California proposes adapted water plan

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger revealed a $9 billion comprehensive water infrastructure proposal in response to California’s water crisis. The plan was announced in September and was written in two bills and will be debated in a legislative special session.

The plan invests $600 million to immediately relieve pressure on the Delta from environmental challenges and to respond to a recent federal court ruling that will reduce water deliveries to Southern California. It also includes $5.6 billion in water storage, nearly $2 billion in Delta restoration, $1 billion in grants for conservation and regional water projects and $500 million for specific water-restoration projects.

The state’s water use is expected to increase by 2 million to 6 million acre-feet by 2030.

The plan identifies three locations for surface storage: Sites, Temperance Flat Reservoir and Los Vaqueros Expansion Project.

The $1 billion in bond funding for local projects in the governor’s plan will yield more than 1.2 million acre-feet of water supply annually for California’s residents, farms and businesses.

Additional bond funding in the San Diego region will support conservation efforts, including upgrading wastewater treatment plants, which will provide a supplemental source of irrigation water supply. Companion programs will encourage low-water landscapes.

California cities begin water restrictions

In September, the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners declared a water supply shortage for the city is imminent. Residents can’t irrigate any landscape with potable water between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., and they can’t irrigate any landscape more than three days per week. Residents also must prevent landscape overwatering and all water runoff. The board stopped short of eliminating all landscape irrigation. Residents also must install low-flow showerheads and check for leaks.

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For more: California Department of Water Resources, (916) 653-5791; www.dwr.water.ca.gov.