“Farmers, water district officials and city leaders expressed
frustration Thursday over the decision by federal managers to tap
water from Friant Dam to meet a long-standing obligation with
west-side landowners.”
“Reclamation will begin increasing releases from Friant Dam near
Fresno into the San Joaquin River on Thursday to help meet
contractual obligations to deliver Central Valley Project water
to the San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors Water Authority on
the west side of the San Joaquin Valley.”
“For the first time ever, federal water managers will tap San
Joaquin River water to meet contractual obligations to west side
landowners, officials announced Tuesday.”
“An oversized load carrying two gates for a California hydro dam
will pass through Oregon Tuesday and Wednesday nights on
interstates 205 and 5 — and take a breather at a rest stop north
of Eugene.”
“As droughts have worsened in recent years, federal authorities
have released less and less water from a web of reservoirs and
canals in northern California that feeds farms and cities in the
arid south. For the first time in six decades, most farmers on
the east side of this valley have been told they will get no
federal irrigation water.”
“A wet March is yielding benefits for California’s water supply,
as state and federal officials announced Friday that deliveries
to some of their contractors will be increased.”
“After months of waiting, farmers with strong water rights along
the Feather River received news that 100 percent of their
contracted amount of water will be delivered. … Just a few
weeks ago, these same irrigation districts were told they would
only receive half of their water.”
“The California Department of Water Resources says State Water
Project deliveries that had been zero will increase to five
percent. … The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation says it is
increasing Central Valley Project water allocations for North of
Delta Settlement Contractors and wildlife refuges from 40 to 75
percent.”
“Drought-stricken California farmers and cities are set to get
more water as state and federal officials ease cutbacks due to
recent rain and snow, officials announced on Friday.”
“The Bureau of Reclamation today [April 18] announced an update
to the February 2014 Central Valley Project water supply for
Sacramento River Settlement Contractors and wildlife refuges
north-of-delta.
“Some thirsty California cities and farms will receive a sip of
water — not nearly enough to solve drought-induced woes but
better than the nothing they had been expecting.
“A federal appeals court reinstated a challenge Wednesday from
environmentalists to the government’s renewal of 41 long-term
contracts for irrigation water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin
Delta, a suit seeking greater protection for the endangered delta
smelt and other fish.”
“An appeals court said Wednesday that federal officials should
have consulted wildlife agencies about potential harm to a tiny,
threatened fish before issuing contracts for water from the
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.”
“A decision by a federal appeals court Wednesday could allow for
changes in water deliveries to irrigation districts that hold
senior rights to Sacramento River supplies.”
From The Modesto Bee, in a commentary by John Michelena:
“I have mixed feelings when I see those blue ‘Pray for Rain’
signs along our country roads. Though I thank the Almighty for
sending rain, I think our state and federal governments have been
lying to us about California’s drought and water.”
“On Monday, April 14, the Bureau of Reclamation will begin
increasing releases from Goodwin Dam into the Stanislaus River to
benefit Stanislaus River steelhead and San Joaquin River Chinook
salmon. Goodwin Dam is located downstream from Tulloch Dam and
New Melones Dam and Reservoir, features of the Central Valley
Project (CVP).”
“A somewhat optimistic Mark Cowin, director of the California
Department of Water Resources, said the flurry of late-winter
storms could cause regulators to open the flood gates of the
State Water Project and the Central Valley Project ever so
slightly.”
“As California’s drought stretches toward the hot summer months,
state and federal officials are planning extraordinary measures
to protect drinking water supplies and endangered Sacramento
River salmon, according to a plan unveiled Wednesday.”
