As California drought enters 4th year, conservation efforts and worries increase [New York Times]
The
rainy season drove into California in December with wet and windy promise:
soaking rain, snow, dark gray skies and a flash of hope that the drought that
has scorched this region had run its course. And then came January — with
record high temperatures and record low rainfall. And now, as the end of the
official rainy season approaches — this state gets 90 percent of its water from
December through April, most of it in December and January — California is
facing a punishing fourth year of drought.
Endangered Delta smelt may be extinct [Capital Public Radio,
Sacramento]
"Prepare
for the extinction of the Delta Smelt in the wild," UC Davis fish
biologist Peter Moyle told a group of scientists with the Delta Stewardship
Council.
He
says the latest state trawl survey found very few fish in areas of the
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta where smelt normally gather….Moyle says the
population of Delta smelt has been declining for the last 30 years but the
drought may have pushed the species to the point of no return. If the smelt is
officially declared extinct, which could take several years, the declaration
could change how water is managed in California.
State
backs Salinas Valley well monitoring [Monterey County Herald]
State
regulators on Monday approved a critical well-monitoring program that should
give the public a better idea of the groundwater situation in the Salinas
Valley.
After
years of urging county officials to set up the program, the Department of Water
Resources signed off on a plan to provide detailed well information and
groundwater levels to a centralized, public database that many consider key to
monitoring California’s groundwater as the state enters its fourth year of
drought….Officials at the Monterey County Water Resources Agency have said the
delay was due to its reliance on private well owners — those owners initially
balked at some of the state’s disclosure requirements. Environmentalists have
also speculated the agriculture industry, which has strong representation at
the agency, did not want regulators and the public nosing into the Salinas
Valley’s water situation….But Alejo said the farmers he spoke with did not take
issue with the state’s monitoring program, and pushed the agency to file a plan.
Water
agencies, Agua Caliente tribe face off in court [Palm Springs Desert Sun]
Lawyers
for two local water districts and the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians
wrangled in a federal courtroom Monday, debating whether the tribe has a right
to groundwater.
The
Agua Caliente sued the Desert Water Agency and the Coachella Valley Water
District two years ago, arguing that the tribe has had a right to use
groundwater since the 1870s, even though it's never exercised it. While the
federal government has sided with the tribe, the water agencies have argued
that letting the Agua Caliente pump groundwater could interfere with their
ability to manage water supplies sustainably. U.S. District Court Judge Jesus
Bernal said he expects to issue a ruling within a week. If he rules in favor of
the Agua Caliente tribe, the lawsuit would move on to the question of how much
groundwater the tribe has a right to — although the water districts would
likely appeal Bernal's ruling first.
Editorial: With reservoirs
depleted, Water Resources Control Board must restrict water use [Sacramento
Bee]
Amid
the worst drought in at least a generation, and possibly the worst in modern
California history, the state Water Resources Control Board today will consider
tougher restrictions on outdoor watering by residential and business users. The
action is long overdue….Urban water use accounts for only about 20 percent of
water consumption statewide. Agriculture uses the other 80 percent. If the
drought continues, the state may have to find a way to shift some of the water
now used on farms to the cities. If that day comes, it will involve a messy and
potentially lengthy battle over water rights and the future of agriculture in
this state….The water board should adopt the rules today, and local water
agencies and governments should enforce them strictly in the months ahead.
Farmers
still dealing with effects of slowdown at Port of Oakland [Marysville
Appeal-Democrat]
A
labor dispute once again shut down the largest container terminal at the Port
of Oakland last week, which did little to help the recovery from a previous
dispute that had slowed West Coast ports to a crawl. It's having an impact on
Yuba-Sutter growers and businesses. The Oakland International Container
Terminal, which is operated by SSA Marine, was shut down at noon Wednesday, but
the port was up and running again on Thursday….Meanwhile, local farmers are
still feeling the consequences of the labor slowdown that started in November.
The subsequent backlog of shipping containers clogging ports have caused
delayed shipments, lost sales, upset customers and costly port charges.
Ag
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