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IID Opens New Conservation and Operational Reservoir

The Imperial Irrigation District Board of Directors saluted the district’s completion of its newest water conservation and operational reservoir located just east of the city, which will conserve 400 acre-feet of water annually and provide water operational flexibility to growers in the valley’s Northend.

The new operational reservoir, recently dedicated by the IID Board as the Lloyd Allen Water Conservation Operational Reservoir, is the first mid-lateral canal reservoir constructed through IID’s System Conservation Program. It has a total storage capacity of 40 acre-feet and is located along the district’s E Lateral Canal — the longest in the district’s delivery system at 13 miles in length.

In addition to conserving water, the new reservoir supports the district’s On-Farm Efficiency Conservation Program, providing improved water delivery service to growers.

The IID Board visited the site of the new reservoir on Friday, June 30, as part of a larger tour of water operational facilities in the Valley’s Northend.

Imperial Valley Farmers Brace for Potential Water Cuts

During Mark McBroom’s 40 years of farming in the Imperial Valley, he’s had to adapt to changing climate conditions and water availability. After California, Arizona and Nevada came to an agreement in May to reduce their Colorado River water usage, McBroom may soon have to adapt again. Imperial County is the driest in California, only getting 2 to 3 inches of rainfall every year. So, farmers in the region get the vast majority of their water from the Colorado River.

San Diego County Water Authority General Manager Sandra L. Kerl Retires

San Diego County Water Authority General Manager Sandra L. Kerl retired June 29, after more than 40 years of public service. Deputy General Manager Dan Denham is acting GM until the Water Authority Board of Directors permanently fills the position.

Kerl’s tenure at the Water Authority included 10 years as deputy general manager and four years as the agency’s top staff member during a period of unprecedented uncertainty regionally and nationally.

Expect a Hot, Smoky Summer in Much of America. Here’s Why You’d Better Get Used to It

The only break much of America can hope for anytime soon from eye-watering dangerous smoke from fire-struck Canada is brief bouts of shirt-soaking sweltering heat and humidity from a southern heat wave that has already proven deadly, forecasters say. And then the smoke will likely come back to the Midwest and East.

Water Authority General Manager Sandra Kerl Retires After 40-Year Public Career

San Diego County Water Authority General Manager Sandra L. Kerl retired Thursday after more than 40 years of public service, with Deputy General Manager Dan Denham taking over on an interim basis.

Kerl’s tenure at the water authority included 10 years as deputy general manager and four years as the agency’s top staff member during a period of unprecedented drought regionally and nationally.

“Sandy’s vision and management skills have been crucial in successfully navigating the challenges of an extreme drought while ensuring stability through the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Mel Katz, chair of the water authority’s board. “Her deep experience with water issues, collaborative management style, and can-do spirit guided the agency through an unprecedented period of change.”

San Diego County Water Authority Head Sandy Kerl Retires

Sandra Kerl, the long-time general manager of the San Diego County Water Authority, retired Thursday after more than 40 years of public service.

Deputy General Manager Dan Denham will serve as acting GM until the board of directors finds a permanent replacement.

“It has been my privilege to work with so many talented and dedicated people during my 14 years at the Water Authority,” said Kerl. “I have complete confidence that they will carry on our mission without skipping a beat.”

Sandra Kerl-Retires-San Diego County Water Authority

Agricultural Fields in California’s Tulare Lake Basin Could Be Underwater for Years to Come, Experts Say

Farmers in one of the most prominent agricultural communities in the country will likely be living an underwater nightmare for the foreseeable future. Central California’s Tulare Lake is filled past the brim, but with the blessings of an ample water supply also comes a curse: spillage that experts say could continue to drown fields and roadways for years to come.

Drought? Dam Crack? Fireworks Safety? Why is the Water Level at Lake Murray So Low?

Alvis Jones looked out over Lake Murray and wasn’t impressed. “It’s dropping,” he said while casting a line into the lake. “Probably, looks like 10, 20 feet.” Jones stood on a metal dock that was floating on the surface of the water considerably lower than usual. “My first thought was evaporation,” said Valerie Weise, who was walking through dirt that should be underwater.

Water Authority General Manager Sandra L. Kerl Retires

San Diego County Water Authority General Manager Sandra L. Kerl retires today after more than 40 years of public service, with Deputy General Manager Dan Denham taking over as acting GM until the Board of Directors permanently fills the position.

Warming Causes More Extreme Rain, Not Snow, Over Mountains. Scientists Say That’s a Problem

warming world is transforming some major snowfalls into extreme rain over mountains instead, somehow worsening both dangerous flooding like the type that devastated Pakistan last year as well as long-term water shortages, a new study found.

Using rain and snow measurements since 1950 and computer simulations for future climate, scientists calculated that for every degree Fahrenheit the world warms, extreme rainfall at higher elevation increases by 8.3% (15% for every degree Celsius), according to a study in Wednesday’s journal Nature.

Heavy rain in mountains causes a lot more problems than big snow, including flooding, landslides and erosion, scientists said. And the rain isn’t conveniently stored away like snowpack that can recharge reservoirs in spring and summer.