Drought and fish and not high temperatures and wildfires were the talk of the town this week. “Water is important to everything we care about in California--to our economy, our agriculture, our jobs, our families, our environment and our future,” said Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger July 23. He urged passage of a November ballot measure by him and U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) that seeks $9.3 billion for more reservoirs, conservation and efficiency programs, and Bay-Delta ecosystem protection. The Bay Delta, where the state’s two major rivers meet--the Sacramento and San Joaquin--is an important fish habitat and also the heart of the state’s major water conveyance system. Protecting the seriously endangered Delta Smelt from extinction, particularly during this dry year, has led to cut backs in water deliveries from the state’s massive water system. There are a number of power plants in the Delta, which use the rivers’ flow for water intensive once-through or less consumptive evaporative cooling on spinning turbines. Restrictions in the amount of water consumed by the generating units, and the timing of use, affects capacity not energy output. Delta power plant water use is generally not a key state issue but has local impacts. Controversy over power plant impacts flares up as the squeeze on water agencies and water exporters tightens. In contrast, it was calm on the peak demand front this week. At the California Independent System operator things were fairly quiet. Peak demand for the week was 39,498 MW, which occurred on July 24. Today, CAISO projects peak demand will climb to 40,944 MW. Los Angeles Department of Water & Power’s peak load from July 17-23 was 5,182 MW. The highest demand occurred July 17. “Loads for the upcoming week are expected to be slightly higher but generally normal,” according to LADWP’s Kenneth Silver. Sacramento Municipal Utility District reached 96 degrees July 23, but the peak was a manageable 2,412 MW at 6 p.m. Temperatures were higher earlier in the week--up to 98 degrees July 18. Demand last Friday, however, was below Wednesday’s peak because the load in the area drops on the last workday of the week. “Everything is very calm here, power’s flowing,” said Chris Capra, SMUD spokesperson. Temperatures in the Sacramento area are expected to drop next week into the low 90s. The more than 2,000 wildfires caused by lighting strikes last month have been nearly all contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The number of counties under evacuation orders has been slashed from 12 to three. Shasta, Trinity, and Humboldt counties remain under evacuation orders, according to CalFire on July 24. However, it expects warmer weather to return Friday, July 25.