California has been the nation’s
leading agricultural and dairy state for the past 50 years. The
state’s 80,500 farms and ranches produce more than 400 different
agricultural products. These products generated a record $44.7
billion in sales value in 2012, accounting for 11.3 percent of
the US total.
Breaking down the state’s agricultural role in the country,
California produces 21 percent of the nation’s milk supply, 23
percent of its cheese and 92 percent of all grapes. The state
also produces half of all domestically-grown fruits, nuts and
vegetables, including some products, such as almonds, walnuts,
artichokes, persimmons and pomegranates, of which 99 percent are
grown in California.
Overall, about 3 percent of employment in the state is directly
or indirectly related to agriculture.
An Arizona judge has ruled a coalition of farms and
municipalities can’t jump into a lawsuit the state has brought
against Saudi Arabian-backed farming company Fondomonte.
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes is suing Fondomonte in
Maricopa County Superior Court on claims its groundwater
pumping is a “public nuisance.” … In his ruling, Judge
John Blanchard acknowledged this is seen as a “test case” for
enforcing groundwater regulation, but said “generalized
concern” about potential future lawsuits isn’t a good enough
reason to let the other groups intervene.
In a first, researchers have identified the nation’s roughly
8,700 cattle feeding operations, and the map shows California
has more of them than any other state. California also has the
most feedlot acreage: over 85,000 acres. … For decades,
such operations have been associated with degraded air and
water quality. … The lack of precise
location data has meant that local governments, academics and
nonprofit organizations have struggled to document the effects
of these facilities on the environment and community health. So
the researchers decided to build a database and map combining
existing data sets. … The study was published Tuesday in the
journal Communications Earth & Environment.
Charcoal made from human waste could help solve fertiliser
shortages as well as reduce pollution and energy use, a study
has found. … Treated sewage sludge is already spread on
farmland, but its use is controversial as it often contains
microplastics, heavy metals, Pfas forever chemicals, pathogens,
and pharmaceuticals.The researchers say biochar can avoid this
problem by separating the waste at source. … The biochar
production process also allows nutrient proportions to be
adjusted according to the needs of individual crops. This can
address problems associated with fertiliser use such as weed
growth and eutrophication – when excess nutrients leach into
groundwater, causing rapid growth of algae which depletes
oxygen availability.
Here’s the plain‑English version of what’s about to happen —
and what it means if you grow grapes or buy fruit in Sonoma
County. … FERC just approved PG&E’s 2025 flow variance,
which prioritizes holding more water back on the Eel to protect
fish and manage dam‑safety risks. Practically, that means lower
(and more variable) Potter Valley/Russian River diversions this
year, with releases allowed to dip below 25 cfs when needed.
… Second, the long‑term geometry of our supply changes from
“year‑round trickle” to “catch it in the rain.” ERPA’s New
Eel‑Russian Facility (NERF) is a pump station that only runs
when the Eel is up — fall through spring — pushing water
through the existing tunnel to the East Branch and, ultimately,
Lake Mendocino. … [I]n plain terms: load up in winter, live
off storage in summer.
A breakthrough in agricultural gene editing may help farmers
breed more disease-resistant crops. Aided by artificial
intelligence, researchers at UC Davis managed to strengthen
plants’ immune response by re-engineering protein structures
that detect disease, known as immune receptors, to recognize
newly evolved pathogens. The method may provide a more
sustainable solution for tomato farmers near Sacramento — the
Big Tomato — who typically fight illnesses such as wilt disease
and southern blight with environmentally damaging pesticides.
An infestation of roof rats in the central San Joaquin Valley
of California has caused more than $300 million in damage as
the population of the hungry rodents has spiked and farmers
struggle to stop the vermin from causing more damage.
University of California researchers and almond industry
officials said the rats have chewed through irrigation tubing,
gnawed on trees, and chewed up nuts throughout Merced, Fresno,
Kings and Kern counties. … The rats have also figured
out that by scurrying along irrigation canals and other
waterways they can connect to more orchards and
vineyards. … Among the biggest losses was the
replacement of irrigation drip lines that
accounted for losses between $56 million and $168 million.
Central California is experiencing a break from its typical
summer heat, bringing relief to local farmers and their crops.
Cooler temperatures this season are having a positive impact on
agricultural yields, according to experts. … [T]he cooler
weather has reduced farmers’ water
requirements, as the soil retains moisture better than
in high temperatures. … Crops such as cotton, corn,
tomatoes, onions, and grapes have benefited from the less
stressful weather.
… Urban development and water shortages are
major drivers of farmland loss. Between 2016 and 2040,
California is projected to lose more cropland to urbanization
than any other state — over 300,000 acres. … There are few
truly small farms left that are aiming to turn significant
profits, according to Daniel Sumners, a professor of
agricultural economics at UC Davis. The operations that can
afford and benefit from agrobotics are mid-to-large farms that
can secure loans for equipment purchases. … Across
California’s Central Valley, a new generation of agrobotics
founders is reshaping how innovation happens on the farm.
… US beef prices are spiking after years of
drought in areas where cattle are raised. In
the southwestern US in particular, which includes
cattle-producing areas like California’s San Joaquin Valley,
drought has exceeded historical expectations over the last
quarter-century. … Ranchers have some options, including
feeding their herds alternatives to pasture grass, such as hay.
But as dry conditions continue, selling the cattle begins to
make more financial sense than buying the expensive feed. US
herds have been dwindling for years, and are now smaller than
ever even as drought conditions have improved.
… I understand and support the intent behind SGMA; conserving
groundwater is essential to the long-term survival of
agriculture in this state. But the reality is stark: as SGMA is
implemented, vast swaths of productive farmland—nearly a
million acres statewide—are being fallowed, with no clear
economic alternative for the land or the people who rely on it.
… AB 1156 would allow landowners to lease fallowed land
for clean energy development through updated solar use
easements. It provides a stable, dependable source of income to
support families, workers, and communities—while still honoring
the land. –Written by Cameron Moors, manager of Renton and Terry
Farms LLC and co-founder and business development officer of
SunHarvest Partners.
Three straight years of wet winters appear to be benefiting
water bird species in the state, with some species showing a
more than doubling in population since last year, according to
the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Total breeding
duck populations in California increased 27%, with mallards
increasing 49%. Gadwall numbers are up 104%. … These
gains were accomplished with even more development and changes
in agriculture to less water bird friendly crops continue to
decrease habitat in the state. … For perspective on
the loss of habitat statewide, mallards remain below the
long-term average by 16%.
… The state Legislature came to a (partial) rescue in 2011 by
passing SB 618, which cut the cancellation fee in half for
farmers who want to transition to solar. To qualify for the
break, however, applicants must prove that the soil on their
land can no longer sustain farming. That program has not been a
rousing success; over its first nine years, only three
applicants pursued solar easements under SB 618, according to
the state Department of Conservation. Now, another bill, AB
1156, would expand eligibility to include land that can no
longer be farmed due to water shortages.
… It’s hard to see any downside to this legislation. If
land isn’t fit for farming and is too remote or otherwise
unsuitable for much-needed housing development, using it to
boost California’s clean energy production makes sense.
Failing to place one of five U.S. Department of Agriculture
hubs in California is as ludicrous as thinking you can grow
bananas on the shores of the Great Salt Lake. That is exactly
what Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins is doing with her
reorganization plans to decentralize the Washington, D.C.-based
department whose portfolio includes farming, forestry,
nutrition and food safety. Rollins announced the revamping of
the 100,000-employee department by pushing the majority of the
workforce into hubs in Utah, Colorado, North Carolina, Indiana
and Missouri. … Overlooking the country’s top
ag-producing state for a hub is a mistake. No other state comes
close to California’s $59.46 billion in cash receipts for all
commodities.
The Calipatria City Council unanimously adopted a resolution
July 8, introduced by Mayor Michael Luellen, opposing the
expansion of solar development on farmland and affirming the
city’s commitment to protecting the Imperial Valley’s
agricultural heritage, economy and environment. Resolution No.
25-24 mirrors and supports a similar position adopted by
the Imperial Irrigation District, emphasizing that the rapid
conversion of irrigated, cultivated lands for energy
development is producing net-negative impacts for the
Calipatria area and the broader Imperial
Valley. “Agriculture has defined our region for over a
century. It is the foundation of our economy, our identity, and
our way of life,” said Mayor Luellen.
As Southern California enters the peak of summer, water
agencies, utilities, and residents are turning their attention
to one of the region’s most pressing challenges—sustainable
water use. July is officially recognized as Smart Irrigation
Month, a national initiative launched by the Irrigation
Association in 2005 to raise awareness about the value of
efficient irrigation practices. … In Southern California,
where outdoor water use accounts for more than 50% of
residential consumption (Metropolitan Water District of
Southern California, 2022), Smart Irrigation Month comes at a
critical time. With July historically being the month of
highest water demand, communities from Irvine to the Inland
Empire are rallying around the message: Use water wisely, every
drop counts.
… State lawmakers are under pressure from Big Ag to kill or
rewrite legislation that would make it easier to convert
farmland to solar production. The Legislature rejected a
similar bill last year, despite looming regulations that will
require Central Valley farmers to pump less groundwater. In
southeastern California, meanwhile, the powerful Imperial
Irrigation District — which controls more Colorado River water
than the entire state of Arizona — voted this month to oppose
further solar development on Imperial Valley farmland, even as
a climate-fueled megadrought drains the river’s major
reservoirs. … AB 1156 would let growers in
water-stressed areas suspend their contracts to enable solar
development, without anyone paying the fee. The solar company
would pay full property taxes. Local officials would need to
sign off. And again: If less water inevitably means lost
farmland, why not incentivize solar? –Written by Sammy Roth, climate columnist for the Los
Angeles Times.
California farmers, agricultural commissioners and lawmakers
have in recent months sounded an alarm about a troubling
symptom of the state’s struggling farm economy.
“Everywhere you turn there’s an abandoned vineyard,” said Randy
Baranek, project manager for the Stanislaus County-based
agricultural service provider Fowler Brothers. He estimated
there are twice as many untended grapevines in the Central
Valley this year than he has ever seen. … The phenomenon has
led to widespread concern that pests harbored in abandoned
orchards and vineyards could impact adjacent
farms. … Farmers cautioned that the situation could
get worse before it improves. While almond prices have improved
this year, the winegrape market has not. Meanwhile, limits
on groundwater pumping under California’s Sustainable
Groundwater Management Act have led some growers in parts of
the San Joaquin Valley to begin abandoning orchards.
A new tool allows researchers to probe the metabolic processes
occurring within the leaves, stems, and roots of a key citrus
crop, the clementine. The big picture goal of this research is
to improve the yields, flavor and nutritional value of citrus
and non-citrus crops, even in the face of increasingly harsh
growing conditions and growing pest challenges. To build the
tool, the team — led by the University of California San Diego
— focused on the clementine (Citrus clementina), which is a
cross between a mandarin orange and a sweet orange. The effort
is expected to expand well beyond the clementine in order to
develop actionable information for increasing the productivity
and quality of a wide range of citrus and non-citrus crops. The
strategy is to uncover – and then make use of – new insights on
how plants respond, in terms of metabolic activities in
specific parts of the plant or tree, to environmental factors
like temperature, drought and disease.
… The mild spring appeared to bolster almond
yields statewide. The USDA’s 2025 California almond production
forecast has risen to 3 billion meat pounds, up 7% from May’s
subjective forecast and 10% higher than last year’s crop of
2.73 billion meat pounds. The forecast is based on 1.39 million
bearing acres, explains the National Agricultural Statistics
Service office in Sacramento. … A 3-billion-pound crop
would be California’s second largest in history. … The
heavy load is despite storms that began in early February and
peaked in the middle of the month. Rain, wind and hail hindered
bee hours and blossom growth, but conditions improved in early
March with warm temperatures accelerating the crop’s progress
through the end of bloom. Mild temperatures and timely rain in
spring supported nut growth and continued through early summer,
lessening heat stress in orchards, NASS reports.
Central Valley farmer, noted horse breeder, and philanthropist
John Harris passed away on Wednesday. He was 81 years old
and just 12 days shy of his 82nd birthday. … He
became the sole shareholder and CEO of Harris Farms in 1981
following the death of his father and led the ranch for
decades, including Harris Ranch Inn & Restaurant, Harris Ranch
Beef Company, Harris Feeding Company, Harris Farms Thoroughbred
Division and Harris Fresh. … Harris was also known for
his philanthropic efforts, often supporting his alma mater UC
Davis, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Fresno State. At
Fresno State, his philanthropy personally benefited Jordan
College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, the Craig
School of Business, the Bulldog Foundation, the Fresno State
Library and the Kremen School of Education and Human
Development.
This special, first-ever Foundation water tour will only be offered once! Join us as we examine water issues along the 263-mile Klamath River, from its spring-fed headwaters in south-central Oregon to its redwood-lined estuary on the Pacific Ocean in California.
Running Y Resort
5500 Running Y Rd
Klamath Falls, OR 97601
Explore the Sacramento River and its tributaries through a scenic landscape while learning about the issues associated with a key source for the state’s water supply.
All together, the river and its tributaries supply 35 percent of California’s water and feed into two major projects: the State Water Project and the federal Central Valley Project.
Water Education Foundation
2151 River Plaza Drive, Suite 205
Sacramento, CA 95833
Seeking to prevent the California State Water Resources Control
Board from stepping in to regulate groundwater in critically
overdrafted subbasins, local agencies are working to correct
deficiencies in their plans to protect groundwater. With
groundwater sustainability agencies formed and groundwater
sustainability plans evaluated, the state water board has moved
to implement the 2014 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act,
or SGMA. … Under probation, groundwater extractors in
the Tulare Lake subbasin face annual fees of $300 per well and
$20 per acre-foot pumped, plus a late reporting fee of 25%.
SGMA also requires well owners to file annual groundwater
extraction reports.
Catastrophic weather events wreaked havoc on U.S. agriculture
last year, causing nearly $22 billion in crop and rangeland
losses, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.
California accounted for $1.14 billion of that figure,
including nearly $880 million in damages from severe storms and
flooding. The figures represent a significant shift from
previous years, when drought and wildfires were California’s
biggest challenges. Since then, atmospheric rivers, Tropical
Storm Hilary and other weather events battered our farming
communities. - Written by Matthew Viohl, director of federal
policy for the California Farm Bureau
This tour explored the lower Colorado River firsthand where virtually every drop of the river is allocated, yet demand is growing from myriad sources — increasing population, declining habitat, drought and climate change.
The 1,450-mile river is a lifeline to some 40 million people in the Southwest across seven states, 30 tribal nations and Mexico. How the Lower Basin states – Arizona, California and Nevada – use and manage this water to meet agricultural, urban, environmental and industrial needs was the focus of this tour.
Hilton Garden Inn Las Vegas Strip South
7830 S Las Vegas Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89123
Water, the essence of life, is an indispensable resource
intricately woven into the fabric of our daily existence. From
the food on our plates to the gadgets in our hands, water
silently plays a pivotal role in the creation of almost
everything we encounter. In a world where water scarcity is a
looming concern, it is essential to explore the profound impact
of water in the production of goods and services that shape our
lives as well as the food we feed our families. -Written by Mike Wade, executive director of the
California Farm Water Coalition
This tour explored the Sacramento River and its tributaries through a scenic landscape while learning about the issues associated with a key source for the state’s water supply.
All together, the river and its tributaries supply 35 percent of California’s water and feed into two major projects: the State Water Project and the federal Central Valley Project.
Water Education Foundation
2151 River Plaza Drive, Suite 205
Sacramento, CA 95833
The 3ʳᵈ International Conference, Toward Sustainable Groundwater in Agriculture: Linking Science & Policy took place from June 18 – 20. Organized by the Water Education Foundation and the UC Davis Robert M. Hagan Endowed Chair, the conference provided scientists, policymakers, agricultural and environmental interest group representatives, government officials and consultants with the latest scientific, management, legal and policy advances for sustaining our groundwater resources in agricultural regions around the world.
The conference keynote address was provided by Mark Arax, an award-winning journalist and author of books chronicling agriculture and water issues in California’s Central Valley. Arax comes from a family of Central Valley farmers and is praised for writing books that are deeply profound, heartfelt and nuanced including The Dreamt Land, West of the West and The King of California. He did a reading from his latest book The Dreamt Land and commented on the future of groundwater in the Valley during his keynote lunch talk on June 18.
Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport
1333 Bayshore Hwy
Burlingame, CA 94010
This tour explored the lower Colorado River firsthand where virtually every drop of the river is allocated, yet demand is growing from myriad sources — increasing population, declining habitat, drought and climate change.
The 1,450-mile river is a lifeline to some 40 million people in the Southwest across seven states, 30 tribal nations and Mexico. How the Lower Basin states – Arizona, California and Nevada – use and manage this water to meet agricultural, urban, environmental and industrial needs was the focus of this tour.
Hilton Garden Inn Las Vegas Strip South
7830 S Las Vegas Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89123
This special Foundation water tour journeyed along the Eastern Sierra from the Truckee River to Mono Lake, through the Owens Valley and into the Mojave Desert to explore a major source of water for Southern California, this year’s snowpack and challenges for towns, farms and the environment.
This tour explored the Sacramento River and its tributaries through a scenic landscape while learning about the issues associated with a key source for the state’s water supply.
All together, the river and its tributaries supply 35 percent of California’s water and feed into two major projects: the State Water Project and the federal Central Valley Project.
Water Education Foundation
2151 River Plaza Drive, Suite 205
Sacramento, CA 95833
This tour explored the Sacramento River and its tributaries
through a scenic landscape while learning about the issues
associated with a key source for the state’s water supply.
All together, the river and its tributaries supply 35 percent of
California’s water and feed into two major projects: the State
Water Project and the federal Central Valley Project.
Water Education Foundation
2151 River Plaza Drive, Suite 205
Sacramento, CA 95833
This tour traveled along the San Joaquin River to learn firsthand
about one of the nation’s largest and most expensive river
restoration projects.
The San Joaquin River was the focus of one of the most
contentious legal battles in California water history,
ending in a 2006 settlement between the federal government,
Friant Water Users Authority and a coalition of environmental
groups.
Hampton Inn & Suites Fresno
327 E Fir Ave
Fresno, CA 93720
This tour explored the lower Colorado River firsthand where virtually every drop of the river is allocated, yet demand is growing from myriad sources — increasing population, declining habitat, drought and climate change.
The 1,450-mile river is a lifeline to some 40 million people in the Southwest across seven states, 30 tribal nations and Mexico. How the Lower Basin states – Arizona, California and Nevada – use and manage this water to meet agricultural, urban, environmental and industrial needs was the focus of this tour.
Hyatt Place Las Vegas At Silverton Village
8380 Dean Martin Drive
Las Vegas, NV 89139
This tour ventured through California’s Central Valley, known as the nation’s breadbasket thanks to an imported supply of surface water and local groundwater. Covering about 20,000 square miles through the heart of the state, the valley provides 25 percent of the nation’s food, including 40 percent of all fruits, nuts and vegetables consumed throughout the country.
The lower Colorado River has virtually every drop allocated, yet demand is growing from myriad sources — increasing population, declining habitat, drought and climate change.
The 1,450-mile river is a lifeline to 40 million people in the Southwest across seven states, 30 tribal nations and Mexico. How the Lower Basin states – Arizona, California and Nevada – use and manage this water to meet agricultural, urban, environmental and industrial needs was the focus of this tour.
Hyatt Place Las Vegas At Silverton Village
8380 Dean Martin Drive
Las Vegas, NV 89139
This tour guided participants on a virtual exploration of the Sacramento River and its tributaries and learn about the issues associated with a key source for the state’s water supply.
All together, the river and its tributaries supply 35 percent of California’s water and feed into two major projects: the State Water Project and the federal Central Valley Project.
This tour guided participants on a virtual journey deep into California’s most crucial water and ecological resource – the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The 720,000-acre network of islands and canals support the state’s two major water systems – the State Water Project and the Central Valley Project. The Delta and the connecting San Francisco Bay form the largest freshwater tidal estuary of its kind on the West coast.
This event explored the lower Colorado River where virtually every drop of the river is allocated, yet demand is growing from myriad sources — increasing population, declining habitat, drought and climate change.
The 1,450-mile river is a lifeline to 40 million people in the Southwest across seven states and Mexico. How the Lower Basin states – Arizona, California and Nevada – use and manage this water to meet agricultural, urban, environmental and industrial needs was the focus of this tour.
This tour explored the lower Colorado River where virtually every drop of the river is allocated, yet demand is growing from myriad sources — increasing population, declining habitat, drought and climate change.
The 1,450-mile river is a lifeline to 40 million people in the Southwest across seven states and Mexico. How the Lower Basin states – Arizona, California and Nevada – use and manage this water to meet agricultural, urban, environmental and industrial needs is the focus of this tour.
Silverton Hotel
3333 Blue Diamond Road
Las Vegas, NV 89139
This 2-day, 1-night tour offered participants the opportunity to
learn about water issues affecting California’s scenic Central
Coast and efforts to solve some of the challenges of a region
struggling to be sustainable with limited local supplies that
have potential applications statewide.
This tour explored the Sacramento River and its tributaries
through a scenic landscape as participants learned about the
issues associated with a key source for the state’s water supply.
All together, the river and its tributaries supply 35 percent of
California’s water and feed into two major projects: the State
Water Project and the federal Central Valley Project. Tour
participants got an on-site update of Oroville Dam spillway
repairs.
We explored the lower Colorado River where virtually every drop
of the river is allocated, yet demand is growing from myriad
sources — increasing population, declining habitat, drought and
climate change.
The 1,450-mile river is a lifeline to 40 million people in
the Southwest across seven states and Mexico. How the Lower Basin
states – Arizona, California and Nevada – use and manage this
water to meet agricultural, urban, environmental and industrial
needs was the focus of this tour.
Hampton Inn Tropicana
4975 Dean Martin Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89118
This three-day, two-night tour explored the lower Colorado River
where virtually every drop of the river is allocated, yet demand
is growing from myriad sources — increasing population,
declining habitat, drought and climate change.
The 1,450-mile river is a lifeline to 40 million people in
the Southwest across seven states and Mexico. How the Lower Basin
states – Arizona, California and Nevada – use and manage this
water to meet agricultural, urban, environmental and industrial
needs is the focus of this tour.
Best Western McCarran Inn
4970 Paradise Road
Las Vegas, NV 89119
This tour explored the Sacramento River and its tributaries
through a scenic landscape as participants learned about the
issues associated with a key source for the state’s water supply.
All together, the river and its tributaries supply 35 percent of
California’s water and feed into two major projects: the State
Water Project and the federal Central Valley Project. Tour
participants got an on-site update of repair efforts on the
Oroville Dam spillway.
Participants of this tour snaked along the San Joaquin River to
learn firsthand about one of the nation’s largest and most
expensive river restoration projects.
The San Joaquin River was the focus of one of the most
contentious legal battles in California water history,
ending in a 2006 settlement between the federal government,
Friant Water Users Authority and a coalition of environmental
groups.
Groundwater replenishment happens
through direct recharge and in-lieu recharge. Water used for
direct recharge most often comes from flood flows, water
conservation, recycled water, desalination and water
transfers.
Water is expensive – and securing enough money to ensure
reliability and efficiency of the state’s water systems and
ecosystems is a constant challenge.
In 2014, California voters approved Proposition 1, authorizing a
$7.5 billion bond to fund water projects throughout the state.
This included investments in water storage, watershed protection
and restoration, groundwater sustainability and drinking water
protection.
California agriculture is going to have to learn to live with the
impacts of climate change and work toward reducing its
contributions of greenhouse gas emissions, a Yolo County walnut
grower said at the Jan. 26 California Climate Change Symposium in
Sacramento.
“I don’t believe we are going to be able to adapt our way out of
climate change,” said Russ Lester, co-owner of Dixon Ridge Farms
in Winters. “We need to mitigate for it. It won’t solve the
problem but it can slow it down.”
From the Greek “xeros” and Middle Dutch “scap,”
xeriscape was coined
in 1978 and literally translates to “dry scene.”
Xeriscaping, by extension, is making an environment which can
tolerate dryness. This involves installing drought-resistant and
slow-growing plants to reduce water use.
Irrigation is the artificial supply
of water to grow crops or plants. Obtained from either surface or groundwater, it optimizes
agricultural production when the amount of rain and where it
falls is insufficient. Different irrigation
systems are not necessarily mutually exclusive, but in
practical use are often combined. Much of the agriculture in
California and the West relies on irrigation.
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. Increasing salinity is likely the largest long-term
chronic water quality impairment to surface and groundwater in California’s Central
Valley.
California’s severe drought has put its water rights system under
scrutiny, raising the question whether a complete overhaul is
necessary to better allocate water use.
(Read the excerpt below from the July/August 2015 issue along
with the editor’s note. Click here
to subscribe to Western Water and get full access.)
Introduction
California’s severe drought has put its water rights system under
scrutiny, raising the question whether a complete overhaul is
necessary to better allocate water use.
This issue looks at remote sensing applications and how satellite
information enables analysts to get a better understanding of
snowpack, how much water a plant actually uses, groundwater
levels, levee stability and more.
This 3-day, 2-night tour, which we do every spring,
travels the length of the San Joaquin Valley, giving participants
a clear understanding of the State Water Project and Central
Valley Project.
Friant Dam, located just north of
Fresno, is a part of the federal Central Valley
Project and captures the upper
San Joaquin River’s flow in Millerton Lake. The 319-foot high
concrete gravity dam diverts water into the 152-mile
Friant-Kern Canal,
which delivers water south to Bakersfield, and the Madera Canal,
which runs 36 miles to the north.
This printed issue of Western Water examines
agricultural water use – its successes, the planned state
regulation to quantify its efficiency and the potential for
greater savings.
This Western Water looks at proposed new measures to deal with
the century-old problem of salinity with a special focus on San
Joaquin Valley farms and cities.
The Reclamation Act of 1902, which could arguably be described as
a progression of the credo, Manifest Destiny, transformed the
West. This issue of Western Water provides a glimpse of the past
100 years of the Reclamation Act, from the early visionaries who
sought to turn the arid West into productive farmland, to the
modern day task of providing a limited amount of water to homes,
farms and the environment. Included are discussions of various
Bureau projects and what the next century may bring in terms of
challenges and success.
30-minute DVD that traces the history of the U.S. Bureau of
Reclamation and its role in the development of the West. Includes
extensive historic footage of farming and the construction of
dams and other water projects, and discusses historic and modern
day issues.
A new look for our most popular product! And it’s the perfect
gift for the water wonk in your life.
Our 24×36-inch California Water Map is widely known for being the
definitive poster that shows the integral role water plays in the
state. On this updated version, it is easier to see California’s
natural waterways and man-made reservoirs and aqueducts
– including federally, state and locally funded
projects – the wild and scenic rivers system, and
natural lakes. The map features beautiful photos of
California’s natural environment, rivers, water projects,
wildlife, and urban and agricultural uses and the
text focuses on key issues: water supply, water use, water
projects, the Delta, wild and scenic rivers and the Colorado
River.
This beautiful 24×36 inch poster, suitable for framing, features
a map of the San Joaquin River. The map text focuses on the San
Joaquin River Restoration Program, which aims to restore flows
and populations of Chinook salmon to the river below Friant Dam
to its confluence with the Merced River. The text discusses the
history of the program, its goals and ongoing challenges with
implementation.
This beautiful 24×36-inch poster, suitable for framing, displays
the rivers, lakes and reservoirs, irrigated farmland, urban areas
and Indian reservations within the Klamath River Watershed. The
map text explains the many issues facing this vast,
15,000-square-mile watershed, including fish restoration;
agricultural water use; and wetlands. Also included are
descriptions of the separate, but linked, Klamath Basin
Restoration Agreement and the Klamath Hydroelectric Agreement,
and the next steps associated with those agreements. Development
of the map was funded by a grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service.
This beautiful 24×36-inch poster, suitable for framing, displays
the rivers, lakes and reservoirs, irrigated farmland, urban areas
and Indian reservations within the Truckee River Basin, including
the Newlands Project, Pyramid Lake and Lake Tahoe. Map text
explains the issues surrounding the use of the Truckee-Carson
rivers, Lake Tahoe water quality improvement efforts, fishery
restoration and the effort to reach compromise solutions to many
of these issues.
This 24×36 inch poster, suitable for framing, illustrates the
water resources available for Nevada cities, agriculture and the
environment. It features natural and manmade water resources
throughout the state, including the Truckee and Carson rivers,
Lake Tahoe, Pyramid Lake and the course of the Colorado River
that forms the state’s eastern boundary.
Water as a renewable resource is depicted in this 18×24 inch
poster. Water is renewed again and again by the natural
hydrologic cycle where water evaporates, transpires from plants,
rises to form clouds, and returns to the earth as precipitation.
Excellent for elementary school classroom use.
With irrigation projects that import water, farmers have
transformed millions of acres of land into highly productive
fields and orchards. But the dry climate that provides an almost
year-round farming season can hasten salt build up in soils. The
build-up of salts in poorly drained soils can decrease crop
productivity, and there are links between drainage water from
irrigated fields and harmful impacts on fish and wildlife.
The 24-page Layperson’s Guide to the Central Valley Project
explores the history and development of the federal Central
Valley Project (CVP), California’s largest surface water delivery
system. In addition to the project’s history, the guide describes
the various facilities, operations and benefits the water
project brings to the state along with the CVP
Improvement Act (CVPIA).
The 24-page Layperson’s Guide to the State Water Project provides
an overview of the California-funded and constructed State Water
Project.
The State Water Project is best known for the 444-mile-long
aqueduct that provides water from the Delta to San Joaquin Valley
agriculture and southern California cities. The guide contains
information about the project’s history and facilities.
The 28-page Layperson’s Guide to Groundwater is an in-depth,
easy-to-understand publication that provides background and
perspective on groundwater. The guide explains what groundwater
is – not an underground network of rivers and lakes! – and the
history of its use in California.
The 28-page Layperson’s Guide to Water Rights Law, recognized as
the most thorough explanation of California water rights law
available to non-lawyers, traces the authority for water flowing
in a stream or reservoir, from a faucet or into an irrigation
ditch through the complex web of California water rights.
The 20-page Layperson’s Guide to Water Marketing provides
background information on water rights, types of transfers and
critical policy issues surrounding this topic. First published in
1996, the 2005 version offers expanded information on
groundwater banking and conjunctive use, Colorado River
transfers and the role of private companies in California’s
developing water market.
Order in bulk (25 or more copies of the same guide) for a reduced
fee. Contact the Foundation, 916-444-6240, for details.
The Water Education Foundation’s second edition of
the Layperson’s Guide to The Klamath River Basin is
hot off the press and available for purchase.
Updated and redesigned, the easy-to-read overview covers the
history of the region’s tribal, agricultural and environmental
relationships with one of the West’s largest rivers — and a
vast watershed that hosts one of the nation’s oldest and
largest reclamation projects.
There are two constants regarding agricultural water use –
growers will continue to come up with ever more efficient and
innovative ways to use water and they will always be pressed to
do more.
It’s safe to say the matter will not be settled anytime soon,
given all the complexities that are a part of the water use
picture today. While officials and stakeholders grapple to find a
lasting solution to California’s water problems that balances
environmental and economic needs, those who grow food and fiber
for a living do so amid a host of challenges.
Land retirement is a practice that takes agricultural lands out
of production due to poor drainage and soils containing high
levels of salt and selenium (a mineral found in soil).
Typically, landowners are paid to retire land. The purchaser,
often a local water district, then places a deed restriction on
the land to prevent growing crops with irrigation water (a source
of salt). Growers in some cases may continue to farm using rain
water, a method known as dry farming.
Evaporation ponds contain agricultural drainage water and are
used when agricultural growers do not have access to rivers for
drainage disposal.
Drainage water is the only source of water in many of these
ponds, resulting in extremely high concentrations of salts.
Concentrations of other trace elements such as selenium are also
elevated in evaporation basins, with a wide degree of variability
among basins.
Such ponds resemble wetland areas that birds use for nesting and
feeding grounds and may pose risks to waterfowl and shorebirds.
The Coachella Valley in Southern California’s Inland Empire is
one of several valleys throughout the state with a water district
established to support agriculture.
Like the others, the Coachella Valley Water District in Riverside
County delivers water to arid agricultural lands and constructs,
operates and maintains a regional agricultural drainage system.
These systems collect drainage water from individual farm drain
outlets and convey the water to a point of reuse, disposal or
dilution.
