San Diego County / Southern California

The latest news and analysis covering water issues in the San Diego County region and Southern California.

California Snowpack, Local Reservoir Levels Slowly Growing

California remains in a serious drought, but the good news is that El Niño-driven storms are slowing rebuilding the Sierra snowpack and raising reservoir levels in San Diego County. The state snowpack stood at 110 percent of normal level for this time of year on Friday, and reservoirs in San Diego County were at their […]

Water Regulators Propose Further Relaxation of Conservation Requirements

Water providers that have struggled in recent months to meet conservation targets could soon get some relief under the modified drought rules unveiled Friday by state regulators.   The proposed changes to California’s emergency drought regulation reward water districts for investing in new local supplies and allow for adjustments to savings goals based on a […]

Judge Orders MWD to Release Data on Recipients of Turf Replacement Rebates

A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge ruled Friday that the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California must release the names and addresses of recipients of millions of dollars in turf replacement rebates.   The L.A. Department of Water and Power sued MWD in late July to block the release of the data to the […]

When It Pours in Dry LA, Water Quickly Runs Out To Sea

Winter rains finally hit water-starved southern California in January. The first bands of El Niño storms delivered around three inches to Los Angeles alone, and more is expected. But nearly all that water went straight into the Pacific Ocean. After four years of punishing drought, that may seem like a colossal waste, but the people […]