Governor Gavin Newsom has indicated there is no intention of declaring a drought emergency despite a request from lawmakers. Nearly a dozen legislators sent a letter to Governor Newsom detailing …
Understanding the California Water Futures Market
California has recently established a water futures market that has brought with it some criticism as well as confusion. As the first of its kind in the country, it will …
California Snow Levels Low, Matching Water Storage Levels
The latest snow survey highlighted the disparity in California snow levels between regions. The Department of Water Resources (DWR) performed the third manual snow survey at Phillips Station. Readings indicated …
RENEW WIIN Act Introduced in Congress by Central Valley Lawmaker
Legislation introduced by Representative David Valadao seeks to enhance certain aspects of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act. The Responsible, No-Cost Extension of Western Water Infrastructure Improvements …
Industry Groups Urge New Administration to Address Water Infrastructure
A large group of agricultural organizations and water districts are calling for more federal support to address water infrastructure. More than 200 organizations sent letters to President-elect Joe Biden and …
Ag Groups Call for More Certainty for California’s Water Supply
A group of more than 70 agricultural organizations is asking Governor Gavin Newsom to bring about more certainty for California’s water supply. The coalition is urging the Newsom Administration to …
California Unlikely to Benefit from New Navigable Waters Protection Rule
It is doubtful that the new Navigable Waters Protection Rule will provide any benefits to California’s farmers and ranchers. Because of the rules that the State Water Board established last …
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 …
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 …
Water Year 2019 Ends with Strong Storage Supplies
With water year 2019 officially coming to an end yesterday, many farmers and ranchers are looking ahead with hope for another wet year. The latest storage summary from the California …
SGMA Rollout Coming Along Smoothly
The implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) has presented some challenges, however it appears the overall process is progressing smoothly overall. Supervising Engineering Geologist with the Department of …
Infrastructure Needed for Groundwater Recharge
Infrastructure and volunteers are needed to make groundwater recharge successful in California. Many in the agriculture community were disappointed that not all of the surface water storage projects were fully …
SWEEP Prop Funding Keeps Program Alive
A vital water efficiency incentive program didn’t get state funding this year but still has funding. The State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program, also known as SWEEP, was not included in California’s …