california water Archives - Page 7 of 22

Kern River advocates accuse utility of “lawless” water diversions on behalf of a long closed fish hatchery

July 20, 2022

• by Lois Henry

As water in the North Fork of the Kern River dwindles, controversy over its diminished flows is ramping up. At least some river watchers are accusing Southern California Edison of misusing a portion of the flows by continuing to divert water, ostensibly, for a state-owned fish hatchery that has been closed since 2020. The state…

Drinking Water • Drought

Even emergency water suppliers are close to tapped out as more valley towns go dry

July 19, 2022

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

Groundwater levels are dropping and domestic wells throughout the San Joaquin Valley are going dry as California’s third year of drought grinds on. That includes entire towns, such as East Orosi and Tooleville in Tulare County, which both went dry last week. It’s bad. But it may get worse. Area water suppliers are “locking down”…

SGMA

Will $10 million “make a dent” in Tulare County groundwater use?

July 7, 2022

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

Three San Joaquin Valley water agencies are gearing up to spend $10 million each in grant funding they received from the state Department of Conservation to retire or repurpose farmland. Valley agencies that received grants so far include the Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District, Pixley Irrigation District Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) and Madera County. SJV…

Drought

Talkin’ water on KGET Channel 17’s “Kern County In Depth” with Jim Scott – and friends

July 5, 2022

• by Lois Henry

Thanks KGET Channel 17 anchor Jim Scott for including SJV Water CEO Lois Henry on your “Kern County In Depth” show this week to chat about water! CLICK HERE for the “In Depth” version (that means longer…) And here’s the short version:…

SGMA

Farmers who helped sink the Friant-Kern Canal reject a fee to pay off their share of the fix

July 5, 2022

• by Lois Henry

Farmers in southern Tulare County on June 30 soundly rejected a proposed land fee that would have helped pay a lump sum settlement of $125 million toward fixing the Friant-Kern Canal, which has sunk because of excessive groundwater pumping. The Eastern Tule Groundwater Sustainability Agency agreed in 2020 to pay a portion of the cost…

Drought

State water funding to help upgrade mountain systems

June 29, 2022

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

A sliver of state money will help upgrade drinking water systems in eastern Fresno County mountain communities that have been plagued by both drought and devastating wildfires. The money is part of an overall $300 million in Department of Water Resources funding aimed at drought impacts. In Fresno County, the Sierra Resource Conservation District was…

Drought

Kern County reverses course on ag well permitting

June 24, 2022

• by Lois Henry

In a complete turnaround from its stance earlier this week, Kern County late Thursday dropped its requirement that groundwater agencies make certain findings about proposed new agricultural wells before it would consider issuing permits for those wells. The situation had reached a boiling point in the local ag community as the Kern County Environmental Health…

Drought • SGMA

Ag well permitting process still causing confusion in Kern County

June 22, 2022

• by Lois Henry

Kern County hasn’t issued a single agricultural well permit since early April and frustration in the ag community is at a boiling point. Ag well permitting slowed to a crawl up and down the San Joaquin Valley after Gov. Newsom issued an emergency drought order on March 28 that added an extra layer of scrutiny…

Drought

Bulk of money in state’s plan to buy water rights directed at northern California watersheds

June 15, 2022

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

A California Senate proposal to spend $2 billion to buy senior water rights would focus mostly on rights in northern California watersheds with another large chunk aimed at farmland retirement throughout the state. The proposal is included in an $18.5 billion climate plan within the state budget, which likely won’t be finalized until the end…

Drought • Rivers

How does more rain in northern California equal less flows in the San Joaquin River?

June 14, 2022

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

Water has been flowing down the San Joaquin River since the beginning of April. But, ironically, late spring rains could halt the flow. The water coming out of Millerton Lake just above Fresno is flowing because of a contract within California’s complicated water rights system. The water is going to the San Joaquin River Exchange…

NEWS

Kern River advocates accuse utility of “lawless” water diversions on behalf of a long closed fish hatchery

Even emergency water suppliers are close to tapped out as more valley towns go dry

Will $10 million “make a dent” in Tulare County groundwater use?

Talkin’ water on KGET Channel 17’s “Kern County In Depth” with Jim Scott – and friends

Farmers who helped sink the Friant-Kern Canal reject a fee to pay off their share of the fix

State water funding to help upgrade mountain systems

Kern County reverses course on ag well permitting

Ag well permitting process still causing confusion in Kern County

Bulk of money in state’s plan to buy water rights directed at northern California watersheds

How does more rain in northern California equal less flows in the San Joaquin River?

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