Wildflowers at Diamond Valley Lake

Recent Southern California rains have cleared for now, leaving behind magnificent wildflowers at Diamond Valley Lake. This weekend the seasonal wildflower trail opened to the public, displaying gorgeous California poppies and other native plants. The 1.3-mile trail makes for an easy hike, and is said to be “spectacular” at mid-morning.

To bring the beauty of Diamond Valley Lake to your backyard, check out our upcoming California Friendly Gardening Workshop!

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Spring cleaning may have just gotten a little greener!

What does that mean for you?
Californians are eligible to receive a $100 rebate on select Energy Star washing machines. But the savings don’t stop there. Manufacturers, retailers, and utility companies are pitching in, too: the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California will throw in an additional $50 rebate, and residents can receive $50 more from the California Department of Water Resources. Finally, check with your local utility company for extra rebates—for example, SoCal Gas has a $35 rebate, which would bring your grand total to $235 in savings!

This program has been in the works for several months, and is similar to the federal Cash 4 Clunkers program. The rebates will continue until the money runs out.

For more info, check out a Q & A from ABC News.

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Whittier Greenway Trail

Central Basin is gearing up for our H.E.L.P. Landscape Workshop in Whittier on March 20. The workshop will include great information on water-saving landscape practices and how to integrate California-friendly plants into your garden.

We’re excited that Mayor Bob Henderson will join us to welcome participants and provide the opening remarks! And while you’re in Whittier, check out the Whittier Greenway Trail– a terrific example of how beautiful native plants can be.

The H.E.L.P. Landscape Workshop is one of our most popular district programs. Click here to register, and we hope you can join us!

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Starting March 2010, construction crews for the Southeast Water Reliability Project (SWRP) will begin in Pico Rivera . Check back here for regular updates. What you should know:

• Construction hours will be between 7am – 3pm
• Through traffic will be allowed in each direction at all times
• Impacts will include noise, minimal dust, limited street parking 
• Questions? Call our toll-free hotline (888) 341-5707

Click here for a complete construction notice and for more information about Phase 1 of the Southeast Water Reliability Project, a recycled water pipeline that will conserve thousands of gallons of potable water annually for our region. Project updates will also be available on Twitter and Facebook!

Rain, rain, please don't go away!

While mudslides and traffic have plagued local communities during the recent heavy rains, the Southern California water community is hoping for more. It’s hard to believe that our state is still thirsty, with the snow-packed mountains and seemingly endless showers. But, experts warn, the impact of El Niño is exaggerated, and we’re not out of the drought yet. 

“These storms may have left many consumers with the misperception that the region’s water supply problems are over. Nothing, however, could be further from the truth,” said Jeffrey Kightlinger, General Manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

So, while local residents will enjoy a break from the downpour this weekend–with temperatures expected to reach the high 70s– water supply experts are hoping this sunny break will be short-lived.

Chairman Brick at the Central MWD Caucus

This week, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California voted unanimously to support the statewide water bond that will be brought to voters on November 2.

If it passes, the $11.14 billion bond measure will provide funding for the environmental restoration of the Bay-Delta, as well as for a range of water conservation and resource management programs across California. Metropolitan Board Chairman Timothy Brick, who shared his vision for the future of the Southern California water industry and the importance of the bond at our Central MWD Caucus last month, is quoted in the press release:

“This bond measure is part of a far-reaching bipartisan overhaul of the state’s water system by the California Legislature…it reflects an unparalled effort to move California into a new era of water reliabilty and Delta stewardship that is designed to benefit the state’s residents, economy and environment for generations to come.”  Read the full press release here.

Art Aguilar

Hello Everyone,

We’ve been busy here at Central Basin, and it’s an exciting time for us. Phase 1 of our recycled water project, the Southeast Water Reliability Project (SWRP), began with the construction of the Mines Avenue lateral. This is an important infrastructure project that will result in tremendous regional water savings, and if you haven’t seen it yet, be sure to get all the information here on our website.

In recent months, with the support of Congresswoman Grace Napolitano, we have been able to engage our ratepayers in an open dialogue about SWRP and its benefits. Taking into account this customer feedback, our Board of Directors has made several important changes to the financing plan.

 In order to reduce the cost of Phase 1, we delayed building a storage tank until a later time. Additionally, the infrastructure surcharge will be implemented this July instead of postponing it for several years to come—a change that is in-line with the District’s aim of keeping costs low and reducing financing charges associated with bond payments.

 As the District moves forward with this regional project, we are committed to maintaining this productive dialogue with ratepayers. In fact, the District will not move forward with Phase 2 until further analysis and additional vetting has been done with our ratepayers.

 SWRP will not only contribute to the Governor’s call for water conservation, but will also be invaluable to our communities. We’ve held Open Houses in Pico Rivera and Montebello, which have been a great way for us to introduce the project to residents in our service area. I encourage you to stay up-to-date on SWRP by connecting with Central Basin via Twitter, Facebook, and of course, here at the Water Cooler. I invite your questions and feedback.

 Art Aguilar

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Last week, Central Basin wrapped up its second open house event for the Southeast Water Reliability Project (SWRP), a regional recycled water project that will extend the District’s current system into southeast LA County. During the two-hour events, residents from across the area stopped by to meet the project team and learn about the project’s long-term, water-saving benefits.

Phase 1 of the project, which will break ground later this month, will consist of 6.7 miles of recycled water pipeline that will bring this valuable and cost-effective water supply to the Cities of Pico Rivera and Montebello, for non-potable use.

Want to learn more about Phase 1 of the Southeast Water Reliability Project? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions!

Central Basin headquarters are located in Commerce, California.

As promised, we’re keeping you updated on progress on our new landscaping here at Central Basin headquarters. Right now, our garden is a little bare, but we’re excited for it to soon be filled with California-friendly, drought-resistant plants.

At the moment, our garden is a little bare.

Want to use less water in your garden? Here are some local nurseries that have California-friendly plants. You’ll spend less in water bills and have a more beautiful landscape!

H & H Nursery (Lakewood)

Pro Growers (Bell Gardens)

The grass is gone, and soon, new California-friendly plants will be here.

Read more on gardening with California-native plants from today’s Los Angeles Times.

View of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, a key water source for Californians, as well as a point of contention.

The Golden State takes the national spotlight this Sunday, December 27, as Lesley Stahl reports on California’s water crisis on 60 Minutes. She’s interviewed Governor Schwarzenegger, farmers, and various water agencies throughout the state, according to KMJ News Talk Radio, and the message is that our drought has the potential to affect all Americans– in the form of higher prices at the grocery store and fewer choices in what we buy.

The timing of this feature is appropriate given that the Obama administration released an Interim Federal Action Plan this week to manage the Delta. Since the Delta is the hub of the state’s water supply system that provides water to 25 million Californians– it’s the largest estuary on the west coast of the Americas—and since the federal government oversees two of California’s largest reservoirs, greater federal action is certainly warranted.

Critics, however, say the plan contains the same “broad, hopeful language” as before, and few tangible action items.

In any case, our water woes have turned heads around the country—and everyone will be watching as we work to keep our Golden State shining.