News articles and links from November 20, 2013

Water Supply

DWR Announces Initial Water Supply Estimate for 2014

From: Press Release, DWR

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today announced an initial allocation of five percent of requested deliveries to State Water Project (SWP) contractors in calendar year 2014.

Announced Water Allocation Serves as Wake-Up Call to Fix Broken Water Supply System

From: Press Release, California Farm Water Coalition  

"Today's announcement by the Department of Water Resources should be a wake-up call to all Californians that our water supply system is broken. More than 750,000 acres of farmland in the State Water Project service area will once again face severe water shortages.

Kern County Water Agency Reacts to State Water Project Initial Allocation

From: Press Release, Kern County Water Agency  

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced today that the State Water Project (SWP) initial water allocation will be just 5 percent of contracted amounts. The SWP provides water to more than 25 million residents and more than 750,000 acres of agricultural land throughout California.

"The extremely low initial allocation is alarming and woefully inadequate for Kern County residents, farms and businesses, and it provides no hope for replenishment of groundwater banking reserves that have been tapped to provide agricultural and urban water during previous dry years," said Kern County Water Agency (Agency) Board of Directors President Ted Page. "The Agency will adopt a formal declaration of emergency at today's Board meeting and is considering options for improving water supplies for 2014."

State's Initial Projection Shows Only 5% of State Water Project Water Available for Californians

From: Press Release, State Water Contractors 

On the heels of a very dry year, the California Department of Water Resources announced today that California's water agencies, those that get water from the State Water Project (SWP), should initially expect only five percent of SWP water supplies. Only one other time in the history of the SWP has the initial allocation been such a small percentage.

This announcement comes as California faces two major water supply challenges-persistent dry conditions and an antiquated water infrastructure system.

California Sees Dry Start to Water Year

From: Matt Williams, ACWA

Precipitation finally is on the way this week for much of California, but it will take more than a brief drenching to ease a prolonged dry spell that's shattering state records.

Approximately 84% of California's land area is experiencing "severe drought" conditions, unchanged from statistics gathered at the start of the new water year on Oct. 1, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.  The National Climatic Data Center reports that the first 10 months of 2013 have been the driest such period in California since recordkeeping began in 1895.

Blog: West-side towns will suffer if winter is dry

From: Mark Grossi, Modesto Bee

When John Laird, secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency, comes to Fresno these days, people want to talk with him about water - specifically, the lack of it.

He met last week with the Latino Water Coalition to chat about the far-reaching Bay Delta Conservation Plan, the final draft of which is supposed to hit the streets Dec. 13.

Groundwater

Oakdale Irrigation District board leader says 'disaster is imminent,' urges halt to new wells

From: J.N. Sbranti, Modesto Bee

Warning that "disaster is imminent," the Oakdale Irrigation District's board president on Tuesday called for an immediate moratorium on new water wells in Stanislaus County.

"You cannot on a consistent basis take more water out of the ground basin than you put in," Frank Clark told a standing-room-only crowd, which came out for an OID presentation about the region's groundwater situation. "We need a moratorium on new wells until more and better data is available."

Bay Delta Conservation Plan

Column: Delta tunnel angst overflows in both north and south

From: Lois Henry, Bakersfield Californian

A discussion item at the Kern County Water Agency's October meeting regarding the state's "twin tunnel" proposal to fix the Sacramento-San Joaquin delta set off alarm bells with at least one northern California newspaper.

Hey, water's a touchy subject.

Blog: Jerry Meral talks Twin Tunnels

From: Bruce Ross, Redding Record Searchlight

I wasn't able to make it in person, but thanks to the wonders of the Internet, I could catch the talk Jerry Meral, the deputy director of the California Department of Natural Resources shepherding the Bay Delta Conservation Plan, gave to the Redding City Council last night.

California Water Action Plan

Water supply, rights on docket for Yuba City meeting

From: Eric Vodden, Marysville Appeal-Democrat

Water issues facing the North State will be the focus of a Town Hall in Yuba City tonight that will feature the state's top natural resources official.

State Natural Resources Secretary John Laird will be on hand for the event hosted by area Assemblyman Dan Logue, R-Loma Rica. The session will be at The Plaza Room in the Hillcrest shopping center at 210 Julie Drive.

The chief topic for the session, during which those attending will be given the chance to ask questions, will be a new state water action plan.

Salton Sea

UCR project could aid Salton Sea as it helps cut greenhouse gases

From: K. Kaufmann, Desert Sun

The University of California, Riverside on Tuesday unveiled a new test plant for turning organic materials - from agricultural waste to sewage or algae - into synthetic natural gas, a project that could help California cut its greenhouse gas emissions and possibly help fund restoration efforts at the Salton Sea.

Salmon

Despite dry year, Mokelumne River teeming with salmon

From: Ross Farrow, Lodi News-Sentinel

Despite the lack of rainfall in Northern California this year, the Mokelumne River's salmon run is about as plentiful as it was in 2012 - 2,500 salmon have found their way through the fish hatchery at Lake Camanche.

People

IID board honors long-time community member for decades of service

From: Antoine Abou-Diwan, Imperial Valley Press

The Imperial Irrigation District Board of Directors began its public meeting Tuesday by honoring Roy Alsip for his 52 years of service to the IID and the community.

"Roy began a long career as a zanjero in the IID water department in September of 1960 and retired in 1996 - or so he thought," said Energy Manager Carl Stills.

Garamendi named to water committee

From: Staff, Glenn County Transcript

Congressman John Garamendi, D-Walnut Grove, whose district includes approximately 200 miles of the Sacramento River, was named to the Water Resources and Development Act Conference Committee on Friday.

Meetings 

Thompson hosts hearing on threat of invasive species

From: Staff, Lake County News

U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA-05), chair of the bipartisan Invasive Species Caucus, hosted a caucus hearing in Washington, DC about the threat invasive species pose to local budgets, agriculture, infrastructure and the environment across California's Fifth Congressional District and other communities across the country.

News articles and links from November 19, 2013

Groundwater

Cooperation urged over Valley groundwater loss

From: Garth Stapley, Modesto Bee

Don't wait for groundwater to go so low that a judge or state officials feel compelled to step in and take over.

That message, in so many words, came through loud and clear from expert after expert at Monday's packed forum addressing the Central Valley's emerging crsis.

Groundwater woes focus of Oakdale meeting and new USGS study

From: J.N. Sbranti, Modesto Bee 

Concern about sinking groundwater levels is getting lots of attention this week in the Northern San Joaquin Valley.

Oakdale Irrigation District staff members will make a presentation today about the issue, and researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey will release a new report Thursday about problems caused by overdrafting.

Opinion: A California water district: the best approach to manage our water crisis

From: Jerry Praugh, Cal Coast News

PRAAGS supported, and still supports, the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors' decision to pass the urgency ordinance (UO) covering the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin, enacted on August 27. But the ordinance is a stopgap. It's a timeout. It is not a permanent solution to the problem of declining basin levels. In fact, it offers no solution at all.

It's time now to move forward so the county can eventually lift the ordinance and so it doesn't remain in place for years to come, choking the engine that drives our economy, driving property values into the ground and harming the Central Coast life we've all come to know and love.

Delta 

Blog: Board game wakens Delta islanders on flood risks

From: Wouter Jan Klerk and Ties Rijcken, California WaterBlog  

The California Delta is one of the world's most complex water systems. As a group of five Dutch students from Delft University of Technology, we were eager to visit the diked islands, or "polders," as we call them in the Netherlands. We wanted to learn how California balances the region's often-competing needs of flood protection, water supply and ecological health.

But we also wanted to contribute something useful to local decision-makers and residents while we were there in the fall of 2012. We had in mind a fun and educational board game that would simulate the interplay between Delta flood risks and development interests.

Bay Delta Conservation Plan

Blog: 'What is Plan B?'

From: Alex Breitler, eSanJoaquin

San Joaquin County supervisors want to know what the state will do should the governor's twin tunnels plan not pan out.

The supes posed the question in a recent meeting with California Resources Secretary John Laird.

Alternative to Governor's Giant Water Tunnels Plan Would Be $6 Billion Cheaper

From: Joaquin Palomino, East Bay Express

State officials recently admitted that they had incorrectly analyzed an alternative proposal to Jerry Brown's giant water tunnels plan, and now acknowledge that it would be $6 billion cheaper than the governor's proposal. The California Natural Resources Agency had previously said that the competing water plan-known as the Portfolio Alternative- would only save the state $3 billion, and as a result, was not viable.

Salton Sea

IID research may aid the Salton Sea

From: Antoine Abou-Diwan, Imperial Valley Press

While on a routine visit to the Salton Sea, Imperial Irrigation District employees noticed a green substance growing near the mud volcanoes at the southeastern shoreline of the Salton Sea.

Drought

When in drought, prepare for the worst

From: Heather Hacking, Chico Enterprise-Record

It doesn't take much more than a drive through the valley to note it's been a very, very dry season. As the flat land begins to roll into small hills, one wonders what those slow, grazing cows are finding to eat.

Districts

IID board to consider service agreement for lining of East Highline Canal

From: Antoine Abou-Diwan, Imperial Valley Press  

The Imperial Irrigation District Board of Directors is scheduled to take action on five items when it meets in open session Tuesday.

The board will consider approving service agreements to Davids Engineering to conduct a feasibility study for the lining of the East Highline Canal and to reformulate the IID's system-wide water conservation plan.

From the Modesto Bee- Leonard Van Elderen: Water is the value that runs farming

The financing of a farm is tied squarely to the land. The land has value that allows the lender to provide the loans. That value comes from the land’s ability to grow the crops. And that requires water.

Water is an emerging concern for Central Valley agriculture on several fronts.

There is the current short-term crisis for many farmers due to the lack of rain and snow. There is the prospect of state regulators redirecting water from farmers to the environment along the San Joaquin River and its tributaries, in the heart of Stanislaus and Merced counties.

Groundwater extraction seems to have reached, and in some cases exceeded, its sustainable limits. And there is the continued gridlock in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, where regulations are constricting the water system’s ability to capture sufficient supplies when nature makes them available.

For now, the lending environment for agriculture is relatively strong. Farmland continues to possess considerable value. Land prices are rising. But the emerging concerns about water – both in their sheer number and their serious nature – seem of greater long-term concern than ever before.
Lenders certainly don’t have all the water solutions for California. But we don’t want to wake up to a problem where land loses value and the financial ability to farm begins to dry up.

Lenders don’t make long-term loan decisions based on the recent weather, no matter how wet or dry. The land provides the financial security for the long-term loans only as long as the crops provide the income to pay for property, trees and vines, and other major capital upgrades.

Operating loans for short-term needs such as payroll, seed and fertilizer are tied to the long-term success of farming. The foundation of the agriculture money cycle is a relationship rooted in the long haul and the land. Of our nearly $2 billion in loans to farmers in the Central Valley, about 85 percent is to be paid back over many years.

To lenders, farmers are not simply account numbers. We support their effort to succeed and their effort to hand this passion to yet another generation.

Every part of this sector takes great pride in this valley’s remarkable ability to grow the farm products that are served at kitchen tables throughout the nation and world.

Instability and uncertainty are not our friends, particularly when it comes to water.
The Delta, providing water to more than 2 million acres of Valley farmland, is a primary case in point. The short-term regulatory environment is bleak. Struggling fish populations are triggering restrictions on winter pumping when the availability of water is at its greatest. There may be a long-term solution that is emerging through a state and federal process known as the Bay Delta Conservation Plan. But for now, potential supplies are not making it to farms. Reservoir levels are low. And this record dry year has many farming communities on edge about what will happen next year. There is no reason to use an operating loan when there is no water to grow a crop.

Lenders worry about risk. Water has rapidly risen to the top of the list of risks facing the industry. There was once a sense that water availability in the Central Valley was not a primary risk for the long term. That calculation is changing.

There was always great faith that when prices for commodities like almonds or walnuts come down to more typical levels, we can still pay the costs to farm including payroll, seed and fertilizer. But with the physical limits of water and the numerous efforts to redirect water away from farms, we may be facing a structural change in farming.

Land has farming value only if it has sufficient and reliable water. Long-term water solutions are essential to ensuring that money can continue to flow from lenders to farmers and to all beneficiaries of our agricultural economy. That includes all of us as we sit down to eat our next meal.

Leonard Van Elderen is the president and chief executive officer of Yosemite Farm Credit, based in Turlock. It makes only farm loans, and 80 percent of its loans are made in Stanislaus and Merced counties.

Read more here: http://www.modbee.com/2013/11/16/3035349/leonard-van-elderen-water-is-the.html#storylink=cpy

Originally printed in the Modesto Bee

News articles and links from November 18, 2013

Water Supply 

AquAlliance warns not to follow in dry footsteps of the San Joaquin Valley

From: Heather Hacking, Chico Enterprise-Record

As California struggles to provide water to a growing state, increased pressure is being made on the rich water supply of Northern California, said Barbara Vlamis, director of AquAlliance, during a groundwater forum Thursday night.

In 2009, state legislators passed several water bills, and now several large-scale plans are being written for statewide water management.

Coalition response...Characterizing farms along the west side of the San Joaquin Valley as "industrial agriculture" paints the wrong picture of farmers who use Central Valley Project water. Almost 4,000 family farms receive CVP water south of the Delta and they share the same supply that their counterparts in the Sacramento Valley do. Maintaining water supply reliability helps farmers provide jobs and support local community economic activity whether it is in Chico or Mendota. Despite claims from Barbara Vlamis and Jim Brobeck, nothing in the State Water Action Plan or Bay Delta Conservation Plan threatens area-of-origin water rights for users north of the Delta. Both plans are intended to increase the reliability of water farmers and others already have a legal right to use.

Bay Delta Conservation Plan

Opinion: There's a better way

From: Supervisor Ken Vogel, Stockton Record

If you believe proponents of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan, there's only one way to fix the Delta - tunnels. There's a better solution.

Coalition response...While Ken Vogel would like you to believe that California is suffering under an oversubscribed water supply it is important to note that South of Delta CVP water users received 100 percent of their supplies from 1952 to 1989, with the exception of 1977, a severe drought year. Today those supplies have been decimated, not because of an oversubscribed water supply but because of environmental regulations that limit water exports that once served several million acres of productive farmland. Sadly, those regulations have not helped endangered species recover and people like Vogel want to continue to try and fix the problem with a solution that is proven not to work.

Opinion: Will There Be Enough Water for the Twin Tunnels?

From: Arve R. Sjovold, Santa Barbara Independent

Can a man drown crossing a river that averages one foot in depth? The answer is, of course, yes. An average cannot describe how wet you'll get wading a river with a deep channel and a broader shallow run. In fact, the average is likely to represent only two points in the depth profile: the point where one descends and the point where one ascends the sides of the deep channel.

Coalition response...Water users are seeking more reliable water supplies from the Bay Delta Conservation Plan. Deliveries of water that flows through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta have been interrupted in recent years because of drought conditions and Endangered Species Act regulations that are suppose to protect fish. As an example, beginning last December at the same time that water flowing through the Delta was high, regulations meant to protect fish prevented it from being stored for farms to use later in the year. More than 727,000 acre-feet of water went to the ocean instead of helping meet the needs of 25 million Californians and nearly 4,000 family farms. Federal officials have yet to provide information that this action benefited endangered fish.

The Bay Delta Conservation Plan could have avoided this loss of water. Read more about it at farmwater.org/watersupplycutshurtusall.pdf.

Farming

Opinion: Water is the value that runs farming

From: Leonard Van Elderen, Modesto Bee

From: Leonard Van Elderen, Merced Sun-Star

The financing of a farm is tied squarely to the land. The land has value that allows the lender to provide the loans. That value comes from the land's ability to grow the crops. And that requires water.

Water is an emerging concern for Central Valley agriculture on several fronts.

Water Supply

Blog: State resources leader told people in small towns need help during drought

From: Mark Grossi, Fresno Beehive

When John Laird, secretary for the California Natural Resources Agency, comes to Fresno these days, people want to talk with him about water.  Specifically, the lack of it.

He met this week with the Latino Water Coalition to chat about the Bay Delta Conservation Plan - the one with the twin tunnels - the final draft of which will hit the streets Dec. 13.

'Atlas' tracks California water

From: Associated Press, Marysville Appeal-Democrat

In California, few issues are as divisive as water. It pits North against South, fisherman versus farmer.

Now a group of self-described "nature nerds" made up of database experts, academics and conservationists are trying to bring meaning to the state's mass of water data. The effort is called The New California Water Atlas, and it will use interactive maps powered by government data that are currently publicly available but hard to synthesize.

Weather

California's Record Driest Year?

From: Jon Erdman, Weather Channel  

The first 10 months of 2013 have been the driest such period on record in California, dating to 1895, according to the National Climatic Data Center.

Bay Delta Conservation Plan

Editorial: Big obstacle for Delta tunnel project -- who will pay for it?

From: Editorial Staff, Sacramento Bee

From: Editorial Staff, Modesto Bee

When it comes to water policy, Gov. Jerry Brown's motto seems to be "tunnels or bust." Increasingly, as costs and questions pile up, "bust" looks like a possible outcome.

Editorial: Who will pay for water plan?

From: Editorial Staff, Fresno Bee

Sometime next month, water contractors and the Brown administration are expected to release a draft environmental impact report for the Bay Delta Conservation Plan. This hefty tome likely will be heralded as an important milestone in pushing forward BDCP's plans to restore Delta habitat and build tunnels to ship Sacramento River water to the south. But what is missing from the plan will be as important as what it contains.

Opinion: Why Bay Area should care about California delta

From: Lois Kazakoff, SF Chronicle  

The California delta's water woes might seem distant, but if you live in Alameda, Contra Costa or Santa Clara counties, you may drink delta water.

If you savor locally caught salmon, the delta's health is crucial to maintaining the supply.

Next month, the state will release the final (and 25,000-page) draft of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan, which includes a proposal to build a $14 billion "facility" and 30-foot-diameter twin tunnels to move water from the north delta to the state water pumps in the south delta. The public will then have 120 days to comment. The final document is anticipated next fall and a decision by the State Water Resources Control Board sometime thereafter.

Contra Costa: Residents' concern grows over Delta tunnels plan

From: Paul Burgarino, Contra Costa Times 

As the state prepares to unveil key environmental documents for Gov. Jerry Brown's proposal to build two large tunnels to move Sacramento River water south, dozens of concerned East Contra Costans were brought up to speed last week on how it could impact their Delta backyard.

The governor's $24.7 billion plan is widely opposed around the Delta communities, as opponents say the tunnels would reduce fresh water flows, endanger local fish and other habitat and put a sizable financial dent in local agriculture.

News articles and links from November 15, 2013

Water Supply

Westlands finds ways to deal with less water

From: Antoine Abou-Diwan, Imperial Valley Press

If the Imperial Irrigation District's water allocation and senior water rights place it in an enviable position, Westlands Water District's situation is anything but.

Unlike the IID's 3.1 million acre-feet of water, the WWD in central California is allocated 1.15 million acre-feet every year.

IVEDC hosts water conservation forum

From: Antoine Abou-Diwan, Imperial Valley Press

Local and regional water experts discussed water shortages and conservation at the Barbara Worth Resort & Country Club Thursday.

Most regional water issues boil down to water reliability. Colorado River water users are grappling with the effects of 14 consecutive years of drought.

Farming

Farmers, lenders talk about Modesto risks, rewards

From: John Holland, Modesto Bee

From: John Holland, Merced Sun-Star 

Farmers like to think their business is fairly recession-proof, that people will eat even while cutting back on other spending.

A banker speaking Thursday in Modesto had a chart to support this. It showed how the overall stock market, as measured by the S&P 500, stumbled badly in 2008 and stayed down for most of the next half-decade. Meanwhile, a composite of 109 food companies recovered from an initial loss and nearly doubled investor returns in recent years.

Drought

Program designed to help prepare for droughts

From: John Flesher, SF Chronicle 

Federal agencies will provide better and more accessible information about matters such as long-term weather prospects and soil moisture levels under a program designed to help communities prepare for future droughts and respond more effectively when they happen, Obama administration officials said Thursday.

Reservoirs

Water Reservoir Levels Concerning

From: Christian Hartnett, KCOY-12 TV

The lack of rainfall here on the Central Coast is causing levels to slowly drop at our local water reservoirs.

The Central Coast is in the middle of a dry spell. Rainfall totals are down across the board in both San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. So far this year, rainfall in Santa Barbara County is at 22% of the normal yearly totals. Water reservoir levels at Lake Cachuma have become a concern, as the lake is only at 44% capacity.

Bay Delta Conservation Plan

Blog: State Admits BDCP Portfolio Alternative is Far Cheaper than they Previously Claimed

From: Doug Obegi, NRDC

As the State prepares to release the public draft of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) and draft EIS/EIR next month, the public deserves to get accurate information on the potential benefits, costs, and impacts of BDCP and alternatives.  This is one of the essential purposes of NEPA and CEQA, to ensure that decision-makers and the public can make informed decisions on the costs and benefits of a project and compare it to other alternatives. The NEPA/CEQA process is aimed at improving projects by reducing their environmental and social impacts.

Delta 

Reclamation to Open the Delta Cross Channel Gates

From: Press Release, USBR

The Bureau of Reclamation will open the Delta Cross Channel Gates on Friday, Nov. 15, at approximately 9 a.m., to allow for recreational boating through the weekend. The gates will be closed on Monday, Nov. 18, at approximately 9 a.m., to meet Bay-Delta flow standards at Rio Vista, Calif., according to State Water Resources Control Board Decision D-1641. The gates will remain closed until further notice.

Conservation

Funding Opportunity Available to Increase Water Conservation or Improve Water Supply Sustainability

From: Press Release, USBR

The Bureau of Reclamation is making funding available through its WaterSMART program to support new Water and Energy Efficiency Grant projects. Proposals are being sought from states, Indian tribes, irrigation districts, water districts and other organizations with water or power delivery authority to partner with Reclamation on projects that increase water conservation or result in other improvements that address water supply sustainability in the West.