Uncategorized Archives - Page 16 of 31

Losing McCarthy and Feinstein is a double-barreled blow for California’s water clout

December 12, 2023

• by Lois Henry

Kevin McCarthy’s chaotic exit from Congress on top of the death of Senator Dianne Feinstein has left California’s water world – and particularly the San Joaquin Valley – in somewhat of a representational void at the federal level. Both politicians brought a lot of firepower in their respective leadership positions as well as wealth of…

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Largest Kern groundwater agency fades to the background as water districts continue to grapple with overpumping

December 11, 2023

• by Lois Henry

What had been the single largest groundwater agency in Kern County – the Kern Groundwater Authority – will be morphing into something new after the first of the year but no one is exactly sure what that new entity will be, nor what its duties will include. “It’s not disbanding but I’m unsure exactly how…

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State releases final environmental review of controversial delta tunnel bringing it closer to a construction date

December 8, 2023

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

Final environmental documents for the contentious $16 billion Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta tunnel project were released by the Department of Water Resources Friday, clearing a significant hurdle in the years-long process leading up to construction. The Delta Conveyance Project would construct an underground tunnel to move water from the Sacramento River down to the start of…

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Should the state take over groundwater management in Kings County? The clock is ticking to have a say

December 7, 2023

• by Lisa McEwen, SJV Water

Members of the public have just a few more days to let the state know whether they think groundwater management in Kings County should be taken over by the State Water Resources Control Board. A draft report by Water Board staff is recommending the Tulare Lake subbasin, which covers Kings County, be put on probation…

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Isabella Dam power plant repairs could cut Kern River flows causing a “massive fish kill”

December 4, 2023

• by Lois Henry

Anticipated repairs to the power plant at the base of Isabella Dam could cause a “massive fish kill” along the length of the Kern River as flows would have to be cut to almost nothing for weeks. Isabella Partners, which operates that power plant, submitted a request to the Army Corps of Engineers to cut…

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Fluctuating Kaweah River flows yield giant catches over Thanksgiving weekend

December 4, 2023

• by Lisa McEwen, SJV Water

The Kaweah River was reduced to a trickle out of Terminus Dam in late November, stranding catfish, carp and crawdads in shallow pools and giving young anglers a rare look at the critters that travel through the channel. Residents who live along the riverbank in eastern Tulare County could see — and smell — the…

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Initial water allocation from state a bit tight but water users hoping for more

December 1, 2023

• by Lois Henry

The start of the 2023-24 water year has been disappointingly dry so far, prompting a low initial water allocation from the Department of Water Resources of just 10% of contracted amounts. DWR operates the State Water Project, which brings water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to 29 public agencies serving 27 million residents. The Dec….

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Tulare County land trust embarks on projects to protect groundwater and farming

November 30, 2023

• by Lisa McEwen, SJV Water

A unique land trust in southwestern Tulare County that aims to preserve farming by strategically fallowing land for habitat is moving forward on several projects. The Tule Basin Land & Water Conservation Trust was formed in 2020 by area farmers and water managers intent on finding solutions to the region’s groundwater woes that didn’t include…

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Merced agencies sought state approval to clear stream beds for more than five years before last winter’s floods. Now they’re suing.

November 28, 2023

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

A string of emails appears to show that one state agency stood in the way of stream channel maintenance for more than five years, which may have led to flooding that caused severe damage in Merced County, according to a recent lawsuit. The emails begin in 2018 and go back and forth for years between…

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MEETING NOTES: North Kern Water Storage District board members hope a new groundwater plan will be reviewed by state regulators

November 22, 2023

• by Sonia Lemus, freelance for SJV Water

* “Meeting Notes” is a new feature focused on Kern County water districts, paid for by a grant from the James B. McClatchy Foundation. Please consider supporting SJV Water so we can continue this important coverage. Meeting: North Kern Water Storage District board of directors. Date: Nov. 8, 2023 Agenda and board packet: CLICK HERE…

NEWS

Losing McCarthy and Feinstein is a double-barreled blow for California’s water clout

Largest Kern groundwater agency fades to the background as water districts continue to grapple with overpumping

State releases final environmental review of controversial delta tunnel bringing it closer to a construction date

Should the state take over groundwater management in Kings County? The clock is ticking to have a say

Isabella Dam power plant repairs could cut Kern River flows causing a “massive fish kill”

Fluctuating Kaweah River flows yield giant catches over Thanksgiving weekend

Initial water allocation from state a bit tight but water users hoping for more

Tulare County land trust embarks on projects to protect groundwater and farming

Merced agencies sought state approval to clear stream beds for more than five years before last winter’s floods. Now they’re suing.

MEETING NOTES: North Kern Water Storage District board members hope a new groundwater plan will be reviewed by state regulators

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