central valley Archives - Page 22 of 26

Drought

California’s mountains are dry. Now we know how dry

June 2, 2021

• by Lois Henry

In a pitifully dry year like 2021, understanding the state’s skimpy snowpack is critical. Multi-million dollar decisions can hinge on even the smallest amounts of snow melt squeezed out of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Which makes information provided by Airborne Snow Observatories, Inc. flights vital, according to water managers. “Right now, there’s still 10,000 to…

Groundwater • SGMA

Search for groundwater gets high-tech boost

June 1, 2021

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water reporting intern

Groundwater is one of the hottest ticket items in California’s water world these days. But much about it is a mystery. Where is it? How does it move? Which are the best spots to percolate water into the ground for storage? At least two technologies hope to answer some of those questions: airborne electromagnetic surveys…

SGMA • State System • Water Markets

The sinking Central Valley town

May 25, 2021

• by Lois Henry

Editor’s note: This article was produced by SJV Water, the Center for Collaborative Investigative Journalism (CCIJ) and the New York Times. The collaboration between SJV Water and CCIJ was led by the Institute for Nonprofit News as part of a project called “Tapped Out: Power, justice and water in the West.” This story was written with funding from the…

Drinking Water

Money for water debt may be available but can California get it to those in need?

May 20, 2021

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water reporting intern

As pandemic restrictions begin to ease in California, a race is on to get money in place to help with massive and growing household water debt before the statewide moratorium on shutoffs for non-payment is lifted. Some observers are looking at June 15, when Gov. Newsom said he’ll lift the state’s mask mandate, as a…

Conservation

Bakersfield students win grand prize for grey water project

May 13, 2021

• by Lois Henry

Students at Bakersfield’s Munsey Elementary School took home the grand prize in a statewide contest to find new, innovative ways to conserve water. The contest, called the H2O Challenge, is put on by water purveyor Cal Water. Teacher Barbara Elrod encouraged the students in her combination 5th and 6th grade class to take up the…

Drinking Water • Friant-Kern Canal • Rivers

Drought reduces runoff from watersheds burned by wildfires

May 13, 2021

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water reporting intern

Drought isn’t all bad. In fact, it’s turning out to be a dry blessing in disguise this year as the lack of snow means less runoff in areas burned by the massive Creek and Sequoia Complex wildfires in 2020. The Creek Fire, which started on September 4, 2020, burned nearly 380,000 acres of the San…

Drinking Water

Fail: Tule Basin drinking water plan kicked back for a redo

May 11, 2021

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water reporting intern

When Sandra Chavez’ mother discovered she had stage four cancer last year, one of Sandra’s first thoughts was about their water. Her family’s private well is contaminated with nitrates and Chavez wondered if years of drinking the water could have caused her mother’s sickness. Chavez and her family have relied on bottled water since they…

Rivers

Bakersfield brewers send suds with a message to State Water Board

May 7, 2021

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water reporting intern

Bakersfield raised a brew, literally, to the State Water Resources Control Board on Friday in honor of the Kern River. An iced down package of seven locally made craft beers was delivered to board members as part of the latest outreach effort by Bring Back the Kern, a local group advocating for water to flow…

Drinking Water

Public slow to respond to new drinking water program for rural San Joaquin Valley residents

May 6, 2021

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water reporting trainee

The state is finally beginning to address a decades-long problem of dangerous drinking water in parts of the San Joaquin Valley under a new “management zone” program but hardly anyone is paying attention. Even the prospect of free water testing and free water hasn’t garnered much enthusiasm. Regardless of the lackluster response, program managers will…

Conservation • Drought • Federal System • Rivers • State System • Water Banking

Virtual Water Summit – May 25

April 20, 2021

• by Lois Henry

The Water Association of Kern County’s annual Water Summit is virtual this year but will still pack a punch of who’s who in the water world. The day kicks off with an update on water brought to the San Joaquin Valley via the federal Central Valley Project. The speaker will be Deputy Bureau of Reclamation…

NEWS

California’s mountains are dry. Now we know how dry

Search for groundwater gets high-tech boost

The sinking Central Valley town

Money for water debt may be available but can California get it to those in need?

Bakersfield students win grand prize for grey water project

Drought reduces runoff from watersheds burned by wildfires

Fail: Tule Basin drinking water plan kicked back for a redo

Bakersfield brewers send suds with a message to State Water Board

Public slow to respond to new drinking water program for rural San Joaquin Valley residents

Virtual Water Summit – May 25

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