Editorial: Long Beach Press Telegram
The water solution
Posted: 01/29/2009 10:37:57 PM PST
Shortages have become permanent, so pols must adopt Long Beach's plan.
Southern Californians won't have much melted snow in their drinking water this season, which will worsen an alarming shortage. Fortunately, the solution is easy.
At least the Water Department in Long Beach makes it look easy. It seems to be the only big-city agency that is well-prepared for the worst water shortages the region ever has experienced.
Droughts have come and gone, some of them even more severe, but they went away when the rains returned. The present shortages appear to have become permanent.
You're not hearing much about it yet because politicians, who control the big water agencies, haven't been willing to deal with it. While they dawdled, the region's vast storage capacity has been drying up.
Long Beach was the exception. While politicians in L.A. talked a lot about cutting back on water usage, all they managed to accomplish was a saving of 1 percent, and we're exaggerating to be charitable. Long Beach has cut water usage 11 times that much.
Here's what's coming next. The news this week that the Sierra snow pack continues to be below historical averages, together with earlier court-ordered reductions to save the endangered Delta smelt, means that Southern California's giant Metropolitan Water District, among others, will get only a fraction of what it needs from the State Water Project. Consequently in April, when MWD sets its rates and allocation levels, you can expect that consumers will start paying more and getting less.
Many water agencies on the receiving end are looking at rationing and punitive measures, which is a mistake because rationing penalizes those who already have been conserving water. L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa even talks about water police to enforce cutbacks that now are inevitable.
They should take a lesson from Long Beach, whose Water Commission implemented a conservation program months ago. But instead of a punitive approach, it enlisted consumers in the effort. The program, among other restrictions, made watering legal only on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays before 9 a.m. or after 4 p.m. Offenders got a polite letter as a reminder, and consumers began using a phone line to identify offenders.
Wasting water has become socially unacceptable in Long Beach, and residents seem committed to the plan. There have been only four or five repeated offenders, all of them businesses, and all of which surely will quit wasting water in the face of increasingly stiff fines.
When the smaller water allocations do come down from the MWD, Long Beach won't have to do a thing to comply. Its residents, now aware how easy it is to reduce water wastage where most of it occurs, on lawns and gardens, already have begun to use this scarce commodity responsibly.
If the MWD and politicians in places like L.A. and San Diego also had acted prudently months ago, Southern California's reservoirs still would be full, but they didn't, and the reservoirs are emptying rapidly.
Now there is no other choice.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
"The Worst CA Drought in Modern History"
The Worst CA Drought in Modern History"
New snow survey: 49% of normal in northern Sierra
SACRAMENTO, CA - The California Department of Water Resources' (DWR) second snow survey of the winter season indicates snow water content is 61 percent of normal to date, statewide, and only 49 percent of normal, to date, in the northern Sierra Nevada. “The low precipitation in January and snowpack results from today’s survey indicate California is heading for a third dry year,” said DWR Director Lester Snow. “We may be at the start of the worst California drought in modern history. It’s imperative for Californians to conserve water immediately at home and in their businesses.”
Long Beach Water officials, earlier this month, issued a new water supply ALERT for the City of Long Beach and southern California, due to extremely weak precipitation and snow pack in the northern Sierra Nevada; an uneventful forecast for northern California watersheds, including new predictions of dry La Nina conditions forming in the Pacific Ocean; extremely low water supply reserve levels; and the anticipated additional curtailment of imported water deliveries from north to south due to endangered species issues. Today's survey likely means that water deliveries for the Bay Area, Central Valley and southern California will likely be reduced even further in 2009, according to Kevin Wattier, General Manager of Long Beach Water. "State water deliveries into southern California could likely be reduced by more than 90 percent if current conditions persist; the snow season will be over in 60 days."
Long Beach residents are being urged to sustain the City's record breaking reductions in water use, which is 15 percent below the City's historical 10-year average for the Fiscal Year started in October 2008. More importantly, Long Beach Water officials are calling on area cities to engage their residents. "These realities should be a catalyst for southern California water supply managers to immediately increase action on extraordinary conservation measures," stated John Allen, President of the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners. "Southern California water suppliers should be practicing for the worst; hope is not an adequate strategy here."
Background:
Precipitation and snow pack for the northern Sierra Nevada, the primary water supply source for the Bay Delta watershed from which southern California receives 30 percent of its imported water, is way below normal for the year. The most recent snow survey, announced today, showed that northern Sierra snowpack was only 49 percent of normal for the year.
Compounding the necessity to conserve, in early December, federal wildlife officials released ADDITIONAL restrictions on pumping from northern California. Last year, restrictions were placed on pumping water through the Bay Delta to mitigate the impact that pumping was having on the Delta Smelt, an endangered fish. A new biological opinion, released on December 15, 2008, 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. Scientists say that the decline of smelt populations are an indicator of the health of the entire Bay-Delta ecosystem, and representative of a much larger decline in local fisheries, including the longfin smelt, threadfin shad, and Chinook salmon. The National Marine Fisheries Service is scheduled to issue a new biological opinion in the coming weeks to protect the Chinook salmon, following last years collapse of the west coast salmon fishing season, and the long-fin smelt is being recommended for the endangered species list by the California Department of Fish and Game.
Even more, 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 this year. Today's snow survey will likely move that percentage higher.
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 in 2007 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.
New snow survey: 49% of normal in northern Sierra
SACRAMENTO, CA - The California Department of Water Resources' (DWR) second snow survey of the winter season indicates snow water content is 61 percent of normal to date, statewide, and only 49 percent of normal, to date, in the northern Sierra Nevada. “The low precipitation in January and snowpack results from today’s survey indicate California is heading for a third dry year,” said DWR Director Lester Snow. “We may be at the start of the worst California drought in modern history. It’s imperative for Californians to conserve water immediately at home and in their businesses.”
Long Beach Water officials, earlier this month, issued a new water supply ALERT for the City of Long Beach and southern California, due to extremely weak precipitation and snow pack in the northern Sierra Nevada; an uneventful forecast for northern California watersheds, including new predictions of dry La Nina conditions forming in the Pacific Ocean; extremely low water supply reserve levels; and the anticipated additional curtailment of imported water deliveries from north to south due to endangered species issues. Today's survey likely means that water deliveries for the Bay Area, Central Valley and southern California will likely be reduced even further in 2009, according to Kevin Wattier, General Manager of Long Beach Water. "State water deliveries into southern California could likely be reduced by more than 90 percent if current conditions persist; the snow season will be over in 60 days."
Long Beach residents are being urged to sustain the City's record breaking reductions in water use, which is 15 percent below the City's historical 10-year average for the Fiscal Year started in October 2008. More importantly, Long Beach Water officials are calling on area cities to engage their residents. "These realities should be a catalyst for southern California water supply managers to immediately increase action on extraordinary conservation measures," stated John Allen, President of the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners. "Southern California water suppliers should be practicing for the worst; hope is not an adequate strategy here."
Background:
Precipitation and snow pack for the northern Sierra Nevada, the primary water supply source for the Bay Delta watershed from which southern California receives 30 percent of its imported water, is way below normal for the year. The most recent snow survey, announced today, showed that northern Sierra snowpack was only 49 percent of normal for the year.
Compounding the necessity to conserve, in early December, federal wildlife officials released ADDITIONAL restrictions on pumping from northern California. Last year, restrictions were placed on pumping water through the Bay Delta to mitigate the impact that pumping was having on the Delta Smelt, an endangered fish. A new biological opinion, released on December 15, 2008, 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. Scientists say that the decline of smelt populations are an indicator of the health of the entire Bay-Delta ecosystem, and representative of a much larger decline in local fisheries, including the longfin smelt, threadfin shad, and Chinook salmon. The National Marine Fisheries Service is scheduled to issue a new biological opinion in the coming weeks to protect the Chinook salmon, following last years collapse of the west coast salmon fishing season, and the long-fin smelt is being recommended for the endangered species list by the California Department of Fish and Game.
Even more, 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 this year. Today's snow survey will likely move that percentage higher.
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 in 2007 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.
E-Watering Update - Realtime Irrigation Instruction
LONG BEACH WATER DEPARTMENT The Standard in Water Conservation & Environmental Stewardship
e W a t e r i n g U p d a t e
We're warming up!
Time to turn your sprinklers back on, but not very much. Set your timers to 20%, 2 days a week. Example if you typically water for 10 minutes at each station then set your timer for 2 minutes. Thanks!
Bonus Information:
Did you know... You can join the Long Beach Water Department on:
Ning, Blogspot, Myspace, Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook; just visit www.lbwater.org and click on the icons.
We will not share your email address with any other organization. If you wish to unsubscribe at any time just click on the unsubscribe link below, its that simple.
e W a t e r i n g U p d a t e
We're warming up!
Time to turn your sprinklers back on, but not very much. Set your timers to 20%, 2 days a week. Example if you typically water for 10 minutes at each station then set your timer for 2 minutes. Thanks!
Bonus Information:
Did you know... You can join the Long Beach Water Department on:
Ning, Blogspot, Myspace, Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook; just visit www.lbwater.org and click on the icons.
We will not share your email address with any other organization. If you wish to unsubscribe at any time just click on the unsubscribe link below, its that simple.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Top 10 Reasons for CA Cities to Prohibit Certain Outdoor Water Uses
Top 10 Reasons for CA Cities to Prohibit Certain Outdoor Water Uses
What outdoor uses should cities be prohibiting? Hosing patios, streets, gutters, sidewalks, driveways, parking lots and store fronts; Using water on landscaped areas more than three days each week; Watering landscaped areas in the middle of the day for 15, 20 and sometimes 30 minutes, per station; and overwatering to the point of causing run-off.
1. Drought and other natural climate conditions of California
2. Depleted emergency water supply reserves throughout California
3. The permanent reduction to imported water that the Bay Area, Central Valley and Northern California typically recieve from northern California
4. The permanent reduction to imported water that southern California typically has recieved from the Colorado River watershed
5. The anticipated additoinal curtailment of imported water deliveries from northern California to southern California due to endangered species issues; delta smelt, longfin smelt, salmon
6. California Department of Water Resources announcement that water deliveries from northern California to the Bay Area, Central Valley and southern California, may be 85 percent below wht is being requested for these regions in 2009.
7. Dry La Nina conditions forming in the Pacific Ocean
8. National Weather Service predicts uneventful forecast (no storms anywhere) for next 10-days
9. Southern California imports half its water...imported water sources are becoming increasingly unreliable.
10. Hope is NOT a strategy!
What outdoor uses should cities be prohibiting? Hosing patios, streets, gutters, sidewalks, driveways, parking lots and store fronts; Using water on landscaped areas more than three days each week; Watering landscaped areas in the middle of the day for 15, 20 and sometimes 30 minutes, per station; and overwatering to the point of causing run-off.
1. Drought and other natural climate conditions of California
2. Depleted emergency water supply reserves throughout California
3. The permanent reduction to imported water that the Bay Area, Central Valley and Northern California typically recieve from northern California
4. The permanent reduction to imported water that southern California typically has recieved from the Colorado River watershed
5. The anticipated additoinal curtailment of imported water deliveries from northern California to southern California due to endangered species issues; delta smelt, longfin smelt, salmon
6. California Department of Water Resources announcement that water deliveries from northern California to the Bay Area, Central Valley and southern California, may be 85 percent below wht is being requested for these regions in 2009.
7. Dry La Nina conditions forming in the Pacific Ocean
8. National Weather Service predicts uneventful forecast (no storms anywhere) for next 10-days
9. Southern California imports half its water...imported water sources are becoming increasingly unreliable.
10. Hope is NOT a strategy!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Citywide Water Use Prohibitions
The following uses of water are illegal in the City of Long Beach:
1. Over-watering/over-irrigating landscaped areas to the point of causiung run-off.
2. Watering landscaped areas between 9:00am and 4:00pm.
3. Watering landscaped areas on any day OTHER than Monday, Thursday and Saturday.
4. Washing down sidewalks, driveways, porches, streets, parking areas or any other paved area.
Please report water wasters at waterwaster@lbwater.org, or by visiting www.lbwater.org
1. Over-watering/over-irrigating landscaped areas to the point of causiung run-off.
2. Watering landscaped areas between 9:00am and 4:00pm.
3. Watering landscaped areas on any day OTHER than Monday, Thursday and Saturday.
4. Washing down sidewalks, driveways, porches, streets, parking areas or any other paved area.
Please report water wasters at waterwaster@lbwater.org, or by visiting www.lbwater.org
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Shut Off Your Sprinker Systems Today!
Please shut off your sprinklers throught he weekend...you don't need them. You'll get enough precipiation to sustain your landscape through the weekend. Thank you, Long Beach. Stop Wasting Water!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
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