Newsletter: Water and Power: Will El Niño come to our rescue?

Your guide to the California drought from the Los Angeles Times.

Footage from a drone shows just how dry parts of the Russian River have become.

NEWS AND POLICY

Saved from extinction: A fight to save the Santa Ana sucker fish may ultimately reach the U.S. Supreme Court. To prevent the fish’s extinction, U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials want 9,000 acres to be designated as a critical habitat. But two cities and 10 water agencies believe that would impose too many restrictions on water conservation, groundwater recharge and flood control operations. “Right now, there are no clear rules of the road when the interests of a species and habitat intersect with the interests of the human environment,” according to one lawyer for the water districts.

Saltier waters: It is becoming more difficult to keep saltwater out of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Typically, rivers can push back on water from the San Francisco Bay but with the low water levels, salty water is making its way into the delta. That’s a problem for farmers who rely on groundwater and the delta to irrigate their crops, like almond trees. “Everybody is watering at the minimum levels with high-salinity water. It’s a double-edged sword,” according to one almond farmer in the Central Valley.

ON THE GROUND

Walking for water: As wells dry up in the Central Valley, some residents are taking desperate measures to get water. For 59-year-old Flossie Ford-Hedrington, who suffers from severe asthma and high blood pressure, that means walking a mile just to fill a five-gallon jug with water. “I say— God say—yes, I could,” she says in determination.

Some grass is OK: Ripping out lawns in favor of drought-tolerant landscaping proved to be so popular that the Metropolitan Water District ran out of money for its rebate programs. If you’re not quite ready for succulents and rocks, there are five types of grass that would do well with just a little bit of water.

No incentives: Los Angeles’ renters haven't quite gotten with the conservation program. An informal survey from the Apartment Assn. of Greater Los Angeles found water use among apartment dwellers has remained flat or even increased despite statewide calls to cut back. Part of the problem is that many landlords pay for their tenants' water. Renters don’t really know how much water they’re using nor would they see a financial benefit in using less.

Preparing for rain: There’s a good chance California will experience a strong El Niño storm system this winter. This Q&A tells you everything you would want to know about the rain that might come our way and whether it will be enough to end the state’s drought. “Snow slowly melting from the mountains is essential to recharging our reservoirs when the skies turn dry later in the spring.” The state’s last major El Niño was in 1997-98.

OFFBEAT

New playlist: These are not songs for a traditional rain dance, but they’re timely as many Californians long for rainy days, snowcapped mountains and rushing rivers. The eclectic mix includes everyone from Mariah Carey to Phil Collins.

BIG IDEAS

"The really big El Niños — we're not there yet — can soak the whole state. But right now, it's possible to get a lot of flooding and mudslides in the south. In Northern California, you could get below-normal rainfall and snowpack. So that's why I'm not calling this a drought-buster yet."

--Bill Patzert, a climatologist with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, on the importance of El Nino reaching into Northern California if it is going to bring real drought relief.

"We can't gain too much confidence. ... We need to be prepared for the possibility of a fifth year of drought."

--Jeanine Jones, the California Department of Water Resources' deputy drought manager, tamping down expectations for a wet winter.

DROUGHT SNAPSHOT

Fresh snow coats peaks in the Sierra Nevada on July 9. The strange weather is thought to be related to El Nino.

(Bartshe Miller / Mono Lake Committee)

Fresh snow coats peaks in the Sierra Nevada on July 9. The strange weather is thought to be related to El Niño. (Bartshe Miller / Mono Lake Committee)

TIP OF THE DAY

Spread 3 to 4 inches of wood chips on the soil around trees and plants to cut down on your outdoor water use. The wood chips will slow evaporation and improve soil quality, according to Pacific Gas and Electric.

LOOKING AHEAD

The Metropolitan Water District will hold a special meeting today on conservation in the Bay Delta.

Please let us know what we can do to make this newsletter more useful to you. Send comments, complaints and ideas to Alice Walton or Shelby Grad.