You are now in California and the U.S. Home Headline Media Coverage category.

A Warning from Ancient Tree Rings: The Americas are Prone to Catastrophic, Simultaneous Droughts

/in , , /by /Science Magazineby Paul Voosen

For 10 years, central Chile has been gripped by unrelenting drought. With 30% less rainfall than normal, verdant landscapes have withered, reservoirs are low, and more than 100,000 farm animals have died. The dry spell has lasted so long that researchers are calling it a “megadrought,” rivaling dry stretches centuries ago. It’s not so different from the decadelong drought that California, some 8000 kilometers away, endured until last year.

Full Story

IID Files Claim For Access to Stored Water in MWD’s System

/in , /by /Imperial Valley Newsby News Staff

Since 2007, as a result of agreements associated with the 2007 Colorado River Interim Guidelines, the Imperial Irrigation District has had the ability to store conserved water with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

Full Story

Helix Water District Board Approves Fee Hikes, Other Changes

/in , , /by /San Diego Union-Tribuneby Karen Pearlman

LA MESA — It will cost more next year to fish, rent boats and camp at Lake Jennings Park, the reservoir and outdoors destination in Lakeside overseen by the Helix Water District.

The hikes were approved unanimously by the Helix Water District board and will become effective Jan. 1.

The daily and annual entrance fees to the lake will remain the same ($2 and $50, respectively) but costs for fishing will be bumped from $9 to $10 for adults, $8 to $9 for seniors and $4 to $5 for children 8 to 15.

Lake Hodges Gets Highly Oxygenated for 2020

/in , , /by /The Escondido (Calif.) Grapevine Quoted: San Diego County Water Authority

The City of San Diego’s Public Utilities Department last week took a major step toward completing an innovative project to improve water quality in Lake Hodges. A newly installed oxygenation system, designed by city engineers, will introduce highly oxygenated water to the bottom of the reservoir to reduce the accumulation of excess nutrients and harmful algae growth.

Full Story

RMWD Resurrects Idea for Sharing Water Facilities with Poway

/in , , /by /Ramona Sentinelby Julie Gallant Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

The City of Poway’s water woes has prompted Ramona Municipal Water District representatives to resurrect a 7-year-old proposal to share water facilities for their mutual benefit.

In December 2012, RMWD General Manager David Barnum presented a three-phase vision for cooperating with Poway with the intent of reducing water costs and maximizing resources. The dormant but unforgotten plan was again floated by RMWD Board President Jim Robinson to the Poway City Council on Dec. 3, 2019.

Full Story

Amid the Wasteland of the Salton Sea, a Miraculous but Challenging Oasis is Born

/in , , /by /The Daily World (Aberdeen, Wash.)by Los Angeles Times
LOS ANGELES — It came as a bittersweet surprise to biologists and government agencies monitoring the steadily shrinking Salton Sea’s slide toward death by choking dust storms and salt.

Thousands of acres of exposed lake bed have become the unintended beneficiaries of lush marshlands that are homes for endangered birds and fish at the outlets of a agricultural and urban runoff that used to flow directly into the Salton Sea.

Full Story

Washington Snowpack Low, Similar to 2015 Drought Year

/in , , /by /AP

YAKIMA, Wash. (AP) — Washington’s snowpack is less than a year ago and officials say it’s similar to the start of 2015, the state’s last big drought.

The Capital Press reports the statewide snowpack is 47% of normal. It was 46% of normal at this time five years ago.

“It’s very reminiscent of 2015, but this year we are way behind on mountain precipitation,” said Scott Pattee, state water supply specialist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Mount Vernon, Washington. “It’s worrisome. It’s the third slowest start in snow accumulation statewide since the 1990s and we had one of the driest Novembers on record.”

Full Story

New Federal Guidelines for Diverting California Water to Take Effect Soon

/in , /by /KSRO Sonomaby News Staff

The war over California’s water between Governor Gavin Newsom and the Trump administration is at a crossroads, with new federal guidelines loosening the restrictions on water pumping set to take effect soon. The new guidelines call for diverting more water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to agribusiness and urban areas further south. Barbara Barrigan-Parilla with the group Restore the Delta, says despite Newsom indicating he was going to sue over the new federal guidelines, that hasn’t happened yet.

Full Story

Who Should Pay For Water Conservation in the West? Water Managers Wade Into Discussion

/in , /by /Aspen Times by Heather Sackett

Water managers from throughout the Colorado River Basin took the stage at the Colorado River Water Users Association conference earlier this month to talk about conserving water in the face of the twin threats to the river: increasing demand and climate change.

Full Story

Student Artists Featured in 2020 ‘Water Is Life’ Calendar

/in , , /by /Water News Network

Five talented San Diego County student artists from four elementary schools were among 36 Southern California students whose artwork will appear in the 2020 “Water Is Life” calendar.

The five artists represent regional water agencies including Helix Water District, Otay Water District, Padre Dam MWD, and Sweetwater Authority.

Full Story