Last week, the legislative budget conference committee voted to reject the proposal to suspend Proposition 1A, a measure that allows the state to borrow property tax revenues from local government during a severe fiscal hardship.

The Association of California Water Agencies has spearheaded the opposition to a Prop 1A suspension. In early May, the governor proposed to suspend Prop 1A and borrow approximately $2 billion from local government to help bridge the state’s massive budget deficit. The non-partisan Legislative Analyst’s Office offered an alternative solution that would borrow a larger percentage of property tax revenues from those local agencies, like water and wastewater districts.

Over these past couple of months, special districts, cities and counties maintained a unified front against a Prop 1A suspension. It was this unity and outpour of opposition that contributed to the budget conference committee’s rejection this past week. While the rejection of Prop 1A by the committee is a positive sign, this is by no means the final budget package. Even if Prop 1A is not included in this budget package, with the instability of the economy and recent decreases in state revenues there is a high probability that the legislature may have to revisit budget issues again this 2009/10 fiscal year.

The state is projected to run out of cash by July 28. Without a balanced budget plan in place, the state would have two options: borrow at high interest rates to maintain its cash flow (assuming Wall Street would be willing to lend billions in the face of such uncertainty) or defer payments and run the risk of insolvency. Last week, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said high interest borrowing was not an option he would consider.

Visit the state’s website to read more on the current budget crisis (www.gov.ca.gov)

May 19th is Shut Your Tap! Day

Central Basin is proud to announce that the LA County Board of Supervisors has declared today, May 19, the official Shut Your Tap! Day throughout Los Angeles County! We encourage all of our county residents to adopt water-smart behaviors that support water conservation efforts throughout Southern California.

For more information on simple ways for local residents to reduce water waste both inside and outside the home, visit the campaign website, at www.shutyourtap.org.

To learn more about Shut Your Tap! Day, click here to read the press release.

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At 11am, scientists from the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) began taking their final snow survey of the 2008-2009 water season at Phillips Station (near Lake Tahoe). The samples they pull will tell us if our reservoirs will finally start getting replenished…or if we’re in for another dry year. Results from today’s survey will be posted by 1pm today. Visit the DWR website for more information.

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“AWWA notes that the disease must be transmitted through person-to-person contact or contact with a contaminated surface. Water that has been treated through conventional disinfection processes does not pose a risk, even if the source water has previously come into contact with infected people or animals.”

Visit the AWWA website to see the full press release. And since we are on the topic, click here to view Swine Flu cases around the world.

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In the Op-Ed section of the LA Times on Sunday, Marc B. Haefele put the spotlight on gray water.  A topic first brought to our attention during the drought of the early 1990s, gray water refers to using the wastewater that comes from a home’s washing machines, showers and sinks for outdoor irrigation.

Haefele tells us how since the last major drought, “draconian permitting processes”  have prevented the success of early gray water pilot projects from gaining major traction. Still, while we may only have 200 permitted gray water systems statewide, Haefele’s sources estimate there are more than 1.7 million illegal systems throughout California.

Along with fascinating statistics about the greatness of gray water, Haefele includes information on Senator Alan Lowenthal’s (D-Long Beach) “Shower to Flower” bill, which is currently under review by a state health and safety agency. Perhaps we should all keep our fingers crossed for its success, because as Haefele puts it “dry is becoming California’s future.”

Echeveria subrigida

Some garden inspiration for Monday morning: The LA Times today posted a collection of photos that highlight the beauty and “va va voom” of a frontyard succulant garden in San Diego. As the LA Times puts it, this innovative garden “illustrates how low-water doesn’t have to mean personality-free.” Check out the photos here.

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The Omnibus Public Land Management of Act of 2009 (HR 146) was signed into law by President Obama on Monday, March 30! Read the President’s statement

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About H.R. 146: This bill is part of a larger omnibus bill that would authorize a wide range of environment protection programs within the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture, particularly in the areas of watershed management and restoration.  Specifically, a section of this bill includes authorization for $61.5 million for groundwater cleanup through the Water Quality Protection Project (WQPP). Of that, Central Basin will receive $11.5 million and San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority will receive $50 million to continue operating the WQPP.

 

For More Information:

Read the DWR Press Release.

Preview of the DWR Presentation

Summary of AB 1420 Compliance Requirements

AB 1420 Compliance Table 1 and Table 2 

The Quagga Mussels that were first found at Lake Mead in January 2007 are creating major problems for operators at Hoover Dam. The Sentinal Source yesterday ran a great opinion piece that recaps the invasion of this tiny species; the danger facing one of Nevada’s largest power plants; and the potential impacts of biological pollution (Quagga Mussels were first brought to U.S. waters by overseas ships) to our national health and economy. 

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