Congressman Costa announces $6.8M for Valley water projects
Posted by: Maven on February 9, 2012 at 6:17 amFrom The Business Journal:
“Rep. Jim Costa (D-Fresno) announced today that the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has approved $6.8 million in funding for Central Valley water projects.
The Madera Water Bank project alone will receive $1.5 million to further construction of the underground water storage initiative expected to store up to 250,000 acre-feet of groundwater. The Bureau of Reclamation has a long-term agreement with the Madera Irrigation District for acquisition of 100,000 acre-feet of the storage space should ongoing analysis indicate such storage would pencil out financially.
About $2.5 million will go toward the CALFED Water Use Efficiency and Water Conservation Grant Program to improve Central Valley water conservation and management efforts. … “
Continue reading from The Business Journal by clicking here.
RELATED: Read the press release from Congressman Costa by clicking here.
Lanare raises enough for an election
Posted by: Maven on February 8, 2012 at 7:35 amFrom the Fresno Bee News Blog:
“The Fresno County town of Lanare last weekend raised enough money to hold an election for its community service district board and keep hope alive for healthy drinking water.
The district must hold the election to continue being recognized by the state, which has funding for drinking water fixes. Without the election, the district would have shut down and the town of 400 would have lost its chance at state funding. … “
Continue reading from the Fresno Bee News Blog by clicking here.
Delta National Park blog: Obama’s Westlands Solar District opportunity
Posted by: Maven on February 7, 2012 at 8:15 amFrom the Delta National Park blog:
“The Fresno Bee’s Mark Grossi reports that Westlands Water District is suing the feds for not providing drainage services for 600,000 acres of salt-laden lands. Why wouldn’t they sue?
I have blogged about this issue here and here. Respectively, these posts address 1/ the dubious success of a pilot project bypass drainage service infrastructure and 2/ the problem that the feds got themselves into when they agreed to “provide drainage services” in the first place.
With regard to Westlands, it is time for the federal government to correct its two major errors. The first was in its complicity in the creation of an ostensibly viable Westlands Water District in 1952. The second was when it created a federal responsibility, under Bush 41, the Central Valley Project Improvement Act, to “provide drainage services” to Westlands. … “
Continue reading from the Delta National Park blog by clicking here.
Friday’s top of the scroll: Westlands Water District suing feds for $1 billion
Posted by: Maven on February 3, 2012 at 8:55 amFrom the Fresno Bee:
“Westlands Water District is suing the federal government for $1 billion, claiming the Interior Department failed to deliver a court-ordered cleanup of salty irrigation drainage.
About a dozen years after an appellate court upheld the cleanup order, bad water trapped below the ground surface still slowly poisons west Valley farmland. The swath of compromised land is two-thirds the size of Los Angeles.
“We’re tired of waiting,” said Westlands general manager Thomas Birmingham. “We’ve been paying for drainage service for decades. The land is sustaining irreparable harm.”
The suit was filed last month in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims in Washington, D.C. Interior officials declined comment on pending litigation. … “
Continue reading from the Fresno Bee by clicking here.
Merced Irrigation District has wells ready amid record dry winter
Posted by: Maven on February 2, 2012 at 7:54 amFrom the Merced Sun-Star:
“While a handful of regional water districts have approved early irrigation seasons, the Merced Irrigation District Board continues to rely on groundwater pumping to help farmers through the dry winter months.
Not all irrigation districts have the luxury of pumping large amounts of groundwater, said Hicham Eltal, Merced Irrigation District’s deputy general manger of water resources. “The difference is that MID owns a network of groundwater wells. We can provide sufficient water at a moment’s notice. If there’s a demand, we turn on the wells.”
The only catch: groundwater provided by MID during the winter is expensive. … “
Continue reading from the Merced Sun-Star by clicking here.
Valley farmers may have cure for poisoned cropland; Cactus is helping eliminate selenium and other soil contaminants
Posted by: Maven on January 30, 2012 at 7:20 amFrom the Fresno Bee:
“The prickly pear cactus may not sound like a trendy cash crop, but it could become a phenomenon among farmers on the arid west side of the San Joaquin Valley.
The cactus can grow in the west-side’s salty soils, drink briny water and live just fine in very dry times. But the real attraction: As it grows, the cactus slowly absorbs and cleans up a chemical villain in the soil — selenium.
Selenium in irrigation drainage widely killed and maimed wildlife during the 1980s at Kesterson Reservoir on the Valley’s west side. Before that, selenium was known only as an essential natural element in animals and people — in small doses. … “
Continue reading from the Fresno Bee by clicking here.
Lanare holds dinner-dance to raise money for an election just to stay in hunt for state water funding
Posted by: Maven on January 28, 2012 at 7:35 amFrom the Fresno Bee News Blog:
“I don’t often mention fundraisers, let alone dinner-dances in rural towns around the San Joaquin Valley. But stay with me on this one for a minute.
The Fresno County community of Lanare is holding a dinner-dance fundraiser on Feb. 4 because it needs money to pay for the election of board members to its community service district. … “
Continue reading from the Fresno Bee News Blog by clicking here.
Efforts to bring clean water to Tulare County
Posted by: Maven on January 26, 2012 at 7:23 amFrom KFSN:
“The effort to bring healthy water to Valley towns moved forward Wednesday after federal officials heard directly from residents about the ongoing problem.
Members of the Environmental Protection Agency toured parts of the Valley, in hopes of getting a closer look at just how bad people’s drinking water is.
The water coming out of the faucet may look clean, but Seville resident Rebecca Quintana says it’s filled with unhealthy levels of nitrates and bacteria.
Rebecca Quintana said, “We don’t have that luxury of just turning on the water and being able to drink or cook.” … “
Continue reading from KFSN by clicking here, or watch the newscast below.
Empty rain basins remain in southern San Joaquin Valley
Posted by: Maven on January 26, 2012 at 7:19 amFrom KFSN:
“This year’s rainfall is a stark contrast from last year’s totals.
Farmers will need at least a half-dozen more storms like this last one to get through this winter without having to irrigate. At the Tulare Irrigation District, officials are closely monitoring this year’s rainfalls.
Water recharge basins at the Tulare Irrigation District remain empty, even after last weekend’s rain storm. … “
Continue reading from KFSN by clicking here, or watch below:
San Joaquin Valley: After giving crops a midwinter drink, canals to empty once more
Posted by: Maven on January 25, 2012 at 7:19 amFrom the Modesto Bee:
“Irrigation canals will start to shut down this week after temporarily providing critical relief because of this winter’s late-arriving rain.
Water deliveries will end Thursday in the South San Joaquin Irrigation District, which had started them Jan. 15.
The Modesto Irrigation District plans to supply water through Friday, ending a 2½-week run. The Turlock Irrigation District plans to go through Saturday, a total of 10 days.
The Oakdale Irrigation District will continue to make its large wells available to farmers until the regular irrigation season starts, if needed. … “
Continue reading from the Modesto Bee by clicking here.
Journal article: Modifying agricultural water management to adapt to climate change in California’s Central Valley
Posted by: Maven on January 21, 2012 at 7:42 amFrom the Stockholm Environmental Institute:
“Climate change impacts and potential adaptation strategies were assessed using an application of the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) system developed for the Sacramento River basin and Delta export region of the San Joaquin Valley. The authors applied the model to evaluate the hydrologic implications of 12 climate change scenarios as well as the water management ramifications of the implied hydrologic changes.
In addition to evaluating the impacts of climate change with current operations, the model also assessed the impacts of changing agricultural management strategies in response to a changing climate. Model simulations suggested that increasing agricultural demand under climate change brought on by increasing temperature will place additional stress on the water system, such that some water users will experience a decrease in water supply reliability.
To adequately address the impacts of climate change, adaptation strategies will have to include fundamental changes in the ways in which the water management system is operated.”
Click here for the link to the journal article.
Kettleman City water project gains momentum
Posted by: Maven on January 19, 2012 at 5:52 amFrom the Hanford Sentinel:
“Safe drinking water may finally arrive in Kettleman City, but it will be a few years yet before people can start enjoying the water right out of the tap, according to officials close to the project.
State officials are expected to approve $8 million in funding for the project this spring after the community’s utility district submitted its application last fall.
The district was recently notified that its application is good to go, and the state should announce a formal decision within two months, said Joe McGahan, principal of Summers Engineering. The Hanford firm serves as the Kettleman City Community Services District’s engineer. … “
Continue reading from the Hanford Sentinel by clicking here.
KMTG Natural Resources Blog: Central Valley Flood Protection Board receives public draft 2012 Central Valley Flood Protection Plan
Posted by: Maven on January 18, 2012 at 7:50 amFrom the KMTG Natural Resources Blog:
“On December 30, 2011, the Central Valley Flood Protection Board (Board) received the Public Draft 2012 Central Valley Flood Protection Plan (CVFPP) and the December 2011 Flood Control System Status Report (FCSSR) from the California Department of Water Resources (DWR). Links to the draft plan and associated documents may be found here.
DWR will present and highlight key elements of the CVFPP to the Board at its regularly scheduled meeting on January 27, 2012, when the Board will describe its process for reviewing the technical documents and accepting public comments. … “
Continue reading from the KMTG Natural Resources Blog by clicking here.
New tool for cleaning up soils and waterways in the San Joaquin Valley: Prickly Pear
Posted by: Maven on January 18, 2012 at 6:23 amFrom the USDA Agricultural Research Service:
“A U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientist has discovered what may be an effective tool for cleaning up soils and waterways in parts of California’s San Joaquin Valley: a drought-tolerant cactus.
Ancient seas once covered the west side of the valley, and those seas left behind marine sediments, shale formations and deposits of selenium and other minerals in the soil. Crops grown there need to be irrigated, but the resulting runoff, when it contains high levels of selenium, can be toxic to fish, migratory birds, and other wildlife that drink from waterways and drainage ditches. Selenium runoff is subject to monitoring by regional water quality officials.
Soil scientist Gary Bañuelos with USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) thinks he has found a promising way to rid the soil of selenium: planting prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica). … “
Continue reading from the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service by clicking here.
Conservation tillage jumps in Central Valley
Posted by: Maven on January 18, 2012 at 6:21 amFrom the Central Valley Business Times:
“Central Valley farmers, especially those in the San Joaquin portion of the Valley, are switching to conservation tillage at a furious pace an annual survey of farmers finds.
The increase is good news for the Central Valley, as the region continues to struggle with a sluggish economy and some of the dirtiest air in the countrym says the organization Sustainable Conservation.
Between 2008-2010, Central Valley farmers switched to conservation tillage on nearly 1 million acres used to grow row crops like corn and wheat silage according to a new study published Tuesday by an alliance of university, farming and environmental leaders. … “
Continue reading from the Central Valley Business Times by clicking here.
SEE ALSO: Low-till agriculture gets its day in California, from the Merced Sun-Star
Kettleman City learns small town water upgrades take time
Posted by: Maven on January 18, 2012 at 6:19 amFrom the Fresno Bee:
“Where do you start if you’re a small town trying to clean up tainted drinking water? For Kettleman City, it took an order from the state.
That’s part of rural life in the San Joaquin Valley. Dozens of farm- worker com- munities live with tap water that is considered unsafe and wait for state help.
One sure way to start the cleanup: The state issues an order to do it. That’s when the fix-it money starts flowing from the state.
Small towns must wait in line to get the state’s attention. A huge, balky state agency — the California Department of Public Health — is in control of the money and their fate. … “
Continue reading from the Fresno Bee by clicking here.
Kettleman City set to receive water funds
Posted by: Maven on January 15, 2012 at 6:17 amFrom the Fresno Bee:
“Kettleman City is poised to get $8 million from the state to eliminate tainted drinking water problems that have stalled new businesses and added to a shroud of health worries there.
People in the Kings County town of 1,400 have been concerned about the water, air and soil for two decades. Some suspect the West’s largest hazardous-waste landfill — just a few miles from town — has poisoned their environment.
But state and federal agencies have not been able to link the landfill and residents’ health problems, which have included pneumonia, cancer and heart ailments. Most recently there was a series of birth defects and infant deaths.
The $8 million will buy a little peace of mind. … “
Continue reading from the Fresno Bee by clicking here.
Visalia seeks to remove 600 walnut trees
Posted by: Maven on January 12, 2012 at 7:12 amFrom the Visalia Times-Delta:
“Walnuts are out. Pecans are in.
With 600 acres of aging walnut trees starting to die off, the city of Visalia is looking to remove and replace the existing crop with a healthy new one.
But patience is a virtue and the city is willing to wait until 2019, when a new crop would start to show profit.
Within the next two months, the city will start removing 100 acres of walnut trees northwest of Caldwell Avenue and Highway 99. … “
The trees help keep Visalia’s sewer bills low. Find out how in the rest of this article from the Visalia Times-Delta by clicking here.
Turlock Irrigation District agrees to early water release for farmers starting Jan. 19
Posted by: Maven on January 11, 2012 at 6:45 amFrom the Modesto Bee:
“Farmers in the Turlock Irrigation District will get rare winter deliveries thanks to a board vote this morning.
Directors approved refilling the canals to deal with the severe lack of rain so far this season.
Deliveries will start Jan. 19 and likely last about 10 days, depending on the weather. Farmers will pay $15 per acre-foot but will not have this water counted against their 2012 allotments. … “
Continue reading from the Modesto Bee by clicking here.
Modesto Irrigation District keeps alive proposal to sell water to San Francisco
Posted by: Maven on January 11, 2012 at 6:42 amFrom the Modesto Bee:
“The idea of selling water to San Francisco stayed alive Tuesday at the Modesto Irrigation District board meeting, despite protests from people who want to keep it for farming or fish.
Directors voted 4-1 to have district staff complete negotiations on an initial sale of about 2,200 acre-feet of Tuolumne River water per year.
The detailed agreement, including the price and duration, is expected to return to the board for a final vote in several weeks. … “
Continue reading from the Modesto Bee by clicking here.
Lodi: Water plant hitting projected marks
Posted by: Maven on January 9, 2012 at 6:46 amFrom the Stockton Record:
“A 29-foot-high water tank, a basin plenty big enough to comfortably house Shamu, is now a landmark on a 12-acre parcel of land west of Lodi Lake.
The tank is the centerpiece of Lodi’s latest public works project, a $37 million surface water treatment plant that will help deliver drinking water to residents for the next 100 years.
The city broke ground on the plant in March, paving the way for the treatment of 6,000 to 8,000 acre-feet of Mokelumne River water per year. An acre-foot is about 326,000 gallons. … “
Continue reading from the Stockton Record by clicking here.
Modesto Irrigation District not ready yet for vote on sale of Tuolumne River water
Posted by: Maven on January 8, 2012 at 7:50 amFrom the Modesto Bee:
“The Modesto Irrigation District is approaching a critical juncture in its history with a decision on whether to sell Tuolumne River water to the city and county of San Francisco on an ongoing basis.
For many decades, the response to that suggestion has always been a firm and flat “no.” In the past several months, however, behind the scenes that “no” has turned into a “maybe.”
Specifically, early discussions between the staffs of the MID and San Francisco have centered on two possibilities … “
Continue reading from the Modesto Bee by clicking here.
Dry conditions prompting worries: Kings County drought resolution could be brought back
Posted by: Maven on January 7, 2012 at 8:22 amFrom the Hanford Sentinel:
“Kings County may be headed for another drought, county officials said Tuesday, prompting them to consider an official declaration.
The driest December on record, tied with 1989′s rainfall, has prompted county supervisors to consider bringing back a drought declaration suspended last year because of two wet winters in a row.
That looks like ancient history. This time last year, the snowpack was more than 200 percent of normal. On Tuesday, the snowpack was at 19 percent of normal statewide, nearly its lowest level in recorded history for this date. … “
Continue reading from the Hanford Sentinel by clicking here.
Modesto Irrigation District water sale might advance next week
Posted by: Maven on January 6, 2012 at 7:37 amFrom the Modesto Bee:
“The board of the Modesto Irrigation District could take steps next week toward selling water to San Francisco.
The board Tuesday will consider directing the MID staff to continue negotiations with the city on an initial sale of up to 2,200 acre-feet from the Tuolumne River, spokeswoman Melissa Williams said Thursday. A vote on the deal would come later.The board also could vote Tuesday to pursue the environmental study required for the potential sale of up to 25,000 acre-feet. This study already has been done on the initial sale. … “
Continue reading from the Modesto Bee by clicking here.
Conservation group sues Fresno companies over industrial runoff
Posted by: Maven on January 5, 2012 at 7:47 amFrom the Fresno Bee:
“A Stockton-based conservation group that has sued dozens of businesses for allegedly polluting the state’s rivers is now targeting two Fresno companies, saying they illegally sent tainted water into the city’s storm-drain system.
The California Sportfishing Protection Alliance says in separate federal lawsuits filed last week that the water released by the two companies violated the federal Clean Water Act and the state’s General Industrial Permit for storm water discharges.
Water that flows into Fresno’s storm-drain system, the suit says, in turn flows in to the San Joaquin River and, ultimately, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. … “
Continue reading from the Fresno Bee by clicking here.
Merced-area’s farmers not panicking yet over dry winter
Posted by: Maven on January 5, 2012 at 7:43 amFrom the Merced Sun-Star:
“A dry start to the winter season has many California growers concerned, but Merced County farmers may have reason to remain optimistic. Fear of another drought remains real, but many think it’s not quite time to panic.
“The one thing that makes our situation better than, say, Fresno County, is our irrigation districts,” said University of California Cooperative Extension adviser Scott Stoddard. “Potentially (a dry year) could be detrimental to us, but because we had a wet winter last year and because of our superior irrigation on the west side, this year it looks like the county will be OK for water.” … “
Continue reading from the Merced Sun-Star by clicking here.
Central Valley farmers to get early water delivery
Posted by: Maven on January 5, 2012 at 7:40 amFrom the Modesto Bee:
“Farmers starved for rain this winter soon will get water from canals that usually shut down for the season.
The Modesto and Turlock irrigation districts are preparing to refill their canals with Tuolumne River water and deliver it to farmers for perhaps two weeks. The water will help dairy farmers grow winter feed crops, and fruit and nut growers get their trees ready for bloom in late winter and spring.
“It’s been dry for so long, and they need to get a good start,” said Ron Macedo, a Turlock-area almond grower and TID board member. … “
Continue reading from the Modesto Bee by clicking here.
Research paper: Groundwater storage estimates in the Central Valley aquifer using GRACE data
Posted by: Maven on January 2, 2012 at 8:09 amFrom EarthZine:
“The role of the NASA Applied Sciences DEVELOP student internship program is to use NASA satellite missions to explore Earth-based research questions in collaboration with state and federal agencies. One recent project focused on the use of the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE), to estimate changes in groundwater storage in the Central Valley aquifer in collaboration with the California Department of Water Resources (DWR).
GRACE can be used to measure gravitational anomalies on Earth which are further processed to remove other gravitational effects, and are obtained as measurements of equivalent water thickness, which relate to changes in total water storage (TWS) throughout the world. For this study, GRACE TWS anomalies were obtained from October 2002 to September 2009, for two hydrologic regions, the Sacramento River Basin and the San Joaquin River Basin, including the Tulare Lake Basin, encompassing the Central Valley aquifer.
To calculate monthly groundwater storage estimates, additional variables such as soil moisture, snowpack, and surface water storage were combined with GRACE TWS values to estimate groundwater storage anomalies. The GRACE-derived changes in groundwater storage at the basin and regional level or the two basins combined, were then compared to modeled values calculated using the California Department of Water Resources’ Central Valley Groundwater-Surface Water Simulation Model (C2VSIM) and a Geographical Information Systems Change in Storage Tool (GIS CST).
Groundwater storage estimates from GRACE and C2VSIM were comparable for the entire Central Valley, showing similar seasonal, annual, and long-term trends. This work has the potential to improve California’s groundwater resource management and the use of existing hydrologic models for the Central Valley. … “
Read the paper and check out the graphs at EarthZine by clicking here.
San Luis Wildlife Refuge cashing in on tourism
Posted by: Maven on December 31, 2011 at 1:33 pmFrom the Merced Sun-Star:
“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife opened a 16,000-square-foot visitor center and office in 2011, and it’s expected to double tourism dollars to the Los Banos area.
The San Luis National Wildlife Refuge Complex Headquarters and Visitors Center, built with $9.8 million of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act money secured in 2009, opened to the public in October after a blessing from representatives of the Southern Sierra Miwok Nation, the land’s original owners. … “
Continue reading from the Merced Sun-Star by clicking here.
Perfect blend? Santa Nella looks for right mix of well, surface water
Posted by: Maven on December 30, 2011 at 7:36 amFrom Westside Connect:
“Increased production from a refurbished well has some members of the Santa Nella County Water District Board of Directors questioning whether too much ground water is being blended with imported surface water and degrading quality as a result.
The issue came to the forefront at the December board meeting when directors were told that the ratio of well water to surface water approached 50 percent in November.
“We’re paying for the canal water, and we’re getting (lesser quality) well water,” board member Rocco DiConza stated. … “
Continue reading from Westside Connect by clicking here.
Livingston gets rid of water rate consultant
Posted by: Maven on December 28, 2011 at 11:31 pmFrom the Merced Sun-Star:
“The city’s most recent water rate study had a hiccup recently, as officials decided to fire the consultant on the project because of poor performance. However, a consultant at the company said performance wasn’t the issue — the city parted ways with his organization because of mere politics.
City officials have already started the process of looking for a new consultant after they let go of their old one a few weeks back. A new consultant is needed before the city can move forward with any possible water rate increases, since it provides the city with financial analysis and recommendations on where utility rates need to be. … “
Continue reading from the Merced Sun-Star by clicking here.
Westlands moves closer to water transfer
Posted by: Maven on December 23, 2011 at 6:20 amFrom the Fresno Business Journal:
“The Bureau of Reclamation has determined that an environmental impact statement is not required for the approval of the partial assignment of 4,000 acre-feet of Oro Loma Water District’s Central Valley Project water service contract to Westlands Water District.
The draft Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact were prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act. The Bureau of Reclamation plans to provide the public with an opportunity to comment on both drafts during the 30-day public review period. … “
Continue reading from the Fresno Business Journal by clicking here.
Modesto Irrigation District board could discuss San Francisco water sale Jan. 10
Posted by: Maven on December 23, 2011 at 6:15 amFrom the Modesto Bee:
“The Modesto Irrigation District board has tentatively set a Jan. 10 discussion on proposed water sales to San Francisco.
It would be the first time that the full board discusses the sales, which would involve Tuolumne River water that the MID plans to free up thanks to conservation projects on its canal system.
The board could vote at a later meeting on the first sale of about 2,200 acre-feet. It could take place quickly because San Francisco has completed the required study of environmental impacts. … “
Continue reading from the Modesto Bee by clicking here.
Merced: Environmental cleanup effort running into delays
Posted by: Maven on December 21, 2011 at 7:22 amFrom the Merced Sun-Star:
“The long-awaited environmental cleanup of the Merced County Public Works Yard in South Merced has gotten off to a slow start — and some residents say that’s putting it mildly.
Last February, the county started cleaning up gasoline and diesel fuel that had leaked from several underground storage tanks 25 years ago. Over the past 10 months, the equipment used to remove the potentially dangerous chemicals has been broken about half of the time, according to Richard Schwarz, assistant director for the Merced County Department of Public Works.
“With something that runs 24/7, you have to maintain it. That’s just the way it is. I think there are too many components that broke — but that’s nobody’s fault,” he said. He added that cleanup efforts in recent months have had a “significant, positive effect on the reduction of petroleum hydrocarbons in the groundwater.” … “
Continue reading from the Merced Sun-Star by clicking here.
Tule River: Flume ready to carry water again
Posted by: Maven on December 21, 2011 at 7:07 amFrom the Porterville Recorder:
“Within the next two weeks water will once again be flowing in the flume above Springville. It will be the first time in more than two years the 15-mile water conveyance system will contain water.
Workers are putting the finishing touches on repairing more than 3,000 feet of the flume that was damaged by a fire in the summer of 2009.
It will be a few more weeks before the 100-year old flume will once again carry water from the Pacific Gas and Electric Tule River Powerhouse to the Southern California Edison Tule River Powerhouse and to Springville. … “
Cont6inue reading from the Porterville Recorder by clicking here.
Shaver Lake’s history exposed as water disappears; New look reveals long-forgotten tools from years past
Posted by: Maven on December 18, 2011 at 6:56 amFrom the Fresno Bee:
“Hey, what happened to all the water?
Instead of a lake here, there’s just an empty brown expanse littered with boulders, tree stumps and logs.
But take a closer look, preferably with binoculars or a spotting scope. What you’re seeing is Fresno County history, much of it exposed to sunlight for the first time in eight decades.
“It’s like, ‘Wow!’ You’re never going to see it like this in your life ever again,” said Kathy Melkonian of Fresno, who drove up to take pictures and gawk at the empty lake. “You’re so used to seeing it full of water.” … “
Continue reading from the Fresno Bee by clicking here.
Early rainfall totals concern Turlock Irrigation District
Posted by: Maven on December 14, 2011 at 7:39 amFrom the Turlock Journal:
“It has been a slow start to the Northern California rainy season. The low rainfall totals have Turlock Irrigation District officials mildly worried — and there is little to no chance of rain in the next week.
Other than trace amounts on Monday, there has not been any rainfall since Nov. 25 — and that was only .03 inches. In November, 1.28 inches of rain fell, compared to the average of 4.25 inches. In December there has been just a trace of rain, compared to an average of 5.96 inches. So far this season the total watershed accumulated precipitation is 4.57 inches which is just under 50 percent of normal. … “
Continue reading from the Turlock Journal by clicking here.
Valley Economy blog: Westlands has lowest fallowing in a decade in 2011 while Mendota sets unemployment record (according to CA EDD)
Posted by: Maven on December 13, 2011 at 7:54 amFrom the Valley Economy blog:
“Thanks to this year’s abundant precipitation, Westlands’ 2011 crop report shows harvested acres increased by 139,000 acres compared to 2009 (and about 70,000 acres higher than 2010). This is the highest level of harvested acres reported by Westlands Water District since 2000. Cotton increased by more than 70,000 acres with lower increases in wheat, onions, garlic, lettuce, almonds, and pistachios. The increased production undoubtedly provided an economic boost to the area.
Despite the increased farm production, according to California EDD, Mendota’s unemployment rate averaged a record 42.3% in the first 10 months of 2011, but don’t expect any news reports on this shocking statistic despite the fact that unemployment is 4.5 percentage points higher than the 38.7% recorded during the 1st 10 months of 2009 in the peak of the water/unemployment media frenzy. … “
Continue reading from the Valley Economy blog by clicking here.
Fresno Bee News Blog: Frustrated farmer bans feds from crossing his land
Posted by: Maven on December 9, 2011 at 6:10 amFrom the Fresno Bee News Blog:
“A frustrated riverside farmer this week announced he would no longer cooperate with federal officials in the restoration of the San Joaquin. He’s not letting them pass through his west Valley property anymore to work on the river.
That could be a bad sign for the river restoration. If others follow, will it slow down the hard-fought restoration? I’ll be asking that question a lot in the next few months.
First, here’s why west-side farmer Jim Nickel is upset. … “
Continue reading from the Fresno Bee News Blog by clicking here.
San Luis wildlife complex opens a visitor center
Posted by: Maven on December 8, 2011 at 7:10 amFrom the Fresno Bee:
“The patch Jack Sparks and his co-workers at the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge Complex wear on the left shoulder of their work uniforms is a constant source of confusion.
“Everyone thinks we work for Fish and Game, even when they look at my patch,” Sparks said. “And when I tell people I work at the San Luis wildlife refuge, they say, ‘Oh, you work at the reservoir.’ ”
No, and no.
Sparks is an employee of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the federal agency responsible for the management of migratory fish and birds and the preservation of their natural habitats. That’s entirely separate from the California Department of Fish and Game, which protects the state’s resident wildlife. … “
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