Water News - Page 21 of 76 in California's San Joaquin Valley

New administrator assigned to help with Teviston’s water woes

August 23, 2023

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

The state has assigned an engineering company to take control of, and improve, the water system in the small Tulare County town of Teviston. Teviston, a rural community of about 460 people, has been hard hit by water problems for years. The town well broke down in the drought of 2021, leaving families without water…

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…

Uncategorized

Group of valley water users files appeal against proposed new dam

August 15, 2023

• by Lois Henry

A group of water users on the east side of the San Joaquin Valley is continuing its unlikely quest to stop a proposed new dam on the west side of the valley. Back in Oct. 2022, a Stanislaus County Superior Court judge dismissed a host of environmental challenges against the project as well as concerns…

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…

Federal System

Courts keep ruling against action tied to Westlands’ federal contract but it doesn’t mean much. Why not?

August 9, 2023

• by Lois Henry

The Center for Biological Diversity trumpeted a court ruling Monday that denied an appeal by Westlands Water District of a previous ruling that kiboshed the district’s “validation” action to have its contract for federal water converted from a term contract to a permanent one. “Once again the courts have ruled that these schemes to lock…

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…

Drought

New state program aims to help residents before wells go dry in California’s next, inevitable, drought

August 7, 2023

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

After two multi-year episodes of intense drought over the past decade, there is finally a centralized hub of resources and information for well owners and communities that suffered when their wells went dry. Before the most recent drought lifted thanks to this year’s historic winter, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) launched its Be Well…

Rivers • Uncategorized

Two Kern River power plants up for new licenses – and greater scrutiny

August 3, 2023

• by Lois Henry

Boaters and anglers who’ve long complained about the impacts of two power plants on Kern River flows, want federal regulators to give more water back to the river as part of separate relicensing procedures now underway. “Our main issue is continual flows,” said Jim Ahrens, president of the Kern Fly Fishers club. “To have a…

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…

NEWS

New administrator assigned to help with Teviston’s water woes

State is working to contain bird disease in flooded Tulare Lake

Group of valley water users files appeal against proposed new dam

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

Courts keep ruling against action tied to Westlands’ federal contract but it doesn’t mean much. Why not?

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

New state program aims to help residents before wells go dry in California’s next, inevitable, drought

Two Kern River power plants up for new licenses – and greater scrutiny

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

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