[Water_news] 1. DWR'S CALIFORNIA WATER NEWS - Top Item for 4/03/09

Department of Water Resources

California Water News

A daily compilation for DWR personnel of significant news articles and comment

 

April 3, 2009

 

1.   Top Items–

 

Sierra snowpack's water is no drought-buster this year

The Sacramento Bee

 

'Reality check' details water woes

The Capital Press

 

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Sierra snowpack's water is no drought-buster this year

The Sacramento Bee – 4/02/09

By Matt Weiser

 

California's crucial mountain snowpack stands at 81 percent of average after a monthly snow survey conducted today. That's essentially unchanged from the March survey and a long way from breaking the state's three-year drought.

 

The snow survey measures water content of the snowpack, mostly in the Sierra Nevada, the natural water bank for most of the state's farms and cities.

 

"A below-average snowpack at this time of year, especially following two consecutive dry years, is a cause for concern," Lester Snow, director of the state Department of Water Resources, said in a statement. "Californians must continue to save water at home and in their businesses."

 

March was relatively wet across the state, enabling DWR to increase its water delivery forecast from 15 percent to 20 percent of normal. Federal officials, who also rely on the snow survey, increased their forecast in some areas as well. But federal water users south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta continue to face the prospect of zero water deliveries this summer.

 

Winter is effectively over, and it was dry overall. The state needed an extra-wet winter to overcome two preceding dry years. That's because reservoirs are depleted and soil conditions are very dry. Lake Oroville, the largest reservoir in the State Water Project system, stands at 72 percent of average capacity. Lake Shasta, the largest federal reservoir, is at 77 percent of average.

 

Officials later this month will make a runoff forecast based on the snow survey, which will determine whether they can again increase the water delivery forecast. #

 

http://www.sacbee.com/ourregion/story/1750841.html?mi_rss=Our%2520Region

 

'Reality check' details water woes
Congress is helping to destroy farms, Nunes charges

The Capital Press – 4/02/09

By Cecilia Parsons

More than 100 farmers attending a 'reality check' meeting on March 27 were urged to form coalitions, intensify lobbying efforts and spend money to end the man-made water shortages in the Central Valley.

U.S. Rep. Devin Nunes, representing growers who stand to lose water to the San Joaquin River restoration, called the meeting to bring attention to the problems and rally growers to hold their lawmakers accountable. Nunes' efforts to add water storage at Temperance Flat ended with the passage of the omnibus lands bill last month.

The Visalia Republican charged that the water crisis is man-made, and Congress, which built Friant Dam to hold water to irrigate valley farms, now is helping destroy those farms as pumping in the delta is being restricted because of the Endangered Species Act.

Central Valley water woes have led to the idling of thousands of acres of farmland and the loss of thousands of farm jobs.

"We don't have many options, and none of them are good." Nunes said.

The restoration of the river is the result of the settlement of a lawsuit filed by environmentalists.

Kole Upton was formerly chair of the Friant Water Users and helped craft the historic 2006 settlement with the environmental group Natural Resources Defense Council. He now vehemently opposes the plan.

The Chowchilla Irrigation District where Upton farms, will lose 33 percent of its Friant water when the river restoration begins this year, he said. The project was funded in the omnibus bill that Congress passed last month, but Valley water districts will pay $250 million of the cost.

Beside the added cost of water, growers will have less water delivered and will make that up by pumping groundwater.

Westland Water District general manager Tom Birmingham told growers and business owners at the meeting to take some action to preserve the agriculture industry.

Building a peripheral canal to divert Sacramento River water south around the Delta is the solution most ag leaders propose, but Birmingham said growers need to deliver a unified message to state and federal lawmakers.

He also urged members of the Latino Water Coalition to lean on Hispanic leader and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

"If he expects support from the people of the valley he will have to listen to our issues," said Birmingham.

Tulare County Supervisor Allen Ishida promoted formation of a political action committee. Ishida, who is also a citrus grower, said agriculture has been stingy with funding for their causes. The industry needs to invest in lobbying efforts in Sacramento or Los Angeles, he said.

According to the University of California Agricultural and Resource Economic update, the projected drought impacts in 2009 are the result of a biological and hydrological crisis in the Central Valley.

Central Valley income losses are estimated to be as high as $2.2 billion. Revenue losses to farmers range from $1.2 to $1.6 billion depending on ground water use.

Continued ground water pumping and deficit irrigation schedules for permanent crops are not sustainable, the report said.#

 

http://www.capitalpress.info/main.asp?SectionID=67&SubSectionID=616&ArticleID=50128&TM=50746.65

 

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DWR’s California Water News is distributed to California Department of Water Resources management and staff,  for information purposes, by the DWR Public Affairs Office. For reader’s services, including new subscriptions, temporary cancellations and address changes, please use the online page: http://listhost2.water.ca.gov/mailman/listinfo/water_news . DWR operates and maintains the State Water Project, provides dam safety and flood control and inspection services, assists local water districts in water management and water conservation planning, and plans for future statewide water needs. Inclusion of materials is not to be construed as an endorsement of any programs, projects, or viewpoints by the Department or the State of California.