New York Times, 3/17/2023 - Torrential rain and snow have again drenched California in recent weeks, amplifying an already wet winter season. The extreme precipitation has begun to ease the state’s long-term drought, the driest three-year stretch on record.
The Chico-Enterprise Record, 3/16/2023 - The California Department of Water Resources made the jump from 15,000 cubic feet per second to 20,000 cfs Wednesday as part of its ongoing plan to keep up with storm-related inflows.
The Press Democrat, 3/16/2023 - Pacific Gas & Electric says it intends to keep the gates open at Scott Dam from now on in deference to seismic safety concerns, meaning Lake Pillsbury in Lake County will never completely fill again, even in a wet year like this one.
The Weather Channel, 3/16/2023 - Even as California reels from a series of drenching atmospheric river-fed storms and near-record snowfall, the drought-plagued state has approved a plan to replenish its groundwater.
WIRED, 3/17/2023 - Following years of concern, the US Environmental Protection Agency moved this week to clean up drinking water, announcing the nation’s first standards for six “forever chemicals” found in tap water. It’s a foreboding and informal name for human-made chemicals that coat nonstick pans, food packaging, and waterproof clothes before ending up in the water you drink. These chemicals, known as PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are pervasive and found in pretty much everyone—even newborn babies.
KTLA 5, 3/17/2023 - Tens of thousands of gallons of sewage were released into a Ventura County river earlier this week, and county health officials have closed beaches near the river’s mouth as a safety precaution.
Veolia North America, which operates the City of Fillmore Wastewater Treatment Plant, reported the spill of 148,000 gallons of sewage to the Ventura County Environmental Health Division, the county said in a news release Thursday.
Fox 26, 3/16/2023 - The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office has issued additional evacuation orders due to reported breaches of the Tule River.
According to the sheriff’s office, all homes and businesses north of the north branch of the Tule River to Ave 192 and east of Highway 99 to Road 152, also known as Bliss Lane, are being asked to leave.
San Francisco Chronicle, 3/17/2023 - If it was just another avalanche, residents of California’s Sierra Nevada might yawn. Winters in the mountains are chock full of wobbly snow, especially this winter.
Los Angeles Times, 3/16/2023 - Recent rainstorms in the San Bernardino Mountains brought both relief, melting much of the snow that had stranded some residents for weeks, and new problems, setting off minor flooding and rockslides.
KJZZ, 3/16/2023 -Hotter and drier conditions caused by climate change are helping lead to more severe wildfires across the West. Those more severe wildfires are hurting the forests’ ability to regrow after the fires are out.
Those are among the findings of a new report from the Nature Conservancy and others.
Jefferson Public Radio, 3/17/2023 - On the north shore of Iron Gate reservoir, Frank Henry, Jr. jams a heavy metal pole into the ground and twists. Once a hole is excavated, he grabs a stick from a five-gallon bucket. Water drips from the small tangle of roots at one end. The stick is Klamath plum; it will eventually grow into a shrubby tree that forms dense thickets and produces mauve-colored fruits.
KSRO, 3/16/2023 - Santa Rosa is ending its emergency drought declaration after a winter full of major storms. Water conservation measures ordered by the city amid a more than three-year drought in June of 2021 will be scaled back.
The California Water Plan will hold a virtual public workshop over Zoom on March 29, 2023, from 1 - 4 p.m. The Water Plan Team will provide an in-depth overview of draft chapter content for Update 2023. The workshop will serve as a venue interested parties to provide input on the draft content and recommendations.
This online short course will review the fundamental principles of groundwater and watershed hydrology, water budgets, water quality, and water law and regulation in an intuitive, highly accessible fashion. Through real world examples, participants learn about the most common tools for measuring, monitoring, and assessing groundwater and surface water resources. We then review the key steps and elements of planning for groundwater sustainability and implementing projects and management actions.
Series: April 13, 20, May 4, 19, and June 1 | 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
This tour ventures through California’s Central Valley, known as the nation’s breadbasket thanks to an imported supply of surface water and local groundwater. The southern part of the vast region, the San Joaquin Valley, is the focus of this tour as it faces challenges after years of drought, dwindling water supplies, decreasing water quality and farmland conversion for urban growth.
This tour explores the heart of California water policy – the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and San Francisco Bay – to learn about the critical role the Delta plays in the state, Delta planning initiatives, water project operations, fish passage, ecosystem restoration, levees and flood management, Delta agriculture and water supply reliability.
Groundwater Resources Association of California - The popular Annual GSA Summit is getting revamped in collaboration with the ACWA Groundwater Committee and SGMA Implementation Subcommittee. This is a once-a-year get-together to foster progress on SGMA implementation, collaborating with ACWA members and implementers and GRA technical experts.
When: June 7 - 8, 2023 Where: Kimpton Sawyer Hotel in Sacramento
DWR is responsible for managing and protecting California’s water resources and works with others to benefit the State’s people and to protect, restore, and enhance the natural and human environments. DWR operates and maintains the State Water Project, oversees dam safety, provides flood protection, helps in emergency response, assists regional and local water agencies, promotes water conservation and safety, and plans integrated watershed management – in all to advance water resource sustainability.
The California Water News is distributed to California Department of Water Resources (DWR) management and staff, for information purposes, by the DWR Public Affairs Office. Inclusion of materials is not to be construed as an endorsement of any program, project, or viewpoint. If a link doesn’t work, entering the headline into Google News should locate the original news story.
