National Drought Mitigation Center
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National Drought Mitigation Center
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Envious eyes again turning toward Lake Mission Viejo in Southern California
10/30/2014 5:55:38 PM



CATEGORIES:
Society & Public Health
Water Supply & Quality
AFFECTED AREAS:
Orange County, CA

Start Date: 10/30/2014 -  
Envious eyes are again turning toward Lake Mission Viejo as water becomes scarcer in California. The lake holds 1.2 billion gallons of potable water that is reserved for the elite living around the recreational lake, while some California communities’ wells and other water supplies have dried up. Santa Margarita Water District officials are trying to help the Lake Mission Viejo Assn. find ways to reduce water use because the 124-surface acre lake loses roughly 88 million gallons to evaporation annually and is refilled with potable water. The water district was in Stage 2 water restrictions, and the next stage would require the lake association to get a permit to replace water lost to evaporation. There was scandal about filling the lake in 1977 during a historic drought, which led to an order from the California Water Board to stop filling the lake. When the drought eased one year later, the lake was filled with water from the Colorado River. Los Angeles Times, Oct. 30, 2014
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