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.
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