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Assemblymember Chris Holden’s Water Efficient Landscaping Bill, AB 2525, passed the Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee with a 9-3 vote. AB 2525 creates the California Water Efficient Landscaping (WEL) Program that encourages Californians to upgrade their landscape and irrigation equipment for more efficient ones. It also prioritizes participation of families that qualify for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

The San Diego County Water Authority will have $8.9 million in legal fees paid following its successful lawsuit against the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California over water rates.

The Los Angeles-based MWD now owes the San Diego authority more than $243 million, including damages, costs, interest and attorneys’ fees. “We are pleased that almost all of the attorneys’ fees and court costs incurred by the water authority to defend our water ratepayers will be recovered,” said Mark Weston, chair of the authority’s board of directors.

Vallecitos Water District customers will receive some relief from the state’s water conservation targets, as the state lowered the district’s target from 24 percent to 16 percent, officials announced on March 25.

Districts across the region have been receiving conservation relief as a result of the Carlsbad Desalination Plant coming online. The desalination plant provides the region with a “drought proof” water source, thus reducing the need for imported water that is subject to the conservation mandates.

On March 25, NOAA released its outlooks for temperature and precipitation for the month of April. These outlooks were put together keeping in mind ongoing strong El Niño conditions — which were supposed to be highly favorable for breaking the back of the California drought, or at least refilling reservoirs to above cracked-mudflat levels.

While the country east of the Rockies will be grumbling about colder than normal temperatures, Southern California will continue to be warm and sunny. Sea surface temperatures will be warmer than average — so surfing and diving and general beach activity should attract crowds to the coast.

The South Coast Water District is forging ahead as the lone agency intent on making a desalination facility in Dana Point a reality after more than 10 years of discussion.

The district, which serves customers in South Laguna, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente, wants to build a treatment plant on 30 acres of property it owns near San Juan Creek in hopes of eventually producing 15 million gallons of potable water a day.