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5.7 Trillion Gallons Of Water Snowed On Calif. In January

Over five trillion gallons of water — much of it still locked up as snow in the mountains — fell across California in January, ending the prolonged drought in the northern part of the state. The parade of snowstorms that blasted the state in January dumped the equivalent of about 5.7 trillion gallons of water, according to researchers at Colorado University’s Center for Water Earth Science and Technology. (That’s how much water was in the snow that fell). Many ski areas in the Sierra were pasted with 20 to 30 feet of snow. Mammoth Mountain had its snowiest month ever recorded, with over 20 feet.

 

‘Paleo Channel’ Finding Could Mean More Water From Dana Point Desalination Plant

The South Coast Water District may have room for a larger well system for its proposed desalination facility in Dana Point, meaning that more potable water could be produced for customers. At a meeting last week, consultant Mark Donovan, a senior engineer with GHD, Inc., told South Coast’s board that an ancient river channel topped with younger sediment — known as a paleo channel — at the mouth of San Juan Creek is larger than “orginally anticipated.” “These are positive preliminary findings,” Donovan said. Geophysicists used sonar to map the area in October.

 

February To Begin With Rain In Forecast

Northern California — including Lake County — is about to turn the page on the wettest January in 20 years, which begs the question: How much rain will February bring? The answer won’t come for another four weeks, but the entire Northern California region is expected to begin February with another storm system which could drop as much as 3 inches of rain, according to the National Weather Service. Rain is expected to move into the region late Wednesday, with the heaviest downpours expected Thursday, according to Bob Benjamin, a forecaster with the weather service.

 

Planning For Drought Still Important, Experts Say

Though 2016-17 turned out to be a wet winter, university and industry experts urge ranchers to continue to plan for drought in how they manage their pastures and feed. Knowing when to water and which animals to give the highest-quality supplemental feed could help cow-calf operations through the next drought, University of California Cooperative Extension advisers say. Such measures may include irrigating pasture with limited water in the spring, when the crop demand is greater, rather than the fall, said Larry Forero, a UCCE adviser based in Redding.

 

BLOG: Atmospheric Rivers: Five Breakthroughs in Analyzing West-Coast Storms

Atmospheric rivers are California’s drought-busters. As we saw in the recent series of storms between January 7 and 10, a single wet weekend can dramatically reverse the state’s water accounts. The state still hasn’t completely pulled out of the drought. But just a few days after those storms, the California Department of Water Resources increased its water delivery forecast for 2017 from 45 percent to 60 percent for water agencies that rely on the State Water Project. Atmospheric rivers are just what they sound like: a column of water carried aloft by a narrow band of wind.

These Citizen Scientists Are Hoping What They Find In The LA River Can Help Them Save It

Todd Barneck crouches near a trickle of storm water deep within the bones of the concrete Los Angeles River and gently lays in a thermometer. “That’s 16 degrees C, or about 60 degrees Fahrenheit,” he announces to the group. Wearing a knit cap and cargo pants, he moves from task to task, scooping water samples and snapping photos of trash, including a gold, high-heeled shoe found floating amidst a week’s worth of run-off surprises.

Storms Preview Ocean-Rise Damage To California Cities, Roads

Ocean rise already is worsening the floods and high tides sweeping California this stormy winter, climate experts say, and this month’s damage and deaths highlight that even a state known as a global leader in fighting climate change has yet to tackle some of the hardest work of dealing with it. The critical steps yet to come include starting to decide which low-lying cities, airports and highways, along with threatened landmarks like San Francisco’s Embarcadero, to hoist above the rising water and which to abandon — and where to start getting the many billions of dollars for those climate rescues.

BLOG: Atmospheric Rivers: Five Breakthroughs In Analyzing West-Coast Storms

Atmospheric rivers are California’s drought-busters. As we saw in the recent series of storms between January 7 and 10, a single wet weekend can dramatically reverse the state’s water accounts. The state still hasn’t completely pulled out of the drought. But just a few days after those storms, the California Department of Water Resources increased its water delivery forecast for 2017 from 45 percent to 60 percent for water agencies that rely on the State Water Project.

State Offers Free Testing For Lead In Drinking Water At Schools

Public schools can order free testing to determine lead levels in drinking water under a new state program announced Monday. The testing program is in response to new requirements that all community water systems test public school drinking water upon request by school officials.  “Students should have access to clean drinking water at all times,” State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson said in a statement. “Students need fresh water, nutritious meals, and appropriate physical activity to be ready to learn in class.”

Wet Winter Expected To Slow California Citrus Harvest

“Full moon, clear sky, no wind, and snow on the mountains,” Chris MacArthur, Riverside councilman explained was a terrifying sight for California citrus growers in a phone interview. The threat of frost is with growers every winter. But this winter has seen many wet nights turning MacArthur groves in the Green Zone into a “muddy mess.”