"How One California Tribe Is Coping With Drought"

"The La Jolla of Luiseño Indians have seen their wells shrink dramatically because of California’s ongoing drought. Robin Cabrera explains how a federal grant – and help from other tribes – could lead to a solution."

"California’s Native American tribes have not been immune to the drought. In some cases, the effects have been worse because some tribes have limited resources to manage their water shortage problems.

Case in point: The La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians in northern San Diego County was recently awarded $605,000 from the Indian Community Development Block Grant program to develop a new well and water distribution system to serve part of its reservation. It’s among $56 million in grants awarded to 77 tribes by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for various projects.

The La Jolla Reservation is not on the moist coast near the city of La Jolla. Instead, it’s well inland, at the base of Palomar Mountain, a 6,142ft (1,872m) peak that is also home to the famous Palomar Observatory and Palomar Mountain State Park."

Matt Weiser reports for Water Deeply October 17, 2016.