A few weeks ago, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology declared that the Pacific Ocean is no longer in an El Niño state and has returned to “neutral.” American scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have been more hesitant, but they estimate that there is an 85% chance that the Pacific will enter a neutral state in the next two months and a 60% chance that a La Niña event will begin by August.
Work has now begun on removing the third of four dams that nearly destroyed salmon populations on the Klamath River in Oregon and California and caused some of the nation's largest-ever fish kills.
Karuk elder Leaf Hillman and his wife, Lisa, were on hand this month to see the first shovelful of dirt scraped from the top of the earthen dam. They and other tribal fish and water protectors had fought for years to demolish the dams that nearly made one of their cultural touchpoints and primary food sources extinct.
After a historic amount of rainfall fell in Los Angeles County from late 2023 through early spring, officials say there was a benefit for the region.
L.A. County’s reservoirs captured and stored a little more than 96.3 billion gallons of water since October of last year when storm season began, which is enough to supply an estimated 2.4 million people for a year.
The water that is captured by the reservoirs is sent to spreading grounds for the recharge of the county’s aquifers.
California is well known for its Mediterranean climate, swinging from cool, wet winters to hot, dry summers. While those conditions are great for skiing and outdoor wedding planning, they also drive extreme variability from year to year. Droughts and floods are a part of California’s hydrology in a way that is unmatched anywhere else in the United States. We have a saying here, “there’s no such thing as an average year” (it’s true, we have 5 defined water year types: wet, above normal, below normal, dry, and critical).
The California Department of Water Resources (CDWR) has been helping manage this variability for nearly 70 years. Today, CDWR owns and operates the largest State-owned water system in the world (the State Water Project) that delivers water to 27 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland.
If you visit the Delta town of Walnut Grove during winter or spring, look for a surprise in the Sacramento River just before it meets Georgiana Slough. A steady stream of bubbles rises from the river bottom, accompanied by flashes of bright yellow strobe lights and low whooshing sounds. It looks like an art installation, especially at night.
But this barrage of light, noise and bubbles is actually there to protect imperiled baby salmon. Formally called a bioacoustic fish fence and dubbed a bubble barrier, the system was installed in 2023 to keep the little fish from going the wrong way in the Delta.
Like water sloshing in a giant bathtub, El Niño begins an inevitable retreat; Lights, sound…bubbles! New virtual barrier deters baby salmon from Delta death trap; Wildfire season is fast approaching – what’s the outlook?
Agenda items will include Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance regulations, DWR Architectural and Engineering rulemaking, Water Commission’s 2025 Strategic Plan, Water Storage Investment Program update, State Water Project briefing, groundwater trading and SGMA, and Water Plan Update 2023.
The California Financing Coordinating Committee (CFCC) conducts free funding fairs statewide each year to educate the public and offer potential customers the opportunity to meet with financial representatives from each agency to learn more about their available funding. CFCC members facilitate and expedite the completion of various types of infrastructure projects by helping customers combine the resources of different agencies.
The Department of Water Resources (DWR), in partnership with California State Association of Counties (CSAC), is convening a new series of virtual roundtable-style gatherings for county staff who are responsible for the planning and implementation of SB 552 of 2021 (Hertzberg). This series is scheduled in response to feedback DWR received from counties in 2023 at the end of the collaborative development of the County Drought Resilience Planning Guidebook, where counties emphasized the benefits and values of sharing information and practices.
Peer to Peer is CalWEP’s flagship annual event bringing together California’s water use efficiency community to connect, collaborate, and grow. Attendees spend two days learning through sessions that range in topics and format - from interactive round table discussions, to trainings, to presentations. Peer to Peer has grown to become the go-to event for the water efficiency industry.
Join the Department of Water Resources for the Drought Resilience Interagency & Partners (DRIP) Collaborative meetings. Members of the public will be able to observe each meeting and provide public comments in-person at the meeting location or remotely.
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.
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