Water News - Page 68 of 76 in California's San Joaquin Valley

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…

Federal System • Groundwater

District sues to stop salty water exchange

March 25, 2020

• by Lois Henry

The James Irrigation District in western Fresno County has sued the Westlands Water District over its plan to let farmers pump salty groundwater into the Mendota Pool in exchange for water from the San Luis Reservoir. The lawsuit could scuttle Westlands’ plans to create a certain supply for its farmers as they, and farmers throughout…

Uncategorized

Drinking water reminder

March 24, 2020

• by Lois Henry

This is a good reminder sent by the California State Water Resources Control Board about drinking water safety.. California standards require disinfection to such a degree that it is virtually impossible for COVID-19 to live in and be passed through drinking water that adheres to those standards. DRINKING WATER FACT SHEET …

Drinking Water • Groundwater

Central Valley groundwater markets emerging under SGMA

March 19, 2020

• by Lois Henry

Central Valley farmers may soon have another crop to sell along with almonds, tomatoes and peppers — the groundwater beneath their land. Proposed groundwater markets have popped up in just about every groundwater sustainability plan (GSP) filed with the state Jan. 31. One such market is about to launch its first phase within the next…

Groundwater

State doles out grants to groundwater agencies – except Madera

March 14, 2020

• by Lois Henry

The consequences of not complying with the state’s new groundwater law came home to roost in Madera County, which got a big-fat zero in grant funding from the state for lack of a coordination agreement, the state announced Friday. Madera County had requested $500,000 to help with well installation for groundwater monitoring on behalf of…

Personalities

It’s Lois Henry’s world…

March 11, 2020

• by Lois Henry

Sometimes the world gifts us wonderfully kooky fun that must be celebrated. Such as, there is ANOTHER Lois Henry. And she’s into water. In 2013 I wrote a column about her for The Bakersfield Californian discussing our eerie similarities. (Except she’s good a math, which is where we part ways.) Then she came to Bakersfield and we had…

Drought • Federal System • State System

The atmospheric river is flowing

March 11, 2020

• by Lois Henry

The storm finally arrived in Bakersfield early Tuesday evening. The storm was expected to bring significant rainfall to areas in the San Joaquin Valley after a dry January and even drier February, according to the National Weather Service’s Hanford office: A system will approach the coast of California through Wednesday. Significant rainfall is likely in…

Drought • Groundwater

Collaboration is the new game in California water

March 5, 2020

• by Lois Henry

If agriculture in the valley is going to survive, water leaders need to get cozy with new ideas and new allies. And, yes, that means environmentalists. “Historically, water supplies have been developed in a vacuum,” said Eric Averett, General Manager of Rosedale-Rio Bravo Water Storage District, at the Water Association of Kern County’s annual day…

Drought • Groundwater • Uncategorized • Water Markets

Price of water going up as the snowpack shrinks

March 4, 2020

• by Lois Henry

Another block of water has been offered for sale in Kern County at $950 per acre foot. With a dry January and extremely dry February, California’s water outlook has worsened. And that has bumped the price of water for those who have it to sell. Buena Vista Water Storage District on the western edge of…

Personalities

Tom McCarthy named new head of Kern County Water Agency

March 4, 2020

• by Lois Henry

Tom McCarthy, head of the Mojave Water Agency, was named as the new General Manager for the Kern County Water Agency at its board of directors meeting Thursday. Agency directors approved a five-year contract for McCarthy including total compensation “not to exceed $415,000 annually,” plus $60,000 in relocation fees. “This was a very difficult decision…

NEWS

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

District sues to stop salty water exchange

Drinking water reminder

Central Valley groundwater markets emerging under SGMA

State doles out grants to groundwater agencies – except Madera

It’s Lois Henry’s world…

The atmospheric river is flowing

Collaboration is the new game in California water

Price of water going up as the snowpack shrinks

Tom McCarthy named new head of Kern County Water Agency

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