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Lake Mendocino Reaches Second-Lowest Level in History

/in , , /by /The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa)by Mary Callahan

Historic drought has reduced Lake Mendocino to its second-lowest level since it was built, leaving reservoir storage in startling condition with months of likely warm, dry weather still ahead.

The lake on Thursday held just more than 24,000 acre feet of water — a result of critically low rainfall totals that, combined, make 2019-21 the driest two years on record, the National Weather Service said.

Storage in the reservoir, completed in 1958 with a flood storage capacity of 122,400 acre feet, has dipped below 25,000 acre feet only three times before and below 24,000 acre feet only once — by half, according to Sonoma Water.

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Gary Bousquet Named Director of Engineering for Water Authority

/in , , /by Quoted: San Diego County Water Authority

Gary Bousquet, a 30-year civil engineering professional, has been appointed Director of Engineering for the San Diego County Water Authority as the agency launches the development of a major energy storage project that promises substantial long-term benefits for the region. Bousquet fills the position vacated by the retirement of Jerry Reed, whose 26-year career with the Water Authority included the past six years as Engineering Department director.

With Bousquet’s promotion, Engineering Manager Neena Kuzmich was promoted to Deputy Director of Engineering. Kuzmich is a professional civil engineer with more than 20 years of experience, including the past eight years leading complex engineering projects at the Water Authority.

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Winning Waterwise Landscapes in the Vallecitos Water District

/in , , /by /Water News Network Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

San Diego County residents continue to embrace a conservation ethic by creating beautiful, waterwise landscapes. The Vallecitos Water District reports that more District water customers are reducing their outdoor water use and adopting WaterSmart practices.

Three Vallecitos customers are the most recent examples of the landscape makeover trend, creating beautiful landscapes, and winning the regional Watersmart Landscape Contest.

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‘Running out of Options’: California Resorts to Water Cutoffs as Drought Worsens

/in , , /by /Los Angeles Timesby Julia Wick

California water regulators took unprecedented action this week, passing an emergency regulation that will bar thousands of Californians from diverting stream and river water as the drought worsens.

The State Water Resources Control Board voted unanimously Tuesday to pass the “emergency curtailment” order for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta watershed. The watershed encompasses a wide swath of the state, from the Oregon border in northeastern California down into the Central Valley.

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Rare California Water Restrictions Hit Farmers Amid Dire Shortages

/in , , /by /The Guardianby Dani Anguiano

Faced with dire water shortages and a severe drought, California has moved to enact emergency restrictions that will prevent thousands of farmers and landowners from using water drawn from an enormous system of streams and rivers that services nearly two-thirds of the state.

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‘We are Very Fortunate With Our Water Supply’: Ruth Reservoir at 87% Capacity

/in , , /by /Times Standardby Isabella Vanderheiden

As wells and reservoirs dry up across California amid worsening drought conditions, Ruth Reservoir, which provides water for most of Humboldt County’s population centers, is at 87% capacity — exactly where it should be.

John Friedenbach, general manager of the Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District, said Ruth Reservoir has remained resilient through the drought.

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Drought-Stricken Colorado Mulls Water Measuring for Agriculture

/in , , /by /Bloomberg Lawby Tripp Baltz

Colorado is proposing to ramp up requirements that agricultural water users, ranging from big companies to small mom-and-pop farms, measure the amount of water they divert from streams, rivers and waterways.

The state engineer says a statewide rule is necessary to prepare Colorado for a water-scarce future. Some water users, however, accuse the state of taking a heavy-handed and overly expensive approach that will force landowners to install devices in areas that don’t need them.

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Getting Professional Guidance on Your Sustainable Landscaping

/in , , /by /Water News Network Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

With the help of resources such as the San Diego County Water Authority’s WaterSmart Landscape Makeover classes, video on demand, and Sustainable Landscape Guide, many homeowners feel prepared to create a beautiful new sustainable landscape on their own.

But sometimes, it’s a smart idea to call on professionals trained in different aspects of the watershed approach to landscaping. With a little help, you can ensure the success of your project. For your investment, you will likely save time and money by avoiding unsuccessful efforts.

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Lawmakers React to State Water Board Emergency Restrictions

/in , , /by /Fox26 Newsby Liz Gonzalez

This year’s drought is on the verge of going from bad to worse for thousands of farmers in the Central Valley. Tuesday, the State Water Resources Control Board approved emergency curtailment regulations. The move impacts 5,700 of the 6,600 water rights holders in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta watershed. Assemblyman Adam Gray (D-Merced) says Tuesday’s decision by the board is the wrong approach. He had petitioned the board to vote against the emergency measures.

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California Drought: One of the State’s Biggest Reservoirs Hit a Record Low this Week

/in , , /by /San Francisco Chronicleby Jessica Flores

Lake Oroville, one of California’s biggest reservoirs, reached its lowest-ever point this week, breaking a record set decades ago in the latest troubling sign of the punishing drought conditions afflicting the state.

The lake reached a “new historic low elevation” of 642.73 feet of water, which is down from 645 feet in September 1977, said John Yarbrough, assistant deputy director of the California State Water Project, in a statement.

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