Recent storms delivering rain to the Valley floor and snow to the Sierra mountains have prompted Fresno Irrigation District to begin water deliveries to growers on May 1. What's more, a big storm coming late Sunday is expected to drop 1 to 3 inches of rain on the entire state...
Clovis Readies Plan to Charge Builders More for New Water Supply
Home and commercial developers looking to build in Clovis will pay more for water under a plan adopted by city council members Monday. The new charge will help defray $35 million in costs the city will incur to secure additional water supplies from the Fresno Irrigation District, needed to support...
Record February Dry Spell Delays FID Water Deliveries
Thus far, February has been the driest month in California history. Typically, February is the peak of the state's wet season. But, as the National Weather Service in Hanford reported last week, there has been no significant precipitation in the Sierra Nevada since Jan. 26. “This hasn’t happened in 150...
Clovis Secures Its Future Growth With FID Water Deals
The Clovis City Council has approved landmark water deals with the Fresno Irrigation District that officials say will secure the city's growth for decades to come. According to the Clovis General Plan, the city expects 280,000 residents in 2083 — 2.5 times its 110,000 population. Plans call for Clovis to...
Chavez Says Fresno Growth Plan Is a Dud. Wants Fixes in 2019.
Luis Chavez has seen enough of the 4-year-old Fresno General Plan to conclude that it's not working nearly well enough. He sees residential housing exploding in Clovis, Madera, and other surrounding cities, and calculates the extra miles traveled daily by people who work in Fresno — and the vehicle emissions...
Gary Serrato Is Retiring From Fresno Irrigation District
Gary Serrato's nearly 33 years with Fresno Irrigation District — the last 19 as general manager — will end early next year, the district has announced. He will be succeeded by Bill Stretch, who takes the helm Jan. 15, 2019. Stretch, who joined the district in 1998, was unanimously selected...
Good News for Groundwater Recharge: Irrigation Deliveries Extended
While many local growers have begun harvesting their crops, the Fresno Irrigation District will continue surface water deliveries past the scheduled Aug. 31 shutdown. Deliveries throughout the district now will end Sept. 15 with one exception: East side deliveries will end Sept. 30. Groundwater Sustainability Why is the district delivering...
Boom Town, U.S.A.: Clovis Council Vote Adds 1,000 Home Lots
Clovis — with an estimated population today of 109,000 — is in a building boom that will make it a city of more than 175,000 residents by 2035, according to the city's water planning documents. Evidence of this rapid growth plan can be seen all over Clovis, which has promoted itself...
Boom Town, U.S.A.: Clovis Council Vote Adds 1,000 Home Lots
Clovis — with an estimated population today of 109,000 — is in a building boom that will make it a city of more than 175,000 residents by 2035, according to the city's water planning documents. Evidence of this rapid growth plan can be seen all over Clovis, which has promoted itself...