[Water_news] 1. DWR'S CALIFORNIA WATER NEWS - Top Item for 4/22/09

Department of Water Resources

California Water News

A daily compilation for DWR personnel of significant news articles and comment

 

April 22, 2009

 

1.   Top Items–

 

 

California launches water-saving campaign

Sacramento Bee

 

Calif. launches $4 million water conservation push

Associated Press

 

Feds to release minimal water supplies to farms

Associated Press

 

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California launches water-saving campaign

Sacramento Bee – 4/22/09

By Matt Weiser

Hoping Californians can save water like they did energy, the state on Tuesday launched a conservation campaign to nudge all residents to take simple steps to help each other through the drought.

 

Dubbed "Save Our Water," the program is modeled after the highly successful "Flex Your Power" campaign that helped California in the energy crisis of 2001.

It includes a new Web site at www.saveourh2o.org, billboards and media advertising.

 

It even features a celebrity spokesman: former Giants manager Dusty Baker, a native Californian and outdoorsman.

 

"The more we can save, the more we're helping our economy and the environment," said Mike Chrisman, secretary of the state's Natural Resources Agency.

The program is a partnership between the state Department of Water Resources and the Association of California Water Agencies, which represents 450 urban and agriculture water agencies that account for 90 percent of water deliveries.

 

DWR gave $2 million for the campaign, and ACWA will match that with member contributions.

 

The campaign comes amid a third straight drought year. Spring rain and snow have improved the picture slightly, but expected snowmelt and reservoir storage won't be enough to meet the needs of most urban areas.

 

"We have to come up with a survival strategy," said Tim Quinn, ACWA executive director. "The biggest tool in the toolbox is conservation."

 

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation on Thursday increased its planned water deliveries to San Joaquin Valley farms from zero to 10 percent of normal. But it comes too late for many farmers who already had to make planting decisions.

 

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger last year set a statewide goal to cut water consumption 20 percent by 2020.

 

DWR Director Lester Snow said that if everyone saved just 12 percent – through simple measures like shorter showers and not overwatering lawns – the state would save 1 million acre-feet of water annually. #

http://www.sacbee.com/capitolandcalifornia/story/1799359.html?mi_rss=Capitol%20and%20California

 

Calif. launches $4 million water conservation push

Associated Press – 4/21/09

 

(04-21) 11:55 PDT Sacramento, CA (AP) --

Californians should take shorter showers, wash only full loads of laundry and use a broom instead of a hose to clean their driveways.

Those are some of the steps the state is promoting as part of a $4 million statewide public education campaign begun Tuesday.

 

State Natural Resources Secretary Mike Chrisman says the "Save Our Water" campaign responds to the water shortages facing many farmers and cities around the state. California is in a third year of below-average precipitation.

 

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a statewide water emergency in February and called for voluntary conservation. Spokesman Matt David declined to say Tuesday whether the governor supports mandatory water conservation.

 

The Association of California Water Agencies is paying half the campaign's cost. Information can be found online at www.saveourH2O.org.#

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/04/21/state/n115505D67.DTL&type=health

 

Feds to release minimal water supplies to farms

Associated Press – 4/21/09

By GARANCE BURKE - AP

 

FRESNO, Calif. -- Farmers in California's drought-stricken agricultural basin finally will get a meager supply of federal water to nurture their crops this summer.

Officials with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation said Tuesday that heavy storms in March allowed them to boost the amount of water sent to customers south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, the critical region where most of the nation's fruits and vegetables are grown.

 

Water districts that supply some of the nation's largest farms in that area will receive 10 percent of the amount they are entitled to under government contracts.

Three years of drought already have forced farmers to let thousands of acres of cropland turn to dust. Hundreds of farmworkers have lost their jobs.

Still, many farmers said some irrigation supplies were better than nothing.

 

"Every drop of water counts," said Tom Birmingham, general manager of the Westlands Water District, whose members are major employers in Fresno and Kings county. "Farmers who otherwise would use groundwater to irrigate orchards or vineyards will now be able to reduce pumping of groundwater."

 

The district, which produces about $1 billion in crops annually, estimates that the water shortages have meant that 300,000 acres of lettuce, tomatoes and other crops won't be planted this year.

 

Farmers north of the delta, the inland waterway through which drinking water flows to 25 million Californians, fared slightly better. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation said Tuesday they could expect to get 15 percent of their contracted amount.

 

March rain and snow storms brought water levels in California's largest reservoirs - Shasta and Oroville - to about three-quarters as full as they should be at this time of year.

 

Still, state officials warn California remains in a dangerous drought. Water also must be reserved for fish in the fragile delta ecosystem.

Last week, the state Department of Water Resources boosted its deliveries to 30 percent of the water typically allocated for cities and farms this year. #

http://www.mercedsunstar.com/280/story/803671.html

 

 

 

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DWR’s California Water News is distributed to California Department of Water Resources management and staff,  for information purposes, by the DWR Public Affairs Office. For reader’s services, including new subscriptions, temporary cancellations and address changes, please use the online page: http://listhost2.water.ca.gov/mailman/listinfo/water_news . DWR operates and maintains the State Water Project, provides dam safety and flood control and inspection services, assists local water districts in water management and water conservation planning, and plans for future statewide water needs. Inclusion of materials is not to be construed as an endorsement of any programs, projects, or viewpoints by the Department or the State of California.