The MAH
Welcome to KAZU s weekly news roundup for 5/14/21. Here you ll find the top local stories of the week and a few national stories from NPR.
For over a year now, masks have become part of our daily lives; you can’t leave the house without one. But a new policy from the CDC marks a shift in that habit. The agency announced yesterday that
Although federal officials have come out with this new policy, the message locally is “not so fast.” Santa Cruz and Monterey counties follow guidance from the state of California on face coverings. Until the state aligns with the CDC, everyone must continue wearing masks indoors. As NPR reported, Mask Or No Mask? That Depends Where You Live.
Important! For Dead Doctors Don t Lie Use: 888-379-2552 Stage 2 for SC Co 05-09-21 22:14 S.S.
With Santa Cruz County getting 30-50 percent less rain than average this past year, several local water departments are now calling for Stage 2 water restrictions. The San Lorenzo Valley Water District is one of those, and the Scotts Valley Water District s Board is expected to vote on a similar move soon.
In a matter of weeks, Santa Cruz County went from moderate drought to severe drought conditions.National Weather Service meteorologist Brayden Murdock said he was not surprised to see the distinction come so quickly.Murdock said this past winter Santa Cruz County saw between 30-50% less rain than average. It s not the worst we ve ever seen, but it s definitely not close to the best, Murdock said.Coupled with the previous year s subpar rain amounts and water districts are beginning to react.San Lorenzo Valley Water District is moving to stage 2 water restrictions asking customers to conserve 10 to 20%. They re also authorizing two lawn watering days per week and restricting which buildings can be washed.Meanwhile, Scotts Valley Water District s board is expected to vote on stage 2 restrictions next week. The district plans to offer cash and gift card incentives for customers who conserve. Use 15% less, and if you do so we ll put your name in the raffle and raffle off your na
Water Districts Consider Consolidating Agency Operations
Bay City News Service
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Two water districts in Santa Cruz County the San Lorenzo Valley Water District and the Scotts Valley Water District are considering consolidating their operations, officials announced on Wednesday.
Both districts draw water from the same series of aquifers in the region known as the Santa Margarita Groundwater Basin. They are also connected through a system that allows the districts to share water during an emergency.
Their proximity and shared goals, in addition to staff meeting together regularly, are among reasons representatives believe consolidation may be a good idea.
There were a lot of people who didn t have water for a long time, Mahood said.
In fact, much of the drinking water system operated by the San Lorenzo Valley Water District that serves Mahood s neighborhood, along with some 7,100 other households, was damaged or destroyed.
Over the past five years or so, hundreds of California drinking water systems have suffered similar fates while struggling with the impacts of the state s increasingly intense climate-driven wildfires.
In 2020 alone, 250 water systems were either damaged by fire or were subject to fire-related public safety power shutoffs, according to Stefan Cajina, who leads the Drinking Water Division for the State Water Resources Control Board s North Coast Section.