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Lake Mead’s Decline May Slow, Thanks to Winter’s Wet Start

/in , , /by /Las Vegas Review-Journalby Colton Lochhead

Hefty snowfalls from a series of atmospheric rivers have brought a slightly rosier outlook for the beleaguered Colorado River.

While not enough to fend off the falling water levels entirely, the snow that has dropped in recent weeks across the mountains that feed the river is expected to slow the decline at Lake Mead, according to the latest federal projections released last week. Forecasters now expect Lake Mead to finish this year around 1,027 feet elevation, about 19 feet lower than its current level. That’s about 7 feet higher than the 2023 end-of-year elevation in the bureau’s forecast from last month.Colorado River

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DWR Expects to Begin Spillway Work Between May and October

/in , , /by /Enterprise-Recordby Jake Hutchison

The California Department of Water Resources is set to begin phase one of its plan to replace the hoists on the Oroville Dam spillway sometime between May and October.

Project Manager Zerguy Maazouddi, who works under DWR’s Division of Operations and Maintenance, said the first phase of prerequisites such as site surveys and approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

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The Big Yawn: Water Crisis Not Registering as a Priority with Californians, Preview Las Vegas Panelist Says

/in , , /by /Las Vegas Sunby Ray Brewer

Las Vegans are constantly reminded about the crisis facing Nevada and other Western states as water supplies from the drought-choked Colorado River system dwindle.

Ads prompting us to conserve water are front and center at sporting events, on commercials during our favorite television shows and when picking up the daily newspaper. We’ve been diligent in removing natural grass and replacing it with artificial turf, limiting the size of our pools and watering plants only on assigned days.

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CA’s Depleting Groundwater in Key Agricultural Region Could Be a Warning Sign for AZ

/in , , /by /KJZZby Greg Hahne

A recent report showed that there is not enough groundwater in a sub-basin surrounding Buckeye to provide the area with a 100-year supply.

That could be a trend seen across the West as a study from ASU found that California’s megadrought has excellent groundwater depletion.

California’s Central Valley covers 20,000 square miles and is a vast agricultural region with a value of approximately $17 billion per year in crops.

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Despite Recent Parade of Storms, California Unveils Drought Resiliency Task Force

/in , , /by /CBS Bay Area

Though the recent barrage of winter storms has certainly improved California’s drought conditions, state water leaders are making moves to prepare for the inevitable dry season soon to come.

On Friday, the California Department of Water Resources kickstarted a partnership between state agencies, local governments, scientists and community members in a new task force, called the Drought Resilience Interagency and Partners Collaborative.

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Is the Drought Over? Reflections on California’s Recent Flood-Drought Combo

/in , , /by /California WaterBlogby Andrew L. Rypel, Jay Lund, and Carson Jeffres

Early January was an unusually wild ride of atmospheric rivers. Nine sizable systems produced a train of storms beginning about New Years and lasting for several weeks across almost all of California. After three years of drought, the storms reminded us that California has flood problems similar in magnitude to its drought problems, and that floods and droughts can occur in synchrony.

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How Arizona, California and Other States Are Trying to Generate a Whole New Water Supply

/in , , /by /The Hillby Gianna Melillo

Underground storage may be a key for Western states navigating water shortages and extreme weather.

Aquifers under the ground have served as a reliable source of water for years. During rainy years, the aquifers would fill up naturally, helping areas get by in the dry years.

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How Sierra Nevada Record Snowpack Will Impact California Drought

/in , , /by /Newsweekby Jess Thomson

The snowpack in the Sierra Nevada mountains, which has continued to increase throughout January as a result of storms battering much of the state since the New Year, might help California combat its ongoing drought.

As of January 20, the Sierra snowpack state-wide was at 240 percent of the average for this time of year. The South Sierra stations, located between the San Joaquin and Mono counties through to Kern county, reported snowpacks at 283 percent of the January 20 average.

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Colorado River Water Negotiators Optimistic Ahead of Deadline

/in , , /by /Bloomberg Lawby Bobby Magill

Officials involved in the talks over how to cut Colorado River water use amid a historic drought say they’re optimistic a consensus will be reached by states before a Feb. 1 deadline even though the negotiations are in a delicate place.

If the seven Western states don’t reach consensus, the Interior Department’s Bureau of Reclamation will consider mandating water cuts—a move the states are working feverishly to avoid.

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Opinion: Have No Prop. 1 Water Projects Been Built in California? No, but They Are Moving Slowly

/in , , /by /Los Angeles Timesby George Skelton

California voters approved a ballyhooed $7.5-billion bond issue eight-plus years ago thinking the state would build dams and other vital water facilities. But it hasn’t built zilch. True or false?

That’s the rap: The voters were taken. The state can’t get its act together.

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