2012 Has Been Warmest Year in the U.S. to Date, Third Hottest Summer

As of Aug. 28, 63% of Contiguous United States was Experiencing Droug

This was the scene at the Los Angeles County Arboretum a decade ago. Scientists are equating this year’s drought to that of the 1930’s Dust Bowl. -Photo by Terry Miller

Global warming may have been the contributing factor in several large widfires which burned across the Western and Cental US charring more than 3.6 million acres. This is the most ever on record for August according to the National Climatic Data Center.
The first eight months of 2012 have been the warmest of any year on record in the contiguous United States, and this has been the third-hottest summer since record-keeping began in 1895, the U.S. National Climate Data Center said Monday.
Each of the last 15 months has seen above-average temperatures, something that has never happened before in the 117 years of the U.S. record, according to the report.
You don’t need to tell anyone in Pasadena or the San Gabriel Valley just how hot it has been this summer – one word says it all – miserable.
But it wasn’t just California. Wyoming and Colorado had their warmest summer on record while Wyoming and Nevada had their driest August ever recorded.
The list goes on. Florida, New England and New York all experience higher than nornaml temps while Florida actually had its wettest summer thanks to Hurricane Isaac.
Last week the inaugural San Gabriel Valley Water Forum convened at the Pomona Fairplex on August 28, and brought together over 300 city officials, business leaders, water managers, educators, students and citizens that began a conversation about water in the San Gabriel Valley.
The purpose of the Water Forum, hosted by five partner agencies that include the San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District, Three Valleys Municipal Water District, Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District, Main San Gabriel Basin Watermaster and the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority, was to bring together many stakeholders in the San Gabriel Valley and start a dialogue about the issues and challenges facing all regarding the long term sustainability of the quality and reliability of the Valley’s water supply; how they are being addressed and the impact on future water rates.
The Forum began with a comprehensive historical overview of how the Valley was settled, its founding land owners, the rivers, floods, population growth and economy, that drove the incorporation of cities, development of water and flood control infrastructure., In addition, the development of policies, laws, regulations and judicial judgments that created the framework that governs the production, distribution, consumption and the usage of water in the Valley was shared with the audience.
A series of speakers and expert panels led the discussion on various water supply options, including reuse, conservation, stormwater capture and management of the groundwater. A focus of the Forum was a discussion around the many factors contributing toward rising water rates including: meeting increasingly stringent drinking water quality standards, the uncertainty of the impact of climate change; rising energy costs, aging infrastructure in need of replacement; and recurring drought conditions that add to the scarcity of water supply. Several panelists discussed the challenge of addressing the declining ecosystem in the Bay Delta where regulatory pumping restrictions limit the ability to replenish the local groundwater basin through the State Water Project.
While an average single family household’s bill has increased over 7% per year since 2003, water bills in the San Gabriel Valley are generally some of the lowest in Southern California due to the relatively inexpensive groundwater supplies and modest dependence on the imported water system. The San Gabriel Valley, with its varied and balanced portfolio of reliable and affordable water supplies, is well placed to address future challenges by investing wisely in water conservation, recycling and additional stormwater capture, and most importantly, by carefully managing its precious groundwater resource.
The local area has had Flex Alerts issued and local power companies have been pushing hard to keep up with demand for air-conditioning and water use was considerably reduced thanks to eduational outreach programs by area cities.
According to a PWP Facebook post on Aug 29, “We’ve has a case of two extremes: Pasadena has had about 13 inches of rain this year; that’s 2 inches below our average. Meanwhile in New Orleans, Hurricane Isaac has dumped 17 inches in the past 24 hours.”
Combating the problem of climate change, cities across the US are offering all kinds of incentives to homeowners to keep energy costs down and help the environment at the same time.
PWP encourages its residential electric customers to purchase the most efficient equipment possible when cooling your home. We offer rebates on central air conditioners (minimum 14.0 SEER), ENERGY STAR® room air conditioners, ENERGY STAR® dual-glazed windows and doors, ENERGY STAR® skylights and light tubes, window sun shade screens and solar or roof attic fans.
PWP offers residential electric customers a rebate for planting any one of 37 species of shade trees. Choose from Crape Myrtle, Western Redbud, Engelmann Oak, Montebello Ash, Western Sycamore, Jacaranda, Camphor, Coast Live Oak and more. Planting deciduous (shade) trees around your property can reduce the amount of energy you will use for cooling in the summer, while letting in the sun’s warming rays during winter. Estimates are that well-placed trees around a home can reduce air conditioning or cooling costs by as much as 20 percent. In addition to their energy saving benefits, trees provide privacy, prevent soil erosion and beautify your environment. Trees must be in a 5-gallon size container when purchased. Trees will be rebated up to $50 per tree if purchased in Pasadena and up to $40 per tree if purchased outside Pasadena (amounts are greater for “Greening Pasadena Rewards Program” participants). Rebates will not exceed purchase price of the tree.
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