tulare lake Archives

Floods

Floodplain projects are “foreign concept” for the south valley

May 26, 2023

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

One of the surest ways to corral flooding on the valley floor is floodplain restoration – letting rivers spread out over large swaths of undeveloped land to slow their flow and absorb the water. But even as cities and farms throughout the southern San Joaquin Valley brace for more flooding from an epic snowmelt after…

Floods • Uncategorized

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

Floodwater is filled with icky stuff but won’t likely hurt drinking water long term

May 12, 2023

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

Floodwater covering parts of the San Joaquin Valley is nasty – filled with animal and septic waste, road oil and other grunge from whatever it’s washed over. Swimming in it is definitely not advised. But over the long term, experts don’t think it will harm groundwater, which is where most valley residents get their drinking…

Floods • Uncategorized

State to pay $17 – $20 million for repeated rebuild of Corcoran levee

May 11, 2023

• by Lois Henry

The state will front Kings County $17-$20 million to pay for raising the Corcoran levee but said it didn’t want to throw “good money after bad” and would require local groundwater agencies do more to stem subsidence, land sinking. Gov. Newsom’s administration made the announcement Thursday as a separate measure among several water-related spending proposals…

Floods

Safe – for now: State prisons in Corcoran should stay dry, but flood water is creeping up

May 8, 2023

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

As Tulare Lake flood water creeps ever closer to the small city of Corcoran, officials at the two state prisons there have stopped accepting inmate transfers while they develop larger evacuation plans. Together, the prisons house 8,000 people, many with severe mental health and substance abuse issues as well as rival gang members. Moving the…

Floods

Kern River water heads north through flood channel but won’t hit Tulare Lake – yet

April 27, 2023

• by Lois Henry

The heavily overgrown Kern River flood channel that heads north past Highway 46 and eventually meanders into the southern end of the Tulare Lake bed is filling with water. But it’s not “flood water” and it won’t make it into Tulare Lake, said Tim Ashlock, General Manager of Buena Vista Water Storage District. The district…

Floods • Uncategorized

Kern River “orphan channel” could pose problems during the big melt

April 24, 2023

• by Lois Henry

The Kern River flood channel that heads north to the old Tulare Lake bed from Highway 46 is decidedly not ready for what may become massive runoff. It’s a thicket of trees and shrubs and its banks are a weedy, trash strewn mess. But figuring out who’s in charge of clearing out that 16-mile stretch…

Floods

Who’s in charge? Agencies deal with fragmented flood response in the south San Joaquin Valley

April 20, 2023

• by SJV Water

Editors note: This story is a collaboration between SJV Water and Fresnoland, a non-profit news site in Fresno. Contributing reporters Jesse Vad, SJV Water, jesse.vad@sjvwater.org Gregory Weaver, Fresnoland, gregory@fresnoland.org Shaikh Rashad, Fresnoland, omar@fresnoland.org Residents and agencies struggle with jurisdiction in historic flood fight near the old Tulare Lake bed Flood water flowing toward the small…

Floods • Uncategorized

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 • 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…

NEWS

Floodplain projects are “foreign concept” for the south valley

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

Floodwater is filled with icky stuff but won’t likely hurt drinking water long term

State to pay $17 – $20 million for repeated rebuild of Corcoran levee

Safe – for now: State prisons in Corcoran should stay dry, but flood water is creeping up

Kern River water heads north through flood channel but won’t hit Tulare Lake – yet

Kern River “orphan channel” could pose problems during the big melt

Who’s in charge? Agencies deal with fragmented flood response in the south San Joaquin Valley

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

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

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