water Archives - Page 6 of 30

Former Kern River Watermaster recognized for his leadership and legacy in Kern County water

November 9, 2023

• by Lois Henry

The usually unflappable Mark Mulkay found himself at a rare loss for words as he accepted both the Water Leader and Water Legacy awards from his peers at the annual Water Association of Kern County dinner held Nov. 8. The recently retired Kern River Watermaster had to take a moment before addressing the audience, made…

Floods • Uncategorized

Kern County agencies seek nearly $50 million to repair damage and dig out from last winter’s storms

November 6, 2023

• by Lois Henry

Kern County agencies are still digging out, literally in some cases, from last winter’s storms as they seek federal funding and hope for enough time to fix damage before another wet winter. County agencies submitted requests for reimbursements totalling nearly $50 million for costs to repair damage from the 2023 storms and floods, according to…

Floods • Uncategorized

Fresno hospital’s request for $1.23 million in flood relief funding for “X-Ray Rooms” remains unexplained

November 2, 2023

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

After this year’s historic storms and devastating floods, the federal government has been swamped with requests from agencies across the San Joaquin Valley seeking reimbursement for repair costs. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provided SJV Water a data sheet that enumerates more than 460 such requests from six counties, including Fresno, Madera, Merced, Kern…

Rivers • Uncategorized

Judge orders Bakersfield to keep water in the Kern River

October 30, 2023

• by Lois Henry

In what one attorney called a “moment of truth” for the City of Bakersfield, a judge ordered the city to keep enough water in the normally dry Kern River to protect fish populations. The 21-page preliminary injunction was issued by Kern County Superior Court Judge Gregory Pulskamp Monday afternoon. Colin Pearce, who represents the city…

dams • Uncategorized

One Central Valley dam project gets nearly $95 million in funding; two others still in proposal phase

October 20, 2023

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

Three dam expansion projects could increase water storage for use in the Central Valley by a whopping 304,000 acre feet. Each of the projects would raise existing dams, not build new ones. The project that is furthest along would raise the B.F. Sisk Dam in Merced County to expand San Luis Reservoir storage by 130,000…

SGMA • Uncategorized

Farmers fighting farmers over pumping allocations as Kaweah subbasin prepares for state scrutiny

October 6, 2023

• by Lisa McEwen, SJV Water

Groundwater relations in the Kaweah subbasin in Tulare County have gone from bad to worse. Fingers have been pointed, ultimatums laid down and patience has run out. At its Sept. 26 meeting, the Greater Kaweah GSA board accepted a recommendation to allocate 1.87 acre feet of groundwater per acre to its farmers for the 2023-24…

Rivers • Uncategorized

Court to consider cutting water diversions out of Kern River

October 3, 2023

• by Lois Henry

A preliminary injunction that could cut water being taken out of the Kern River if those diversions are harmful to fish will be taken up Friday, October 13 in a Kern County courtroom. The request for the injunction was filed in August by a group of entities suing the City of Bakersfield for what it…

Drought

Tooleville tank springs a leak, temporarily shutting off water to the beleaguered Tulare County town

June 16, 2023

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

On top of all its other water woes, the tiny town of Tooleville temporarily lost water entirely Friday after one of its aging storage tanks sprang a leak. This is just the latest in a string of water issues that have plagued the rural Tulare County community for decades. Tooleville’s two wells have repeatedly run…

Uncategorized

Freeway sign marks significant chapter in California water history

June 14, 2023

• by Lois Henry

Travelers along northbound Highway 99 may have noticed a large – very large – sign a little ways past Highway 166 that says “Howard Frick Pump Plant” in massive white letters on a blue background. Well, who the heck is Howard Frick, some drivers may wonder. Frick was one of the main people who ushered…

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…

NEWS

Former Kern River Watermaster recognized for his leadership and legacy in Kern County water

Kern County agencies seek nearly $50 million to repair damage and dig out from last winter’s storms

Fresno hospital’s request for $1.23 million in flood relief funding for “X-Ray Rooms” remains unexplained

Judge orders Bakersfield to keep water in the Kern River

One Central Valley dam project gets nearly $95 million in funding; two others still in proposal phase

Farmers fighting farmers over pumping allocations as Kaweah subbasin prepares for state scrutiny

Court to consider cutting water diversions out of Kern River

Tooleville tank springs a leak, temporarily shutting off water to the beleaguered Tulare County town

Freeway sign marks significant chapter in California water history

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

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