State lawmakers are deep into what hopefully are final
negotiations for a major bond issue asking voters to provide
billions for critical water projects throughout this
drought-plagued state.
“The crews are building what boosters say represents California’s
best hope for a drought-proof water supply: the largest ocean
desalination plant in the Western Hemisphere. The $1 billion
project will provide 50 million gallons of drinking water a day
for San Diego County when it opens in 2016.”
“The weekend before nine wildfires erupted in the San Diego area,
scores of state firefighters were sent along with engines and
aircraft to the region – knowing that the forecast of a heat wave
and gusty winds was setting the stage for a tinderbox.”
“Brush fires broke out Wednesday in more than half a dozen spots
in northern San Diego County and spread at a dangerous pace as
hot, dry, erratic winds, backed by record temperatures, raked
Southern California for a second day.”
“Nine fires in all were burning an area of more than 14 square
miles as another day of sky-high temperatures and dry winds were
expected Thursday, county officials said.”
“When San Diego County was hit with harsh Santa Ana winds late
last month — in the middle of spring, for the first time in
anyone’s memory — that served as a stark warning of the
possibility of a horrible fire season because of California’s
extreme drought.”
“A pair of wildfires flared and thousands of residents fled amid
drought conditions and spiking heat in California, but both
blazes had calmed as night fell and the winds that had whipped
them diminished.”
“Driven by hot, dry winds, fast-moving brush fires in San Diego
and Santa Barbara counties burned hundreds of acres Tuesday and
forced mandatory evacuations in both areas.”
“Less outdoor watering, limiting vehicle washing and using
recycled water whenever practical is being urged by a San Diego
City Council panel in response to the region’s ongoing drought.”
“In response to the continuing statewide drought, Otay Water
District’s Board of Directors last Friday declared a Level 1 –
Supply Watch Condition in which a 10 percent reduction of water
use is requested.”
“North County avocado farmers irrigating their groves with all
recycled water. Residents of the southeast San Diego
working-class neighborhood of Encanto enjoying a revitalized
Chollas Creek, a respite in a sea of concrete.
“California’s historic drought continued to draw responses on
several fronts Wednesday, including in the House of
Representatives where the Republican majority pushed through
contentious legislation that would weaken environmental
protections so that more water can flow to thirsty farms and
cities in the Central Valley.”
“California’s worsening drought highlights the need for even more
conservation among all Californians, in the north and south; more
water storage capacity throughout the state; a long-term fix to
the infrastructure problems of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta;
and a continued push for new sources of water.”
“Smack in the middle of Mance Buchanan Park in suburban Oceanside
on Saturday, dozens of Native Americans gathered in a circle on
the brown grass to do what their ancestors had done generations
before them: pray, sing and dance for rain.”
“The San Diego City Council unanimously approved $163.9 million
in new or replaced fire stations, libraries, water and sewer
lines and road and sidewalk repairs Tuesday, as it nibbled away
at a multi-billion backlog in infrastructure needs.”
“One year after construction began, the $1 billion Carlsbad
desalination plant is under budget and on schedule to begin
producing 50 million gallons of drinking water per day two
years from now. …
“Poseidon Water, the private company building the plant, and
the water authority, which is partnering on the project, will
give tours of the plant Wednesday to local media and
politicians.”
“The dome of high pressure that’s been steering most storms
away from Southern California since late November will linger
until at least Jan. 6th, guaranteeing that 2013 will be among
the driest years that San Diego has experienced in the past
three decades. …
“San Diego County hasn’t received above average rain during a
single calendar year since 2010, which has increased the threat
of wildfires. ”
