In more drought news, the Whittier Daily News ran this story in Sunday’s paper as a  follow-up to their recent op-ed. With Southern California now receiving 50% of its normal allocation from the State Water Project, and with above average rainfall reported for the year, the Metropolitan Water District will now have an unexpected surplus of water that they must decide what to do with.

While we hope that at least some of this surplus will be used to replenish our dangerously low groundwater reservoirs, from the sound of it, MWD is more interested in storing it all away for future use. Read more here.

Last week, the Whittier Daily News called us out. More specifically, they urged the Governor, the Metropolitan Water District and all of its member agencies to ”tell the truth about the drought.”

If California has had above-average rainfall, they asked, then why the need to conserve? If our water shortage depends on more than just rain, they pleaded, then let the people know.

In our view, the op-ed helps bring to light the many, many factors–from the fragility of the Bay-Delta to tainted groundwater supplies across the state–that have all played a part in our current water shortage. While rain is important, it is just one part of a much larger picture.

Metropolitan Water District’s Board Chairman Timothy Brick makes this point in his response, “Beyond Weather: Southland’s Water Challenges,” reminding us all that we’re going to need a lot more than an above-average rainy season to resolve our water woes. Read an excerpt after the jump:

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Christine Kim, Grade 6, holds her winning poster with Education Manager Mark Moss

This year, sixth-grader Christine Kim from Stowers Elementary School in Cerritos, submitted the winning poster for the annual “Water is Life” Poster Contest.

While many wonderful entries were received, Christine’s poster shined the brightest, by illustrating water conservation tips and the powerful message, “Water 4 the Future of Many Lives.” From all of us at Central Basin, Congratulations Christine!

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After spending most of 2009 advocating for a comprehensive overhaul of the state’s water system, this week the Governor announced his proposal to push the $11 billion Water Bond off the November 2010 ballot, postponing the vote until 2012. While Sacramento’s inner circles anticipated this move for months, the announcement is still making waves in the water world this week.

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In regional news: As part of the paper’s “Mapping LA” project, the LA Times today launched it’s online neighborhood map of Los Angeles County. Click on any one of the 16 regions–which zooms in on 158 cities and 114 neighborhoods–to find out everything from income levels to ancestry and immigration, schools and local news.

One vital area they seemed to have skipped: water use data and related drought info for these communities. Still, since the unique make-up of our communities dictates the programs and services we provide, information like this is valuable to Central Basin and water providers across the region. Click here for a look at the 26 neighborhoods of Southeast LA , which includes many of the cities we serve.

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This week Central Basin hosted a Thank-You Lunch for the hardworking and talented youth of the Los Angeles Conservation Corps. Our Directors and staff enjoyed dining with the corps members who single-handedly transformed the District’s water-thirsty landscape into a beautiful drought-tolerant one. Once again, from all of us at Central Basin, thank you for a a job well done! We look forward to watching our garden grow for years to come.  Click here to see photos of our new and improved garden! 

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The WateReuse Foundation announced this week that they will officially be changing their name to the “WateReuse Research Foundation.” The change is explained in the press release:

“The Foundation’s Board of Directors inserted the word “Research” in the name of the organization to more accurately describe the work of the Foundation.”

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Laying Recycled Water Pipe in Montebello

Construction of the Southeast Water Reliability Project (SWRP) is moving along on schedule! We broke ground in January and are now laying pipe on Beverly Boulevard in Pico Rivera. 

With this exciting recycled water project well underway, we are starting to get attention from the media. Be sure to check out our article in the Whittier Daily News Water Awareness Issue later this month!

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We’re so proud of the talented high school students who participated in this year’s 8th Annual “Solar Cup” race! 3 local high schools competed against 36 teams from across Southern California in solared-powered canoe races at Lake Skinner. It was a fun-filled day of invention and competition.

Congratulations to Warren High School (Downey), Firebaugh High School (Lynwood), and La Mirada High School for a job well done!  Check out KTLA’s coverage of Warren High School as they gear up for the big race!

We loved this creative short film, and thought it was perfect for Water Awareness Month. It explains the human impact on our earth, which doesn’t make for a very pretty picture.

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