SGMA Archives - Page 19 of 21

High tech and low show state’s snowpack is still stingy

April 23, 2020

• by Lois Henry

The snowpack above the Central Valley looked slightly better after March and April brought the winter weather that was AWOL during the first two months of 2020. But the late storms weren’t enough to get valley rivers much above the 60%-of-average mark, if that. San Joaquin River The storms did provide enough snow for the…

Groundwater • Rivers

Legal fight reopened over Kern River

April 15, 2020

• by Lois Henry

The Kern River can’t seem to stay out of California’s courtrooms — even in a pandemic. The latest legal scuffle, which erupted last week, is a continuation of a nearly decade long battle by a Kern County ag water district to hold on to a portion of its main water supply. On Friday, April 9,…

Groundwater

Price of reclaimed water still too high for ag

April 10, 2020

• by Lois Henry

If you’re a Central Valley farmer and haven’t yet been hit up by someone about reusing crummy water for irrigation — just wait. Companies are springing up all over with the latest gizmo they believe will take nasty, salty water, mostly from shallow aquifers on the valley’s west side or oilfield produced water, and make…

Federal System • Rivers • State System

New state water regs cause angst on all sides

April 9, 2020

• by Lois Henry

A new set of water regulations aimed at protecting California’s native fish came down from the state earlier this week to near universal condemnation from both agricultural and environmental water folks. The regulations are contained in a 143-page “incidental take permit” issued by the Department of Fish and Wildlife that lays out when — and…

Drinking Water • Groundwater

Central Valley groundwater markets emerging under SGMA

March 19, 2020

• by Lois Henry

Central Valley farmers may soon have another crop to sell along with almonds, tomatoes and peppers — the groundwater beneath their land. Proposed groundwater markets have popped up in just about every groundwater sustainability plan (GSP) filed with the state Jan. 31. One such market is about to launch its first phase within the next…

Groundwater

State doles out grants to groundwater agencies – except Madera

March 14, 2020

• by Lois Henry

The consequences of not complying with the state’s new groundwater law came home to roost in Madera County, which got a big-fat zero in grant funding from the state for lack of a coordination agreement, the state announced Friday. Madera County had requested $500,000 to help with well installation for groundwater monitoring on behalf of…

Drought • Groundwater

Collaboration is the new game in California water

March 5, 2020

• by Lois Henry

If agriculture in the valley is going to survive, water leaders need to get cozy with new ideas and new allies. And, yes, that means environmentalists. “Historically, water supplies have been developed in a vacuum,” said Eric Averett, General Manager of Rosedale-Rio Bravo Water Storage District, at the Water Association of Kern County’s annual day…

Groundwater • Uncategorized

State refuses to accept groundwater plans for the Madera subbasin

February 26, 2020

• by Lois Henry

In the first indication of how strict state officials will be with new groundwater sustainability agencies, the Department of Water Resources has refused to accept groundwater plans covering the Madera subbasin because one of those agencies did not sign a coordination agreement. The DWR has not posted the submitted groundwater sustainability plans on its website…

Groundwater • State System • Uncategorized

SoCal water managers want to know who – exactly – is sinking the California Aqueduct

February 21, 2020

• by Lois Henry

A state report released in December pinned blame for sinking along the California Aqueduct on excessive nearby groundwater pumping to irrigate vineyards and nut orchards. That was a pretty pointed finger, but not pointed enough for some committee directors in the large and powerful Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. They wanted names. The issue…

Groundwater • Water Banking

Groundwater plans are out for comment

February 15, 2020

• by Lois Henry

The Department of Water Resources has already put a number of groundwater sustainability plans up on its website for public comment. The public has until April 15 to comment on the first batch. Included in this initial group are some plans that have already generated controversy, such as the joint plan for the Tulare Lake…

NEWS

High tech and low show state’s snowpack is still stingy

Legal fight reopened over Kern River

Price of reclaimed water still too high for ag

New state water regs cause angst on all sides

Central Valley groundwater markets emerging under SGMA

State doles out grants to groundwater agencies – except Madera

Collaboration is the new game in California water

State refuses to accept groundwater plans for the Madera subbasin

SoCal water managers want to know who – exactly – is sinking the California Aqueduct

Groundwater plans are out for comment

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