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Articles for Hagekhalil

Metropolitan Water District board member censured for racist remark
4 weeks, 2 days ago

Metropolitan Water District board member censured for racist remark

LA Times  

A board member of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California has been censured for making a racist remark about an Arab American employee. Mohsen Mortada, the district’s chief of staff, said in a recent letter that during a December 2023 visit to Gene Camp, a facility in the desert, Mortada overheard an MWD director refer to him as a …

Board Members Letter Morris Racist Southern California Remark
California water agency votes to spend $141 million on Delta tunnel project
1 month ago

California water agency votes to spend $141 million on Delta tunnel project

LA Times  

The board of California’s largest urban water supplier voted on Tuesday to spend $141.6 million for a large share of the preliminary planning work on the state’s proposed water tunnel in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. Providing funds for the initial work, Ortega said, will enable the agency “to gather critical information about the project’s benefits and costs that will …

Board Water Gold California Project State Million
Newsom’s new Trump-proofing plan
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Newsom’s new Trump-proofing plan

Politico  

Newsom’s new Trump-proofing plan Presented by With help from Wes Venteicher, Camille von Kaenel, Alex Nieves and Ry Rivard Gov. “He’s serious about this.” Newsom didn’t say how much money he’d lay aside, but said he’d propose establishing an account the state can immediately draw on for emergencies if Trump refuses to provide federal dollars. — CC, DK Speaking of …

Climate Change Climate Trump Man California New Jersey Project
Column: Something is rotten in SoCal’s Metropolitan Water District
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Column: Something is rotten in SoCal’s Metropolitan Water District

LA Times  

Whitsett Intake Pumping Plant is the starting point of the 242-mile Colorado River Aqueduct. The latest drama could reach a tipping point Monday, when Metropolitan’s board will consider firing the agency’s general manager — with potentially huge consequences for our water supplies, depending on whom you ask. Over the last week, I’ve interviewed more than half a dozen people familiar …

Climate Change Climate Water Power California Los Angeles District
Hotter, drier and all-around different: How climate change will alter your life in L.A.
4 months ago

Hotter, drier and all-around different: How climate change will alter your life in L.A.

LA Times  

There is an episode of “The Twilight Zone” in which Earth is getting closer to the sun. “Urban design is what will make us have an agreeable, beautiful city where we will feel like we’re members of an important place,” she said. “It’s been really hard for our mountain lion populations down here in Southern California to be able to …

Climate Change Change Climate Life Water Air Coastal Areas
Embattled manager of California water agency defends record, says complaints are unfounded
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Embattled manager of California water agency defends record, says complaints are unfounded

LA Times  

Adel Hagekhalil, general manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, speaks to new managers at MWD headquarters in Los Angeles in 2023. In a letter to the board, Hagekhalil said that “every action I took on your behalf and at your direction was faced with a frivolous complaint to undermine and stop the reform that you directed.” He …

Board Investigation Complaints Water Employees California Los Angeles
Adel Hagekhalil: Southern California’s embattled ‘water doctor’
6 months, 2 weeks ago

Adel Hagekhalil: Southern California’s embattled ‘water doctor’

LA Times  

As general manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Adel Hagekhalil has overseen a public agency that’s responsible for supplying the water that 19 million people drink. Hagekhalil says Southern California needs to be ready for more climate “whiplash,” including extreme dry spells, and must prepare to rely less on water imported from the Colorado River, where reservoirs …

Water California Los Angeles Southern California Hagekhalil
As California water agency investigates top manager, some worry progress could be stymied
6 months, 3 weeks ago

As California water agency investigates top manager, some worry progress could be stymied

LA Times  

In the three years that Adel Hagekhalil has led California’s largest urban water supplier, the general manager has sought to focus on adaptation to climate change — in part by reducing reliance on water supplies from distant sources and investing in local water supplies. “I would hope this doesn’t mean that we undo the progress that’s been made since Adel …

Climate Change Change Board Climate Water Allegations California
Top manager of California’s largest water supplier placed on leave after sexism, harassment allegations
6 months, 4 weeks ago

Top manager of California’s largest water supplier placed on leave after sexism, harassment allegations

LA Times  

Adel Hagekhalil, general manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, visits the Weymouth Water Treatment Plant in La Verne in April 2023. At minimum, by releasing the document, that person has tried to set a narrative that is potentially harmful to the general manager, the chief financial officer, this board and this agency, and they know it.” Ortega …

Board General Investigation Water Work Due Process California
California storms deliver above-average snowpack, replenish reservoirs
9 months, 1 week ago

California storms deliver above-average snowpack, replenish reservoirs

LA Times  

California’s mountains are covered with snow, reservoirs are mostly filled and hills across the state are sprouting green grass and wildflowers after the latest round of soaking storms. “Because every year could be the first year of a 10-year drought.” Even with the state’s reservoirs at healthy levels, California continues to face complex water management problems, such as struggling fish …

Climate Change Climate Water Drought Fish California State
Newsom wants to build a $16-billion water tunnel. Will it destroy California’s delta?
10 months, 1 week ago

Newsom wants to build a $16-billion water tunnel. Will it destroy California’s delta?

LA Times  

In the heart of California, at the place where two great rivers converge beneath the tule fog, lies the linchpin of one of the largest water supply systems in the world. “There are mounting risks with the existing system, and the elements of the State Water Project in the delta don’t have resiliency embedded in them,” Bradner said. The tribe …

Climate Change Environmental Water Resources Water Project State Los Angeles
A new SoCal underground water storage project aims to keep supplies flowing during drought
1 year, 2 months ago

A new SoCal underground water storage project aims to keep supplies flowing during drought

LA Times  

A solution to help bolster Southern California’s water outlook during future droughts is taking shape in the Mojave Desert. Explore the section The agency already stores water underground in other areas, but the High Desert Water Bank represents the MWD’s largest investment in groundwater storage to date. Water fills one of the recharge basins at the High Desert Water Bank …

Climate Change Bank Drought California Project High District
Southern California’s ‘water doctor’ pushes for transformation to adapt to climate change
1 year, 4 months ago

Southern California’s ‘water doctor’ pushes for transformation to adapt to climate change

LA Times  

When Adel Hagekhalil speaks about the future of water in Southern California, he often starts by mentioning the three conduits the region depends on to bring water from hundreds of miles away: the Los Angeles Aqueduct, the Colorado River Aqueduct and the California Aqueduct. Adel Hagekhalil says Southern California needs a new “Mulholland moment,” but one based on a new …

Climate Change Change Climate Water California State Los
Federal government considers major water cuts to protect Colorado River
1 year, 9 months ago

Federal government considers major water cuts to protect Colorado River

LA Times  

The federal government on Tuesday laid out two options for preventing the Colorado River’s depleted reservoirs from falling to critically low levels, saying water cuts could be imposed across the Southwest by following the water-rights priority system or by using an across-the-board percentage. Under a second alternative, the Bureau of Reclamation would analyze the effects of reductions “distributed in the …

Climate Change Water States Interior California Nevada Officials
Drought-ravaged Colorado River gets relief from snow. But long-term water crisis remains
1 year, 9 months ago

Drought-ravaged Colorado River gets relief from snow. But long-term water crisis remains

LA Times  

View of the Colorado River continuing past Hoover Dam, on the border between Nevada and Arizona, on April 3. “It’s a great snowpack,” said Bill Hasencamp, manager of Colorado River resources for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. “This snowpack means we don’t need nearly the level of cuts as we thought we might have just four months ago,” …

Climate Change Water California Nevada Federal Colorado Southern
‘Nature gave us a lifeline’: Southern California refills largest reservoir in dramatic fashion
1 year, 9 months ago

‘Nature gave us a lifeline’: Southern California refills largest reservoir in dramatic fashion

LA Times  

Following a series of winter storms that eased drought conditions across the state, Southern Californians celebrated a sight nobody has seen for several punishing years: water rushing into Diamond Valley Lake. “We need to take this lifeline, replenish our resources, but continue to work and plan ahead.” Water cascades into Diamond Valley Lake from the DVL’s inlet/outlet tower in Winchester. …

Water California State Officials Southern System Southern California
Water restrictions lifted for millions in SoCal, but region still urged to conserve
1 year, 9 months ago

Water restrictions lifted for millions in SoCal, but region still urged to conserve

LA Times  

The water below Bidwell Bar Bridge at Lake Oroville, which supplies the State Water Project, has risen dramatically with runoff from recent storms. “We don’t need to take that next step, although we really need consumers to continue to use water efficiently.” On average, about one-fourth of Southern California’s water supply comes from the Colorado River, where chronic overuse and …

Supply Water Drought California State Los Angeles Colorado
Why Southern California water restrictions remain despite so much rain
1 year, 11 months ago

Why Southern California water restrictions remain despite so much rain

LA Times  

A housing tract last year in Rancho Cucamonga, where outdoor watering has been reduced to one day a week. But Southern California still gets about one-quarter of its water from the Colorado River, which didn’t really benefit from the storms and remains remarkably strained, Hagekhalil said. He said MWD’s board will be evaluating the water supply between now and June …

Water Drought State Los Angeles Jones Colorado River
At the heart of Colorado River crisis, the mighty ‘Law of the River’ holds sway
1 year, 11 months ago

At the heart of Colorado River crisis, the mighty ‘Law of the River’ holds sway

LA Times  

The Colorado River cuts through Marle Canyon in the Navajo Nation en route to the Grand Canyon. But as California argues most strongly for strict adherence to this system of water apportionment, the other states say it makes little sense when the river’s largest reservoir, Lake Mead, continues to decline toward “dead pool” level, which would effectively cut off the …

Law States Proposal California Arizona Nevada Million
California set for more brown lawns and water restrictions as state issues 5% allocation
2 years, 1 month ago

California set for more brown lawns and water restrictions as state issues 5% allocation

LA Times  

The California Aqueduct flows water through Central Valley farmland. “California and most of the western U.S. states do remain in extreme drought conditions driven by climate change, and as water managers, we are adjusting to these hotter and drier conditions,” said Molly White, operations manager for the State Water Project. “This initial allocation is an important indicator of what Southern …

Climate Change Water Drought Conditions California White Officials
DWP customers in L.A. face two-day-a-week water restrictions, with eight-minute limit
2 years, 8 months ago

DWP customers in L.A. face two-day-a-week water restrictions, with eight-minute limit

LA Times  

Standing among blooming water-resistant sage, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti speaks at a news conference about new water conservation guidelines. “We believe that going to two-day-a-week watering and getting people to really pay attention and ramp down their water use will keep us within the allotment that Met has offered us.” The new Phase 3 rules will apply to everyone …

Water Drought Rules Los Angeles Los Angeles Officials
California declares unprecedented water restrictions amid drought
2 years, 8 months ago

California declares unprecedented water restrictions amid drought

Al Jazeera  

Residents have been warned to scale down their water usage this summer, as critical shortages loom. “This is the first time we’ve said, we don’t have enough water to last us for the rest of the year, unless we cut our usage by 35 percent.” Depleted reservoirs Most of the water that southern California residents enjoy begins as snow in …

Water Drought California River Southern California Sierra Enough Water
To survive drought, parts of SoCal must cut water use by 35%. The new limit: 80 gallons a day
2 years, 8 months ago

To survive drought, parts of SoCal must cut water use by 35%. The new limit: 80 gallons a day

LA Times  

When the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California this week unveiled its strictest-ever water restrictions for about 6 million residents, it did so with an urgent goal in mind: a 35% reduction in water consumption, equating to an allocation of about 80 gallons per person per day. Currently, the average potable water use across the MWD’s service area — including …

Water Outdoor California Los Angeles Cut District Person
Sweeping water restrictions will change life in Southern California: A guide
2 years, 8 months ago

Sweeping water restrictions will change life in Southern California: A guide

LA Times  

Tony Corcoran records sprinklers watering the lawn in front of a house in Beverly Hills in June 2015. Drought and climate change are forcing unprecedented water restrictions in parts of Southern California and millions of residents are wondering what happens now. The plan On Tuesday, the Metropolitan Water District ordered outdoor water usage be restricted to just one day a …

Water California Southern Brown Southern California Restrictions Hagekhalil