Latest news with #StateWaterContractors
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
State will deliver more water to Southern California this year via State Water Project
Southern California cities can expect to receive 50% of their full water allotments this year from the aqueducts of the State Water Project, up from 40% last month, as runoff from this year's ample snowpack continues to fill reservoirs in Northern California. 'Our full reservoirs will allow us to help meet the needs of the State Water Project contractors and their customers this year as well as provide some water supply next year in the event that dry conditions return,' Karla Nemeth, director of the state Department of Water Resources, said in a statement Tuesday. The State Water Project's aqueducts and pipelines transport water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to cities and other agencies for 27 million people and 750,000 acres of farmland. Lake Oroville, the largest reservoir that feeds the State Water Project, is now 95% full and is expected to continue rising as snowmelt runs off the Sierra Nevada. The state Department of Water Resources said the reservoir could reach full capacity this spring for a third straight year. The state's snowpack in the Sierra reached exactly 100% of average for the season April 4, the department said. The average winter and spring followed an extremely wet and snowy 2023 and a wet 2024. The last time California had three consecutive years of average or above-average snow was from 1998 to 2000, according to state water officials. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which delivers supplies from the State Water Project and the Colorado River to cities and other agencies, this year has a record amount of water banked in reservoirs and underground storage areas. The increase in the state's water allocation followed a similar announcement Monday by the Trump administration, which manages supplies from the federal Central Valley Project. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation increased the water allocation for agricultural water agencies south of the Delta to 50% of their full allotments, up from 40% a month ago. Read more: State Water Project supplies could fall up to 23% within 20 years due to climate change Managers of water agencies said that the increased supplies are welcome news, but that the still-limited allocations indicate what they view as constraints that should be addressed. Jennifer Pierre, general manager of the State Water Contractors, said she and others 'remain convinced that California needs more operational flexibility to make the most of the storms' when they come. 'Delta exports have been running at less than half capacity while the State Water Contractors continue to pay for 100% of the system's operation and maintenance,' Pierre said. 'This mismatch in hydrology and supplies requires immediate attention and science-based action to retain environmental protections while also increasing stored supplies when reservoirs are spilling.' Environmental advocates said they are concerned about the increase in pumping. Pumping operations to supply water 'continue to have severe impacts to native fish species, and this year is no exception,' said Ashley Overhouse, water policy advisor for the group Defenders of Wildlife. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
30-04-2025
- Climate
- Los Angeles Times
State will deliver more water to Southern California this year via State Water Project
Southern California cities can expect to receive 50% of their full water allotments this year from the aqueducts of the State Water Project, up from 40% last month, as runoff from this year's ample snowpack continues to fill reservoirs in Northern California. 'Our full reservoirs will allow us to help meet the needs of the State Water Project contractors and their customers this year as well as provide some water supply next year in the event that dry conditions return,' Karla Nemeth, director of the state Department of Water Resources, said in a statement Tuesday. The State Water Project's aqueducts and pipelines transport water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to cities and other agencies for 27 million people and 750,000 acres of farmland. Lake Oroville, the largest reservoir that feeds the State Water Project, is now 95% full and is expected to continue rising as snowmelt runs off the Sierra Nevada. The state Department of Water Resources said the reservoir could reach full capacity this spring for a third straight year. The state's snowpack in the Sierra reached exactly 100% of average for the season April 4, the department said. The average winter and spring followed an extremely wet and snowy 2023 and a wet 2024. The last time California had three consecutive years of average or above-average snow was from 1998 to 2000, according to state water officials. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which delivers supplies from the State Water Project and the Colorado River to cities and other agencies, this year has a record amount of water banked in reservoirs and underground storage areas. The increase in the state's water allocation followed a similar announcement Monday by the Trump administration, which manages supplies from the federal Central Valley Project. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation increased the water allocation for agricultural water agencies south of the Delta to 50% of their full allotments, up from 40% a month ago. Managers of water agencies said that the increased supplies are welcome news, but that the still-limited allocations indicate what they view as constraints that should be addressed. Jennifer Pierre, general manager of the State Water Contractors, said she and others 'remain convinced that California needs more operational flexibility to make the most of the storms' when they come. 'Delta exports have been running at less than half capacity while the State Water Contractors continue to pay for 100% of the system's operation and maintenance,' Pierre said. 'This mismatch in hydrology and supplies requires immediate attention and science-based action to retain environmental protections while also increasing stored supplies when reservoirs are spilling.' Environmental advocates said they are concerned about the increase in pumping. Pumping operations to supply water 'continue to have severe impacts to native fish species, and this year is no exception,' said Ashley Overhouse, water policy advisor for the group Defenders of Wildlife.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
California's water reservoirs on track as winter storms may boost snowpack
The water in California's mountain snowpack is just shy of average as spring begins, but a winter storm set to hit the Sierra Nevada in the coming days will offer a boost. Nearly all of the state's reservoirs are above their historic capacity and the biggest ones, including Shasta and Oroville in the north, are more than 80% full, state data shows. Three storms are poised to hit Northern California this week and next after an already wet winter and the state also has been able to count on water stored up during the past two years of ample rain and snow, experts said. 'Because the last few years were reasonably good, the state's major reservoirs started off with a decent amount of water and today are all starting the dry season with stored water at, or above, normal for this time of year,' said Peter Gleick, co-founder of the Oakland-based Pacific Institutes. The state's relatively benign outlook comes after a punishing drought several years ago that forced severe cutbacks in water usage in cities and on farms. Most of Southern California is once again in moderate to extreme drought after a winter with little rain and snow, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. But thanks to abundant precipitation up north, the state has ample water in reservoirs and a strong snowpack. The Trump administration has taken a keen interest in California's water situation, vowing to ensure farmers can tap what they need from a federally run water system in order to continue growing much of the country's fresh fruit and vegetables. California began this year with a solid start to the winter snowpack, which measured about 89% of average this week, according to the state's Department of Water Resources. There has been abundant precipitation in the northern part of the state, while Southern California has had a dry winter. In anticipation of more winter weather up north, state officials expedited plans to Friday to conduct an annual survey of the April snowpack in the Sierra Nevada. The snowpack, which provides about a third of the water used each year in California, melts in the spring and runs off into rivers and streams. California has built a complex state-run system of canals and dams to capture and store the water in reservoirs for the hot, dry months when it doesn't rain or snow. Allocations from the State Water Project, which provides water to 27 million people and 750,000 acres (303,514 hectares) of farmland, are currently at 40% of requested supplies, much like last year. Users received a full allocation during rainy 2023 and just 5% amid drought a year earlier. Jennifer Pierre, general manager of the State Water Contractors, said she thinks California officials could have released more water this year and wants to see more nimble decision-making in response to rapidly changing conditions. 'We do have this mismatch between hydrology and the allocation, and what are the different physical and policy changes that need to be made to address that,' Pierre said. Gleick, of the Pacific Institute, said California farmers always want more water than the environment can provide. 'We should never let a good water year let us become complacent,' Gleick said. 'We never have enough water to waste.'
The Independent
28-03-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
California's water reservoirs on track as winter storms may boost snowpack
The water in California's mountain snowpack is just shy of average as spring begins, but a winter storm set to hit the Sierra Nevada in the coming days will offer a boost. Nearly all of the state's reservoirs are above their historic capacity and the biggest ones, including Shasta and Oroville in the north, are more than 80% full, state data shows. Three storms are poised to hit Northern California this week and next after an already wet winter and the state also has been able to count on water stored up during the past two years of ample rain and snow, experts said. 'Because the last few years were reasonably good, the state's major reservoirs started off with a decent amount of water and today are all starting the dry season with stored water at, or above, normal for this time of year,' said Peter Gleick, co-founder of the Oakland-based Pacific Institutes. The state's relatively benign outlook comes after a punishing drought several years ago that forced severe cutbacks in water usage in cities and on farms. Most of Southern California is once again in moderate to extreme drought after a winter with little rain and snow, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. But thanks to abundant precipitation up north, the state has ample water in reservoirs and a strong snowpack. The Trump administration has taken a keen interest in California's water situation, vowing to ensure farmers can tap what they need from a federally run water system in order to continue growing much of the country's fresh fruit and vegetables. California began this year with a solid start to the winter snowpack, which measured about 89% of average this week, according to the state's Department of Water Resources. There has been abundant precipitation in the northern part of the state, while Southern California has had a dry winter. In anticipation of more winter weather up north, state officials expedited plans to Friday to conduct an annual survey of the April snowpack in the Sierra Nevada. The snowpack, which provides about a third of the water used each year in California, melts in the spring and runs off into rivers and streams. California has built a complex state-run system of canals and dams to capture and store the water in reservoirs for the hot, dry months when it doesn't rain or snow. Allocations from the State Water Project, which provides water to 27 million people and 750,000 acres (303,514 hectares) of farmland, are currently at 40% of requested supplies, much like last year. Users received a full allocation during rainy 2023 and just 5% amid drought a year earlier. Jennifer Pierre, general manager of the State Water Contractors, said she thinks California officials could have released more water this year and wants to see more nimble decision-making in response to rapidly changing conditions. 'We do have this mismatch between hydrology and the allocation, and what are the different physical and policy changes that need to be made to address that,' Pierre said. Gleick, of the Pacific Institute, said California farmers always want more water than the environment can provide. 'We should never let a good water year let us become complacent,' Gleick said. 'We never have enough water to waste.'
Associated Press
28-03-2025
- Climate
- Associated Press
California's water reservoirs on track as winter storms may boost snowpack
The water in California's mountain snowpack is just shy of average as spring begins, but a winter storm set to hit the Sierra Nevada in the coming days will offer a boost. Nearly all of the state's reservoirs are above their historic capacity and the biggest ones, including Shasta and Oroville in the north, are more than 80% full, state data shows. Three storms are poised to hit Northern California this week and next after an already wet winter and the state also has been able to count on water stored up during the past two years of ample rain and snow, experts said. 'Because the last few years were reasonably good, the state's major reservoirs started off with a decent amount of water and today are all starting the dry season with stored water at, or above, normal for this time of year,' said Peter Gleick, co-founder of the Oakland-based Pacific Institutes. The state's relatively benign outlook comes after a punishing drought several years ago that forced severe cutbacks in water usage in cities and on farms. Most of Southern California is once again in moderate to extreme drought after a winter with little rain and snow, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. But thanks to abundant precipitation up north, the state has ample water in reservoirs and a strong snowpack. The Trump administration has taken a keen interest in California's water situation, vowing to ensure farmers can tap what they need from a federally run water system in order to continue growing much of the country's fresh fruit and vegetables. California began this year with a solid start to the winter snowpack, which measured about 89% of average this week, according to the state's Department of Water Resources. There has been abundant precipitation in the northern part of the state, while Southern California has had a dry winter. In anticipation of more winter weather up north, state officials expedited plans to Friday to conduct an annual survey of the April snowpack in the Sierra Nevada. The snowpack, which provides about a third of the water used each year in California, melts in the spring and runs off into rivers and streams. California has built a complex state-run system of canals and dams to capture and store the water in reservoirs for the hot, dry months when it doesn't rain or snow. Allocations from the State Water Project, which provides water to 27 million people and 750,000 acres (303,514 hectares) of farmland, are currently at 40% of requested supplies, much like last year. Users received a full allocation during rainy 2023 and just 5% amid drought a year earlier. Jennifer Pierre, general manager of the State Water Contractors, said she thinks California officials could have released more water this year and wants to see more nimble decision-making in response to rapidly changing conditions. 'We do have this mismatch between hydrology and the allocation, and what are the different physical and policy changes that need to be made to address that,' Pierre said. Gleick, of the Pacific Institute, said California farmers always want more water than the environment can provide. 'We should never let a good water year let us become complacent,' Gleick said. 'We never have enough water to waste.'
