Rivers Archives - Page 11 of 12

High tech and low show state’s snowpack is still stingy

April 23, 2020

• by Lois Henry

The snowpack above the Central Valley looked slightly better after March and April brought the winter weather that was AWOL during the first two months of 2020. But the late storms weren’t enough to get valley rivers much above the 60%-of-average mark, if that. San Joaquin River The storms did provide enough snow for the…

Groundwater • Rivers

Legal fight reopened over Kern River

April 15, 2020

• by Lois Henry

The Kern River can’t seem to stay out of California’s courtrooms — even in a pandemic. The latest legal scuffle, which erupted last week, is a continuation of a nearly decade long battle by a Kern County ag water district to hold on to a portion of its main water supply. On Friday, April 9,…

Rivers

Green sturgeon makes surprise appearance

April 15, 2020

• by Lois Henry

A rare, wild green sturgeon was found on the San Joaquin River upriver from the confluence of the Merced this past weekend by U.S. Bureau of Reclamation crews checking salmon traps at Hills Ferry. The discovery caused some excitement as this endangered fish had not been seen that far up the San Joaquin in many…

Federal System • Rivers • State System

New state water regs cause angst on all sides

April 9, 2020

• by Lois Henry

A new set of water regulations aimed at protecting California’s native fish came down from the state earlier this week to near universal condemnation from both agricultural and environmental water folks. The regulations are contained in a 143-page “incidental take permit” issued by the Department of Fish and Wildlife that lays out when — and…

Federal System • Rivers • State System

March storms leave so-so snowpack in the north and a cliffhanger on the San Joaquin River

April 1, 2020

• by Lois Henry

March wasn’t exactly miraculous this year but it did OK by California’s snowpack, bringing it from a dismal 40-ish% of average up to above 60% of average in the northern Sierras. The bump wasn’t so great in the southern Sierras where snowpack is still at 40% to 46% of average for the Kaweah, Kern and…

Rivers • Uncategorized

Kings River fish fry (release)

March 3, 2020

• by Lois Henry

A gazillion baby rainbow trout were ready to stretch their fins and the Kings River Fisheries Management Program was there to help. On a warm February afternoon a handful of volunteers gathered at the nondescript trout incubator in the shadow of the Pine Flat Dam ready to set tens of thousands of fry free into…

Federal System • Personalities • Rivers

Modesto farmer Bill Lyons resigns as Governor’s ag liaison

February 25, 2020

• by Lois Henry

Bill Lyons resigned his post as agricultural liaison to Gov. Gavin Newsom effective immediately, according to an email from the Governor’s office Monday afternoon. Lyons, a long time Modesto farmer, was touted as being the “voice of the valley” in the Newsom administration when he was appointed to the unique post almost exactly one year…

Rivers • Uncategorized

San Joaquin River Chinook salmon made history last year – sort of

February 13, 2020

• by Lois Henry

An unexpected number of Chinook salmon swam up the San Joaquin River last spring, prompting surprise and giddy pronouncements that the river’s long dead spring-run population had been resurrected. The 500 or so fish were living proof that the 11-year-long river restoration program was a success. A “smashing” success, some advocates said. Others felt the…

Rivers

Trout fry fest on the Kings River – volunteers needed

February 10, 2020

• by Lois Henry

The Kings River Fisheries Management Program is looking for volunteers to help with its annual trout fry release February 26. About 8 to 10 people are needed to carry 20-pound buckets full of trout fry to the Kings River between the Army Corps of Engineers bridge to Avocado Lake Park, about 20-30 miles east of…

Groundwater • Rivers

Kern groundwater tally not adding up

February 6, 2020

• by Lois Henry

San Joaquin Valley farms and towns have pumped the basin’s groundwater so furiously and for so long that parts of the valley are sinking, endangering roads and bridges and even breaking one of the main canals that brings in water to support local agriculture. Yet, here in Kern County, state-mandated water budgets presented by several…

NEWS

High tech and low show state’s snowpack is still stingy

Legal fight reopened over Kern River

Green sturgeon makes surprise appearance

New state water regs cause angst on all sides

March storms leave so-so snowpack in the north and a cliffhanger on the San Joaquin River

Kings River fish fry (release)

Modesto farmer Bill Lyons resigns as Governor’s ag liaison

San Joaquin River Chinook salmon made history last year – sort of

Trout fry fest on the Kings River – volunteers needed

Kern groundwater tally not adding up

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