A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
July 3, 2007
2. Supply
Tiny delta smelt threatens AmCan water supplies? -
CENTRAL COAST
Water conservation urged countywide; Officials in several communities are requesting that residents limit their water use after a particularly dry winter and spring; some mandatory measures may be ahead - San Luis Obispo Tribune
FOOTHILLS WATER SUPPLY:
El Dorado water supply called sufficient - Sacramento Bee
Tiny delta smelt threatens AmCan water supplies?
By Dan Judge, staff writer
Although the pumping station that funnels water to
"I reached the conclusion that it is prudent to be prepared for that contingency," he said Monday.
While many cities receive water from the North Bay Aqueduct fed by the Barker Slough pumping station, it would be particularly daunting for
One of the first orders of business will be to craft an ordinance requiring residents to cut water consumption in case of an emergency, Weil said.
He also is preparing a plan that would include reduction of the city's own water consumption in parks and on landscaping.
Weil said the Public Works Department is preparing material designed to keep the public informed about the city's water situation.
"If and when this does happen, we will have a lot of communication out to the public to make them aware of it," he said.
The endangered Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta smelt has triggered lawsuits in state and federal courts because the water pumps often kill large numbers of the fish. The litigation led the state Department of Water Resources to temporarily shut down the Harvey O. Banks pumping plant near
While the Barker Slough pumping station is much smaller,
"There has been no definitive statement to that effect but, just as the Delta woes continue to be looked at closer and closer, we certainly run that risk," said Felix Riesenberg, principal water resources engineer with the Napa County Flood Control District. #
http://www.timesheraldonline.com/todaysnews/ci_6289226
CENTRAL COAST
Water conservation urged countywide; Officials in several communities are requesting that residents limit their water use after a particularly dry winter and spring; some mandatory measures may be ahead
San Luis Obispo
By Nick Wilson, staff writer
Several communities are urging residents to conserve water after a light rainy season countywide, prompting some concern that stricter measures will be sought if the dry weather continues.
Some water users—particularly those in Nipomo, where rationing is being considered — could see mandatory conservation measures in coming months.
In Nipomo, the severity of the water shortage was affirmed last week by the
Among their guidelines: discouraging residents from using drinkable water for street cleaning; washing sidewalks, roads or driveways; as well as advising against using water for washing cars without a quick-acting shutoff nozzle on the hose.
City officials in
And in Paso Robles, water conservation measures have been announced in a letter to customers and in public meetings because of the relatively dry year and possible rolling blackouts later this summer.
The
Rising rates
Although water rates are rising around the county, no increase appears to be directly related to the dry year.
Increases are under way in
Nipomo’s Level 3 severity was declared initially in December 2005 at the Nipomo Community Services District’s request.
The affirmation of the Level 3 declaration at a Tuesday meeting of the
A moratorium on new subdivisions outside the outskirts of town is being recommended by the county planning department staff until supplemental water is available.
Water levels in the Nipomo Mesa’s aquifer were 12 percent lower in April than a year before.
A further decrease of water in the district’s aquifers could allow saltwater to intrude, making some groundwater permanently unusable, officials say.
Groundwater is Nipomo’s only source of drinking water.
“It’s very likely that at some point the board will demand reduction and maybe rationing,” said Bruce Buel, the district’s general manager.
Several cities, including
Conservation
Common requests that cities now are making of their residents include using drought-tolerant landscapes and cutting back on irrigation.
“There are some great drought-tolerant landscapes that aren’t rocks and cactus,” said John Neil, general manager of the Atascadero Mutual Water Co. “If people adjust their thinking, we’d really conserve.”
Neil — whose private firm supplies water to about 30,000 people in the
The company’s goal, he said, is not to have to dip into deeper groundwater sources because that’s harder on equipment and increases operational costs. The company pumps 8 million gallons of water per day.
“Since there wasn’t as much rain this year, we’ll be dipping into those deeper wells a little, but not significantly,” Neil said.
In
“We’ve been pretty proactive about conserving,” Ambo said. “Folks have been pretty responsive.” #
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/story/83273.html
FOOTHILLS WATER SUPPLY:
By Cathy Locke, staff writer
Although the state Department of Water Resources has declared 2007 a "critically dry" year, El Dorado Irrigation District customers can expect adequate water supplies this summer.
The district serves nearly 100,000 residents in
Staff members updated district directors last week on conditions for drinking water and power generation in the coming months.
They also presented the draft 2007 Water Resources and Service Reliability Report, which establishes the number of water meters available for construction.
The Sierra snowpack is about 20 percent of normal, but water stored from last year will help the district meet demands through 2007, said Sharon Fraser, an assistant engineer with the Drinking Water Division.
"If another dry year followed this year, it could constitute a drought," she said. #
http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/253859.html
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