ModBee editorial: Hang on to your water rights, people
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on December 4, 2009 at 5:52 amFrom the Modesto Bee:
“Farmers on the West Side and the southern part of the San Joaquin Valley got some alarming news this week with the announcement that they might only get 5 percent of their State Water Project allocations in 2010. It was the lowest ever initial allocation.
Even though the allocation probably will rise — it has almost every year — this is dire news for farmers who have to decide now or very soon what to plant this winter.
Reduced allocations also will affect millions of Southern California city dwellers that rely heavily on the State Water Project for domestic water. Many cities have already implemented severe water conservation restrictions. … “
Read more from the Modesto Bee by clicking here.
Some reports on water resources available online
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on November 29, 2009 at 7:52 amSome reports on water resources & management now available (hat tip to the Water Sisweb):
Better water resources management – Greater resilience today, more effective adaptation tomorrow: “Water is a primary medium through which climate change will have an impact on people, ecosystems and economies. Water resources management should therefore be an early focus for adaptation to climate change. Water resources management does not hold all of the answers to adaptation, a broad range of responses will be needed. But water is both a key part of the problem, and an important part of the solution. It is a good place to start. … ”
Read this report from the World Water Council by clicking here (17 page pdf).
Peter Gleick: The changing water paradigm: A look at twenty-first century water resources development: Water resources management approaches around the world are changing dramatically. This changing water paradigm has many components, including a shift away from sole, or even primary, reliance on finding new sources of supply to address perceived new demands, a growing emphasis on incorporating ecological values into water policy, a re-emphasis on meeting basic human needs for water services, and a conscious breaking of the ties between economic growth and water use. A reliance on physical solutions continues to dominate traditional planning approaches, but these solutions are facing increasing opposition. At the same time, new methods are being developed to meet the demands of growing populations without requiring major new construction or new large-scale water transfers from one region to another. More and more water suppliers and planning agencies are beginning to explore efficiency improvements, implement options for managing demand, and reallocating water among users to reduce projected gaps and meet future needs. The connections between water and food are receiving increasing attention as the concerns of food experts begin to encompass the realities of water availability. These shifts have not come easily; they have met strong internal opposition. They are still not universally accepted, and they may not be permanent. Nevertheless, these changes represent a real shift in the way humans think about water use. This paper summarizes the components of this ongoing shift and looks at the new paths being explored. It evaluates the major reasons for the change in approach and discusses the applicability of these new concepts in different parts of the world. … ”
Water, People, and the Future: Water Availability for Agriculture in the United States: With a projected 25% and 50% increase in U.S. and world population, respectively, by the year 2050, substantial increases in freshwater use for food, fiber, and fuel production, as well as municipal and residential consumption, are inevitable. This increased water use will not come without consequences. Already, the United States has experienced the mining of groundwater, resulting in declining water tables, increased costs of water withdrawal, and the deterioration of water quality. Long-term drought conditions have greatly decreased surface water flows. Climate change predictions include higher temperatures, decreases in snowpack, shifts in precipitation patterns, increases in evapotranspiration, and more frequent droughts. Not surprisingly, conflicts over water use are continually emerging. As one of the largest users of water in the United States, agriculture will be impacted significantly by changes in water availability and cost. Approximately 40% of the water withdrawn from U.S. surface and groundwater sources is used for agricultural irrigation. Although the proportion of available freshwater used in agriculture varies widely among geographical areas, it is a major proportion of total water use in every area.
Read this issue paper from CAST by clicking here (20 page pdf).
Feds shorted water districts, judge decides in California case
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on October 9, 2009 at 7:16 amFrom the Capital Press:
“A group of California irrigators and other water users will be able to seek damages from the federal government for withholding water due to environmental restrictions.
A federal appeals court has decided the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is liable for breaching contracts with the Stockton East Water District and Central San Joaquin Water Conservation District.
The ruling reverses a lower court’s decision, which found that environmental laws allowed the agency to violate water delivery contracts with the districts.
“We hope the decision shakes things up at the Bureau of Reclamation and makes them take our contract seriously,” said Jennifer Spaletta, an attorney representing the water users. “Money was always a second priority.”
The districts originally sought $500 million in damages, but that is expected to be re-evaluated, she said.
Aspects of the water delivery contracts were unique in this case, but some policy issues may apply to other irrigation disputes in the U.S., she said. …”
Read more from the Capital Press by clicking here.
Federal water decision could complicate breach of contract claims related to water shortages
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on October 6, 2009 at 6:54 amFrom Best Best & Krieger, Attorneys at Law, this ebulletin:
“In a decision that could have a substantial impact on water agency contract disputes with the Government – especially where they relate to water supply shortages – a federal appeals court has found that the United States Bureau of Reclamation (“Bureau”) breached its contract with the Stockton East Water District and Central San Joaquin Water Conservation District (“Water Districts”) during several years where the federal agency failed to provide contract-specified quantities of water.
Given recent proclamations that California is in an unprecedented water crisis, this decision creates a difficult situation for the Government regarding its reliance on drought or regulatory conditions as an excuse for breaching its water supply contracts.
The case, Stockton East Water Dist. v. United States, highlights an important need to review the shortage provisions within such contracts in order to fully understand the Government’s liability for water shortages during drought conditions. The decision also requires greater scrutiny of the Government’s water allocations among different users to determine if it was impossible to meet the water supply demands of the contracts. …”
Read more from Best Best & Krieger by clicking here.
Sunday (night) update: David Beckman: Water-collecting strategy offers flood of benefits
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on August 30, 2009 at 9:12 pmFrom the Sacramento Bee, this commentary by David Beckham of the NRDC:
“In June, water use in Los Angeles fell to a 32-year seasonal low, a remarkable savings considering the steady population growth the region has seen over that period. The bad news is that this performance was spurred in part by drought conditions that are gripping California for the third year in a row; and that drought and the effects of global warming severely threaten our remaining water supplies.
Given that much of California is a desert or close to it, Californians have a curious relationship with water. When it rains, we channel this fresh water into concrete and metal pipes and dispose of it as fast as we can in rivers and ultimately the ocean. As all this water, as much as 10 billion gallons during a winter storm in Los Angeles, flows over the unending urban hardscape, it washes with it a flood of pollutants, creating a severe water pollution problem. That’s enough water in one day to supply more than 60,000 families for a whole year, but somehow we allow it to literally fall through the cracks.
But having sent billions of gallons of water out to sea, without a second thought we then take water from hundreds of miles away, pump it through deserts and over mountain ranges, and direct it to our taps and sprinklers to make sure we can enjoy a cold drink or water our lawns. …”
Read the rest of David Beckman’s commentary in the Sacramento Bee by clicking here.
Nevada’s cloud-seeding program shuts down
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on August 19, 2009 at 6:11 amFrom the Tahoe Daily Tribune:
“After more than 30 years of stimulating snowfall in and around the Lake Tahoe Basin, the Nevada Cloud Seeding Program closed for good this month as a result of budget cuts.
“It’s not really good for the ski resorts or anyone worried about water supplies in Lake Tahoe,” said Tom Swafford, principal research technician for the program. “Especially because it’s going to reduce the amount of snow that falls in the Truckee and Tahoe Basin. Anyone who uses water will be impacted.”
The last of 26 small stations stationed on mountaintops in and around Nevada was removed Aug. 7 from Alpine Meadows.
The cloud seeding program was an operation of the Desert Research Institute Division of Atmospheric Sciences and was in effect in Tahoe since the late 1960s. Mountain-top generators or planes would shoot particles of silver iodide into storm clouds to help form ice crystals and encourage snowfall. …”
Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune by clicking here.
UC Irvine to size up, help forecast state’s water supply
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on July 14, 2009 at 8:14 amFrom the O.C. Register’s ScienceDude:
UC Irvine has been awarded $2.5 million to use satellites and field research to more accurately determine how much water exists throughout California, and how its distributed through various natural and artificial means.
The money came from the UC Office of the President, which is paying UCI earth system scientist Jay Famiglietti to help develop more advanced models of California’s current water supply, and how much the state is likely to have in the future.
Much of the research will focus on sizing up how much water is contained in everything from groundwater tables to soil.
Read more from the Science Dude by clicking here.
Fresno and San Francisco rallies urge action to solve state’s water shortages
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on July 8, 2009 at 8:00 amFrom the California Farm Bureau Federation:
Cascading concern over California’s water crisis brought assurances from federal officials at a Fresno town hall meeting, sent thousands marching on Fresno streets and saw hundreds demonstrating in San Francisco—all in a four-day period.
By the end of last week, both the state and federal governments had announced steps intended to improve agricultural water supplies in different parts of the Central Valley, as people stepped up their calls for action. “It’s important for Californians from all parts of the state and all walks of life to continue calling attention to the water crisis,” California Farm Bureau Federation President Doug Mosebar said. “This is not just about helping family farms and saving agricultural jobs and communities. It’s about protecting our food supply.”
California Secretary of Food and Agriculture A.G. Kawamura was among speakers at a rally that drew nearly 4,000 people in Fresno last week.
Late last week, Gov. Schwarzenegger announced that the State Water Project would release up to 100,000 acre-feet of water, to be made available to Central Valley farms. The water represents what the governor’s statement called a “water loan” from the state project to the federal Central Valley Project, to be repaid after the summer irrigation season. CVP deliveries have been reduced sharply by a combination of dry weather and court-ordered restrictions on moving water through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, designed to benefit protected fish.
At a rally that drew nearly 4,000 to Fresno City Hall last week, Western San Joaquin Valley farmer John Harris urged support for a petition from the Pacific Legal Foundation urging President Obama to convene a federal panel on endangered species nicknamed the “God Squad.”
Read more from the California Farm Bureau Federation by clicking here.
Despite drought, South Coast’s water supply steady
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on June 15, 2009 at 6:31 amFrom Noozhawk:
Summer’s nearly here, and for many water agencies across California, that means turning a wary eye to the state’s water supplies. As the arid weather of summer takes hold, so do concerns about drought, water supply and more wildfires. The Sierra snowpack, much of the South Coast’s water source from the State Water Project, melted early and fast, and environmental regulations in the Sacramento delta have restricted allocations.
On June 1, the Metropolitan Water District clamped down on water usage with mandatory rationing and a new water pricing structure for Los Angeles. Residents of the metropolis must limit watering of their yards to Mondays and Thursdays. Shortage-year rates have gone into effect, reducing customers’ allocations by 15 percent and charging additional fees for water used over that limit.
The South Coast is no stranger to water shortages. In the late 1980s and early ‘90s, a severe drought caused residents to live with the same kind of restrictions and more. However, it seems that most of the water agencies on the South Coast are not yet considering the hard-line stance Los Angeles has adopted.
“We are actually pretty different,” said Alison Jordan, water conservation coordinator for the city of Santa Barbara. “We have fairly different water supplies than most of the rest of Southern California. Although the South Coast bought into State Water, along with many other communities in Central and Southern California, the region also has water from Lake Cachuma, Gibraltar Dam and underground aquifers.”
Read more from Noozhawk by clicking here.
New water website to check out, plus: Is air pollution reducing California’s water supply?
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on May 30, 2009 at 8:19 amThe U.C. San Diego Newsroom has created a website called Water Shortages: The New Normal. The webpage features stories & other resources on water issues, including this story from last month on how air pollution may be affecting California’s water supply:
The Sierra Nevada snowpack that supplies more than 30 million Californians with their water has shown a steady decline over the past century, possibly in part because of the state’s air pollution.
But as drought preparations ramp up across the state, researchers are attempting to verify this hypothesis by analyzing the particles in air pollution and precipitation that descend on the Sierra mountain range. A team including scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego took an unprecedented look in late February and early March at a snowstorm and the chemistry that influenced it in the first of several field studies that will take place where Interstate 80 runs through the Sierras.
“The exciting thing for us is to be able to make coupled aerosol chemistry and state-of-the-art meteorological measurements which should allow us to be better understand the types of air pollution that are impacting cloud and precipitation processes,” said Scripps atmospheric chemistry Professor Kim Prather, who also holds an appointment at UCSD’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Prather is a co-investigator of the CalWater project funded by the California Energy Commission.
Read more from Explorations, an emagazine from Scripps Institution of Oceanography by clicking here. Check out the U.C. San Diego Newsroom webpage, Water Shortage – The New Normal, by clicking here. Hat tip to George for the link!
Water supply outlook improves – El Dorado Irrigation District Says
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on May 14, 2009 at 8:08 amFrom YubaNet.com:
During their May 11 meeting, the El Dorado Irrigation District (district) board of directors received an update on water supplies throughout the watershed and in Folsom Lake. “Conditions are much better than they were at the last board meeting in late April,” reported David Witter, the district’s director of natural resources. “By May 20, we should have the final decision from the Bureau of Reclamation about how much water we can take from Folsom Lake this year. That will be an important factor in determining whether the drought declaration might be lifted earlier than anticipated.”
On March 23, the board declared a stage 1 drought for the district’s service area, primarily because at that time the Bureau of Reclamation-operator of Folsom Lake-had announced it would cut back the district’s allotment from the lake by as much as 45 percent. More recently, the cutback was reduced to 35 percent.
“We anticipate that the greatly improved conditions at Folsom Lake mean the Bureau may allot the full amount we’re entitled to,” Witter said. “That would signal a positive change in our overall supplies this year.”
Read more from YubaNet.com by clicking here.
Research paper: Energy and air emission effects of water supply
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on May 12, 2009 at 2:35 pmFrom Environmental Science & Technology, this abstract:
Life-cycle air emission effects of supplying water are explored using a hybrid life-cycle assessment. For the typically sized U.S. utility analyzed, recycled water is preferable to desalination and comparable to importation. Seawater desalination has an energy and air emission footprint that is 1.5−2.4 times larger than that of imported water. However, some desalination modes fare better; brackish groundwater is 53−66% as environmentally intensive as seawater desalination. The annual water needs (326 m3) of a typical Californian that is met with imported water requires 5.8 GJ of energy and creates 360 kg of CO2 equivalent emissions. With seawater desalination, energy use would increase to 14 GJ and 800 kg of CO2 equivalent emissions. Meeting the water demand of California with desalination would consume 52% of the state’s electricity.
Supply options were reassessed using alternative electricity mixes, including the average mix of the United States and several renewable sources. Desalination using solar thermal energy has lower greenhouse gas emissions than that of imported and recycled water (using California’s electricity mix), but using the U.S. mix increases the environmental footprint by 1.5 times. A comparison with a more energy-intensive international scenario shows that CO2 equivalent emissions for desalination in Dubai are 1.6 times larger than in California. The methods, decision support tool (WEST), and results of this study should persuade decision makers to make informed water policy choices by including energy consumption and material use effects in the decision-making process.
Download the full paper here. Thanks to George for sending me the link!
Pico Rivera and Whittier to rely on voluntary cutbacks, see no need for water rationing
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on May 5, 2009 at 7:37 amFrom the Whittier Daily News:
Drought? What drought? Not here. At least most of the water utilities won’t be imposing any rationing on water use by their customers.
The reason is that the cities of Pico Rivera and Whittier, Pico Water District and Suburban Water Systems receive little, if no water from the Metropolitan Water District. That’s the massive agency that brings in water from the Colorado River and Northern California and then sells it in Southern California.
The drought that has afflicted California has MWD requiring its water agencies to cut back by 10 percent. But many local water officials say they can pretty much ignore MWD’s cutbacks. “We’re not doing mandatory conservation because it’s not necessary,” said David Pelser, director of public works. “The city has been good at living within the water rights allocated to us.”
In part, it’s because the city hasn’t had a lot of growth in the area it serves – mostly the west and uptown areas of town – said Leon Yehuda, city engineer. “We haven’t had a huge increase in population unlike most other cities,” Yehuda said, referring to the past 70 to 80 years.
There are other water districts in the area in the same situation. For more from the Whittier Daily News, click here.
ACWA’s Executive director Timothy Quinn joins officials at San Luis Reservoir rally; calls for solutions to address extreme water challenges
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on April 18, 2009 at 9:51 amFrom ACWA:
Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) Executive Director Timothy Quinn joined state, federal and local elected officials today at a major rally sponsored by the California Latino Water Coalition. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and other speakers discussed the urgent need for solutions to the state’s severe water challenges.
The rally drew an estimated 3,000 people to San Luis Reservoir near Los Baños and marked the end of the four-day “March for Water.” The march, which started Tuesday in Mendota, was aimed at raising the visibility of water shortages and their impacts on the Central Valley.
Addressing the crowd, Quinn said valley residents are feeling the brunt of water shortages triggered by drought and environmental problems. “You are at ground zero, but you are not alone. The entire state is experiencing serious water challenges. We need solutions now.”
Noting that the march highlighted “the human face of the misery evoked by water shortages,” Quinn said 2009 will be extremely challenging for many water agencies this year. “But there is no greater challenge than the one facing agricultural agencies south of the Delta that stand to receive a fraction of their water at best. Communities, farm workers and growers are seeing their livelihoods come to a standstill this year because of water shortages. That should be a wakeup call for the entire state that we need long-term solutions.”
Quinn applauded Interior Secretary Ken Salazar’s announcement earlier this week that $260 million will be invested in California’s water infrastructure as part of the economic stimulus package approved by Congress, but emphasized that it is a partial down payment on a much bigger problem.
“Even more important than the money,” Quinn said, “is the promise of a meaningful partnership between the state and federal governments to solve the bigger water crisis in California. There is no time to delay. We need solutions now.”
ACWA is a statewide association of public agencies whose 450 members are responsible for about 90% of the water delivered in California. For more information, visit www.acwa.com.
Cisterns save rainwater, quench environmental thirst
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on April 18, 2009 at 9:20 am
From CNN, an article which details some of the ways TreePeople is helping out urban areas, such as Los Angeles, with collecting rainwater:
Exploding populations from Phoenix, Arizona, and Las Vegas, Nevada, to suburban Los Angeles have turned the issue of water supply from problem to crisis. “The way we use water is so wasteful and so inappropriate today, according to the California Water Plan, there is already so much demand for water, it already exceeds supply,” says [Andy] Lipkis [of TreePeople].
And human consumption isn’t the only problem, because as cities grow, so does the amount of pavement and concrete that seals the natural watersheds. That in turn prevents rainwater from refreshing underground aquifers, nature’s water tanks. And rainwater is exactly what Lipkis is hoping people will start to think about.
Right now, building codes in Los Angeles County, as in most parts of the country, require rainwater to be moved from rooftops to the street. As a result, even in mostly sunny southern California, a massive amount of water gets flushed into storm drains every year.
“When it rains an inch,” Lipkis says, “Los Angeles hemorrhages 7.6 billion gallons of water.” Part of the solution to the water crisis, he says, is collecting as much rainwater as possible because “it represents half or more of all the water we need in this big city.”
Lipkis says his five demonstration cisterns in Los Angeles collect 1.25 million gallons of water when it rains just an inch. Read more from CNN by clicking here. You can also view a video of how cisterns work on the click-through.
If you want to know even more about how rainwater solutions can help Southern California’s water supply, check out this report from TreePeople: Rainwater as a Resource: A Report on Three Sites Demonstrating Sustainable Storm Water Management, which discusses their work further.
Time for California to ‘insure’ against drought, says commentary
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 12, 2009 at 6:13 amFrom the Capitol Weekly, this commentary by Donn Zea of the Northern California Water Association:
Californians are accustomed to living with danger – and protecting themselves against it. Homeowners in earthquake-prone areas carry insurance to protect themselves against financial ruin. In forested areas, homeowners clear nearby brush and trees to create defensible space and are sure to have insurance in the event that catastrophic wildfire hits their community.
Everyone plans for the worst – because it’s the smart thing to do.
Unfortunately, as a state we have not planned for the worst when it comes to our water supply, especially during a warming climate. Rather than stockpiling water as insurance against drought years, California does little to capture water to save for a “dry day.” Instead, we allow water to flow from our mountains into streams and rivers, ultimately ending up in the Pacific Ocean. As the water flows into the Ocean, so too does our protection against drought.
Mr. Zea has proposes this solution:
A critical component to increased water storage is a proposed reservoir in Colusa County, where we are fortunate to have a natural bowl formation at the old John Sites Ranch. The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) has identified this reservoir as one of the most cost-effective and environmentally beneficial alternatives for water storage in the state. DWR has included sites in its plans for increasing water storage and states that “surface storage is particularly useful in providing drought protection.”
Without damming a river and with minimal environmental disruption, water could be put in this new reservoir through existing canals that already come close to the property. When needed, the water could flow back into the Sacramento River, helping to protect fragile river ecosystems and the Delta, and providing water for Californians and our economy. The site is well above sea level so it could naturally flow downstream.
In total, this new reservoir could hold nearly 2 million acre feet of water – twice the surplus of Folsom Lake and about half that of Shasta Lake.
Read more of Mr. Zea’s commentary by clicking here.
Read more from the Capitol Weekly by clicking here.
Reclamation announces initial 2009 Central Valley Project Water Supply Allocation
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 20, 2009 at 8:39 amFrom the Bureau of Reclamation:
Today, the Bureau of Reclamation announced the initial Water Year (WY) 2009 allocations for the Federal Central Valley Project (CVP) based on the February 1 runoff forecast from the California Department of Water Resources (DWR).
Reclamation prepared two forecasts: a conservative forecast with a 90-percent chance of having runoff greater than forecasted (90-percent probability of exceedence) and a median forecast with a 50-percent chance of having runoff greater than forecasted (50-percent probability of exceedence). In the 90-percent exceedence forecast, the unimpaired water year inflow into Shasta Reservoir is about 2.47 million acre-feet. The Shasta Reservoir unimpaired inflow is a criteria used to determine shortages to settlement contractors and refuges.
Reclamation traditionally expresses the monthly forecast as a percentage (see summary table) of the contract total for each of the contract categories. The official allocation is based on the 90-percent exceedence forecast. The 50-percent exceedence forecast is provided for informational and planning purposes.
The 50-percent exceedence forecast is provided for informational and planning purposes.
Mid-Pacific Region
Initial Water Year 2009 Supply Forecast
February 20, 2009Probability of
Exceedence
ForecastsPercent of Historical Average
Sacramento Valley
Index & Year TypeNorth of Delta Allocation
South of Delta Allocation
Ag
M&I
R
WR
Ag
M&I
R
WR
Dry Forecast (90%)
41% Critical
0%
50%*
75%
75%**
0%
50%*
75%
77%
Median Forecast (50%)
55% Critical
10%
60%*
100%
100%
10%
60%*
100%
100%
*The allocation percentage for M&I is approximate and may be adjusted to meet public health and safety needs.
**The potential for further reductions may exist if critically dry conditions continue.The allocation for the Friant Division Contractors will be 25 percent Class 1 water and 0 percent Class 2 water based on the 90-percent exceedence forecast. The New Melones 90-percent exceedence inflow forecast for WY 2009 is 360,000 acre-feet, and as a result, no water supply is available for CVP Eastside Division (Stanislaus River) contractors.
During this critically dry period, Reclamation is closely coordinating with the State of California, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service, and other Federal, State, and local organizations to fulfill its water supply obligations, which include water quality and the protection of fish and wildlife and associated habitats.
“These are challenging times, and Reclamation will continue to explore all options within our authorities to minimize the impacts to those affected by this water shortage,” stated Donald Glaser, Regional Director for the Mid-Pacific Region.
In the coming months, updates to this forecast will be announced and information will be posted on the Region’s website at http://www.usbr.gov/mp.
‘Peak water’ to set the tone for this century
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 15, 2009 at 7:19 amFrom The Epoch Times:
Many people have heard of “peak oil” but with water shortages at crisis point around the world, the key concern for the 21st Century is set to be “peak water” says one of the worlds leading water authorities.
Dr Peter Gleick, a Macarthur Fellow and president of the Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment, and Security based in California, says water like oil, is in many areas a non renewable resource. In those areas, water has already peaked, that is reached a point where demand outstrips supply.
The problem however is not confined to those areas where water is an obvious problem like the Middle East or North Africa.
“There is a vast amount of water on the planet—but we are facing a crisis of running out of sustainably managed water,” he said “Humans already appropriate over 50% of all renewable and accessible freshwater flows, and yet billions still lack the most basic water services.”
Read more from the Epoch Times by clicking here.
Tracy’s water outlook better than most — for now
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 7, 2009 at 6:04 amFrom the Tracy Press:
Don’t be fooled by our week-ending drizzle. The rain gods are not in a giving mood. La Niña is setting up her beach umbrella over the Pacific Ocean, leading plenty of weather experts to predict that after two already dry years, California is sliding into its worst drought in modern history.
Some communities are already bracing. Water districts in Southern California, long known for turning fertile land into desert (see: Owens Valley), are preparing for rationing. The giant Metropolitan Water District of Southern California has said there’s a 50/50 chance that its water deliveries will be capped.
For some areas, the odds aren’t even that good. Bolinas, a coastal enclave in Marin County, has limited each customer’s water use to 150 gallons per day, a 25 percent decrease. And it’s three strikes, you’re out, for water wasters. The city plans to shut off the spigot to three-time violators.
In Tracy, the situation is not nearly so dire. Customers won’t be required to reduce use this summer, according to city water managers. At least for now. “We expect there to be less water then last year, but we do expect to meet customer supply without mandatory rationing,” said Steve Bayley, the deputy director of public works.
Read more from the Tracy Press by clicking here.
American cities battle private water companies for public control of water
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on January 30, 2009 at 6:21 amFrom AlterNet & the National Radio Project:
The privatization of public water supplies is occurring in many places around the world. Sold like a common commodity, the rights for distribution and management of community water are being bought and controlled more and more by private entrepreneurs and corporations. But a global movement of activists say this most basic element of life should stay in the hands of the people who use it and out of the control of profit-seeking corporations or government bureaucracies.
On this edition, we investigate what’s behind customer complaints of American Water, North America’s largest private water company. And we’ll take you to Detroit, Michigan, where anti-poverty activists are leading the fight to demand that access to water be treated as a human right and not a commodity.
Click here to listen to the radio show from AlterNet & the National Radio Project.
Southern California outlook: Recent rains boost local supplies; more rain expected next week
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on December 20, 2008 at 6:49 amRecent rains have dumped 4.4 billion gallons into Orange County’s water supply, reports the O. C. Register’s Sciencedude:
The Orange County Water District coralled 4.4 billion gallons of rainwater behind Prado Dam during the storms that pounded Southern California on Monday and Wednesday — a bounty worth about $9 million dollars.
The water will be released down the Santa Ana River and diverted into OCWD’s recharge system.
“If there were no more rain, it would take us approximately 4 to 6 weeks to completely drain this pool into our recharge system,” says OCWD’s Adam Hutchinson.
Read more from the O. C. Register’s Sciencedude by clicking here.
More rain on the way for Southern California, too, as this story in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune tells us:
After two cold storms from the North Pacific slammed the Southland, officials are predicting a third may be on the way.
Experts forecasted a cool, sunny Saturday, with highs in the 60s, said Bill Hoffer of the National Weather Service. Sunday is expected to be partly cloudy with highs in the low 60s, Hoffer said.
But there is a 50 percent chance of rain on Monday with a high temperature expected to reach the mid-to-upper 50s. And it could keep raining through Christmas.
“These (storms) are born and bred in the Gulf of Alaska and come down along our coast,” Hoffer said.
The rain is the best bailout for San Diego County farmers, says San Diego’s Channel 6:
When it comes to rainfall so far this season, San Diego is way above normal. But, our reservoirs are still far under capacity. Years of drought in the state have left them so depleted, it is hard to imagine them filling up anytime soon.
Tenille Othero, a spokesman for the San Diego County Water Authority, said “we need enormous amounts of rain, Noah’s Ark amounts of rain to make up for the dry spell.”
But California’s farmers appreciate all the rain they can get. Perhaps no professional group cheered the downpours more than those who grow avocados.
Burnet Wohlford, who runs Heritage Ranch Management, said avocados require far more water than his citrus plants. His ranch in Escondido has a water bill of about $20,000 a month. Another ranch of his cost $40,000 a month. When it rains, he can stop the sprinklers for at least a month if not more.
The savings could help keep him in business–at least for now.
Read more from San Diego’s Channel 6 by clicking here.
City of Folsom worries as water level nears intake; water officials in Central Valley are anxiously watching reservoirs, too
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on December 20, 2008 at 5:57 am
From the Folsom Telegraph, with Folsom Lake currently at 25% capacity, the City of Folsom is growing increasingly concerned, as the water level is within 48 feet of the city’s intake:
A highly anticipated meeting with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and those who draw water from Folsom Lake resulted in no emergency plans for the lake’s low level.
On Monday, Folsom city officials met with the bureau, the agency responsible for releasing water from Folsom Lake, and other agencies that pull water from the reservoir in the hopes of crafting plans to deal with the lake’s dangerously low level. “We did have a meeting on Monday with a lot of the purveyors,” said Folsom Utilities Director Ken Payne. “We’re going to watch the precipitation when we go through December and January.”
In a statement released by Payne late last week, he said the meeting with the USBR would address “drought year contingency plans.”
The stage two water alert will remain in effect in Folsom, he said. “Until we develop this contingency plan with the USBR and the other water purveyors that draw from Folsom Reservoir such as El Dorado Irrigation District, Roseville, San Juan Water District and others, we will wait to change our stage alert status,” Payne said in the statement.
Those plans have yet to be formed.
The bureau announced they are holding a meeting in January with Central Valley users. “The bureau has a central valley user group meeting in mid-January so we’re in a wait-and-see mode to see what happens in the next month or so,” Payne said. “This time of year it’s hard to plan what’s going to happen for the winter.”
They’re anxiously watching the reservoir levels drop in the Central Valley, too, in this story from the Manteca Bulletin:
San Luis Reservoir in the Coastals west of Los Banos is now down to 12 percent of its 2 million acre-feet of water capacity and is still dropping.
“It’s good we’re getting the snow,” [South San Joaquin Irrigation District general manager] Shields said. “The snow pack is a critical component of the state’s water storage system.”
New Melones — the reservoir that partially dictates the SSJID’s water fortunes — holds 2,420,000 acre feet of water. As of Wednesday, it was down to 1,131,000 acre feet. “I’d like to say the glass is half full but it is really half empty,” Shields said of the continuing stress the drought is placing on the state’s water supplies.
Shields believes if the snow predicted for next week materializes, it will put the SSJID in a fairly decent position for next spring given the capacity of the Tri-Dam System it operates with Oakdale Irrigation District. But even he concedes it is “iffy” depending upon how the rest of winter plays out.
Read the rest of this story from the Manteca Bulletin by clicking here.
Storms raise water level in 9 San Diego area reservoirs
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on December 19, 2008 at 5:55 amFrom the San Diego Union-Tribune:
This week’s heavy rains have raised the water level in San Diego’s nine reservoirs, but the lakes are still far from capacity. “We need a whole lot more to get them back up to normal,” said Nathan Grima, an assistant civil engineer with the city of San Diego’s water department. “We’re still considered under drought conditions.”
Most of the county has received more than twice the rainfall it normally would receive by this point in the season. San Diego has recorded more than 2.5 inches this week alone. The total for the season, which begins July 1, is 5.37 inches. Normal is 2.54. Ramona has recorded 6.06 inches; normal there is 3.5.
But the reservoir levels were low before the fall storms because of three straight dry years in Southern California. Even after the deluges Monday and Wednesday, the city’s reservoirs averaged only about a third full. All reservoirs around the county, which are owned by various cities and water agencies, averaged just below 50 percent full before Wednesday’s storm.
The combined storage capacity of the city of San Diego reservoirs is 202,872 acre-feet. As of yesterday, the total water stored was 66,106 acre-feet. An acre-foot is roughly 325,850 gallons and enough to meet the demands of two typical households for a year.
Wednesday’s storm delivered a gift of 3,209 acre-feet of water to the city’s reservoirs, and runoff should continue to raise the lake levels over the next few days. Monday’s storm brought a similar lift to the lakes.
Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune by clicking here.
All eyes on Folsom Lake; City’s water supply slipping to low levels
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on December 12, 2008 at 6:12 amFrom the Folsom Telegraph:
Folsom’s water levels have plummeted dangerously low, putting the lake within 46 feet of the city’s intake pipe and jeopardizing the steady flow of water to residents. Already under a stage two water alert, city officials are considering taking even more drastic measures to help conserve water. The lake is sitting at less than 25 percent capacity.
Folsom Utilities Director Ken Payne told The Telegraph back on Oct. 1 that city officials were asking the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to consider the needs of Folsom residents when they decide to release water. The city has no control over the release of the water, even though the lake is the only source of water for Folsom.
If the lake gets below 320 feet, where the city’s pipeline puts in at the dam, then the city, in theory, could run dry. “Then we actually get worried about getting water into our pipeline,” Payne said.
Read more from the Folsom Telegraph by clicking here.
Desperate measures: 11 ways to get more water in the West
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on November 22, 2008 at 6:07 amFrom the High Country News:
With water shortages a constant, Westerners are looking at wacky (and not so wacky) ways to squeeze more water out of the sky and land:
1. Tamarisk removal
Tamarisk — which infests some 1 million acres in the West — chokes out willows and cottonwoods, and ruins beaches. It also slurps up lots of water — some say a single tamarisk drinks 200 gallons per day. Estimated cost to remove it? $3,000 per acre, though newer methods, such as tamarisk-eating beetles, are cheaper.2. Logging for water
In 2002, as Colorado was racked by drought, the state proposed something drastic: Clear-cutting its forests to increase runoff. Fewer trees, the theory goes, would result in more snow on the ground — it was proven on a small scale in Wyoming. Most people just laughed at the idea because of the high cost and environmental impacts.
Drought shuts down east Santa Clarita Valley well
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on November 12, 2008 at 2:23 pmFrom the Santa Clarita Signal:
Sporadic rain this past weekend and the “significant downpour” last weekend came just as plunging drought-critical water levels forced water officials to shut down a sputtering major well in the east end of the valley.
About .25 inches of rain fell on Santa Clarita Valley since the start of the month and less than a week after water officials reported pumping pockets of air out of the Lost Canyon well where Sand Canyon Road meets the Santa Clara River.
“A few weeks ago, air got in the lines and typically when that happens, we shut the well down,” said Mauricio E. Guardado, Jr., retail manager of the Santa Clarita Water Division, likening the incident to a straw sucking up the last few drops of a milk shake.
“Fortunately, there was a significant downpour in the east end where these wells are,” Guardado said.
He shut the well down, “to prevent an overdraft, because we can’t deplete the resource. We want to be able to sustain the appropriate water supply for the future.”
Read more from the Santa Clarita Signal by clicking here.
Policy leaders say more water planning needed for Calaveras County water supply
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on November 11, 2008 at 6:01 amFrom the Union-Democrat:
Calaveras County’s water supply could be in peril if smart growth policies aren’t adopted to prepare for an explosion in population over the next four decades. That was the message from speakers at a conference titled “Calaveras Water and Land Use: Today and Tomorrow” which attracted a near capacity crowd Saturday to the Native Sons Hall in Murphys.
“The Sierra Nevada watershed supplies more than 60 percent of the state’s water,” said Patricia Hickson of the Sierra Nevada Alliance,”and, the mountain region’s population of 600,000 is expected to grow to 1.5 to 2.4 million by 2040.”
Robert Dean, chairman of the Calaveras County Water District board of directors, told the crowd that Calaveras County must maximize the efficient use of its share of the water supply while protecting its water rights from politically powerful and increasingly thirsty interests elsewhere in California.
Hickson and Laura Podolsky of the Local Government Commission, detailed ways in which planning for future growth can accommodate the growth of population while minimizing the impact of development on the watershed. Most of this would be accomplished, they said, by avoiding sprawl and by recognizing that open space is critical for recharging groundwater and avoiding pollution from runoff.
Read more from the Union-Democrat by clicking here.
Water supplies could be reduced in South Orange County; Santa Margarita Water District looking at options to keep water flowing
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on November 11, 2008 at 5:44 amFrom the O. C. Register:
California is in the midst of a severe drought, making mandated water conservation a real possibility for residents of South Orange County. We talked with Charley Wilson, recently reelected to the board of directors of the Santa Margarita Water District, about the drought and its potential impact on water users in the area.
Q. How severe could the water shortage be for customers of Santa Margarita Water District?
A. The Metropolitan Water District indicates a water supply reduction in the range of 10-20 percent next year. For the following reasons, SMWD customers will likely not see this level of impact. The projected water supply reduction may be avoided or stemmed with above-normal precipitation this winter.
Q. What steps is the district taking to keep the shortage from impacting its customers?
A. Since around 40 percent of SMWD’s water demand is for homeowners associations and municipal greenbelt areas, SMWD is working with Homeowner Associations for purposes of developing understandings, and to assist the Board’s consideration of related policy measures, regarding conservation measures and improved irrigation practices.
Read more from the O. C. Register by clicking here.
California is facing a water crisis, says editorial
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on November 5, 2008 at 5:51 amFrom the Contra Costa Times, this editorial:
The California Department of Water Resources sent out a danger signal recently and we Californians had better heed the warnings. The state plans on cutting water deliveries to their second lowest level in history. Agency officials announced only 15 percent of the water that local agencies have requested will be delivered this season.
The warning is quite clear — barring a miracle, get ready for water rationing and fewer crops from farmers.
Even though we have had some early rain, the situation remains bleak. Regional water officials have urged Californians to immediately reduce their water use to stretch whatever thin supply remains.
One farmer in Kern County called the water projections disastrous. The signs are abundant that the recent drought is beginning to rear its ugly head.
Lake Oroville is the state’s second largest reservoir. Normally it would be half full at the start of November; currently it stands at only 30 percent. The San Luis Reservoir, south of San Jose, is barely over 10 percent of capacity.
In Southern California, the Metropolitan Water District has used more than a third of its reserves.
Low snowpack levels in the Sierra last winter and the deteriorating ecosystem in the Delta that led a federal court to limit water pumping have brought us to what must be considered a crisis.
Read more of this editorial from the Contra Costa Times by clicking here.
Despite rains, water outlook remains grim
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on November 5, 2008 at 5:41 amFrom the California Farm Bureau Federation:
After months without rain, the season’s first significant storms came ashore just as officials warned of rapidly dwindling water supplies and severe shortages next year. State water experts said that rationing is a growing likelihood for 2009, despite the rain that fell over much of the state last week.
The comments came along with an early announcement of a preliminary 15 percent water delivery allocation from the State Water Project, the second lowest allocation in project history. The early warning is intended to provide water districts, cities and farms time for advance conservation planning and crop decisions.
“This initial allocation level has implications for water users at all levels, not just agriculture,” said Chris Scheuring, managing counsel of the California Farm Bureau Federation Natural Resources and Environmental Division. “A substantial portion of the irrigated land we depend on for crops will be fallowed. This isn’t just an issue for agriculture, it’s a food-supply issue for everyone.”
Coverage wrap up: Water deliveries slashed 85%; drought in 2009 could be the worst in California history, officials say
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on October 31, 2008 at 6:36 amSo many articles this morning across the state regarding the announcement of the initial 15% allocation from the State Water Project. Here’s what they have to say:
From the Los Angeles Times:
State water deliveries could be slashed next year if California continues its dry streak, a move that could lead to widespread rationing.
California Department of Water Resources officials Thursday said water agencies could get as little as 15% of their State Water Project allocations, although that figure could go up if Sierra Nevada rain and snowfall return to normal in the coming months. “We’re clearly making a major call for extra conservation, but also permanent conservation,” said water resources director Lester Snow, who renewed the Schwarzenegger administration’s call for the construction of new reservoirs.
Officials at Southern California’s major water supplier, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, say its board soon will discuss whether to initiate cutbacks. “We are preparing for the real possibility of water shortages and rationing,” said Jeff Kightlinger, the MWD’s general manager.
From the North County Times:
The situation is made worse for Southern California by the rapidly falling level of Diamond Valley Lake in Southwest Riverside County, the region’s primary insurance policy against drought. As a result, Jeff Kightlinger, general manager of the Metropolitan Water District, said there is a “very real possibility” that the ongoing voluntary call to residents in Southern California counties —- including San Diego and Riverside —- to conserve voluntarily will be replaced by a mandatory cutback by May.
“We are one step away,” said Maureen Stapleton, general manager of the San Diego County Water Authority, which buys water from Metropolitan and distributes it to area cities and water districts. And, Stapleton said, “If there is not a drop of rain and a flake of snow between now and mid-January, I can see earlier action being necessary.”
The [San Diego County] water authority and local providers plan to follow Metropolitan’s lead.
From the Long Beach Press Telegram:
Low water storage levels in the state’s major reservoirs, ongoing drought conditions, a growing population and court-ordered restrictions on water deliveries from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta all are to blame for the water shortage, Snow said. Last year, a federal judge limited the amount of water that can be released from the Northern California delta in order to protect the endangered smelt fish.
Without the delta restrictions, the water allocation would have been about 20 percent, Snow said. He said California needs above-average precipitation over the winter to adequately replenish the state’s reservoirs, many of which are below half or a third full. His department’s recommendation is to “hope for the best and prepare for the worst,” he said. “We’re clearly making a major call for extra conservation,” Snow said.
From the Daily Breeze:
The announcement of the allocation comes a month earlier than normal to give local water agencies additional time to develop plans. Most have anticipated tighter water supplies and have taken steps to try to reduce water use.
The Metropolitan Water District, which delivers supplies to 26 member agencies, gets its water from the State Water Project and the Colorado River. General Manager Jeff Kightlinger said there is the possibility of rationing throughout the region, with the first discussions to take place in November.
“It still sends a solemn message up and down California – we all must immediately reduce water use to stretch available supplies,” Kightlinger said. “Over the past two years, Metropolitan has depleted more than a third of its water reserves to deal with drought and court-ordered cutbacks. This is not a short-term problem that will be washed away with a few good storms.”
Richard Nagel, general manager of West Basin Municipal Water District, said Thursday’s announcement was mostly anticipated but underscores the need for people to conserve. West Basin provides water to most of the South Bay and gets roughly two-thirds of its supplies from the Metropolitan Water District.
West Basin will continue promoting conservation as the allocation figure is re-evaluated this year and next, Nagel said. A final figure is anticipated in April. “Each month they come up with an allocation figure. It could be the same, or it could increase, depending on the snowpack (conditions),” Nagel said. “We’re at 15 percent … we need to get to 50 percent or higher to be in the clear.”
From the San Francisco Chronicle:
Water supplies for agencies such as the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and East Bay Municipal Utility District that don’t rely on the state for water won’t be affected the state allocation.
The five Bay Area agencies that receive water from the state are the Napa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, Solano County Water Agency, Alameda County Water District, Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District Zone 7 and Santa Clara Valley Water District.
The agencies said that while the low allocation is discouraging, they already had made contingency plans this summer. “We actually thought the state would come in at 10 percent,” said Paul Piraino, general manager of Alameda County Water District, which provides water to Fremont, Newark and Union City.
Earlier this year, the district decided to augment its groundwater reserves by moving 10,000 acre-feet of water from its underground reserves in Kern County and an additional 12,000 acre-feet from the San Luis Reservoir. “It’s sort of like putting some money in the bank early … for the not-so-rainy day,” Piraino said.
From the Sacramento Bee:
Sacramentans are not directly affected by the forecast, because they don’t depend on the State Water Project for deliveries. The forecast primarily affects water users in the Bay Area and Southern California.
Yet Sacramento should take heed, because it also depends on the parched Sierra Nevada for most of its water supply. Snowmelt stored in California reservoirs is at its lowest level in 14 years.
“In fact, the entire state is wrestling with very serious drought conditions,” said Tim Quinn, executive director of the Association of California Water Agencies. “Wherever you live in California, start conserving water because you are going to be affected if drought conditions persist.”
From Stockton’s Record:
Farmers in the Central Valley said they will be forced to fallow fields, while cities from the Bay Area to San Diego might have to impose mandatory rationing. Mike Young, a fourth-generation farmer in Kern County, called the water projections disastrous. “For the amount of acres we’ve got, we’re not going to have enough water to farm,” he said.
and
Stockton-area water officials repeatedly have said over the summer that this area has enough water to get by, but that the coming winter will be critical for next year. San Joaquin County as a whole has had difficulty finding new sources of water, and the groundwater on which the area has heavily relied is dropping.
From the Bakersfield Californian:
Kern County Water Agency general manager Jim Beck said between the smelt and explosive Central Valley population growth, there is far more demand for water today than during the last major drought of 1988 to 1992.
That means farmers are going to have to add to the 20,000 acres left fallow this year for lack of water. Beck estimates 90,000 acres in Kern County will be affected next year, including 50,000 not planted at all, and 40,000 acres of permanent crops watered enough to stay alive but not enough to bear fruit.
Groundwater banking has helped ease the water shortage up to now, but because of the Delta issue, “We won’t have opportunities to replenish those supplies for use in future droughts,” Beck said.
From the San Diego Union Tribune:
The state has released an initial allocation projection lower than 15 percent only once, in 1993. However, that 10 percent forecast jumped to a full 100 percent of supply requests thanks to a bountiful winter. But the overall water picture is even more bleak today than it was in 1993. Reservoirs are half-full. Court-ordered protections to save the rare delta smelt in the Sacramento delta will divert as much as 660,000 acre-feet of water, enough for 1.3 million households a year. And climatic changes threaten to further reduce snowpack.
Last year started out promising, but finished with the driest March-through-May ever recorded. The previous year also produced skimpy amounts of snow. “We have the potential in a third year to have the worst drought in California history,” warned Lester Snow, director of the Department of Water Resources.
Snow said it is clear that the state needs more storage and a canal to carry water through the Sacramento delta, which could minimize threats to fish. “The clock is ticking,” he said.
ACWA: Near record-low water allocation paints grim picture for 2009
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on October 31, 2008 at 5:47 amFrom Marketwire, this press release from ACWA:
Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) Executive Director Timothy Quinn issued the following statement today on the initial 2009 water supply allocations announced by the Department of Water Resources. The department has notified State Water Project contractors that they may receive just 15% of requested deliveries next year — the second lowest initial allocation in the project’s history. SWP contractors deliver water to 25 million Californians and more than 750,000 acres of farmland.
“This extremely low allocation leaves little doubt that we are in critical territory going into 2009. While the State Water Project service area will clearly see major impacts as a result of this allocation, the drought will continue to have a grip on the entire state. And it is likely to get worse before it gets better.
“All Californians have to take this seriously. Though many of the drought actions have been voluntary to this point, we see a trend toward more restrictive kinds of actions. Tight controls on outdoor water use will be the norm, and many Californians will see drought surcharges and higher water rates to encourage conservation.
“Even if it rains tomorrow or we end up with a wet year, we can’t assume these problems will go away. It’s a new day in California water as we deal with both drought and court-ordered restrictions on water deliveries. We have to invest in making our system — and particularly the Delta — more sustainable so we can meet the needs of species and the environment and still have a reliable water supply.”
ACWA is partnering with the Department of Water Resources to coordinate drought assistance and public education efforts. More on ACWA’s efforts and drought response measures is available at http://www.acwa.com/issues/drought2008/water_supply_conditions.asp.
ACWA is a statewide association of public agencies whose 450 members are responsible for about 90% of the water delivered in California. For more information, visit www.acwa.com.
Grim water supply forecast for 2009 reinforces need for new water delivery system, says the State Water Contractors
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on October 31, 2008 at 5:38 amFrom Market Watch, this press release from the State Water Contractors:
The bleak water supply forecast for 2009 reinforces the pressing need to build a new water delivery system that will protect the environment and provide a reliable water supply for Californians. Water agencies receiving water from the State Water Project (SWP), one of the state’s primary water delivery systems, may only get 15 percent of their contract water supplies in 2009, according to early forecasts released today by the California Department of Water Resources.
In light of the low predictions, the State Water Contractors also warned today that residents, businesses and farms throughout the state will see significant new restrictions on water use in 2009.
“Even if we have a wet fall and winter, the water won’t necessarily be available to us because deliveries are also being cut to protect fish in the Delta. We are anticipating drastically reduced water supplies, regardless of weather conditions,” said Laura King Moon, assistant general manager of the State Water Contractors. “The fragility of the Delta ecosystem, combined with the drought we are currently experiencing, makes it imperative for California to agree on a comprehensive, long-term Delta fix. We can’t make it rain, but we can make the system work better to ensure a reliable water supply for Californians and protect the environment.” added Moon.This exceptionally low forecast is due to restrictions placed on water deliveries from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta (Delta) to protect endangered fish species, and severely dry conditions in California throughout 2008 that are expected to continue into 2009. A ten percent projected statewide allocation for the SWP is the lowest in California history.
This comes at a time when California is already reeling from ongoing hits to the state’s water supply and delivery system. Having been allocated only 35 percent of their contracted water supplies in 2008, state water managers have been facing significantly reduced water deliveries for nearly a year.
Dry conditions have been so bad that Governor Schwarzenegger has formally declared California to be in a state of drought and collectively, reservoirs throughout the state are at the lowest levels in 14 years. San Luis Reservoir, one of the state’s largest reservoirs, is able to hold 2,039,000 acre-feet of water but today only holds a little more than 230,000 acre-feet — a dismal 11 percent of capacity. In addition to drought, instability within the Delta has significantly impacted the reliability of our water supply. Water exports were slashed in 2008 to protect fish species and by mid-2008, 660,000 acre-feet of water had been cut – enough to serve 5.3 million Californians for one year.
California cuts water deliveries to cities, farms
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on October 30, 2008 at 3:32 pmFrom the Associated Press and the San Diego Union Tribune:
The state said Thursday it would cut water deliveries to their second lowest level ever, prompting warnings of water rationing for cities and less planting by farmers.
The Department of Water Resources announced it will deliver just 15 percent of the amount that local water agencies throughout California request every year. That marks the second lowest projection since the first State Water Project deliveries were made in 1962.
It could force farmers in the Central Valley to fallow fields and cities from the San Francisco Bay area to San Diego to impose mandatory water rationing.
The state’s reservoirs are low after two years of dry weather and court-ordered restrictions on water pumping out of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. This year, water agencies received just 35 percent of the water they requested.
Read more from the San Diego Union Tribune by clicking here.
Metropolitan Water District General Manager’s statement on initial State Water Project allocation for 2009
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on October 30, 2008 at 3:22 pmFrom Business Wire:
Jeff Kightlinger, general manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, issues the following statement regarding the California Department of Water Resource’s initial 15 percent allocation of State Water Project supplies to Metropolitan for the 2009 water year:
“We are preparing for the very real possibility of water shortages and rationing throughout the region in 2009. Over the past two years, Metropolitan has depleted more than a third of its water reserves to deal with drought and court-ordered water cutbacks from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. These reserves are rapidly reaching a level that demands careful management.
“While this low initial State Water Project allocation was anticipated, it still sends a solemn message up and down California—we all must immediately reduce water use to stretch available supplies.
“Metropolitan cannot expect any short-term relief from its supply situation if it begins to rain in the Southland, in Northern California or in the Colorado River watershed. The Delta’s serious environmental problems are driving court decisions and regulatory actions that are drastically limiting the ability to move water across the estuary. This is not a short-term problem that will be washed away with a few good storms.
“Throughout its 80-year history, Metropolitan has dependably met the region’s imported water needs. It has been a remarkable era of water stability, thanks to astute decisions that expanded our storage facilities, enhanced conservation and increased local supplies such as recycling. But now we are facing a continuing historic dry cycle and unprecedented environmental challenges in the Delta.
“For many months, Metropolitan has closely monitored weather conditions and water storage levels. If the region faces a shortage in 2009, the district has in place an allocation formula that seeks to equitably distribute supplies, while preserving emergency reserves. Conservation is an absolute necessity. Using less and being more efficient is the new water reality in Southern California.”
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a cooperative of 26 cities and water agencies serving nearly 19 million people in six counties. The district imports water from the Colorado River and Northern California to supplement local supplies, and helps its members to develop increased water conservation, recycling, storage and other resource-management programs.
Aquafornia's Information Desk
Aquafornia's Photos on Flickr
Recent Posts
- Thursday’s top of scroll: Judge rules drought water transfers required environmental review
- Judge Vilardi rejects DWR’s 2009 drought water bank approval
- Western Weather Blog takes a look at the western snowpack
- Water, energy conservation linked; Officials point to need to overhaul lifestyles
- Top speakers on the agenda at the Water Education Foundation’s Executive Briefing, March 25 & 26
- Large increase in CVP water supplies
- ACWA: Low federal water allocation points to need for solutions; Despite increase in federal allocations in 2010, State’s water still in crisis
- The Biocrat: Some say Phil Detrich was a sellout. Others, a savior. He says he was just doing his job.
- Alex Brietler’s blog: Feds emphasize long-term Delta fix
- California’s coast saves water, inland regions use more
- Water Education Foundation announces photography contest – “California Water”
- Aging sewers add up to a big challenge in California
- USDA commits water quality assistance to help California’s agricultural producers
- HTO announces nationwide release of California ocean wastewater discharge report and inventory
- Trashing the deep
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 non-profit organization, whose mission is to create a better understanding of water issues and help resolve water resource problems through educational programs.
E-mail Newsletter
To receive email announcements from the Water Education Foundation, sign up here.
Web Resources
Agriculture
Climate Change & Water
Conservation
Delta Resources
Employment & Water
Environmental Organizations
Fishing Blogs
Investing & Water
Landscaping
Legal Blogs
Los Angeles River
News
Salton Sea
Twitter Feeds
Water Agencies
Water Blogs
- Aguanomics
- American Water Resources Assn. Blog
- Barry Nelson at the NRDC Switchboard
- Chance of Rain
- Chronicles of the Hydraulic Brotherhood
- EDF’s On The Waterfront
- Food and Water Watch Blog
- Great Lakes Law Blog
- H2ONCoast Blog
- Inkstain – jfleck
- On the Public Record
- Peter Gleick’s City Brights blog
- Spouting Off – Mark Gold of Heal the Bay
- Thirsty in Suburbia
- Water Cooler Blog
- Water SISWEB
- Water Words That Work
- Waterblogged
- WaterCrunch
- WaterWired
- Western Water Blog
Water Information
News Article Archives
- Agriculture
- Aquafornia Exclusives
- Biofuels
- Bottled water
- Climate change & water supply
- Commentary
- Conservation
- Delta Issues
- Desalination
- Drinking Water
- Drought Tolerant Landscaping
- Drought, Weather & Snowpack
- Events
- Flood Control
- General Water Issues
- Geothermal Energy
- Grandiose water plans
- Great Green Ideas
- Groundwater
- Hydropower
- Indian Water Rights
- Infrastructure
- International Water Issues
- Invasive Species
- Levees
- Monterey Agreements
- National water news
- Oceans and Beaches (all)
- Odds and Ends
- People in the News
- Rainwater Harvesting
- Recycled Water
- Regional Water Issues
- All-American Canal
- Antelope Valley
- Bakersfield
- Bay Area
- Central Coast
- Coachella Valley
- Colorado River Basin
- Imperial Irrigation District & Imperial Valley
- Lake Tahoe & the Sierra's
- Las Vegas & Nevada
- Los Angeles River
- Northern California
- Orange County
- Owens Valley & Mono Lake
- Riverside – San Bernardino
- Sacramento
- Salton Sea
- San Diego
- San Joaquin Valley
- Southern California
- Southwest Water Issues
- Westlands Water District
- Stormwater & Urban Runoff
- Uncategorized
- Water & Development
- Water & Energy
- Water & Investing
- Water & Population
- Water & the Environment
- Water & Wildlife
- Water Agency News (all)
- Water Banking
- Water History
- Water Legislation
- Water Quality
- Water Rights
- Water Storage
- Water Supply
- Water Technologies
- Water Transfers
- Weather Modification
- Weird & Wacky Water News