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Newsom Calls for More Aggressive Water Conservation Amid Third Year of Drought

/in , /by /Los Angeles Timesby Hayley Smith and Jonah Valdez

On the heels of the driest ever start to the year in California, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday issued a sweeping executive order calling on local water suppliers to implement more aggressive conservation measures as reservoirs dwindle and residents backslide in their efforts to cut back.

Specifically, the order requires that urban water suppliers activate “Level 2″ of their locally customized contingency plans, meaning they must prepare for a shortage of up to 20%.

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California’s Snowpack Is ‘Roasting in the Dry and Sunny Conditions’

/in , , /by /SF GATEby Amy Graff

California’s winter snowpack is suffering after the state saw historically dry weather in January and February, and March is headed down the same track. An early spring heat wave this week brought record-breaking temperatures that accelerated snowmelt. On Friday, the snowpack — which historically has provided about a third of the state’s water supply — stood at 46% of its average for this time of year.

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Study Previews How Climate Change May Alter Rain-making Atmospheric Rivers by 2100

/in , , /by /NOAA Research News

The people, economy, and ecosystems of the Pacific coast states of California, Oregon and Washington are highly dependent on cool-season atmospheric rivers for their annual water supply. These long, narrow flows of saturated air can transport enormous amounts of water vapor – roughly equivalent to the flow at the mouth of the Mississippi River. They can unload  heavy precipitation on the Cascade and Sierra Nevada ranges, but their annual yield regularly swings between boom and bust.

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Strong Front Is Soaking Southern California, Triggering Flood Alerts

/in , , /by /The Washington Postby Jason Samenow and Mike Branom

Flood advisories and warnings are up for parts of Southern California as a vigorous storm system from the Pacific Ocean sweeps across the region. The rain is welcome news given the drought conditions, but the intense downpours could prove disruptive.

The National Weather Service is predicting widespread rainfall of 2 to 4 inches through Monday in much of southwest California, with locally higher amounts possible. Snowfall of 8 to 18 inches is predicted in the mountains above 6,000 feet, where winter storm warnings are in effect.

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No March Miracle: Bay Area, California Remains In Drought As End Of Rainy Season Arrives

/in , , /by /CBS SF BayAreaby Wilson Walker

Approaching rain this weekend is something of an ironic twist to a very disappointing winter, as California will end its rainy season, deep in drought. This year, there will be no miracle.

“That’s right, we do have a miracle Marches,” said Nelsy Rodriguez with the East Bay Municipal Utility District. “Every few years we do get a big downpour in March.”

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New Book Explores Relationship of Salton Sea and People Throughout History

/in , , /by /The Press-Enterpriseby Ruth Nolan

The Salton Sea: The very name conjures images of a one time dazzling inland Riviera and beachy playground of the Rat Pack situated in the depths of eastern Riverside and Imperial counties’ remotest deserts. It also brings to mind, for some, images of a curious, modern-day wasteland, rife with the ruins of old trailers spray-painted with graffiti art, abandoned ski boats and a rapidly receding shoreline.

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Why Californians Have Been Saving Less Water in 2022

/in , , /by /The New York Timesby Soumya Karlamangla

The latest figures on California’s water conservation are in, and they’re pretty dismal.

Despite calls to reduce consumption during our punishing drought, Californians used 2.6 percent more water in January compared with the same month in 2020, according to state data. The figures for February and March are unlikely to be much better.

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San Joaquin County Agricultural Industry Has Avoided Worst of California’s Drought

/in , , /by /Recordnet.comby Aaron Leathley

San Joaquin County has avoided the worst impacts of the drought, which has cost California $1.7 billion and more than 14,000 jobs, a recent report found.

Surface water conditions in the San Joaquin Valley are less severe than during the 2012-16 drought, and are better in the north valley than in the south, the report by University of California researchers found.

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The Deceptively Simple Plan to Replenish California’s Groundwater

/in , , /by /National Geographicby Alejandra Borunda

From afar, the rows of knobby grapevines blend into the landscape of pink-blossomed almond trees and fragrant citrus. But get up close and you’ll see something strange: The trunks of the vines are standing in several inches of glistening, precious water.

These grapes, at the Kearney Agricultural Research Center in California’s San Joaquin Valley, are part of a grand experiment that many hope will help solve the state’s deepening water crisis.

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New EPA Regional Administrator Tackles Water Needs with a Wealth of Experience and $1 Billion in Federal Funding

/in , , /by /Western Water (Water Education Foundation)by Douglas E. Beeman

Martha Guzman recalls those awful days working on water and other issues as a deputy legislative secretary for then-Gov. Jerry Brown. California was mired in a recession and the state’s finances were deep in the red. Parks were cut, schools were cut, programs were cut to try to balance a troubled state budget in what she remembers as “that terrible time.”

She now finds herself in a strikingly different position: As administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 9, she has a mandate to address water challenges across California, Nevada, Arizona and Hawaii and $1 billion to help pay for it. Guzman called it the “absolutely greatest opportunity.”

Guzman talked with Western Water about how her past experiences are informing her work at EPA, some of the top priorities in EPA Region 9 and how the federal bipartisan infrastructure funding law is providing a unique opportunity to address the region’s water needs, including for tribal nations and disadvantaged communities.

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