California Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration on Thursday proposed spending nearly $400 million over 10 years to slow the shrinking of the state’s largest lake just as it is expected to evaporate an accelerated pace. The plan involves building ponds on the northern and southern ends of the Salton Sea, a salty, desert lake that has suffered a string of environmental setbacks since the late 1970s. During its heyday of international speed boat races, it drew more visitors than Yosemite National Park and celebrities including Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby and the Beach Boys.

San Diego’s top water quality official worries that a new desalination plant in Mexico could worsen the decades-long problem of sewage spilling across the border into the United States. The connection between that plant and sewage spills may not be obvious. But there are three connections: wastewater management, money and politics. For years, Mexican officials have been working to build a desalination plant in Rosarito Beach that would eventually make 100 million gallons a day of Pacific Ocean water drinkable.

What a difference one year and one wet winter makes. Last year, 100 percent of the imported water needed to run the North County economy came from the Colorado River. These days, not a drop is coming from the Colorado. Instead, all of the imported water coming out of your tap is from Northern California. Both sources come from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and meet the highest health standards. But there is a big difference for the North County, particularly if you are a farmer or happen to make a little beer (or a lot).

Golden State Water Company (Golden State Water) Vice President of Environmental Quality William C. Gedney has been appointed to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s (Metropolitan) Board of Directors, representing the 46 water providers and nearly 2 million customers served by the Central Basin Municipal Water District (Central Basin). Gedney began a two-year term on the Central Basin Board of Directors in February 2017. Metropolitan’s 38-member Board of Directors represents the District’s 26 member agencies and is responsible for establishing and administering Metropolitan’s policies and upholding the articles in the MWD Act.

Baja California’s governor is preparing to declare a state of emergency in the coming days, hoping to draw financial aid for Tijuana’s strained and underfunded sewage system following a massive spill that sent millions of gallons of untreated wastewater from Tijuana across the border and into San Diego last month.