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In-Person Workshops Return for 2023 Landscape Makeover Program

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

The San Diego County Water Authority’s free WaterSmart Landscape Makeover workshops have helped thousands of San Diego County homeowners successfully convert high-water-use lawn areas to WaterSmart landscapes.

For the first time since 2019, in-person landscape workshops return starting Saturday, March 18. Weekly sessions are from 9 a.m. to noon at The Water Conservation Garden, adjacent to Cuyamaca College in Rancho San Diego, and at the Helix Water District Operations Center in La Mesa. Virtual workshops are also offered on Wednesdays from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. with a new series beginning March 18. Virtual workshop registration is also open.

Participation is free with registration for in-person and virtual workshops required in advance through the workshop webpage. Enrollment is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Topics cover residential landscape design for the homeowner, plant palettes, healthy soil, irrigation retrofits and streamlined landscape maintenance, all with a “do-it-yourself” approach encouraging the use of low water use plants and personal design touches.

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Sustainable Ramona: Are There Incentives, Rebates for Water Conservation?

/in , , /by /Ramona Sentinelby Beth Prinz Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

Sustainable Ramona is a local group dedicated to the preservation of our surroundings. By responding to your questions each month, we intend to provide you with common-sense, affordable, short- and long-term ways to manage issues such as increasing water shortages, high heat, high electric bills and minimize waste going to landfills. The question this month is: Are there rebates and incentives to facilitate water conservation? Answer: There are many, both indoors and outdoors.

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An Unusual ‘Superbloom’ is Happening in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Here’s Why

/in , /by /NBC7 San Diegoby Renee Schmiedeberg and Joe Little

The deserts of San Diego County are alit with wildflowers.

Record rains have fallen over most of San Diego County, and as of recently, the same is true of the desert.

It’s been an unusual bloom in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Why? Uncommon summer monsoons in September of last year triggered the first fall blooms, pulling blankets of violet sand verbena up over the desert dunes, according to Jim Dice, Reserve Manager at the University of California, Irvine’s Steele/Burnand Anza-Borrego Desert Research Center in Borrego Springs.

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Recent Storms Sent 7 Billion Gallons of Raw Sewage From Mexico Into U.S., Mayor Says

/in , /by /Fox 5 San Diegoby Salvador Rivera

Imperial Beach’s new mayor, Paloma Aguirre, is dealing with an old problem in her city: beach closures forced by raw sewage from Mexico.

A recent string of powerful storms in the region has forced lots of raw sewage, trash, tires and other debris across the southern border into California.

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Save Water and Money with Free Water Efficiency Survey

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

Forecasts of a hotter, drier climate for the Southwest U.S. make every effort to save water critical. A new program now available intends to do just that for residents in parts of Southern California. The San Diego County Water Authority, in collaboration with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, are offering free indoor and outdoor residential water efficiency use surveys.

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Do Kids Really Need Grass? This Magical L.A. Garden Will Make You Rethink Turf

/in , , /by /Los Angeles Timesby Lisa Boone

As 5-year-old Stella Penn and her sister, Maxine, 3, enthusiastically play hide-and-seek in the backyard of their Eagle Rock home, the girls are accompanied by a merry band of lizards, butterflies and birds drawn to the yard’s low-water California natives, abundant fruit trees and the fragrance of Cleveland sage and Champaca trees.

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New Atmospheric River Could Bring Rain to San Diego on Friday and Saturday

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

The National Weather Service office in San Diego is monitoring the potential development of another atmospheric river, which could bring rain to the region on Friday and Saturday.

“Southern California will be on the southern edge of the atmospheric river bringing periods of precipitation Friday and Saturday,” the weather service said.

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RSF Association Directors Question SFID’s New Water Rate Structure, Pending Rate Increase

/in , /by /Rancho Santa Fe Reviewby Karen Billing

The Santa Fe Irrigation District continues its outreach on its proposed water rate increases, making a stop at the March 2 Rancho Santa Fe Association board meeting.

“It’s a nice sales presentation but I don’t buy a bit of it,” commented Director Greg Gruzdowich.

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Landscape Makeover Contest Open For 2023 Entries

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

The 2023 regional WaterSmart Landscape Makeover competition is open. The annual contest seeks the best in landscaping makeover projects from 12 participating San Diego County water agencies. Showcasing residential water-saving landscaping projects highlights water conservation efforts, as a hotter, drier climate is forecast for the region.

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Winter Storms Have Greatly Improved Drought Conditions in San Diego County and Across California

/in , , /by /KPBS-FM/TVby John Carroll and Mike Damron Quoted: San Diego County Water Authority

Just three months ago, almost all of California was in drought, including at extreme and exceptional levels — the highest levels possible. Warnings went out from state water officials to expect only a fraction of requested water allocations.

Then came the storms, one after the other. Nine atmospheric rivers pummeled California between late December and mid-January, and we’ve had plenty of precipitation since then.

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