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Poseidon Desal Plant Gets Fresh Analysis, but Coronavirus Delays Friday Meeting

/in , , /by /Orange County Registerby Martin Wisckol

Two issues that could decide the fate of the proposed Poseidon desalination plant in Huntington Beach will have to wait for public debate, as the meeting of the Regional Water Quality Control Board planned for Friday, March 13, has been cancelled because of the coronavirus.

A water board staff report prepared for the meeting provides apparent justification for the board to approve the project, but it also notes the board may disagree and request a revision. Poseidon Water needs just two more permits to go forward — one from the water board and then one from the Coastal Commission.

The workshop planned for Friday was to follow up a similar session held in December. At that meeting, several key issues continued to concern some board members, who requested additional information on whether the desalinated water was needed and whether the proposed mitigation was adequate for the environmental damage expected.

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‘Miners’ Pull Lead Bullets From the Santa Ana River. Do They Help the Environment, or Hurt it?

/in , /by /The Desert Sunby Mark Olalde

Shrapnel from ricocheting bullets hits Kenny Graham about four times a day. At this point, he just accepts it as part of his job.

As he rolled a cigarette and talked, a piece of flying metal banged viciously off a mechanical contraption with holes in it used to separate sand and rocks, not two feet from Graham’s unprotected hands. “There goes a pellet right there,” he said deadpan, seated in the dry, sandy Santa Ana River in Redlands. “Ask and you shall receive.”

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IID Board Honors National Ag Day

/in , , /by /Imperial Valley Press

The Imperial Irrigation District Board of Directors tipped their proverbial hat to the region’s farmers Tuesday by saluting National Ag Day during their regular board meeting.

Local farmers and growers providing food products for the United States and the world have celebrated for the past 47 years.

National Ag Day is March 24.

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FPUD Awards Zak Controls Contract for Conjunctive Use Project SCADA Services

/in , , /by /Village News (Fallbrook, Calif.)by Joe Naiman

Zak Controls has been awarded the Fallbrook Public Utility District contract for the supervisory control and data acquisition system programming for FPUD’s Santa Margarita River Conjunctive Use Project.

The Feb. 24 FPUD board meeting included a 5-0 vote to award the Phoenix-based company a contract for $301,738.

“It’s just for all the programming for all the controls and all the automation for the project. It’s basically to help make it so we don’t have to have people there all the time,” general manager Jack Bebee said.

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Dry Conditions in California Continue to Expand, but Will March Rains Dent the Drought?

/in , /by /Los Angeles Timesby Paul Duginski

The most recent U.S. Drought Monitor data, released Thursday, show that about 48% of California is in moderate drought. That’s up from 34% a week ago.

An additional 30% of the state is abnormally dry, according to the data.

The data were compiled Tuesday, so the figures do not reflect moisture from Southern California’s most recent storm.

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Escondido Councilman John Masson Dies

/in , , /by /San Diego Union-Tribuneby Pam Kragen and J. Harry Jones Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

Escondido — Escondido City Councilman John Masson, 55, who had served on the council since 2012, passed away Tuesday evening after a lengthy battle with cancer.

“I had the great honor to serve with John Masson on the City Council,” said former Mayor Sam Abed. “He was a great leader, a man of faith, who loved Escondido so much. His passing away is a tragic loss for his family, friends and the entire community.”

In a city press release, Escondido City Manager Jeff Epp said that Masson was a much-loved and -respected member of the city administration.

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Scattered Showers, Flash Flood Watch in San Diego Forecast for Thursday

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

More rain showers are expected Thursday throughout San Diego County and there is a chance of thunderstorms Thursday afternoon in the mountains and deserts.

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch from noon Thursday through Thursday evening in the mountains and deserts.

The low-pressure system making its way inland is expected to produce heavy rainfall at times, which could cause flooding in low-lying areas, areas with poor drainage and desert mountain slopes, forecasters said.

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Escondido City Councilmember John Masson Dies

/in , , /by /Escondido Times-Advocate Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

Flags are at half-staff over city facilities this week as the City of Escondido mourns the passing of city councilmember John Masson, who died Tuesday night of cancer.  They will remain at half-staff until Mr. Masson is interred.

The city released the following statement Wednesday afternoon: 

“The Escondido City Council is saddened to announce the passing of Councilmember John Masson. He was appointed to the Escondido City Council in 2012 and elected in November of 2014 representing District 2 and then re-elected in 2018. During his tenure on the Escondido City Council, Councilmember Masson served as the Deputy Mayor, a representative on the Economic Development Subcommittee of the City Council, representative to the San Diego County Water Authority, and as Escondido’s representative on the League of California Cities.” 

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Sweetwater Authority Displays Winning Photos at Board Reception

/in , , /by /Water News Network

Ten South Bay area high school students will be honored for their winning photos at today’s Sweetwater Authority Governing Board meeting.

Nearly 100 students from Sweetwater’s service area entered its annual water photo contest, which challenges students to showcase the importance of water in everyday life through photography. Students submitted photos in two categories.

The public is invited to an Artists’ Reception on Wednesday, March 11 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. to see all the winning photos on display. The event is being held at the Authority’s Administrative Office on 505 Garrett Avenue in Chula Vista.

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Local Scientists Launch Weather Balloons to Study ‘Atmospheric River’

/in , , /by /Fox 5 by Merrilee Moore

Local scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography are closely watching a storm system as it moves into Southern California.

Scientists are releasing weather balloons every three hours to study the storm system, classified as an atmospheric river.

“An atmospheric river is just a large amount of moisture that’s associated with the system,” said program analyst Brian Kawzenuk. “An atmospheric river is sort of what it sounds like: it’s a river in the atmosphere.”

The weather balloons will collect a plethora of data including temperature, wind speed, direction and more, allowing scientists to map out a vertical profile of the atmosphere as the system approaches.

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