Atmospheric River Hits San Diego County Causing Flooding, Downed Trees and Sinkholes
Many areas have seen upwards of two inches of rain. The rain has caused sinkholes in Scripps Ranch and Encinitas to grow even bigger.
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FPUD Increases Board Member Per Diem
The Fallbrook Public Utility District board approved a 5% increase in the per diem pay board members receive.
The directors had been receiving $121.55 for each meeting. The board’s 5-0 vote Feb. 27 increased that amount to $127.63. Per diem payments are given for each meeting involving FPUD business, but a director may not be paid for more than 10 meetings in a month.
Late-Winter Storm Leaves Behind Flooding, Freeway Sinkhole
San Diego County received one of the heaviest soakings of the winter Wednesday from a storm that dropped 2 to 3 inches of rain at the coast and 5-plus inches in the mountains — precipitation that caused a large sinkhole on state Route 78 and numerous traffic accidents.
Caltrans said commuters began to report the sinkhole — described as “massive” by Vista Mayor John Franklin — in the middle of traffic lanes on the westbound side of the North County highway about 8:50 a.m.
Water Authority Seeks Public Input on 2024 Rate Increase and Two-Year Budget
The San Diego County Water Authority has asked for public input over the next two months as it drafts a new two-year budget and sets rates to cover the cost of water-reliability projects that keep San Diego immune from drought.
Agency staff has recommended a $1.85 billion budget for the two-year period beginning July 1, 2023, and ending June 30, 2025.
That represents a 5% increase, but the 2024 rate increase is tentatively set at 14%, though efforts are underway to lower that.
Santa Monica Has Captured Most of Its Rain This Winter
As yet another atmospheric river descends on Southern California this week, Santa Monica is prepared. Since November, the city has been using a first-of-its-kind water recycling facility to capture rain and store it underground for future use.
“Instead of this water flowing into the ocean, we’re taking that back and keeping it locally to replenish water supplies,” Santa Monica water resources manager Sunny Wang told Spectrum News 1, as he stood atop the stealthy infrastructure that makes it possible: a parking lot.
Water Use Restrictions Eased
As atmospheric rivers continue to pummel the state and reservoirs are filling beyond their historical levels, the Palmdale Water District is rolling back mandated water use restrictions.
The Board of Directors on Monday voted to change mandated water conservation measures to voluntary, removing fines and patrols for landscape watering outside the prescribed schedules.
San Diego Cliffs Likely to Collapse as Rain Continues
It’s a race against the rain as Encinitas city workers try to stabilize a growing sinkhole on Lake Drive. Rainfall last Friday totaling 1.3 inches caused the pre-existing sinkhole on Lake Drive to expand.
Patricia Dunlap, who lives nearby said, “It’s getting bigger and bigger with more rains coming. It’s a scary thing.”
Here’s How Much Rain Fell in 43 San Diego County Communities Through Early Wednesday
As the rainfall figures below show, San Diego County received heavy precipitation overnight and early Wednesday from a Pacific storm that was enhanced by moisture from the sub-tropics. The system also has kicked up 26 mph winds at San Diego International Airport. And it created fog that reduced the carrier Carl Vinson to a silhouette in San Diego Bay.
The National Weather Service said that an additional 0.50 inches to 0.70 inches could fall by Wednesday night.
Carlsbad Aquafarms Gets Grant for Living Shoreline Project
The Carlsbad Aquafarm has been allocated a $230,000 grant to install and monitor native oyster reefs and eelgrass meadows along the shore of Agua Hedionda Lagoon near the strawberry fields, the Carlsbad desalination plant and the Encina power plant.
Oysters and mussels have been grown commercially in the outer lagoon since the 1950s, when San Diego Gas & Electric Co. dredged it to make it deeper and provide a constant source of seawater to cool the power plant.
WaterSmart Makeover: Helix District Winner’s Landscape an Homage to Neighborly Inspiration
After spending his weekdays with 25 energetic 5-year-olds as a kindergarten teacher, Nick Voinov needs a place and activity that provides respite. For decades, it’s been his garden.
Voinov, who lives in La Mesa with his wife, Joanna, and their three children, originally moved into his house in 1994 with friends. His mom, Janet, had bought it the year before. It’s across the street from the family home Voinov grew up in and where Janet still lives. Voinov bought it from her 10 years later when he and Joanna married. And he’s been working in that garden, now filled with a wide variety of succulents, for more than 20 years. It was only last year that he heard about Helix Water District’s WaterSmart Landscape contest. He entered and he won, receiving a $250 gift certificate to Walter Anderson Nursery.
(Editor’s Note: This is the fifth in an occasional series on winners of the annual WaterSmart Landscape Contest, conducted in partnership with the San Diego County Water Authority. To learn about entering the next contest, visit landscapecontest.com. For details on classes and resources through the WaterSmart Landscape Makeover Program, visit www.sdcwa.org/your-water/conservation. Landscape rebates are available through the Socal WaterSmart Turf Replacement Program at socalwatersmart.com.)
