A long-term plan intended to improve flood protection in the Central Valley would affect tens of thousands of additional acres, including farmland that could be converted to permanent wildlife habitat, according to figures released in a new draft conservation strategy document from the California Department of Water Resources. The draft conservation strategy is a planning
Almonds cover 20,000 acres of Kings County land, but when you drive by the orchards, do you think much about what is required to grow almonds? A surprising number of consumers do, and it’s driving a debate about almonds that has critics levying accusations and the industry — growers included — fighting back. The backdrop
A local demonstration project announced Tuesday would treat up to 136,500 gallons per day of oil field wastewater for reuse in agriculture and steam-based well stimulation. OriginOil Inc., the Los Angeles-based developer of "Electro Water Separation," said it has partnered with Bakersfield oil producer Vaquero Energy Inc. to install a pair of facilities treating "produced
California tomato processors have contracted or intend to contract for 15 million pounds of canning tomatoes this year, an all-time record, federal farm officials reported. That contract is up about 7 percent from the 14 million pounds of tomatoes produced under cannery contract in 2014, also a record, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service.
A vote Tuesday more than doubled water rates for farmers in the Turlock Irrigation District. The district board’s 5-0 decision, which came over objections from a few customers, still leaves TID among the lowest-cost suppliers in California. The charge for an acre-foot in a normal or wet year will go from $8.25 to $17.50, assuming
A staggering economic and environmental problem festering for three decades in the southern San Joaquin Valley would be addressed by a secret deal reached between the Obama administration and farmers — one that is sounding alarms for Bay Area lawmakers. The deal would retire 100,000 acres of farmland damaged by salt and selenium in the
Recent storms will allow California to provide more water to local agencies and farms even as drought conditions stretch into a fourth year, officials announced Thursday. State officials said storms in early December boosted supplies in the state's vast reservoir system enough to give Southern California cities and farms 15 percent of their requested water.
The Five-Year Infrastructure Plan is required to be updated annually by the Dept. of Finance and was created by Gov. Brown in his first iteration. The overarching, $57-billion plan now enforces the three priorities set by the Strategic Growth Council, which uses Chapter 1016 (AB 857) of 2002 as authority: 1. Promote infill development by rehabilitating,
The debate over how to improve the water quality of Iowa's rivers and streams took center stage inside Des Moines Water Works' headquarters Thursday afternoon. Dozens of people debated the utility's plan to sue three northwestern Iowa counties over high nitrate levels in the Raccoon River. In the end, the waterworks moved forward with its plans to
Pasture owners around Oakdale willing to go without water will be paid for fallowing their land this year, Oakdale Irrigation District directors decided Tuesday. The water saved by idling fields will be sold to thirsty out-of-county water agencies. OID landowners volunteering for the deal could collect millions in “cash incentives” and funds to pay for