Clear Lake won’t deliver in Klamath drought

Upper Klamath lake is not the only reservoir on the upper Klamath Basin’s federal irrigation project that is too low to supply farmers with water this year.

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation told the Herald and News newspaper that Clear Lake reservoir on the Lost River is below the minimum level set to sustain endangered fish that live there.

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Water Infrastructure: The Unseen Crisis

When most of us think of infrastructure, we probably think of bridges, roads, trains and fiber optic cable–the visible circulatory system of a society that moves goods, services and knowledge from one point to another. But we now face new challenges brought on by unprecedented population growth that require us to rethink how we define and address the issue of global infrastructure.

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Water conference promotes water bond

In six months, Californians will vote on one of the biggest public water bonds in the nation’s history.

However, this week, in central California – the election is now.

Hundreds of the state’s water leaders will gather in Monterey for the semi-annual conference of the Association of California Water Agencies. ACWA represents the largest percentage of water interests (hundreds of private water companies, groundwater groups and a few others are generally not members of ACWA).

The bond will be the talk of this conference. It will be the rallying cry. Behind most presentations will be THE BOND.

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The Final Sierra Snow Count Is In-A Banner Year

The last snow survey of the year has taken place in the Sierra, and the results show a banner season for the Sierra snowpack. According to figures released at the end of last week, the northern Sierra finished the season at 188% of normal, the central Sierra at 121% and the southern Sierra at 139%.

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The War on Tap Water: An Exclusive Excerpt from Peter Gleick’s Bottled and Sold

Monday marked the release date of Pacific Institute President Peter Gleick’s latest book, Bottled and Sold: The Story Behind Our Obsession with Bottled Water–the latest, loud voice added to a growing chorus of tap water defenders. Almost nine billion gallons of bottled water were packaged and sold in the U.S. in 2008, with 40 billion being sold globally that same year, according to Gleick’s findings.

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House agriculture panel plans hearing in Fresno

FRESNO — Members of the House Agriculture Committee will be in Fresno on Monday to gather input on the 2012 farm bill.

Committee members likely will hear from farmers and agricultural groups on topics including battling invasive species, securing a more stable water supply and helping the struggling dairy industry.

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State water survey shows huge gains

A relentless winter left Californians a gift: One of the best Sierra Nevada snowpacks in more than a decade.

Yet shortages from three straight drought years are expected to continue to impact farmers and cities throughout the state.

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State argues against plan to cut trees

Flood safety rules requiring that trees be removed from more than 1,000 miles of California levees would be hugely expensive and environmentally destructive without providing significant safety benefits, state officials said.

California’s top water and wildlife officials pleaded in a joint letter to the Army Corps of Engineers that the policy, which would require nothing more than grass on the nation’s federal levees, be scrapped in California.

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National Drinking Water Week Kicks Off

National Drinking Water Week kicked off yesterday–a day when water quality and safety was top of mind for many Americans due to continued leakage of oil into the Gulf of Mexico.

And while most news focused on ocean water, the American Water Works Association gave the annual weekly observance a theme of “Only Tap Water Delivers.”  A theme that holds true in many parts of the country.

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Interior Dept. aims to unify smelt, salmon protection in California

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration on Monday set up a new task force to wrangle California water decisions, with long-term hopes of consolidating protections for smelt and salmon.

The new task force eventually envisions one unified environmental management plan assisting the fish species dependent upon the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Guided by an Interior Department veteran with considerable California experience, the task force has shorter-term goals, as well.

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Federal task force named to study California water woes

The Obama Administration has set up a task force that it says will coordinate federal and state efforts to better manage water supplies in California.

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