Author Topic: Drought news (Read 178535 times)

tcaarabians · « **Reply #120 on:** May 26, 15, 05:58:36 PM »

I have to guess that water-dropping helicopters are out of the question. But, ya know.. they just might help. cheryl o7o

Wrightwood · « **Reply #121 on:** Jun 11, 15, 04:02:06 PM »

Leftfield · « **Reply #122 on:** Jun 11, 15, 04:39:50 PM »

The problem is that the water companies make big $ off those huge properties. If everyone were allotted just lets say, 10 ccf per person, the water companies would be in a world of hurt. Yet why does the burden has to fall on the 99%? Eventually if the inequity isnt corrected the whole water conservation program will collapse.

Phyto Guy · « **Reply #123 on:** Jun 11, 15, 06:55:33 PM »

Styles change every now and then in landscape design and understanding. In the 1950's people were moving to California from the east. Most of the landscape was designed to the taste that was common to the new Californians. Junipers and such. Then in the 60' Walt Disney hired his own Agronomists, Horticulturalists and Landscape Architects to come up with a fantasy looking design. They developed a number of plants that enhanced that view. The 70's and 80's & 90's brought much use of Mediterranean design through Southern California.
The origination of 'lawn' was to show good fortune hundreds of years ago. "A mans home is his castle". This came from castles that had fields around them and cows to 'mow' the grass. This format is with us today in the form that suburbia takes.
Now we are at the edge of a new landscape in our collective view. What was right and even lauded is old. Drought tolerant plants and/or zero-scapic plants may come to enrich our landscape. However turf is still a part of our landscape. From Little League fields to tot lots and parks. Irrigation is still a part and parcel of our (broad view) landscape. Technology allows us to use what we have and good design lets us feel that we are living in a brighter and more fulfilling environment. Professions that fueled Walt's world are the ones that have the best chance of bringing the next phase of technology and design to Southern California.
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tcaarabians · « **Reply #124 on:** Jun 12, 15, 12:10:18 AM »

Phyto Guy... What a great and insightful post. Thank you.. I like our natural desert plants here. In particular, I like the ones I never have to water and yet they bloom. cheryl o7o

Wrightwood · « **Reply #125 on:** Jun 12, 15, 04:20:58 PM »

Wrightwood · « **Reply #126 on:** Jul 09, 15, 05:12:01 PM »

Wrightwood · « **Reply #127 on:** Aug 19, 15, 06:16:31 PM »

Wrightwood · « **Reply #128 on:** Sep 01, 15, 08:30:02 PM »

ezzpete · « **Reply #129 on:** Sep 01, 15, 09:16:23 PM »

I like to walk around in the wash from up around the Sheep Creek bridge down to Desert Front Road. Almost every time I pass the area where the big green water storage tank is I notice the ground is wet, like a stream was there. Today the ground was soaked, and this time I had my camera. It looks like the Sheep Creek Water Co. is dumping water for some reason. Seems like a weird time to be doing that. Anyone have an idea why?

There was enough water dumped so that the stream went from the tanks to almost DFR.

Joe Schmoe · « **Reply #130 on:** Sep 01, 15, 11:26:11 PM »

IIRC there was a story in the news the other day about an OC water company having to dump thousands of gallons of water because one of those tanks had become stagnant because people were conserving so much. Sorry, I'm foggy on the details and couldn't find a reference after a quick search.

Jirka · « **Reply #131 on:** Sep 02, 15, 12:43:02 AM »

Is this the story you were thinking of?
http://abcnews.go.com/US/city-drought-stricken-california-forced-dump-550000-gallons/story?id=32206488

lynnc · « **Reply #132 on:** Sep 02, 15, 04:56:13 AM »

ezzpete - So Cal Water sometimes lets water out of the well on the corner of Evergreen and Acorn. I don't know why, but I am sure it is a maintenance reason. Could be the same at the wells down in the wash.

ezzpete · « **Reply #133 on:** Sep 02, 15, 06:21:57 PM »

Quote from: lynnc on Sep 02, 15, 04:56:13 AM

ezzpete - So Cal Water sometimes lets water out of the well on the corner of Evergreen and Acorn. I don't know why, but I am sure it is a maintenance reason. Could be the same at the wells down in the wash.

That could be it, just seems like a lot of water and often.

tcaarabians · « **Reply #134 on:** Sep 02, 15, 07:38:59 PM »

Ezzpete... Why don't you give the water company a ring and ask them? There was a similar story in the LAT this week. Due to all the water conservation the various sewer channels are stagnating and causing a p.u. problem, etc. It sort of makes me glad I'm on a septic system. cheryl o7o

ezzpete · « **Reply #135 on:** Sep 03, 15, 04:02:25 PM »

That would mean I'd have to talk to someone.

tcaarabians · « **Reply #136 on:** Sep 03, 15, 07:51:44 PM »

For heaven's sake ezzpete.. . send them a letter. I do sort of think that lynnc is right and this is just a regular maintenance release to ensure that all is working well. cheryl o7o

tcaarabians · « **Reply #137 on:** Sep 18, 15, 03:15:30 PM »

There is an interesting Op-Ed piece in the LAT today on water conservation. It primarily focuses on the current regulations for outdoor conservation and argues against them. cheryl o7o

Wrightwood · « **Reply #138 on:** Aug 04, 16, 02:37:30 PM »

Wrightwood · « **Reply #139 on:** Sep 10, 16, 06:51:12 PM »

The seasonal precipitation ends in a few weeks and Wrightwood has officially been in a drought for 5 years.

2010-2011 36.91" seasonal precipitation
2011-2012 10.12" seasonal precipitation
2012-2013 5.83" seasonal precipitation
2013-2014 11.74" seasonal precipitation
2014-2015 16.54" seasonal precipitation
2015-2016 14.08" seasonal precipitation so far (have until Sept 30 2016)

The season rain year begins every year on October 1st and ends on September 30.
WrightwoodCalif.com, Los Angeles Department of Public Works and the Forest Service use these dates for the rain season.

This video helps illustrate what 5 years of drought has done to Lost Lake at the bottom of Swarthout Canyon. The 2008 photo was taken during a USGS press conference regarding the Great Shakeout. The 2016 video was shot this week after the Blue Cut Fire. (Note: There's no indication that the Blue Cut Fire had anything to do with dried up Lost Lake)

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/4kPtmG6yZ9Y&showsearch=0&rel=0&fs=1&autoplay=0&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18" target="_blank" class="new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/4kPtmG6yZ9Y&showsearch=0&rel=0&fs=1&autoplay=0&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18</a>

https://youtu.be/4kPtmG6yZ9Y