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The Hill
24-06-2025
- Climate
- The Hill
Newsom warns that California's water system may be ill-prepared to cope with hotter, drier future
California's existing groundwater infrastructure may fail to quench the state's thirst in an increasingly arid future, even as officials celebrate widespread conservation achievements, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) warned on Tuesday. 'The data doesn't lie, and it is telling us that our water system is unprepared for California's hotter and drier climate,' Newsom said in a statement. The governor was referring to data published in a semi-annual report by the California Department of Water Resources that morning. The report, which indicated that California is now collecting more groundwater data than ever before, showed a 2.2 million acre-foot increase in storage last year. Nonetheless, the governor's office stressed that the Golden State still lacks adequate water infrastructure to provide Californians with the resources they will need in future projected climate conditions. The 2.2 million-acre-foot surge in storage reflects the implementation of proactive conservation measures, such as capturing and recharging flows during winter storms, expanding recharge basins, improving monitoring and reducing groundwater pumping across agencies. For reference, the average U.S. household consumes about half an acre-foot of water annually. The 2024 'water year' — October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2024 — featured average rainfall in comparison to that of the past 50 years, according to the report. These circumstances helped sustain recharging efforts that occurred after an 'exceptionally wet' 2023, the authors explained. However, the first five months of the 2025 water year have been 'notably dry across much of the state,' the report acknowledged. That extreme aridity has applied in particular to the Central Valley, where much of the state's agriculture occurs, as well as in southern areas — where some spots have endured their driest 10th percentile on record, the data showed. Although groundwater levels in most of California's wells have stabilized over the past year, 49 percent of them have undergone a decline over the past two decades, according to the report. Newsom on Tuesday cited the report's findings in a renewed pushed for the construction of the Delta Conveyance Project — a controversial, $20 billion plan to tunnel more water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta region to southern portions of the state. The governor has long been seeking to fast-track the Delta Conveyance proposal and thereby achieve vast improvements to the State Water Project, a storage system that serves about 27 million residents and 750,000 acres of farmland. 'We literally cannot afford to wait to complete this vital project,' Newsom said on Tuesday. 'Californians are sick and tired of the self-imposed roadblocks standing in the way of our state's continued progress.'
Los Angeles Times
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
California achieved significant groundwater recharge last year, state report says
A year of average precipitation gave California's groundwater supplies a significant boost, according to a state analysis released Tuesday. California's aquifers gained an estimated 2.2 million acre-feet of groundwater in the 12 months that ended Sept. 30, the state's 2024 water year. That's about half the storage capacity of Shasta Lake, California's largest reservoir. State officials said local agencies reported that about 1.9 million acre-feet of water went underground as a result of managed aquifer recharge projects designed to capture stormwater and replenish groundwater. The boost to underground supplies occurred while the state is implementing water-saving programs and regulations intended to help curb chronic overpumping in farming areas in the Central Valley. The amount of groundwater replenishment during the 2024 water year, while significant, was less than the 8.7 million acre-feet that percolated underground during the extremely wet 2023 water year, according to state estimates. Even as California has sought to capture more stormwater to recharge groundwater, pumping to provide for agriculture has continued drawing on underground supplies. The groundwater report, prepared by the state Department of Water Resources, said about 11.5 million acre-feet of groundwater was pumped across 98 basins, based on data from local agencies that submitted annual reports. That was up from 9.7 million acre-feet reported during the previous year. The Central Valley accounted for more than 84% of groundwater extraction statewide, and most of that water was used to supply the valley's farmlands. Gov. Gavin Newsom said California is collecting more groundwater data than it has previously, and is continuing to prioritize efforts to recharge aquifers. He said, however, that the state's water infrastructure is unprepared for the effects of climate change, and he reiterated his support for building a water tunnel beneath the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. 'We're done with barriers,' Newsom said in a statement. 'We must modernize our water infrastructure.' The proposed Delta Conveyance Project, with an estimated price tag of $20.1 billion, has generated heated debate. Supporters say the proposed project is essential to modernizing the state's water infrastructure and maintaining the reliability of supplies from the State Water Project. Opponents say it would unnecessarily harm the Delta's deteriorating ecosystem, threaten fish species and lead to significantly higher water costs for the public. As they released the figures, state officials said efforts to address groundwater overpumping have been helped by a state program called LandFlex, which has provided $23.3 million in grants to local groundwater agencies, enabling dozens of small and midsize farms to take steps to bolster groundwater levels. According to state estimates, the program has helped save more than 100,000 acre-feet of groundwater by reducing pumping. The Department of Water Resources said the program has also helped in redirecting floodwaters onto fallowed farmland to recharge groundwater. Department Director Karla Nemeth called it a 'climate-resilient solution' for local water management agencies as well as farmers.
San Francisco Chronicle
24-05-2025
- Climate
- San Francisco Chronicle
California's second-largest reservoir fills for third straight year
California's second-largest reservoir, Lake Oroville, reached capacity Friday, hitting the high water mark for the third straight year — a first for the 57-year-old reservoir. The milestone comes after a moderately wet winter in California, with enough snow in the mountains, particularly in the north, to melt and flush substantial water into state reservoirs. This week, water storage in California's major reservoirs stood at a comfortable 116% of average for the time of year, ensuring decent supplies for the rest of 2025. At Lake Oroville, about 70 miles north of Sacramento in Butte County, water levels rose Friday morning to within inches of the 900-foot elevation mark that state water managers deem full pool, prompting notice that the reservoir had hit capacity. At capacity, the lake holds 3.4 million acre-feet of water, enough to supply more than 7 million households for a year. The lake's supplies are at the heart of the State Water Project, a network of nearly two dozen dams and reservoirs run by the California Department of Water Resources. The state facilities provide drinking water for 27 million people, mostly in the Bay Area and Southern California. 'Full reservoirs allow DWR 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,' Raquel Borrayo, a spokesperson for the Department of Water Resources, said in an email. This past winter was the third straight with near- or above-average rain and snow in California. Accordingly, reservoirs have fared well, and statewide water supplies have remained robust. Still, water managers encourage people to conserve, pointing out the fickle nature of California weather and water. Just four years ago, severe drought pushed Lake Oroville to its lowest point since the reservoir began operating in 1968. Managers of the State Water Project have said they plan to deliver 50% of the water that contractors have requested this year, choosing to remain relatively cautious. California's largest reservoir, the federally run Shasta Lake, also hit capacity this spring. The Bureau of Reclamation-managed Central Valley Project, which supplies water to mostly agricultural users, is similarly planning to provide 50% of the water requested to the bulk of its contractors.
Epoch Times
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Northern California Lawmakers Oppose Newsom's Plan to Speed Up $20 Billion Delta Tunnel
Northern California lawmakers are pushing back against Gov. Gavin Newsom's plan to expedite a $20 billion tunnel project designed to divert water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The Delta Conveyance Project intends to modernize the State Water Project, a massive water management system that's over 60 years old. It would build a 45-mile tunnel to channel water from the Sacramento River to the aqueduct that serves Southern California. Newsom has Newsom, whose term ends in 2026, is seeking to streamline the project's construction. He attached a trailer bill in his 'For too long, attempts to modernize our critical water infrastructure have stalled in endless red tape, burdened with unnecessary delay,' Newsom said in a statement. 'We're done with barriers—our state needs to complete this project as soon as possible, so that we can better store and manage water to prepare for a hotter, drier future. Let's get this built.' State lawmakers from the region say the project is a threat to the ecosystem and will send water bills soaring for millions of users. They also criticized the project's $20 billion price tag and what they say is a bypass of environmental protections. Related Stories 5/23/2025 5/21/2025 'The governor is asking for a blank check, without cost caps, without meaningful oversight, without even committee hearings,' state Sen. Christopher Cabaldon, a Democrat from West Sacramento, said during a Delta Caucus Cochair Lori Wilson, a Democrat from Suisun City, said Newsom's fast-tracking of the tunnel would hurt the local economy. 'The Delta Conveyance Project will devastate the Delta ecosystem and create a massive financial burden for ratepayers,' she The project would upgrade the current conveyance system to also include a single underground tunnel, which would channel water from the Sacramento River in the northern Delta to the existing State Water Project's California Aqueduct on the southern end of the Delta, providing The 45-mile-long, 36-foot diameter tunnel would be the state's second largest infrastructure project, after the high-speed rail. California water agencies say the new infrastructure is vital for capturing water more efficiently amid climate concerns. 'Southern California stands to lose up to 10 percent of our water supply from the State Water Project if we don't act now,' Charley Wilson, executive director of the nonprofit Southern California Water Coalition, said in a Desert Water Agency Board President Paul Ortega also commended Newsom's trailer bill accelerating the project. 'Ensuring the timely delivery of this important infrastructure will make our desert community and regions across the state more sustainable and protect our state's primary water supply from the impacts of climate change and disruptions from earthquakes or levee failures,' he said.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Delta-area lawmakers vow to fight Newsom's plans for $20-billion water tunnel
A group of California legislators representing the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta area said Tuesday that they will fight Gov. Gavin Newsom's plan to build a $20-billion water tunnel, contending the project is a threat to their region and would leave millions of Californians paying much higher water bills. Newsom has said the tunnel project is vital to improving the reliability of water deliveries as climate change shrinks California's snowpack and alters the timing of runoff. But the Democratic lawmakers criticized Newsom's latest proposal to accelerate steps toward construction of the 45-mile tunnel by short-cutting permitting for the project and limiting avenues for legal challenges. 'Fast-tracking the Delta Conveyance Project is a direct attack on our region's environmental integrity, economic stability and public trust,' said Assemblymember Lori D. Wilson (D-Suisun City). 'We are united in our opposition to this project, not just because of what it threatens to destroy, but because of what it represents — a broken process that silences local voices.' Wilson and other members of the Delta caucus spoke at a news conference in the Capitol. They said the project would harm the Delta's farmlands, communities and ecosystem, and would place a large financial burden on ratepayers in Southern California. They said the cost, most recently estimated at $20.1 billion, is likely to be much higher. 'The project would have to be paid for by ratepayers who are already overburdened with soaring utility costs and aren't even aware of how the cost of this is going to impact them in their pocketbooks,' said state Sen. Jerry McNerney (D-Stockton). 'This project will set a precedent for bypassing well-established environmental laws." Read more: Newsom in fight to advance plans for $20-billion water tunnel in the Sacramento Delta The tunnel would transport water from the Sacramento River to the state's pumping facilities on the south side of the delta, where supplies enter the aqueducts of the State Water Project and are delivered to 27 million people and 750,000 acres of farmland, including parts of the Central Valley. Supporters of the plan, including water agencies in Southern California and Silicon Valley, say the state needs to build new infrastructure in the delta to protect the water supply in the face of climate change and earthquake risks. Opponents, including agencies in the delta and environmental advocates, say the project is an expensive boondoggle that would harm the environment and communities, and that the state should pursue other alternatives. The legislators called for different types of water solutions, including investing in projects to recycle wastewater, boost water storage, and rebuild aging levees in the delta to protect freshwater supplies and reduce earthquake risks. Newsom, who is set to serve through 2026 and then leave office, has said the tunnel project is critical for the state's future. The governor said his latest proposal would simplify permitting by eliminating certain deadlines from water rights permits; narrow legal review to avoid delays from legal challenges; confirm that the state has authority to issue bonds to pay for the project, which would be repaid by water agencies; and accelerate state efforts to acquire land for construction. The governor's approach, part of his latest budget proposal, was praised by supporters of the project and managers of water agencies, who said it would reduce regulatory and legal uncertainty. Charley Wilson, executive director of the nonprofit Southern California Water Coalition, said the ability of the State Water Project to reliably deliver water is declining, while demand continues to rise. "Southern California stands to lose up to 10% of our water supply from the State Water Project if we don't act," Wilson said, calling the project the best path to offsetting those losses. Graham Bradner, executive director of the Delta Conveyance Design and Construction Authority, said the governor's proposal would 'save years of delay and potentially billions in costs by removing unnecessary hurdles." The legislators, however, said they will fight Newsom's attempt to short-cut the established process. 'The governor is asking for a blank check, without cost caps, without meaningful oversight, without even committee hearings,' said state Sen. Christopher Cabaldon (D-West Sacramento). 'What we have before us is a proposal to advance this under the dead of night with no public oversight or input.' Read more: Newsom wants to build a $16-billion water tunnel. Will it destroy California's delta? Cabaldon stressed that the public ultimately would pay for the project. 'The real threat here is to the pocketbooks, the monthly water bills, of residents throughout Southern California,' Cabaldon said. McNerny said he expects the group of legislators will 'do pretty well in gathering Senate opposition.' 'There is going to be significant opposition. It's going to be vocal. It's going to be harsh,' he said. The project has been supported by leaders of water agencies in Southern California who are considering investing in it. In December, the board of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California voted to spend $141.6 million for a large share of the preliminary planning work. The district, which delivers water for 19 million people, isn't expected to decide whether to invest in building the tunnel until 2027. The legislators spoke beside leaders of environmental, fishing and tribal groups who oppose the project. Malissa Tayaba, vice chair of the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, said the project would harm the region and her tribe. 'It seems that to Gov. Newsom, our culture, our ancestors and the environment that sustains us is worth less than the ability to over-divert water from our rivers to send more water and money to commercial water interests,' Tayaba said. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
