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Snow Blankets the Mountains and Winds Shut Down COVID-19 Vaccinations Near Petco

One of the biggest coastal wind storms in years walloped San Diego County Monday and ushered in heavy snow that blanketed the region’s mountains and driving rain that nudged wildland areas away from the precipice of drought.

‘It’s Working’: Boom System Set Up in Tijuana Stops Piles of Trash from Flowing into California

It’s been raining in the Tijuana-San Diego region since Friday and as it always happens, much of the runoff flows from south of the border through canyons into the U.S. bringing with it tons of trash, debris and plastics.

Only this time, not as much is making its way north thanks to a trash collecting boom system that was set up in Tijuana last week.

IID to Finalize Conserved Water Payments to Growers

A constant agenda item for the Imperial Irrigation District and local growers and landowners has been the payment of conserved water, the On Farm Efficiency Conservation Program. Part of the Quantitative Settlement Agreement of 2003 is the Valley’s commitment to conserve water to send to urban cities on the coast, which the beneficiaries pay. The conserved water was first done by fallowing, which was never a popular direction, but it was unknown how much of the agreed upon water transfer could be done by growers’ efforts.

Shiver Me Timbers: High Winds Chill Out San Diegans

The second cold winter storm to arrive in the San Diego area over the past week brought more downpours, mountain snow and high winds to the region Monday. As of early Monday evening, the inclement conditions had delivered up to about three-fifths of an inch of precipitation along the coast and in the local deserts, a little more than an inch in the inland valleys, and almost 2 1/3 inches in parts of the East County highlands, according to the National Weather Service.

San Diego Optimistic About Federal Legislation to Streamline Permit for Point Loma Sewer Plant

Long-awaited federal legislation exempting San Diego from having to get a Clean Water Act waiver every five years has a strong chance of being approved this year, city officials said.

The legislation, which is required for the Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant, was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives 395-4 in November. But the U.S. Senate didn’t vote to approve it.

Virtual Meeting Addresses Asian Citrus Psyllid Finds in Fallbrook

A Jan. 12 virtual meeting addressed the finds of Asian citrus psyllids in Fallbrook. The meeting was hosted by the state’s Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Program, which is funded by California growers and administered by the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

Delinquent Water Bills Could Create Problems for Consumers, Providers

California’s state water board is warning that residents and water agencies are facing financial pressure from the coronavirus pandemic.

State officials estimate 1.6 million California households have delinquent water bills. They say that adds up to $1 billion in debt.

Major Rehabilitation of First Aqueduct Complete

The San Diego County Water Authority recently completed a major rehabilitation project on the historic First Aqueduct in North San Diego County. The project renovated and replaced dozens of structures on two large-diameter pipelines, including the historic Pipeline 1. Pipeline 1 delivered the first imported water to the San Diego region in 1947 and remains a vital part of the regional water delivery system. The construction contract for the project was worth approximately $30 million.

Rain, Snow Arrives in San Diego With More to Come

San Diegans got a taste of winter weather Saturday.

“We were actually excited when we saw the rain,” said Forest Padilla, a San Diego resident.

The cold showers lasted throughout most of the day.

“It’s nice to have the rain every once in a while,” said Travis Robertson-Howell, a San Diego resident.

But it may be even nicer to have it a little more often. The latest drought map from the National Integrated Drought Information System showed much of the San Diego region is experiencing abnormally dry conditions.

Luckily it doesn’t appear to show drought in the area. The rest of the state isn’t so lucky. According to the map, drought exists in some way in approximately 95 percent of the state. The state was drought-free at this time last year.

“At this point in the winter it is still fairly early,” said Mike Lee, public affairs manager with the San Diego County Water Authority.

Lee says it’s too soon to raise concerns.

“Just a few storms can radically improve and change the water supply conditions in the snowpack in the mountains,” said Lee. “That can happen in February, sometimes in March, and even April.”

And even if we don’t get all the rain we need, he says the county has a back-up plan.

“Every five years we go through a rigorous planning process at the county water authority and with all of our member agencies across the region to ensure that even if we were to have three, four dry years in a row that we would still have enough safe reliable water to meet our region’s needs,” said Lee.

So for now, Lee says San Diegans can enjoy the wet weather as he expects more is to come.

County Water Authority Completes First Aqueduct Project in North County

The San Diego County Water Authority has completed a major rehabilitation project on the historic First Aqueduct in North San Diego County, it was announced Thursday.

The project renovated and replaced dozens of structures on two large-diameter pipelines which delivered the first imported water to the San Diego region in 1947 and remains a part of the regional water delivery system. The construction contract for the project was worth approximately $30 million.