective last week. The House of Representatives unanimously approved America’s Water Infrastructure Act, a sprawling bill that would authorize and fund projects across the country, from bridge repairs to school drinking fountain replacements. The bill includes a provision that would allow federal regulators to throw a lifeline to the Eagle Mountain hydropower plant, which would be built in the open desert near Interstate 10, about an hour east of Palm Springs, on a property as close as 1.5 miles to Joshua Tree National Park.

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OPINION: Prop. 3 Is Pay-To-Play Water Bond For Billionaires

/in , /by /The Mercury News (San Jose)by Eric Parfrey

Proposition 3 is an irresponsible approach to California’s water problems. The nearly $8.9 billion bond was crafted behind-the-scenes, contains critical elements that could directly harm the environment and turns important water policies on their head. The bond substantially benefits billionaire stakeholders and is a bad water deal for Californians. Bond proposals are best created through a legislative process that is transparent and open to the public. Instead, the Proposition 3 authors have taken a clandestine approach from the start.

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