California Natural Resources Agency Secretary John Laird, pictured far left, speaks about the Salton Sea during the recent Imperial Valley Economic Development Corp. renewable energy summit.

On a recent day in March, there was an unprecedented event at the Salton Sea. A handful of State Senators joined by an Assemblyman and several other key State officials gathered for a tour of the Sea. It may have been the first time—at least the first time in recent history—so many State officials came together at one time to see the Salton Sea. And while only time will tell if such a tour will have a substantive impact on how the State addresses the Sea, it does represent a heightened awareness the State has a responsibility to manage the Sea.

The tour was organized by the Water Foundation  together with Sen. Ben Hueso, who represents San Diego and Imperial County, and Assemblyman Eduardo

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In this file photo from 2016 courtesy California Department of Water Resources a snow survey is done to measure the snowpack in the Sierras.

With above normal rains drenching much of California and snowpack levels on the rise, attention has turned to what this means for the state’s long-term drought. Media reports and opinion columns vary, with most of the focus aimed at the impacts to Northern California reservoirs and the State Water Project. Some reports declare the drought over as thirsty reservoirs up north begin to fill, certainly changing the tide of what has been ten mostly dry years. Other reports urge caution as weather patterns can quickly change, so to rush into an end-of-drought declaration is much too soon. Sustained rain and additional snow—with slow run-off into the spring—is needed to ensure the end of this prolonged drought is at hand, the more cautious in the field

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Pictured is a tour group from Imperial Valley who visited the Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant earlier this year. On Dec. 14, the plant celebrated its first year of operation.

On Wednesday, Dec. 14, the Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant reached a critical milestone—completing its first full year of operation. It was in December 2015 that the plant opened in an event that brought together 600 elected officials, community leaders and project partners from throughout the region. During this first year the plant has produced about 10 percent of the San Diego region’s water demand. More specifically, the plant produced nearly 15 billion gallons of fresh water—about 45,000 acre-feet—for the region during one of the most severe droughts in state history.

The Carlsbad Desalination Plant is the result of a 30-year, public-private partnership between the plant’s developer and owner, Poseidon Water, and the Water Authority for the production

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