Days warm but drought is hot topic

By George B. Sánchez, Staff Writer
Updated: 01/30/2009 11:19:06 PM PST

Today's temperature was expected to rise at least to the high 70s downtown, where it reached 80 Friday. That was the 12th day this month of 80-degree weather, tying 2003 for the warmest January ever recorded.

Southern California temperatures this month were the envy of many in the Midwest and the East, where temperatures have fallen well below freezing on many days. But the warmer weather also spells trouble for Southern California residents, who face an increasing chance of water rationing.

California Department of Water Resources officials announced Thursday that they would be getting less water from this winter's snowpack, which could lead to restrictions on outdoor watering.

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With the smaller snowpack, low water levels in the state's reservoirs and only two months of winter remaining amid record heat, water conservation plans are likely to be announced in the coming months, experts said.

"We may be at the start of the worst California drought in modern history," said Department of Water Resources Director Lester Snow in a statement on Jan. 29.

In February, the Department of Water and Power will likely recommended a second phase of water-waste ordinances, which would limit outdoor water use to three days a week. Since June, officials have issued fines to residents who leave hoses and sprinklers running, said Jim McDaniel, a senior assistant general manager with the DWP.

"Everyone needs to conserve more water this year," he said. "It's a very serious situation."

On Thursday, officials said the snowpack is 61 percent of normal this year, compared with 111 percent of normal last year. Measurements were taken at four locations near Lake Tahoe.

"We've got two things working against California," said Susan Sims, chief deputy director with the Department of Water Resources. "One is Mother Nature and her two years of drought and the other is the issues in the Delta and the collapse of the ecosystem. We're having to leave more water in the Delta then we would have to otherwise, which will affect water to Southern California."

The protection of endangered species in the Delta, she said, is limiting the export of water. Water delivery will probably decrease in April, Sims said, which will force local agencies to make hard decisions.

"We can only give Southern California water agencies 15 percent of their usual allotment," Sims said. "They need to look to other places or take much more aggressive water conservation methods."

In fact, McDaniel said, 15 percent may be overly optimistic.

As a sign of things to come, Sims said Southern Californians should take note of water rationing in Long Beach and the East Bay in Northern California.

"It really comes down to the common-sense things, like using water more efficiently," she said. "Every drop we save now is one more drop we have for the summer."

Amping up restrictions on outdoor water use could lead to bans on car washing and filling swimming pools and limiting landscape irrigation to one day a week.

The warm weather will likely continue for another week, said Bill Hoffer, a spokesman for the National Weather Service. A storm system in the central Pacific Ocean could hit the California coast by next Saturday, bringing temperatures back down to the 50s.

/george.sanchez@dailynews.com 818-713-3738/