You may wonder what Murcia, Spain has in common with California and especially where water is concerned. The answer: plenty.
Murcia is one of the 19 states of Spain and while much smaller in population, has many similarities to California in being a significant coastal, agricultural, historical and recreational region. Like California Murcia has had extensive droughts, challenges in getting water from where it is most abundant to where it is most needed, threats of ocean water intrusion into coastal fresh water aquifers and the need to find new water resources including desalting seawater and groundwater and recycling waste water.
Murcia views California as the finest example of what can be accomplished in meeting these many water challenges and thus they chose to honor the "California's Water" series.
In awarding recognition to ACWA, they cited the scope of the subjects covered in the series and the broad distribution of the programs through PBS stations to virtually every home in California. At the awards gala in Spain on Nov. 22, they featured clips from several of the series' segments.
Other awards were presented to research scientists, environmental groups, farming organizations and local Spanish journalists.
Photo of Mucia -- The Segura River runs through the old section of
Mucia
and was historically the only source of water for irrigation. The
bridge was originally built
in the 18th century.
Pictured with ACWA's Jennifer Persike, director of strategic
coordination and public
affairs, is University of California, Berkeley
Professor John, Dracup, Phd, who was
also honored with a "Agua Para
Todos" award for his research and analysis
of trends related to drought
and water transfers.