In California, the past 20 years have been the driest in over 1,000 years, but a deluge of storms in January and February 2023 brought more than 24.5 trillion gallons of water to the state. “In the past several years, we’ve said, ‘We welcome every drop we can get,’” Dudek hydrogeologist Jill Weinberger said. But
California has more federally recognized tribes than any other state—109 to be exact. Within the State of California, Tribes, Tribal Communities, and Underrepresented Communities face multiple challenges regarding water equity and access to clean, affordable, and sustainable groundwater and water resources, such as groundwater overdraft and groundwater basin contamination. The Public Policy Institute of California
The City of Aliso Viejo’s (City’s) Dairy Fork wetland and habitat restoration project uses bio-filtration wetlands to naturally treat urban runoff from about 1,500 acres of mixed residential and commercial areas within South Orange County. Bio-Filtration Wetlands Best Practices Bio-filtration wetlands are the accepted best management practice for treating stormwater and urban runoff before it
The City of San Diego has certified the Pure Water San Diego Environmental Impact Report and Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS), clearing the way for design and construction of the North City Pure Water Plant. The proposed Pure Water Program is one of the most ambitious water recycling programs in the nation, which aims to treat
California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) requires all groundwater basins designated as medium or high priority to develop a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) to achieve sustainable management by 2040-2042. Basin priorities are assigned by the California Department of Water Resources based on multiple factors, including population, land use, and basin conditions. Low or very low
Developing groundwater sustainability plans (GSPs) requires solid technical analysis and a skillful stakeholder outreach and consensus program to successfully comply with California’s newly adopted Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). Water purveyors, farmers, landowners, and resource agencies must determine the right amount of groundwater production for agricultural output on thousands of acres while maintaining municipal supply
The City of Aliso Viejo (City) has started construction on its third wetlands project to naturally treat water runoff and improve water quality and restore natural habitat near a local creek. The Dairy Fork wetlands water treatment project will restore natural habitat near Aliso Creek and reduce pollutants by up to 99% in water runoff
Water agencies seeking funding for California groundwater projects, including recharge and banking projects can be encouraged by the history of the SMARTWater program’s past awards supporting California groundwater projects. Funded projects included: The Fresno Irrigation District receiving $1 million toward development of a new 60 acre groundwater recharge basin as part of the District’s Southwest
Construction of the Western Hemisphere’s largest seawater desal facility is expected to start in early 2013 after the San Diego County Water Authority approved the purchase of water produced by the plant. The purchase agreement cleared the way for the sale of bonds to finance the fully permitted project. The plant will produce enough water
Creating a self-reliant mutual water company to serve development could avoid annexation approvals by public water purveyors and the politics associated with those approvals. Developing large properties using a site’s own water resources may become an increasingly attractive option for developers. A number of factors — early melt of Sierra snowpack, persistent drought in the
