A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
July 7, 2008
2. Supply –
Dry season makes for parched state
Water help coming soon for
The
Water flows to drought areas: Groundwater going into aqueduct for water transfers
Capital Ag Press- 7/4/08
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Dry season makes for parched state
By Ryan Olson, Staff Writer
The 18.49 inches of precipitation that fell at the Enterprise-Record's weather station during the 2007-08 rain season was 26.3 percent below the city's average 25.09 inches.
The season ending June 30 was the second-lowest rainfall since the drought seasons of 1975-1977. The lowest recent rain season was 2006-07 when 16.17 inches fell.
This year's below-average rain season wrapped up with a bone-dry spring, including no recordable precipitation in June. The season was capped by thunderstorms that brought hundreds of lightning-sparked fires, but negligible precipitation.
The entire region experienced low precipitation, according to forecaster Angus Barkhuff from the National Weather Service's
"We're pretty much below average everywhere — rainfall and snowfall," Barkhuff said.
He said the snowpack on April 1 was 80 percent of normal. The downtown
Up in
In Oroville, 20.15 inches fell during the 2007-2008 season, while 19.97 inches fell during the 2006-2007 season, said Ron Ullman, who provides rainfall totals and temperatures for the E-R's weather page. He said Oroville has had several years in the last decade when annual rainfall totals exceeded 30 inches
Barkhuff said there were no specific trends behind the low rainfall. He noted the months of March, April and May were dry — the driest on record for
Having a couple of dry years isn't unheard of, he said. However, if the region experiences another dry year, it can create serious low-water conditions.
The impact of the dry spring and restrictions on exporting Sacramento Delta water prompted Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to declare a statewide drought.
There aren't many signs of relief coming soon. A drought forecast prepared by the National Weather Service's
One of the dry weather's biggest visual impacts is the water level at
The lake is considered full at 900 feet.
"This is one of the lowest years I've seen," said Miller, who has been working at
The lake had seen lower water elevations during the past year — it dipped to below 700 feet between December and January.
However, Miller said the lake is expected to dip lower this year. A best-case scenario projects the lake elevation will drop to around 670 feet this summer. Miller said the low precipitation is a major factor for the current water level. He noted the watershed initially had a normal winter snowpack, but much of the water didn't reach the lake in the spring. Miller said officials count on the spring to refill the lake.
He said much of the mountain water either evaporated or was absorbed into the ground.
Miller said next year's inflows will be key in determining whether the lake level drops to critical levels.#
http://www.chicoer.com/news/ci_9806037?source=rv
Water help coming soon for
The
By John Holland and Dennis Pollock
A low water year is a boon to safflower farmers
The thirsty West Side of the
The California Department of Water Resources this week announced the first water transfers under last month's emergency declaration by Gov. Schwarzenegger.
At least 87,500 acre-feet of water is expected to be moved around to aid areas with severe shortages. An acre-foot is enough to cover an acre 1-foot deep.
The beneficiaries will include the Del Puerto Water District, a 45,000-acre strip next to Interstate 5 in
Just when the water will be delivered is not yet known, he said.
"We're still suffering from shortages and restrictions, and in spite of the emergency declaration, we have seen no real relief," he said.
Del Puerto is in especially tough straits because its usual supply comes entirely from the federal Central Valley Project. The allotment has been cut to 40 percent this year because of the drought and protections for fish in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, where the
Most other districts have access to groundwater or rights to rivers. The
Start of a new water year
The emergency transfers were announced Tuesday, which also was the start of a new water year for
The
- 37,500 acre-feet from the State Water Project, delivered from San Luis Reservoir, which it shares with the federal system
- 25,000 acre-feet from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which is postponing some of its deliveries from the California Aqueduct but expects to get an equal amount later to make up for the transfer
- At least 25,000 acre-feet from farmer-owned wells in the Westlands Water District, west of
For now, he said, the district's 170 farmers are skimping on water, keeping trees and other crops alive but probably reducing the 2008 harvests.
"They will make an almond crop," he said. "It just won't be as much as they would like."
The additional water will help alleviate pressure on permanent crops such as nuts and grapes, said Westlands spokeswoman Sarah Woolf. But she said it will not be enough to save crops that have been abandoned and are wilting in the sun.
Mark Borba, a
"But when you're dying of thirst, even a thimble full of water is helpful," he said.
More control on east side
The east side of the valley has less water than usual, too, but irrigation districts have more control over the river supplies.
Nonetheless, the TID has capped deliveries at 3.5 acre-feet per acre. Most tree crops can get by with that, but it is hard on dairy farmers trying to grow a second feed crop this year.
The MID does not have a cap, but it does charge extra for water beyond the base allotment of 3 acre-feet per acre. The allotment is higher in wetter years.
District workers are trying to stretch the supply by cutting down on canal spills and other measures, spokeswoman Kate Hora said.
As of Wednesday, the MID and TID had about 1.35 million acre-feet in Don Pedro Reservoir, down about 200,000 from last year.
"We do have enough water in Don Pedro to get us through this irrigation season," Hora said. "Everyone is going to be looking at the skies very anxiously this winter."#
http://www.modbee.com/local/story/350674.html
Water flows to drought areas: Groundwater going into aqueduct for water transfers
Capital Ag Press- 7/4/08
Cecilia Parsons, Capital Press
More water is flowing to drought-stricken Westlands Water District farmers as state conveyances are being used to transport district groundwater and other water supplies where needed.
The Department of Water Resources water transfer agreements have come after Gov. Schwarzenegger's state of emergency proclamation on June 12 for counties affected by severe water shortages.
Up to 50,000 acre feet of groundwater will be pumped into the California Aqueduct from wells in the Westlands district and delivered to areas where there is no groundwater.
In addition, Department of Water Resources is lending 37,500 acre feet of water to Central Valley Project contractors out of the San Luis Reservoir. An additional 25,000 acre feet are being made available by Metropolitan Water District of Southern California for the benefit of both Central Valley Project and State Water Project contractors.
Westlands spokeswoman Sarah Woolf said Tuesday, July 1, that the water will be used on permanent crops that were already in a deficit irrigation situation. The water won't be cheap.
Farmers that receive the water will pay fees for conveyance and pumping as well as the acre-foot charge and that may add up to more than $300 per acre foot.
The additional water available will only be a small percentage of the water needed for annual and permanent crops in the district, Woolf said. In June the district noted that 200,000 acres would be idled this year.
Lack of adequate water in the state and federal water systems plus restrictions on pumping from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta were blamed for the shortages.
The groundwater going into the aqueduct is coming from seven wells in the district that have passed state regulations for water quality. Woolf said as other wells are tested and approved they will add to the water supply, but the process will take more time. No water quality regulations were relaxed, she added.
Westside farmer Mark Borba said the move by DWR was helpful in moving water in the district but noted the 240,000-acre-foot deficit.
In a department statement, DWR Director Lester Snow said the actions initiated by the governor would ease what could otherwise be a dire situation for farms, the state economy and way of life.
"Thanks to the governor's leadership and the tremendous cooperation between water agencies,
In a statement, Schwarzenegger said he would continue to push for a comprehensive plan to address
"The drought has only intensified our need for immediate actions like conservation, increased groundwater storage and financial support for local water agencies and non-profit organizations," Schwar-zenegger said. "The steps that the Department of Water Resources is announcing today not only represent real action in response to my recent executive order, but they demonstrate our unyielding commitment to our immediate water needs and
http://www.capitalpress.info/main.asp?SectionID=67&SubSectionID=616&ArticleID=42733&TM=43586.82
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