Let’s Be Patient with Mother Nature

By Mark Paulson, Board of Directors, Division I – Alhambra

2024 is moving quickly. Apparently, Mother Nature is busy also, as she has not turned all her attention to California and the San Gabriel Valley. At this time last year, Mother Nature was firing on all cylinders as we were receiving deluges of both snow and rain, and our water supplies benefited greatly.

This year is a different story.

While we have had some precipitation and our water supplies remain in good shape, we are experiencing lower-than-average precipitation year-to-date. The hoped-for El Niño weather condition has yet to materialize, and both rainfall and the snowpack are less than 15% of average as of mid-January. As a result, the State has only promised our District and other state water contractors 10% of their planned imported water allocation, which is used to replenish local groundwater supplies (which are 80% of the water we use locally). By the time last year’s storms were finished, the State increased planned imported water allocations from 0-100%.

Things can change quickly like they did last year, but until they do — and if they don’t — we have to use water wisely. Further, it’s almost a certainty that drought conditions will return because, in the long term, we use more water than Mother Nature provides. So, if we all increase our conservation “ethic” and make water-saving as natural as wearing a seat belt and other good habits, we can help sustain our improved water conditions.

It's proven that we use much more water in the hot and dry months of the year, so you may ask, “What can I do in the winter to save water?”

First, reset your irrigation controllers and systems to water less frequently and in smaller amounts. When it rains, turn off your watering system for a few days.

Second, purchase a rain barrel that can capture stormwater for reuse around your home. If you purchase a rain barrel, the District will provide you a rebate of up to $35 (check sgvmwd.com/ water-conservation/#rebates).

Third, plant California Native Plants and other drought-resistant vegetation to give your plants and their roots a head start before warmer spring and summer months arrive (check here for plant recommendations customized for Alhambra: sgvmwd. com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/CalScape_Alhambra_web.pdf).

Let’s be patient and hopeful that weather conditions improve! Please visit the District’s website for more information at sgvmwd.com.