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Water Authority Awarded $3M from State’s Urban Drought Relief Grant Program

/in , , /by /Times of San Diego Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

The San Diego County Water Authority was awarded $3.3 million Thursday by the state’s Department of Water Resources for installation of high-efficiency toilets and smart irrigation controllers.

The funding is part of $46 million in grants the department awarded nine projects in six counties. The Urban Community Drought Relief Grant program is intended to “address drought impacts in California’s communities while furthering water conservation,” a statement from the agency reads.

According to the state, the San Diego County projects are expected to provide 1,323 acre-feet in water savings per year and transform up to 333,420 acres to more water-efficient landscapes.

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Despite an ‘Incredible’ Snowpack, Drought Not Over in California

/in , , /by /Courthouse News Serviceby Natalie Hanson

California may celebrate having double the expected snowpack after a string of atmospheric river storms, but state water experts warn that more needs to come to offset years of record-breaking drought.

At the season’s second monthly snowpack survey conducted Wednesday at Phillips Station — at the intersection of Highway 50 and Sierra-at-Tahoe Road — the California Department of Water Resources measured current snow depths and water content.

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California Has Huge Snowpack, but Dry Trend Raises Worries

/in , , /by /AP Newsby John Antczak

The mountain snowpack that supplies a significant amount of California’s water got an incredible boost from recent powerful storms and is outpacing the state’s wettest season on record, state water officials said Wednesday.

But its too soon to know if the winter will be a drought-buster, they said.

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San Diego Can Expect More Water After Recent Rains

/in , /by /Patchby Rachel Barnes and Emily Rahhal

Recent rains could mean a more flexible water budget for San Diego as state authorities announced increased water deliveries throughout California.

The state will allocate additional water deliveries to some 29 public water agencies, delivering 30 percent of requested water supplies after initially projecting only five percent delivery.

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Drenched by Higher-Than-Normal Rain, Lake Shasta Water Level Rises 60 Feet During January

/in , /by /Record Searchlightby Damon Arthur

Higher-than-normal rainfall during the past month has dramatically changed Lake Shasta, with the water level of California’s largest reservoir rising 60 feet since the end of December.

Gone are vast areas of shoreline that became parking lots and campgrounds as the lake dried up and the water level dropped during the past several years of low rainfall in the North State.

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State Water Project to Boost Deliveries from 5% to 30% of Normal After Rains

/in , , /by /Times of San Diego by Chris Jennewein Quoted: San Diego County Water Authority

California’s giant State Water Project, the network of dams and aqueducts that provides water for 27 million people, will significantly increase deliveries in 2023 after a month of “atmospheric river” storms.

The Department of Water Resources announced Thursday that deliveries will increase from 5% of requested supplies to 30% for the water year than began Dec. 1.

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DWR Expects to Begin Spillway Work Between May and October

/in , , /by /Enterprise-Recordby Jake Hutchison

The California Department of Water Resources is set to begin phase one of its plan to replace the hoists on the Oroville Dam spillway sometime between May and October.

Project Manager Zerguy Maazouddi, who works under DWR’s Division of Operations and Maintenance, said the first phase of prerequisites such as site surveys and approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

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Despite Recent Parade of Storms, California Unveils Drought Resiliency Task Force

/in , , /by /CBS Bay Area

Though the recent barrage of winter storms has certainly improved California’s drought conditions, state water leaders are making moves to prepare for the inevitable dry season soon to come.

On Friday, the California Department of Water Resources kickstarted a partnership between state agencies, local governments, scientists and community members in a new task force, called the Drought Resilience Interagency and Partners Collaborative.

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How Arizona, California and Other States Are Trying to Generate a Whole New Water Supply

/in , , /by /The Hillby Gianna Melillo

Underground storage may be a key for Western states navigating water shortages and extreme weather.

Aquifers under the ground have served as a reliable source of water for years. During rainy years, the aquifers would fill up naturally, helping areas get by in the dry years.

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California Went From Drought to ‘Epic’ Snow. What It Could Mean for Spring Flooding

/in , /by /The Sacramento Beeby Ryan Lillis

Nearly every square mile of California was in a severe drought four months ago. The first six months of 2022 were the driest on record and, in many corners of the state, the rest of the year wasn’t much better.

Now we’re worrying about whether we have too much water in some places.

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