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Resident Requests More Transparency From Water District; Board Elects Robinson President

Jim Robinson is returning to the Ramona Municipal Water District Board as board president. The longtime Ramona resident, appointed to fill a vacancy left when Joe Zenovic resigned, began representing Division 4 on the board on Feb. 13. At that meeting, board directors unanimously elected Robinson president; Jim Hickle, Division 2, vice president; Bryan Wadlington, Division 5, secretary; Jeff Lawler, Division 1, treasurer; and Thomas Ace, Division 3, director at large.

Water Use Surges In San Diego, Parts Of Southern California As Drought Conditions Loom

As dry conditions persist in California, residents in San Diego County and around the state have started using water at levels not seen since before the state’s historic drought. In Southern California, usage surpassed pre-drought levels — with some water districts seeing two- and three-fold increases in consumption for December over the same month the previous year, according to data released in February by state water officials.

State Water Board Considers Making Water Wasting Rules Permanent State Law

State water regulators met in Sacramento Tuesday to consider making water wasting rules permanent state law, according to The Mercury News.The State Water Resources Control Board held the public hearing, but it’s unclear whether a final vote would come Tuesday, or at a later date. The talks come amid one of the driest winters in modern California history. The rules being discussed were originally enacted during the last drought.

Judge Orders A New Look At California Water Transfer Program

A federal judge ordered federal regulators to reevaluate the environmental impacts of a popular California water program that allows farmers to sell water to parched southern cities and water districts during droughts. In a 133-page ruling on Feb. 15, U.S. District Judge Lawrence O’Neill declared “unlawful” parts of environmental reviews approved by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for a 10-year water transfer program. The plaintiffs, led by AquAlliance, include water agencies of the south, central and north delta, and the California Sportfishing Alliance.

OPINION: California Officials On Water Storage: What, Me Worry?

A defining quality of California’s state government is sluggishness. It’s common for audits of state agencies to note that problems identified in previous audits remain unresolved. Now Californians are witnessing an especially egregious example of this state trait. Forty months after state voters reacted to a brutal drought by lopsidedly approving a $7.5 billion water bond, none of the $2.7 billion the measure set aside for water storage projects has been appropriated by the California Water Commission.

California Watchdog Delays Making Water-Wasting Rules Permanent

California’s water regulator punted a raft of regulations to fine water hogs up to $500, even as the Golden State plunges back into drought. While the California State Water Resources Control Board delayed making a decision until next month in order to add to the regulations, opponents of the new restrictions – or how they’re being implemented – hinted at future litigation and the possibility of a prolonged battle. “We support the regulations but we remain concerned about the means and the process,” said Rob Donlan, a Sacramento-based water rights attorney.

State To Ban Wasteful Uses Of Water, But It Won’t Actually Save That Much

You’ve seen them: the sprinklers that only water the sidewalk, or the people who let the hose run while they wash their cars. On Tuesday, state water officials are expected to vote to ban those and other wasteful uses of water—for good. But the catch is, it won’t actually save that much water.

Lack Of Rain Makes Desert Wildflower Super Blooms Unlikely This Year

Barring a miracle in the next six weeks, experts say there will be no desert wildflower “super bloom” this year. Less than one inch of rain has hit the desert floor in Borrego Springs since September. In contrast, by the end of February last year, the total was seven inches. Those six inches could translate into perhaps 500,000 fewer visitors to the desert this spring.

Colder Temperatures, Snow Headed For Southern California

A low-pressure system moving in from the north is expected to bring snow showers in the mountains and foothills of Los Angeles and Ventura counties along with the coldest temperatures in the region so far this winter season, forecasters said. The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory beginning Sunday evening for snow, gusty winds and icy road conditions in mountain areas, including Interstate 5 near the Grapevine, Highway 14 through Soledad Canyon and Highway 33 above Ojai. The advisory will be in effect from 6 p.m. Sunday until 3 a.m. Tuesday.

Expert Tells NBC 7 Responds Installation of New Smart Water Meter System Plays Pivotal Role

Smart water meters, or meters that can relay your water-use wirelessly, are the future. Officials say the new meters can help customers conserve and even send alerts when waterline leaks are detected but installing the technology is critical to its success.  Water billing was brought up at Thursday night’s public forum, hosted by Councilmember Chris Cate, where hundreds of homeowners who had questions about their water bills attended.  “Every single time the water bill will come,” one homeowner said, “I will open it and I will be like, what is going on?”