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Sebastopol Relents in Battle Over High Tech Water Meters

/in , , /by /Northern California Public Mediaby Marc Albert

Concerns about grave health impacts from exposure to radio waves has prompted one Sonoma County city to back off, up to a point.

The Sebastopol city council unanimously approved a measure last week allowing residential customers to keep their old water meters, if they insist.
Like other cities and towns around California, Sebastopol has been preparing to roll out new, digital water meters. Supposedly more accurate, the new ones have a big advantage for a utilities: they no longer have to pay meter readers.
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Low Lake Mead Water Levels Now Revealing Ancient Volcanic Eruptions

/in , , /by /Newsweekby Robyn White

Lake Mead’s receding water levels are now revealing ancient volcanic eruptions from millions of years ago.

Lake Mead is the biggest man-made reservoir in North America, formed by the Hoover Dam. Its water levels are rapidly evaporating due to the ongoing megadrought gripping the southwestern United States.

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Boulevard Residents are Running Out of Water, It’s Not Because of the Drought

/in , /by /CBS 8by Shannon Handy

Residents living in Boulevard say they’re running out of water, and it’s not because of the drought.

They blame the lack of water on one of their neighbors, who they say is building a lake on his property.

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Helix Water District Adds Zero-Emission Truck to Sustainability Efforts

/in , , /by /Water News Network

The Helix Water District has expanded its ongoing sustainability efforts with the addition of its first all-electric, zero-emission, Ford F-150 Lightning pickup truck.

“Converting public and private fleets to zero-emission trucks is a big part of the governor’s plan to have five million zero-emission vehicles in California by 2030,” said Helix Water District Director of Operations Kevin D. Miller. “This is a small step, but Helix is heading in the right direction.”

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Find the Right Native Plants for Your Water-Saving Landscape Online

/in , , /by /Times of San Diego

If you’re looking to upgrade your landscape or just love gardens, it can be challenging to choose the right plants that will thrive in a water-saving landscape with your specific conditions.

The online plant finder WaterSmart Landscaping in San Diego County can assist you through a comprehensive database of choices well suited to this region’s Mediterranean climate.

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‘The American Lawn Feels Irresponsible’: the LA Homes Ditching Grass for Drought-Friendly Gardens

/in , , /by /The Guardianby Lois Beckett

A lush green lawn has long been a symbol of the perfect American home. But as a prolonged drought reshapes life in California, many residents are rethinking what a beautiful yard should look like.

In Los Angeles, which imposed sweeping restrictions on outdoor water use this year, thirsty lawns are out – and California native plants are in.

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Feds Will Spend Billions to Boost Drought-Stricken Colorado River System

/in , , /by /KUNCby Alex Hager

As climate change tightens its grip on the Colorado River basin, the states that use its water are struggling to agree on terms that will reduce their demand. Now, the federal government is stepping in with a plan to use billions of dollars to incentivize conservation.

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Western Forests, Snowpack and Wildfires Appear Trapped in a Vicious Climate Cycle

/in , , /by /Inside Climate Newsby Bob Berwyn

When Stephanie Kampf visited one of her wildfire test plots near Colorado’s Joe Wright Reservoir in June of 2021, the charred remains of what had been a cool, shady spruce and fir forest before the Cameron Peak Fire incinerated it nearly took her breath away.

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Stockton Residents Now Required to Reduce Water Use by 20%. See Latest Water Restrictions

/in , , /by /Recordnet.comby Hannah Workman

The extreme heat seen throughout the west is causing household lawns to cry out for water.

In July, the Stockton City Council adopted a resolution declaring a Stage 2 Water Shortage Emergency in response to the ongoing drought and record-low reservoir levels in California.

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Opinion: The Colorado River at the End of Water Year 2022: A Status Report

/in , /by /Inkstainby J. Fleck

I don’t see how this ends well.

Most of the major players – the ones that matter, anyway, by which I mean Arizona, California, and the federal government – appear boxed in by constraints they can’t seem to overcome, while the water in the Colorado River’s big reservoirs is circling the drains.

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