By Miriam Raftery
Photos by Robert Gehr
January 31, 2025 (El Cajon) – After voting to repeal a long-unenforced ban on dog walking downtown, the city of El Cajon has installed “doggie pots” and poop disposal bags to help dog owners cleanup after their pets.
Photos show receptacle near the waterscape outside the Magnolia performing arts center; another is located at the northeast side of Prescott Park.
CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters
Photo via Calif. Dept. of Water Resources: A drone provides a view of a section of the California Aqueduct within the California State Water Project, located near John R. Teerink Pumping Plant.
January 27, 2025 (Central Valley, Calif.) - President Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order Sunday that told federal agencies to “immediately take action” to deliver more Central Valley water and eliminate rules that stand in the way, including endangered species protections.
In the new order, Trump cited the Los Angeles fires, even though the actions he is ordering — delivering more water from the federal Central Valley Project — would primarily serve farms. About 75% of Central Valley Project water is used for agriculture, while much of the rest goes to cities and towns in the San Joaquin Valley, including Sacramento and Fresno.
“In particular, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce shall immediately take actions to override existing activities that unduly burden efforts to maximize water deliveries,” Trump’s order reads.
At stake are the rules that guide two massive Delta water systems, the federal Central Valley Project and a state-operated system, the State Water Project. These networks of reservoirs, pumps and canals deliver water to millions of acres of farmland and 30 million people. They draw water from rivers that flow into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and San Francisco Bay, which imperils Chinook salmon, smelt and sturgeon that are protected by the federal Endangered Species Act.
Trump ordered federal agencies to “expedite action related to any exemption under the Endangered Species Act…for the long-term operation” of the water delivery systems. In addition, he directed the federal Bureau of Reclamation to “take all available measures to ensure that State agencies — including the California Department of Water Resources — do not interfere.” He entitled a section “Overriding Disastrous California Policies.”
Environmental groups are likely to sue if federal agencies override the Endangered Species Act when setting rules that control how much water is delivered via the Central Valley Project or State Water Project.
“Do not be fooled by Trump’s lies: none of the policies in this executive order will move even a single drop of extra water to communities devastated by these wildfires. This administration is presenting us with a false choice,” U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman, a California Democrat who is the ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee, said in a statement Sunday. “Fishers, farmers, treasured species, and every water user all depend on our water resources – we do not have to pick winners or losers.”
Several community watchdog and environmental groups, including Restore the Delta and San Francisco Baykeeper, warned that Trump’s actions “will have devastating consequences for California’s water future, public health, and environmental protections, threatening a federal takeover of California’s right to manage its land and waters.”
Noting that the actions would benefit farmers, San Francisco Baykeeper Science Director Jon Rosenfield called the administration “a lawless regime that uses extortion to enrich their political supporters.”
The powerful Westlands Water District, representing farmers in parts of Kings and Fresno counties, said Sunday that they welcome Trump’s order. “The challenges that he highlights are real, and his leadership in addressing the barriers to water delivery are welcomed,” the district said in a statement. “It’s clear that what we’ve been doing for the past few decades has not been working; not for the people, for agriculture, or for the fish.”
Trump’s order said “it is in the Nation’s interest to ensure that California has what it needs to prevent and fight these fires and others in the future. Therefore, it is the policy of the United States to provide Southern California with necessary water resources, notwithstanding actively harmful State or local policies.”
The environmental groups said Trump’s directives “conflate fire prevention needs with water operations in California all based on the myth that water operations for environmental protections had any impact on water infrastructure used in the Los Angeles fires.”
Some Los Angeles fire hydrants ran out of water fighting the fires, but city fire and utility officials say it was caused by a sudden surge in demand and limited capacity of city pipelines, not lack of water supply. In addition, the city’s water comes mostly from the Owens Valley, the Colorado River and groundwater, not the Delta or the Central Valley, and Southern California cities say they have ample supply after two wet winters.
“The premise of this executive order is false,” said Newsom spokesperson Tara Gallegos. “Attempts to connect water management in Northern California to local wildfire fighting in Los Angeles have zero factual basis. California continues to pump as much water as it did under the Trump administration’s policies, and water operations to move water south through the Delta have absolutely nothing to do with the local fire response in Los Angeles.”
State reservoirs in Southern California are at above-average levels. “There is no shortage of water in Southern California, which is why the Governor has called for an investigation into the local response,” Gallegos said.
Rosenfield said the State Water Project ensures, even in the worst of droughts, that communities have a minimum share of water designated for purposes of “human health and safety,” which includes firefighting needs. “They always deliver that human health and safety water, always — it’s never interrupted,” Rosenfield said.
The Central Valley Project provides about 5 million acres feet of water to farms, enough to irrigate about a third of the agricultural land in California, according to the Bureau of Reclamation. It also delivers about 600,000 acre-feet for municipal and industrial use in the San Joaquin Valley and some Bay Area cities, enough to supply about 1 million households with water each year.
Trump called on the Bureau of Reclamation to operate the Central Valley Project with rules that his first administration implemented in 2020. Reverting to those rules could override rules signed into law in December by Biden administration officials and endorsed by Gov. Gavin Newsom administration officials. The Biden rules would reduce Central Valley Project farm deliveries, but the State Water Project — which serves Southern California cities as well as San Joaquin Valley farms — would receive more water compared to Trump’s 2020 rules.
Directors of the state’s water and resources agencies could not be reached for comment.
Ryan Endean, a public information officer with the California Department of Water Resources, said in a statement last week that his agency stands by its new Delta water management rules. Under those rules, Endean said, “farms and cities have the potential to gain additional water supply, while endangered species are protected. To abandon these new frameworks would harm California water users and protection of native fish species.”
Experts say the Bay-Delta ecosystem is collapsing, and salmon populations have declined so severely that commercial and recreational salmon fishing have been banned in California for two straight years — with a third year expected, too.
The order follows a series of remarks in recent weeks by the President that reflect a profound misunderstanding of California’s water supply, weaving between inaccurate and fantastical.
In Pacific Palisades on Friday, while visiting with local leaders in the aftermath of the region’s wildfires, Trump said, “We have to have that water … You’re talking about unlimited water coming down from the Pacific Northwest, even coming up from parts of Canada, and it pours down naturally … you’ll never run out, you’ll never have shortages and you won’t have things like this, and when you do you’ll have a lot of water to put it out.” Water does not flow into California from Canada, and the Pacific Northwest does not feed into Central Valley rivers. Instead, the water comes largely from Sierra Nevada snowmelt.
The order also includes provisions to expedite aid to victims of the Southern California wildfires and Hurricane Helene in North Carolina.
He ordered federal agencies to provide a plan that “expedites options for housing relief to survivors displaced by wildfires in California.” Also, “within 5 days from the date of this order,” he ordered federal agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, to “expedite the bulk removal of contaminated and general debris” in order “to accelerate the rebuilding of areas devastated” by the wildfires.
County officials and the Army Corps of Engineers officials have warned homeowners in the fire zones that sifting through debris and removing it could be harmful without guidelines and precautions from the EPA for handling hazardous waste.
CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters
East County News Service
January 25, 2025 (Rancho San Diego, CA) -- In light of the ongoing evacuations at the Border Fire, the Water Conservation Garden on the campus of Cuyamaca College is opening its grounds with free admission to evacuees and their pets. Free Wifi is available.
“We hope The Garden can provide a peaceful escape, a place to recharge, and a reminder of the resilience of nature and community,” says Lauren Magnuson, Director of Garden Operations. She adds, ”Stay safe, and we look forward to welcoming you.”
For more information, visit https://thegarden.org/
East County News Service
June 21, 2024 (Lakeside) — In honor of National Canoe and Kayak Day, Lake Jennings in Lakeside is offering guided kayak tours on Wednesday, June 26 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The hour-and-a-half tour costs $30 per person and includes a kayak rental. Learn about the lake’s history, biodiversity, conservation efforts and operations. Reserve space by calling (619) 596-1306.
Kayak rentals and launches are also available. Just purchase a day-use permit and launch fee at the bait and tackle shop. No fishing will be permitted from kayaks for this event. (Personal kayaks must be sit-inside kayaks, at least 10 feet long, not self-bailing and have seats for all persons inside. Sit-on-top or inflatable kayaks are not allowed.)
Lake Jennings is located at 9535 Harritt Road in Lakeside.
For more information, visit www.LakeJennings.org.
Drop-off locations and curbside pickup info for all San Diego County residents
Source: I Love a Clean San Diego
Image: CC via Bing
December 14, 2024 (San Diego) -- Did you know a Christmas tree can take hundreds of years to decompose in a landfill due to lack of oxygen? San Diego residents can help prevent waste and save landfill space by transforming their old Christmas trees into nutrient-rich compost or mulch.
The County of San Diego and I Love a Clean San Diego make it easy for residents to recycle their real Christmas trees by compiling a list of drop-off locations and instructions for curbside pick-up. The countywide recycling resource, WasteFreeSD.org, hosts the 2024/2025 Christmas Tree Recycling Guide with listings for curbside and drop-off locations.
When Christmas trees are recycled, they embark on a new journey that benefits the environment and the community. Through processes like mulching or composting, these trees are broken down into valuable organic material that enriches soil with essential nutrients. This process not only reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills but also plays a crucial role in lowering greenhouse gas emissions, as decomposing organic waste in landfills produces methane, a potent contributor to climate change.
According to the EPA, organic materials like Christmas trees, food, and yard waste are the number one material sent to landfills, composing two-thirds of the solid waste stream. By giving Christmas trees a second life through recycling, San Diego residents can contribute to a sustainable celebration of the holidays.
Christmas Tree Recycling Tips
- Do not flock or purchase flocked trees. Fake snow (flock) contains chemicals that interfere with the composting process
- If you choose to use tinsel, it must be completely removed (and placed in the trash) from your tree before it can be recycled.
- Make sure to remove all ornaments, garland, lights, nails, tree bags, and tree stands (metal or plastic) before recycling.
- For areas where curbside tree recycling is available, trees taller than four feet should be cut in half.
- Reuse or donate artificial trees that are in good condition.
- Do not let real trees sit around too long after the holidays. They can dry out and become fire hazards.
- Natural wreaths and similar decorations can be recycled with trees.
How to Compost Your Christmas Tree
Many local waste haulers offer curbside pick-up of Christmas trees and wreaths, in addition to dozens of community drop-off sites. Collected Christmas trees are mulched or composted, which is then used to improve soil health at public parks, local farms, and home landscapes and gardens. Visit WasteFreeSD.org for a list of drop-off locations and communities with curbside pickup.
About I Love a Clean San Diego
Founded in 1954, I Love a Clean San Diego is an environmental nonprofit supporting residents and businesses of San Diego County through youth and adult education, and local action through impactful volunteer events and workshops. For more information, to volunteer or donate, visit CleanSD.org. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram , and LinkedIn.