Standing at the depleted San Luis Reservoir on Wednesday, State Sen. Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger) called for additional funds to help California residents and businesses withstand the drought. Hurtado's rallying cry came on the anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s visit to the reservoir 59 years ago. "I am frustrated that...
Walters: California Drought Sharpens Perpetual Water Conflict
California never has enough water to meet all demands and even when supplies are relatively robust there’s a triangular competition over their allocation. Farmers, municipal users and environmental advocates vie for shares of water that has been captured by California’s extensive network of dams and reservoirs. Their battles are waged...
Tulare County’s Relentless Drought Brings Dry Wells and Plenty of Misery
Severe drought is gripping most of California, but its misery isn’t spread equally. While most of the state compares today’s extreme conditions to previous droughts, people in Tulare County speak of drought — in the singular, as in a continuous state of being. “The drought has never stopped in north...
Aerial Technology Shows Sierra Even Drier Than Suspected
In a pitifully dry year like 2021, understanding the state’s skimpy snowpack is critical. Multi-million dollar decisions can hinge on even the smallest amounts of snowmelt squeezed out of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Which makes the information provided by Airborne Snow Observatories, Inc. flights vital, according to water managers. “Right...
Newsom Expands Drought Emergency to Include Central Valley
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday expanded a drought emergency declaration to a large swath northern and central California, including Fresno County, amid “acute water supply shortages." The drought declaration now covers 41 of 58 California counties, encompassing 30% of California's population of nearly 40 million people. It comes as Newsom...
Newsom Declares Drought Emergency in 2 Counties. Borgeas Calls for Valley Designation, Too.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared an emergency executive order in two Northern California counties in response to drought conditions affecting much of the state. Wednesday's announcement affects Mendocino and Sonoma counties, where Newsom says drought conditions are especially bad. It comes as California is expected to face another devastating wildfire...
April Has Never Been This Dry, Say Researchers, as Cal Fire Begins to Staff Up
Moisture content in vegetation is typically not something Cal Fire has to pay attention to until May or June. This is not a typical year. The U.S. Forest Service checked fuels in the Sierra Nevada foothills of eastern Fresno County on April 1 because of abnormally dry conditions. Also atypical:...
California’s Drought Is Back, but Nobody Wants To Hear It From Newsom
[aggregation-styles] Politico SAN FRANCISCO — California’s drought conditions might normally prompt calls for shorter showers and shutting off sprinklers. But Californians are in no mood to hear it after a year of pandemic deprivation. Especially from Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is facing an almost certain recall election after imposing multiple...
Drought Worries Surface at Farm Bureau Capitol AG Day
[aggregation-styles] Ag Alert On a day when state and federal water projects announced reductions or delays in deliveries, speakers at the California Farm Bureau Capitol AG Day conference discussed drought and other challenges facing the state's farmers and ranchers. The conference, held virtually on National Agriculture Day, featured California Farm...
Storm Expected to Bring More Rain & Snow This Week, But Drought Persists
A storm coming into the Central Valley and Sierra Nevada Tuesday afternoon is unlikely to keep the state out of a drought, according to the National Weather Service. The good news? This storm system is coming in from the Gulf of Alaska and likely to be cold enough to produce...