Artifacts find in Owens Lake may lead to DWP fines
Posted by: Maven on February 9, 2012 at 6:12 amFrom the Los Angeles Daily News:
“A $1 billion effort by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to limit dust pollution in the Owens Valley has run into an unexpected roadblock that could delay the project and force the utility to pay stiff environmental fines.
In December, workers found thousands of American Indian artifacts in dense collection on the bed of Owens Lake. The DWP is preparing for the next phase in a project to control windblown toxic dust at the site, nearly 200 miles north of Los Angeles in the Eastern Sierra.
Part of the dust-control program that began in 2001 – after years of litigation and negotiations between the utility and the Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District – has now been forced to halt. … “
Continue reading from the Los Angeles Daily News by clicking here.
L.A. City Council signs off on raising water bills to pay for work required by feds
Posted by: Maven on February 9, 2012 at 6:10 amFrom the Los Angeles Daily News:
“The Los Angeles City Council gave its final approval Wednesday for the Department of Water and Power to hike customers’ water rates beginning in late March.
The increase, needed by DWP to comply with water-quality mandates, will add about $1.71 to the average family’s monthly charges.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa still needs to approve the rate hike. Spokesman Peter Sanders said Wednesday the mayor supports the increase. … “
Continue reading from the Los Angeles Daily News by clicking here.
Redlands: City may win flood control grant; Redlands seeks $5 million to create a flood-control basin that would curtail downtown overflow woes
Posted by: Maven on February 9, 2012 at 6:00 amFrom the Riverside Press-Enterprise:
“A $5 million state grant that Redlands has been recommended for would allow the city to develop a flood control project to protect property in an area from the University of Redlands to the downtown district.
City officials may not know until the end of the month whether they will receive the money through the Flood Corridor Program 2010-2011 Competitive Grant process. Redlands was one of 12 California agencies chosen to be on a preliminary list, but the final selection wasn’t to be made until after a public comment period that ended Wednesday, city spokesman Carl Baker said. … “
Continue reading from the Riverside Press-Enterprise by clicking here.
Los Angeles City Hall grounds to get a modified makeover
Posted by: Maven on February 8, 2012 at 7:31 amFrom the Los Angeles Times:
“The park surrounding Los Angeles City Hall will soon be getting a California makeover, with less green grass and more native and drought-tolerant plants.
The City Council voted Tuesday on a plan to restore the grounds around the building after the sprawling lawn was destroyed last year by the Occupy L.A. encampment. Officials considered several options, including one that called for much of the grass to be replanted and another that would have eliminated nearly all of the turf and replaced it with plants that require less water. … “
Continue reading from the Los Angeles Times by clicking here.
Barry Nelson: The Southern California trend toward reduced reliance on the Delta – price matters
Posted by: Maven on February 7, 2012 at 8:19 amFrom Barry Nelson at the NRDC Switchboard blog:
“Last week, I posted this piece about Southern California Urban Water Management Plans. Those plans show a significant trend toward investments in local supplies and reduced reliance on imported water. That trend is likely to grow, in part because of the rising cost of imported water.
Our analysis revealed that imported water from MWD now costs LADWP $912 per acre-foot, when all related costs are included. This is more expensive than some conservation, recycled water and stormwater projects. That’s nearly as expensive as the low end of desalted groundwater in the Chino basin. (There is more data on costs in the study.) … “
Continue reading from the NRDC Switchboard blog by clicking here.
Southern California Water Committee releases report highlighting stormwater capture opportunities
Posted by: Maven on February 7, 2012 at 7:34 amFrom the Southern California Water Committee, this press release:
“The Southern California Water Committee’s (SCWC) Stormwater Task Force today released a first-ever report examining strategies to maximize stormwater capture throughout the coastal plain (Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside and San Diego counties). The report, “Opportunities to Increase Water Supplies in Southern California,” is the result of a year-long collaborative effort among local governments, flood control districts, public water agencies, environmental organizations, development interests and private sector companies throughout Southern California that have made water-use efficiency a priority.
“In California, we cannot take water for granted, and it’s more important than ever to seek out new and improved ways to capture and utilize local sources while protecting the environment. Until this effort began, there was no regional coordination in place on stormwater issues, everyone was working independently,” said Mark Pestrella, chairman of SCWC’s Stormwater Task Force and assistant director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works. “We are much more effective when we share ideas and work together toward common goals.”
The report released today examines how the region as a whole can work collaboratively within the current regulatory framework to achieve shared goals of attaining clean, safe water bodies and a sustainable water supply. Elements of the report include:
● Analysis of existing statewide policies, goals and regional plans related to integrated stormwater management to encourage recharge of groundwater aquifers;
● Regional trends, consistent conditions and other regulatory requirements of “Clean Water Act” MS4 permits in relation to both opportunities and constraints to maximizing stormwater capture for water supply purposes;
● Analysis of stormwater management strategies, from onsite low-impact development on individual properties to watershed and larger regional stormwater capture and infiltration facilities.
The greening of Tujunga Wash continues with next phase
Posted by: Maven on February 7, 2012 at 7:29 amFrom the Los Angeles Daily News:
“Standing at the Vanowen Street overpass above Tujunga Wash, one can take in two distinct views.
To the north is a concrete-lined channel surrounded by a bleached, barren expanse of dirt. To the south, a landscape lush with plants and chirping birds.
The green portion is about to grow.
On Monday, workers are set to begin tearing up the dirt along the channel from Vanowen Street to Sherman Way. Within five months, native trees and shrubs will be growing there, alongside a meandering man-made stream, trails and benches. … “
Continue reading from the Los Angeles Daily News by clicking here.
Santa Monica’s big step for sustainability
Posted by: Maven on February 7, 2012 at 7:24 amFrom the Bay-Citizen:
Thousand Oaks council to tackle water rates Tuesday
Posted by: Maven on February 6, 2012 at 7:11 amFrom the Ventura County Star:
“A proposed water rate increase for Thousand Oaks customers will be the subject of a public hearing before the City Council on Tuesday night.
The city provides water for 16,900 customers in central Thousand Oaks. Private companies California American and California Water Service serve the Newbury Park and Westlake portions of the city, respectively. They have rate increase applications pending before the California Public Utilities Commission.
If the council approves the increase, base rates will increase by 10.18 percent overall, according to a staff reports. … “
Continue reading from the Ventura County Star by clicking here.
Prospect of dry weather has San Bernardino water officials thankful for banking for non-rainy days
Posted by: Maven on February 6, 2012 at 7:07 amFrom the San Bernardino Sun:
“It wasn’t long ago when San Bernardino County water officials were thinking about making sure that the season’s rains get properly stored in area basins.
Weather forecasters were talking about another wet winter in local mountains, on par with last year’s huge amounts.
But those rains and snows just haven’t come.
In fact, if the dry weather seen so far this year persists, the region is in for one of the driest years on record, said Douglas Headrick, general manager of the San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District. … “
Continue reading from the San Bernardino Sun by clicking here.
Barry Nelson: Southern California’s new wave of local water supplies
Posted by: Maven on February 4, 2012 at 7:41 amFrom Barry Nelson at the NRDC Switchboard blog:
“Last week, the Luskin Center at UCLA sponsored a conference called “The Future of Water in Southern California.” The conference lived up to its ambitious title. That event also prompted me to write about an interesting analysis of the plans of Southern California water agencies, which was completed for NRDC several months ago.
The Luskin Center conference featured a range of Southern California water leaders (including two NRDC colleagues) in a lengthy discussion of future water strategies for the Southland. The discussion revealed a dramatic trend. Southern California water leaders see the development of local supplies – through conservation, water recycling, groundwater management and other tools – as the primary strategy for providing new water. … “
Continue reading from Barry Nelson at the NRDC Switchboard blog by clicking here.
Perris: Construction begins on sewer system
Posted by: Maven on February 4, 2012 at 7:00 amFrom the Riverside Press-Enterprise:
“Preliminary construction is under way on a $15 million sewer system to replace inadequate septic tanks in the Enchanted Heights section of Perris.
The work is ahead of schedule.
Initial digging along Enchanted Heights streets has revealed less granite — and therefore fewer potential problems of breaking through difficult bedrock — than previously expected. … “
Continue reading from the Riverside Press-Enterprise by clicking here.
Chance of Rain blog: High good, low bad: Lake Mead in January 2012, plus comments from the Cadiz meeting in Joshua Tree
Posted by: Maven on February 4, 2012 at 6:55 amFrom the Chance of Rain blog:
“As promised, some Friday notes on Lake Mead, Colorado River snowpack and two public comment meetings on the groundwater mining project proposed for Cadiz Valley in the eastern California Mojave.
First, according to the federal Bureau of Reclamation, Lake Mead closed January 2012 at 1,134.18 feet. The good news is that the continued decanting of last year’s record snowpack down the Colorado River storage system has pushed Mead, its largest reservoir, to 58% full, the highest elevation since 2006. … “
Continue reading from the Chance of Rain blog by clicking here.
Downey Patriot: Saving water from your clothes washer & dishwasher
Posted by: Maven on February 3, 2012 at 7:18 amFrom the Downey Patriot:
“In one sense, it’s amazing how many public programs there are hoping to convince you to save water. They have catchy names, like “WaterSense,” “Energy Star,” “Bewaterwise,” “SoCal Water Smart,” “Shut Your Tap” (my personal favorite), and the City of Downey Department of Public Works Utilities Division. Okay, maybe that last one wasn’t quite so catchy. But you get the idea.
On the other hand, these public agencies are acutely aware that the water supply is among our most precious resources. And in California in particular, these same public organizations recognize that constant care and vigilance are necessary to insure that our water supply is able to meet the needs of the population.
So we continue this week with our assessment of water conservation tips as provided by the aforementioned (not too catchy) Public Works Utilities Division. We are still seeking ways to conserve water indoors, and still more opportunities present themselves, specifically with clothes washers and dishwashers. … “
Continue reading from the Downey Patriot by clicking here.
PG & E agrees to $3.6 million settlement; half goes to Hinkley school
Posted by: Maven on February 3, 2012 at 7:14 amFrom the San Bernardino Sun:
“Pacific Gas & Electric Co. has agreed to pay a $3.6 million fine for violating a regulatory agency’s order to contain a plume of chromium 6 contaminated water to the boundaries known in 2008, company and regulatory officials confirmed Wednesday night.
Since the third quarter of 2011, the known plume boundary has grown northward by about two miles, although officials say the plume may have been in that space for some time previously.
At PG & E’s insistence, half of the fine will go to Hinkley Elementary School to develop a whole water replacement system. … “
Continue reading from the San Bernardino Sun by clicking here.
LA DWP customers might get water bill hike
Posted by: Maven on February 2, 2012 at 7:35 amFrom the Los Angeles Daily News:
“Los Angeles residents could begin paying more for water next month, with the City Council’s preliminary approval Wednesday of an “emergency” increase requested by DWP.
The rate hike will see the average family’s monthly water charges go up about $1.71, or $3.42 per bimonthly bill from the Department of Water and Power, which says it needs the money to pay for federally and state-mandated drinking water quality improvement projects.
If affirmed by a second council vote next week, the increase will appear on bills beginning in March and April. … “
Continue reading from the Los Angeles Daily News by clicking here.
Southern California Water Committee adopts 2012 policy guidelines
Posted by: Maven on February 2, 2012 at 7:34 amFrom the Southern California Water Committee, this press release:
“The Southern California Water Committee (SCWC) released the organization’s 2012 Policy Guidelines today. The guidelines will serve as the basis for SCWC legislative priorities for the year and will guide both outreach and education efforts. Issues related to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, such as the Bay Delta Conservation Plan, water use efficiency efforts such as stormwater capture programs and support of science-based water quality regulations are among the key policy areas for SCWC.
“Delta issues are at a pivotal point, we’re facing ongoing regulatory issues on water quality and energy, and we are working hard to support programs that ensure we make the most of our local water supplies,” said Larry McKenney, chairman of SCWC’s Legislative Task Force. “With the help of our members, SCWC is looking forward to a very busy and successful 2012.”
Continue reading “Southern California Water Committee adopts 2012 policy guidelines” »
Azusa seeking remedy for sludge problem at water treatment plant
Posted by: Maven on February 2, 2012 at 7:32 amFrom the San Gabriel Valley Tribune:
“Azusa is one of the few cities in the San Gabriel Valley that is fortunate enough to have its own water supply. The city simply taps into the San Gabriel River as it comes pouring down the mountains.
To take advantage of all that water, the city in 2009 built a high-tech filtration plant in the mouth of the canyon. … “
Continue reading from the San Gabriel Valley Tribune by clicking here.
Inland water agencies are prepared for a dry year: Agencies in Riverside and San Bernardino counties took advantage of heavy runoff last winter and recharged local groundwater basins
Posted by: Maven on February 2, 2012 at 7:30 amFrom the Highland Community News, this commentary by Douglas Headrick of the San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District:
“As recently as October, weather forecasters were predicting that California ski resorts would have another wet winter, potentially matching last winter’s record snowfall.
Unfortunately, the anticipated wet winter hasn’t materialized. And if the current dry weather pattern persists, we could actually wind up with one of the driest winters on record.
But while the continuing dry spell is worrisome, inland Southern California water agencies are well prepared for a dry spell because they stored a record amount of water underground last year – about 78,000 acre feet. That’s enough water to sustain 300,000 people for a year. … “
Continue reading from the Highland Community News by clicking here.
Perris: Residents take next step toward sewer hook-ups
Posted by: Maven on February 2, 2012 at 7:18 amFrom the Riverside Press-Enterprise:
“About 70 property owners and residents turned out Monday for an Eastern Municipal Water District workshop where they could sign documents allowing district employees to enter their property to disable existing septic tanks and hook their homes up to the sewer in the street.
The workshop was at Enchanted Hills Elementary School in Perris.
Eastern board member Ron Sullivan welcomed the crowd, while engineer Armando Arroyo gave presentations in English and Spanish. … “
Continue reading from the Riverside Press-Enterprise by clicking here.
L.A.’s wasteful sprinklers: The profligate horror of urban lawn irrigation is on full display in the wee hours of the morning
Posted by: Maven on February 1, 2012 at 7:34 amFrom the Los Angeles Times, this commentary by Los Angeles attorney Howard Posner:
“It’s raining. It’s pouring. Or at least it was at 4 in the morning a couple of Saturdays ago. And though no old men were snoring in my vicinity, some sprinklers were watering lawns, rain or no rain. It was waste in its purest form because during and after a downpour the water runs right off the saturated soil into the street.
Turning curbs into waterfalls is a side effect of technology that lets us run sprinklers on timers that we set and forget. In theory, they allow watering at optimal but inconvenient times, such as early morning, when cooler air minimizes evaporation. In practice, timers mean homeowners have no idea what their sprinklers are doing because they don’t see them sprinkling. … “
Continue reading from the Los Angeles Times by clicking here.
L.A. appoints consumer advocate to review DWP rate hike plans
Posted by: Maven on February 1, 2012 at 7:04 amFrom the Los Angeles Times:
“After nearly a year of delays, the Los Angeles City Council has appointed an independent representative to scrutinize proposed hikes in water and electricity bills.
Frederick Pickel, a 59-year-old energy consultant, was unanimously voted in as the city’s first ratepayer advocate, a position created by voters early last year amid concern over rising utility costs. His annual salary will be $236,758.
The public now has “somebody on our side” when the Department of Water and Power asks for rate increases, Councilman Eric Garcetti said before the vote. … “
Continue reading from the Los Angeles Times by clicking here.
Lake Elsinore: Water board member honored for service
Posted by: Maven on February 1, 2012 at 7:03 amFrom the Riverside Press-Enterprise:
“Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District board member Ben Wicke has been honored for serving as chairman of the Association of California Water Agencies Region 9 Board of Directors for 2010 and 2011.
He also served as its vice chairman for 2008 and 2009, which completed more than a decade of service on the Region 9 board. The region includes all water agencies from San Bernardino, Riverside and Imperial counties. He received the award Thursday. … “
Continue reading from the Riverside Press-Enterprise by clicking here.
Santa Margarita Water District rejects copper pipe leaks claim
Posted by: Maven on February 1, 2012 at 7:01 amFrom the O.C. Register:
“Santa Margarita Water District officials have rejected a claim by Standard Pacific Corp. that alleges water provided by the district is causing pinhole leaks in copper piping in homes in San Clemente and Ladera Ranch.
The claim states Standard Pacific received complaints from homeowners about the leaks and associated property damage. The claim lists 76 homes in the two communities where the leaks have been reported and tallies cumulative repair costs of more than $365,800. In one home in the Talega community of San Clemente, repair costs totaled $41,746, according to the claim, which also notes Standard Pacific expects the complaints to continue and costs to rise. … “
Continue reading from the O.C. Register by clicking here.
Barstow partners with other cities to fight water rate increases
Posted by: Maven on February 1, 2012 at 6:28 amFrom the Desert Dispatch:
“The City of Barstow has joined forces with four California cities to oppose the more than 25 percent water rate increase proposed by Barstow’s primary water service.
Golden State Water Company filed an application last year requesting the California Public Utilities Commission approve raising service rates for Region 3 customers, including Barstow, from 2013 through 2015. The CPUC granted Golden State a similar increase just years ago, resulting in some Barstow customers paying significantly higher water bills. … “
Continue reading from the Desert Dispatch by clicking here.
Santa Clarita: Well due to come back online this week
Posted by: Maven on January 31, 2012 at 6:54 amFrom the Santa Clarita Signal:
“Water officials expect to have one of two perchlorate-removing wells back in service by the end of February as they make the last few repairs this week.
In October, officials with the Castaic Lake Water Agency were forced to take Saugus Well No. 2 out of service to repair mechanical problems, including a broken pump shaft.
Once they had a chance to look at the well, they found its liner, or casing, was deteriorating with extensive mineral deposits, corrosion and several holes in the casing. … “
Continue reading from the Santa Clarita Signal by clicking here.
Burbank Water & Power aims to practice what it preaches with ‘eco-campus’
Posted by: Maven on January 31, 2012 at 6:26 amFrom Southern California Public Radio:
“The city of Burbank has unveiled what it’s calling an “eco-campus” at the headquarters for its public utility, Burbank Water and Power. The city says the old facility will now be a model of conservation and energy efficiency.
A new water capture and filtration system on Lake Street next to the Magnolia Power Plant sends water into BWP’s property. General manager Ron Davis says that means the utility can do more with recycled resources. … “
Continue reading from Southern California Public Radio by clicking here.
Cal Watchdog blog: Water wars flood L.A. Central Basin
Posted by: Maven on January 30, 2012 at 7:43 amFrom the Cal Watchdog blog:
“Remember “Chinatown,” the murky 1974 movie about the water wars in the Los Angeles Basin in the 1930s, starring Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway?
A January 18 California appeals court water rights case is reminiscent of the multilayered plots and subplots in the flick.
The “Chinatown” movie plot involves fictional character Hollis Mulwray who is murdered due to his opposition to the proposed construction of a new dam. The fictional Mulwray is based on the real historical person of William Mulholland, the infamous head of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, who allegedly stole water from Mono Lake in Northern California in the early 20th Century. … “
Continue reading from the Cal Watchdog blog by clicking here.
Congresswoman Napolitano calls for expanded research, funding for local groundwater cleanup at La Verne water conference
Posted by: Maven on January 30, 2012 at 7:16 amFrom the office of Congresswoman Grace Napolitano:
“Today, Rep. Grace F. Napolitano addressed the University of La Verne’s annual Water Technology Conference, discussing local water issues and the importance of research and development for finding new sources of water.
“The topic of this conference – ‘Water Technology and Innovation’ – could not have come at a more appropriate time,” Napolitano said. “Our water supply faces increasing strains from climate change and a growing population. As we begin to explore new ways to provide clean water, like water recycling and desalination, the research done by our scientists and researchers will be more important than ever.”
Napolitano also addressed the need to fund the San Gabriel Restoration Fund, which prevents contamination from spreading into drinking water in the San Gabriel and Central Basins.
“Funding for the San Gabriel Restoration Fund, which prevents contamination from spreading into our underground aquifers, has been cut, even as groundwater contamination threatens the health and safety of our communities. On behalf of the 3 million people who get their drinking water from the San Gabriel and Central Basins, I urge the Republican leadership in Congress to help us find the necessary funding to protect this critical source of groundwater.”
Southern California: Winter shaping up to be a dry one; causing problems for area’s dryland farmers
Posted by: Maven on January 30, 2012 at 7:15 amFrom the Riverside Press-Enterprise:
“The consequences of this winter’s lack of rain are plain to see on Dennis Blehm’s family-owned farm in Hemet, where the wheat crop has sprouted, turned brown and withered over the crusted soil.
“I’d say in 10 days, we’ll lose our seed. It’s sprouted, it’s grown, it’s going to die,” said Blehm, whose harvest is sold to mills for flour, bread, dog food and other products. “There’s only about 2 inches of moisture in the ground and we need 6 to 10 inches.”
Blehm is a dry-land farmer, relying strictly on rainfall instead of irrigation. This year has so far been a low spot in an up-and-down business, one of many that rely on the weather for their profit. … “
Continue reading from the Riverside Press-Enterprise by clicking here.
Southern California: Final plan emerges for steelhead’s return
Posted by: Maven on January 30, 2012 at 7:13 amFrom the North County Times:
“A federal agency is trying to bring back an oceangoing fish that has all but disappeared from Southern California.
After years of study, workshops and hearings —- and delays —- the National Marine Fisheries Service has completed a plan for returning the steelhead to rivers in several counties, including San Diego, Riverside and Orange.
“It provides an overall road map to recovery,” said Mark Capelli, steelhead recovery coordinator for the National Marine Fisheries Service in Santa Barbara. … “
Continue reading from the North County Times by clicking here.
Glendale water upgrades are worth the cost, says commentary
Posted by: Maven on January 29, 2012 at 7:54 amFrom the Burbank Leader, this commentary by Michael Teahan, a Glendale resident and business owner:
“We all know that the economic recovery for Glendale, like all of California, isn’t progressing as quickly as we would like, and money is in short supply, but the proposal by Glendale Water & Power to adjust water rates is both timely and necessary.
More importantly for the City Council’s consideration, it’s also remarkably fair.
My first exposure to the aging water infrastructure came from Adams Hill residents whose homes were built on lots divided in the 1950s without direct access to water mains. The infrastructure is inadequate to serve the community, with so few hydrants that a devastating fire is a real possibility, and existing water mains need to be relined, having reached the end of their service life. … “
Continue reading from the Burbank Leader by clicking here.
Beaumont: Water board to revisit decision to downsize
Posted by: Maven on January 28, 2012 at 7:32 amFrom the Riverside Press-Enterprise:
“A proposal to reduce the number of San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency directors may be dropped because the board is divided on the matter.
On Dec. 19, the agency’s general manager, Jeff Davis, brought a resolution to the board of directors that, if passed, would direct him to work with the state Legislature to get a bill introduced. That bill would reduce the number of directors from seven to five by December 2014.
The board approved the resolution with a 4-3 vote.
Davis said Wednesday that he has talked to legislative staff who advised him that without a unanimous vote, it would be very difficult for him to get a bill passed in Sacramento. … “
Continue reading from the Riverside Press-Enterprise by clicking here.
University of La Verne eyed as regional center for water research, industry
Posted by: Maven on January 26, 2012 at 10:37 pmFrom the Daily Breeze:
“Local officials, in seeking solutions to make the region’s water supply more reliable, are eyeing the University of La Verne as a linchpin for research and growth for new, locally based water industries.
The university held its annual Water Technology Conference on Thursday, and dozens of speakers from water agencies, politics and academia gathered there to discuss new ways of dealing with the problem.
The conference, officials said, is a first step as ULV positions itself as a potential national research center for water technology innovation and a model for economic development.
Stakeholders are looking at the potential for this to spur economic growth within the surrounding area. … “
Continue reading from the Daily Breeze by clicking here.
Lake Arrowhead water test results reassuring
Posted by: Maven on January 26, 2012 at 10:30 pmFrom the Mountain News:
“The results of water samples tested by a down-the-mountain agency indicate only negligible traces of medications and other nonregulated chemicals, suggesting that fears about pharmaceuticals in Lake Arrowhead water could be misplaced.
The tests, conducted in June by the Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority (SAWPA), found for the second straight year that concentrations of a list of chemical compounds fall well short of posing health threats, said Mark Norton, SAWPA’s water resources and planning manager.
The results, and how Norton interprets them, could have a bearing on whether the Lake Arrowhead Community Services District (LACSD) will one day implement a program of indirect potable reuse (IPR). … “
Continue reading from the Mountain News by clicking here.
Peter Gleick: Mining California groundwater: The Cadiz Project
Posted by: Maven on January 25, 2012 at 8:08 amFrom Peter Gleick at the City Brights blog:
“A private company, Cadiz Inc. (Cadiz), has revived plans to mine groundwater underlying land in the delicate Eastern Mojave Desert. This project revives fundamental questions about how we manage our precious water resources, and in particular, whether in the 21st century it is appropriate, or even necessary, to use renewable water resources in a nonrenewable and unsustainable way, for short-term profit.
The idea for the Cadiz project is simple: mine groundwater faster than nature refills it and sell it to urban centers in Southern California for profit. The full proposal seems more complicated – the owners might try to temporarily replace the lost groundwater with extra water from the Colorado River, if it is ever available (which is highly unlikely), but they propose to pump out this water and sell it, too, so the economics of the project really just depend on the water removed through unsustainable groundwater mining. Without that water, the project fails economically. … “
Continue reading from Peter Gleick at the City Brights blog by clicking here.
Los Angeles: Panel OKs Fred Pickel as ratepayer advocate
Posted by: Maven on January 25, 2012 at 6:25 amFrom the Daily News:
“After a few tough questions, a City Council committee Tuesday recommended energy industry consultant Fred Pickel fill the new position of ratepayer advocate for the Department of Water and Power.
Pickel was nominated last week by a citizens committee to become executive director of the new Office of Public Accountability.
If confirmed by the full council and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Pickel will become the first ratepayer advocate providing analysis of DWP rates. Voters overwhelmingly approved creation of the position in a March ballot measure. … “
Continue reading from the Daily News by clicking here.
Three Valleys Municipal Water District changes divisional lines
Posted by: Maven on January 25, 2012 at 6:03 amFrom the Contra Costa Times:
“Three Valleys Municipal Water District in Claremont recently approved the adoption of new divisional boundaries for the first time in 20 years.
The district’s Board of Directors adopted the boundaries as part of a redistricting study, which found a change in population as a result of 2010 census data.
“Last Wednesday the board selected what’s actually called the minimal change option, which created very minor changes in some of the division lines, but enough where the population would be more equally aligned,” said Kirk Howie, assistant general manager over administration for Three Valleys. … “
Continue reading from the Contra Costa Times by clicking here.
The Design Observer essay: Thirsty city
Posted by: Maven on January 24, 2012 at 8:39 am
From the Design Observer (a interdisciplinary journal of contemporary architecture, landscape and urbanism with an exceptional taste in photography):
“”Under no contingency does the natural face of Upper California appear susceptible of supporting a very large population: the country is hilly and mountainous; great dryness prevails during the summers, and occasionally excessive droughts parch up the soil for periods of 12 or 18 months. Only in the plains and valleys where streams are to be found, and even those will have to be watered by artificial irrigation, does there seem the hope of being sufficient tillable land to repay the husbandman and afford subsistence to inhabitants.” [1]
So wrote Navy lieutenant Henry Augustus Wise, after spending considerable time in the Golden State in 1847. Although Lieutenant Wise would no doubt be surprised to know that California is now home to almost 40 million people, the fundamental water constraints that he described exist today. As Zev Yaroslavsky, a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, put it: “Water is probably the single most vexing issue that we have in … places like Southern California, because it’s in such short supply. Water is a more valuable commodity in some respects than oil — or it will be over time.” [2]
Indeed, metropolitan Los Angeles could not support a fraction of its current population without imported water, which today accounts for nearly three-quarters of supply. Water distribution and treatment alone account for about 18 percent of all energy consumed in the region, making it the invisible energy hog, rarely seen, poorly understood and ever on the verge of crisis. … “
Continue reading this essay from The Design Observer by clicking here.
Chance of Rain blog on Cadiz project: Commenting on the unspeakable
Posted by: Maven on January 24, 2012 at 7:49 amFrom Emily Green at the Chance of Rain:
“Five years ago, when asked about a plan by Las Vegas to pump groundwater around the Great Basin National Park, Nevadan hydrologists who learned that I was a reporter based in Southern California used to respond, “If you think that’s bad, you should look at Cadiz.”
Nevadans live to insult Californians, but it was said so many times by so many hydrologists that roughly two-and-a-half years ago, I started looking at this worse-than-Vegas Cadiz.
It wasn’t the Spanish port, but a little-known unincorporated pocket of the Californian Mojave just visible in the upper right hand corner of this lovely old map. Thanks to a water project backed by some of the golden state’s leading politicians, even five years ago Cadiz had another meaning. It was hydrology shorthand for “water grab.” … “
Continue reading from the Chance of Rain blog by clicking here.
Aquafornia's Information Desk
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | |||
Click here for full-sized calendar
Aquafornia's Photos on Flickr
Aquafornia's Mission
Aquafornia's mission is to educate readers about the complex and often controversial issues surrounding water in California.
Aquafornia is affiliated with the Water Education Foundation, an impartial, nonprofit organization, whose mission is to create a better understanding of water resources and foster public understanding and resolution of water resource issues through facilitation, education and outreach.
E-mail Newsletter
To receive email announcements from the Water Education Foundation, sign up here.
Web Resources
Agriculture
Climate Change & Water
Conservation
Current Conditions
Delta & SF Bay Resources
- Bay Delta Developments
- Bay Institute
- Bay-Delta Conservation Plan
- Delta Atlas
- Delta Protection Commission
- Delta Stewardship Council
- Delta Vision Foundation
- Delta WaterMaster
- Discover the Delta Foundation
- Restore the Delta
- San Francisco Bay and Delta (Access USGS)
- San Francisco Baykeeper
- San Francisco Estuary and Watershed Science website
- San Francisco Estuary Partnership
Employment & Water
Environmental Organizations
Fishing Blogs/Organizations
Investing & Water
Landscaping
Legal Blogs
Legislative Committees - State & Federal
- California State Assembly Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife
- California State Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Water
- House Natural Resource Committee, Water & Power Subcommittee
- New State Water Legislation Mandates (KMTG)
- Senate Commitee on Environment & Public Works, Water and Wildlife Subcommittee
- The California Channel
Los Angeles River
Maven's Other Websites
News
Public Policy Organizations
Regional Water Associations
Salton Sea
Stormwater & Flood Control
Water Agencies
- ACWA – Association of California Water Agencies
- Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency
- Contra Costa Water District
- East Bay Municipal Utility District
- Imperial Irrigation District
- Kern County Water Agency
- Long Beach Water Department
- Los Angeles Department of Water & Power
- Metropolitan Water District
- Municipal Water District of Orange County
- San Diego County Water Authority
- Santa Clara Valley Water District
- Sonoma County Water Agencies
- South San Joaquin Irrigation District
- State Water Contractors
- West Basin Municipal Water District
- Westlands Water District
Water Agencies - State & Federal
Water Blogs
- ACWA's Voices in Water blog
- Aguanomics
- Alex Breitler's Blog
- American Water Resources Assn. Blog
- Barry Nelson at the NRDC Switchboard
- Bay Delta Blog
- California Water Blog
- California Water Wars blog
- Chance of Rain
- Chronicles of the Hydraulic Brotherhood
- Delta National Park Blog
- EDF's On The Waterfront
- Greed, Green & Grains
- Green Roots Blog (PCL)
- GrokSurf's San Diego blog
- Inkstain – jfleck
- Klam Blog
- L. A. Creek Freak
- On the Public Record
- Peter Gleick’s City Brights blog
- Restore the Delta's blog
- Southern California Water Committee Blog
- Spouting Off – Mark Gold of Heal the Bay
- State of the Planet Blog
- The California Spigot
- Thirsty in Suburbia
- Tom Philp's Blog
- Valley Economy Blog
- Water Cooler Blog
- Water Librarian's Blog
- Water SISWEB
- Waterblogged (Shawn McKinnon)
- Watering the Desert
- WaterWired
Water Information
News Article Archives
- Agriculture
- Aquafornia News & Exclusives
- Central Valley Project
- Climate change & water supply
- Conservation
- Delta Issues
- Desalination
- Development & Population
- Drinking Water & Bottled Water
- Drought Tolerant Landscaping
- Drought, Weather & Snowpack
- Energy & Water
- Events
- Flood Control/Stormwater
- General Water Issues
- Groundwater
- History
- Indian Water Rights
- Infrastructure
- Innovative Ideas
- International Water Issues
- Invasive Plants & Species
- Investing in water
- Legislation – State & Federal
- Levees
- National water news
- Oceans & Beaches
- People in the News
- Politics of Water
- Recycled Water
- Regional Water Issues
- San Joaquin River Restoration
- State Water Project (DWR)
- Storage and supply
- Transfers
- Uncategorized
- Water Agency News
- Water Banking
- Water Quality
- Water Rights
- Weird & Wacky Water News
- Wildlife & Endangered Species