Posts

Dissecting the Use of Water Management Plans in California

/in , /by /California Water Blogby Nicola Ulibarri

California uses plans as a primary tool for managing water throughout the state. Regulations like the Urban Water Management Planning Act of 1983, Regional Water Management Planning Act of 2002, Water Conservation Act of 2009, and Sustainable Groundwater Management Act of 2014 require local water agencies to write plans documenting their available water supplies and develop approaches to use water more sustainably and/or ensure a secure supply.

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San Diego’s Imported Water Supply May Not Be as Secure as Hoped

/in , /by /KPBSby Erik Anderson

San Diego water managers exude an understated confidence when they talk about the regional drought that is drying up California and the Colorado River Basin.

 

(Editor’s Note: Under the conserved water transfer agreement with the Imperial Irrigation District (IID), the San Diego County Water Authority funds conservation in the Imperial Valley that generates highly reliable and cost-effective conserved water for the San Diego region. This conserved water supply is largely insulated because of IID’s high priority rights, which IID retains.) 

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Most Californians View State’s Water Shortage as Extremely Serious, Poll Finds

/in , , /by /Los Angeles Timesby Ian James

Most Californians agree the state’s drought situation is very serious, but only a minority of voters say they and their families have been significantly affected by the current water shortage, according to a new poll.

The survey of more than 9,000 voters statewide found that 71% said the state’s water shortage is “extremely serious,” while 23% described it as somewhat serious.

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Water Deliveries Halted to Farmers in Oregon, California

/in , /by /AP News

The Klamath Irrigation District in southern Oregon has reversed course and now says it has complied with a U.S. government order to stop delivering water to farmers in the drought-stricken area.

The district’s directors initially defied the federal government’s order to shut off water to the Klamath Project, but the Klamath Irrigation District has since closed a canal after federal officials threatened to withhold millions in drought assistance, the Capital Press reported Wednesday.

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Opinion: California — Where Extreme Drought and ‘Megaflood’ Potential Collide

/in , , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby Michael Smolens

California’s water future is dire indeed — there’s not only the likelihood of too little, but also the possibility of way too much.

The potential for broad, devastating effects of climate change have become familiar over the years. In recent times, the prospect of actually running out of water has gone from the abstract to a realistic scenario in some regions of California and the Southwest.

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Opinion: California Dodges Colorado River Water Cutbacks

/in , , /by /CalMattersby Dan Walters

One cannot overstate the importance of Colorado River water in the evolution of Southern California from a collection of small cities and villages into a megaregion of 20-plus million people — more than the population of all but three states.

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Colorado River Agreements: Why California was Spared and Arizona Wasn’t

/in , , /by /The Gazetteby Marianne Goodland

Tuesday’s announcement by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation that it would require Arizona and Nevada to reduce their annual allocation of water from the Colorado River came as no surprise to most water experts.

The reductions announced by Reclamation Commissioner Camille Touton have been part of a long-standing agreement, known as the interim guidelines, since 2007.

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California Heat Waves In 30 Years Could Be Longer, Hotter and More Frequent, Research Shows

/in , /by /San Francisco Chronicleby Danielle Echeverria

A new report shows what temperatures in the United States could look like in 30 years — and the outlook isn’t good.

The report, from the First Street Foundation, a climate-focused research organization, found that temperatures will likely rise everywhere due to climate change, though the way that is expected to play out varies in different parts of the U.S.

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What La Niña Means for Fall in California

/in , /by /KRON 4by Alix Martichoux

We’ve been stuck with La Niña for a long time – and, according to the latest National Weather Service outlook, we’re not getting rid of her just yet. There’s an 80% probability La Niña conditions persist between September and November, which will have an impact on fall weather in California.

La Niña usually splits California into two halves: bringing wetter conditions to the northern part of the state and drier conditions to the south.

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As Summer Begins, Thinking About Our Drought Problem: Empathy

/in , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby Steven P. Dinkin

In the rainless season we call summer in California, images of shrinking bodies of water have a way of looming large.

After more than 22 years of drought compounded by warmer temperatures, Lake Mead and Lake Powell — water sources that are vital to life in the Southwest — have declined to their lowest levels since they were filled. The two reservoirs now sit at just 28 percent of capacity.

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