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California’s Water Conservation Dips in July — Are Eased Rules to Blame?

/in /by /Los Angeles Timesby Matt Stevens

Urban water conservation across California dipped slightly during the second month that less stringent conservation requirements have been in place, state regulators said Wednesday. More alarming to some, the 20% water-use reduction in July, compared with the same month in 2013, also marked a sharp decline from last summer, when residents and businesses saved more than 31% as concern about the drought reached a fever pitch.

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Feds’ water use forecast was too good to be true

/in /by /Arizona Daily Starby Tony Davis

It sounded too good to be true — an official forecast that 2016 water use in Arizona, California and Nevada will be the lowest since 1992.

That forecast from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation was too good to be true — by the bureau’s own admission. It was widely reported recently as a sign of major progress toward conservation. But what the bureau calls its more accurate forecast, while still showing progress, is significantly higher, predicting water use in the states will be its lowest in 11 years — not 24.

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SANDAG Tax Measure Opponents File Lawsuit

/in /by /KPBS

Opponents of Measure A, which would hike San Diego County’s sales tax by a half-cent to fund infrastructure projects, announced on Tuesday that they’ve filed a lawsuit challenging the accuracy of supporters’ ballot statements. It’s the second court action involving the veracity of local ballot arguments. A judge said he would rule next week on the statement provided by opponents of Measure B, a planned residential development in the Lilac Hills section of Valley Center. The San Diego Association of Governments placed Measure A on the ballot, and it has received the blessing of the San Diego County Taxpayers Association.

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Background on Agreement Between Bullhead City, BOR

/in /by /Mohave Valley Daily News (Bullhead City, Ariz.)by Neil Young

The following is taken from a “council communication” from Public Works Director Pawan Agrawal providing background information regarding the agreement between the city of Bullhead City and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation permitting the city to pump effluent — wastewater — into the Colorado River: In October 2014, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation issued a letter inviting certain entities along the Colorado River to participate in the “Pilot Program for Colorado River System Water Conservation” they developed at that time, and Bullhead City received this invitation.

 

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Listen Now: Interviews with Helix Water Board Candidates Mark Gracyk and Dan McMillan

/in /by /East County Magazineby Miriam Raftery Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

September 6,2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Mark Gracyk and  Dan McMillan both say they’re running for the Helix Water District Board to stop rate hikes –and roll them back if possible.  Both are running against incumbents (Chuck  Muse and John Linden) who have repeatedly voted for rate hikes. Hear our full interview, aired on KNSJ radio,  by clicking the orange link above, and scroll down for highlights. Neither Muse nor  Linden responded to our invitation to be interviewed, nor did  three other challengers (Louis Tejeda, Aaron Zajac and Erik  Collins).

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Water Agency Approves $55 Million Budget

/in /by /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby Allison Sampite-Montecalvo Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

The Sweetwater Authority board recently finalized its budget and water rates, approving a $55 million budget for the 2016-17 fiscal year with no rate increase for residential customers. At the Aug. 29 public hearing, the board voted for a rate decrease for commercial customers and an increase for public agency customers. Despite no local rate increases, residential customers will see a slight increase in the San Diego County Water Authority pass-through rates beginning January 1, 2017, said Rich Stevenson, the Sweetwater’s finance director.

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Here’s What’s Happening to All That Water Bond Money

/in /by /Water Deeply (New York)by Matt Weiser

Almost two years ago California voters, in the midst of a historic drought, passed Proposition 1, a $7.5 billion bond measure intended to ease water shortages by funding new projects.

At this point, many Californians are wondering where all that money went.

Most of it hasn’t gone anywhere, yet. According to a recent report by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), just 2 percent of the bond money has been spent so far – about $177 million. The rest awaits a lengthy process of vetting funding requests.

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The Golden State’s water crisis: California and EPA poised to expand pollution of potential drinking water reserves

/in /by /Salon (Sacramento)by Abrahm Lustgarten

As the western United States struggles with chronic water shortages and a changing climate, scientists are warning that if vast underground stores of fresh water that California and other states rely on are not carefully conserved, they too may soon run dry.

Heeding this warning, California passed new laws in late 2014 that for the first time require the state to account for its groundwater resources and measure how much water is being used.

 

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Lake Powell could dry up in as little as six years, study says

/in /by /Arizona Daily Starby Tony Davis

Lake Powell has been called “Jewel of the Colorado” by the federal agency that built it, the Bureau of Reclamation.

It’s been a vital force for the intermountain West because of its ability to store vast amounts of water and generate electricity for farmers, cities and towns in 13 states.

But a new study warns that the lake could virtually dry up in as few as six years if the region gets a repeat of the dry spell it experienced from 2000 to 2005.

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Drought Hurting California Salmon

/in /by /The Associated Press (As Published by: U.S. News) by ELLEN KNICKMEYER

California’s iconic native salmon are struggling amid five years of drought.

On a recent fishing trip by the Salty Lady charter boat just north of the Golden Gate Bridge, fishermen were hooking native Chinook salmon that had been born at state and federal hatcheries and then carried in trucks for release downstream.

Golden Gate Salmon Association president Victor Gonella says trucking is the only reason the state’s vital fall-run salmon survived the previous two years of drought.

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