Santa Cruz County Water Articles

How Santa Cruz County’s agencies are navigating through a drought and a complex bureaucratic process

By Jayme Ackemann The United States has been failing to maintain its roads, bridges, and utilities for decades. A report known as the “Infrastructure Report Card” tracks the state of the nation’s disrepair and rates it. Last year we got …

WATSONVILLE—After decades of efforts by local, state and federal officials, plans to rebuild the Pajaro River Levee can now move forward after voters in Watsonville approved an assessment on their annual property tax bills that will pay for the maintenance …

World Oceans Day reminds us how much more there is to explore

It costs big bucks to ensure one of life’s essential components is fit for human consumption. And on May 25, local officials and media got to taste the $3.5 million upgrade results to the Scotts Valley Water District’s Orchard Run …

WATSONVILLE—Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency (PV Water) received $7.6 million to support its College Lake Project, which will supply a supplemental source of water for the Pajaro Valley. The grant was awarded May 4 through the California Department of Water …

WATSONVILLE—The three candidates vying for the Fourth District seat on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors squared off in a forum Tuesday night, touching on transportation, housing and other issues affecting the county. The forum was hosted by the …

By Jayme Ackemann My colleague and new friend Lois Henry is retiring from public service. Her term on the Water District Board began in 2018 but her story starts years before the road to Lompico was paved. Lois and Les …

Saving water is more important than ever in California, due to the region’s worst drought conditions in 1,200 years. Here are some steps you can take to help.

California can increase water savings in urban and suburban areas by 30 to 48 percent using nothing but existing technology, a new report from the Pacific Institute says.

PAJARO—People living in south Santa Cruz County and north Monterey County could soon see Pajaro River’s levee system rebuilt, a long-awaited project that would offer up to 100-year flood protection to the area, and be a comfort to residents who …

California’s outdated water rights laws have failed to account for the effects of climate change, says a new expert report, which makes some strong recommendations.

The San Lorenzo Valley Water District (SLVWD) has had its fair share of couplings since its establishment as a special district in 1941.  In 2008, the district assumed control of Cal-Am Water (servicing Felton), and in 2016, it acquired took …

Boulder Creek area water fixes likely to take years.

WATSONVILLE—Voters who live in proximity to the Pajaro River levee system will soon decide on adding a special assessment to their property tax bill that would help fund the long-awaited Pajaro River Flood Risk Management Project. The Pajaro Regional Flood …

Skiers are adapting to the dual crises and the popular winter sport is evolving even as snow cover declines around the world

In a unanimous decision, the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) approved Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency’s (PV Water) water right application for the College Lake Integrated Resources Management Project. The approval, coming nearly four years after application submittal, means …

In the world of water districts, challenges abound. From fires and floods to earthquakes and droughts, there is a multitude of issues that can affect the safety and security of water sources for the population served.  San Lorenzo Valley Water …

Community service districts can do most anything a city government can do. Here’s how they work and how to start one.

In a special meeting on Nov. 10, the San Lorenzo Valley Water District (SLVWD) Board of Directors authorized District Manager Rick Rogers to begin investigating the potential consolidation of Big Basin Water with SLVWD, but there are issues that surround …