The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California History and First Annual Report for the Period Ending June 30, 1938

Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) | January 20th, 1939

The Mohave Desert region, California--a geographic, geologic, and hydrologic reconnaissance

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | July 15th, 1929

The Monterey Amendments to State Water Project Contracts: A History

California Water Impact Network (C-WIN) | February 28th, 2010

Policy statement: C-WIN works to overturn the Monterey Plus amendments to the State Water Project contracts. To return the state mandated "Urban Preference"; to require t

Policy statement: C-WIN works to overturn the Monterey Plus amendments to the State Water Project contracts. To return the state mandated "Urban Preference"; to require the contracts to reflect water that is really there; to stop the abusive pumping of water that is not surplus; and to return the Kern Water Bank to the public to firm up the urban preference for the 22 million urban water users south of the Delta in times of drought. Drought from 1987 to 1992, and again in 1994, financial crisis among state water contractors, and the prospect of tighter regulation of Delta exports by the State Water Project (SWP) by the state and federal government provoked the project’s most serious crisis. In 1994 four of the SWP contractors, including the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) and the Kern County Water Agency which together control about 75 percent of State Water Project allocations, and representatives from Paramount Farming (a private company), met secretly in Monterey to attempt to resolve their water shortage dilemma. The result was the Monterey Amendments to the State Water Project water service contracts.

The Monterey Plus Amendments to State Contracts: “Paper Water” and the Kern Water Bank Giveaway: A C-WIN Policy Brief

California Water Impact Network (C-WIN) | January 1st, 2012

Changes secretly made to the State Water Project by water contractors and the California Department of Water Resources in the 1990s, known as the Monterey Plus Amendments

Changes secretly made to the State Water Project by water contractors and the California Department of Water Resources in the 1990s, known as the Monterey Plus Amendments, caused ecological destruction in the Delta and made water supplies for State Water Project customers much more expensive and less reliable.

The Monterey Plus Amendments to State Water Contracts: It’s Chinatown, Jake

California Water Impact Network (C-WIN) | February 1st, 2014

In the 1990s, ,ive of the extant 29 State Water Project contractors secretly colluded with the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) to change SWP policy, a move

In the 1990s, ,ive of the extant 29 State Water Project contractors secretly colluded with the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) to change SWP policy, a move subsequently known as the Monterey Plus Amendments. These changes caused major disruptions in Delta ecosystems and made water less accessible and much more expensive for most State Water Project customers, especially during droughts. Urban ratepayers bore the brunt of the burden, as they found out to their profound dismay in the drought that beleaguered the state from 2007 to 2009. The Monterey Plus Amendments were concluded 17 years ago, but they are not established law, and are under current court challenge.

The most important issue about water is not supply, but how it is used

Nature Portfolio (Springer Nature) | December 14th, 2023

The National Significance of California’s Ocean Economy

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) | December 17th, 2015

The purpose of this report is to present empirical evidence that illustrates the inland significance of California’s marine transportation and ocean tourism sec

The purpose of this report is to present empirical evidence that illustrates the inland significance of California’s marine transportation and ocean tourism sectors. This report begins with a discussion of California’s economy and then takes a closer look at six economic sectors that depend on ocean resources. Finally, we take an even closer look at two of these sectors—marine transportation and coastal tourism and recreation—and the way these ocean-based activities support local economies across the country.

The Natural Flow Regime

Oxford University Press (OUP) | December 1st, 1997

Humans have long been fascinated by the dynamism of free-flowing waters. Yet we have expended great effort to tame rivers for transportation, water supply, flood con

Humans have long been fascinated by the dynamism of free-flowing waters. Yet we have expended great effort to tame rivers for transportation, water supply, flood control, agriculture, and power generation. It is now recognized that harnessing of streams and rivers comes at great cost: Many rivers no longer support socially valued native species or sustain healthy ecosystems that provide important goods and services.

The New Economy of Water: The Risks and Benefits of Globalization and Privatization of Fresh Water

Pacific Institute | February 1st, 2002

The New Economy of Water: The Risks and Benefits of Globalization and Privatization of Fresh Water is the most comprehensive examination of the issue of water privatiz

The New Economy of Water: The Risks and Benefits of Globalization and Privatization of Fresh Water is the most comprehensive examination of the issue of water privatization to date. The report looks at the dangers and benefits of water privatization, offers case studies from around the world, and sets forth principles designed to help guide privatization deals. “Our assessment shows that rigorous, independent review of water privatization efforts are necessary to protect the public,” said Dr. Peter H. Gleick, the report’s lead author. “Governments must establish clear guidelines that ensure fair access to water regardless of income, protect the environment, ensure transparency, and include affected parties in decision-making efforts. Water is far too important to human health and the health of our natural world to be placed entirely in the private sector.”

The New Inland Sea

Scientific American | April 13th, 1907

The deep channel in the Alamo River, which passed Holtville in August, was gradually approaching Sharp's Heading, and it was recognized that when this cataract reached

The deep channel in the Alamo River, which passed Holtville in August, was gradually approaching Sharp's Heading, and it was recognized that when this cataract reached the heading it would be very difficult and expensive, and perhaps impossible, to maintain that heading. This, however, was not the only peril to the water supply of the valley. The channel of New River had eroded to such an extent that where the two streams separated it was estimated that four-fifths of the water was running down New River and only one fifth down the Alamo. While this proportion was favorable to the regimen of the Alamo and the safety of Sharp's Heading, it was very threatening in an other respect. It accelerated the cutting of the New River channel, in which was a great cataract four or five miles below the separation of the two streams, and this was, of course, advancing upstream. It was well recognized that when this cataract reached the Alamo the channel would be so deep that all of the water would run down New River and leave Sharp's Heading on dry land, without any water for the irrigation of the Imperial Valley. Threatened first with inundation, and next with the destruction of their entire water supply, the inhabitants of the Imperial Valley have naturally been almost in a state of panic for several months.