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Information Desk

Overview April 21, 2014

Information Desk
Background information on hot news topics, conservation tips and more!

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Aerial view of Lake Oroville showing the effects of drought in May 2022.
Post May 28, 2021 Drought FAQs Water Conservation Tips Drought

All Things Drought
Resources, tips and the latest information on the drought gripping the West

This page is a resource for all things drought – where you can find real-time reservoir levels, drought severity maps, special reports, a newsfeed of current developments on the drought that began in 2020 and general background on droughts in California and the West, as well as answers to common drought questions and tips for how you can save water at home.

What is Drought?

Drought – an extended period of limited or no precipitation – is a fact of life in California and the West, with water resources following boom-and-bust patterns. During California’s 2012-2016 drought, much of the state experienced severe drought conditions: significantly less precipitation and snowpack, reduced streamflow and higher temperatures. Those same conditions reappeared early in 2021, prompting Gov. Gavin Newsom in May of that year to declare drought emergencies in watersheds across 41 counties in California.

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Post June 22, 2016 All Things Drought

Drought FAQs

California is no stranger to drought. When conditions become dry, water storage declines and water conservation mandates make news headlines; questions from the public often surface about what appear to be easy solutions to augment the state’s water supply. But the answers can be complicated and, in the end, there is no silver bullet to ensure a resilient water supply, especially during drought.

We explore “frequently asked questions” often posed by the public and provide answers below. Simply click on the question for the answer to appear.

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Post December 21, 2022

Interactive: Exploring the Heart of California Water
A guide to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta

Screen shot of Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta map at Big Break Visitor Center at the DeltaTake an interactive online tour of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and learn more about its importance as a water delivery hub, an agricultural cornucopia, a haven for fish and wildlife, a playground for boaters and anglers and a home for families with deep generational roots.

Follow this link to explore our guide to the Delta. 

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Post June 10, 2020 Contact Us Solving Water Challenges in Disadvantaged Communities

Equitable Water Access: Information & Resources
Learn about equitable water access and find helpful articles, book recommendations, reports and more

Some people in California and across the West struggle to access safe, reliable and affordable water to meet their everyday needs for drinking, cooking and sanitation. In some cases, people are left without water as wells run dry in the midst of drought, or have little to no access at all to running water. Communities of color are most often burdened by these challenges.

The Water Education Foundation has put together a list of resources and background information to keep you informed about issues of water equity in California and the West.

Do you have a related resource to share for this page? Get in touch with our Programs and Communication Manager Sarah Angulo.

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Post April 3, 2020 Contact Us

Information About Water Resources & COVID-19
Find resources to stay in the know and videos, slideshows and more if you are teaching online or at home

Looking for more information about water resources and COVID-19? The Water Education Foundation has put together a list of resources and background information to keep you updated. 

What You Need to Know about Water and COVID-19:

TAP WATER: California’s safe drinking water standards require a multistep treatment process that includes filtration and disinfection. This process removes and kills viruses, including coronaviruses such as COVID-19, as well as bacteria and other pathogens. Read our Aquapedia page on water treatment for more information. 

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Photo gallery April 21, 2014

California Water 101

California has been called the most hydrologically altered landmass on the planet, and it is true. Today the state bears little resemblance to its former self. Where deserts and grasslands once prevailed, now reservoirs store water to move it to the arid land. Swampy marshes have given way to landfill for urban development. Wetlands have been converted to farmland. California’s water resources now support 35 million people and irrigate more than 5.68 million acres of farmland.

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  • Learn more about where your water comes from
  • Access an interactive map of the Delta region here.
Post April 24, 2014 All Things Drought Up Close and Personal: Water Use at Home Food Facts: How Much Water Does It Take to Produce ... ?

Water Conservation Tips
How to Save Water Inside and Outside of Your Home

California has a history of multi-year droughts and periodic years of abundant rain. The state’s Mediterranean climate means there is a short window for the rainy season. A robust Sierra Nevada snowpack is critical in helping to meet water demands during the long, hot summer. Severe drought occurred in the late 1970s, the late 1980s and the late 2000s.

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Post April 9, 2015 Water Conservation Tips Up Close and Personal: Water Use at Home

Food Facts: How Much Water Does It Take to Produce … ?

 

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Child drinking a glass of water.
Post April 9, 2015 Water Conservation Tips Food Facts: How Much Water Does It Take to Produce ... ?

Up Close and Personal: Water Use at Home

Become more aware of how much water you are using at home by learning the typical water use for the various activities below.

Simply click the activity to find out.

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General information May 7, 2012

California Watersheds: Our Vital Link

Watersheds are all around us. You’re sitting or standing in one right now.

A watershed is more than just a piece of land that water flows through. It is a place where people and animals live, and plants and trees grow. All life is dependent on a healthy watershed. Without watersheds, we wouldn’t have water for farms, cities, wildlife, recreation – everything!

The slideshow is packed full of useful information and photographs, maps and web links to help you explore each topic further.

What you will learn:

  • Check out the slideshow!
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Post October 19, 2009

Salinity in the Central Valley: A Critical Problem

Salt. In the right amount, it’s a gift from nature. Our bodies need some salt to absorb water and, basically, to survive. But any doctor will tell you, if you take in too much salt, you’ll start to have health problems. A similar negative effect is happening in California and is particularly obvious in the Central Valley.

Excess salinity poses a growing threat to food production, drinking water quality and public health. Salts increase the cost of urban drinking water and wastewater treatment, which are paid for by residents and businesses.

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Post April 24, 2014

Slideshows & Videos

Colorado River Slideshow

The 1,440-mile-long Colorado River passes through parts of seven states, several Indian reservations and into Mexico. Since the river was first tapped by humans 1,500 years ago, the water has been claimed, reclaimed, divided and subdivided many times.

 

Today, there are many demands for Colorado River water: Agriculture and Livestock, Municipal and Industrial, Recreation, Fish/Wildlife and Habitat, Hydroelectricity, Tribes and Mexico.

More water is exported from the Colorado River’s 250,000 square-mile basin than from any other river basin in the world. Every drop of its average 5 trillion gallons of water is used each year. In fact, the river often runs dry before it reaches its final destination at the Sea of Cortez in Mexico because of use by the United States and Mexico. There’s no doubt: All the competing demands for the water make it one of the most controlled and controversial rivers in the United States.

Watch the Colorado River slideshow, which is full of useful information and photographs, maps and web links to help you explore Colorado River topics further.

California Watersheds: Our Vital Link Slideshow                               

Watersheds are all around us. You’re sitting or standing in one right now.

A watershed is more than just a piece of land that water flows through. It is a place where people and animals live, and plants and trees grow. All life is dependent on a healthy watershed. Without watersheds, we wouldn’t have water for farms, cities, wildlife, recreation – everything!

The slideshow is packed full of useful information and photographs, maps and web links to help you explore each topic further.

What you will learn:

  • How watersheds function and how their overall health impacts all life around it
  • What issues threaten watersheds: Land-based pollutants, recreation, development, water quality, high-intensity fire and unhealthy forests
  • What’s being done through watershed management to ensure watershed health is maintained and improved
  • Where individual projects all over California are making a real difference
  • How you can locate the watershed in your area and get involved.

State Water Project Slideshow

This full-color slideshow, entitled “The State Water Project: Connecting California’s Water,” pays tribute to California’s State Water Project (SWP), celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2010.

The slideshow highlights the historical value of the SWP to the daily lives of Californians. In total, the SWP provides drinking water for 25 million people and irrigation water for more than 750,000 farmland acres. In 2001, the American Society of Civil Engineers selected the SWP as one of the greatest engineering achievements of the 20th century.

  • Colorado River Slideshow
  • Click on the picture to begin the Watersheds Slideshow
  • Click on the picture to begin the State Water Project Slideshow
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