The Water Education Foundation’s “flagship” is its quarterly
Western Water magazine. Each issue examines a different
aspect of the water picture. Western Water is the only
magazine in California and the West to focus exclusively on
in-depth coverage of water resources issues.
This issue of Western Water examines the problem of perchlorate
contamination and its ramifications on all facets of water
delivery, from the extensive cleanup costs to the search for
alternative water supplies. In addition to discussing the threat
posed by high levels of perchlorate in drinking water, the
article presents examples of areas hard hit by contamination and
analyzes the potential impacts of forthcoming drinking water
standards for perchlorate.
This issue examines desalination and the role it could play in
the future of water supply. In addition to an explanation of the
basics of the technology, the article looks at costs,
environmental impacts and groundwater application. Pilot
desalination projects are featured, including a much-touted
Carlsbad, Calif., facility that promises to substantially boost
that region’s water supply.
2002 marks the 30th anniversary of one of the most significant
environmental laws in American history, the Clean Water Act
(CWA). The CWA has had remarkable success, reversing years of
neglect and outright abuse of the nation’s waters. But challenges
remain as attention turns to the thorny issue of cleaning up
nonpoint sources of pollution.
The release of the CALFED Record of Decision in 2000 marked a
turning point in the multi-year effort to craft a Delta “fix”
that addressed both environmental problems and water supply
reliability. How to finance the many components within the plan
and ensure the plan is implemented over the next 30 years is a
major issue.
In California and the West, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) is a
critical issue. Development and agricultural interests say the
law should not be used to unjustly block new projects, while
conservationists view the law as a major bulwark against the
destruction of vital habitat. In the water world, municipal and
agricultural interests say there is room to streamline the ESA’s
application to prevent undue interruption of water delivery.
The Reclamation Act of 1902, which could arguably be described as
a progression of the credo, Manifest Destiny, transformed the
West. This issue of Western Water provides a glimpse of the past
100 years of the Reclamation Act, from the early visionaries who
sought to turn the arid West into productive farmland, to the
modern day task of providing a limited amount of water to homes,
farms and the environment. Included are discussions of various
Bureau projects and what the next century may bring in terms of
challenges and success.
Drawn from a special Colorado River stakeholder symposium held in
January 2002 at The Bishop’s Lodge in Santa Fe, New Mexico, this
article provides an overview of several Colorado River issues
that may or may not be resolved through consensus. Some of these
issues include providing water for the Colorado River Delta,
endangered species, dam re-operation and potential future trends
around the basin as they relate to the California 4.4 Plan,
drought and governance.
Drawn from a special Colorado River stakeholder symposium held in
January 2002 at The Bishop’s Lodge in Santa Fe, New Mexico, this
article provides an overview of several Colorado River issues
that may or may not be resolved through consensus. Some of these
issues include providing water for the Colorado River Delta,
endangered species, dam re-operation and potential future trends
around the basin as they relate to the California 4.4 Plan,
drought and governance.
The events of September 11 brought a new reality to the water
world. Since California was the destination of the four hijacked
planes, security was immediately tightened at dams, aqueducts and
water treatment plants. This issue of Western Water examines the
issue of water security and the preparedness of federal, state
and local agencies to the threat of terrorism. In addition to
physical security and bioterrorism, it focuses on the type of
long-term security measures being implemented to ensure a safe
water supply.
The California power crisis has made international headlines. But
what is the link between water and power in California? How is
the state’s dry spell affecting its hydropower generation? How
has the electric crisis affected water users in the state? These
questions and others are addressed in this issue of Western
Water.
Although some water districts have coordinated use of surface
water and groundwater for years ,conjunctive use has become the
catchphrase when it comes to developing additional water supply
for the 21st century. This article focuses on conjunctive use. It
includes background information explaining how conjunctive use
works, discusses the potential storage capacity, provides an
overview of the hurdles that must be overcome to develop a
successful project, and profiles several projects.
The continued effort to improve water quality and reduce nonpoint
source pollution will hinge largely on a little-known pollution
control strategy known as total maximum daily loads (TMDLs),
which describe the amount of a particular pollutant that a water
body can absorb on a daily basis while remaining safe for
wildlife and people. While by no means a comprehensive
explanation of all the factors surrounding this complex subject,
this issue of Western Water provides a snapshot of TMDLs and what
they mean for water quality, supply and reliability.
Water marketing is viewed by many as a key component in the
state’s ongoing effort to stretch the water supply to meet
demand. In the 2000 Record of Decision, for example, CALFED
agencies “encourage the development of a more effective water
transfer market.” Many private companies are interested in making
a deal with California water.This issue provides a glimpse into
current and potential uses for a water market.
Significant technological advancements in monitoring, assessing
and treating water ensures today what is generally a safe
drinking water supply in California. Yet treatment challenges
remain as scientists, regulators and policy-makers address
concerns over both naturally occurring contaminants and those
caused by human activities.
This issue focuses on the seven-state compromise on new Colorado
River Interim Surplus Criteria and their link to California’s
so-called 4.4 plan, part of Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt’s
legacy. The article provides background on the Interior
Secretary’s authority to declare a surplus, explores how the
seven states reached agreement and discusses the latest
developments on the California plan.
The importance of water rights was affirmed in the California
Supreme Court’s first major water rights decision since the 1983
landmark ruling on the public trust doctrine. This issue of
Western Water discusses the 2000 ruling in City of Barstow v.
Mojave Water Agency, a lawsuit stemming from a
groundwater-pumping plan imposed on users within the Mojave
Basin. The article provides an overview of the case, its
background and history, the proposed physical solution, and what
the Mojave opinion may mean for the Mojave Basin and the rest of
California.
The pieces of the political puzzle appeared to be in place in
June when top state and federal officials reached agreement on a
vision for balancing the Bay-Delta’s competing interests,
releasing “California’s Water Future: A Framework for Action.”
This issue explores the major components of that deal, and what
happens next as far as implementation, governance and funding of
the CALFED Bay-Delta Plan.
An expanded issue of Western Water profiles the conflicts and
cooperative efforts underway in the Klamath River Basin. It
provides background information on the basin’s geography and
history, explores some of the current problems of fish recovery,
water quality and water supply, and discusses some of the ongoing
efforts to resolve these issues.
The controversy that began nine years ago when the Central Valley
Project Improvement Act (CVPIA) was first introduced in Congress
continues unabated today. This issue of Western Water focuses on
three of issues making headlines today: the annual allocation of
800,000 acre-feet of CVP yield to the environment, (the so-called
b2 water); renewal of long-term water supply contracts; and the
related action of increasing Trinity River flows. The magazine
also explores the link between the CVPIA and the CALFED Bay-Delta
Program.
