Monday, December 22, 2008
Shut Sprinklers Off Until Next Weekend!
It's raining! No need to irrigate your landscape until next weekend. Your grass and plants will get all the water they need with the rain we're getting this week! 50 to 70 percent of all the water we use in Long Beach is used outside on landscaped areas. We have the potential to save vast amounts of precious drinking water by taking advantage of the rain we're getting! Thanks for your support.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
LB Residents Win New Water-Efficient Front Yard
LB Residents Win Waterwise Front Yard Makeover
LONG BEACH, CA - Nine Long Beach residents have won a citywide opportunity drawing to receive a new, water-efficient front yard makeover. The new landscapes will be professionally designed and installed, and paid for by the Long Beach Water Department. One home from each of the City's nine Council Districts was randomly selected during the Tuesday, December 2nd, Long Beach City Council meeting. The nine homes will serve as demonstration landscapes to help promote the beauty, functionality and sustainability of water-efficient, California native landscape design. 50 to 70 percent of the water used in Long Beach is used outside the home, particularly on lush, non-native, water-guzzling landscapes. In fact, much of the water we use to irrigate our landscapes runs off and flows to our coastal areas, picking up and carrying pollutants on its way. Learning about outdoor water use efficiency, and rethinking how we landscape our homes, is a catalyst to conserving vast amounts of an increasingly unreliable imported water supply.
Nearly 2,000 Long Beach residents entered the drawing, which was kicked off on October 1, 2008.
The winning residents are:
From Council District #1: Angelina Rangel, 625 8th Street
From Council District #2: Betty Lima, 1522 E. Hellman Street
From Council District #3: Steve and Donna Warshauer, 273 St. Joseph Avenue
From Council District #4: Dorothy Helde, 4410 E. Rosada Street
From Council District #5: Scott and Carolyn Clark, 2014 Kallin Avenue
From Council District #6: Ian Beckham, 469 West Burnett Street
From Council District #7: Russell Lipkowski, 2175 Oregon Avenue
From Council District #8: Carolyn Reed, 734 E. Armando Drive
From Council District #9: Cheryl Goodall, 210 67th Way
The Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners would like to congratulate all of the winners, and thank everyone who took the time to enter the drawing.
You may be interested in following the fantastic transformation of these homes, as they become beautiful, sustainable, water-wise residences. Please visit www.lbwater.org.
LONG BEACH, CA - Nine Long Beach residents have won a citywide opportunity drawing to receive a new, water-efficient front yard makeover. The new landscapes will be professionally designed and installed, and paid for by the Long Beach Water Department. One home from each of the City's nine Council Districts was randomly selected during the Tuesday, December 2nd, Long Beach City Council meeting. The nine homes will serve as demonstration landscapes to help promote the beauty, functionality and sustainability of water-efficient, California native landscape design. 50 to 70 percent of the water used in Long Beach is used outside the home, particularly on lush, non-native, water-guzzling landscapes. In fact, much of the water we use to irrigate our landscapes runs off and flows to our coastal areas, picking up and carrying pollutants on its way. Learning about outdoor water use efficiency, and rethinking how we landscape our homes, is a catalyst to conserving vast amounts of an increasingly unreliable imported water supply.
Nearly 2,000 Long Beach residents entered the drawing, which was kicked off on October 1, 2008.
The winning residents are:
From Council District #1: Angelina Rangel, 625 8th Street
From Council District #2: Betty Lima, 1522 E. Hellman Street
From Council District #3: Steve and Donna Warshauer, 273 St. Joseph Avenue
From Council District #4: Dorothy Helde, 4410 E. Rosada Street
From Council District #5: Scott and Carolyn Clark, 2014 Kallin Avenue
From Council District #6: Ian Beckham, 469 West Burnett Street
From Council District #7: Russell Lipkowski, 2175 Oregon Avenue
From Council District #8: Carolyn Reed, 734 E. Armando Drive
From Council District #9: Cheryl Goodall, 210 67th Way
The Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners would like to congratulate all of the winners, and thank everyone who took the time to enter the drawing.
You may be interested in following the fantastic transformation of these homes, as they become beautiful, sustainable, water-wise residences. Please visit www.lbwater.org.
Recent Storms Do Very Little for Water Supply Outlook
Recent Storms Do Little for Water Supply OutlookDespite wet weather, snowpack remains well below normal; continued conservation critical
Long Beach Water officials are today reminding customers to continue conserving all the water they can by taking advantage of the recent wet weather and shutting off irrigation systems until the middle of next week. While recent storms have provided local rain and snow, snowpack in the northern Sierra Nevada is currently 90 percent below normal for the year. Northern Sierra snowpack is a primary imported water source for Central Valley and southern California farms and cities. Long Beach imports half its water supply.
"We need to take advantage of the rain we've received over the last couple of days and use it wisely," according to Matt Lyons, Director of Conservation and Planning for the Long Beach Water Department. "This rain is enough to allow all of us to shut our irrigation systems off for several days." Between 50 and 70 percent of all the water used in Long Beach is used outside the home, primarily on lush, non-native landscapes. "Not having to irrigate for 4 to 6 days saves vast amounts of water," added Lyons.
Compounding the necessity to conserve, earlier this week, federal wildlife officials released NEW restrictions on pumping from northern California, further exacerbating the water supply reliability problems for imported water users in cities like Long Beach, as well as San Joaquin Valley farms. The curbs placed on pumping water through the Bay Delta are intended to save the Delta Smelt, an endangered fish, from extinction. A new biological opinion, released on Monday by Fish and Wildlife's office in Sacramento, supports continuing current pumping restrictions, which have resulted in a 20 to 30 percent reduction in water deliveries, but also adopts additional pumping restrictions that the agency believes will help improve Delta Smelt habitat. These additional restrictions could in some years cut imported water deliveries to the Central Valley and southern California by half, which is a worst case scenario, but entirely feasible. Again, the Bay Delta (State Water Project) provides about 30 percent of southern California's imported water supply.
According to Kevin Wattier, General Manager of the Long Beach Water Department, the extremely weak snowpack, coupled with desperately low water storage throughout the state, not to mention the endangered species issues in the Bay Delta itself, should be a catalyst for southern California water managers to immediately increase action on extraordinary conservation measures. "We need a region-wide, full-scale effort to permanently prohibit certain outdoor watering activities."
"Mandated prohibitions on certain outdoor uses of water, which were adopted in Long Beach in September of 2007, continue to be the very best, most immediate way to save vast amounts of water," states John Allen, President of the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners. With these mandated prohibitions, over the last twelve months, Long Beach residents have consumed less water than at any time over the past 10 years. Consumption for the past 12 months is 10.1 percent below the historical 10-year average. "We understood there would be a learning curve for us all, and that exercising these new practices would help us become the very best prepared city in southern California to deal with severe shortages; we're ready and we think it's prudent that other communities do the same," he added.
The Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners has continued to call for increased action throughout southern California, with regard to extraordinary water conservation, and particularly prohibitions on certain outdoor uses of water.
Long Beach Water is an urban, southern California retail water supply agency, and the standard in water conservation and environmental stewardship.
Long Beach Water officials are today reminding customers to continue conserving all the water they can by taking advantage of the recent wet weather and shutting off irrigation systems until the middle of next week. While recent storms have provided local rain and snow, snowpack in the northern Sierra Nevada is currently 90 percent below normal for the year. Northern Sierra snowpack is a primary imported water source for Central Valley and southern California farms and cities. Long Beach imports half its water supply.
"We need to take advantage of the rain we've received over the last couple of days and use it wisely," according to Matt Lyons, Director of Conservation and Planning for the Long Beach Water Department. "This rain is enough to allow all of us to shut our irrigation systems off for several days." Between 50 and 70 percent of all the water used in Long Beach is used outside the home, primarily on lush, non-native landscapes. "Not having to irrigate for 4 to 6 days saves vast amounts of water," added Lyons.
Compounding the necessity to conserve, earlier this week, federal wildlife officials released NEW restrictions on pumping from northern California, further exacerbating the water supply reliability problems for imported water users in cities like Long Beach, as well as San Joaquin Valley farms. The curbs placed on pumping water through the Bay Delta are intended to save the Delta Smelt, an endangered fish, from extinction. A new biological opinion, released on Monday by Fish and Wildlife's office in Sacramento, supports continuing current pumping restrictions, which have resulted in a 20 to 30 percent reduction in water deliveries, but also adopts additional pumping restrictions that the agency believes will help improve Delta Smelt habitat. These additional restrictions could in some years cut imported water deliveries to the Central Valley and southern California by half, which is a worst case scenario, but entirely feasible. Again, the Bay Delta (State Water Project) provides about 30 percent of southern California's imported water supply.
According to Kevin Wattier, General Manager of the Long Beach Water Department, the extremely weak snowpack, coupled with desperately low water storage throughout the state, not to mention the endangered species issues in the Bay Delta itself, should be a catalyst for southern California water managers to immediately increase action on extraordinary conservation measures. "We need a region-wide, full-scale effort to permanently prohibit certain outdoor watering activities."
"Mandated prohibitions on certain outdoor uses of water, which were adopted in Long Beach in September of 2007, continue to be the very best, most immediate way to save vast amounts of water," states John Allen, President of the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners. With these mandated prohibitions, over the last twelve months, Long Beach residents have consumed less water than at any time over the past 10 years. Consumption for the past 12 months is 10.1 percent below the historical 10-year average. "We understood there would be a learning curve for us all, and that exercising these new practices would help us become the very best prepared city in southern California to deal with severe shortages; we're ready and we think it's prudent that other communities do the same," he added.
The Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners has continued to call for increased action throughout southern California, with regard to extraordinary water conservation, and particularly prohibitions on certain outdoor uses of water.
Long Beach Water is an urban, southern California retail water supply agency, and the standard in water conservation and environmental stewardship.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Storm Update: Snow Pack is Still Way Below Normal
Despite recent storm systems moving through California, the most recent (today) snow pack data for the northern Sierra shows that snow pack is STILL 90% below normal for the year.
Snowpack is also well below normal in the central and southern Sierra, even with the recent storms.
Northern Sierra snowpack fuels northern California water supply reservoirs and the State Water Project system, which supplies imported water to southern California.
Extraordinary conservation measures must be sustained. To learn more about what the City of Long Beach is doing to conserve water, visit www.lbwater.org.
Snowpack is also well below normal in the central and southern Sierra, even with the recent storms.
Northern Sierra snowpack fuels northern California water supply reservoirs and the State Water Project system, which supplies imported water to southern California.
Extraordinary conservation measures must be sustained. To learn more about what the City of Long Beach is doing to conserve water, visit www.lbwater.org.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Wattier: Long Beach Water Supply Alert
Long Beach Water Supply Alert
Federal wildlife officials with Fish and Game released NEW restrictions on pumping from northern California, further exacerbating the water supply reliability problems for imported water users in cities like ours, as well as San Joaquin Valley farms. The curbs placed on pumping water through the Bay Delta are intended to save the Delta Smelt (a fish) from extinction. A new biological opinion, released yesterday by Fish and Wildlife's office in Sacramento, supports continuing current pumping restrictions, which have resulted in a 20 to 30 percent reduction in water deliveries, but also adopts ADDITIONAL pumping restrictions that the agency believes will help improve Delta Smelt habitat. These additional restrictions could in some years cut imported water deliveries to the Central Valley and southern California by half, which is a worst case senario...but it is feasible. The Bay Delta (State Water Project) provides about 30 percent of southern California's imported water supply.
The permanent reductions to imported water deliveries from the Colorado River and the Bay Delta, severely depleted reservoirs the length and breadth of the state, and drought continue to necessitate an immediate, aggressive approach to conservation of water supplies. Mandated prohibitions on certain outdoor uses of water, which were adopted in our City in November of 2007, continue to be the very best, most immediate way to save vast amounts of water. With these mandated prohibitions, over the last twelve months, Long Beach residents have consumed less water than at any time over the past 10 years. Consumption for the past 12 months is 10.1 percent below the historical 10-year average.
The Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners has continued to call for increased action throughout southern California, with regard to extraordinary water conservation, and particularly prohibitions on certain outdoor uses of water.
Kevin L. Wattier
General Manager
Long Beach Water Department
Federal wildlife officials with Fish and Game released NEW restrictions on pumping from northern California, further exacerbating the water supply reliability problems for imported water users in cities like ours, as well as San Joaquin Valley farms. The curbs placed on pumping water through the Bay Delta are intended to save the Delta Smelt (a fish) from extinction. A new biological opinion, released yesterday by Fish and Wildlife's office in Sacramento, supports continuing current pumping restrictions, which have resulted in a 20 to 30 percent reduction in water deliveries, but also adopts ADDITIONAL pumping restrictions that the agency believes will help improve Delta Smelt habitat. These additional restrictions could in some years cut imported water deliveries to the Central Valley and southern California by half, which is a worst case senario...but it is feasible. The Bay Delta (State Water Project) provides about 30 percent of southern California's imported water supply.
The permanent reductions to imported water deliveries from the Colorado River and the Bay Delta, severely depleted reservoirs the length and breadth of the state, and drought continue to necessitate an immediate, aggressive approach to conservation of water supplies. Mandated prohibitions on certain outdoor uses of water, which were adopted in our City in November of 2007, continue to be the very best, most immediate way to save vast amounts of water. With these mandated prohibitions, over the last twelve months, Long Beach residents have consumed less water than at any time over the past 10 years. Consumption for the past 12 months is 10.1 percent below the historical 10-year average.
The Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners has continued to call for increased action throughout southern California, with regard to extraordinary water conservation, and particularly prohibitions on certain outdoor uses of water.
Kevin L. Wattier
General Manager
Long Beach Water Department
State Water Supply is Permanently Slashed
From the State Water Contractors:
California's Primary Water Supply Slashed
Long-term Restrictions Are Devastating to Public Water Agencies
Dec. 15, 2008 09:57 PM
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Dec. 15 - Public water agencies throughout Northern, Central and Southern California now face major supply cutbacks in the latest federal regulatory blow to their ability to deliver water to customers. The restrictions point sharply to the need for a more comprehensive and sensible approach to managing the state's water supply and fish habitat concerns.
The cutbacks, effective immediately, were outlined today by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in a revised biological opinion for the Delta smelt, a threatened fish species that lives in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta). The biological opinion, or permit, sets guidelines for State Water Project (SWP) and Central Valley Project (CVP) pumping operations out of the Delta to ensure there is no long-term jeopardy to the health and habitat of the Delta smelt. The SWP and CVP are the state's primary water delivery systems and collectively deliver water to 25 million Californians and 3 million acres of agricultural land.
"California's primary water supply has just taken another big hit," said Laura King Moon, assistant general manager of the State Water Contractors. "This is a major new reduction in water deliveries that will impact families, businesses and farmers throughout California."
The timing of the new delivery cutbacks couldn't be worse. California is in a severe drought. Our state reservoirs are at their lowest levels in years. A much reduced water supply will have severe economic impacts during the worst economic crisis of our lifetime. To put this in perspective, a recent study, commissioned by public water agencies, determined that the economic impact of a 30 percent water supply cutback could range from $500 million annually to more than $3 billion during prolonged dry periods.
To read the rest of this media release, visit http://br.sys-con.com/node/778657
California's Primary Water Supply Slashed
Long-term Restrictions Are Devastating to Public Water Agencies
Dec. 15, 2008 09:57 PM
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Dec. 15 - Public water agencies throughout Northern, Central and Southern California now face major supply cutbacks in the latest federal regulatory blow to their ability to deliver water to customers. The restrictions point sharply to the need for a more comprehensive and sensible approach to managing the state's water supply and fish habitat concerns.
The cutbacks, effective immediately, were outlined today by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in a revised biological opinion for the Delta smelt, a threatened fish species that lives in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta). The biological opinion, or permit, sets guidelines for State Water Project (SWP) and Central Valley Project (CVP) pumping operations out of the Delta to ensure there is no long-term jeopardy to the health and habitat of the Delta smelt. The SWP and CVP are the state's primary water delivery systems and collectively deliver water to 25 million Californians and 3 million acres of agricultural land.
"California's primary water supply has just taken another big hit," said Laura King Moon, assistant general manager of the State Water Contractors. "This is a major new reduction in water deliveries that will impact families, businesses and farmers throughout California."
The timing of the new delivery cutbacks couldn't be worse. California is in a severe drought. Our state reservoirs are at their lowest levels in years. A much reduced water supply will have severe economic impacts during the worst economic crisis of our lifetime. To put this in perspective, a recent study, commissioned by public water agencies, determined that the economic impact of a 30 percent water supply cutback could range from $500 million annually to more than $3 billion during prolonged dry periods.
To read the rest of this media release, visit http://br.sys-con.com/node/778657
Monday, December 15, 2008
Sacramento Bee Special Report on Water Supply
From the Sacramento Bee:
California as we know it today was built largely on this fantasy:
That arid cities in the south could indefinitely satisfy the thirst of a growing population by importing water from the north.
The fantasy endured for a while, buoyed by water diversions from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The largest estuary on the West Coast of the Americas, it drains 40 percent of California, transporting vital snowmelt from the Sierra Nevada across the state.
Recent events have revealed the truth: California is reaching the limit of its water supplies, and the economy and the environment are suffering for it.
Read this special report from the Sac Bee at, http://www.sacbee.com/1268/story/1459470.html
California as we know it today was built largely on this fantasy:
That arid cities in the south could indefinitely satisfy the thirst of a growing population by importing water from the north.
The fantasy endured for a while, buoyed by water diversions from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The largest estuary on the West Coast of the Americas, it drains 40 percent of California, transporting vital snowmelt from the Sierra Nevada across the state.
Recent events have revealed the truth: California is reaching the limit of its water supplies, and the economy and the environment are suffering for it.
Read this special report from the Sac Bee at, http://www.sacbee.com/1268/story/1459470.html
It's Raining! Shut Off Your Sprinklers!
It's raining Long Beach! In fact, it's expected to rain tomorrow and Wednesday as well.
Please take this rare opportunity from mother nature to save lots of water...shut off your sprinkler systems through the weekend! No need to water any of your landscaped areas...today alone will provide enough water to sustain them through the rest of the week.
For our local forecast, visit http://www.wunderground.com/US/CA/Long_Beach.html
Please take this rare opportunity from mother nature to save lots of water...shut off your sprinkler systems through the weekend! No need to water any of your landscaped areas...today alone will provide enough water to sustain them through the rest of the week.
For our local forecast, visit http://www.wunderground.com/US/CA/Long_Beach.html
Friday, December 12, 2008
E-Watering Update - green tech at your fingertips!
Let the Water Department assist you with your outdoor irrigation schedule. We'll send you a quick, fun, electronic reminder on how your sprinklers should be set, depending on current weather.
Sign up now. The future, embraced. http://www.lbwater.org/pdf/conservation/ewu_homepage.pdf
Sign up now. The future, embraced. http://www.lbwater.org/pdf/conservation/ewu_homepage.pdf
Long Beach Citywide Water Use Prohibitions
1. It is illegal to overwater your landscape to the point of causing run-off
2. It is illegal to water your landscape any day, other than Monday, Thursday and Saturday. You should only water 10 minutes per watering station or area.
3. It is illegal to water your landscape between the hours of 9:00am and 4:00pm
4. It is illegal to wash down sidewalks, driveways, gutters, patios, storefronts, parking lots or any other paved area, anytime, unless your using a pressurized, water conserving, cleaning device (pressure washer).
Thank you for your support.
For more info on these and other prohibitions, visit www.lbwater.org
2. It is illegal to water your landscape any day, other than Monday, Thursday and Saturday. You should only water 10 minutes per watering station or area.
3. It is illegal to water your landscape between the hours of 9:00am and 4:00pm
4. It is illegal to wash down sidewalks, driveways, gutters, patios, storefronts, parking lots or any other paved area, anytime, unless your using a pressurized, water conserving, cleaning device (pressure washer).
Thank you for your support.
For more info on these and other prohibitions, visit www.lbwater.org
Plan Adopted to Engineer 15% Cut in Emissions in 12 Years
From the AP in the LA Times
California regulators adopted the nation's first comprehensive plan to slash greenhouse gases Thursday and characterized it as a model for President-elect Barack Obama, who has pledged an aggressive national and international effort to combat global warming.The ambitious blueprint by the world's eighth-largest economy would cut the state's emissions by 15% from today's level over the next 12 years, bringing them down to 1990 levels.
Read the AP article carried by the LA Times, here:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-climate12-2008dec12,0,7794111.story
California regulators adopted the nation's first comprehensive plan to slash greenhouse gases Thursday and characterized it as a model for President-elect Barack Obama, who has pledged an aggressive national and international effort to combat global warming.The ambitious blueprint by the world's eighth-largest economy would cut the state's emissions by 15% from today's level over the next 12 years, bringing them down to 1990 levels.
Read the AP article carried by the LA Times, here:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-climate12-2008dec12,0,7794111.story
Grease in Sewer System Can Be Devestating
Grease is a major cause of sewage overflows.
To learn more about the problem of Fats, Oils and Grease, and to see some gross pictures and video from some of the worst cases, visit http://www.lbwater.org/sewers/fog.html
To learn more about the problem of Fats, Oils and Grease, and to see some gross pictures and video from some of the worst cases, visit http://www.lbwater.org/sewers/fog.html
Thursday, December 11, 2008
LBPOST's Ryan ZumMallen reports on local air quality; USA Today Story
USA Today: Air Quality At LB Schools Is Worst In County
A recent eye-opening study by the USA Today of nearly 128,000 schools across the nation unveiled some disturbing facts about local Long Beach schools. The study, The Smokestack Effect, mapped levels of dangerous chemicals surrounding schools to determine which had the best and worst air quality. America's worst of the worst can be found on the East Coast, but some Long Beach schools did not fare much better.
Read the full post, at www.lbpost.com
See the report by USA Today, at http://content.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/smokestack/index
A recent eye-opening study by the USA Today of nearly 128,000 schools across the nation unveiled some disturbing facts about local Long Beach schools. The study, The Smokestack Effect, mapped levels of dangerous chemicals surrounding schools to determine which had the best and worst air quality. America's worst of the worst can be found on the East Coast, but some Long Beach schools did not fare much better.
Read the full post, at www.lbpost.com
See the report by USA Today, at http://content.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/smokestack/index
Long Beach Water Receives Energy Efficiency Award
Flex Your Power, California's statewide energy efficiency campaign, has recognized the Long Beach Water Department as a leader in energy efficiency with a Flex Your Power Award. Long Beach Water Commission member, Suzanne Dallman, will accept the award on behalf of the Long Beach Water Department at a Monday, December 15th ceremony in San Francisco, California.
The award, recognizes efforts to reduce water consumption and implement long-term water efficiency strategies in this time of extraordinary drought. Nearly 20 percent of California's energy use goes to pumping, moving and treating water.
The Long Beach Water Department is an urban, southern California water supply agency, and the standard in water conservation and environmental stewardship.
You can follow us on:
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The award, recognizes efforts to reduce water consumption and implement long-term water efficiency strategies in this time of extraordinary drought. Nearly 20 percent of California's energy use goes to pumping, moving and treating water.
The Long Beach Water Department is an urban, southern California water supply agency, and the standard in water conservation and environmental stewardship.
You can follow us on:
MySpace
YouTube
Special Commentary: Kevin Wattier, GM, Long Beach Water
Not Enough is Being Done to Forestall or Lessen the Impact of Imminent Water Supply Shortage in Southern California
1. - The initial allocation for the State Water Project for calendar year 2009 was set at only 15% of contractual amounts in late October, and has not changed since then
- The primary storage reservoir on the State Water Project, Lake Oroville, is currently only 28% full. Lake Shasta, the primary reservoir on the federal Central Valley Project,
is 29% full. In both cases, this is less than half of normal for this time of year. The only other time Lake Oroville was this low in December in its 40-year history was in 1977.
- In 2007 and 2008, two dry years, the Metropolitan Water District used over half of it's dry-year storage to offset the difference between supply and demand in Southern California.
- Southern California has lost over 30% of it's access to imported water due to endangered species issues (State Water Project and Los Angeles Aqueduct), competition from
other states (Colorado River Water), and drought (all three supplies).
2. - In 2007, federal judge Oliver Wanger in Fresno ruled that the Biological Opinion to protect the delta smelt, a threatened species under the federal Endangered Species Act, was
invalid. He subsequently implemented interim protections, which had the affect of restricting the amount of water that can be pumped out of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta by the
state and federal water projects by 20 to 30%. The US Fish and Wildlife Service is scheduled to announce a new, permanent Biological Opinion by Monday, December 15th, as ordered
by Judge Wanger.
3. - Populations of several fish species in the Delta have declined precipitously in recent years, most notably the delta smelt and its cousin the longfin smelt. These two species are critical
elements of the food web and ecosystem in the Delta. Consequently, there are currently several actions under way to further protect these two species:
- The US Fish and Wildlife Service is considering a petition to change the status of the delta smelt under the FESA from threatened to endangered, a more protective classification
- The US Fish and Wildlife Service is considering a petition to list the longfin smelt under the FESA
- The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is considering a petition to list the longfin smelt under the CESA, and issued emergency regulations in November to provide
interim protections. These interim protections have the potential to reduce water supplies from the Delta by another 10 to 15%. A final listing decision is expected in February 2009.
- Populations of salmon spawning in the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers and their tributaries have also decreased dramatically in recent years, prompting the Department of Commerce
to ban all commercial salmon fishing off the California and Oregon coasts in 2008.
4. - All water agencies and cities in Southern California should take immediate actions to permanently reduce their water demands by at least 10%. This is what is needed to correct the imbalance
that currently exists between water demands and water supplies in Southern California. Just as the reductions in supply are expected to be permanent, the reductions in demand need to be
permanent, not temporary. Mandatory prohibitions on the wasting of water should be a minimum, combined with an aggressive public education campaign to educate all water users of
the need to conserve. Encouraging conversions from grass to California-friendly landscapes through whatever means necessary is the best way to accomplish this reduction in water demand.
1. - The initial allocation for the State Water Project for calendar year 2009 was set at only 15% of contractual amounts in late October, and has not changed since then
- The primary storage reservoir on the State Water Project, Lake Oroville, is currently only 28% full. Lake Shasta, the primary reservoir on the federal Central Valley Project,
is 29% full. In both cases, this is less than half of normal for this time of year. The only other time Lake Oroville was this low in December in its 40-year history was in 1977.
- In 2007 and 2008, two dry years, the Metropolitan Water District used over half of it's dry-year storage to offset the difference between supply and demand in Southern California.
- Southern California has lost over 30% of it's access to imported water due to endangered species issues (State Water Project and Los Angeles Aqueduct), competition from
other states (Colorado River Water), and drought (all three supplies).
2. - In 2007, federal judge Oliver Wanger in Fresno ruled that the Biological Opinion to protect the delta smelt, a threatened species under the federal Endangered Species Act, was
invalid. He subsequently implemented interim protections, which had the affect of restricting the amount of water that can be pumped out of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta by the
state and federal water projects by 20 to 30%. The US Fish and Wildlife Service is scheduled to announce a new, permanent Biological Opinion by Monday, December 15th, as ordered
by Judge Wanger.
3. - Populations of several fish species in the Delta have declined precipitously in recent years, most notably the delta smelt and its cousin the longfin smelt. These two species are critical
elements of the food web and ecosystem in the Delta. Consequently, there are currently several actions under way to further protect these two species:
- The US Fish and Wildlife Service is considering a petition to change the status of the delta smelt under the FESA from threatened to endangered, a more protective classification
- The US Fish and Wildlife Service is considering a petition to list the longfin smelt under the FESA
- The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is considering a petition to list the longfin smelt under the CESA, and issued emergency regulations in November to provide
interim protections. These interim protections have the potential to reduce water supplies from the Delta by another 10 to 15%. A final listing decision is expected in February 2009.
- Populations of salmon spawning in the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers and their tributaries have also decreased dramatically in recent years, prompting the Department of Commerce
to ban all commercial salmon fishing off the California and Oregon coasts in 2008.
4. - All water agencies and cities in Southern California should take immediate actions to permanently reduce their water demands by at least 10%. This is what is needed to correct the imbalance
that currently exists between water demands and water supplies in Southern California. Just as the reductions in supply are expected to be permanent, the reductions in demand need to be
permanent, not temporary. Mandatory prohibitions on the wasting of water should be a minimum, combined with an aggressive public education campaign to educate all water users of
the need to conserve. Encouraging conversions from grass to California-friendly landscapes through whatever means necessary is the best way to accomplish this reduction in water demand.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Where would you like to put a water-efficient landscape? Let us all know.
If you could, where would you like to see a beautiful, water-efficient, southern California native landscape? Is there a park or other public space, a particular building or business that you'd like to see landscaped? Let us know.
Learn to landscape like the pros...and visit the Aquarium of the Pacific...FREE!
Free Residential Landscape Classes
Save the Water: Grass lawns require more water and chemicals per foot and cause more runoff than almost any other kind of landscape! About 50 percent of the water used at the average home is for landscape irrigation.
Save the Planet: Grass lawns are responsible for much of our urban runoff, runoff carrying lawn clippings, fertilizers and other pollutants into our precious coastal marine habitat.
Drinking water supply in Southern California has been permanently reduced. One of the best ways to reduce our need for water is to transform our grass lawns into a beautiful landscape utilizing attractive drought tolerant plants, reducing runoff, attracting animals like butterflies and hummingbirds, and requiring very little maintenance. Learn how at the following terrific classes.
Landscape Classes - Long Beach Water Department
Classes are from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon, come join us and take home a few tips!
Designing Your New LandscapeDates: January 10th ~ February 21st ~ April 11thLocation: Long Beach Water Department, 1800 E. Wardlow Rd.
Choosing the Best Plants for You Dates: January 24th ~ April 25th ~ May 23rdLocation: Aquarium of the Pacific, 100 Aquarium WayParking: Park in the structure and the cost is $6, but admission to the aquarium after the class is FREE!
Your Sprinkler Systems, Soil, Watering Schedule, and FertilizersDates: February 7th ~ May 9thLocation: Long Beach Water Department, 1800 E. Wardlow Rd.
Sign up today: Space is limited, so register today by calling 562-570-2300
Save the Water: Grass lawns require more water and chemicals per foot and cause more runoff than almost any other kind of landscape! About 50 percent of the water used at the average home is for landscape irrigation.
Save the Planet: Grass lawns are responsible for much of our urban runoff, runoff carrying lawn clippings, fertilizers and other pollutants into our precious coastal marine habitat.
Drinking water supply in Southern California has been permanently reduced. One of the best ways to reduce our need for water is to transform our grass lawns into a beautiful landscape utilizing attractive drought tolerant plants, reducing runoff, attracting animals like butterflies and hummingbirds, and requiring very little maintenance. Learn how at the following terrific classes.
Landscape Classes - Long Beach Water Department
Classes are from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon, come join us and take home a few tips!
Designing Your New LandscapeDates: January 10th ~ February 21st ~ April 11thLocation: Long Beach Water Department, 1800 E. Wardlow Rd.
Choosing the Best Plants for You Dates: January 24th ~ April 25th ~ May 23rdLocation: Aquarium of the Pacific, 100 Aquarium WayParking: Park in the structure and the cost is $6, but admission to the aquarium after the class is FREE!
Your Sprinkler Systems, Soil, Watering Schedule, and FertilizersDates: February 7th ~ May 9thLocation: Long Beach Water Department, 1800 E. Wardlow Rd.
Sign up today: Space is limited, so register today by calling 562-570-2300
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Mrs. Nuttington
Mrs. Nuttington is fed up! See the great commercial at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lhpevdl2Sng
Long Beach! Sign up to receive your realtime watering schedule electronically! Visit http://www.lbwater.org/pdf/conservation/ewu_homepage.pdf
Long Beach! Sign up to receive your realtime watering schedule electronically! Visit http://www.lbwater.org/pdf/conservation/ewu_homepage.pdf
Justin Rudd's 30 Minute Beach Clean Up - Dec. 20th!
NEXT 30-MINUTE BEACH CLEANUP: Sat., Dec. 20, 10 a.m. (our 115th consecutive month!).
1 Granada Ave., Belmont Shore in Long Beach, 90803. Be sure to be signed-in by 10 a.m. to get a raffle ticket. MAPFree parking (when you enter the lot at 1 Granada Ave. after 9:30 a.m.). Free bags, gloves, refreshments from Duthie Power Services, door prizes from the Aquarium of the Pacific and Aroma di Roma, and volunteer credit forms will be available, too! PLEASE We do provide bags, but we encourage folks to bring their own recycled bags - like a plastic grocery sack. NOTE: DO NOT PICK UP SHARP OBJECTS FROM THE BEACH..
For more info go to www.beachcleanup.org
1 Granada Ave., Belmont Shore in Long Beach, 90803. Be sure to be signed-in by 10 a.m. to get a raffle ticket. MAPFree parking (when you enter the lot at 1 Granada Ave. after 9:30 a.m.). Free bags, gloves, refreshments from Duthie Power Services, door prizes from the Aquarium of the Pacific and Aroma di Roma, and volunteer credit forms will be available, too! PLEASE We do provide bags, but we encourage folks to bring their own recycled bags - like a plastic grocery sack. NOTE: DO NOT PICK UP SHARP OBJECTS FROM THE BEACH..
For more info go to www.beachcleanup.org
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Long Beach water consumption hitting record lows; November '08 is new record low
Today, the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners have announced that Long Beach water demand for November 2008 has set a new record 10-year low. Long Beach water use this November was 12.1 percent below the historical 10-year average ('98-'07) water use. November '08 water use was 7.9 percent below November '07. November's new record low marks the 11th record setting month for low water use since September 2007. Long Beach water consumption over the last 12 months is tracking at 10.1 percent below the historical 10-year average ('98-'07).
Last month, the Board announced
that the City had a set a new record 10-year low for water consumption for Fiscal Year 2008. That announcement meant that the City had consumed less water in Fiscal Year '08, than in any other year over the past decade. In fact, the City consumed less water in Fiscal Year '08 than it did during the height of the 1987-1992 drought, with mandatory rationing and a population 15 percent smaller than today. The Long Beach Water Department is in its second year of extraordinary, mandatory water conservation due to an imminent water supply shortage in southern California.
"Waste not, want not," says John Allen
, President of the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners. "Again, every gallon we don't use is a gallon we leave in storage. This is an idea that should have been embraced months ago by every community in southern California. We have been using our storage to water our landscapes, and that storage is at historic low levels as we head into what may very well be another dry year." The collective storage level of Lake Shasta, Lake Oroville and San Luis Reservoir, the feeders to the State Water Project, are the lowest they've been since 1977. This is a primary reason for the State Department of Water Resources' recent announcement that water deliveries from northern California to the Central Valley, and on to southern California, may be 85 percent below what is being requested for these regions next year.
Last month, the Board announced
that the City had a set a new record 10-year low for water consumption for Fiscal Year 2008. That announcement meant that the City had consumed less water in Fiscal Year '08, than in any other year over the past decade. In fact, the City consumed less water in Fiscal Year '08 than it did during the height of the 1987-1992 drought, with mandatory rationing and a population 15 percent smaller than today. The Long Beach Water Department is in its second year of extraordinary, mandatory water conservation due to an imminent water supply shortage in southern California.
"Waste not, want not," says John Allen
, President of the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners. "Again, every gallon we don't use is a gallon we leave in storage. This is an idea that should have been embraced months ago by every community in southern California. We have been using our storage to water our landscapes, and that storage is at historic low levels as we head into what may very well be another dry year." The collective storage level of Lake Shasta, Lake Oroville and San Luis Reservoir, the feeders to the State Water Project, are the lowest they've been since 1977. This is a primary reason for the State Department of Water Resources' recent announcement that water deliveries from northern California to the Central Valley, and on to southern California, may be 85 percent below what is being requested for these regions next year.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Nine Long Beach Residents Win Brand New, Water Efficient Landscape
Nine Long Beach residents have been selected as the winners of the Long Beach Water Department's citywide water-efficient landscape opportunity drawing. Long Beach City Councilmembers randomly selected the winning home in their District at the regularly scheduled Council meeting held Tuesday, December 2nd.
The nine winners will receive a brand new, water-efficient front yard, professionally designed and installed, and paid for by the Long Beach Water Department. Over 1,700 residents entered the drawing via the Long Beach Water Department's website.
50 to 70% of all the water we use in Long Beach is used outside, primarily on our lush, non-native, thirsty landscapes. The best way to conserve vast amounts of water is through water-efficient landscape and irrigation methods, demonstrated through initiatives like this opportunity drawing.
The nine winners will receive a brand new, water-efficient front yard, professionally designed and installed, and paid for by the Long Beach Water Department. Over 1,700 residents entered the drawing via the Long Beach Water Department's website.
50 to 70% of all the water we use in Long Beach is used outside, primarily on our lush, non-native, thirsty landscapes. The best way to conserve vast amounts of water is through water-efficient landscape and irrigation methods, demonstrated through initiatives like this opportunity drawing.
Long Beach Receives Highest Recognition in Accounting, Financial Reporting
LB Water Receives Highest Recognition in Accounting, Financial Reporting
LONG BEACH, CA - The Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting has been awarded to the Long Beach Water Department by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for its comprehensive annual financial report. This is the 21st consecutive year the Long Beach Water Department has received this esteemed recognition.
"The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management," according to the GFOA. The GFOA is a nonprofit professional association serving approximately 16,000 government finance professionals with offices in Chicago, IL, and Washington D.C.
The Long Beach Water Department is an urban, southern California retail water supply agency, and the standard in water conservation and environmental stewardship.
LONG BEACH, CA - The Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting has been awarded to the Long Beach Water Department by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for its comprehensive annual financial report. This is the 21st consecutive year the Long Beach Water Department has received this esteemed recognition.
"The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management," according to the GFOA. The GFOA is a nonprofit professional association serving approximately 16,000 government finance professionals with offices in Chicago, IL, and Washington D.C.
The Long Beach Water Department is an urban, southern California retail water supply agency, and the standard in water conservation and environmental stewardship.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Turn Your Sprinklers Off!!
National Weather Service forecasters are predicting rainfall for Los Angeles County and the southern California region starting tonight, with a 90 percent chance of showers on Wednesday. The Long Beach Water Department is urging residents, businesses and all public agencies to immediately shut off landscape watering systems through the weekend to conserve water.
"The rain we'll get tonight and tomorrow will sustain our landscapes until next week," according to Matt Lyons, Director of Conservation for the Long Beach Water Department. Irrigation systems can be turned off for several days following storms bringing measurable amounts of rain, and up to a week or more following heavier rain events. "We have a chance this week to save a lot of water, if we can shut down our irrigation systems," he added.
To determine when it is necessary to turn water systems back on, the Long Beach Water Department recommends monitoring soil moisture and plant stress. Check soil moisture by sticking a shovel or your finger into the dirt. When the soil is dry one to two inches deep, it is time to water. Signs of plant stress include wilting and/or a lack of luster in leaves or blades of grass.
Fifty to seventy percent of all the water we use in Long Beach is used outdoors, typically on our lawns. The biggest contribution we can make toward water conservation is to eliminate the most wasteful outdoor uses of water. Long Beach landscapes should only be watered Monday, Thursday and Saturday, and for no longer than 10 minutes per watering station. Watering three days each week is plenty of water to keep landscapes beautiful and healthy, particularly if you've landscaped with water-efficient plants, like those native to southern California.
The City of Long Beach implemented its Emergency Water Supply Shortage Plan in September 2007, following a declaration by the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners that a water supply shortage for the City, and southern California, is imminent. Certain outdoor uses of water have been prohibited in Long Beach for over a year. The City has set 10-year record lows of water consumption in 10 of the last 13 months.
For more water conservation tips, incentives, programs and for a complete list of illegal uses of water, visit www.lbwater.org
"The rain we'll get tonight and tomorrow will sustain our landscapes until next week," according to Matt Lyons, Director of Conservation for the Long Beach Water Department. Irrigation systems can be turned off for several days following storms bringing measurable amounts of rain, and up to a week or more following heavier rain events. "We have a chance this week to save a lot of water, if we can shut down our irrigation systems," he added.
To determine when it is necessary to turn water systems back on, the Long Beach Water Department recommends monitoring soil moisture and plant stress. Check soil moisture by sticking a shovel or your finger into the dirt. When the soil is dry one to two inches deep, it is time to water. Signs of plant stress include wilting and/or a lack of luster in leaves or blades of grass.
Fifty to seventy percent of all the water we use in Long Beach is used outdoors, typically on our lawns. The biggest contribution we can make toward water conservation is to eliminate the most wasteful outdoor uses of water. Long Beach landscapes should only be watered Monday, Thursday and Saturday, and for no longer than 10 minutes per watering station. Watering three days each week is plenty of water to keep landscapes beautiful and healthy, particularly if you've landscaped with water-efficient plants, like those native to southern California.
The City of Long Beach implemented its Emergency Water Supply Shortage Plan in September 2007, following a declaration by the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners that a water supply shortage for the City, and southern California, is imminent. Certain outdoor uses of water have been prohibited in Long Beach for over a year. The City has set 10-year record lows of water consumption in 10 of the last 13 months.
For more water conservation tips, incentives, programs and for a complete list of illegal uses of water, visit www.lbwater.org
Monday, November 17, 2008
Historical 10-Year Lows
Long Beach Continues Hitting Historical 10-year Lows for Water Use
October '08 another 10-year low; Despite above average temperatures and below average rainfall
The Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners has announced that Long Beach water demand for October 2008 has set a new record 10-year low. Long Beach water use this October was 9.5 percent below the historical 10-year average ('98-'07) water use. October '08 water use was 9 percent below October '07. Early last month, the Board announced that the City had set a new record 10-year low for Fiscal Year 2008, which ended September 30th. That announcement meant that the City had consumed less water in Fiscal Year '08, than in any other year over the past decade. In fact, the City consumed less water in Fiscal Year '08 than it did during the height of the 1987-1992 drought, with mandatory rationing and a population 15 percent smaller than today. The Long Beach Water Department is in its second year of extraordinary, mandatory water conservation due to an imminent water supply shortage in southern California. October '08 is the 10th record setting month for low water use since the Board of Water Commissioners' declaration of imminent water supply shortage in September 2007.
"Waste not, want not," says John Allen
, President of the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners. "Again, every gallon we don't use is a gallon we leave in storage. This is an idea that should have been embraced months ago by every community in southern California. We have been using our storage to water our landscapes, and that storage is at historic low levels as we head into what may very well be another dry year." The collective storage level of Lake Shasta, Lake Oroville and San Luis Reservoir, the feeders to the State Water Project, are the lowest they've been since 1977. This is a primary reason for the State Department of Water Resources' recent announcement that water deliveries from northern California to the Central Valley, and on to southern California, may be 85 percent below what is being requested for these regions next year.
"We have got to move quickly as a region to take a firm stand on this," adds Kevin L. Wattier, General Manager of the Long Beach Water Department. "Even if we have average rainfall this year, the reality is that we no longer have enough water to meet demand here in southern California, even in normal hydrologic years. Every city in southern California needs to implement mandatory prohibitions on certain outdoor uses of water, and make those prohibitions permanent."
Long Beach Water Conservation Effectiveness Indicators
October 2008 is 9.5% below historical 10-year average
October 2008 is 8.9% below October 2007
October 2007 demand was 5,650 acre-feet; October 2008 demand was 5,400 acre feet
Precipitation for October '07 was .56 inches; Precipitation for October '08 was .08 inches (Normal is .40 inches)
Temperature for October '07 was 68.3 degrees; Temperature for October '08 was 70.2 degrees (Normal is 68.6)
On September 13, 2007, the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners issued a Declaration of Imminent Water Supply Shortage and activated the City's Emergency Water Supply Shortage Plan. As a result, the Board of Water Commissioners issued mandatory prohibitions on certain outdoor uses of water. "The Board took the action it did, over a year ago now, to forestall and lessen the impact of an expected water supply shortage," according to Board president, John Allen. The Board's Declaration was necessitated by the profound impact of permanent reductions to imported water deliveries into southern California; the dramatic reductions in water storage levels in key reservoirs in northern California; and climate realities.
The Long Beach Water Department is an urban, southern California retail water supply agency and the standard in water conservation and environmental stewardship.
October '08 another 10-year low; Despite above average temperatures and below average rainfall
The Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners has announced that Long Beach water demand for October 2008 has set a new record 10-year low. Long Beach water use this October was 9.5 percent below the historical 10-year average ('98-'07) water use. October '08 water use was 9 percent below October '07. Early last month, the Board announced that the City had set a new record 10-year low for Fiscal Year 2008, which ended September 30th. That announcement meant that the City had consumed less water in Fiscal Year '08, than in any other year over the past decade. In fact, the City consumed less water in Fiscal Year '08 than it did during the height of the 1987-1992 drought, with mandatory rationing and a population 15 percent smaller than today. The Long Beach Water Department is in its second year of extraordinary, mandatory water conservation due to an imminent water supply shortage in southern California. October '08 is the 10th record setting month for low water use since the Board of Water Commissioners' declaration of imminent water supply shortage in September 2007.
"Waste not, want not," says John Allen
, President of the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners. "Again, every gallon we don't use is a gallon we leave in storage. This is an idea that should have been embraced months ago by every community in southern California. We have been using our storage to water our landscapes, and that storage is at historic low levels as we head into what may very well be another dry year." The collective storage level of Lake Shasta, Lake Oroville and San Luis Reservoir, the feeders to the State Water Project, are the lowest they've been since 1977. This is a primary reason for the State Department of Water Resources' recent announcement that water deliveries from northern California to the Central Valley, and on to southern California, may be 85 percent below what is being requested for these regions next year.
"We have got to move quickly as a region to take a firm stand on this," adds Kevin L. Wattier, General Manager of the Long Beach Water Department. "Even if we have average rainfall this year, the reality is that we no longer have enough water to meet demand here in southern California, even in normal hydrologic years. Every city in southern California needs to implement mandatory prohibitions on certain outdoor uses of water, and make those prohibitions permanent."
Long Beach Water Conservation Effectiveness Indicators
October 2008 is 9.5% below historical 10-year average
October 2008 is 8.9% below October 2007
October 2007 demand was 5,650 acre-feet; October 2008 demand was 5,400 acre feet
Precipitation for October '07 was .56 inches; Precipitation for October '08 was .08 inches (Normal is .40 inches)
Temperature for October '07 was 68.3 degrees; Temperature for October '08 was 70.2 degrees (Normal is 68.6)
On September 13, 2007, the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners issued a Declaration of Imminent Water Supply Shortage and activated the City's Emergency Water Supply Shortage Plan. As a result, the Board of Water Commissioners issued mandatory prohibitions on certain outdoor uses of water. "The Board took the action it did, over a year ago now, to forestall and lessen the impact of an expected water supply shortage," according to Board president, John Allen. The Board's Declaration was necessitated by the profound impact of permanent reductions to imported water deliveries into southern California; the dramatic reductions in water storage levels in key reservoirs in northern California; and climate realities.
The Long Beach Water Department is an urban, southern California retail water supply agency and the standard in water conservation and environmental stewardship.
CA Water Supply Worsens
The Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners is again urging increased attention to extraordinary water conservation measures after the California Fish and Game Commission today, issued new, emergency regulations for protecting the longfin smelt, a candidate species for listing under the California Endangered Species Act, from operations related to moving water through the State Water Project. The new regulations, expected to take effect next month, are likely to further reduce the supplies of imported water southern California receives from the Bay Delta.
"As with the Delta Smelt decision last year, it is not possible to specifically state what this means for our water supply, as the week-to-week decisions are somewhat arbitrary and unpredictable," according to Kevin Wattier, General Manager of the Long Beach Water Department. "However, it is certain that this decision has a significant, negative impact on the water supply of the State Water Project, and the areas of the state that depend on it."
Existing delivery restrictions to protect the Delta smelt, as ordered by a Fresno federal district court in September 2007, reduced imported water deliveries from the Bay Delta nearly 30 percent. Upon the federal district court ruling in September 2007, the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners issued a declaration of imminent water supply shortage and implemented mandatory prohibitions on certain outdoor uses of water in the City of Long Beach. Long Beach has set historical, 10-year record lows for water consumption in 10 of the last 13 months.
"As with the Delta Smelt decision last year, it is not possible to specifically state what this means for our water supply, as the week-to-week decisions are somewhat arbitrary and unpredictable," according to Kevin Wattier, General Manager of the Long Beach Water Department. "However, it is certain that this decision has a significant, negative impact on the water supply of the State Water Project, and the areas of the state that depend on it."
Existing delivery restrictions to protect the Delta smelt, as ordered by a Fresno federal district court in September 2007, reduced imported water deliveries from the Bay Delta nearly 30 percent. Upon the federal district court ruling in September 2007, the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners issued a declaration of imminent water supply shortage and implemented mandatory prohibitions on certain outdoor uses of water in the City of Long Beach. Long Beach has set historical, 10-year record lows for water consumption in 10 of the last 13 months.
Facelift?
FACELIFT?
LB Water awarding brand new, water conserving, beautiful front yards! FREE
LONG BEACH, CA – Today, the Long Beach Water Department has announced the kick-off of a citywide opportunity drawing where Long Beach residents may win a beautiful, water-efficient, front yard make-over, each valued at up to $10,000. These new landscapes will be professionally designed, installed, and paid for by the Long Beach Water Department, as part of the agency’s progressive conservation communications initiative. The drawing, design and installation of these landscapes will be filmed and televised. Residents may enter the drawing by visiting, www.lbwater.org.
The drawing, which will create nine unique, water-efficient demonstration landscapes throughout the City, will be used as a platform to raise the awareness of wasteful outdoor watering practices, expose people to the benefits of water efficient landscaping, and inspire people to permanently change their lifestyle so that inefficient and wasteful uses of water are no longer tolerated.
Residents of Long Beach are being invited to simply enter their name and address to win. The opportunity drawing will conclude on January 9, 2009 (last day to enter). Winners will be selected at random by each member of the Long Beach City Council at a date and time yet to be determined, in the weeks following the conclusion of the drawing. There will be one winning home in each of the City’s nine Council Districts.
According to Matt Lyons, Director of Conservation and Planning for the Long Beach Water Department, "southern California’s drinking water supplies have been permanently reduced over the last few years. We must lower our demand down to where it's roughly equal to our supply. One of the best ways to do this is by reducing our landscape irrigation." In southern California, landscape typically consumes huge amounts of water: roughly half the water used in the average home goes to landscape. "There’s a lot of room for improvement on how southern Californian’s irrigate their yards," added Lyon’s.
"To give people an idea on the amount of water we can save by changing our approach to landscape and outdoor irrigation, you need only look at the water saved by Long Beach residents this year," stated John Allen, President of the Board of Water Commissioners. "We’ve set record 10-year lows for water consumption in eight of the last eleven months, and we’ll set a new 10-year record low for the year. These records can be attributed to changes in attitudes and behavior in water use outside the home. This is obviously a focus we would like to sustain, for the long-term."
The Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners recently announced that August 2008 was the eighth record setting month for low water consumption this year. August water demand was 19 percent below the 10-year average water demand; it was over 18 percent below August 2007. Long Beach water demand for fiscal year 2008 is currently tracking at 9 percent below the 10-year average for annual water use.
On September 13, 2007, the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners issued a Declaration of Imminent Water Supply Shortage and activated the City’s Emergency Water Supply Shortage Plan. As a result, the Board issued mandatory prohibitions on certain outdoor uses of water. The Declaration was necessitated by the profound impact of permanent reductions to imported water deliveries into southern California; the dramatic reductions in water storage levels in key reservoirs in northern California; and climate conditions resulting in drought.
"Through the Opportunity Drawing we hope to raise awareness of an important and exciting new concept in landscape, Beautiful Long Beach Landscape, and most importantly, support and complement our on-going efforts to re-engineer the way we think about and use water," according to Matt Lyons,
The innovation of the colorful Beautiful Long Beach Landscape comes from the fact that it reduces landscape water needs by 80 percent or more while at the same time reduces the harmful impact urban water run-off has on our coastal marine habitat, beautifies our neighborhoods, reduces yard maintenance, and improves our quality of life.
Details on the drawing can be found at www.lbwater.org, or residents may call (562) 570-2300.
The Long Beach Water Department is an urban, southern California, retail water supply agency and the standard in water conservation and environmental stewardship.
LB Water awarding brand new, water conserving, beautiful front yards! FREE
LONG BEACH, CA – Today, the Long Beach Water Department has announced the kick-off of a citywide opportunity drawing where Long Beach residents may win a beautiful, water-efficient, front yard make-over, each valued at up to $10,000. These new landscapes will be professionally designed, installed, and paid for by the Long Beach Water Department, as part of the agency’s progressive conservation communications initiative. The drawing, design and installation of these landscapes will be filmed and televised. Residents may enter the drawing by visiting, www.lbwater.org.
The drawing, which will create nine unique, water-efficient demonstration landscapes throughout the City, will be used as a platform to raise the awareness of wasteful outdoor watering practices, expose people to the benefits of water efficient landscaping, and inspire people to permanently change their lifestyle so that inefficient and wasteful uses of water are no longer tolerated.
Residents of Long Beach are being invited to simply enter their name and address to win. The opportunity drawing will conclude on January 9, 2009 (last day to enter). Winners will be selected at random by each member of the Long Beach City Council at a date and time yet to be determined, in the weeks following the conclusion of the drawing. There will be one winning home in each of the City’s nine Council Districts.
According to Matt Lyons, Director of Conservation and Planning for the Long Beach Water Department, "southern California’s drinking water supplies have been permanently reduced over the last few years. We must lower our demand down to where it's roughly equal to our supply. One of the best ways to do this is by reducing our landscape irrigation." In southern California, landscape typically consumes huge amounts of water: roughly half the water used in the average home goes to landscape. "There’s a lot of room for improvement on how southern Californian’s irrigate their yards," added Lyon’s.
"To give people an idea on the amount of water we can save by changing our approach to landscape and outdoor irrigation, you need only look at the water saved by Long Beach residents this year," stated John Allen, President of the Board of Water Commissioners. "We’ve set record 10-year lows for water consumption in eight of the last eleven months, and we’ll set a new 10-year record low for the year. These records can be attributed to changes in attitudes and behavior in water use outside the home. This is obviously a focus we would like to sustain, for the long-term."
The Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners recently announced that August 2008 was the eighth record setting month for low water consumption this year. August water demand was 19 percent below the 10-year average water demand; it was over 18 percent below August 2007. Long Beach water demand for fiscal year 2008 is currently tracking at 9 percent below the 10-year average for annual water use.
On September 13, 2007, the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners issued a Declaration of Imminent Water Supply Shortage and activated the City’s Emergency Water Supply Shortage Plan. As a result, the Board issued mandatory prohibitions on certain outdoor uses of water. The Declaration was necessitated by the profound impact of permanent reductions to imported water deliveries into southern California; the dramatic reductions in water storage levels in key reservoirs in northern California; and climate conditions resulting in drought.
"Through the Opportunity Drawing we hope to raise awareness of an important and exciting new concept in landscape, Beautiful Long Beach Landscape, and most importantly, support and complement our on-going efforts to re-engineer the way we think about and use water," according to Matt Lyons,
The innovation of the colorful Beautiful Long Beach Landscape comes from the fact that it reduces landscape water needs by 80 percent or more while at the same time reduces the harmful impact urban water run-off has on our coastal marine habitat, beautifies our neighborhoods, reduces yard maintenance, and improves our quality of life.
Details on the drawing can be found at www.lbwater.org, or residents may call (562) 570-2300.
The Long Beach Water Department is an urban, southern California, retail water supply agency and the standard in water conservation and environmental stewardship.
Friday, April 4, 2008
No Fooling: Reserves 30% Below Last Year
Northern California water supply reservoirs have been rapidly depleted this year to meet California’s demand for water, due to the effects of record drought. In fact, the volume of water stored in these critical supply reservoirs is, collectively, 2.6 million-acre-feet (30 percent) less today then at this time last year. Despite this year’s average snow pack in the Sierra Mountains, the California Department of Water Resources has recently announced that water deliveries to the Bay Area, the Central Valley and to southern California "will be far below normal this year," due to a recent Federal court ruling which has significantly restricted pumping in the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta.
"What this means is that we’ve essentially moved into a world where even in NORMAL years, we don’t have enough water," said Kevin L. Wattier, General Manager of the Long Beach Water Department. "Southern California is currently positioning itself for catosptrophic failure in the event of a protracted drought."
Earlier this month, during a joint Senate Committee hearing held in Sacramento, Roger Patterson, Assistant General Manager with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD), read a prepared statement into the record, stating that his agency "is rapidly depleting its existing water supply reserves with no relief in sight." The MWD wholesales imported water supplies to communities throughout southern California, who are dependent on these imported supplies. Fifty percent of Long Beach’s water supply is purchased from the MWD.
Just last week, the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioner renewed their call for immediate, extraordinary conservation. "We need to engineer a permanent lifestyle change in the way we all see and use our water, so that inefficient and wasteful uses are no longer tolerated by anyone," stated Bill Townsend, the Commission’s President. "The only way a successful effort is going to be sustained, is if we have all of Southern California on board."
Since June of last year, the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners has implemented extraordinary conservation measures, including enforcement of new citywide restrictions on certain outdoor uses of water. These efforts have achieved an additional 8 percent reduction in water use citywide through February of this year.
The Long Beach Water Department is an urban, southern California retail water supply agency and the standard in water conservation and environmental stewardship.
"What this means is that we’ve essentially moved into a world where even in NORMAL years, we don’t have enough water," said Kevin L. Wattier, General Manager of the Long Beach Water Department. "Southern California is currently positioning itself for catosptrophic failure in the event of a protracted drought."
Earlier this month, during a joint Senate Committee hearing held in Sacramento, Roger Patterson, Assistant General Manager with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD), read a prepared statement into the record, stating that his agency "is rapidly depleting its existing water supply reserves with no relief in sight." The MWD wholesales imported water supplies to communities throughout southern California, who are dependent on these imported supplies. Fifty percent of Long Beach’s water supply is purchased from the MWD.
Just last week, the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioner renewed their call for immediate, extraordinary conservation. "We need to engineer a permanent lifestyle change in the way we all see and use our water, so that inefficient and wasteful uses are no longer tolerated by anyone," stated Bill Townsend, the Commission’s President. "The only way a successful effort is going to be sustained, is if we have all of Southern California on board."
Since June of last year, the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners has implemented extraordinary conservation measures, including enforcement of new citywide restrictions on certain outdoor uses of water. These efforts have achieved an additional 8 percent reduction in water use citywide through February of this year.
The Long Beach Water Department is an urban, southern California retail water supply agency and the standard in water conservation and environmental stewardship.
Meet Dog, the Water Cop...like a freight train
The Long Beach Water Department, joined by marketing partners LBPost.com; The Surfrider Foundation; JustinRudd.com and Professor Alan Jacobs of California State University Long Beach’s Film & Electronic Arts Department, is inviting the world to submit 30-second videos on the need to Stop Wasting Water. One video will be selected by the Long Beach Water Department, and its marketing partners, as the Best Overall Video and used as one of the Department's key public service announcements to run locally, on 14 different cable television networks this summer.
In September of last year, the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners made an official Declaration of Imminent Water Supply Shortage triggering new, citywide prohibitions on certain uses of water, particularly outdoor water use. Approximately sixty percent of all the water used in Los Angeles County is used outdoors, primarily on non-native landscapes. The Board’s September 2007 Declaration was a direct result of record drought, rapid depletion of in-State water supply reserves, and a Federal court ruling to mitigate environmental impacts in California’s Bay Delta, which is a key imported water supply source for southern California.
To be considered, videos should be original, no longer than 30-seconds and use the phrase, "Stop Wasting Water," at least once. All videos will be judged on their potential to affect a permanent lifestyle change in the way people think about and use their water, so that inefficient and wasteful uses are no longer tolerated. The Best Overall Video will be announced on Friday, May 2, 2008.
To have your video considered, upload it HERE, or at www.youtube.com/group/waterwaster.
In September of last year, the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners made an official Declaration of Imminent Water Supply Shortage triggering new, citywide prohibitions on certain uses of water, particularly outdoor water use. Approximately sixty percent of all the water used in Los Angeles County is used outdoors, primarily on non-native landscapes. The Board’s September 2007 Declaration was a direct result of record drought, rapid depletion of in-State water supply reserves, and a Federal court ruling to mitigate environmental impacts in California’s Bay Delta, which is a key imported water supply source for southern California.
To be considered, videos should be original, no longer than 30-seconds and use the phrase, "Stop Wasting Water," at least once. All videos will be judged on their potential to affect a permanent lifestyle change in the way people think about and use their water, so that inefficient and wasteful uses are no longer tolerated. The Best Overall Video will be announced on Friday, May 2, 2008.
To have your video considered, upload it HERE, or at www.youtube.com/group/waterwaster.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Water Supplies Will Be Far Below Normal This Year
Today, the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners have renewed their call for immediate, extraordinary conservation measures after the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced that despite a normal snow pack, the water supply outlook for southern California remains poor.
The 2008 winter snow survey conducted today by the DWR is indicating that the water content of the Sierra snow pack is near normal, but State Water Project deliveries continue to remain at near record lows due to last year’s federal court ruling that significantly restricts Delta pumping from December through June, to protect an endangered fish. "The snow pack is back to normal, but a broken Delta means water deliveries to millions of Californians will be far below normal this year," said DWR Director Lester Snow.
"Once again, we call on the Metropolitan Water District and the southern California water supply community to join Long Beach and take a more aggressive, long-term, public stance on the need to immediately conserve water," stated Bill Townsend, President of the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners. "Implementation of strict prohibitions on certain outdoor water uses, bolstered with aggressive public communications, is the future for southern California. We're asking our colleagues to embrace this future, today. We, collectively, need to engineer a permanent lifestyle change in the way we all see and use our water, so that inefficient and wasteful uses are no longer tolerated by anyone. The only way a successful effort is going to be sustained, is if we have all of Southern California on board."
Currently, the State Water Project is projected to deliver only 35 percent of requested amounts this year to cities, farmers and businesses in the Bay Area, Central Valley and Southern California. Last year, State Water Project deliveries were around 60 percent. "We have twice the snow pack and only half the water supply as we did at this time last year, stated Kevin L. Wattier, General Manager of the Long Beach Water Department. "This demonstrates the real implications of last year’s federal Delta Smelt ruling."
Earlier this month, during a joint Senate Committee hearing held in Sacramento, Roger Patterson, Assistant General Manager with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD), read a prepared statement into the record, stating that "despite a healthy snow pack and a series of wet storms, deliveries from the State Water Project in 2008 are dramatically curtailed. Metropolitan is rapidly depleting its existing water supply reserves with no relief in sight." The MWD wholesales imported water supplies to communities throughout southern California. Fifty percent of Long Beach’s water supply is purchased from the MWD.
Since June of last year, the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners has implemented extraordinary conservation measures, including enforcement of new citywide restrictions on certain outdoor uses of water. These efforts have achieved an additional 8 percent reduction in water use citywide through February of this year.
The Long Beach Water Department is an urban, southern California retail water supply agency and the standard in water conservation and environmental stewardship.
The 2008 winter snow survey conducted today by the DWR is indicating that the water content of the Sierra snow pack is near normal, but State Water Project deliveries continue to remain at near record lows due to last year’s federal court ruling that significantly restricts Delta pumping from December through June, to protect an endangered fish. "The snow pack is back to normal, but a broken Delta means water deliveries to millions of Californians will be far below normal this year," said DWR Director Lester Snow.
"Once again, we call on the Metropolitan Water District and the southern California water supply community to join Long Beach and take a more aggressive, long-term, public stance on the need to immediately conserve water," stated Bill Townsend, President of the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners. "Implementation of strict prohibitions on certain outdoor water uses, bolstered with aggressive public communications, is the future for southern California. We're asking our colleagues to embrace this future, today. We, collectively, need to engineer a permanent lifestyle change in the way we all see and use our water, so that inefficient and wasteful uses are no longer tolerated by anyone. The only way a successful effort is going to be sustained, is if we have all of Southern California on board."
Currently, the State Water Project is projected to deliver only 35 percent of requested amounts this year to cities, farmers and businesses in the Bay Area, Central Valley and Southern California. Last year, State Water Project deliveries were around 60 percent. "We have twice the snow pack and only half the water supply as we did at this time last year, stated Kevin L. Wattier, General Manager of the Long Beach Water Department. "This demonstrates the real implications of last year’s federal Delta Smelt ruling."
Earlier this month, during a joint Senate Committee hearing held in Sacramento, Roger Patterson, Assistant General Manager with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD), read a prepared statement into the record, stating that "despite a healthy snow pack and a series of wet storms, deliveries from the State Water Project in 2008 are dramatically curtailed. Metropolitan is rapidly depleting its existing water supply reserves with no relief in sight." The MWD wholesales imported water supplies to communities throughout southern California. Fifty percent of Long Beach’s water supply is purchased from the MWD.
Since June of last year, the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners has implemented extraordinary conservation measures, including enforcement of new citywide restrictions on certain outdoor uses of water. These efforts have achieved an additional 8 percent reduction in water use citywide through February of this year.
The Long Beach Water Department is an urban, southern California retail water supply agency and the standard in water conservation and environmental stewardship.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
35% and counting...
Today, the expected allocation of imported water to southern California, from northern California sources, via the California Aqueduct, is set at 35%. A fact that's not changed since early February of this year. Due to last year's Delta Smelt ruling, pumping from the Delta is currently restricted, which in turn, is degrading Delta water quality.
During a joint Committee hearing held March 11, in Sacramento, an official from the Metropolitan Water District read a prepared statement into the record. The following is an excerpt from that statement:
"Despite a healthy snow pack and a series of wet storms, deliveries from the State Water Project in 2008 are dramatically curtailed. Deliveries could be impacted further due to the potential listing of another fish species, the Long Fin Smelt. Listing of additional species is also possible. Metropolitan is rapidly depleting its existing water supply reserves with no relief in sight. This depletion of reserves is occurring despite significant long-term water use efficiency investments (conservation, recycling and groundwater treatment) that have been made over the past two decades. Last month, Metropolitan’s Board of Directors approved a method of allocating water when our reserves are no longer available to avoid region-wide shortages. We have already reduced deliveries to our agricultural customers by 30 percent. In San Diego County, avocado farmers are severely pruning their trees, a technique known as stunting, as a method of keeping them alive on minimal amounts of water in hopes that the orchards could be productive again in the future."
"Once again, we call on the Metropolitan Water District and the Southern California water supply community to join Long Beach and take a more aggressive, long-term, public stance on the need to immediately conserve water," stated Bill Townsend, President of the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners. "Implementation of strict prohibitions on certain outdoor water uses, bolstered with aggressive public communications, is the future for southern California. We're asking our colleagues to embrace this future, today. We, collectively, need to engineer a permanent lifestyle change in the way we all see and use our water, so that inefficient and wasteful uses are no longer tolerated by anyone. The only way this kind of effort is going to be sustained, is if we have all of Southern California on board."
During a joint Committee hearing held March 11, in Sacramento, an official from the Metropolitan Water District read a prepared statement into the record. The following is an excerpt from that statement:
"Despite a healthy snow pack and a series of wet storms, deliveries from the State Water Project in 2008 are dramatically curtailed. Deliveries could be impacted further due to the potential listing of another fish species, the Long Fin Smelt. Listing of additional species is also possible. Metropolitan is rapidly depleting its existing water supply reserves with no relief in sight. This depletion of reserves is occurring despite significant long-term water use efficiency investments (conservation, recycling and groundwater treatment) that have been made over the past two decades. Last month, Metropolitan’s Board of Directors approved a method of allocating water when our reserves are no longer available to avoid region-wide shortages. We have already reduced deliveries to our agricultural customers by 30 percent. In San Diego County, avocado farmers are severely pruning their trees, a technique known as stunting, as a method of keeping them alive on minimal amounts of water in hopes that the orchards could be productive again in the future."
"Once again, we call on the Metropolitan Water District and the Southern California water supply community to join Long Beach and take a more aggressive, long-term, public stance on the need to immediately conserve water," stated Bill Townsend, President of the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners. "Implementation of strict prohibitions on certain outdoor water uses, bolstered with aggressive public communications, is the future for southern California. We're asking our colleagues to embrace this future, today. We, collectively, need to engineer a permanent lifestyle change in the way we all see and use our water, so that inefficient and wasteful uses are no longer tolerated by anyone. The only way this kind of effort is going to be sustained, is if we have all of Southern California on board."
BIG Beach Clean Up - Sat., March 22nd!
HELP CLEAN UP THIS SATURDAY!
The Community Action Team's "30-Minute Beach Cleanup" and Justin Rudd are co-hosting -- with Edwin Dayrit Jr. (a QUEST student at Millikan High School) -- a special beach cleanup this Sat., Mar. 22 from 11-1 at 1 54th Place, just east of Claremont Ave. and just 10 blocks east of the regular 30-Minute Beach Cleanups at Granada Ave.
Free parking, gloves, bags, refreshments, door prizes and volunteer credit forms if anyone wants to hop on down this Easter weekend and help Mother Nature.
You must be present at 1 p.m. in order to be eligible for a prize.
The Community Action Team's "30-Minute Beach Cleanup" and Justin Rudd are co-hosting -- with Edwin Dayrit Jr. (a QUEST student at Millikan High School) -- a special beach cleanup this Sat., Mar. 22 from 11-1 at 1 54th Place, just east of Claremont Ave. and just 10 blocks east of the regular 30-Minute Beach Cleanups at Granada Ave.
Free parking, gloves, bags, refreshments, door prizes and volunteer credit forms if anyone wants to hop on down this Easter weekend and help Mother Nature.
You must be present at 1 p.m. in order to be eligible for a prize.
Redoing your landscape? Go Native! Everybody is doing it!
What look are you going for? Classic Craftsman, Japanese Garden, Spanish Mission or Desert Riviera? All of these looks are possible using plants that are native to California. Going native not only improves the look of your home, it requires less water and maintenance; it attracts wildlife, like humming birds and butterflies; and it helps protect our coastal environment from harmful run-off, which is usually loaded with chemicals and other contaminants.
Fact: Typical grass lawns require 82 inches of rain per year. Long Beach receives, on average, around 13 inches of rainfall per year. Plants native to California only require around 12 inches of rain, or much less in some instances, per year.
You can learn more about California native plants and landscapes by visiting, www.lbwater.org, or going to www.bewaterwise.org.
Get design templates, local native plant retailers, a list of popular native plants, schedule of FREE professional landscape classes, hundreds of FREE resources, and landscape grants...all at our website.
Fact: Typical grass lawns require 82 inches of rain per year. Long Beach receives, on average, around 13 inches of rainfall per year. Plants native to California only require around 12 inches of rain, or much less in some instances, per year.
You can learn more about California native plants and landscapes by visiting, www.lbwater.org, or going to www.bewaterwise.org.
Get design templates, local native plant retailers, a list of popular native plants, schedule of FREE professional landscape classes, hundreds of FREE resources, and landscape grants...all at our website.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Want to report that person who seems to be unaware that southern California's water supply reserves are rapidly being depleted? Here's how.
Everyone has seen a water waster. Whether living next door, down the street or a colleague at work, water wasters are everywhere. In fact, all of us waste water on occassion. The only way we are going to create a permanent lifestyle change in the way people think about and use our precious water supplies is to make inefficient and wasteful uses of water socially unacceptable. Hosing down paved areas, overwatering lawns and landscaped areas, and watering in the middle of the day, in full sun, should be as socially unacceptable in southern California as lighting up a cigarette in a crowded room. You can help help make this change!
If you see someone or something using excessive amounts of water or violating any of the City's prohibited uses of water, there are two ways you can help educate that person or entinty on the immediate need to conserve water and the City's new prohibitions...chances are, these people have not been made aware.
1. You can email us at waterwaster@lbwater.org. In your email, you may list the address, date, and approximate time of the violation. Please give us a detailed accounting of the violation.
2. You can also visit www.lbwater.org, and submit an online water waster report, including address, date, approximate time and type of violation.
When the Water Department receives a report, we immediately send a letter to the account holder of the address reported. The letter simply informs that account holder that certain uses of water are now prohibited do to extraordinary water supply conditions. The letter also invites that account holder to contact the Department with any questions they may have.
Thank you for your continued support.
If you see someone or something using excessive amounts of water or violating any of the City's prohibited uses of water, there are two ways you can help educate that person or entinty on the immediate need to conserve water and the City's new prohibitions...chances are, these people have not been made aware.
1. You can email us at waterwaster@lbwater.org. In your email, you may list the address, date, and approximate time of the violation. Please give us a detailed accounting of the violation.
2. You can also visit www.lbwater.org, and submit an online water waster report, including address, date, approximate time and type of violation.
When the Water Department receives a report, we immediately send a letter to the account holder of the address reported. The letter simply informs that account holder that certain uses of water are now prohibited do to extraordinary water supply conditions. The letter also invites that account holder to contact the Department with any questions they may have.
Thank you for your continued support.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Bluff Park Beach Cleanup
On Saturday, March 15, 2008, the Long Beach Water Department hosted another successful quarterly Beach Cleanup event. In 2006, the Department adopted the beach along Bluff Park and to date, has held 11th such events. The latest event had over 60 dedicated participants and volunteers, roaming the beach and bluff area, picking up a total of over 500 pounds of trash and debris.
Thanks to all who participated.
Thanks to all who participated.
Long Beach Honors Earth Day - Sat. April 26th!
Come, bring the kids to Recreation Park, and celebrate Earth Day, Saturday, April 26th, from 10:00 a.m to 2:00 p.m. Free prizes, food, games and tons of fun...and lots of environmental info to take home. Participating in the event: The Aquarium of the Pacific, C and L Plumbing, Eco-Link, El Dorado Audubon Society, EWaste Disposal Inc., Frinds of the Colorado Lagoon, Long Beach City College, Long Beach Parks Recreation and Marine, Long Beach Stormwater Management, Los Cerritos Wetland Land Trust, Los Cerritos Wetland Stewards, Sierra Club and The Surfrider Foundation!
We'll see you there!
We'll see you there!
Monday, March 17, 2008
Official: Imported Water Supply Sources Rapidly Depleting
Roger Patterson, Assistant General Manager for Stragtegic Water Initiatives at the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) of Southern California, provided testimony to State Senators at a joint informational hearing of the Natural Resources and Water Committee and the Budget and Fiscal Review, Subcommittee No. 2, on the water supply outlook for his agency and "the increasing precariousness of Southern California's water picture." The MWD imports, treats and sells water to local, Southern California water suppliers and their 18 million customers. The Long Beach Water Department purchases nearly half of its water from the MWD.
During the joint Committee held on March 11th in Sacramento, Mr. Patterson read a prepared statement into the record. The following is an excerpt from that statement:
"Despite a healthy snow pack and a series of wet storms, deliveries from the State Water Project in 2008 are dramatically curtailed. Deliveries could be impacted further due to the potential listing of another fish species, the Long Fin Smelt. Listing of additional species is also possible. Metropolitan is rapidly depleting its existing water supply reserves with no relief in sight. This depletion of reserves is occurring despite significant long-term water use efficiency investments (conservation, recycling and groundwater treatment) that have been made over the past two decades. Last month, Metropolitan’s Board of Directors approved a method of allocating water when our reserves are no longer available to avoid region-wide shortages. We have already reduced deliveries to our agricultural customers by 30 percent. In San Diego County, avocado farmers are severely pruning their trees, a technique known as stunting, as a method of keeping them alive on minimal amounts of water in hopes that the orchards could be productive again in the future."
In June of last year, the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners made a Declaration of Immediate and Extraordinary Water Conservation, followed by a Declaration of an Imminent Water Supply Shortage in September, triggering certain citywide water use restrictions, enforcement of those restrictions and aggressive public communication with its customers on the need to immediately reduce water use, particularly outdoors. These actions were the direct result of climate conditions, a rapid depletion of statewide water supply reserves and the imminent interruption in the supply of water from the Bay Delta are
During the joint Committee held on March 11th in Sacramento, Mr. Patterson read a prepared statement into the record. The following is an excerpt from that statement:
"Despite a healthy snow pack and a series of wet storms, deliveries from the State Water Project in 2008 are dramatically curtailed. Deliveries could be impacted further due to the potential listing of another fish species, the Long Fin Smelt. Listing of additional species is also possible. Metropolitan is rapidly depleting its existing water supply reserves with no relief in sight. This depletion of reserves is occurring despite significant long-term water use efficiency investments (conservation, recycling and groundwater treatment) that have been made over the past two decades. Last month, Metropolitan’s Board of Directors approved a method of allocating water when our reserves are no longer available to avoid region-wide shortages. We have already reduced deliveries to our agricultural customers by 30 percent. In San Diego County, avocado farmers are severely pruning their trees, a technique known as stunting, as a method of keeping them alive on minimal amounts of water in hopes that the orchards could be productive again in the future."
In June of last year, the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners made a Declaration of Immediate and Extraordinary Water Conservation, followed by a Declaration of an Imminent Water Supply Shortage in September, triggering certain citywide water use restrictions, enforcement of those restrictions and aggressive public communication with its customers on the need to immediately reduce water use, particularly outdoors. These actions were the direct result of climate conditions, a rapid depletion of statewide water supply reserves and the imminent interruption in the supply of water from the Bay Delta are
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