South-state water boss tells how area is coping with drought

…California’s drought is likely to persist at least through this summer, with rationing of water use to spread to urban areas throughout the state, Patterson said.

Key reservoirs including Lake Mead and San Luis Reservoir are only about half full, he noted.

In Mendota, in Fresno County, officials recently gave away 500 boxes of food for the needy. One-thousand people showed up in the town with 40 percent unemployment, Patterson said.

The list of mandatory cutbacks on water in the state continues to increase, including the communities of Folsom, Willits, Sacramento, Stockton and many cities in Southern California, Patterson illustrated with his slide presentation.

He said Metropolitan’s board will vote soon on mandatory rationing.

“If times were normal, we would be anticipating putting more water away,” he said.

“But now it’s seven out of 10 years we’re dipping into reserves.”

Scientists have predicted there is a very real chance a large earthquake could render the water delivery system a mess if antiquated dikes collapsed. That would push salt water into the delta, paralyzing the water delivery system for 2-3 years, Patterson said.

Rocks and steel used for holding water are being stockpiled along the delta, he explained, in hopes that a breach could be contained much more quickly if there is a disaster.

Chico Enterprise-Record