During a press event at the Capitol this morning Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law an unprecedented three-bill legislative package, known as the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. The legislation, supported by ACWA, is intended to increase local control and protection of groundwater basins throughout the state.

A poll released today by Probolsky Research shows that 69% of likely voters within the boundaries of the Orange County Water District (OCWD) support construction of the proposed Huntington Beach desalination facility.

“For the first time in many years we are seeing water supply as a top issue of concern for Orange County voters.  The current drought facing the region and the state is driving this interest,” said Adam Probolsky.

The survey also showed that:

Data from the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) national streamflow database has confirmed an interesting hydrogeologic phenomenon — an increase in streamflows in previously dry creeks, rivers and streams — following the Aug. 24 earthquake in South Napa.

Save Our Water and Energy Upgrade California launched a collaborative messaging effort this month to spread the word about conserving both water and energy. A messaging toolkit offering the public tips on ways to save both  resources – indoors and outdoors – is available at www.saveourh2o.org and at www.energyupgradeca.org.

“2014 – The Year of Groundwater” is the theme for the 23rd Annual Conference and Meeting of The Groundwater Resources Association of California, to be held at the Hilton Sacramento Arden West, Oct. 15-16.

The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag warning today for Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties as well as a Fire Weather Watch for Siskiyou, Lassen and Modoc counties. Extreme weather conditions including high temperatures, strong winds, and low humidity have substantially escalated the state’s fire dangers. The warnings are expected to remain in place through Tuesday evening.

The League of California Cities Board of Directors has voted to support Proposition 1, the Water Quality, Supply and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014.

The vote occurred during the board’s meeting in Los Angeles earlier this month in conjunction with the organization’s annual conference. In a press statement, League officials said the bond’s provisions provide substantial benefits for California cities and ensure that all communities have safe and reliable water into the future.

Want to develop a plan to help California meet its water system challenges? Theoretically, that is. If so, check out Next 10’s newly unveiled online tool.

From the U.S. Geological Survey:

“Levels of pesticides continue to be a concern for aquatic life in many of the Nation’s rivers and streams in agricultural and urban areas, according to a new USGS study spanning two decades (1992-2011).  In contrast, pesticide levels seldom exceeded human health benchmarks.

Over half a billion pounds of pesticides are used annually in the U.S. to increase crop production and reduce insect-borne disease, but some of these pesticides are occurring at concentrations that pose a concern for aquatic life.