[Water_news] 2. DWR'S CALIFORNIA WATER NEWS: SUPPLY - 8/15/07

Department of Water Resources

California Water News

A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment 

 

August 15, 2007

 

2. Supply

 

COLORADO RIVER:

Mexico, U.S. plan talks on river use; Topics to include drought, sharing of the Colorado - Arizona Republic

 

WATER CONSERVATION:

Editorial: Water 101; No matter where it comes from, it is a limited resource - Santa Rosa Press Democrat

 

 

COLORADO RIVER:

Mexico, U.S. plan talks on river use; Topics to include drought, sharing of the Colorado

Arizona Republic – 8/15/07

By Shaun McKinnon, staff writer

 

The United States and Mexico agreed Monday to open talks about how the two nations share the Colorado River and what happens if the river's flow runs short.

Among the issues expected to come up during discussions are the ongoing drought, the potential effects of climate change, protection of the river's damaged delta and emerging water technologies that would encourage recycling or desalination.

The seven U.S. states that rely on the river want Mexico to include itself in a proposed drought plan that would spread future shortages among all users. Under the plan, which is undergoing review by federal officials, Arizona and Nevada would lose the most water in a severe drought. Without Mexico's involvement, those losses could grow if a drought persists.

Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne said the discussions could start within a few weeks and would involve the Bureau of Reclamation, which manages the river on the U.S. side, and the International Boundary and Water Commission, which administers treaties governing the river.

"The issues facing the Colorado River basin are complex, and increasing our dialogue with Mexico will make the path to resolving them much easier," Kempthorne said.

"The United States is pleased to collaborate with Mexico as both nations face some formidable challenges in the future and move toward a new era of cooperation."

Mexico is entitled to 1.5 million acre-feet of water from the river each year. An acre-foot is 325,851 gallons, enough to serve one or two households for one year. Mexico's share represents about 11 percent of the river's average flow of about 14 million acre-feet a year.

The two countries have clashed in recent years over several issues including:

• Increasing efficiency in water deliveries. Farmers in the Mexican town of Mexicali have fought attempts by California to conserve water by lining a section of the All-American Canal. The farmers claim the project would rob them of water that now seeps through the earthen canal into the aquifer.

• Protecting riparian habitat. The countries disagree over proposals to restore some areas of the river's delta, which has dried up after decades of diverting most of the river's flow before it reaches the Gulf of California.

• Protecting future supplies. The river is already overallocated most years and faces further pressure from drought and climate change, which could reduce its flow. The two sides are expected to discuss new studies and technology that could augment the Colorado's flow or create new water sources, such as desalted seawater.

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0815river-mexico0815.html

 

 

WATER CONSERVATION:

Editorial: Water 101; No matter where it comes from, it is a limited resource

Santa Rosa Press Democrat – 8/15/07

 

Conserve -- To keep from being damaged, lost or wasted; save.

ADVERTISEMENT

-- Webster's New World College Dictionary

The above definition is included for the water system operators in Sonoma County. Apparently, these folks have forgotten, or perhaps never learned, that conservation is fundamentally different than replacement.

Recently, water operators reported that in July, Russian River water use dropped by 19 percent, meeting a state-imposed 15-percent conservation mandate.

But an investigation by Staff Writer Bleys Rose found that only some of the savings came from conservation efforts. The remainder came by replacing river water with water pumped from city and Sonoma County Water Agency wells.

In Santa Rosa, the largest water user in the system, conservation amounted to about 10.4 percent. The city was able to meet the 15 percent mandate by pumping from two wells on Farmers Lane. Other cities adopted similar strategies.

There are a couple of problems with this approach.

First, it's a short term solution for what is a long-term problem.

This year, the reductions are needed to address low levels of water in Lake Mendocino. Next year, fishery officials may demand a reduction in the amount of water being released from Lake Sonoma into Dry Creek. Or, global warming could reduce spring rain and cause longer periods of hot weather during the summer.

In other words, for a variety of reasons, residents need to make conservation part of their lifestyle.

Second, pumping could deplete the aquifers. This means the well water may not be available when it's needed in a severe drought. It also means that residential wells in the same aquifers may go dry.

Whether it comes from the river, the ground or is recycled, water is a finite resource. It is time for a comprehensive management plan that accounts for all Sonoma County water -- regardless of its source. #

http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/article/20070815/NEWS/708150321/1043/OPINION01

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