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Lake Mead’s Decline May Slow, Thanks to Winter’s Wet Start

/in , , /by /Las Vegas Review-Journalby Colton Lochhead

Hefty snowfalls from a series of atmospheric rivers have brought a slightly rosier outlook for the beleaguered Colorado River.

While not enough to fend off the falling water levels entirely, the snow that has dropped in recent weeks across the mountains that feed the river is expected to slow the decline at Lake Mead, according to the latest federal projections released last week. Forecasters now expect Lake Mead to finish this year around 1,027 feet elevation, about 19 feet lower than its current level. That’s about 7 feet higher than the 2023 end-of-year elevation in the bureau’s forecast from last month.Colorado River

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San Diego Bay Reopens to Public Following Safe Water Quality Tests

/in , , /by /KPBS

San Diego Bay and Sweetwater Bay’s Morrison Pond reopened for public use Tuesday following water quality testing samples that met state standards, according to the county’s Department of Environmental Health and Quality.

Last week, both bodies of water and South Ponto State Beach closed due to high bacteria levels and sewage spills following the stormy weather.

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DWR Expects to Begin Spillway Work Between May and October

/in , , /by /Enterprise-Recordby Jake Hutchison

The California Department of Water Resources is set to begin phase one of its plan to replace the hoists on the Oroville Dam spillway sometime between May and October.

Project Manager Zerguy Maazouddi, who works under DWR’s Division of Operations and Maintenance, said the first phase of prerequisites such as site surveys and approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

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The Big Yawn: Water Crisis Not Registering as a Priority with Californians, Preview Las Vegas Panelist Says

/in , , /by /Las Vegas Sunby Ray Brewer

Las Vegans are constantly reminded about the crisis facing Nevada and other Western states as water supplies from the drought-choked Colorado River system dwindle.

Ads prompting us to conserve water are front and center at sporting events, on commercials during our favorite television shows and when picking up the daily newspaper. We’ve been diligent in removing natural grass and replacing it with artificial turf, limiting the size of our pools and watering plants only on assigned days.

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Salton Sea Lithium Deposits Could Help Ev Transition, Support Economically Devastated Area

/in , /by /PBSby Stephanie Sy and Lena I. Jackson

The demand for electric vehicles is surging in the U.S., sparked in part by the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act and the subsidies it offers. But a looming supply shortage of lithium threatens to stall the EV transition.

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Annual Leak Detection Program Gets Underway in Otay Water District

/in , , /by /Water News Network

As part of its annual preventative maintenance program to safeguard its water supply and reduce water loss, the Otay Water District will conduct leak inspections of its pipeline system beginning January 30. Inspections are expected to continue until April 28.

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Water District Expects to Gain Additional $78K Per Month with New Investment Policy

/in , , /by /Ramona Sentinelby Julie Gallant

A new investment strategy is expected to boost Ramona Municipal Water District’s income by $78,000 each month, with extra earnings arriving as early as February, officials said.

The water district’s directors unanimously approved updates to the agency’s investment policy at their meeting on Jan. 10. The policy allows staff to open accounts with the California Asset Management Program (CAMP) and the San Diego County Treasurer’s Pooled Money Fund.

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7 Billion Gallons of Water Fill Up San Diego Reservoirs, but What Does This Mean for the County’s Drought Levels?

/in , , /by /Fox 5 San Diegoby Sarah Alegre

Given the recent Pacific and atmospheric river storms battering the entire state, San Diego reservoirs are filling up exponentially, especially within the city of San Diego. However, while the recent downpours have helped, it won’t entirely solve the region’s drought situation.

According to the city, local reservoirs have collected seven billion gallons of water from rain and runoff in just the past week alone. That’s enough water to supply all 1.4 million city residents for six weeks.

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Water Conservation Still Necessary for Carlsbad Residents

/in , /by /Patch.comby Ashley Ludwig

Though recent rains have helped, the city of Carlsbad is still striving to conserve water. The rains have helped, but conservation is still needed, according to the Carlsbad City Manager’s office.

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Camarillo’s Desalter Plant Begins Supplying Drinking Water

/in , , /by /VC Starby Brian J. Varela

Camarillo’s North Pleasant Valley Groundwater Desalter began producing drinking water earlier this month, diminishing the city’s reliance on imported water.

The reverse-osmosis desalter, located at 2727 Somis Road, converts unusable brackish groundwater into 1 million gallons of high-quality potable water per day, city staff said in a news release. The plant will be producing about 4 million gallons per day when it is operating at full capacity in two months.

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