WEEKLY WATER NEWS DIGEST for March 26-31: The magic of the Mokelumne; Update on water storage projects; SWP & CVP allocations increased, and more CA water news of the week

A wrap-up of posts published on Maven’s Notebook this week …

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This week’s featured articles …

FEATURE: The Magic of the Mokelumne: How such a small river produces so many salmon

“The Mokelumne River is on the modest side, running 95 miles from the Sierra Nevada and accounting for less than 3% of flows into the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. But the river’s impact on salmon is outsized and the latest figures really made a splash. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) puts the Mokelumne’s contribution to the 2022 commercial ocean salmon fishery at a whopping 51% of the total for hatcheries.

“The Mokelumne is the single biggest contributor to the catch,” says John McManus, president of the Golden State Salmon Association. “It’s huge.”

The Mokelumne River Hatchery’s record is even more impressive given that it raises just a fraction of the young salmon—about 6 million of the 32 million total—produced by Central Valley hatcheries each year.

“It’s punching above its weight,” McManus says. “Why? What’s the magic with the Mokelumne?”

Click here to read this article.


CA WATER COMMISSION: Water Storage Investment Program project update

In 2014, voters approved Proposition 1, the Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act, which provided $2.6 billion to be invested in the public benefits of water storage projects.  The California Water Commission is administering the funding through the Water Storage Investment Program.  Seven projects have been selected for funding.  At the March 15 meeting of the California Water Commission, staff provided an update on the projects, which are all now on their own schedules to complete the program requirements.

Click here to continue reading this article.

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In California water news this week …

California wrings out months of rain to ease drought restrictions

“Coming out from one of California’s wettest winters on record, Governor Gavin Newsom signed an order Friday to rollback some water restrictions that the state put in place during the height of a drought two years ago.  One voluntary initiative now falling to the wayside called for counties across the state to decrease their water use by 15%. Another provision from 2022 ordered urban water suppliers to level up what are known as Water Shortage Contingency Plans.  “We’ve been waiting for some time to ask the rhetorical question and answer it. Are we out of the drought? Is the drought over in the state of California?” Newsom said, standing in front of farmland in rural Yolo County, an agricultural area near Sacramento, “while I want to affirm your instinct that it should be. It feels like it is. It is, and continues to be, complicated.” … ”  Read more from the Courthouse News Service.

Reclamation increases Central Valley Project 2023 water supply allocations

“[Yesterday], the Bureau of Reclamation announced an increase in Central Valley Project 2023 water supply allocations. After below average precipitation in February, Reclamation announced a conservative initial water supply allocation for the CVP on Feb. 22. Additional atmospheric river systems have since boosted hydrological conditions and storage volumes, allowing for a more robust water supply allocation.  Since making initial allocations last month, Shasta Reservoir, the cornerstone of the Central Valley Project, has increased from 59% to 81%, and San Luis Reservoir, the largest reservoir south-of-Delta, from 64% to 97%. Record-breaking snowpack conditions currently exist in the Southern Sierra coupled with significant snowpack in the Central Sierra and Northern Sierra/Trinity. … ”  Continue reading this press release from the Bureau of Reclamation.

Drought Monitor shows majority of California no longer in drought. Here’s how that is figured out

“More than half of California is no longer considered to be in a drought.  That is according to this week’s Drought Monitor update, which was released Thursday morning.  The outlook is produced by the National Drought Mitigation Center in collaboration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the United States Department of Agriculture.  This week’s update shows that 45% of the state is considered “abnormally dry.” That is down from 51% one week ago.  The Sacramento area, San Joaquin Valley, Foothills, and Central and South Sierra are no longer experiencing drought conditions, according to the Drought Monitor.  This trend is a positive one for the state, but it is important to remember that the Drought Monitor is one of many lenses that can be used to examine the status of drought. … ”  Read more from KCRA.

Winter storms allow State Water Project to move and store additional water

“The series of storms that have hit California since the beginning of the year is translating to additional water for millions of Californians.  The State Water Project is proactively working to move and store as much of the surplus water from these storms as possible. The State Water Project (SWP) is making additional water available to its contractors (public agencies and local water districts) that have the ability to take delivery of the water in their own system, including through groundwater recharge. Known as “Article 21 water,” this water does not count toward formal SWP allocation amounts.  This water is available only under certain conditions: when there is no place to store this water in the SWP reservoirs; when there is a demand for this water from the south of Delta contractors above their allocated amount; and when there is available pumping and conveyance capacity within the SWP. … ”  Read more from the Department of Water Resources.

Here’s the science behind the endless storms drenching California this winter

“This winter has been one for the record books, with the snowpack built up to colossal heights across the state. In the southern Sierra Nevada, the amount of snow is literally off the charts.  “The graph had to be extended in the vertical, or y-axis, direction,” said Benjamin Hatchett, an Earth systems scientist at the Western Regional Climate Center and the Desert Research Institute, during a drought webinar on Monday.  This bounty isn’t because of any single storm this winter — it’s due to an endless barrage of storms over recent months that came as something of a surprise to scientists. … ”  Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle (gift article).

Lake Shasta rises 118 feet, now nearly 30 feet from the top as California storms roll in

“March has delivered.  The steady stream of storms this month has brought the water level at Lake Shasta a mere 31 feet from the top.  That’s good news for Redding and North State residents who depend on the state’s largest reservoir for their water needs.  The lake has gone up 9 feet over the past week as Shasta Dam has received about 4 inches of rain during that time, said Don Bader, area manager of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.  As of Wednesday afternoon, there was 3.7 million acre feet of water in Lake Shasta, which means the lake is 82% full. When full, the lake holds 4.5 million acre feet. … ”  Read more from the Redding Record Searchlight. | Read via Mount Shasta News.

California’s snowpack soars to record high after 17 atmospheric rivers

“The latest in the long onslaught of storms that began in December has pushed California’s snowpack to its highest level on record. This week’s storm dumped another one to two feet in the Sierra Nevada helping this season eclipse 1982-83, the previous record-holder. The water stored in the state’s snowpack is 235 percent of normal, according to the California Department of Water Resources, surpassing 234 percent in 1982-83. By far, the central and southern Sierra have seen the most unusual amounts of snow, with their snow water content 233 percent and 298 percent of normal, respectively. Comparatively less snow has fallen in the northern Sierra, whose snow water content is 190 percent of normal and still trails 1982-83. … ”  Read more from the Washington Post (gift article).

Accelerating new California water storage projects

“In January, record-breaking storms dropped enough water on California to cover the entire state in about eight inches of water. But not enough of it was captured or stored, a missed opportunity for a state that has struggled with water levels in the wake of climate change.  After three consecutive years of severe drought conditions, California experienced torrential downpours and watched as water collection capacity reached its maximum. But where was the water going? What could be done to capture it? And where are the water storage projects Californians voted to support and help fund?  The Bay Area Council and Venable delved into these topics and more in the latest installment of the Bay Area Impact webinar series. Moderated by Adrian Covert, the Bay Area Council’s senior vice president for public policy, and William Sloan, a partner in Venable’s Environment and Natural Resources practice, a panel of leading water professionals discussed the status of new water storage projects, why they’re taking so long, how we can speed them up, and what more can be done to increase the state’s storage capacity. … ”  Continue reading at Venable LLP.

As floods endanger the San Joaquin Valley, Newsom cuts funding for floodplains

“Last fall, when the state Legislature authorized $40 million for floodplain restoration, Julie Rentner knew just what she would do with it. Her group, River Partners, would spend more than a quarter of the funds buying a 500-acre dairy farm abutting the San Joaquin River in Stanislaus County.  Then millions more would be spent on removing debris, sheds, manure heaps and levees. They would plant native vegetation, and eventually restore the parcel to its natural state as a woodland and floodplain.  When floodplains like these are allowed to fill with water, they can reduce flooding impacts elsewhere along the river, so the project could protect communities downstream, including Stockton, which is highly vulnerable to flooding.  Rentner said crews of community members were ready to begin the work.  But in January, the money disappeared. … ”  Read more from Cal Matters.

Another San Joaquin Valley groundwater plan appears headed for rejection

“The Madera subbasin’s groundwater plan appears headed for state rejection after one of the region’s seven groundwater agencies refused to approve the most recent version of the plan.  Madera Irrigation District (MID) was the one dissenting agency that did not approve the plan and blamed other groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) for delays and inaction.  “Madera Irrigation District has long voiced concerns over the Joint Groundwater Sustainability Plan that was approved in 2020, and, in particular, the implementation of (and failure to implement) that Plan by the Madera County Groundwater Sustainability Agency,” MID staff wrote in the press release.  The Madera subbasin includes seven GSAs all of which must have coordinated plans in order to be approved by the state. … ”  Read more from SJV Water.

MID board unable to take action due to Madera County’s failure to implement the GSP

“After extensive consideration and deliberation, the Madera Irrigation District (MID or District) Board of Directors at its March 21, 2023 Board Meeting declined to take an action on the Revised Joint Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP or Plan). No motion was made for approval of the Revised GSP and no vote was taken.  Madera Irrigation District has long voiced concerns over the Joint Groundwater Sustainability Plan that was approved in 2020, and, in particular, the implementation of (and failure to implement) that Plan by the Madera County Groundwater Sustainability Agency. While MID and its landowners have been investing millions of dollars in tangible projects that both reduce demand and enhance recharge over recent years, some other GSAs have not adhered to their commitments in the Plan and the implementation schedule. … ”  Read more from the Madera Irrigation District.

Madera County: Recent action on groundwater plan invites state to intervene

Despite years of work and coordinated efforts, the Madera Subbasin appears headed for state intervention as only six of seven Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSA) approved a revised Groundwater Sustainable Plan (GSP).  As the GSA with the greatest share of historical overdraft in the Madera Subbasin, the County GSA began developing an allocation in 2019 with the County GSA Advisory Committee to achieve nearly 40% reductions in the use of groundwater by irrigated agriculture. In 2019 and 2020, an allocation approach was developed and allocations for irrigated agriculture were adopted. Allocations were in place in 2021 as a “dry run,” and in 2022 as well with a penalty adopted for implementation in 2023. To date, preliminary findings indicate that the County GSA is well under its allocated water in the Madera Subbasin.  Unfortunately, other GSAs have not developed allocations to manage their recognized share of overdraft, so it is not known whether sufficient demand management is taking place elsewhere in this subbasin. … ” 

Click here to read the full press release from the County of Madera.

Proposed legislation would make groundwater adjudications more fair

Adrianne Davies, Owen McAleer, and Gabi Rosenfeld write, “California’s groundwater adjudication process is complex and inaccessible for many water users. As students in UCLA Law’s California Environmental Legislation and Policy Clinic, we partnered with State Assemblymember Lori Wilson’s office to find ways to improve this process. This project resulted in the introduction of AB 779, which will be heard this week by the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee. … The groundwater adjudication process, which is governed by SB 226 and AB 1390 (2015), determines how groundwater rights in a basin are allocated. The adjudication process is often expensive and lengthy, and it can present significant barriers for water users. Adjudication proceedings can take upwards of ten years and often involve legal fees in the millions of dollars. … ”  Read the full post at Legal Planet.

With California enduring record-breaking rain and snow and Gov. Gavin Newsom recently easing restrictions on groundwater recharge, interest in “managed aquifer recharge” has never been higher. This process – by which floodwater is routed to sites such as farm fields so that it percolates into the aquifer – holds great promise as a tool to replenish depleted groundwater stores across the state.  But one concern, in the agricultural context, is how recharge might push nitrates from fertilizer into the groundwater supply. Consumption of well water contaminated with nitrates has been linked to increased risk of cancers, birth defects and other health impacts.  “Many growers want to provide farmland to help recharge groundwater, but they don’t want to contribute to nitrate contamination of the groundwater, and they need to know how on-farm recharge practices might affect their crops,” said Matthew Fidelibus, a University of California Cooperative Extension specialist in the UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology. … ”  Read more from the Western Farm Press.

Voluntary Agreement highlights habitat questions

“Restoring marsh and wetland habitat can have significant benefits for dozens of species throughout the Bay and Delta—that’s beyond dispute. But when it comes to saving the Estuary’s most imperiled fish, how much habitat improvements can help in the absence of dramatically increased freshwater flows is a question that has dogged and divided scientists and policy makers for years. As the State Water Resources Control Board considers the latest proposal from the State and water agencies for a flows agreement that would restore thousands of riparian and wetland acres—while dedicating less water to the environment than proposed under an alternative regulatory framework—critics argue that science doesn’t support its underlying assumptions. The debate highlights how much there still is to learn about what restoration efforts can and cannot do for the Delta’s ravaged ecosystem. … ”  Read more from Estuary News.

Harder pushes funding to fight ‘big rats’ threat to area levees

“South America nutria rats — orange-toothed rodents that can grow as large as 40 pounds or twice the size of a raccoon — are a growing threat to California’s levees that protect upwards of 7 million people living in floodplains.  The invasive species burrow into earthen levees undermining their integrity.  Yet as California faces months of touch-and-go levee watches required to monitor an enormous spring Sierra snowmelt, the U.S. Fish and Wildfire Services is seeking to cut federal money funding of efforts to control the non-native rodent population by 60 percent.  On Wednesday Representative Josh Harder appeared before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies with ‘Nellie’, a taxidermized nutria, demanding answers as to why funding is being slashed. … ”  Read more from the Manteca Bulletin.

California lawmakers join US Forest Service in battle to continue the use of aerial fire retardant

“A lawsuit filed by Forest Service Employees For Environmental Ethics (FSEEE) is seeking to see the United States Forest Service end the use of aerial firefighting retardants claiming it is not in line with the Clean Water Act.  The FSEEE is alleging that the USFS’s use of fire retardant on water is a pollutant and a National Pollutant Discharge System (NPDES) permit is needed under the Clean Water Act in order to drop pollutant’s into any navigable waters.  The lawsuit was filed on Oct. 11, 2022 with the United States District Court for the District of Montana Missoula Division. … ”  Read more from Fox 40.

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In commentary this week …

Newsom denies the obvious: California is no longer in drought

Columnist George Skelton writes, “Gov. Gavin Newsom came close but couldn’t quite bring himself to say it: The drought’s over.  It’s disappointing when a governor won’t acknowledge what ordinary citizens already know because they can see things for themselves.  Another drought will emerge soon enough. It always does. That’s the California pattern — climate change or not.  But right now, the biggest threat this spring is flooding from rivers leaping their banks.  There’s just something about California governors and water officials that prevents them from admitting we’re through a dry spell and into a wet period.  They fear we’ll resume taking long showers and swamping our lawns. We’ll stop conserving water and go back to wasting it. So, they treat us like children, denying the obvious. … ”  Read more from the LA Times.

Delta tunnel project won’t provide reliable water supply California needs

Oscar Villegas, chair of the Yolo County Board of Supervisors and chair of the Delta Counties Coalition, and Patrick Kennedy,  member of the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors and Delta Counties Coalition, writes, “The California Department of Water Resources is using the winter storms to claim that the proposed Delta Conveyance project would help ensure a more reliable water supply for the State Water Project in light of how climate change will alter seasonal patterns of rain and drought.  In reality, the benefits of the conveyance project are speculative at best.  The Delta Counties Coalition demonstrated for over 15 years that resources slated for the tunnel would be better spent on sustainable, resilient water infrastructure around the state (such as groundwater recharge, storage, recycled water expansion, desalination) instead of further increasing reliance on Sacramento River freshwater flows, which is in direct conflict with a Delta Reform Act requirement to reduce reliance on the Delta. … ”  Read more from Cal Matters.

California may lose 10% of its water supply but a solution ‘is right under our feet.’

Sean Bigley, assistant environmental utilities director for the City of Roseville, and Dan York, general manager of the Sacramento Suburban Water District, write, “California’s rivers are once again surging with winter runoff, a beautiful sight after several consecutive dry years. Sacramento-area water providers have been working together to capture as much of excess water as possible for use during drier days. Yet, we could be doing so much more with additional support from state and federal decision-makers. Additional water storage is right in front of our eyes — or, more specifically, right under our feet. The City of Roseville, for example, captured surplus flows from Folsom Reservoir and stored this water in the groundwater aquifer using specialized Aquifer Storage and Recovery wells. Just a year ago, Roseville stored enough water to fill 160 Olympic-sized pools. Later, in 2022, we delivered that water to customers, leaving water in Folsom Reservoir to benefit our environment. … ”  Read more from the Sacramento Bee.

Sustainable Groundwater Management is a David and Goliath story

Juliet Christian-Smith, Western States Regional Director with the Union of Concerned Scientists, writes, “Picture the small shepherd boy, David, pitted against the enormous warrior, Goliath. This is how it can feel when I step up to the microphone in the Capitol in Sacramento, California, to discuss some science-based analysis with policy makers. There is usually a line of lobbyists waiting to dispute any and all facts I, and other scientists like me, present. These, often well-heeled, Sacramento insiders represent oil companies, irrigation districts, and water agencies. They tend to have a similar set of talking points, written well in advance of the discussion, which they read off their cell phones before ducking out to do the same at another hearing in a different room.  In such moments, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed, unheard, even helpless. Whenever I feel this way, I stop and remind myself that, sometimes, the little guy wins.  Indeed, that is the story I would like to tell you: a true tale of the trials, tribulations, and eventual triumph of the underdog. … ”  Read more from the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Repurposing cropland in California: A solution for everyone?

Ángel S. Fernández-Bou, Senior Climate Scientist with the Union of Concerned Scientists, writes, “I may be a romantic, but I firmly believe that we can reimagine agriculture, rural disadvantaged communities and the environment in a way that makes everyone happy. I love nature, and I see agriculture as part of nature, not as a foe. But agricultural practices, especially in California, must be updated to survive the future.  One powerful change that is growing momentum is strategic cropland repurposing. Doing cropland repurposing right can benefit many, including landowners. We just need to have everyone on the same page and be willing to collaborate to maximize the benefits for everyone, including (but not only) oneself. … ” Read more from the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Don’t call it a comeback: California’s Tulare Lake never really went away

Trace Fleeman Garcia, an interdisciplinary researcher with the Oregon Institute for Creative Research in Portland whose studies include the ecology and history of the Tulare Lake region, writes, “On two centuries ago, a shallow inland sea dominated California’s Central Valley. In a ring of impenetrable reeds, called tules, was Tulare Lake — then the largest body of freshwater west of the Mississippi River. At the end of the 19th century, newly arrived settlers began draining it to provide water for agriculture and growing cities and to defend against destructive floods. But during wet years, as 2023 has turned out to be, Tulare Lake seems to rise from the dead — with some labeling it a “phantom lake.”  The reality is, Tulare Lake was never gone in the first place. … ”  Read more from the LA Times.

Is it time to reform California’s bedrock environmental law?

Brooke Staggs writes, “For five and a half hours the Thursday before we left, witnesses shared testimony about the power and the pitfalls of the California Environmental Quality Act or CEQA. I listened so you didn’t have to, with a detailed story out that evening. And in this week’s issue of The Compost, I wanted to share more context and voices from folks who weighed in on both sides of the debate over whether it’s time to reform the law that’s served as a bedrock of California environmental law for more than half a century.  The March 16 hearing kicked off the first-ever CEQA study by the influential Little Hoover Commission, which makes recommendations to the state legislature and the governor’s office about potential changes to policies and practices. Developers have called for CEQA reform ever since then-Gov. Ronald Reagan signed it into law in 1970. But as the housing crisis escalates, and in the wake of CEQA being used to block a high-profile student housing project near UC Berkeley, talk of changing the law has reached a fever pitch. … ”  Read more from the LA Daily News.

A mostly hidden problem wastes appalling amounts of water

Robert Gebelhoff, Assistant Editor of the Washington Post, writes, “When Americans turn on their faucets, they shouldn’t have to think about infrastructure. A well-run system for clean drinking water ought to be the bare minimum of what the government delivers. But virtually every part of the country is struggling with aging pipes, which are wasting billions of gallons of water every day. Some utilities are losing as much as half or more of their water supply to leaks. Worse, most states don’t know the scale of the problem and are doing little to find out, threatening their residents’ wallets and their health. This issue is mostly hidden — until there is a serious problem. Water main breaks, for example, can tear up roads and damage property. These occur somewhere in the country every two minutes, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers. Sometimes, these massive leaks force cities to ask residents to boil their water before using it, as happened in the Baltimore area last month, since the leaks could potentially contaminate the water supply with toxins such as lead or dangerous pathogens. … ” Read more from the Washington Post.

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In regional water news this week …

World’s largest salmon restoration project underway on Klamath River

Photo by Michael Wier.

“Work has officially begun on removing the four dams that comprise the Lower Klamath Hydropower Project, according to a news briefing held on March 23.  “Crews are already in the field doing the preliminary work for dam removal,” explained Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC) Chief Executive Officer Mark Bransom said in a press statement before the briefing. “This work includes bridge upgrades, new road construction to access the dam sites more easily, worksite development, and more.”   The plan to remove the lower four Klamath River dams and restore the 38-mile river reach to a natural free flowing condition stems from an agreement between previous dam owner PacifiCorp, the states of California and Oregon, the Karuk Tribe, the Yurok Tribe, and a host of conservation and fishing organizations. The plan was formally approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission late last year. … ”  Read more from the Daily Kos.

Will this winter’s megastorms end the Bay Area’s toxic algae problem?

“In recent years, thick layers of cyanobacteria—commonly known as blue-green algae—have closed popular local swimming spots Lake Anza and Lake Temescal for weeks at a time.  Last summer, a toxic algae bloom in the San Francisco Bay killed thousands of fish.  Although algae is always present in some quantity in lakes and the bay, higher temperatures, stagnant water, and excessive nutrient levels can cause the algae to multiply.  Algae blooms and cyanobacteria have become state and nationwide problems. In the Bay Area, water managers were beginning to wonder if the extreme drought conditions of recent years had pushed the problem into a dangerous new phase in local waters.  But the steady and sometimes torrential rainfall this winter means that the bay’s waterways could avoid a repeat of last year’s out-of-control toxic blooms. … ”  Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.

Groundwater report could ease residents’ concerns about future East Bay wetland

“A planned wetland in far eastern Contra Costa County is not likely to affect the nearby groundwater, a new report concludes – but it remains to be seen if that will sway some neighbors who fear the project could harm their drinking water drawn from wells.  The 645-acre wetland project aims to curb potential flooding and poor stormwater quality while fending off encroaching development and improving habitat for threatened wildlife such as red-legged frogs, fairy shrimp and burrowing owls. The undertaking officially called the Knightsen Wetland Restoration Project, is spearheaded by the East Contra Costa Habitat Conservancy and the East Bay Regional Parks District, which bought the land in 2016. … ”  Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.

Exeter ready to break ground in Tooleville water connection

“On Jan. 24, Exeter City Council had approved the agreement between the city and Tooleville, giving way to its final step which was approved at their last meeting on March 28. The Exeter City Council approved the execution of the consolidation agreement between Exeter and Tooleville. This marks the beginning of much needed water infrastructure repair for both areas, and is set to put Tooleville’s water woes to an end. The agreement was passed on to the State Water Board in January and was approved with no changes required. Now, Ennis says that the next steps are to get everything settled with the Department of Water Resources (DWR) grant to get the ball rolling on the project. Since it would take years to reach a full consolidation, the city will first work on their emergency intertie solution, which will be an interim solution until then. … ”  Read more from the Foothills Sun-Gazette.

California’s ‘phantom lake’ returns with a vengeance, unearthing an ugly history of water

“A winter of epic snow and rain had brought California’s “phantom lake” back to life — and threatened towns and farms in the process.  Once the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River, Tulare Lake was largely drained in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as the rivers that fed it were dammed and diverted for agriculture.  This month, after powerful storms, rivers that dwindled during the drought are swollen with runoff from heavy rains and snow, and are flowing full from the Sierra Nevada into the valley, spilling from canals and broken levees into fields. Here is a history of Tulare Lake from the pages of The Times. … ”  Read more from the LA Times. | Read via Yahoo News.

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

“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 should be ready to leave, she added.  The historic Black town of Allensworth sits on what was the southeastern edge of the old Tulare Lake bed, which was drained for farming more than 100 years ago.  But the onslaught of storms starting in December has brought so much water, parts of the old lake are refilling. And new areas where land has collapsed from overpumping groundwater during the drought are also being flooded. … ”  Read more from SJV Water.

SoCal: 25.8 billion gallons of stormwater captured during record winter rain

“The record winter storms in December, January and February have put stormwater capture at the top of mind for many people, especially following a long period of extreme drought. In early January, Vice President Kamala Harris joined state and local leaders and our General Manager and Chief Engineer Martin Adams on a tour of the newly completed Tujunga Spreading Grounds Enhancement Project. The visit highlighted federal funding of water projects and efforts throughout the West to help alleviate flooding, while also bolstering critical water supplies.  Following the recent enormous storms, LADWP estimates that the cumulative amount of stormwater captured from October 1, 2022 through March 6, 2023 is nearly 80,000 acre-feet. That translates to about 25.8 billion gallons—enough water to serve 316,500 households for a year, or equivalent to filling 39,000 Olympic-size swimming pools. … ”  Continue reading from LA DWP.

Metropolitan begins replenishing storage thanks to increased State Water Project supplies

“With winter storms increasing the availability of water supplies that were extremely limited during the punishing drought, Metropolitan Water District today marked a major milestone as it began refilling Southern California’s largest reservoir for the first time in three years.  Metropolitan and state officials came together at Diamond Valley Lake to share the operational actions being taken to maximize the amount of water stored in depleted reservoirs and groundwater basins, as well as encourage Southern Californians to continue conserving.   As climate change increasingly causes weather extremes, Metropolitan has quickly shifted its operations, from stretching severely limited water supplies, to now storing as much as possible in preparation for the next inevitable dry period. … ”  Read more from Metropolitan Water District.

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Announcements, notices, and funding opportunities …

NOTICE of Comment Period and Board Consideration – Draft Amended Proposition 1 Groundwater Grant Program Guidelines

UPCOMING WORKSHOP: Delta Island Adaptations Public Workshop #3

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