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Fishermen, water skiers and boating enthusiasts filled the San Vicente Reservoir in Lakeside Thursday morning, marking the grand re-opening of the popular recreation area after eight years. Some people were so eager, they camped out overnight outside at the front gate off Moreno Avenue. The reservoir, owned by the city of San Diego, shut down to visitors Sept. 2, 2008. It closed so the San Diego County Water Authority could raise the height of the reservoir’s concrete dam by more than 100 feet to increase its water storage. The dam is now at 337 feet.

California’s water problem is severe. Despite 2016 seeing a distinct improvement in precipitation over previous years, to almost average levels in many areas, much of the state is in extreme drought. As well as ordering mandatory water reductions, the state has also been looking to other solutions.

“Shade balls,” the 4-inch wide black plastic balls pictured above blanketing Los Angeles Reservoir, have been touted as one of those solutions. But they’re not. The primary purpose of the release, which went viral last year, was to obey Federal rules on covering drinking water. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) had previously used the balls in smaller reservoirs, and in the case of the Los Angeles Reservoir, says the balls helped the department save more than $250 million over installing a more permanent cover.

One of the few upsides to California’s drought is that it has helped reduce pollution at some urban beaches, because less precipitation has meant less runoff from city streets and other paved surfaces. This in turn means less pollution draining into streams and bays.

Urban runoff is the number one source of pollution in places like Santa Monica Bay in Southern California. But the city is not relying on drought to help stop the problem. Instead it has taken the lead in implementing solutions, like “green streets” and runoff recycling to catch urban runoff before it hits the bay.

Ever wonder how much recycled water is being created in Orange County? As of September, 2016, the answer is, more than anywhere else. The Orange County Water and Sanitation department announced that they have been able to produce 200 billion gallons of recycled water. That statement, made by officials, is reportedly a “drop in the bucket” for the ground-breaking ability that made this venture the largest project of its kind. The Groundwater Replenishment System is a joint venture between the OC Water District and the OC Sanitation District.

A tropical storm system brought heavy rain into San Diego’s South Bay early Tuesday. The most active area before 6 a.m. was south of Interstate 8 where pop-up storms dumped a lot of rain in a short period. The South Bay was getting pummeled, according to NBC 7’s Whitney Southwick. “It’s all coming from what was Hurricane Paine, now Tropical Storm Paine,” Southwick said. “As it continues north, it will continue to weaken.”