You are now in San Diego County category.

SANDAG Tax Measure Opponents File Lawsuit

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.

Listen Now: Interviews with Helix Water Board Candidates Mark Gracyk and Dan McMillan

September 6,2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Mark Gracyk and  Dan McMillan both say they’re running for the Helix Water District Board to stop rate hikes –and roll them back if possible.  Both are running against incumbents (Chuck  Muse and John Linden) who have repeatedly voted for rate hikes. Hear our full interview, aired on KNSJ radio,  by clicking the orange link above, and scroll down for highlights. Neither Muse nor  Linden responded to our invitation to be interviewed, nor did  three other challengers (Louis Tejeda, Aaron Zajac and Erik  Collins).

Water Agency Approves $55 Million Budget

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.

District to Conduct Water Rate Study

The water district says it’s time to seek proposals to conduct a water rate study since the last one was in 2011.

At the water board’s Aug. 9 meeting David Barnum, the district’s general manager, said the agency did not raise water rates this year in anticipation of an updated rate study. The study would include a district water model incorporating changes in water operations and, using that model, updating the water facilities plan. After identifying necessary projects in the facilities plan a consultant would develop an updated water rate study, according to district staff.

Heavy Water Users in California Could Face Penalties, $500 Fines If Drought Persists

Locked in a multi-year drought, California’s urban water suppliers have, for the most part, happily enforced rules that prohibit specific wasteful water practices, such as hosing down driveways and over-watering lawns.

But far fewer agencies have been willing to go beyond state mandates and penalize customers simply for using profligate volumes of water. The names of those heavy users have been mostly kept secret under California public records law. That’s about to change.

Fading Salton Sea Thirsting For Water

Tom Anderson stands on an overlook on the southern edge of the shallow lake. Red Rock Hill rises up near the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge, where Anderson is a deputy project manager. Anderson works to reclaim habitat for shore birds that come here to forage and feed. Agricultural runoff and evaporation team up to concentrate the salt in this land-locked lake, according to Anderson. That leaves the lake significantly saltier than the Pacific Ocean. The Salton Sea is also getting smaller.

OPINION: Finally, Progress Towards a Sustainable Salton Sea

As California’s two largest inland bodies of water go, Lake Tahoe is the stereotypical beauty queen — classically stunning, endlessly photogenic, fragile. Frankly, quite chilly yet eternally inspiring to legions of admirers. The Salton Sea is the neighbor tucked away at the far end of the street and often forgotten. Stark, spare, somewhat homely, beloved by only a select and discriminating community of devotees. The result of an accident. Unkempt. Sometimes — let’s be honest here — a little smelly.

OPINION: Wastewater Recycling and Conservation Aren’t Enough — That’s Where Desal Comes In

The same old arguments against desalination keep getting resurrected: It’s too expensive, too energy intensive, plus wastewater recycling and conservation by themselves can solve the drought problem. When put in the context of climate change, imported water and perpetual drought, none of these arguments make sense. Climate scientists are unequivocally telling Southern Californians to prepare for drought as the “new normal” (we are now experiencing the hottest year on record in the midst of the fifth year of punishing drought).

OPINION: Huntington Beach Desalination Plant Can Be More Than a Water Supply Project

This week marks the 10-year anniversary of the man-made opening of the Bolsa Chica wetlands to the Pacific Ocean. Wetlands are an essential part of coastal ecosystems. They improve water quality by filtering sediment, nutrients and pesticides, recharge groundwater, protect shorelines by increasing resistance to erosion, provide bird flyways and most importantly are incubators for a wide variety of fish. California has lost 91 percent of its wetlands, more than any other state.

Even Though Water Restrictions Lifted, Conservation Should Be a Way of Life for Californians

While the state of California has eased its restrictions on water use in response to a moderately wet winter, the drought is not over yet, and there are simple ways you can continue to save water around your home. Residents should be aware of the options available to reduce outdoor water use, while preserving beautiful outdoor landscapes, including lawns.The good news is that you can take steps to save significant amounts of water, and it does not have to be a death sentence to your landscaping.