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Water efficiency credited for big almond crop during drought

/in /by /Capital Press (Salem, Ore.)by Tim Hearden

An almond industry group is crediting growers for their water efficiency while cultivating what is expected to be a big crop this year. California’s 2016 almond production is expected to be 2.05 billion meat pounds, up from the 2 billion pounds projected in May and up nearly 8 percent from last year’s yields, reports the National Agricultural Statistics Service. The agency cites several factors for the improved crop, including more precipitation and chill hours than last year and a quick and uniform almond blossom.

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Californians still saving water

/in /by /Record-Bee (Orange County)by Aaron Orlowski

In May, the month when state officials said they would ease up on a year-old water conservation plan, consumers used less water than they did three years before.

For the month, water consumption statewide was down 28 percent from May of 2013, according to data released Wednesday by the state.

The period tracked in May includes a nearly three-week stretch after the May 9 announcement from state water officials that they would let many districts, including most in Orange County, switch from mandatory to voluntary water cuts.

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Another Water Agency Taxes Property Owners for Delta Tunnels

/in /by /Central Valley (San Francisco)by Dan Bacher

Ever since California voters overwhelmingly rejected the peripheral canal in November 1982, the state and federal governments and regional water agencies have concocted a number of schemes to fund this unpopular water diversion plan without a vote of the taxpayers.

In the latest scheme, documents released under the California Public Records Act reveal that the Zone 7 Water Agency of Alameda County has been using property taxes to pay for Delta Tunnels (BDCP/CA WaterFix) planning costs “before even one shovel of dirt has been turned,” according to a statement from Restore the Delta.

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