bureau of reclamation Archives

Accusations of “extortion” and “bullying” fly in dispute over who should pay for sinking the Friant-Kern Canal

October 11, 2024

• by Lisa McEwen, SJV Water

A last-resort attempt to shore up funding for ongoing Friant-Kern Canal repairs has run into a buzzsaw of opposition from several irrigation districts that were stuck with the bill – up to $295 million. A letter disputing the fees accuses the Friant Water Authority, which operates the canal, of, among other things, extortion. “What would…

Uncategorized

Water contractors disappointed, frustrated by small increases in allocations

April 26, 2024

• by SJV Water

Increased water allocations from systems that move water from northern to southern California were met with disappointment and frustration from contractors. Both the Department of Water Resources and Bureau of Reclamation increased allocations this week to 40% of contracted amounts, going up 10% and 5%, respectively. With nearly all the state’s reservoirs filled to above…

Drought • Rivers

VIDEO: How California’s worst drought brought part of a Central Valley river back to life – briefly

August 17, 2022

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

The San Joaquin River was dried up decades ago when the federal Bureau of Reclamation built Friant Dam north of Fresno to bring water to farms and towns along the east side of the San Joaquin Valley via the Friant-Kern Canal. A federally mandated salmon restoration program reconnected the river for a short time, but…

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…

NEWS

Accusations of “extortion” and “bullying” fly in dispute over who should pay for sinking the Friant-Kern Canal

Water contractors disappointed, frustrated by small increases in allocations

VIDEO: How California’s worst drought brought part of a Central Valley river back to life – briefly

New state water regs cause angst on all sides

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