farming Archives - SJV Water

San Joaquin Valley groundwater will need more than one epic water year to rebound in the long term

June 7, 2023

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

With all the flooding, runoff and more snowmelt still to come, everyone’s wondering: How’s the groundwater? Short answer: Better. Long answer: It’s going to take more than one good water year to reach sustainability. After decades of over pumping and two severe, multi-year droughts within five years of each other, San Joaquin Valley aquifers had…

Personalities • Uncategorized

ROOTED IN THE VALLEY: Will Scott came back to farming, hopes to encourage young Black farmers

April 11, 2023

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

Will Scott grew up farming but left for a career in the Navy and as an electrician. “If it’s in your blood, you’ll come back to it,” he says of why he started his small farming operation in Fresno County after many years away. Farming is fundamental to life, he says and hopes to encourage…

Floods • Uncategorized

In defense of tomatoes: “Wherever it isn’t going to flood, we’re going to try to farm.” – Boswell president

April 5, 2023

• by Lois Henry

Representatives of the J.G. Boswell Company defended both the agricultural giant’s handling of flood water so far and its tomato plantings at the Kings County Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday. In an impromptu discussion during public comments, Phil Hansen, with Hansen Ranches, again noted that areas of Boswell land deep in the old Tulare Lake…

Floods • Uncategorized

Boswell holds flood water off some lake bed ground while planting tomatoes

April 2, 2023

• by Lois Henry

The rumors were so rampant, that Kings County sent agricultural inspectors into the old Tulare Lake bed to see if the powerful J.G. Boswell Company was holding back flood waters in order to plant tomatoes. “They could not find anything,” Kings County Supervisor Doug Verboon said in a text to SJV Water on March 24….

Floods

Allensworth residents no longer under evacuation order but are still struggling with White River flood water, other issues

March 30, 2023

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

The evacuation order in Allensworth was downgraded to a warning on Monday as flooding and breaches don’t pose an immediate threat to the community for the time being, said Carrie Monteiro, public information officer for the Tulare County Emergency Operations Center. But the warning in place means there is still a potential threat and residents…

Floods • Uncategorized

Flooding out other farmers was “premeditated” by the powerful J.G. Boswell Company, one farmer asserts

March 25, 2023

• by Lois Henry

By the time Erik Hansen had a moment to sit down in a Corcoran pizza parlor on a recent afternoon, the 5th generation farmer was tired, detached and a little defeated looking. He talked matter-of-factly of his family’s losses so far: At least 3,000 acres are under water, some orchards will die, his cousin’s house…

Personalities

Westlands Water District names new leader – Allison Febbo

March 21, 2023

• by SJV Water

Westlands Water District Names New General Manager Fresno, CA — Today, the Board of Directors of Westlands Water District (District) named Allison Febbo as the next General Manager. With nearly 25 years of experience in natural resources, hydrology, and water operations, Ms. Febbo will be the first woman to serve the District as General Manager. …

dams • Floods • Uncategorized

Lake Isabella may be the next to “fill and spill” as it is continues filling rapidly

March 16, 2023

• by Lois Henry

Lake Isabella could be the next Central Valley reservoir to “fill and spill” as it is rising rapidly, with an estimated two million acre feet of water hunkered down in a record high snowpack and more storms coming. The Kaweah and Success reservoirs in Tulare County have already reached that point, Success releasing water from…

Floods • Uncategorized

Kern River outflow from Lake Isabella is ramping up but, no, it is not a “flood release”

March 14, 2023

• by Lois Henry

Outflow from Lake Isabella into the Kern River increased on Tuesday but only because downriver users requested the water, according to Kern River Watermaster Mark Mulkay. Outflow went from about 500 cubic feet per second (cfs) Monday to 1,013 cfs by 9 a.m. Tuesday, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hourly reservoir reports…

Floods • Friant-Kern Canal • Uncategorized

Damage from “severe breach” of Friant-Kern Canal construction at Deer Creek difficult to assess

March 13, 2023

• by Lois Henry

An unfinished section of the new Friant-Kern Canal suffered a “severe breach” at Deer Creek in Tulare County Friday night as the normally dry creek swelled with rain and snowmelt and overran its banks into the construction zone. “This was worse than the one before,” said Johnny Amaral, Chief Operating Officer of the Friant Water…

NEWS

San Joaquin Valley groundwater will need more than one epic water year to rebound in the long term

ROOTED IN THE VALLEY: Will Scott came back to farming, hopes to encourage young Black farmers

In defense of tomatoes: “Wherever it isn’t going to flood, we’re going to try to farm.” – Boswell president

Boswell holds flood water off some lake bed ground while planting tomatoes

Allensworth residents no longer under evacuation order but are still struggling with White River flood water, other issues

Flooding out other farmers was “premeditated” by the powerful J.G. Boswell Company, one farmer asserts

Westlands Water District names new leader – Allison Febbo

Lake Isabella may be the next to “fill and spill” as it is continues filling rapidly

Kern River outflow from Lake Isabella is ramping up but, no, it is not a “flood release”

Damage from “severe breach” of Friant-Kern Canal construction at Deer Creek difficult to assess

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