In the midst of one of its worst droughts in decades, Californians are being told to cut back on water use or pay a price. Many Coachella Valley residents say they are doing their best to comply.
Desert Hot Springs — the only city to opt out of the Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan when it first circulated eight years ago — and the Mission Springs Water District are now in the process of joining the environmental effort.
“The U.S. Justice Department on Tuesday weighed in to support the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians in its lawsuit against two water districts, backing the tribe’s claims that the local agencies are infringing upon its rights by over-pumping groundwater from the Coachella Valley’s aquifer.”
“A ban on single-use plastic shopping bags was approved Thursday, but the City Council left open the idea of lifting at least part of a requirement for all retailers to include a separate 10-cent charge for each paper bag given to customers, a move favored by many high-end El Paseo merchants.”
“Through their CV Water Counts program, local public water agencies recognized a handful of Coachella Valley property owners for their efforts to reduce water usage.”
“The largest public water agencies in the Coachella Valley have begun withholding information about how much water is pumped from wells by businesses including farms, golf courses, housing developments and resorts.”
“In the 1950s, Palm Springs was promoted as ‘America’s desert oasis’ in a film that displayed lush gardens, golf courses and tourists splashing in swimming pools. The image helped make the area a vacation destination.
“But in creating the image, Palm Springs became one of California’s biggest per-capita water users.”
“The transfer of water from the Imperial Irrigation District to San Diego and the Coachella Valley has netted the IID nearly $85 million over a 10-year period, and is expected to net the district more than $2.7 billion from 2009 through 2047, according to IID projections.”
“Wide-ranging discussions about water use on farms and golf courses, wastewater recycling and how to encourage conservation emerged as the Coachella Valley Water District and the Desert Water Agency led a tour of water infrastructure Thursday focusing on management of the area’s groundwater.
“The water agencies offered the tour to participants in Thursday’s symposium in Palm Springs focusing on drought and water scarcity.”
“Oscar-winning filmmaker Jessica Yu joined dozens of water managers and local, state and federal officials at Sunnylands on Wednesday for the opening reception of a two-day symposium focusing on drought and water scarcity in the West.
“Yu introduced her film, ‘Last Call at the Oasis,’ which documents the increasing scarcity of water in many parts of the world.”
“Hydrologist Brian Thomas has pored over decades of groundwater data from water agencies in the Coachella Valley, and he says the declines in much of the aquifer highlight a need for the area to find ways to cut back on water use.
“Thomas, a postdoctoral scholar at the UC Center for Hydrologic Modeling at UC Irvine, is one in a list of water scientists and experts who will attend a symposium in Palm Springs on Thursday focusing on drought and water scarcity in the West.”
“Being a resort community, the Coachella Valley is full of ornamental water features outside hotels, housing developments and golf courses. …
“These types of features typically use water recycled through their systems, but experts say they could hurt California’s water conservation efforts if they’re left unchecked while the state contends with a drought.”
“As California faces a historic drought, The Desert Sun is launching a new column that takes a closer look at how we use — and abuse — water in the Coachella Valley. … Last week, we asked for examples of public water waste.”
“The Coachella Valley’s water agencies have been awarded a state grant of more than $5.2 million for five water projects that include expanding sewer systems and connecting more golf courses to supplies of recycled water and Colorado River water.”
“After California’s driest year on record, the Desert Water Agency’s board plans to consider its options for drought measures that could be used to cut water use. …
“The board agreed to have a more detailed discussion at the next meeting on Jan. 21 to explore options.”
“The Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard, a creature unique to our desert, was added to the federal endangered species list in 1980. The lizard, which grows to 6 to 9 inches, thrives in our sand dunes. …
“In 1985, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service established the 3,709-acre Coachella Valley National Wildlife Refuge to protect the lizard.”
“The Mission Springs Water District Board of Directors unanimously reappointed Russ Martin on Monday to serve a second term as the board’s president.
“Jeff Bowman, the incoming vice president of the board, also received the unanimous support of his peers, according to a statement from the water district.”
“Coachella Valley water experts agreed Tuesday during The Desert Sun’s second water forum that public perceptions and private costs are major hurdles to water conservation.
“Experts from recreational, agricultural and environmental fields were invited to the Indio Senior Center at 6 p.m. to weigh in on the valley’s biggest water issues.
