Nevada County Water Digest

At 90% of the state historical average, the Sierra Nevada snowpack is far better than last year. But it’s nothing like the record-smashing 2023.

Billions of state and federal dollars are spent on Lake Tahoe. But is all this attention actually protecting this unique treasure? Pollutants pour in, while development continues. Funding has shifted in focus to tourism and traffic projects, while money spent directly on fixing the lake has declined.

Read on to learn the story behind the Army Corps of Engineers abrupt release of billions of gallons of water from two California dams despite pushback from water managers and state elected officials.

The governor’s planned $20 billion tunnel to divert more water south and bypass the Delta would bring years of construction noise, pollution and traffic. Residents worry their rural farm towns will never be the same.

Read on to learn about the latest in the ongoing and seemingly never ending problems with PG&E infrastructure at Spaulding Reservoir and measures to be taken by the Nevada Irrigation District in coming months.

A new conservancy will oversee work to improve vegetation, water quality and natural habitat in the Salton Sea. Will nearly half a billion dollars in projects be enough?

A lot of work goes into your clean drinking water. Read on to take a peek behind the scenes of a seemingly mundane but important task regularly performed by Nevada Irrigation District crews.

Read on for an update on the progress by PG&E on repairs to the Spaulding 1 powerhouse.

A survey of the snowpack of the Nevada Irrigation District watersheds is looking good following a cold, wet February. Read on for details.

Oakland Democrat Buffy Wicks said lawmakers will soon see 20 bills to speed up housing construction, along with more on energy, water and transit.

State and federal water managers have announced significant increases to water allocations across California thanks to early February storms and healthy reservoir levels.

The governor vowed to clear the way for more groundwater recharge. Has it worked? “We’re still tinkering around with small numbers,” one expert says.

A new bill by a Bay Area state senator aims to create a special fund to help clean up so-called forever chemicals in California’s water supply. Senate Bill 454 was introduced by Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, on February 18 and, if passed by the state Legislature and signed by the governor, would create the PFAS Mitigation Fund.

Lake Spaulding repairs will continue the ongoing water emergency into the summer. Read on to learn more.

Snowpack in the Sierra Nevada, which supplies about one-third of California’s water needs, was far lower than average for the end of January at one of the state’s measurement points on January 31.

Read on to learn more about the Trump-ordered "emergency" release of water from two San Joaquin Valley reservoirs and how it is literally going down the drain (and not to preserve LA from fires as claimed).

It would be impossible to overstate the complexity of water supply management in California.

Read on to learn about the suit filed against Rise Gold by Community Environmental Advocates Foundation for violations to the Clean Water Act at their Idaho- Maryland gold mine property.

Read on to learn more about the status of local reservoirs as reported to the Nevada Irrigation District board in their January 22 meeting.

Trump apparently wants to override new Biden-Newsom rules that have widespread support among Southern California cities and some Central Valley farmers.

Read on for the latest progress in the B.F. Sisk Dam Raise and Reservoir Expansion Project to raise the dam at the San Luis Reservoir to add storage capacity.

President-elect Donald Trump faulted California water policies for the devastating wildfires that are burning in Los Angeles County. The fires started because of fierce winds and extremely dry conditions.

Some Northern California cities have been soaked with almost twice their average rainfall, while southern cities are bone-dry. This season’s huge — possibly unprecedented — disparity works in favor of the state’s water supplies.

New operating rules for massive Delta systems will increase water deliveries to Southern California cities and some growers. Salmon numbers could drop, especially in dry years.

In their December 11 meeting, the Nevada Irrigation District Board of Directors welcomed new members and a new Board President and Vice President. Read on to meet the new board members and leadership.

In a December 10 press conference, Governor Newsom urged lawmakers to press forward in building the Sites Reservoir in Colusa County. Read on to learn more about the project, the largest new reservoirs to be built in California in the last 50 years.

As a measure to stem expansion of invasive golden mussels, the Nevada Irrigation District is closing boat launches until further notice. Read on to learn why this action is being taken.

Read on to learn more about the Nevada Irrigation District projects to restore vital watershed feeding its water supply system.

Each December there’s a new version of an old guessing game about how much water will be provided to agricultural and municipal users in the year ahead.

Most ships discharging ballast water into California waters are inspected, but state officials have tested the water of only 16 ships. Experts say invaders like mussels are inevitable under current rules and enforcement.

Learn what Nevada Irrigation District general manager Jennifer Hanson had to say about her experiences during a Nevada County Community Forum held at Sierra College on November 22.

Read the letter from PG&E regarding the update provided at the October 23 Nevada Irrigation District meeting.