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Texts Reveal Political Maneuvering Ahead Of MWD’s Delta Tunnels Vote

/in , /by /Los Angeles Timesby Bettina Boxall

The days leading up to a key funding vote on the delta tunnels project were marked by intense politicking and head-counting by board members at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. The behind-the-scenes campaign to get the board to approve nearly $11 billion in financing for the water delivery project is spelled out in a series of texts and emails that Metropolitan released Thursday in response to a Public Records Act request filed by two groups that challenged the April 10 approval.

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Why Southern California Is Calling For A Do-Over On Its Vote To Bankroll The Delta Tunnels

/in , /by /The Sacramento Beeby Dale Kasler and Ryan Sabalow Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

A historic vote on the Delta tunnels project is getting a do-over. Southern California’s powerful water agency — the Metropolitan Water District — said Thursday its board will vote again in July on whether to pay for the lion’s share of the project, known officially as California WaterFix. The announcement comes after environmentalists and an open government group complained that Metropolitan directors violated the Brown Act before voting in April to support the tunnels. The Brown Act sets rules intended to prevent government boards from making decisions behind closed doors.

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Details On New Bills Restriction Water Usage In California

/in , /by /KUSI News

Governor Jerry Brown signed two bills Wednesday that will place new restrictions on the amount of water you can use each day. KUSI was joined by Jeff Stephenson, a principal water resources specialist for San Diego County Water Authority with specifics on the laws and what it means for San Diego.

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Officials Scrambled To Seal Twin Tunnels Deal Out Of Fear Newsom Could Kill It

/in , /by /Voice Of San Diegoby Ry Rivard Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

Water officials and members of Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration rushed to seal the deal on a multibillion-dollar plan to build two tunnels to move water south from Northern California partly out of fear that Gavin Newsom could undo the whole plan if he becomes governor, newly released documents show. In fact, the jockeying was so intense, watchdog groups have alleged the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California broke state open meeting laws when it approved the project two months ago, and now Metropolitan is planning to re-vote.

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OPINION: Can You Believe California Has Same-Day Laundry And Shower Limits? No, You Can’t.

/in , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby Luis Gomez

Is it suddenly illegal for Californians to take a shower and do laundry on the same day? And are Californians fleeing the state because of these “limits”? No. Seriously — no. A conservative columnist drew pushback and other reactions on social media on Wednesday when she made the declaration about ex-Californians in a column and tied it to a bogus claim that a new state law makes it illegal for people to shower and do their laundry on the same day.

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San Diego Is Getting A Future ‘WaterFix’

/in , /by /The Coast Newsby Adam Bradley

San Diegans are you ready for a WaterFix? Maybe you’d like water that is more reliable and tastes better? It’s on its way, but there are a few more approvals needed before this can happen, according to Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s General Manager Jeffrey Kightlinger. The project, called California WaterFix, is expected to modernize the state’s decades-old water delivery system by building three new water intakes in the northern Delta and two tunnels to carry the water under the Delta to the existing aqueduct systems in the southern Delta that delivers water to cities and farms.

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SoCal Water Giant Will Redo Delta Tunnels Vote Amid Pushback

/in , /by /Courthouse News Service (Pasadena)by Nick Cahill

Dodging claims that it violated open government and transparency laws before voting to spend $10 billion on a contentious water project, California’s largest water supplier said Thursday it will vote again. Despite acknowledging that some of its board members privately discussed the contentious project known as the Delta Tunnels before a critical April vote, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California insists it didn’t violate the state’s revered Brown Act.

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O.C. Water District Delays Vote On Huntington Beach Desalination Project’s Rate Plan

/in , /by /Los Angeles Timesby Priscella Vega Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

The Orange County Water District delayed voting Wednesday on updated terms for buying water from the proposed Huntington Beach ocean desalination plant. Board members wanted more time to review the rate plan and gather additional community feedback on an updated rate sheet, which was made public Friday with the meeting agenda. Several community members, environmental activists and water district representatives raised concerns. The 10-member board voted unanimously to reconsider the proposal July 18. If approved, the non-binding, updated term sheet would shorten the length of the contract between the water district and Poseidon Water from 50 years to 30 or 35 years.

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Carl DeMaio On New Bill Restricting Water Usage In California

/in , /by /KUSI News

A new California law will make it illegal for Californians to shower and do a load of laundry on the same day. The law signed by Governor Jerry Brown will limit individuals daily water use to 55 gallons. Gov. Brown signing AB 1668 sponsored by Assemblywoman Laura Friedman (D-Glendale) and SB 606 sponsored by Senator Robert Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys), will implement strict water use limits by January 1, 2020; long-term water use efficiency standards by June 30, 2022; and manage their assigned water rationing goals beginning in 2027. KUSI was joined by Chairman of Reform California Carl DeMaio with more on this new bill.

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Water District Delays Tentative Deal With Poseidon For Desalination Plant

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

Acknowledging opponents’ concerns, the Orange County Water District board on Wednesday night postponed a vote on updated terms for buying water from the desalination plant proposed for Huntington Beach by Poseidon Resources. The nonbinding term sheet, which will be considered again July 18, would revise the groundwork for an eventual contract if Poseidon gets the final two regulatory permits needed for construction and the district decides to proceed. Some 18 residents, environmental activists and representatives from other water districts leveled criticism at the project, questioning the need, the cost and the track record of Poseidon’s 2 1/2-year-old desalter plant in Carlsbad.

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