metropolitan water department: WATER & POWER. California politics at its depressing best. - 10/15/09 12:40 PM
When you start your day attending two meetings where the speakers apologize for being depressing, the rest of your day can only improve.  That was my day today. 
I started with an early morning meeting of the Southwest California Economic Development Corporation where we were treated to remarks by John Rossi, General Manager of Western Municipal Water District. Apologizing for depressing us, John presented a factual summary of where our state is waterwise and how the water districts are dealing with our current situation. Having toured the Northern end of our state water supply system last year from Oroville Dam to … (1 comments)

metropolitan water department: California's Water Crisis - Yeah another crisis out here. - 05/28/09 02:25 PM

Today marked the 6th Annual Riverside County Water Symposium. The event featured a series of panels and speakers discussing the water challenges facing our state today. The keynote was delivered by Michael Chrisman, California Secretary for Natural Resources. 
Riverside County Supervisor Marion Ashley set the tone by stating that we are literally playing Russian Roulette with the Sacramento Delta. One little mis-hap, a flood, an earthquake, terrorist threat or an angry gopher could disrupt the water supply to 25 million Californians and dramatically impact the economy of this state for decades. As he noted, we'd be up a creek all … (7 comments)

metropolitan water department: Follow the Water Tour - Day 2 - 10/15/08 05:17 PM
10-15 water tour day 2 This is Part 2 of a 3 day trip I recently took through the California Water Project. Day 2 found us at one of the key water storage and electrical generating facilities in the State Water Project, Oroville Dam. Completed in 1968, this dam is the tallest earthen dam in the country at 770 feet. It is also more than a mile across the top holding back nearly 3.5 million acre feet of Feather River water, enough to supply water to about 40% of California’s urban water needs for a year. Unfortunately the water level is … (0 comments)

metropolitan water department: Follow the Water Tour - Day 3 - 10/15/08 05:14 PM
10-15 water tour day 3 This is Part 3 of a 3 day trip I recently took through the California Water Project. You can find Day 1 Here. You can find Day 2 Here.
Day 3, we spent a great deal of time examining the Sacramento / San Joaquin Bay Delta, the Hub of the State Water Project and the area around which most of the controversy swirls. An entire article could be devoted to the history of the Delta area but I’ll keep it brief. Prior to 150 years ago the Delta was one of the largest natural estuaries … (3 comments)

metropolitan water department: Follow The Water Tour - Day 1 - 10/15/08 05:12 AM
10-15 water tour day 1 This is Part 1 of a 3 day trip I recently took through the California Water Project. 

Mark Twain once opined that “Whiskey is for drinkin’, water is for fightin’ over”. Nowhere has that maxim been born out more truthfully than in the fight over California’s water resources. Like electricity, water is just one of those elements we take for granted in our daily life – flip the switch the lights go on, turn the tap, water comes out. But a cursory look at what’s involved in getting that water to our tap opens the … (0 comments)