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Feds Bet on Paying for Water Conservation to Protect the Colorado River

/in , , /by /Inside Climate News by Wyatt Myskow

Arizona’s future was at a critical juncture at the beginning of 2023.

Massive cuts to the state’s Colorado River water supply were being imposed. Deadlines loomed from the federal government for the seven states that rely on Colorado River water to come up with a solution for how to cut use even further as the nation’s two largest reservoirs recorded among their lowest levels ever after decades of drought caused by overconsumption and climate change.

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California Governor Taps New Law to Streamline Reservoir Project

/in , , /by /Courthouse News Service by Alan Riquelmy

California Governor Gavin Newsom fast-tracked a massive reservoir project Monday using a law he signed this past summer to accelerate construction.

The Sites Reservoir Project near the town of Maxwell, about 81 miles northwest of Sacramento, is slated to hold up to 1.5 million acre-feet of water — enough for 3 million households for a year. Once complete, it’ll increase Northern California’s water capacity by up to 15%.

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Winter Snow Could Help Recharge the Colorado River. But What if It Doesn’t?

/in , , /by /KUNCby Alex Hager

High in the mountains of Colorado, it’s a time of quiet.

The summer leaves have given way to bare branches, but the ski slopes haven’t yet filled with tourists—or snow. Soon, the flakes will begin to pile up, burying alpine valleys and recharging the Colorado River.

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Colorado Lawmakers Move to Ban Nonfunctional Turf Planting

/in , , /by /Vail Daily by Heather Sackett

State lawmakers are advancing a bill that would prohibit the planting of new, nonfunctional turf.

If the bill passes next year, it would prohibit local and state governments and unit owners associations from allowing the planting of nonfunctional turf or nonnative plants or installing artificial turf in commercial, institutional or industrial properties beginning in 2025.

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Atmospheric Rivers: What They Are and How They Impact Northern California Weather

/in , , /by /KCRA 3by Heather Waldman

As we get closer to winter, the phrase “atmospheric river” is more likely to pop up in headlines.

Here’s an explanation of what these phenomena are and how they impact weather in Northern California.

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Californians Bet Farming Agave for Spirits Holds Key to Weathering Drought and Groundwater Limits

/in , , /by /AP Newsby Amy Taxin

Leo Ortega started growing spiky blue agave plants on the arid hillsides around his Southern California home because his wife liked the way they looked.

A decade later, his property is now dotted with thousands of what he and others hope is a promising new crop for the state following years of punishing drought and a push to scale back on groundwater pumping.

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Federal Government’s Short-term Colorado River Stabilization Plan Paints a “Rosy” Picture

/in , , /by /Colorado Sunby Shannon Mullane

Colorado scientist Brad Udall spent hours digging — with frustration — through the federal government’s 700-page proposal for managing key dams and reservoirs in the Colorado River Basin over the next three years.

“I just wish they would really simply say, ‘And here’s how the system would perform under these really bad years we’ve seen over the last 23 (years),’” said Udall, senior water and climate research scientist at Colorado State University. “If they would do that, you would see that this system crashes.”

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Project Plans for the Sites Reservoir in Northern California Finalized

/in , , /by /ABC 10by Brody Adams

The future of California water storage reached a major milestone Thursday with the finalization for plans of the Sites Reservoir in Northern California. The reservoir would be the second largest off-stream reservoir in the nation and would increase Northern California’s water storage capacity by up to 15%, according to a press release from the Bureau of Reclamation. It will deliver water to beneficiaries primarily during dry periods or drought. The project area is about an hour north of Sacramento, situated between the Sacramento Valley to the east and the mountainous portion of the Coast Range on the west. It’s currently being used for livestock and cattle grazing.

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First Major Water Storage Project in Over a Decade Moving Forward

/in , , /by /AgNet Westby Brian German

The recent approval of the B.F. Sisk Dam Raise and Reservoir Expansion Project marks a significant improvement to California’s water storage capacity. This major project, greenlit as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, represents the first substantial water storage approval in California since 2011. The Department of the Interior, in collaboration with the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority, has granted the nod to this crucial initiative, signaling a new era for water storage in the state.

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Here’s How Arizona Plans to Make Wastewater Into Purified Water

/in , , /by /12 Newsby Haley Williams

As Arizona faces historical water consumption and continued drought, being able to treat wastewater to be reused has become an attractive option to maintain water security.

Thursday, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) released proposed plans on how to safely turn wastewater into reliable, purified water.

The plan introduces the Advanced Water Purification (AWP) Program, which ADEQ hopes will allow stakeholders and the public to better understand and establish clear communication throughout the process.

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