Water Supply Archives

How California Reservoir Water Levels Will Change, According to Predictions

October 16, 2023/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Andrea Mora /Newsweek by Anna Skinner

Many of California’s reservoirs are far above their average capacity, but water levels are expected to change as the winter season progresses.

The U.S. Southwest has suffered from years of drought, and until recently, the most severe impacts have been centered around Lake Mead and Lake Powell and much of California. Last year, none of California was free from drought, and more than 16 percent of the state suffered from exceptional drought, which is the United States Geological Survey’s (USGS) most extreme classification.

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QSA: Landmark Conservation Pact Marks 20 Years of Water Security for San Diego

October 12, 2023/in Home Headline, Media Coverage, San Diego County /by Mike Lee /Water News Network Quoted: San Diego County Water Authority

Twenty years ago, in October 2003, water officials from across the Southwest signed the largest water conservation-and-transfer agreement in U.S. history, the QSA, or Quantification Settlement Agreement. The agreement has provided decades of water security for San Diego County and benefits for numerous partners across the Southwest. In total, that pact supplies more than half of the water that sustains San Diego County’s 3.3 million residents and $268 billion economy.

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Escondido Prepares for Proposed Water Rate Hikes

October 12, 2023/in Home Headline, Media Coverage, San Diego County /by Mike Lee /FOX 5 San Diego by Kasia Gregorczyk Quoted: San Diego County Water Authority

One week away from the city of Escondido voting on a potential double-digit water rate increase, council members received a presentation about the rate increase already decided on by San Diego County Water Authority.

“The board ultimately chose to go with a smoothing approach for the rate increases with an effective rate increase of 9.5% for calendar year 2024,” said Tish Berge, deputy general manager for SDCWA.

Berge explained the smoothing approach meant projected future increases wouldn’t be as steep. The county water authority cites several similar factors as the city for needing to raise the rate like inflation and maintaining infrastructure, but they also say they’ve lost money as a result of more frequent rainfall.

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Opinion: We Must Approach Recycled Water Solution With Open Mind

October 10, 2023/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Andrea Mora /Marin Independent Journalby Kristi Denton Cohen and Steven Moore

In Marin County, we have limited options when we face the next, inevitable drought. Recycled water, the reuse of purified wastewater, is one of the most viable options and belongs in the water supply of every urban area of coastal California.

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The United States Expands Dams Despite Criticism of “Overinvestment” 10 Years Ago

October 10, 2023/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /ChosunMediaby Park Sang-hyeon Quoted: San Diego County Water Authority

San Vicente Dam, completed in 1943, was designed for ‘200-year extreme rainfall’ (the heaviest rain that will fall once every 200 years). However, when the worst drought hit California in 1991, the state government and residents agreed to prepare for climate change and decided to expand.

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Billy Ortiz submitted the winning photo, titled "Reflections." Photo: Helix Water District 2023 Lake Jennings Photo Contest

Lake Jennings 2023 Spring Photo Contest Winners Announced

October 9, 2023/in Achievements, Features /by Gayle Falkenthal

Scenic views, beautiful birds, and unusual weather are all featured in the winning photos in the Lake Jennings 2023 Photo Contest. The contest is held annually by the Helix Water District. Winners were named this week and recognized at the September Governing Board meeting.

The Helix Water District board recognized the 2023 Lake Jennings Photo Contest winners at its September meeting. Back row (L to R): Board members Andrea Beth Damsky, Dan McMillan, Kathleen Coates Hedberg, Joel Scalzitti, Mark Gracyk.
Front row (L to R): Chaylee Gregory, Billy Ortiz, Charles Ham, Aaron D’Souza, Debra Colwell. Photo: Helix Water District

The District runs the contest each year as a fun way to connect with its customers and recognize their achievements.

Now in its 12th year, the contest drew 60 entries from throughout San Diego County. This year’s entries depicted the wide variety of activities at Lake Jennings including camping, fishing, hiking, spotting wildlife and enjoying the view. The contest was open for photos taken between March 1 and August 31, 2023.

2023 Spring Photo Contest Adult Category

First Place – Billy Ortiz, “Reflection”

First Place: Billy Ortiz, “Reflections.” Photo: Helix Water District

Second Place – Charles Ham, “Bald Eagle”

Second Place: Charles Ham, “Bald Eagle.” Photo: Helix Water District

Third Place – Debra Colwell, “Quail Enjoying The View”

Third Place: Debra Colwell, “Enjoying The View.” Photo: Helix Water District

2023 Spring Photo Contest Youth Category

First Place – Aaron D’Souza, “Calm Before Tropical Storm Hilary”

First Place: Aaron D'Souza, "Calm Before Tropical Storm Hillary." Photo: Helix Water District

First Place: Aaron D’Souza, “Calm Before Tropical Storm Hilary.” Photo: Helix Water District

Second Place – Chaylee Gregory, “Duck, Duck No Goose”

Second Place: Chaylee Gregory, “Duck Duck No Goose.” Photo: Helix Water District

The Helix Water District honored the winning photographers at an awards ceremony during its board of directors meeting on Wednesday, September 27.

The winning photos can be viewed on Lake Jennings’ Facebook page and on the District’s website.

Lake Jennings is among San Diego County’s most scenic parks. The lake is a drinking water reservoir located in Lakeside, California, owned and operated by Helix Water District.

Lake Jennings is named for William H. Jennings, an attorney who grew up on his family farm in Lakeside. He served as San Diego County Water Authority general counsel for 26 years and served on the California Water Commission. Jennings played a major role in the State Water Project in the 1950s and helped secure imported water for San Diego County in the 1960s. The lake was named in his honor in 1964.

(Editor’s note: The Helix Water District is one of the San Diego County Water Authority’s 24 member agencies that deliver water across the metropolitan San Diego region.)

Debate Over Options for California’s Ailing Delta Region Reflects Deep Divisions Over Water

October 9, 2023/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Andrea Mora /Los Angeles Timesby Ian James

California water regulators have released a long-awaited analysis of options for managing flows in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, where fish populations have been declining and the ecosystem has been deteriorating.

The delta is the central hub of the state’s water system, drawing together rivers from a vast watershed and supplying pumps that send water flowing to cities and farms.

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WaterSmart Moves Pay Off for Fallbrook Avocado Farm

October 5, 2023/in Home Headline, Media Coverage, San Diego County /by Mike Lee /Water News Networkby Ed Joyce Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

Josh Kane didn’t know a lot about avocado farming 10 years ago, but he does now.

In 2001, Kane’s mother bought a 60-acre avocado farm, the Rice Canyon Ranch, in Fallbrook, thinking it would be a good investment. But, some not-so-good advice, and the 2014 drought, had the business in a nosedive. Rice Canyon took a long-term investment perspective and invested in innovative measures, including tree stumping and grafting. Those strategies, along with smart irrigation, helped turn the farm around.

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Oceanside Gets Grant for Water Recycling, Desalination Project

October 5, 2023/in Home Headline, Media Coverage, San Diego County /by Mike Lee /Times of San Diegoby Debbie L. Sklar

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation awarded Oceanside $201,000 for the city’s Water Recycling and Desalination Planning Project, it was announced Wednesday.

Oceanside received the award after applying for WaterSMART funding to investigate expanding water reuse and increasing water recharge, according to the city’s water utilities department.

The federal funding will be used to evaluate the expanded use of treated effluent at the San Luis Rey Water Reclamation Facility to produce recycled water, and expansion of the Advanced Water Purification Facility for groundwater recharge and higher quality recycled water and seawater desalination, according to the city.

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