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Drought Retreats From Nearly Half Of California

Drought conditions have retreated from nearly half of California after January’s onslaught of storms, the U.S. Drought Monitor said Thursday, and one large water wholesaler urged state regulators to lift restrictions on areas with adequate supplies. The board of directors of the San Diego County Water Authority voted to declare an end to drought conditions in its region and to call on Gov. Jerry Brown and the State Water Resources Control Board to rescind statewide emergency water-use regulation.

Storms Leave Bay Area Reservoirs Above Capacity, Spilling Over

The recent storms have created a lot of concern and catastrophe in the Bay Area. An example comes in Los Gatos, where a 100-foot tall eucalyptus tree slammed down next to Lisa Gonowski’s house. “We are sleeping in our living room because of these huge eucalyptus tree,” she said. But the storm has also reduced worries about our water supply. Last summer you could see the bottom of the Almaden Reservoir. Today it is nearly full because of the storms. In addition, the Lexington, Coyote and Uvas reservoirs are above capacity and spilling over.

 

SOME RELIEF | Notable Rainfall; Ventura Talks State Water

A series of strong storms over the weekend helped to relieve the drought-stricken lands known as Ventura County. Beginning on Thursday, Jan. 19, the first of three storms made its way into the county, followed by a stronger storm on Friday — a brief interlude on Saturday — and the strongest of the storms on Sunday through Monday morning. Areas of the county experienced small debris flows and localized flooding, with one family requiring rescue by the Ventura County Fire Department after their vehicle became stuck in flood waters at an intersection of Pleasant Valley Road in Camarillo.

CVP Remains Cautious On Water Allocation

As each passing storm delivers more snowpack to the mountains and fills many California reservoirs to above-average levels, operators of the federal Central Valley Project remain cautious about projecting agricultural water supplies for the coming year. In preparation for its initial 2017 water supply announcement, expected next month, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which operates the CVP, released an update of water conditions for its reservoirs. The largest, Shasta Lake, stood at 82 percent of capacity and 124 percent of average as of last week.

California Farmers Can’t Win As Monster Storms Threaten Crops

January’s monster storms and flooding in California inundated farmlands up and down the state, dealing a blow to crops of vegetables, citrus and nuts. While the series of tropical storms benefited some drought-stricken areas of the state, the heavy rains brought flooding to vineyards in Northern California and harvest delays further south for vegetable growers. Some citrus and nut growers were hurt too, including the loss of trees during strong winds.

Folsom Lake Less Than Half Full After Recent Rains. Residents Ask: Why So Dry?

Northern California is on track to break rainfall records. Water has gushed through a weir into the Yolo Bypass floodplain at levels not seen in more than a decade. The Sierra Nevada snowpack is nearly double historical averages. But you wouldn’t know the region has experienced an exceptionally wet winter looking at the steep, dry shores ringing the Sacramento region’s largest reservoir, Folsom Lake. On Wednesday, the lake was filled to just 41 percent capacity – 80 percent of its historical average.

California Drought Conservation Rules Likely To Continue

California’s top water regulator has strongly suggested the state will keep drought conservation rules in place despite winter storms that have waterlogged many communities. State Water Resources Control Board chair Felicia Marcus says no decisions are final until the board votes Feb. 7. Marcus told The Associated Press in an interview she supports continued conservation rules but is keeping an open mind.

NASA Measures ‘Dust On Snow’ To Help Manage Colorado River Basin Water Supplies

When Michelle Stokes and Stacie Bender look out across the snow-capped mountains of Utah and Colorado, they see more than just a majestic landscape. They see millions of gallons of water that will eventually flow into the Colorado River. The water stored as snowpack there will make its way to some 33 million people across seven western states, irrigating acres of lettuce, fruits and nuts in California, generating enormous amounts of electricity and ultimately flowing from taps in seven states.

Wet Weather Adding Up: Precipitation Over 300% Of Normal For January

It has been a month for the record books in terms of wet weather. According to the National Weather Service, the past few weeks of storm after storm is adding up. Precipitation is over 300% of normal for January in most of California.Earlier in the month, federal officials released numbers that showed more than 40 percent of California had emerged from a five-year drought. This was before even more wet weather rolled through.

BLOG: California Declares State Of Emergency As Winter Storm Leo Hampers Search For Missing; At Least 4 Dead

California Gov. Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency for 50 California counties that have been drenched by storms, including ongoing Winter Storm Leo, which have caused tens of millions of dollars in damage. In this latest round of storms to pound the state, at least four people died, three were missing and others were rescued from raging floodwaters. Anguished relatives gathered along a creek in Alameda County southeast of San Francisco as searchers looked for an 18-year-old woman whose car plunged into the rushing waterway after a collision late Saturday.