Mead level, and western CO

[pcrussell50]

Been spending some time on Colorado recently, and near as I can tell from the locals, the snow, rain, and reservoirs on the west side of the divide, that part that makes the westward flow of the Colorado River, have been above average for the past several years. So much so, that they have either had to, or will have to, release water from their reservoirs because they are full and risk being over full.

Yet Mead still languishes at 1075'ish. Yesterday's LA Times article (maybe it was the day before), I took from that, that since CA is entitled to the lion's share of Colorado River water, and the drought remains persistent, Mead will continue to remain low.

What worries me is, if Western Colorado falls back to normal water levels, or worse, ends up in a drought of it's own, what does that mean for Mead and the lower lakes?

-Peter

 

[Deja_Vu]

It will be interesting to see what happens when the season starts out below 1075 feet.
I believe there will be new negotiations regarding the states water rights.
California is going to have to start pitching in when it comes to saving water.
The farmers in Imperial valley are going to have to cut back on usage.

Bottom line...our water rates are only going up in the future.

 

[pcrussell50]

It will be interesting to see what happens when the season starts out below 1075 feet.
I believe there will be new negotiations regarding the states water rights.
California is going to have to start pitching in when it comes to saving water.
The farmers in Imperial valley are going to have to cut back on usage.

Bottom line...our water rates are only going up in the future.

Probly so. That's, more or less what the LA Times article said, too. Even though CA has unquestioned rights, they will be pressured by the emergency to act.

...

Speaking of CA and water, there were some articles last fall that said that back during Jerry Brown's first run as governor, he cancelled about halfway through, the projects that the Bureau of Reclamation and the Central Valley Water Authority had drawn up, to help the farmers in Southern Oregon and far Northern CA who had to deal with wild water overflowing it's banks and ruining their crops, by sending it down to Southern Cal, where they knew it would be needed. Apparently, Brown was worried about overpopulation in CA even back in 1970, and the moron thought if he cancelled the water projects and the road projects, that people would stop moving to Southern Cal. What a moron. People came anyway, and now there's not the infrastructure to weather a drought, or the road infrastructure to avoid gridlock.

-Peter

 

[Deja_Vu]

Probly so. That's, more or less what the LA Times article said, too. Even though CA has unquestioned rights, they will be pressured by the emergency to act.

...

Speaking of CA and water, there were some articles last fall that said that back during Jerry Brown's first run as governor, he cancelled about halfway through, the projects that the Bureau of Reclamation and the Central Valley Water Authority had drawn up, to help the farmers in Southern Oregon and far Northern CA who had to deal with wild water overflowing it's banks and ruining their crops, by sending it down to Southern Cal, where they knew it would be needed. Apparently, Brown was worried about overpopulation in CA even back in 1970, and the moron thought if he cancelled the water projects and the road projects, that people would stop moving to Southern Cal. What a moron. People came anyway, and now there's not the infrastructure to weather a drought, or the road infrastructure to avoid gridlock.

-Peter

I am not a fan of Brown... I don't know one person who voted for him.

We could really benefit from a pipeline from the Missouri River to the Colorado...but that will never happen in my lifetime.

Want some interesting reading... read about William Mulholland... He really screwed over the people in the Owens valley.
He personally inspected the St Francis Dam and gave it a thumbs up...then it collapsed within 12 hours and killed 431 people.

 

[COCA COLA COWBOY]

Shasta is up! Most other lakes are pretty high if not to the top. Hopefully Mead will get some snow pack water.

If they past all these new gun control items in California, I may need to look at other states anyways.

 

[bk2drvr]

We need a big or unusual weather event to refill Powell and Mead. If you ready Wiki and watch the Youtube videos about the events of 1983 that caused both lakes to reach full pool you will understand the situation better in its entirety. The issue at the moment is the demands on the water are for the most part greater or nearly the same as the inflow. The inflow being lower than usual (aka drought) for the past 15 years when compared to the past 60 years of record.

Here are the daily water levels for lake Powell since April 15th. April 15th being the lowest recorded elevation of 2016. However she's rising, as expected, about a foot every few days.

LAKE POWELL

Date Elevation Content Inflow Release
(feet) (AF) (cfs) (cfs)

15-APR-2016 3591.14 10924022 8845 10965
16-APR-2016 3591.21 10930398 14378 10546
17-APR-2016 3591.22 10931310 10963 10106
18-APR-2016 3591.26 10934955 13904 11559
19-APR-2016 3591.35 10943159 16425 11597
20-APR-2016 3591.44 10951368 16331 11500
21-APR-2016 3591.52 10958667 15858 11522
22-APR-2016 3591.61 10966883 16388 11553
23-APR-2016 3591.67 10972363 14038 10692
24-APR-2016 3591.71 10976017 12449 10098
25-APR-2016 3591.73 10977844 12855 11498
26-APR-2016 3591.71 10976017 10951 11584
27-APR-2016 3591.79 10983327 15976 11634
28-APR-2016 3591.81 10985155 12999 11642
29-APR-2016 3591.94 10997042 18415 11580
30-APR-2016 3592.12 11013514 19901 10569
01-MAY-2016 3592.26 11026337 17519 10123
02-MAY-2016 3592.37 11036419 17720 11816
03-MAY-2016 3592.48 11046507 17773 11865
04-MAY-2016 3592.58 11055682 17289 11878
05-MAY-2016 3592.58 11055682 12662 12247
06-MAY-2016 3592.59 11056600 12753 11838
07-MAY-2016 3592.65 11062108 14389 10975
08-MAY-2016 3592.74 11070373 15029 10113
09-MAY-2016 3592.88 11083238 19300 11879
10-MAY-2016 3593.12 11105315 24316 11878
11-MAY-2016 3593.31 11122812 21739 11794
12-MAY-2016 3593.61 11150474 27240 11760
13-MAY-2016 3594.00 11186501 31959 11923
14-MAY-2016 3594.39 11222602 31067 10989
15-MAY-2016 3594.89 11268993 35618 9936
16-MAY-2016 3595.20 11297816 27807 11690
17-MAY-2016 3595.63 11337874 34115 11879
18-MAY-2016 3596.12 11383632 37171 11830
19-MAY-2016 3596.63 11431381 38251 11824
20-MAY-2016 3597.21 11485837 42037 11957
21-MAY-2016 3597.78 11539513 40640 10983
22-MAY-2016 3598.43 11600916 43870 10003
23-MAY-2016 3599.06 11660626 44722 11775
24-MAY-2016 3599.74 11725291 47491 11844
25-MAY-2016 --- --- --- ---

All data is provisional and subject to review and modification

 

[PVHCA]

Been spending some time on Colorado recently, and near as I can tell from the locals, the snow, rain, and reservoirs on the west side of the divide, that part that makes the westward flow of the Colorado River, have been above average for the past several years. So much so, that they have either had to, or will have to, release water from their reservoirs because they are full and risk being over full.

Yet Mead still languishes at 1075'ish. Yesterday's LA Times article (maybe it was the day before), I took from that, that since CA is entitled to the lion's share of Colorado River water, and the drought remains persistent, Mead will continue to remain low.

What worries me is, if Western Colorado falls back to normal water levels, or worse, ends up in a drought of it's own, what does that mean for Mead and the lower lakes?

-Peter

IMO the FEDS have the ability to control the water flow so when that happens and Mead is a reservoir with water for sale, well you can figure out what happens next. I have friends in CO on the western side as well that laugh at how much water/snow etc they have had for years.

 

[mash on it]

Been spending some time on Colorado recently, and near as I can tell from the locals, the snow, rain, and reservoirs on the west side of the divide, that part that makes the westward flow of the Colorado River, have been above average for the past several years. So much so, that they have either had to, or will have to, release water from their reservoirs because they are full and risk being over full.

Yet Mead still languishes at 1075'ish. Yesterday's LA Times article (maybe it was the day before), I took from that, that since CA is entitled to the lion's share of Colorado River water, and the drought remains persistent, Mead will continue to remain low.

What worries me is, if Western Colorado falls back to normal water levels, or worse, ends up in a drought of it's own, what does that mean for Mead and the lower lakes?

-Peter

This is from the 2017 AOP, page 22:

Under the most probable inflow scenario, the August 2016 24-Month Study, with a
projected water year release volume of 8.23 maf (10,150 mcm) in water year 2017, projects
the elevations of Lake Powell and Lake Mead on September 30, 2017, would be 3,616.69
feet (1,102.37 meters) and 1,066.02 feet (324.92 meters), respectively.

Here: http://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/g4000/AOP2017/2017AOP_2016-05-16_Consultation-1.pdf


And for 2016 AOP:

Under the most probable inflow scenario, Lake Mead is projected to end water year 2016 at
elevation 1,075.03 feet (327.67 meters), with 9.60 maf (11,840 mcm) in storage (37 percent
of capacity). Lake Mead is projected to increase to elevation 1,079.57 feet (329.05 meters)
with 9.98 maf (12,310 mcm) in storage (38 percent of capacity) at the end of calendar year
2016.

From here, page 21: http://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/g4000/aop/AOP16.pdf

Lake Mead elevation, 10:00 am today, 1074.14 Ft.

Dan'l

 

[Dettom]

So many politicians have played games with water rights in the past. I think there is probably a great deal more water reserves than they tell us, to keep us in perpetual guilt mode to save water. Then they charge is more for saving. They haven't slowed down on watering the 60 golf courses in Palm Springs, so it can't be that bad.

 

[Dettom]

Shasta is up! Most other lakes are pretty high if not to the top. Hopefully Mead will get some snow pack water.

If they past all these new gun control items in California, I may need to look at other states anyways.

Yup.

 

[Deja_Vu]

So many politicians have played games with water rights in the past. I think there is probably a great deal more water reserves than they tell us, to keep us in perpetual guilt mode to save water. Then they charge is more for saving. They haven't slowed down on watering the 60 golf courses in Palm Springs, so it can't be that bad.

I have heard that Palm Springs golf courses are kept green with well water.
A lot of them are using grey water also.

 

[PVHCA]

I have heard that Palm Springs golf courses are kept green with well water.
A lot of them are using grey water also.

Coachella Valley has more H2O then they know what to do with, wells, springs and aquifers are all good.

I doubt seriously grey water.

 

[TPC]

Lot's of leakage at Boulder dam so they knew quite some time ago they'd be lowering the lake level, permanently.
They keep it quiet because of all the speculation and opposition and drama and BS that would result.

 

[Deja_Vu]

Coachella Valley has more H2O then they know what to do with, wells, springs and aquifers are all good.

I doubt seriously grey water.

OK Lets say recycled sewage...

reference

http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/environment/2014/03/19/golf-major-drain-coachella-valley-water-supply/6594019/

Originally published Sept. 14, 2013: Many courses put pressure on groundwater, contributing to decline

PALM DESERT ? With a total of 124 golf courses, the Coachella Valley has one of the largest concentrations of courses in the nation.

The lush fairways set against backdrops of ocher brown mountains have helped make the valley a mecca for the sport. And for half a century, golf has driven the desert's resort economy, attracting tourists and selling homes with views of sculpted hills, sand traps and ponds.

Golf courses use about one-fourth of the water that is pumped from wells in the Coachella Valley, contributing significantly to declines in groundwater levels and posing long-term dilemmas for public officials charged with overseeing the water supply.

Managers of golf courses say they have made improvements by using water-saving irrigation systems and by converting some turf to desert landscaping. Some courses use reclaimed water from sewage treatment plants, and others draw the bulk of their supplies from a canal bringing water from the Colorado River.

But a majority of courses continue to rely primarily on groundwater pumped from wells. Critics argue that courses haven't done enough to scale back water use, and some question whether it makes sense for a desert with limited water supplies to continue giving up precious water from the aquifer to so many courses.

"All of the golf courses could do a much better job of using less water," said Jeff Morgan, chairman of the local Tahquitz Group of the Sierra Club.

"They pump out pristine water straight from the aquifer, pour it on the golf course, and then try and replace it with dirty Colorado River water, which I don't think is the right way to go," Morgan said. "If they're going to actually have the golf courses, they should use the dirty Colorado River water straight on them and save the pristine water for better uses."

In a three-month analysis of groundwater levels throughout the Coachella Valley, The Desert Sun determined that the average measurements of water levels in wells went from about 104 feet below ground in 1970 to 159 feet below ground this year, reflecting an average decline of 55 feet.

The review found that the valley has some of the heaviest water use in California, and that groundwater levels have dropped especially sharply in areas of Palm Desert and Rancho Mirage that have many golf courses and housing developments.

Golf course managers say that water conservation is a priority that they carefully weigh while considering the playing conditions that golfers demand.

"We use as little water as possible, but at the same time we want to have a great course," said Michael McFarlane, co-owner of Shadow Mountain Golf Club in Palm Desert, an 18-hole course founded in 1956 that is one of the oldest in the valley.

The course draws its water from a well and pumps it into a pond and to its sprinklers.

At roughly 60 acres, Shadow Mountain is a relatively small course. It pumped 396 acre-feet from its well last year, enough to fill more than 195 Olympic swimming pools.

Other courses in the area pump much more. Water district documents show that nearby Ironwood Country Club pumped 1,991 acre-feet last year, while The Vintage Club pumped 2,369.

Water levels in a nearby well in Palm Desert have fallen from 255 feet in 1956 to 358.3 feet in 2013, a drop of 103 feet.

Similar declines have been recorded in wells across the middle portion of the valley, while water levels have risen recently in some areas near ponds in Palm Springs and La Quinta where imported Colorado River water percolates down into the soil to recharge the aquifer.

"We are all cognizant of the fact that that table is going down," McFarlane said.

He said the course's employees regularly look for ways to conserve by converting flower beds to landscaping with drip irrigation systems, and by converting more turf to desert landscaping.

Water use on golf courses has changed since the 1950s, when the first 18-hole courses were built in the Coachella Valley at new country clubs including Thunderbird, Tamarisk, Indian Wells and Bermuda Dunes. Then, courses were basically laid onto the natural dunes of the desert, and relatively flat fairways were irrigated with simple irrigation systems or sprinklers at the end of hoses. Those wide carpets of grass have gradually given way in some areas to courses fringed with native plants such as cactus and ocotillo.

But McFarlane said that many who come to play golf still expect to see plenty of lush grass and flowers, and that the managers of the course try to strike a balance in their irrigation.

"I'm obviously a big water user, but you know, it does drive our economy. So, as a business person, you have to find that balance," McFarlane said, standing beside a pond on the course.

He said golf courses continue to enjoy a healthy market in the peak winter season, with many people wanting to be able to walk out their door and play.

Few new courses have been built in the valley recently, though, and some in the industry anticipate the number of golf courses in the desert could eventually decrease due to declining numbers of people joining golf clubs.

For now, the valley from Palm Springs to La Quinta remains one of the nation's biggest golf destinations, alongside other areas with large numbers of courses including Scottsdale, Arizona, and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

For decades, relatively cheap water rates in the California desert encouraged growth in the numbers of golf courses. Most courses pay rates or assessments, for groundwater or Colorado River water, varying from about $42 per acre-foot to $110 per acre-foot.

Statewide, golf courses are a much smaller consumer of water. A recent industry report prepared for the California Alliance for Golf found that golf courses account for less than 1 percent of total fresh water used in the state.

In the Coachella Valley, in contrast, golf courses consume much more ? an estimated 17 percent of the total water use, according to the Coachella Valley Water District. While agricultural irrigation uses more water overall, many farms rely on Colorado River water rather than wells, and therefore use less groundwater.

An estimated 20 percent of the groundwater pumped each year in the valley is used for farms, and 55 percent goes to cities, residential customers and other businesses. The remaining 25 percent flows to golf courses.

The water district says that on average, each course uses about 1 million gallons a day.

Golf courses have become highly efficient in their water use in the past two decades by using computerized irrigation systems that can vary watering amounts based on the weather and can control a single sprinkler head out of thousands, said Stu Rowland, director of golf course operations at Rancho La Quinta Country Club. He showed off a system that allows him to adjust the irrigation system from his iPad.

"Those of us that are superintendents in the area, I think we really do feel like we're being good stewards of the environment, using exactly what we need, not too much," said Rowland, who is president of the Hi-Lo Golf Course Superintendents Association.

Rowland added, though, that golf courses in the Coachella Valley have long enjoyed lower water rates than other areas of the country.

While golf course managers in the valley have looked to save water in order to shave their water budgets, the financial incentives have been smaller than in other areas such as Phoenix and Las Vegas. In Las Vegas, for instance, courses have converted more than 900 acres of turf into desert landscaping in recent years.

"Hopefully we can come up with even more ways to efficiently use water than we already have, and we've come so far with our irrigation technologies," Rowland said. "I do definitely think we need to save more."

The two courses that Rowland manages, like many in the La Quinta area, receive most of their water from the Colorado River, via the Coachella branch of the All-American Canal. Such courses often pump smaller amounts from wells to supplement their water supplies.

Since the 1960s, the valley's water districts have been trying to reduce the pressures on the aquifer by piping increasing amounts of reclaimed water from sewage treatment plants to golf courses.

Today, a total of 19 golf courses receive treated sewage for irrigation, including five courses supplied by the Desert Water Agency and 14 supplied by the Coachella Valley Water District. CVWD previously had reported the number in its area as 13, but in the past week corrected that figure.

Dan Farris, CVWD's director of operations, said the eventual goal is to supply all except 22 of the valley's courses with recycled water, Colorado River water, or a blend of the two.

For now, though, most of the sewage treated in the valley is recycled and used for irrigation. In the summer months, when the valley's population dips, there isn't enough treated sewage for the golf courses and parks, some of which turn to groundwater to help meet their needs.

In order to remedy that situation, CVWD built the Mid-Valley Pipeline in 2009, bringing Colorado River water from a canal in Indio to a sewage treatment plant in Palm Desert. The water district plans to build new pipes to carry a blend of canal water and recycled sewage to additional golf courses.

"We're in the middle of implementing a long-term plan of converting golf courses," Ferris said. "We are going to get there."

Some residents, though, complain that the pace of change has been too slow given the declines in groundwater levels.

"They've been talking about this for 20 years, and I haven't seen much happen," said Morgan, of the Sierra Club. "It doesn't seem to be progressing rapidly."

He added that golf courses are paying much less for water than residential customers. "I think a more sensible pricing system whereas everyone pays the same would be something that would certainly change things."

Officials at the water agencies say that when it comes to setting rates, the law requires that domestic rates be based on the cost of providing water service, which includes pumping the water as well as maintaining public water infrastructure. Entities such as golf courses that operate private wells, in contrast, aren't charged for such costs in the assessments they pay, which are set to cover agencies' costs associated with using imported water to recharge the aquifer.

Water rates aside, it seems odd for such a dry desert to have such a plethora of golf courses, said Joan Taylor, the Sierra Club's local conservation chairwoman.

For the most part, the golf courses are using limited supplies of clean groundwater that could be put to better uses, Taylor said.

"I don't think they've struck that balance," she said. "We still have these huge swaths of green and they're using inordinate amounts of water."

Larry Bohannan contributed to this report

 

[pcrussell50]

Lot's of leakage at Boulder dam so they knew quite some time ago they'd be lowering the lake level, permanently.
They keep it quiet because of all the speculation and opposition and drama and BS that would result.

Interesting... I hadn't heard that before. Any links I can read up on about it?

IMO the FEDS have the ability to control the water flow so when that happens and Mead is a reservoir with water for sale, well you can figure out what happens next. I have friends in CO on the western side as well that laugh at how much water/snow etc they have had for years.

Of course. And what I was asking in the first post is: Since Western CO is full up with water right now, and has been for the last few years, what's going to happen to Mead when Western CO is no longer full-up, or worse, goes into a drought itself?

-Peter

 

[PVHCA]

OK Lets say recycled sewage...

reference

http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/environment/2014/03/19/golf-major-drain-coachella-valley-water-supply/6594019/

Originally published Sept. 14, 2013: Many courses put pressure on groundwater, contributing to decline

PALM DESERT ? With a total of 124 golf courses, the Coachella Valley has one of the largest concentrations of courses in the nation.

The lush fairways set against backdrops of ocher brown mountains have helped make the valley a mecca for the sport. And for half a century, golf has driven the desert's resort economy, attracting tourists and selling homes with views of sculpted hills, sand traps and ponds.

Golf courses use about one-fourth of the water that is pumped from wells in the Coachella Valley, contributing significantly to declines in groundwater levels and posing long-term dilemmas for public officials charged with overseeing the water supply.

Managers of golf courses say they have made improvements by using water-saving irrigation systems and by converting some turf to desert landscaping. Some courses use reclaimed water from sewage treatment plants, and others draw the bulk of their supplies from a canal bringing water from the Colorado River.

But a majority of courses continue to rely primarily on groundwater pumped from wells. Critics argue that courses haven't done enough to scale back water use, and some question whether it makes sense for a desert with limited water supplies to continue giving up precious water from the aquifer to so many courses.

"All of the golf courses could do a much better job of using less water," said Jeff Morgan, chairman of the local Tahquitz Group of the Sierra Club.

"They pump out pristine water straight from the aquifer, pour it on the golf course, and then try and replace it with dirty Colorado River water, which I don't think is the right way to go," Morgan said. "If they're going to actually have the golf courses, they should use the dirty Colorado River water straight on them and save the pristine water for better uses."

In a three-month analysis of groundwater levels throughout the Coachella Valley, The Desert Sun determined that the average measurements of water levels in wells went from about 104 feet below ground in 1970 to 159 feet below ground this year, reflecting an average decline of 55 feet.

The review found that the valley has some of the heaviest water use in California, and that groundwater levels have dropped especially sharply in areas of Palm Desert and Rancho Mirage that have many golf courses and housing developments.

Golf course managers say that water conservation is a priority that they carefully weigh while considering the playing conditions that golfers demand.

"We use as little water as possible, but at the same time we want to have a great course," said Michael McFarlane, co-owner of Shadow Mountain Golf Club in Palm Desert, an 18-hole course founded in 1956 that is one of the oldest in the valley.

The course draws its water from a well and pumps it into a pond and to its sprinklers.

At roughly 60 acres, Shadow Mountain is a relatively small course. It pumped 396 acre-feet from its well last year, enough to fill more than 195 Olympic swimming pools.

Other courses in the area pump much more. Water district documents show that nearby Ironwood Country Club pumped 1,991 acre-feet last year, while The Vintage Club pumped 2,369.

Water levels in a nearby well in Palm Desert have fallen from 255 feet in 1956 to 358.3 feet in 2013, a drop of 103 feet.

Similar declines have been recorded in wells across the middle portion of the valley, while water levels have risen recently in some areas near ponds in Palm Springs and La Quinta where imported Colorado River water percolates down into the soil to recharge the aquifer.

"We are all cognizant of the fact that that table is going down," McFarlane said.

He said the course's employees regularly look for ways to conserve by converting flower beds to landscaping with drip irrigation systems, and by converting more turf to desert landscaping.

Water use on golf courses has changed since the 1950s, when the first 18-hole courses were built in the Coachella Valley at new country clubs including Thunderbird, Tamarisk, Indian Wells and Bermuda Dunes. Then, courses were basically laid onto the natural dunes of the desert, and relatively flat fairways were irrigated with simple irrigation systems or sprinklers at the end of hoses. Those wide carpets of grass have gradually given way in some areas to courses fringed with native plants such as cactus and ocotillo.

But McFarlane said that many who come to play golf still expect to see plenty of lush grass and flowers, and that the managers of the course try to strike a balance in their irrigation.

"I'm obviously a big water user, but you know, it does drive our economy. So, as a business person, you have to find that balance," McFarlane said, standing beside a pond on the course.

He said golf courses continue to enjoy a healthy market in the peak winter season, with many people wanting to be able to walk out their door and play.

Few new courses have been built in the valley recently, though, and some in the industry anticipate the number of golf courses in the desert could eventually decrease due to declining numbers of people joining golf clubs.

For now, the valley from Palm Springs to La Quinta remains one of the nation's biggest golf destinations, alongside other areas with large numbers of courses including Scottsdale, Arizona, and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

For decades, relatively cheap water rates in the California desert encouraged growth in the numbers of golf courses. Most courses pay rates or assessments, for groundwater or Colorado River water, varying from about $42 per acre-foot to $110 per acre-foot.

Statewide, golf courses are a much smaller consumer of water. A recent industry report prepared for the California Alliance for Golf found that golf courses account for less than 1 percent of total fresh water used in the state.

In the Coachella Valley, in contrast, golf courses consume much more ? an estimated 17 percent of the total water use, according to the Coachella Valley Water District. While agricultural irrigation uses more water overall, many farms rely on Colorado River water rather than wells, and therefore use less groundwater.

An estimated 20 percent of the groundwater pumped each year in the valley is used for farms, and 55 percent goes to cities, residential customers and other businesses. The remaining 25 percent flows to golf courses.

The water district says that on average, each course uses about 1 million gallons a day.

Golf courses have become highly efficient in their water use in the past two decades by using computerized irrigation systems that can vary watering amounts based on the weather and can control a single sprinkler head out of thousands, said Stu Rowland, director of golf course operations at Rancho La Quinta Country Club. He showed off a system that allows him to adjust the irrigation system from his iPad.

"Those of us that are superintendents in the area, I think we really do feel like we're being good stewards of the environment, using exactly what we need, not too much," said Rowland, who is president of the Hi-Lo Golf Course Superintendents Association.

Rowland added, though, that golf courses in the Coachella Valley have long enjoyed lower water rates than other areas of the country.

While golf course managers in the valley have looked to save water in order to shave their water budgets, the financial incentives have been smaller than in other areas such as Phoenix and Las Vegas. In Las Vegas, for instance, courses have converted more than 900 acres of turf into desert landscaping in recent years.

"Hopefully we can come up with even more ways to efficiently use water than we already have, and we've come so far with our irrigation technologies," Rowland said. "I do definitely think we need to save more."

The two courses that Rowland manages, like many in the La Quinta area, receive most of their water from the Colorado River, via the Coachella branch of the All-American Canal. Such courses often pump smaller amounts from wells to supplement their water supplies.

Since the 1960s, the valley's water districts have been trying to reduce the pressures on the aquifer by piping increasing amounts of reclaimed water from sewage treatment plants to golf courses.

Today, a total of 19 golf courses receive treated sewage for irrigation, including five courses supplied by the Desert Water Agency and 14 supplied by the Coachella Valley Water District. CVWD previously had reported the number in its area as 13, but in the past week corrected that figure.

Dan Farris, CVWD's director of operations, said the eventual goal is to supply all except 22 of the valley's courses with recycled water, Colorado River water, or a blend of the two.

For now, though, most of the sewage treated in the valley is recycled and used for irrigation. In the summer months, when the valley's population dips, there isn't enough treated sewage for the golf courses and parks, some of which turn to groundwater to help meet their needs.

In order to remedy that situation, CVWD built the Mid-Valley Pipeline in 2009, bringing Colorado River water from a canal in Indio to a sewage treatment plant in Palm Desert. The water district plans to build new pipes to carry a blend of canal water and recycled sewage to additional golf courses.

"We're in the middle of implementing a long-term plan of converting golf courses," Ferris said. "We are going to get there."

Some residents, though, complain that the pace of change has been too slow given the declines in groundwater levels.

"They've been talking about this for 20 years, and I haven't seen much happen," said Morgan, of the Sierra Club. "It doesn't seem to be progressing rapidly."

He added that golf courses are paying much less for water than residential customers. "I think a more sensible pricing system whereas everyone pays the same would be something that would certainly change things."

Officials at the water agencies say that when it comes to setting rates, the law requires that domestic rates be based on the cost of providing water service, which includes pumping the water as well as maintaining public water infrastructure. Entities such as golf courses that operate private wells, in contrast, aren't charged for such costs in the assessments they pay, which are set to cover agencies' costs associated with using imported water to recharge the aquifer.

Water rates aside, it seems odd for such a dry desert to have such a plethora of golf courses, said Joan Taylor, the Sierra Club's local conservation chairwoman.

For the most part, the golf courses are using limited supplies of clean groundwater that could be put to better uses, Taylor said.

"I don't think they've struck that balance," she said. "We still have these huge swaths of green and they're using inordinate amounts of water."

Larry Bohannan contributed to this report

Non-Potable water has been used for years