Although the Metropolitan Water District recently declared a “Regional Drought Emergency for all of Southern California,” Hill residents and visitors do not have to worry.

While still in Stage 2 or 3 (conserve water usage), all three local water district — Fern Valley, Idyllwild (IWD) and Pine Cove — managers are comfortable with local resources and are not preparing any local drought emergency announcements.

“Our status is very good,” said Fern Valley General Manager Victor Jimenez, whose district is in Stage 3.

Idyllwild General Manager Leo Havener said, “Currently we are in very good shape.” And Jeremy Potter, Pine Cove General Manager, agreed and added, “I’m comfortable going forward.”

As Southern California enters a record fourth drought year, Hill residents have responded assiduously to the situation. In the first 11 months of 2022, both Fern Valley and Pine Cove have seen water usage decline compared to the same period in 2021.

Fern Valley customers have used 13.2% less water this year than a year ago. “With the drought, usage is way down,” Jimenez said. “I think Airbnb usage is down and we have so many.” He also noted that Fern Valley’s usage in the latest billing period, September and October, had fallen more than 20%.

In Pine Cove, usage was nearly 1 million gallons (2.5%) less than the first 11 months of 2021. The district’s staff is monitoring wells and Potter described the usage as the same pattern as past year.” Even in Pine Cove, usage was less during the peak vacation months of June, July and August.

While the 11-month usage in IWD is up about 3.2 million gallons or 3.8%, this is largely attributable to a big increase between February and April. During this period, the usage was 4.8 million gallons greater than those months in 2021. During the three summer months, IWD usage declined 800,000 gallons and then fell 900,000 gallons in September.

Going forward, Potter said, “We won’t reverse out of Stage 2, until we feel comfortable that we won’t be right back there.” Both Jimenez and Havener confirmed they are carefully monitoring wells and usage.

“We’re looking good, well levels good. Maybe this year we’ll be able to lower the stages,” Jimenez opined.

And Havener mentioned that IWD was revising its water policy. “This will help us be on top of the situation,” he said.

Further into the future, Mark Norton, water resources and planning manager for the Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority (SAWPA), said the weather modification project for cloud seeding is moving forward.

“The 4-year pilot cloud seeding project is now scheduled to begin in November 2023 … and strong support for it remains among SAWPA member agencies and multiple local agencies in the watershed who have all agreed to help fund the pilot,” Norton wrote in an email to the Town Crier. “Grant funding for the project is also being sought to cover half the costs … with another dry winter upon us, the weather modification project can certainly help.”