Regulators with the State Water Resources Control Board have formally dropped complaints against two Northern California water districts. Both were accused of diverting water in summer 2015 in violation of a drought order. In the case of the Byron-Bethany Irrigation District (BBID) the complaint included a $1.5 million fine. Though …
Read More »Feds, state and Nestle tussle over water rights in San Bernardino mountains
The U. S. Forest Service, the state Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) and Nestle Waters North America are currently at odds over Nestle’s continued piping of water from the San Bernardino National Forest in order to produce Arrowhead Mountain Spring Water. The controversy stems from a permit that expired in …
Read More »Diminishing drought conditions will only slightly increase hydropower in California
Though the much-hyped El Nino of 2015-16 only materialized in some parts of the state, it was enough to boost California’s hydropower generation to its best levels since 2011. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (USEIA), the state’s hydropower production in March was 2.77 million megawatt hours – the …
Read More »EPA Issues Health Advisories For Two Contaminants Found In Drinking Water
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently issues established health advisories for two contaminants found in drinking water in order to provide water system operators, or those who have oversight of water systems, with the information on the health risks of these chemicals so they can take any appropriate actions …
Read More »US Forest Service and Upper Mokelumne River Watershed Authority sign 10-year agreement
Plan supports thinning forests for better water, reducing wildfire risks Hailed as a plan to thin forests to reduce wildfire risks, protect water quality and improve water yield, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and the Upper Mokelumne River Watershed Authority (UMRWA) have signed a 10-year agreement that is expected to …
Read More »Coachella Valley Water District eases drought rules, penalties
The Board of Directors for the Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) will lift its drought penalties, as of June 1, and will thereby cease to charge penalty fees for those who fail to meet conservation targets. Last year, the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) ordered CVWD to reduce water …
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