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Governor Newsom’s Proposed Budget Includes Funding for Drought

/in , , /by /ACWA

Gov. Gavin Newsom today unveiled his revised state budget for the 2022-’23 Fiscal Year. The $300.7 billion budget includes several priorities of interest to ACWA members, including funding for drought, climate change, forest management and more.

Building upon last year’s three-year, $5.2 billion allocation to support drought response and long-term water sustainability, the governor’s revised budget includes an additional $2 billion for drought response and water resilience. This is part of the governor’s larger $47.1 billion climate package.

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1 in 6 Americans Live in Areas With Significant Wildfire Risk

/in , /by /The Washington Postby John Muyskens, Andrew Ba Tran, Naema Ahmed and Anna Phillips

When a wildfire tore through drought-stricken towns near Boulder, Colo., late last year, it reminded Americans that fire risk is changing. It didn’t matter that it was winter. It didn’t matter that many of the more than 1,000 homes and other structures lost sat in suburban subdivisions, not forested enclaves. The old rules no longer applied.

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Hauck Mesa Storage Reservoir Moving to Completion

/in , , /by /Water News Network Quoted: San Diego County Water Authority

The San Diego County Water Authority Hauck Mesa Storage Reservoir project in North San Diego County reached a major milestone in late April when crews poured the concrete roof of the new prestressed concrete water tank. The major construction project, which began in March 2021, will improve drinking water supply reliability for the county.

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California’s Water Use Jumps 19% in March, the Highest Since 2015

/in , , /by /CBS 8by Shannon Handy Quoted: San Diego County Water Authority

A recent report shows Californians aren’t doing enough to conserve water, despite Governor Gavin Newsom’s request to reduce use by 15%. Newsom made that request in July of 2021.

Fast forward to now, and according to the State Water Resources Control Board, total water usage statewide decreased by just 3.7% between July and March compared to the same period two years ago.

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L.A. Is Taking a Different Path on Severe Watering Restrictions. Here’s How It Will Work

/in , , /by /Los Angeles Timesby Hayley Smith

Los Angeles residents now know the plan for significantly cutting water use beginning June 1.

The Department of Water and Power differs in some key ways from other local agencies that are struggling with unprecedented water restrictions due to the drought.

The restrictions, ordered by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, target areas that rely heavily or entirely on the State Water Project, a Northern California water supply that officials say is dangerously low after the state’s driest-ever start to the year.

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Lawns Are Terrible for the Environment. California’s Water Restrictions May Finally Kill Them

/in , , /by /Fast Companyby Nate Berg

After years of on-again-off-again drought conditions and decades of precarity relying on imported water, Southern California has instituted major limitations on how residents can use water. Within weeks, residents will only be allowed to irrigate their yards once a week. Lush lawns and abundant flower gardens, your days may be numbered.

This is likely just the start.

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EBMUD Customers to See 8% Drought Surcharge Starting July 1

/in , , /by /Danville SanRamon

Facing down a second consecutive dry year, the East Bay Municipal Utility District board decided this week to impose an 8% drought surcharge that customers will see on bills starting July 1.

The estimated $30.8 million collected from the surcharge will cover about half the estimated $64.5 million needed to manage the drought this year, according to EBMUD. The rest of drought expenses will be funded by reserves.

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California Drought: Which Regions Are Saving the Most — and Least — Water

/in , , /by /San Francisco Chronicleby Yoohyun Jung
This year is shaking out to be another dry year as the winter months, when the state records much of its precipitation, did not deliver as much rain and snow as hoped.
The continuing drought means water providers across California — and their consumers — must conserve more water to avoid running out. Gov. Gavin Newsom called for a 15% decrease in water use, but only a small portion of the suppliers met that goal. Statewide, water use soared by about 19% in March 2022 compared with the same month in 2020.
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Long Beach Injection Well Designed to Increase Groundwater Supply

/in , , /by /Press Telegramby Harry Saltzgaver

Construction recently began on a well designed to inject water back into the groundwater basin beneath Long Beach.

The groundbreaking last week took place at the Water Replenishment District’s advanced water treatment facility, on the southeastern border of Long Beach, next to the San Gabriel River. The plant further treats sewer effluent from the Los Angeles County Sanitation District to create purified recycled water.

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IID Preparing Water Apportionment Plan

/in , , /by /Calexico Chronicleby Antoine Abou-Diwan

The Imperial Irrigation District is preparing a water apportionment plan for Imperial Valley growers to rein in a projected water overrun after the federal government declared a water shortage, reducing the amount of water that Arizona, Nevada and Mexico can claim from the Colorado River.

The IID holds the largest and most secure federal entitlement on the Colorado River, but current Bureau of Reclamation projections show the district exceeding its allocation by more than 92,000 acre-feet of water this year as grain prices reach record highs following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

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