Floods Archives - Page 2 of 9

Floods

State is working to contain bird disease in flooded Tulare Lake

August 21, 2023

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

Avian botulism, a lethal disease for birds, has been found spreading throughout Tulare Lake. The disease is caused by bacteria that thrive in shallow, warm waters with decaying organic matter. The bacteria that causes the disease is found naturally in wetland soil. But it doesn’t produce the toxin that causes the disease unless environmental conditions…

Drinking Water • Floods

Who’s in charge? Unanswered questions spark frustration as weeks of water disruption have dragged into months for residents of Springville

August 15, 2023

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

Since the devastating floods of March 10, a community of about 1,000 people has been paying, on average, $150 a month for undrinkable water that is only available intermittently. So far, no government agencies have stepped up to take control of the situation, or give clear answers to residents. Aside from wanting water, residents want…

Floods

High water in the Kern River brings new legal issues as local group seeks to keep water in the riverbed

August 10, 2023

• by Lois Henry

A local group that’s suing the City of Bakersfield for how it manages the Kern River, is seeking a court order that would force the city to keep water in the normally dry riverbed as this year’s massive runoff begins to recede. “The relief sought is narrowly focused,” states the motion for a preliminary injunction…

Floods

VIDEO: Months after historic flooding swamped some rural Central Valley towns, residents are still struggling to rebuild their lives

August 9, 2023

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

California’s Central Valley was slammed by one epic storm after another this winter. The water flooded roads, overtopped rivers, broke levees and swamped entire towns. Without flood insurance and few other resources, residents of these mostly small, rural enclaves have had to rely on family, friends and neighors to rebuild. Months later, many are still…

Floods

Responders finally able to recover body of kayaker pinned in the Kern River for 43 days

July 27, 2023

• by Lois Henry

William Hoxie is finally going home. The accomplished 26-year-old kayaker died June 14 while navigating the historic high flows on the upper Kern River. He was kayaking with several others but got separated on one side of the river. When he tried to cross back, his craft was impaled by a submerged log and he…

Floods • Rivers

Not all Kern River water is being counted the same by water districts

July 26, 2023

• by Lois Henry

Farmers in an agricultural water district northwest of Bakersfield may have South Fork Kern River water stored in a local water bank. Or they may not. It depends on who’s counting the water. The Rosedale-Rio Bravo Water Storage district says that since July 5, up to 37 cubic feet per second of South Fork Kern…

dams • Floods

The story of the Kern River this year was one of historic numbers, luck and long term plans paying off

July 26, 2023

• by Lois Henry

Despite a few white knuckle moments, the Kern River’s historic flows were successfully managed through a combination of incredible timing, long term planning and pure luck, according to Kern River Watermaster Mark Mulkay. During a detailed discussion of Kern River and Isabella Dam operations Tuesday before a packed room, Mulkay led the audience through the…

Floods

Irrigators want to slow the flow of Kern River to bring Lake Isabella to its brim

July 12, 2023

• by Lois Henry

The question of whether Lake Isabella might “spill” has now turned to whether it will fill. The lake is achingly close to being full. It stood at 528,663 acre feet as of Wednesday afternoon – just 39,337 acre feet shy of its full capacity. But it needs to hit that max fill mark for the…

Floods

State sending $20 million to aid Planada flood victims. Residents say ‘Ojalá’

July 12, 2023

• by Central Valley Journalism Collaborative

Editor’s note: This story was reported and edited by the Central Valley Journalism Collaborative, cvlocaljournalism.org, a nonprofit newsroom based in Merced, CA. By Brianna Vaccari and Michelle Morgante Central Valley Journalism Collaborative Planada, Calif. (CVJC) – “Ojalá.” The word, rooted in Arabic, is said by Spanish-speakers to mean “hopefully” or “God willing.” It is said…

Floods

Vast stretches of water that have refilled sections of the old Tulare Lake are actually changing nearby weather

June 30, 2023

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

The partially refilled Tulare Lake is so large, with so much water spread over so much land, that it’s changing nearby weather. The lake stretches across the horizon as far as the eye can see in many places and is now about the size of Lake Tahoe. The vast amount of water has started to…

NEWS

State is working to contain bird disease in flooded Tulare Lake

Who’s in charge? Unanswered questions spark frustration as weeks of water disruption have dragged into months for residents of Springville

High water in the Kern River brings new legal issues as local group seeks to keep water in the riverbed

VIDEO: Months after historic flooding swamped some rural Central Valley towns, residents are still struggling to rebuild their lives

Responders finally able to recover body of kayaker pinned in the Kern River for 43 days

Not all Kern River water is being counted the same by water districts

The story of the Kern River this year was one of historic numbers, luck and long term plans paying off

Irrigators want to slow the flow of Kern River to bring Lake Isabella to its brim

State sending $20 million to aid Planada flood victims. Residents say ‘Ojalá’

Vast stretches of water that have refilled sections of the old Tulare Lake are actually changing nearby weather

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