AgNet West Archives

Taking a Cooperative Approach to Issues such as Water

February 25, 2020/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /AgNet West by Brian German Mentioned: agnetwest.com/taking-cooperative-approach-to-issues-such-as-water/

California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross highlighted the importance of taking a more cooperative approach to address important issues in lieu of an ‘us-versus-them’ mentality between environmental and agricultural interests. While often the two groups are on opposing sides of a particular issue, both are working toward a sustainable future. Ross noted that the framework for variable flows is the first step in getting environmentalists and producers on the same page to protect the state’s water.

Officials Praise New Biological Opinions For The SWP And CVP

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service have released new biological opinions that will have a significant impact on the administration of California water supplies. The new documents relate to salmon, Delta smelt and other native fish species that are affected by the management of the State Water Project (SWP), as well as the Central Valley Project (CVP).

“The new Biological Opinions mean that for farms, fish, and people, this is the dawn of a new science-based approach to water and ecosystem management,” California Farm Water Coalition Executive Director Mike Wade said in a news release. “The biological opinions being replaced were based on an arbitrary, calendar-based approach, and have not delivered the successful recovery of salmon and Delta smelt populations.”

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SJV Water Blueprint Submitted For Water Resilience Portfolio

October 15, 2019/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /AgNet West by Brian German

The Water Blueprint for the San Joaquin Valley recently presented recommendations for the Water Resilience Portfolio in response to Governor Newsom’s Executive Order. The information sent to the Governor’s office highlights some of issues facing water security in the San Joaquin Valley. Some of the Blueprint coalition participants include the California Farm Bureau Federation, Western Growers Association, California Citrus Mutual, and Dairy Farmers of America.

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Senate Bill 1 Continues To Move Through The California Legislature

September 3, 2019/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /AgNet Westby Brian German

Last week California Senate Bill 1 (SB 1) continued with its forward momentum, advancing from the California Assembly Appropriations Committee by a vote of 13 to five. The legislation that some environmental groups are referring to as ‘Trump insurance’ is now headed to the California Assembly floor. The California Environmental, Public Health, and Workers Defense Act of 2019 known as SB 1 seeks to uphold specific federal policy as it pertains to water.

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SGMA Rollout Coming Along Smoothly

August 13, 2019/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /AgNet West Radio Networkby Brian German

The implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) has presented some challenges, however it appears the overall process is progressing smoothly overall. Supervising Engineering Geologist with the Department of Water Resources (Department), Steven Springhorn noted that the stakeholders have been diligent in adhering to the timeline established by the regulation. “In general, the status of SGMA is going well,” said Springhorn. “That was really shown by the first major milestone, the GSA formation deadline. Roughly 99 percent of the area that had to be covered, was covered. So that just built a lot of momentum.”

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Effort To Repair Friant-Kern Canal Passes First Hurdle

April 15, 2019/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /AgNet Westby Brian German

A bill moving through the state legislature looks to make repairs and enhancements to the Friant-Kern Canal. Senate Bill 559 was authored by Senator Melissa Hurtado, representing the 14th Senate District, and was co-authored by several other San Joaquin Valley lawmakers. The legislation recently advanced through the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water with a vote of 7 to 0. The canal moves water south from Friant Dam through 152 miles of canal to the Kern River in Bakersfield. The canal has been shown to be suffering from subsidence issues as a result of over drafted groundwater basins.

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Upgrading California’s Water Grid For Future Needs

April 10, 2019/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /AgNet West (Fresno)by Brian German

Lawmakers recently heard testimony about the needs of California’s water grid at a recent House Subcommittee meeting on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife. Several experts presented information about the current conditions of western water infrastructure and what will be required going forward. “One of the first priorities is to really think about groundwater as a more active part of this grid; manage it more intensively and actively. The second piece is fix what’s broken and expand capacity where it’s needed,” Director of the Water Policy Center at the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), Ellen Hanak told the committee.

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Upgrading California’s Water Grid For Future Needs

April 9, 2019/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /AgNet West (Fresno)by Brian German

Lawmakers recently heard testimony about the needs of California’s water grid at a recent House Subcommittee meeting on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife. Several experts presented information about the current conditions of western water infrastructure and what will be required going forward. “One of the first priorities is to really think about groundwater as a more active part of this grid; manage it more intensively and actively. The second piece is fix what’s broken and expand capacity where it’s needed,” Director of the Water Policy Center at the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), Ellen Hanak told the committee.

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Water Works: Diverse Support of Proposition 3 Water Bond

September 27, 2018/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /AgNet West (Fresno)

In today’s Water Works, brought to you by AquiMax, there will be another water proposition on the ballot for Californians this November. Proposition 3, the Water Supply and Water Quality Act of 2018, would authorize $8.877 billion in general obligation bonds for various types of water projects. The proposition’s broad spending categories include watershed lands, water supply, fish and wildlife habitat, water facility upgrades, groundwater, and flood protection.

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