The Department of Water Resources (DWR) conducted the first 2020 snow survey at Phillips Station, providing a positive outlook for the months ahead. After a slow start to the 2020 …
Moving Forward with the California Water Portfolio
The development of California’s water portfolio continues to progress. A presentation at the most recent meeting of the California State Board of Food and Agriculture highlighted the priorities for establishing …
Conflicting Year for Central Valley Water Users
Overall, 2019 turned out to be a conflicting year for Central Valley water users. It was another year for strong rain and snow in California, but not all farmers were …
Feds Get Involved in Fixing Friant-Kern Canal
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is looking for input from the public related to plans to repair a 33-mile stretch of the Friant-Kern Canal. The waterway has lost approximately 60 …
Voluntary Agreements Remain Viable for California Water
The concept of a more cooperative approach to water management has been gaining more and more support after initial skepticism earlier in the year. It appears that state officials are …
State Officials Move to Circumvent Federal Plans for California Water
The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) has released its draft Environmental Impact Report for the long-term operations of the State Water Project (SWP). The announcement was made at the …
Improving Nutrient Management in California
The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Fertilizer Research and Education Program and the Western Plant Health Association recently held their annual Nutrient Management Conference where attendees heard two …
Another Increase in Irrigated Lands Regulatory Fees
Agricultural water users should be preparing themselves for even higher water bills after another fee increase related to the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program (ILRP). The underlying purpose for the program …
Realizing the Conservation Benefits of Precision Agriculture
The House Agriculture Committee recently held a hearing focused on realizing the conservation benefits of precision agriculture. Vice President and General Manager of TerraNova Ranch, Don Cameron spoke to the …
Replacing Outdated Science Provides for Better Water Management
The latest biological opinions that were released will provide for an updated approach to water management in relation to state and federal water projects. Using the latest scientific information, the …
Officials Praise New Biological Opinions for the SWP and CVP
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service have released new biological opinions that will have a significant impact on the administration of California water supplies. The …
SJV Water Blueprint Submitted for Water Resilience Portfolio
The Water Blueprint for the San Joaquin Valley recently presented recommendations for the Water Resilience Portfolio in response to Governor Newsom’s Executive Order. The information sent to the Governor’s office highlights some …
The Western View: More Midwest Flooding: Can California Fill The Gap?
Last week we were on a road trip. We followed the Missouri River from North Dakota through Nebraska and Iowa, and saw some of the most devastating flooding I’ve ever …
Shasta Dam Project Hits Another Roadblock
The effort to move the Shasta dam project forward has encountered another setback after the Westlands Water District (WWD) announced it would no longer be pursuing an environmental impact report …