Cooling Pacific Ocean conditions that follow an El Nino and known to hinder winter storms from dousing California have weakened enough that forecasters “La Nina watch” Thursday. In wake of one the strongest El Ninos ever recorded, Pacific Ocean water temperatures are gradually returning to normal and there is only a 40 percent chance of a strong La Nina developing this winter, climate scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in a monthly update.The update sparks optimism that El Nino’s drier sibling won’t materialize over drought-riddled California, despite NOAA scientists in May giving La Nina a 75 percent chance of developing.

Gov. Jerry Brown extended the nation’s most ambitious climate change law Thursday by another 10 years as California charts a new goal to reduce carbon pollution.The Democratic governor signed the legislation in a Los Angeles park amid opposition from the oil industry, business groups and Republicans. It expands on California’s landmark 2006 law, which set a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. The state is poised to meet or exceed that benchmark, with steps including restricting the carbon content of gasoline and diesel fuel, encouraging sales of zero-emission vehicles and imposing a tax on pollution, Brown said.

Californians are still saving water despite the recent lifting of mandatory statewide conservation, but not as much as they were last year at the peak of the drought, water officials said Wednesday. Monthly figures showed water conservation in cities and towns statewide dropped 1 percent in July from the previous month. July water-savings were down 11 percent from July 2015, which marked peak urban water conservation under last year’s mandatory 25-percent statewide cutbacks for cities and towns.

Opponents of Measure A, which would hike San Diego County’s sales tax by a half-cent to fund infrastructure projects, announced on Tuesday that they’ve filed a lawsuit challenging the accuracy of supporters’ ballot statements. It’s the second court action involving the veracity of local ballot arguments. A judge said he would rule next week on the statement provided by opponents of Measure B, a planned residential development in the Lilac Hills section of Valley Center. The San Diego Association of Governments placed Measure A on the ballot, and it has received the blessing of the San Diego County Taxpayers Association.

The Sweetwater Authority board recently finalized its budget and water rates, approving a $55 million budget for the 2016-17 fiscal year with no rate increase for residential customers. At the Aug. 29 public hearing, the board voted for a rate decrease for commercial customers and an increase for public agency customers. Despite no local rate increases, residential customers will see a slight increase in the San Diego County Water Authority pass-through rates beginning January 1, 2017, said Rich Stevenson, the Sweetwater’s finance director.