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Colorado River Drought Conditions Spur Calls for Better Water Infrastructure

/in , , /by /Tucson Sentinelby Ariana Figueroa

Experts in government, agriculture, water management and the environment stressed during a U.S. Senate hearing on Wednesday the danger that droughts fueled by climate change pose in the West, including the Colorado River Basin.

During a hearing before an Energy and Natural Resources Committee panel, witnesses said long-term solutions and an investment in water infrastructure are needed to combat the effects of climate change.

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Opinion: Conserving Water Can Cut Our Bills and Help Future Generations

/in , /by /Desert Sunby Arden Wallum

Extended droughts broken up by rainy years are part of a natural cycle here in California. Our state is once again in another dry period, with areas of Northern California already experiencing a significant impact. It is not a question of if, but when the Coachella Valley faces a similar fate.

Thanks to decades of targeted projects and careful planning, Mission Springs Water District will have enough water to serve our 40,000 customers in and around Desert Hot Springs.

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Oil, Tar Wash Ashore in San Diego County as O.C. Oil Spill Cleanup Extends

/in , /by /Los Angeles Times by Hannah Fry, Priscella Vega, and Robin Estrin

Small amounts of oil and tar washed ashore as far south as San Diego County on Thursday as cleanup and recovery efforts accelerated following the oil spill along the Orange County coast.

Officials said they’ve made progress in the cleanup and hope to advance even further over the weekend. But a storm that meteorologists say could bring 20-mph winds to the region is moving in, raising concerns that more oil could reach the shores. So far, much of the crude has remained offshore, but striations have been seen in Huntington Beach and Laguna Beach.

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California Drought: Which Cities in Santa Clara County are Saving the Most and the Least Water

/in , /by /The Mercury Newsby Paul Rogers

The Santa Clara Valley Water District, which is the main wholesale water provider in Santa Clara County, on June 9 declared a drought emergency and called on all residents to reduce water use 15% from 2019 levels to preserve supplies.

In August, the most recent month for which data is available, countywide water use dropped by 9%. That was an improvement from a 6% drop in July, but still is significantly under the goal.

Here is the percentage change in water use between August 2019 and August 2021 at the 13 cities and private water companies the Santa Clara Valley Water District serves.

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Trump-Era Water Opinions in the Air as Biden Considers New Plan

/in , /by /The Business Journalby Edward Smith

Following nearly two years of litigation regarding Trump-era water policy, the federal government has until Oct. 14 to come up a plan to balance competing needs for the precious resource.

A minute order from District Judge Dale A. Drozd from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California extended by two weeks the due date for the status update that was originally expected to be delivered Sept. 30.

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Tar Balls Wash Up in North County Beaches, Prompt County Warning

/in , /by /Times of San Diegoby City News Service

The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency Thursday advised the public to be cautious at beaches and avoid contact with tar balls.

There have been increased reports of tar balls washing ashore on North County beaches, the agency reported.

It’s unclear if the increased numbers are directly related to the oil spill off the coast of Orange County, an official said.

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Carlsbad Desalination Plant Ready with Floating Boom if Oil Slick Moves South

/in , , /by /Times of San Diegoby Chris Jennewein Quoted: San Diego County Water Authority

Poseidon Water and the San Diego County Water Authority said Wednesday they are monitoring the oil spill off Huntington Beach and are prepared to protect the Carlsbad desalination plant.

The two organizations said in a statement that oil from Saturday’s underwater pipeline leak has not affected operations at the Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant, which supplies nearly 10% of the county’s drinking water.

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Colorado Heads Into Snowpack Season With Low Reservoirs — but a Twinge of Hope

/in , , /by /The Colorado Sunby David Gilbert

Drought conditions have eased up a bit from this time last year, but as the calendar turns on Colorado’s water year, worries about a dry winter still loom, the state’s assistant climatologist says.

That’s not to say Colorado isn’t parched. Most of the state remains in drought, including the Eastern Plains, which spent much of the summer drought-free.

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California and the West Can See Small Glimmers of Hope in Weather Outlooks for October

/in , , /by /Los Angeles Timesby Paul Duginski

Outlook maps for October temperature and precipitation in the U.S. offer a glimmer of hope for California and parts of the West. For the first time in months, California’s precipitation outlook map isn’t colored a desiccated brown, indicating drier-than-normal conditions.

Likewise, the temperature outlook map isn’t glowing red, resembling a stove-top burner set on high.

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New Protections for California’s Aquifers Are Reshaping the State’s Central Valley

/in , , /by /NPRby Dan Charles

California’s agricultural empire is facing a shakeup, as a state law comes into effect that will limit many farmers’ access to water.

The seven-year-old law is supposed to stop the over-pumping from depleted aquifers, and some farmers — the largest users of that water — concede the limits are overdue.

 

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