Author: Deirdre Des Jardins

Comments on the Water Board’s draft urban conservation regulations

Tree in wet and dry landscape
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On Wednesday, October 4, 2023, the State Water Resources Control Board held a hearing on proposed regulations to implement 2018 legislation to make conservation a way of life in California. According to the Board's fact sheet: Making Conservation a California Way of Life is a new regulatory framework proposed by State Water Board staff that establishes … Continue reading Comments on the Water Board’s draft urban conservation regulations

USGS ARkStorm 1.0 study showed high risk of contamination from Tulare lake basin flooding

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The US Geological Survey's ARkStorm studies included extensive analyses of vulnerabilities to flooding.  In 2016, USGS Researchers Geoffrey Plumlee,  Charles Alpers, Suzette Morman, and Carma San Juan published “Anticipating Environmental and Environmental-Health Implications of Extreme Storms: ARkStorm Scenario.” The ARkStorm 1.0 scenario found extensive flooding of the San Joaquin Valley and the Tulare Lake basin … Continue reading USGS ARkStorm 1.0 study showed high risk of contamination from Tulare lake basin flooding

Delta Lead Scientist creates unprecedented conflicts of interest with multi-million dollar UC research grants

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The Delta Lead Scientist, Dr. Laurel Larsen, is a hydroecologist at the University of California’s Berkeley campus. She is the first mid-career scientist to hold the position of Delta Lead Scientist, having received tenure in 2018. The Lead Scientist position and the Delta Science Program were first created under the 2000 CALFED Record of Decision, … Continue reading Delta Lead Scientist creates unprecedented conflicts of interest with multi-million dollar UC research grants

Orchards are not resilient to floods or droughts

~ Deirdre Des Jardins ~ 2 Comments

The Newsom administration's strategy for dealing with flood flows relies heavily on diversions to farmland for groundwater recharge. But flooding in the Tulare basin this year is showing how orchards are not resilient to floods. And orchards have also not been resilient to recent droughts. This is what happens to an almond orchard in full … Continue reading Orchards are not resilient to floods or droughts

Analysis: Proposed state investments inadequate to address increase in catastrophic flood risk

~ Deirdre Des Jardins ~ 1 Comment

The Governor Newsom's May Revise Budget provides an additional $115 million in investments in flood risk reduction, including: $75 million to support local flood control projects $40 million for the San Joaquin Floodplain restoration This is in addition to the $202 million proposed by the Governor in January to reduce flood risk in urban areas, … Continue reading Analysis: Proposed state investments inadequate to address increase in catastrophic flood risk

Chaos in Tulare County shows need for advance flood planning

~ Deirdre Des Jardins ~ 1 Comment

High flood flows in Tulare County are causing levee breaches. Levee breaches on Deer Creek and Poso Creek are currently endangering Allensworth, a California town that was founded by African-Americans, as well as the town of Alpaugh. For more background on Allensworth, see this article. Los Angeles Times reporter Ian James drove to Allensworth and … Continue reading Chaos in Tulare County shows need for advance flood planning

State Water Project water rights assume augmentation of Sac River flows by 890,000 af/year

~ Deirdre Des Jardins ~ 2 Comments

One of the largest water rights hearings in the California State Water Resources Control Board’s history was the hearing on eight applications by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) for the State Water Project. The then-called State Water Rights Board approved the permit for the State Water Project in Water Rights Decision 1275 on … Continue reading State Water Project water rights assume augmentation of Sac River flows by 890,000 af/year

On the “long tail” of flood disaster losses in California

~ Deirdre Des Jardins ~ 1 Comment

By Kathleen Schaefer and Deirdre Des Jardins Hurricane Ian has shown the vulnerability of the rapidly growing cities in the Southeast to storm-driven flooding. As reported in the New York Times, in the counties whose residents were told to evacuate, just 18.5 percent of homes have insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) (Flavelle … Continue reading On the “long tail” of flood disaster losses in California

Delta Independent Science Board requests extension on Delta tunnel Draft EIR comments

~ Deirdre Des Jardins ~ 1 Comment

On September 2, 2022, Lisa Wainger, the new Chair of the Delta Independent Science Board, sent a letter to the Department of Water Resources Director, Karla Nemeth, asking for a 30 day extension of time to comment on the Delta Conveyance Project Draft EIR. The DISB Chair's letter gave the following reasons for asking for … Continue reading Delta Independent Science Board requests extension on Delta tunnel Draft EIR comments

Will ruling on pre-1914 curtailments force the Water Board to track stored water?

~ Deirdre Des Jardins ~ 1 Comment

On September 12th, 2022, the Sixth District Court of Appeal issued a ruling that the State Water Resources Control Board did not have the authority to curtail pre-1914 water rights under Water Code section 1052(a).  This code section provides that “The diversion or use of water subject to this division other than as authorized in … Continue reading Will ruling on pre-1914 curtailments force the Water Board to track stored water?