Santa Clara County Local Water News Articles and Digest

Business, Economy & Jobs Water City of Mountain View

Mountain View Water Pollution Lawsuit To Go Forward in Court

12/18/2023
In a legal setback to the cities of Mountain View and Sunnyvale, a federal court judge denied a request to dismiss a water pollution lawsuit that could potentially cost the cities tens of millions in fines.

From CalMatters...

Business, Economy & Jobs Environment Water Animals Agriculture, Food & Gardening State of California

Ranchers, Tribes Clash Over Water, Salmon Ahead of Sweeping New Irrigation Regulations

12/17/2023
Salmon populations in the Scott and Shasta rivers have crashed, so state officials are about to restrict irrigation again. And the controversial rules may even become permanent.

From The New York Times...

Water History Sustainability

Who Gets the Water in California? Whoever Gets There First.

12/14/2023
Water fights have shaped California since its infancy as a state, when its abundance seemed limitless. Now, Californians are being forced to confront limitations, and the state that prides itself on creating the future is now reckoning with its past.

From Sacramento Bee...

Environment Water Agriculture, Food & Gardening Government

State Releases EIR for Delta Tunnel

12/08/2023
The California Department of Water Resources released an environmental impact report for a tunnel that the state would like to build through the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. The report identifies potential impacts to farmland, tribal remains and endangered species of fish.

From Palo Alto Online...

Water Animals

Rare Palo Alto Beaver Getting Treatment in Wildlife Center

12/01/2023
A beaver that is recolonizing the Matadero Creek in Palo Alto was taken to the Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley after being spotted immobile in a pile of leaves, officials said.

California Local Pin Marker From California Local...

Business, Economy & Jobs Environment Water Sustainability Government

California Looks to Ocean Waves for New Clean Energy Source

11/29/2023
Image for display with article titled Surf's Up! California May Look to Ocean Waves as Possible New Clean Energy Source

Costs to turn waves into energy are high, but so's the payoff for California's clean energy future.

From Inside Climate News...

Water Agriculture, Food & Gardening Government

Monterey Farmers Try Novel Approach to Replenish Groundwater

11/29/2023
Water managers in Pajaro Valley are paying farmers for water they get back into the ground. The move comes as California has grappled with water shortages in recent years.

From Voice of San Diego...

Water

SoCal Water District Faces $300M Budget Shortfall

11/21/2023
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is getting a $100 million loan to help cover a shortfall more than three times as large. The district also may change how it charges its more than 19 million customers for water.

From CalMatters...

Environment Water

As Storms Hit California, Reservoirs are Healthy. But Water Forecast Remains Unclear

11/16/2023
Unlike a year ago, water storage is above average. Whether the year is wet or dry, though, remains uncertain despite El Niño conditions.

California Local Pin Marker From California Local...

Business, Economy & Jobs Water Sustainability Government

California Among Top 5 Worst Climate Change States, Report Says

11/15/2023
Image for display with article titled Climate Change Hits California Hard: Among Top 5 States for Worst Effects, New Report Says

New scientific advances show that climate change impacts “no longer theoretical.”

From San Jose Inside...

Business, Economy & Jobs Land Use & Development Water City of Morgan Hill Santa Clara Valley Water District

Anderson Dam Costs Triple, to $2.3 Billion

11/15/2023
Image for display with article titled Anderson Dam Costs Triple, to $2.3B

Two years ago, the cost of the dam project—required for earthquake protection and improved flood control for the Coyote Creek watershed—was estimated at $648 million.

From Metro Silicon Valley...

Business, Economy & Jobs Land Use & Development Water City of Morgan Hill Santa Clara Valley Water District

Anderson Reservoir Costs Triple

11/14/2023
Image for display with article titled Anderson Reservoir Costs Triple

Morgan Hill’s Anderson Reservoir, which spilled over and flooded central San Jose neighborhoods in 2017, could be an even bigger problem in an earthquake. Fixing the dangerous reservoir is a priority, but that comes at a price.

From Sacramento Bee...

Water Resilience

‘Super El Niño’ is Heading for California This Winter

11/13/2023
Much of California could get hit by extreme weather conditions this winter. A major storm is due to hit Northern California this week.

From Mountain View Voice...

Environment Water City of Sunnyvale City of Mountain View

Water Pollution Lawsuit Against Mountain View, Sunnyvale Could Change Course Following Supreme Court Ruling

11/10/2023
An environmental watchdog is pressing forward with lawsuits against the cities of Mountain View and Sunnyvale in an effort to get them to clean up local creeks.

From ProPublica...

Business, Economy & Jobs Water Agriculture, Food & Gardening

A California Ranch Gets Nearly as Much Water as the Arizona City of Scottsdale

11/09/2023
The Elmore Desert Ranch gets 22.5 billion gallons of water from the Colorado River, almost as much as is cleared for Scottsdale, Ariz. And that’s just a fraction of the 386.5 billion gallons from the river going to 19 other families in Imperial Valley.

From Los Angeles Times...

Water Sustainability

California’s Drought Is Over—at Least for Now

11/07/2023
Intense rains have California out of a drought less than a year after most of the state faced water shortages. A climatologist is urging wise water usage ahead of California’s next drought.

From San Joaquin Valley Sun...

Water State of California

Preempting Enviro Blitz, Newsom OKs Streamlining Approvals for Sites Reservoir

11/07/2023
The first reservoir in California in nearly 50 years is now on the fast track for completion.

From Morgan Hill Times...

Water Resilience County of Santa Clara City of San Jose Santa Clara Valley Water District

Flood Protection Agencies Gear Up for Rainy Season

10/27/2023
Image for display with article titled Flood Protection Agencies Gear Up for Rainy Season

Officials from the Santa Clara Valley Water District, Santa Clara County and the city of San Jose provided directions to preparation and emergency resources in advance of the rainy season.

From CalMatters...

Environment Water Government

Western States’ Water Cuts Should Hold Off Colorado River Crisis—For Now

10/25/2023
Wet weather and planned cuts by California, Arizona and Nevada averted declines that could have threatened water deliveries and power production—but long-term threats to the Colorado River remain.

From San Joaquin Valley Sun...

Water

Feds OK Plans for Major Expansion of San Luis Reservoir

10/20/2023
The federal bipartisan infrastructure law and the WIIN Act have combined to fund a major expansion of San Luis Reservoir.

Santa Clara County Local News: Water