BCR's Daily Fishwrap Report for August 3, 2009

Here's some of the greatest hits from the weekend papers and Monday's edition:

• Oh, again? Our region is again "abnormally dry," with fairly low rain this summer meaning the reservoirs are slowly but surely dropping. (Which, in fairness, they tend to do in summertime.) Last week Durham's water supply stood at about 240 days or 92% of maximum. Interestingly, even higher water rates haven't completely stalled water use; July's average daily water use in Durham was 29.95 million gallons/day (mgd), down from 2007's 33.8 mgd but an uptick from last year's 26.6 mgd. (N&O)
• The downtown skateboard park set for the southeast corner of Durham Central Park is on track for a September 26 grand opening if the weather holds -- on budget and right on time. With "urban fixtures" like steps along with a concrete bowl, it should become a mecca for skateboarders -- including those currently plying their wheels at the CCB Plaza, Convention Center and elsewhere. (H-S)
• The City will lose almost $700k in beer/wine taxes under the General Assembly's budget deal -- but that's a lot kinder cut than the almost $2.8m hole the city budget could have seen if business privilege-license revenues reverted instead. (H-S)
• A slowdown in the General Assembly on the transit sales tax option, led by a Charlotte state senator concerned about rural taxing options included within it, could jeopardize the bill's chances of making it through the legislature in time for a mused 2010 ballot referendum. (H-S)
• A parent-supported playground (where moms and dads chipped in for and installed 11 years ago) at Mangum Elementary has been torn out by DPS, which cited the need for more bus parking and the poor state of the equipment after a decade's use. (H-S)
• The NAACP last week honored Floyd McKissick, Sr., the longtime civil rights attorney and champion, who died in the early 1990s. The Asheville-born McKissick was one of the first black students at UNC Chapel Hill's law school; he went on to run the Congress on Racial Equality in the 1960s. (H-S)
• Durham's reputation as one of the small-city gourmet capitals of America shines through in recent DCVB data that show 36% of Durham-area overnight visitors dine out -- a figure that's three times the state average, and more than twice the Triangle/Piedmont average. Duke, festivals, the hospitals and DPAC are all cited as drivers of traffic. (H-S)
• Durham will join communities throughout America in celebrating the National Night Out anti-crime effort on Tuesday from 7-10pm. (H-S)

Comments

[Matt Drew]

I think the only reason we haven't seen 33mgd is because there's been just enough rain that there's been little need to water the grass. In my neighborhood, it's still pretty rare to see a sprinkler operating. I'd like to see our usage after four weeks of no rain; I bet it would be right back up at 33mgd or higher. Gotta save that grass.

Tiered water rates will have little impact on water use. Water remains a very low fixed cost. The only way we'll get a serious reduction in water use is to start charging based on availability. Cheap when water is plentiful, and expensive when water is scarce, which will drive permanent conservation efforts.