central valley Archives - Page 20 of 27

Drought

Water transfers helped farmers survive this year. Now, all eyes are on the coming water year

September 15, 2021

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water reporting intern

Water transfers, trades and sales doubled this year as drought left San Joaquin Valley farmers scrambling for supplies. “This has been kind of an exceptional year for transfers,” said Sam Boland-Brien, program manager at the State Water Resources Control Board’s Division of Water Rights. Boland-Brien said he’s seen about twice the amount of transfers this…

Groundwater

Farmland repurposing program awaits Gov. Newsom’s OK

September 14, 2021

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water reporting intern

A bill that would create a program to help farmers find new life for farmland idled by coming groundwater restrictions had its own phoenix moment in early September when it was simultaneously killed and reborn — this time with money. AB 252, authored by Assemblymembers Robert Rivas (D-Salinas) and Rudy Salas (D-Bakersfield), died in the…

Rivers

Salmon program takes giant leap thanks to land donation

August 30, 2021

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water reporting intern

One farmer has single handedly ramped up the pace of a program trying to save native salmon in the San Joaquin River by donating a key sliver of land to the federal government. Connley Clayton donated about eight acres of his Madera County riverfront land to the government’s San Joaquin River Restoration Program. The land…

SGMA

Bill aimed at repurposing farmland is a step closer to passing

August 20, 2021

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water reporting intern

Lawmakers may be close to passing a bill aimed at helping farmers cope with water restrictions. Assembly Bill 252, the Multibenefit Land Repurposing Incentive Program, would set up a program under the California Department of Conservation to use grant money for repurposing former ag land in critically over drafted groundwater basins. The bill was authored…

Drinking Water • Drought

Drought outpaces plans to fix failing drinking water systems

August 18, 2021

• by Jesse Vad and Lois Henry

This story was produced with funding and support from Fresnoland, for the Fresno Bee. Republishing is encouraged 48 hours after initial posting. A lot has happened over the past five years, but not much has changed in the tiny farmworker town of Okieville. Wells went dry enmasse in Tulare County, including in Okieville, during the last…

Rivers

Local group files papers in fight over Kern River

August 10, 2021

• by Lois Henry

A new player has entered the legal fray over the Kern River — the public. Actually, it’s a consortium of Bakersfield and other nonprofit, public interest groups that hope to sway the state Water Resources Control Board to, ultimately, re-water the mostly dry Kern River through town. The Flowing Kern Coalition made its debut Tuesday…

Drought • Rivers

State board’s curtailment order could have long-reaching effects

August 10, 2021

• by Lois Henry

The real test of the state’s recently passed ban on the use of water from most of the state’s rivers won’t be later this summer when the ban will likely to go into effect, it will be the upcoming water year. And possibly longer term. This irrigation season is nearly over. But growers and water…

Drought

Tulare County officials say state red tape made water crisis, suffering worse for Teviston

July 25, 2021

• by Jesse Vad and Lois Henry

This story was reported and written by Jesse Vad, SJV Water intern and Lois Henry, SJV Water CEO. It was produced with funding and support from Fresnoland, for the Fresno Bee. Republishing is allowed 48 hours after initial posting. The state’s response to the water crisis that gripped tiny Teviston, California earlier this summer should…

Drought • Friant-Kern Canal • Rivers

Endangered salmon program waiting, watching for possible call on Millertion water

July 21, 2021

• by Lois Henry

As the summer grinds on, farms, towns and a critical native salmon restoration program that all rely on water from Millerton Lake near Fresno continue to hope their water won’t be needed to fulfill irrigation contracts further up the San Joaquin Valley. But in this parched year, nothing is certain. If water is required out…

Rivers • SGMA

Kern River water rights case gets hearing date

July 19, 2021

• by Lois Henry

Whether the Kern River truly has spare water and, if so, how much, has been left up in the air for more than a decade. Now, 11 years after the State Water Resources Control Board ruled the Kern River was not fully appropriated, it will finally start the process of getting at those two key…

NEWS

Water transfers helped farmers survive this year. Now, all eyes are on the coming water year

Farmland repurposing program awaits Gov. Newsom’s OK

Salmon program takes giant leap thanks to land donation

Bill aimed at repurposing farmland is a step closer to passing

Drought outpaces plans to fix failing drinking water systems

Local group files papers in fight over Kern River

State board’s curtailment order could have long-reaching effects

Tulare County officials say state red tape made water crisis, suffering worse for Teviston

Endangered salmon program waiting, watching for possible call on Millertion water

Kern River water rights case gets hearing date

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