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Most of San Diego’s 54 Dams In Good Shape, But 9 Only ‘Fair’

/in /by /Times of San Diego

The 54 dams in San Diego County are in pretty good shape, though some could present dangers in extreme circumstances, the state Department of Water Resources announced Friday. The agency’s Division of Safety of Dams released assessment data on 1,249 dams under its jurisdiction that included downstream hazard classification and any reservoir restrictions. The information reflected the most recent physical inspections and “comprehensive re-evaluations” by DSOD engineers and engineering geologists, as well as technical analyses performed by dam owners, according to the agency.

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Bill That Targeted Company’s Controversial Desert Water Project Dies in Calif. Legislature

/in /by /The Desert Sun (Palm Springs)

A bill that would have created a major hurdle for a company trying to sell groundwater from the Mojave Desert died in a California Senate committee on Friday, despite Gov. Jerry Brown’s call for lawmakers to approve the measure.  Senate leaders decided to hold the bill during the Senate Appropriations Committee’s final hearing of the legislative session.  The bill’s failure apparently removed a substantial challenge that could have blocked or stopped Cadiz Inc.’s plan of pumping as much as 16.3 billion gallons of groundwater per year on land surrounded by Mojave Trails National Monument about 75 miles northeast of Palm Springs.

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OPINION: The Water Authority Is Not Driving Up Water Usage

/in /by /Voice of San Diegoby Maureen Stapleton and Mike Lee

The headline on an Aug. 31 Voice of San Diego story about the San Diego County Water Authority’s efforts to navigate complex operational challenges was, well, all wet. VOSD proclaimed that “Water Officials Hope to Drive Up Water Usage” – an idea that runs counter to decades of water-use efficiency and conservation efforts by our agency. In fact, the Water Authority is not trying to drive up water usage. Rather, we are developing strategies to accommodate changes in water use, specifically demands that remain well below pre-drought levels. Those are two very different things.

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County Water Board Asks Judge to Toss Suit Over Secret Meetings

/in /by /The San Diego Union-Tribune Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

The San Diego County Water Authority has asked a court to throw out a June lawsuit that aimed to open the door on private meetings long held by authority board members. A 245-page court filing submitted by the agency in July hits back at public-interest attorney Cory Briggs’ “unsupported” allegation that agency board members are holding secret meetings that should be opened to the public.

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Record Heat, Lightning, Fires, Intense Rain: California’s Extreme Weather Gets Wilder

/in /by /Los Angeles Times

The heat wave that has gripped California for a week took a dramatic turn Thursday as lightning storms sparked brush fires, knocked out power to thousands and caused downpours across the region. Forecasters said the extreme weather will continue through the weekend, with some parts of Northern California flirting with all-time record high temperatures. Lightning strikes were reported in many areas Thursday, with some sparking a series of brush fires near the 5 Freeway in the Santa Clarita Valley.

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Huntington Beach desalination Plant One Step Closer to Becoming a Reality

/in /by /The Orange County Register

A desalination plant planned for Huntington Beach and more than a decade in the making got a small step closer toward opening, this week, after its application with the regional water district was determined to be ready for consideration. The agency also has enough information to make a decision about whether the project complies with the state’s ocean plan.

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Council Approves Site for Desalter

/in /by /Camarillo Acorn

By this time next year, Camarillo officials plan to have the architectural designs, the final environmental report and the finances squared away to build a groundwater desalinization plant on a plot of farmland just off Las Posas and Somis roads. The Camarillo City Council voted unanimously Aug. 23 to have the long-planned desalter built on a nearly 5-acre property east of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Las Posas Road. Brown and Caldwell, an environmental engineering and construction firm based in Northern California, will be paid about $3 million to design the plant.

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Bill Could Increase Taxes, but Provide Safe Water in Tulare County

/in /by /Visalia Times-Delta

Supporters of a water bill making its way through the legislature are calling for complete backing for the proposed legislation as it nears a full vote in the Assembly. As proposed, SB 623 would establish a fund to finance projects for communities and school districts dealing with unsafe drinking water. “SB 623 is a good faith effort to help poor families get access to water and to help small water systems clean-up contaminated water sources,” said California Senator Andy Vidak (R-Hanford).

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Bureau of Reclamation Funds Water Delivery Improvements Across Western U.S.

/in /by /WaterWorld

Acting Commissioner Alan Mikkelsen announced that the Bureau of Reclamation has selected $20.9 million for 43 projects to improve water delivery efficiency improvements in the Western United States. When leveraged with non-Federal funding sources these projects will complete more than $101 million in improvements. The selected projects will include canal lining and piping to reduce seepage losses, automated gates and control systems, and installation of advanced metering.

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California Lawmakers Pass Bill on Storm Water Fees

/in /by /The Fresno Bee

Californians could see their water bills increase under a measure passed by lawmakers Thursday. The legislative bill approved by the state Assembly would let local governments charge residents for storm water management systems without voter approval. Supporters of the measure say it will help cities and counties prevent flooding and save water. Opponents say it violates Californians’ right to vote on taxes. Gov. Jerry Brown must sign the legislation for it to become law. Under the bill, local governments could charge residents to construct storm water control facilities, which divert and store rain runoff.

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