Drought

State completes groundwater mapping project

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced its groundwater mapping project was completed last week. The Statewide Airborne Electromagnetic (AEM) Survey Project surveyed 95 groundwater basins across California between December 2021 and November 2023. Using state-of-the-art helicopter-based technology to scan the earth’s subsurface to depths of up to 1,000 feet, DWR …

Read More »

Latest survey shows Sierra snowpack improving

Latest survey shows Sierra snowpack improving

The headlines over the past few weeks painted a pretty dismal picture about California’s “frozen reservoir,” stating the state was in a “snow drought” and to prepare for below average snow runoff this spring due to the unusually dry start to the water year. Fortunately, California has received several storms …

Read More »

Aquifer storage program stores excess water from Carmel River

Aquifer storage program stores excess water from Carmel River

Capitalizing on recent rainy weather, California American Water has captured and stored more than 300 acre-feet of water so far this season. The Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) program captures excess winter flows from the Carmel River to replenish underground aquifers. ASR is made possible by a well, pump and …

Read More »

Reclamation announces initial water supply allocations for CVP users

Legislators push for repairs to Central Valley levees ahead of winter rains

The Bureau of Reclamation announced its initial 2024 water supply allocations for Central Valley Project water users last week. Water supply allocations are based on an estimate of water available for delivery to Central Valley Project water users and reflect current reservoir storage, precipitation, and snowpack in the Sierra Nevada. …

Read More »

Snowpack shows modest improvement from previous month

Snowpack shows modest improvement from previous month

A modest improvement in California’s frozen reservoir was recorded in the second snow survey of the season at Phillips Station yesterday. The Department of Water Resources (DWR) recorded 29 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 10 inches, which is 58 percent of average for this location. DWR’s electronic …

Read More »

Report makes case for FIRO operations at Prado Dam

Report makes case for FIRO operations at Prado Dam

There is something to be said for updating the way California manages its water resources. A new report released from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes, (CW3E) and the Orange County Water District says just that. The Prado Dam FIRO Final Viability …

Read More »