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Here’s Where California Reservoir Levels Stand After December’s Storms

/in , , /by /San Francisco Chronicleby Jack Lee and Yoohyun Jung

December kicked off with a parade of storms across California, and while the plentiful precipitation is likely good news for California, data shows storage levels at the state’s major water supply reservoirs have not budged much. “We are just now moving into the rainy season,” said Jeanine Jones, interstate resources manager for California’s Department of Water Resources, referring to the months between November and March when much of California’s precipitation is recorded.

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‘It’s Imperative That We Take Action:’ Lake Powell Power Plant Could Stop Running by July

/in , , /by /12Newsby William Pitts

New predictions by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation show that Lake Powell’s water levels may fall below the level needed to produce power as soon as July 2023. The Bureau of Reclamation issues two-year predictions for the water levels in Lake Powell and Lake Mead and revises those predictions every few months. It uses multiple projections to come up with expected, worst, and best probable outcomes.

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Delta Residents Gather to Protest Delta Tunnel Proposal

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

Approximately 100 concerned Delta residents gathered at a public forum in the community of Hood Tuesday to express concern with the Delta Tunnel proposal. Among the speakers was State Senator Bill Dodd, Attorney Osha Meserve, State Assemblymember Lori Wilson and State Assemblymember Carlos Villapudua.

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Household Water Wells Are Drying Up in Record Numbers as California Drought Worsens

/in , , /by /Los Angeles Timesby Dorany Pineda and Gabrielle Lamarr Lemee

For almost four decades, water flowed faithfully from Fred and Robin Imfeld’s private well here in rural Tehama County, a region where thirsty orchards of walnuts, almonds, plums and olives stretch across thousands of acres. But that reliable supply of household water began to sputter last year, and then ceased completely this summer amid California’s driest three-year period on record.

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Fort Bragg Considering Wave Energy-Powered Desalination in Latest Novel Water Move

/in , , /by /The Mendocino Voiceby Frank Hartzell

Fort Bragg, long powered by timber, fishing and tourist economies, is getting notice statewide for its push to create monetary green out of the Blue Economy, state officials said. Blue Economy is the term coined for a nationwide trend seeking revenue from the ocean without extracting its resources or doing things that cause serious environmental harm.

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California Snowpack Off to Promising Start, but Drought Concern Remains

/in , , /by /The Washington Postby Diana Leonard

Winter is off to a running start in California, after a pair of December storms dropped several feet of mountain snow and soaking low-elevation rains across much of the state. Parts of the Sierra Nevada have recorded more than double the expected snowpack for the time of year, and another significant storm could be on the way this weekend.

 

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Researchers Propose New Structures to Harvest Untapped Source of Freshwater

/in , /by /ScienceDailyby University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau

An almost limitless supply of fresh water exists in the form of water vapor above Earth’s oceans, yet remains untapped, researchers said. A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is the first to suggest an investment in new infrastructure capable of harvesting oceanic water vapor as a solution to limited supplies of fresh water in various locations around the world.

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Senators Urge Agriculture Secretary to Help Western States in ’22-Year Mega-Drought’

/in , , /by /The Hillby Alexander Bolton

Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) is leading a letter signed by 14 other senators urging Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to help Western states survive what they are calling a “22-year mega-drought” that is threatening farms and ranches across the West.  “The American West is in crisis. Across the major basins of the American West … farm and ranch families hang in the balance as they grapple with a 22-year mega-drought,” they warned.

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Despite Rain, Bay Area Utilities Are Cracking Down on Water Waste. One is Even Shutting Off Service

/in , /by /San Francisco Chronicleby Kurtis Alexander

Just because the rainy season has arrived doesn’t mean California’s water cops are off the job. With a fourth year of drought looming, some of the Bay Area’s biggest utilities continue to crack down on excessive outdoor watering. Most are responding to heavy sprinkler use or power-washing with a courtesy note, advising customers to stop what they’re doing with the threat of a fine.

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Rain Has Returned to NorCal, But Don’t Expect Reservoirs to Fill Up Anytime Soon

/in , , /by /KCRAby Heather Waldman

So far, things are going well for Northern California heading into what is, on average, the busiest part of the rain and snow season. As of Monday morning, many locations around the region are reporting above-average rainfall totals since the water year began on Oct. 1. Downtown Sacramento has had close to 4 inches as of the most recent observation on Sunday.

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