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New Guidance Released to Help California Growers Maximize Water Benefits of Cover Crops

farms.com
Sustainable Conservation and the California Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF), along with UC ANR and other partners, have released a new guidance document  Cover Cropping in California’s Water Scarce Environments  to help growers harness the many benefits of cool-season cover crops while reducing water use. As farmers adapt to a changing water supply, this guide provides practical considerations about cover crop species, timing, and management to reduce runoff, increase infiltration and water retention, and bolster overall soil health.

This guidance is part of ongoing collaborative efforts across the agricultural, research, and conservation communities to help California growers meet the challenges posed by climate change and water scarcity. It builds on findings from the 2024 Cover Cropping in the SGMA Era report, which connects the importance of effectively integrating water-smart, multi-benefit practices with groundwater sustainability planning.…

Read the full article at farms.com

Groups call on Trump administration to curb wasteful use of Colorado River water

Los Angeles Times
Environmental groups are demanding that the Trump administration exercise the federal government’s authority to curb wasteful water use in an effort to address the Colorado River’s chronic water shortages.

In a petition submitted Tuesday, the Natural Resources Defense Council and nine other groups called for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to enforce a provision of federal regulations stating that water deliveries in California, Arizona and Nevada “will not exceed those reasonably required for beneficial use.”…

Read the full article at Los Angeles Times

Water groups press Trump administration to stop Colorado River water waste

The Hill
National water conservation groups filed a legal petition Tuesday asking the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to stop downstream Colorado River users from wasting water.

The petition requests that the bureau ensure that all deliveries to Colorado River Lower Basin users — those in California, Nevada and Arizona — are “reasonably required for beneficial uses” and that water transfers are not “unreasonable.”…

Read the full article at The Hill

Agricultural water practices critical to California’s success

thepacker.com
In late April, California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared the state the fourth-largest economy in the world at a nominal gross domestic product of $4.1 trillion. He additionally called it top in the nation for agriculture.

Indeed, California had $59.4 billion in receipts for agricultural products in 2023 (most recent complete data). The state also claimed over three-quarters of all cash receipts for fruits and nuts throughout the nation and almost half for vegetables and melons.…

Read the full article at thepacker.com

Groups call on Trump administration to curb wasteful use of Colorado River water

Los Angeles Times
Environmental groups are demanding that the Trump administration exercise the federal government’s authority to curb wasteful water use in an effort to address the Colorado River’s chronic water shortages.

In a petition submitted Tuesday, the Natural Resources Defense Council and nine other groups called for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to enforce a provision of federal regulations stating that water deliveries in California, Arizona and Nevada “will not exceed those reasonably required for beneficial use.”…

Read the full article at Los Angeles Times

Central Valley Project Water Supply Allocation for 2025 Season Announced

agnetwest.com
Bureau of Reclamation announced the Central Valley Project Water Supply allocation for the 2025 water year. This specifically south of the Delta agriculture contract, who grows the food that feeds our nation. The 2025 allocation reveals the region will now receive 50% of the contract total, up from 40%, which is still not good enough, but it’s better.

This is the direct result of abundance storms filling our reservoirs and swelling our rivers. Giving farmers and communities more certainty as a plan for the growing season. But, we all know, the majority of the beautiful snowpack will go right to the ocean. It should remind us all how critical it is to capture the snow water and we prepare for the dry years when we go back to a man-made drop as Allison Febbo from Westland Water District says:…

Read the full article at agnetwest.com

The #ColoradoRiver needs some ‘shared pain’ to break a deadlock, water experts say – Alex Hager (KUNC.org) #COriver #aridification

Coyote Gulch – Blog
Click the link to read the article on the KUNC website (Alex Hager):

The seven states that use the Colorado River are deadlocked about how to share it in the future. The current rules for dividing its shrinking supplies expire in 2026. State leaders are under pressure to propose a new sharing agreement urgently, so they can finish environmental paperwork before that deadline.…

Read the full article at Coyote Gulch – Blog

Salton Sea Management Progam marks milestone in habitat restoration

Imperial Valley Press
SALTON CITY — This month, a key milestone was reached as water began flowing into the East Pond of the Species Conservation Habitat (SCH) Project—the largest restoration initiative at the Salton Sea. A mixture of water from the New River and the Salton Sea is now filling the first pond, with the East Pond 1 expansion Pond expected to follow by the end of May. Together, the two ponds will support roughly 2,000 acres of habitat-roughly three square miles, the California Natural Resources Agency said.

Launched in 2021, the SHC Project has expanded to nearly 5,000 acres at the Sea’s southern end, with future plans to grow the footprint to more than 9,000 acres. The restoration efforts are designed to rebuild critical wetland habitats and reduce harmful dust exposure for surrounding communities.…

Read the full article at Imperial Valley Press