Department of Water Resources
A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
May 12, 2009
5. Agencies, Programs, People –
Editorial: Sensible water ideas are bubbling up
The
Study: Environment, savings are biggest factors behind water conservation
The
State of the
Thursday, May 14
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Editorial: Sensible water ideas are bubbling up
If you think
Yes, this has been almost a normal year for
But the good news is that at last someone has stepped forward with a sensible statement of principle that makes adequate water supplies for farms and cities in Central and Southern California and the San Francisco Bay Area an equal goal with water quality and fish survival in the delta of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers.
The delta serves as a funnel for water pouring each spring from the western slopes of the Sierra and the southern
Those pumps are not operating just now and won't until mid-June, the second year of a thus-far-unsuccessful effort to revive the endangered delta smelt at the expense of water supplies elsewhere. Smelt numbers did not climb in the first year of court-ordered water pump shutoffs, and there's some doubt they ever will. But many millions of gallons of high-quality fresh water have flowed into the
How to revive the delta environment and still meet urban and farm water needs from
Increase use of recycled water for lawns and industry, the task force suggests, while building more desalination plants to make ocean waters drinkable. Add infrastructure like new reservoirs and possibly a peripheral canal bringing water around the delta in a concrete channel that would allow control of runoff to the sea. And police water rights permits more tightly, making sure farmers do not use more than they're entitled to take.
There also may be some merit to a lawsuit filed in
The lawsuit contends that since 80 percent of
About 100,000 acres in the vast Westlands Water District are already out of production because of poor drainage and chemical saturation, but the lawsuit contends farming and irrigation should stop on much, much more land.
The suit comes from the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance and a self-designated watchdog group called the California Water Impact Network.
While it's long been known that taking water from farms could resolve any urban shortages, large farms in the
Urban water districts bought some of those supplies to ease rationing during the droughts of the 1980s and '90s and probably could again later this year and next.
One question the new lawsuit might resolve: Does a farm retain water rights even when its fields are too polluted to plant? If not, then urban water suppliers like the Metropolitian Water District of Southern California and the East Bay Municipal Water District might suddenly find themselves with an unexpected surfeit.
The bottom line: After many years of stalemate, it appears some constructive potential solutions to long term water issues may be percolating to the surface. If that's not true, California can expect a water crisis in the near future that will make the long-running budget crunch look like child's play.#
http://www.redding.com/news/2009/may/12/sensible-water-ideas-are-bubbling-up/
Study: Environment, savings are biggest factors behind water conservation
As the dry summer approaches, 79 percent of Californians plan to conserve water, motivated more by helping the environment and their pocketbooks than any government mandate, according to a survey released Monday by
As the state heads into summer, the findings can help water districts decide how to best urge people to conserve. Throughout the Bay Area, water districts are considering raising rates, appointing water cops, and launching education campaigns.
"A request from local governments is not compelling for people," said Melinda Jackson, the research director of
Environmental concerns and saving money were the strongest motivators, with 64 percent and 60 percent of people, respectively, saying they were very important factors in their decision. Only 45 percent cited local government requests as important factors behind conservation.
To encourage people to take extra steps to conserve,
In March, the Santa Clara Valley Water District, which serves 1.8 million people in the county, voted unanimously to ask people to slash water use by 15 percent during the summer.
Last year, the district called for a 10 percent reduction in water use. But water use dropped by only 7.5 percent.
Starting at the end of May, the district is planning a public outreach campaign to encourage more conservation. The campaign, which has the tagline "save 20 gallons a day," will focus on how small changes in behavior can help people save water, said Susan Siravo, the water district's spokeswoman. It does not focus on the environment or money savings.
"We can all make small changes and together that creates a larger reduction in usage," Siravo said.
Siravo believes the survey's finding that 78 percent of people are aware of the state drought bodes well for this summer's planned water use reduction.
"It's encouraging to know people are aware of what's happening to our water systems and are willing to conserve," Siravo said.
The
http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_12346040?nclick_check=1
State of the
Thursday, May 14
“The future of
Join Dr. Mount and the State’s top water leaders including DWR Director Lester Snow and USBR’s Regional Director Don Glaser, and others to learn about the state of the Sacramento River Watershed and its role in
Event agenda and registration information is available at www.sacriver.org
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