You are now in Media Coverage San Diego County category.

California Lithium Tax Would Delay Shipments to Automakers, Executives Warn

/in , /by /Reutersby Ernest Scheyder

A proposed flat-rate tax on lithium produced in California’s Salton Sea region will delay deliveries of the electric vehicle battery metal to General Motors Co and Stellantis NV and may push some mining companies to exit the state entirely, industry executives told Reuters.

The brewing tension comes as America’s largest state is trying to position itself as a leader in the green energy revolution and as supplies of lithium have failed to match surging demand amid the push to phase out gasoline-powered vehicles.

Full Story

More Beauty, Less Water Wins Sweetwater Authority’s 2022 Landscape Contest

/in , , /by /Water News Network

The Sweetwater Authority named Nancy Cavanah of Chula Vista its 2022 winner of the WaterSmart Landscape Contest. Cavanah was recognized at the Authority’s June Governing Board meeting.

The Cavanah’s landscape was selected from a diverse pool of applicants as the best example of how to create a beautiful landscape using less water.

Full Story

Newly Opened Menifee Desalination Facility Will Provide Water for 15,000 Residents

/in , , /by /KVCR-FM by Jonathan Linden

Eastern Municipal Water District opened the “Perris II Desalter” facility last week, which has become the third such facility for the agency.

“This is truly a critical facility for us to be able to continue to serve our customers in a reliable and resilient fashion, especially given that we are facing historic drought conditions,” said EMWD general manager Joe Mouawad.

Full Story

Newsom Has a Plan to Keep the Lights on in California — Using Fossil Fuels

/in , /by /Los Angeles Timesby Sammy Roth

A controversial plan from Gov. Gavin Newsom would reshape how business is done on the California power grid, potentially helping to extend the life of beachfront gas plants and the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant, making it easier for solar and wind farm developers to sidestep local government opposition, and limiting environmental reviews for all kinds of energy projects.

State lawmakers could vote as early as Wednesday night on the polarizing legislation, whose text was revealed late Sunday.

Full Story

Landscape Diversity Showcased By 2022 Olivenhain Municipal Water District Contest Winner

/in , , /by /Water News Network

Mike and Cathy Godfrey’s water-efficient landscape design is the winner of the Olivenhain Municipal Water District’s 2022 WaterSmart Landscape Contest.

“Maximizing water efficiency outdoors is especially important as drought conditions remain in effect across the state,” said OMWD Board Director Neal Meyers. “Showcasing the diversity and beauty of California-friendly landscaping can encourage others to swap their grass for climate-appropriate designs and bring awareness to the benefits of sustainable landscaping.”

Full Story

In Wake of Poseidon Plants Denial South Coast Water Looks to Fill Hole in County’s Water Portfolio

/in , , /by /Dana Point Timesby Breeana Greenburg

As the State of California faces a record drought, ocean desalination has been highlighted as a potentially more reliable alternative to imported water.

Following the California Coastal Commission’s unanimous vote to deny permits for the Brookfield-Poseidon Desalination plant in Huntington Beach last month, the South Coast Water District is working to obtain all major permits for its own desalination plant near Doheny by the end of the year.

Full Story

California’s ‘Broken’ Water Supply Forecast to Be Audited

/in , , /by /ABC 10

There’ll be an audit of California’s water supply forecast after the state overestimated and prematurely released 700,000 acre-feet of water last year, officials announced Monday.

A news release from Assemblymember Adam Gray (D-Merced) announced that Gray’s request for audit was approved. It aims to examine the impacts of the flawed forecasts and the Department of Water Resources and State Water Board.

Full Story

Burbank Tightens Water Restrictions After Usage Jumps 22% in March, 17% in April

/in , /by /CBS Newsby Darleene Powells

Burbank is tightening its water restrictions as the drought worsens, with a goal of cutting water usage by 15%.

Stage III of Burbank’s sustainable water use ordinance goes into effect immediately. City officials say water reduction efforts started out strong, with the city achieving targets in December and January. But Burbank’s water conservation efforts relapsed in a major way since then, with usage jumping to 22.1% in March and 17.0% in April.

Full Story

Renegade Sewage Flows Still Seep Across Border, but There Is Progress

/in , /by /KPBSby Erik Anderson

The big fix for the region’s border sewage problem remains several years away, but that does not mean sewage will flow unabated until then.

Some recent smaller-scale projects are already having an impact on the dry-weather flows coming through the Tijuana River channel. And planning for a large-scale fix continues moving forward.

Full Story

As Drought Pummels Northern Mexico, Baja Weighs Buying Water from Mexicali’s Farmers

/in , /by /Voice of San Diegoby MacKenzie Elmer and Vicente Calderón

The drought is hitting northern Mexico so hard that the state of Baja will likely have to buy water from farmers in the agricultural region of Mexicali.

That’s what Vicente Calderón, my collaborator on the Tijuana River Pollution crisis series, reported last week. He tapped José Armando Fernández Samaniego, the Baja secretary for water management, sanitation and protection, for more details and here’s what he learned.

Full Story