Speed blogging

• The UC Merced water battle is over. Students with access to their water use, via smart meters, reduced their consumption by an average of 14%.
  
  
• Thai flood hacks (like photo on right)
  
  
• A great article/interview with Chris Corbin on water rights, water markets and environmental flows in the western US.
  
  
• Higher energy prices (let alone politics!) is making Southern California's imported water more expensive. Time to improve local supply management -- like I said over two years ago!
  
  
• OTPR asks if "water surplus" regions have the right to claim their water for future growth (vs. being told to let it go to current demands elsewhere). I'd separate these questions into the property right to water and where it's allocated. I'd auction the water to local and distant interests, with the revenue staying at the area of origin. I'd say the same for California farmers claiming that they have achieved 98.7% water use, i.e., put that water up for sale, and let's see if it's ECONOMICALLY efficient for them to keep using it.

H/Ts to DL and RM