In my last Hydrowonk post, I discussed how challenges moving water through the Delta has created even more scarce water supplies in parts of the Central Valley. Despite the fact that Lakes Shasta and Oroville are at 92% and 94% capacity, (Lake Oroville is within 18 feet of the crest – a reality unimaginable just a year ago when the reservoir looked like this) a series of factors is stopping the water stored north from flowing to parched farmers and cities in southern California. Many water pundits and industry leaders have pointed out how the drought has changed people’s mindsets about water use, and it has affected how water district managers view long-term supplies. For example, many managers did not believe that the Central Valley Project would get zero allocation for 2014 and 2015, and that the State Water Project would deliver a 5% allocation in 2014. As the Golden State enters into the fifth year of drought, unreliable water supplies are causing many districts to look for alternative sources. Continue reading
Category Archives: Carlsbad
Of (CA) Water Bondage
Spent Wednesday night watching the action on the State Senate floor on the new California water bond (thanks to Maven for the link). With Governor Brown signing the bill later that night, there is a new bond on the ballot replacing the $11.14 billion bond passed in 2009. The “fear of failure” led the Legislature to delay putting the large bond on the 2010 and 2012 ballots. What’s the new bond? Will the trimmed down version pass muster with voters? What did we learn about water politics and leadership in California? Continue reading
An Economist’s Perspective on San Diego’s Desalination Project
November 2012 was desalination month in California. The San Diego County Water Authority approved a 30-year agreement with Poseidon Resources to buy up to 56,000 acre feet (AF) per year of desalinated seawater produced from the Carlsbad Desalination Plant. With the annual price tag of water set at $2,041/AF to $2,295/AF (later reduced to $1,917/AF to $2,165/AF when San Diego secured project financing at unexpectedly favorable terms), there is buzz about what the deal says about the value of water. As with any venture, the project also has critics about the cost of water, skeptics about risk allocation, and cynics about the role of a private party. Continue reading