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Desert Water Agency Discusses Local Water Conservation Efforts

/in , , /by /NBC Palm Springsby Carmela Karcher

Governor Gavin Newsom declared a drought emergency in 2021, yet recent data shows Californians are not conserving enough water, in fact the Coachella Valley used about 20% more water this January than the previous one.

Wednesday afternoon, the Desert Water Agency presented a plan to address the drought and how the Coachella Valley can help.

The DWA currently serves the cities of Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs and a portion of Cathedral City.

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Opinion: Why California Must Fund Water Infrastructure Upgrades

/in , /by /National Reviewby Edward Ring

Californians have achieved impressive feats of water conservation over the past few decades. But that won’t be enough. While we’re drinking, washing, flushing, and irrigating less, demand for water still outpaces supply. Aging dams and canals need seismic retrofits, and new systems for harvesting and storing runoff water —and reusing wastewater — need to be built.

What’s the hold-up? With care, environmentalist concerns over new water projects can be balanced with the need to provide Californians with an adequate water supply.

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Water District Directors Approve Map With New Division Boundaries

/in , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby Julie Gallant

Ramona Municipal Water District directors approved a final map for the district’s election boundaries after discussing the pros and cons of dividing downtown Ramona among four divisions.

The water district has five divisions, each represented by a director. Redistricting Partners LLC recently presented revised division boundaries to reflect changing population sizes and demographics based on 2020 Census data.

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‘Absolutely Gorgeous’: The Flower Fields Return, Blazing ‘More Color Than Ever’

/in , , /by /Times of San Diegoby Chris Stone

Paul Ecke III tells a story about his fastidious volunteers at The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch. A docent once asked him to get out of the field — even after learning he was the owner.

And that’s how he explains the importance of keeping your distance from the plants to preserve them.

The north end of the Carlsbad Flower Fields, at 5704 Paseo Del Norte, is now ablaze with color, and visitors are welcome through at least Mother’s Day.

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Appropriations Bill Includes More Than $73M for Bay Area Projects

/in , /by /SFGATE

The $1.5 trillion omnibus appropriations bill passed last week by the U.S. Congress includes more than $73 million for projects in the greater Bay Area, according to the office of Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California.

“This funding will go to local governments and community organizations that are directly serving our neighborhoods,” Padilla said in a statement. “Federal dollars will support projects to modernize our transportation infrastructure and spur economic growth. We are also investing in projects that will increase California’s capacity to treat patients and deliver mental health services.”

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San Diego Water Agencies Seek Inspiring WaterSmart Landscape Contest Entries

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

Eleven participating San Diego County water agencies invite homeowners to share their inspiring landscaping makeover stories by entering the 2022 WaterSmart Landscape Contest.

The annual contest recognizes outstanding WaterSmart residential landscapes. The winning landscape from each participating water agency will receive a prize valued at $250 and may be recognized in print and online publications. The deadline to apply is May 13, 2022.

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Why Your Water Bill is Rising

/in , , /by /Voice of San Diego by MacKenzie Elmer Quoted: San Diego County Water Authority

Two things are true about the cost of water in San Diego: the cost of bringing water here and maintaining the system that does it is rising, but the amount of water San Diegans consume is dropping.

In 1990, the average San Diegan used 235 gallons of drinkable water per day, according to the Water Authority’s records. By 2021, San Diegans cut that almost in half to 130 gallons per day. Megadroughts that triggered mandatory water cutbacks triggered better water conservation habits, which stuck.

But while San Diegans are using less, the costs they pay continue to rise. The cost of San Digeo’s water supply is expected to rise anywhere from 5.5 to 10 percent beginning in 2023, with hefty hikes continuing in the years thereafter.

“Long after I’m dust, these supplies will be valuable to this region,” said Gary Arant, who leads the Valley Center Municipal Water District, of the haul of water rights San Diego has locked up. “Right now, we’ve got a lot of water. It’s expensive, but I think the decisions we made were good.”

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Lake Powell Hits Historic Low, Raising Hydropower Concerns

/in , , /by /AP Newsby Sam Metz and Felicia Fonseca

A massive reservoir known as a boating mecca dipped below a critical threshold on Tuesday raising new concerns about a source of power that millions of people in the U.S. West rely on for electricity.

Lake Powell’s fall to below 3,525 feet (1,075 meters) puts it at its lowest level since the lake filled after the federal government dammed the Colorado River at Glen Canyon more than a half century ago — a record marking yet another sobering realization of the impacts of climate change and megadrought.

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With Dry Winter, California Readies Next Drought Actions

/in , , /by /Agri-Pulseby Brad Hooker

The Department of Water Resources plans to soon drop State Water Project allocations to 0%, following a temporary 15% bump after December storms. DWR Director Karla Nemeth outlined for the State Water Resources Control Board on Tuesday this and other coming actions.

DWR will resubmit a temporary urgency change petition (TUCP) to the board on Friday, after withdrawing the proposal in February. If approved, the emergency regulation will preserve stored supplies for critical human health and safety needs.

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‘It’s Hard to Be Optimistic.’ Here’s What Merced-Area Growers Face After a Dry Winter

/in , , /by /Merced Sun-Starby Abbie Lauten-scrivner

With surface water allocations down and costs up, Merced County’s new irrigation season is reflecting the impacts of statewide drought. Merced County isn’t alone. The nearby Fresno Irrigation District (FID) announced Tuesday that the ongoing parched weather, including a record-dry January and February, led the Board of Directors to postpone its planned start of water deliveries.

 

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