Tag Archive for: California Department of Water Resources

A Tiny Threat Could have Big Impacts on California’s Drinking Water

At first glance, the small golden mussel doesn’t look like much of a threat. When clustered on a pier or the bottom of a buoy, the brownish spheres wouldn’t draw much attention, especially as they look like several of California’s native mussel species.

But the tiny mollusks, which can reach up to 2 inches in length, are a big concern: The California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California State Parks, and the California Department of Water Resources just announced the invasive species has been found in North America for the first time in the Port of Stockton in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta — and they’re already in at least one California reservoir.

Western Water Managers Prepare for Dueling Threats of Flood and Drought Amid Uncertain Weather Outlook

Western water managers are preparing for an upcoming season of potential weather extremes, but they remain uncertain as to which shape these events will take.

“We are really in a state of preparing for extremes in the 2025 water year. It’s really actually been a decade of extremes,” said Karla Nemeth, director of the California Department of Water Resources, at a Thursday briefing.

(L to R) Escondido City Manager Sean McGlynn; Escondido Director of Utilities Angela Morrow PE; Escondido City Councilmember Michael Morasco; Deputy Mayor Christian Garcia; Escondido Mayor Dane White; Councilmember Consuelo Martinez; Councilmember Joe Garcia; Escondido Deputy City Manager Chris McKinney. Photo: City of Escondido water reuse

New Escondido Water Reuse Plant Supports Area Farmers

The City of Escondido achieved an important milestone in its efforts to create a high-quality alternative water source to support its local agricultural growers in August.

The city and its partners, including the Filanc Brown and Caldwell (FBC) Joint Venture, dedicated the newly completed water reuse treatment plant at an August 28 event. The AgX Membrane Filtration Reverse Osmosis Facility for Agriculture (MFRO Facility) is a first-of-its-kind facility producing water for agricultural use in California.

The new $65 million facility completed construction in November 2023.

Lowering costs, increasing water supply resilience

The exterior of the new AgX Membrane Filtration Reverse Osmosis Facility for Agriculture (MFRO Facility), a first-of-its-kind facility producing water for agricultural use in California. Photo: City of Escondido water reuse

The exterior of the new AgX Membrane Filtration Reverse Osmosis Facility for Agriculture (MFRO Facility), a first-of-its-kind facility producing water for agricultural use in California. Photo: City of Escondido

The AgX MFRO Facility takes water redirected from an ocean outfall, which was reaching capacity and would have cost hundreds of millions of dollars to upsize. Water is now redirected to the MFRO Facility and treated for beneficial reuse by producing water with salinity (salt) levels ideal for agriculture, such as avocado growers.

Farmers benefit from paying lower water rates. With agricultural water use shifted to this new supply, potable water the farmers previously used is now available for other users, increasing local water resiliency.

This project is a rare win-win water solution for augmenting supply while alleviating demand. In an era of water scarcity, it provides a sustainable, local supply and a cost-effective alternative to potable water.

“This is an important milestone for Escondido’s recycled water system,” said Angela Morrow, City of Escondido Director of Utilities. “The MFRO Facility will provide a reliable, affordable, and high-quality water supply to our agricultural community for generations to come while beneficially reusing wastewater and reducing our reliance on imported water.”

Escondido water reuse project funded through multiple agreements

Escondido Mayor Dane White at the ribbon cutting for the new AgX Membrane Filtration Reverse Osmosis Facility for Agriculture (MFRO Facility). Photo: City of Escondido

Escondido Mayor Dane White at the ribbon cutting for the new AgX Membrane Filtration Reverse Osmosis Facility for Agriculture (MFRO Facility). Photo: City of Escondido

Funding for this project was provided in full or in part through an agreement with the State Water Resources Control Board and in part through agreements with the United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, and State of California, Department of Water Resources.

Headquartered in Escondido, Filanc is an award-winning general engineering and design-build contractor that solely constructs, renovates, and expands water and wastewater treatment, biosolids management, and waste-to-energy facilities throughout the Western United States.

Headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, Brown and Caldwell is a full-service environmental engineering and construction services firm with 50 offices and over 2,100 professionals across North America and the Pacific in operation for 75 years.

 

State Water Project Supplies Could Fall up to 23% Within 20 Years Due to Climate Change

Climate change threatens to dramatically shrink the amount of water California can deliver over the next 20 years and could reduce supplies available from the State Water Project by up to 23%, according to new projections released Wednesday by Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration.

The analysis by the California Department of Water Resources examined a range of climate change scenarios and projected that by 2043 the average amount of water transported through the massive network of reservoirs and canals to more than half the state’s population could decline between 13% and 23%.

NASA Photos Show Dramatic Change at Shasta Lake, California’s Largest Reservoir

Pictures taken from a NASA satellite earlier this month show a big difference in the water level at Shasta Lake from just two years ago. According to NASA, the older photo shows the lake at around 40% capacity, the low water level leaving a bright outline around California’s biggest reservoir.

2023 Water Year Was 8th Wettest of Past Five Decades, California Department of Water Resources Says

California groundwater storage increased by roughly 8.7 million acre-feet in the 2023 water year, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) said. The department said that it was the 8th wettest water year in 50 years and the groundwater storage increase was the first since 2019.

Lake Oroville, One of California’s Largest Water Reservoirs, is Full for the 2nd Year in a Row

For the second year in a row, Lake Oroville, one of California’s largest reservoirs, is at full capacity.

‘Innovation is the Cornerstone’ of the California Water Plan

Governor Gavin Newsom, with the support of the Department of Water Resources (DWR) and other state agencies, signed into effect new developments for the California Water Plan which details water conservation efforts for the next five years.

Newsom said that the state has invested $9 billion in the last three years, and that “I want folks to know that we are not just victims of fate, that we recognize the world we’re living in.”

California Farmers and Residents to Receive an Increase in Water Supply From DWR

The California Department of Water Resources announced an increase in the State Water Project water supply allocation forecast for 2024.

Healthy California Snowpack Increases Water Resources Across State

The California Department of Water Resources announced an increased water supply allocation for 2024.

The forecasted allocation has increased to 40%, up from 30% last month.

The increase would provide an additional 420,000 acre-feet of water, according to the department. That’s enough water to serve around 1.5 million households for a year.