flooding Archives - SJV Water

Big melt may be less dramatic – and damaging – than initially thought

May 22, 2023

• by Lois Henry

State flood responders are still planning for the worst, but newly released inundation models are predicting a less dramatic and damaging snow melt as California heads into the summer months. On the Kern River, predictions are now showing releases from Isabella Dam can be maintained at 7,750 cubic feet per second, or less, throughout the rest…

Floods • Uncategorized

Kern River water to go into California Aqueduct to keep it out of Tulare Lake; flows to ramp up mid-June

May 12, 2023

• by Lois Henry

For the first time in 17 years, the Kern River “intertie” will be opened on Monday to release Kern River flood waters into the California Aqueduct, according to the Kern River Watermaster. The move is an attempt to keep more flood water off the already waterlogged Tulare Lake bed as officials anticipate significantly increased Kern…

Floods

Officials identify local infrastructure at risk of flooding in Bakersfield

May 9, 2023

• by Lois Henry, SJV Water and John Cox, The Bakersfield Californian

Senior Kern County officials assessing flood risks to critical local infrastructure have identified Bakersfield Heart Hospital as potentially vulnerable to inundation in the weeks ahead, followed to a lesser degree by Mercy Southwest and the former Big West refinery on Rosedale Highway. In case either medical center does flood, a plan has been put in place…

Floods • Uncategorized

Red tape kept Bakersfield from clearing Kern River channel for years

April 19, 2023

• by Lois Henry

It isn’t just water that’s been barreling down the Kern River in this historic water year. Trees, shrubs, trash – even old appliances – have come swirling down the river bed, plucked out by heavy equipment and piled on the banks in massive heaps. City of Bakersfield crews, along with other agencies, worked round the…

Floods

Giant tubes helping manage massive Kern River flows

April 17, 2023

• by Lois Henry

Those highly noticeable big black tubes being placed in the Kern River at Coffee Road are the fulcrum in a full-court press by Buena Vista Water Storage District to keep as much water as possible in the county. The western Kern County agricultural water district anticipates putting as many as 25 siphon tubes over what’s…

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The Tule River watershed remains a wild card in a wild water year

April 17, 2023

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

Residents and farms along the Tule River have been hammered by flood waters this year. And, unfortunately, the best those same folks can hope for as the weather heats up is, well, more flooding. “I think the best case scenario is a prolonged period of minor to moderate flooding sort of what we’re already seeing,…

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…

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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…

Floods • Uncategorized

Power outage yet another challenge for besieged residents of tiny Allensworth

March 22, 2023

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

The small Tulare County town of Allensworth, which is being surrounded by floodwater, lost power on Tuesday amid powerful winds brought by the most recent storm. The power loss knocked out the community water system so residents had no running water in their homes for much of Tuesday. It was the latest challenge in a…

Floods • Uncategorized

Flood operations meeting yields little good news as water continues to wreak havoc in the San Joaquin Valley

March 22, 2023

• by Lois Henry

At an all-hands-on deck flood operations briefing Wednesday morning at the International Agri-Center in Tulare, the reports were quick and grim. A bridge over Cross Creek in Kings County had just washed out at Houston Avenue south of Hanford, the CalTrans rep told dozens of emergency workers from fire, roads, rail and water districts mostly…

NEWS

Big melt may be less dramatic – and damaging – than initially thought

Kern River water to go into California Aqueduct to keep it out of Tulare Lake; flows to ramp up mid-June

Officials identify local infrastructure at risk of flooding in Bakersfield

Red tape kept Bakersfield from clearing Kern River channel for years

Giant tubes helping manage massive Kern River flows

The Tule River watershed remains a wild card in a wild water year

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

Power outage yet another challenge for besieged residents of tiny Allensworth

Flood operations meeting yields little good news as water continues to wreak havoc in the San Joaquin Valley

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