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In the nearly 50 years since the Oroville Dam was completed, construction methods have changed. Chico State University construction management professor Chris Souder consulted on the Folsom Dam auxiliary spillway project which began construction in 2008 and is on pace to be completed in October. He also got a tour March 1 of the work going on at the Oroville Dam through the engineering contractor Syblon Reid out of Folsom. Souder said he wanted to take his college students to show them what their future careers might entail, but the Department of Water Resources wouldn’t allow it.

An increase in temperatures has the ability to reduce the flow of water in the Colorado River by 20 to 30 percent by mid-century, according to new research done by Colorado State University and the University of Arizona. The research done by Bradley Udall, a senior water and climate scientist for CSU, and UA professor Jonathan Overpeck, found that loss of water is driven by higher temperatures arising from an increase in greenhouse gas emissions.

The first wet storm of the spring is moving into the Sierra where record snowfall already has reservoirs releasing water early to guard against potential flooding in northern Nevada well into the summer. The National Weather Service says 4 to 8 inches of snow is possible Tuesday on the highest mountain passes, including the Mount Rose Highway southwest of Reno and Donner Pass on Interstate 80, west of Truckee, California.

The rain this winter has improved the City’s water supply situation, allowing us to avoid the peak demand shortage that had been projected for summer 2017. With this updated water supply news, the Santa Barbara City Council lifted the mandatory lawn watering ban on March 21^st and reduced the Citywide conservation target from 40 percent to 30 percent while encouraging residents and businesses to continue conservation, including minimized lawn watering. All other drought water use regulations remain in effect, including but not limited to, watering times, irrigation runoff and overspray, and more. Information on drought regulations may be found by visiting www.SantaBarbaraCA.gov/Drought.