Drought Forces California into Mandatory Water Cutbacks

California adopts unprecedented mandatory water cuts

The Golden State regulators have adopted unprecedented mandatory water cutbacks by as much as 36 percent, as the region’s catastrophic drought enters its fourth year.

The emergency regulations were approved unanimously late Tuesday by the State Water Resources Control Board.

“This is a collective issue that we all need to rise to in this time of emergency,” said the chairwoman of the state board during a public hearing Tuesday in Sacramento. “This is a community crisis. The community is California.”

Communities across the state must reduce water use from 8 percent to 36 percent starting May 15 to comply with an order issued by Gov. Brown to reduce state water use by 25 percent amid dwindling water supplies, said a report.

“Individuals face $500 fines per violation. Water retailers that do not meet water conservation targets will be issued a cease and desist order and if they continue to miss the mark, could be fined $10,000 a day,” said the report quoting an environmental scientist with the state water board as saying.

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2 Earthquakes Strike near San Jacinto, California

M3.9 quake strikes 4km NNW of San Jacinto, California

Centered at 33.817°N, 116.978°W the event occurred at a depth of 15.3km, USGS/EHP reported.

The quake was followed by another shock measuring 3.0Mw.

EQ Details

Magnitude: 3.9Mw
Location: 33.817°N, 116.978°W; depth=15.3km
Time: 2015-05-06 at 07:39:47 UTC
Nearby Cities:

• 4km (2mi) NNW of San Jacinto, California
• 8km (5mi) N of Hemet
• 11km (7mi) NW of Valle Vista
• 26km (16mi) ESE of Moreno Valley, California
• 41km (25mi) ESE of Riverside, California
• 41km (25mi) W of Palm Springs, California

Related Links

• Significant Quake Strikes Greater Los Angeles Area May 3, 2015

“Above Normal” Wildfire for U.S. West, North central

Forest Service: “Above Normal” Wildland Fire Potential in the West, “Active Fire” Year for  North Central U.S.

U.S. Forest Service has forecast an “above normal” wildland fire Potential in the West, and an “active fire” year for North Central U.S. in the upcoming 2015 fire season in testimony today before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

“Forest Service researchers expect 2015 to continue the trend of above average fire activity,” said Forest Service Chief in his testimony before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on Teusday.

“Above normal wildland fire potential exists across the north central United States and above normal wildland fire potential will threaten many parts of the West this summer,” said USFS Chief Tidwell. “We anticipate another active fire year, underscoring the need to reform our wildfire funding.”

The forecast indicates there is a 90 percent chance that this year’s Forest Service fire suppression costs will be between $794 million and $1.657 billion, with a median estimate of $1.225 billion, potentially forcing the diversion of funding from other vital programs to support suppression operations. Any costs above the median is greater than the “10 year average” and would force the Forest Service to leverage funding from other land management programs. Diverting funds to cover the cost of wildfire suppression affects other critical Forest Service programs and services, said Tidwell, including efforts to reduce wildfire risk through mechanical thinning, prescribed fires, and other means.”

Wildfire suppression costs have increased as fire seasons have grown longer and the frequency, size, and severity of wildfires has increased due to changing climatic conditions, drought, hazardous fuel buildups, insect and disease infestations, nonnative invasive species, and other factors. Funding has not kept pace with the cost of fighting fire. Over the last 10 years, adjusting for inflation, the Forest Service has spent an average of almost $1.13 billion on suppression operations annually.

However, the fire season has already started in parts of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming and has seen several ferocious fires since March.