A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
July 19, 2007
2. Supply
AG WATER SUPPLY ISSUES:
Water suppliers say they have enough; But Merced district to end deliveries for crops a month early - Modesto Bee
Tipsters key in cutting water waste; As part of conservation effort, cities, districts follow up on anonymous reports of overuse - Santa Rosa Press Democrat
INVASIVE SPECIES:
Aqueduct shutdown to combat mussels - Riverside Press Enterprise
AG WATER SUPPLY ISSUES:
Water suppliers say they have enough; But
By Michael Mooney, staff writer
Despite stubbornly dry conditions,
Unlike eastern
Earlier this week, Merced Irrigation District directors voted unanimously to end water deliveries to farmers in eastern
Such an action is unlikely to happen in
"We can store enough water at Don Pedro (Reservoir) to get us through multiple dry years," said TID spokesman Tony Walker.
"While we have reduced the basic (water) allotment to farmers this year, we still have enough water available to meet all their needs."
That bit of good news also applies to farmers served by the
"We're in good shape," said OID General Manager Steve Knell. "We have ample supplies to see us through. The recent cool weather has helped."
Spokeswoman Kate Hora said there have been "no discussions at the Modesto Irrigation District about ending the irrigation season early."
"We do anticipate having a normal irrigation season here," she said.
Ensuring supply for next year
In the
The early irrigation water cutoff in Merced could affect a variety of crops, including late tomatoes and bell peppers, alfalfa, almond and walnut trees, radicchio and nursery stock, according to a report in the Merced Sun-Star.
"We recognize the impact this may have on farming operations as some growers will have to turn on their groundwater pumps to finish the year," said Garith Krause, general manager of the
"However, for the well-being of our entire economic region," Krause said, "the district needs to ensure there will be a supply of water in storage for next year."
The rainfall year that began July 1, 2006, and ended June 30 ranked as the 20th-driest on record in
The 8.36 inches of rain
But that doesn't mean the region will have another dry winter and spring.
"One year does not a drought make,"
Come fall, however, Hora said, the water stored at Don Pedro will be well below the level recorded last fall.
As a result, she said, "both MID and TID will be very careful about how we manage our water in the year to come." #
http://www.modbee.com/local/story/13804048p-14381998c.html
Tipsters key in cutting water waste; As part of conservation effort, cities, districts follow up on anonymous reports of overuse
Santa Rosa Press Democrat – 7/19/07
By Bob Norberg, staff writer
The water flowing across
"They water the grass so much there, in the strip in the parking lot, the water comes across the road. It is like a lake; it is totally out of control," said Howe, a
So Howe became one of the dozens of
"We are up to 30 calls a day," said Dan Muelrath,
Howe wouldn't identify the restaurant but said the city had been in contact and believed the problem was being solved.
Reports from the public are an important part of the Sonoma County Water Agency's program to cut the amount of water it takes from the
"It is one of our top 10 conservation tips, to report water waste," Brad Sherwood, a Water Agency spokesman, said Wednesday. "When you have the city of
The Water Agency, the cities and water districts have set up hot lines for anonymous tips, and the Water Agency also is planning to put a tip form on its Web site, Sherwood said.
"It puts people on notice that everyone is paying attention, it is a community effort, so water wisely," Sherwood said, who called the tip program "very helpful, very helpful."
The Water Agency has been ordered by the state Water Resources Control Board to reduce the amount of water it takes from the
The savings will be pooled in
In response to the state order, the Water Agency has called for conservation efforts by its major water buyers, which include the cities of
In the first two weeks of the mandatory program, however, the savings have only amounted to 9.9 percent.
Outdoor watering is one of the primary areas for conservation.
"That is where a lot of the inefficiencies lay," Muelrath said. "Irrigation systems and outdoor water systems is where we can get the additional savings."
Muelrath said city workers try to follow up on tips and investigate as soon as possible to get the owner to fix the problem.
"It is very helpful for us; we don't always see what happens next door to you," said Cheryl Godwin, a
For the tipsters themselves, like Howe, who have front-loading washers and are cutting the amount of water they are using on their lawns, there is a matter of fairness.
"It irritated me," Howe said. "We are all trying to save water, and they are not paying attention at all." #
http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/article/20070719/NEWS/707190319/1033/NEWS01
INVASIVE SPECIES:
Aqueduct shutdown to combat mussels
Riverside Press
By Jennifer Bowles, staff writer
The region's largest urban water supplier will shut down major stretches of its Colorado River Aqueduct beginning Friday to combat the spread of a tiny but invasive mussel that has floated 125 miles inland.
The 10-day shutdown of the aqueduct comes less than six weeks after pumps that bring water from
Inland water supplies will not be affected by the aqueduct shutdown. Bob Muir, a Metropolitan Water District spokesman, said the agency can endure the shutdown by tapping reservoirs like
Because of prolonged drought affecting the
Quaggas, the thumbnail-sized mussels from the
The discovery prompted state officials to try to stop the spread by another route. They warned boaters using Lake Mead or other lakes along the
Nearly 800 quaggas were discovered in the aqueduct 21 miles from the river during a planned maintenance shutdown of the aqueduct in March.
Inspections late last month revealed the quaggas had spread about 100 miles further west of the river and were clinging to a pump near
The 244-mile Colorado River Aqueduct begins in eastern
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_D_quaggas19.3dbd7c4.html
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