Tag: State Water Resources Control Board

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?

The eye of the storm and the State Water Resources Control Board

~ Deirdre Des Jardins ~ 2 Comments

The State Water Resources Control Board’s Climate Change Mitigation Strategist, Max Gomberg, just retired, and sent an incendiary parting letter to his colleagues, stating, Witnessing the agency’s ability to tackle big challenges nearly eviscerated by this Administration has been gut wrenching. The way some of you have simply rolled over and accepted this has also … Continue reading The eye of the storm and the State Water Resources Control Board

Expert panel recommended that Water Board require documentation of model weaknesses

~ Deirdre Des Jardins ~ Leave a comment

On June 27, 2022, the legislature authorized the Acting State Auditor to perform an audit of the reasons for major errors Department of Water Resource's snow runoff forecasts in 2021. The Department of Water Resources' Director, Karla Nemeth, told the legislature that "the forecasting work is undertaken exclusively by the Department of Water Resources. The … Continue reading Expert panel recommended that Water Board require documentation of model weaknesses

Legislature approves audit of water management by DWR and SWRCB during 2021

~ Deirdre Des Jardins ~ 1 Comment

On Monday, June 27, the California Joint Legislative Audit Committee approved Assemblymember Adam Gray's request for an audit of the management of surface water by the Department of Water Resources (DWR) and the State Water Resources Control Board in 2021. The Acting State Auditor is also proposing to audit DWR's plan to uphold its contractual … Continue reading Legislature approves audit of water management by DWR and SWRCB during 2021

Senate Climate Budget Plan proposals on water management science

Tree in wet and dry landscape
~ Deirdre Des Jardins ~ 1 Comment

This Water and Drought package of the California Senate's Climate Budget Plan proposes major investment in water management science. One of the goals is to: Strengthen water rights quantification and enforcement at SWRCB. Currently the state does not have a reliable quantification of water rights or the ability to effectively enforce. The budget plan includes … Continue reading Senate Climate Budget Plan proposals on water management science

Fatal errors in DWR’s runoff forecasting: comments to the State Water Resources Control Board

~ Deirdre Des Jardins ~ 4 Comments

The State Water Resources Control Board held a workshop today (March 16, 2022) on Sacramento River Temperature Management. Among the topics considered were "hydrologic conditions, including operations, forecasting, and accounting." These were my comments. This is Deirdre Des Jardins with California Water Research. I’m the physicist who sent comments to DWR in 2012 predicting the … Continue reading Fatal errors in DWR’s runoff forecasting: comments to the State Water Resources Control Board

California Environmental Flows Framework — comments to the Delta ISB

Picture of dry creek
~ Deirdre Des Jardins ~ 1 Comment

On Thursday March 10, 2022, the Delta Independent Science Board had a presentation by Sarah Yarnell (UC Davis) and Julie Zimmerman (The Nature Conservancy) on the California Environmental Flows Framework, and the opportunities and challenges in  applying environmental flows in California. These were my comments: I really appreciate the comments by [Delta ISB members] Tanya … Continue reading California Environmental Flows Framework — comments to the Delta ISB

In increasing State Water Project allocations, DWR is taking huge risks

~ Deirdre Des Jardins ~ 3 Comments

The Department of Water Resources has just announced that they are increasing the State Water Project allocations to 15%. Given the huge problems last year with watershed runoff forecasts, DWR is taking a huge risk of not meeting environmental water needs later in the year. In November 2021, nine scientists from leading California water research … Continue reading In increasing State Water Project allocations, DWR is taking huge risks

Diversions by Sacramento Settlement Contractors and CVP Permits

~ Deirdre Des Jardins ~ 1 Comment

California Water Research submitted comments on the State Water Resources Control Board's Water Unavailability Methodology which raised the issue that Reclamation has never fully complied with CVP permit terms that require reporting of the total amount diverted under Reclamation’s CVP water rights at the Sacramento Settlement Contractors’ points of diversion. While Reclamation is reporting daily … Continue reading Diversions by Sacramento Settlement Contractors and CVP Permits

State Water Board formally objects to Reclamation’s 2020 Sacramento River Temperature Management Plan

~ Deirdre Des Jardins ~ 1 Comment

On Monday, June 1, 2020, the State Water Resources Control Board sent a letter to Ernest Conant, Mid-Pacific Director of the Bureau of Reclamation, objecting to Reclamation’s 2020 Sacramento River Temperature Management Plan. Under Water Right Order 90-5, Reclamation is required to operate Shasta and Keswick Dams to provide adequate cold water in the Sacramento … Continue reading State Water Board formally objects to Reclamation’s 2020 Sacramento River Temperature Management Plan