Blog

The fourth consecutive dry year in Northern California has illuminated the pressures on the Sacramento Valley’s water resources and the challenges we face in providing reliable water supplies for various beneficial purposes in the Valley.

Placer County Water Agency owns and operates the Middle Fork American River Project (MFP), providing water supplies, hydroelectric power, public recreational opportunities and environmental stewardship for the people of Placer County and the region. The people of Placer County built the Middle Fork Project in the 1960s for the long-term public benefit to be derived from beneficial uses of watershed resources. The water that PCWA delivers to ranches, farms, orchards and suburban areas throughout the County originates from the Yuba, Bear, American and Rubicon river watersheds. PCWA was created to ensure, and remains committed to supporting, diligent management of those watershed resources.

Now in its 115th year, Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is an international effort spanning 15 countries. Before the count was begun, sportsmen across the country participated in a holiday tradition called the Christmas “side hunt” – a competition to bring in the most birds and mammals in a single day of hunting.

The State Water Board announced today that statewide residential water use declined 28.9 percent in May compared with May 2013. This is up significantly from the 13.6 percent water savings in April compared with April 2013. All parts of the state showed improvements compared to April, with the Sacramento Valley region showing the largest improvement at 38.6 percent. Although these numbers are all very positive and show a commitment to meet the Governor’s requirements for urban conservation, the challenge will be forthcoming this summer as temperatures reach 100 degrees and the temptation increases to ramp up sprinklers for landscaping.