Drought

MWD GM Adel Hagekhalil & Tetra Tech’s Brian Jordan on the Colorado River’s Place in Southern California’s Water Mix in 2023 and Beyond

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Highlighting Measure W and regional investments in stormwater capture, this week LA County Public Works Director Mark Pestrella notes in the

‘But Wait, There’s More!’ Former State Water Board Chair Felicia Marcus Shares Optimism About Southern California’s Water Future

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The California Department of Water Resources is forecasting a fourth dry year in a row. In this interview with VX News, Felicia Marcus, William C Landreth Fellow at Stanford University’s Water in the West and Former Chair of the State Water Resources Control Board, reviews some of the recent wins and losses in water regulation that the state has seen in face of serious drought conditions.

MWD's Adel Hagekhalil Congressional Testimony on US Reclamation's Basin Study Program

Adel Hagekhalil

"Chairman Huffman, Ranking Member Bentz, Representative Napolitano, and members of the subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to testify today. It is my pleasure to convey Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s (Metropolitan) support for H.R. 8090, extending the authorization for Reclamation’s Basin Study Program for ten years. Metropolitan is the largest wholesale water provider in the United States.

MWD General Manager Adel Hagekhalil on Rewriting SoCal’s Water Management Playbook

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Adel Hagekhalil

With the Metropolitan Water District and the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power announcing mandatory cutbacks to some parts of Southern California come June 1, VX News interviews General Manager Adel Hagekhalil who discusses the necessity of developing new tools and innovation for enhancing local water supply and management strategies adaptable to conditions wrought by the climate crisis.

Malibu Foundation Report on Community Resilience Risks in SoCal Wildland-Urban Interface

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As early February brings heat alerts for communities in Southern California following an otherwise dry January, VX News shares the latest report by the Malibu Foundation assessing the social vulnerabilities and physical hazards of living in Southern California's Wildland Urban Interface.

State Water Board’s Laurel Firestone on Water’s New Normal—Chronic Scarcity

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Laurel Firestone

VX News interviewed State Water Resources Control Board Member, Laurel Firestone, who provides insight on water managers across the state are working to adapt to the new normal of chronic water scarcity.

Historic Western States’ Drought & Colorado River Basin Shortages’ Impact on SoCal

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Jeffrey Kightlinger

Jeff Kightlinger highlights the opportunities for advancements in water technology to improve data precision and information sharing and emphasizes interregional collaboration for ensuring a resilient and sustainable water supply as climate change increases water scarcity throughout the western states.

The Future of California's Water-Energy-Climate Nexus

VX News excerpts the latest study from Next 10 and the Pacific Institute on the Future of California's Water-Energy-Climate Nexus. Further finding that climate change-fueled droughts are likely to further increase water-related energy use and carbon emissions, the study offers recommendations for reducing water, energy, and greenhouse gas emissions associated with managing California's water supply.

OC SAN Board Chair John Withers on the Business Case for Water Infrastructure

With severe drought gripping California and the Western US, TPR interviews OC Sanitation District’s new Board Chair, John Withers to afford the latter a platform to elaborate on Orange County’s reputation as global leader in water recycling and prudent steward of public resources and investment.