Water Year 2017: What a Difference a Year Makes

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | October 2nd, 2017

Water year 2017 (October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017) dramatically illustrated the variability in California’s annual precipitation, ending the state’s 5-year droug

Water year 2017 (October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017) dramatically illustrated the variability in California’s annual precipitation, ending the state’s 5-year drought and coming in at second place for statewide runoff, behind the wettest year of 1983. Virtually all of the state experienced at least average precipitation, and key Sierra Nevada watersheds were much above average. Governor Brown lifted the proclamation of statewide drought emergency he issued in 2014, although the state-declared emergency remained in selected central California counties experiencing lingering drought impacts. Prior to 2017, California had experienced a decade of largely dry conditions. Eight of the ten preceding water years were dry, and the water years of 2012-15 set a record for the driest consecutive four-year period of statewide precipitation.

Water Year 2018 Hydrology

Delta Stewardship Council (Delta Council) | November 26th, 2018

Water Year 2021 Compound Precipitation and Temperature Extremes in California and Nevada

American Meteorological Society (AMS) | December 23rd, 2022

The most intense 22-yr drought in the western United States since 800 CE (Williams et al. 2022) was extended by compound dry and hot extremes in Water Year 2021 (October

The most intense 22-yr drought in the western United States since 800 CE (Williams et al. 2022) was extended by compound dry and hot extremes in Water Year 2021 (October 2020–September 2021). Compared to an instrumental record that dates to 1895, low precipitation (Fig. 1a) and high temperatures (Fig. 1b) were widespread across the western United States. The intense and prevalent drought has caused water delivery shortages (U.S. Bureau of Reclamation 2021), damaged ecosystems (Wlostowski et al. 2022), and contributed to extreme wildfires (e.g., Fu et al. 2021; Gutierrez et al. 2021; Abolafia-Rosenzweig et al. 2022). California and Nevada (CA–NV) were once again at the epicenter of drought and heat in Water Year 2021 (California Department of Water Resources 2021). This was the first time since 1895 that precipitation fell below –1.5 standardized departures and temperatures exceeded 1.5 standardized departures concurrently for the two-state average (Fig. 1c). Precipitation and temperatures were individually extreme as well, as the former was the second lowest since 1895 and the latter was the second highest. We examine whether the co-occurrence of anthropogenic climate change and La Niña, two principal climate drivers during Water Year 2021, altered the risk of unprecedented compound dry and hot extremes in CA–NV during Water Year 2021. Our assessment investigates the factors related to compound extremes that lead to heightened societal impacts compared to individual extreme events (e.g., AghaKouchak et al. 2020; Zscheischler et al. 2020; W. Zhang et al. 2021).

Water Year 2023: Weather Whiplash, from Drought to Deluge

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | October 4th, 2023

Water Year 2023 demonstrated California’s high climate variability, ending the state’s driest consecutive three-year period with one of the snowiest years of record.

Water Year 2023 demonstrated California’s high climate variability, ending the state’s driest consecutive three-year period with one of the snowiest years of record. Even though California has been experiencing a theme of aridity in the 21st century (the statewide droughts of 2007-2009, 2012-2019, and 2020-2022), Water Year 2017 was the state’s second wettest in terms of statewide precipitation. Climate change is expected to amplify naturally occurring variability in the long term, potentially result in a shorter wet season for California but one with more extreme atmospheric river storms and hence potentially greater flood damage risk.

Water-Energy Synergies: Coordinating Efficiency Programs in California

Pacific Institute | September 4th, 2013

All forms of energy – from hydropower to solar panels – use water to extract and process the fuels, construct the processing facilities, or generate the electricity.

All forms of energy – from hydropower to solar panels – use water to extract and process the fuels, construct the processing facilities, or generate the electricity. Likewise, water supply, treatment, use, and disposal use considerable amounts of energy. Coordinating water-energy efficiency efforts provides a significant opportunity to achieve greater savings for both water and energy utilities and for their customers, according to a new study from the Pacific Institute: Water-Energy Synergies: Coordinating Efficiency Programs in California. Recent events have made the connections between water and energy very visible. The Rim Fire has burned large sections of the Tuolumne River watershed and along several miles of the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, affecting the water and energy supply of San Francisco and other Bay Area communities. Similarly in Southern California, the recent closure of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station has raised concerns about meeting regional energy needs, particularly during the hot summer months, when electricity and water demand are especially high. But while these events demonstrate some of the challenges associated with the water-energy connection, they also highlight some of the opportunities: namely that saving water saves energy – and using less energy in turn saves even more water – reducing our vulnerability to both water and energy constraints. To better understand the barriers to coordinating water and energy efficiency programs, the Pacific Institute interviewed and surveyed California water and energy managers. The managers reported the most significant barriers were associated with funding, limited staff time, uncertainty about how to allocate costs and benefits among project partners, and water-related pricing policies, as well as an absence of established relationships between potential water and energy partners. “We examine the barriers to coordinated water and energy efficiency programs and discuss, through case studies, ways that several California utilities have been able to overcome these barriers,” said Heather Cooley, co-director of the Pacific Institute Water Program. “Coordinating programs can be an important tool to meet efficiency goals, allowing the state to meet critical policy objectives and saving Californians’ money.”

Water-Level and land-subsidence studies in the Mojave River and Morongo groundwater basins; 2007

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | June 25th, 2007

Since 1992, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Mojave Water Agency (MWA), has constructed a series of regional water-table maps for intermittent y

Since 1992, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Mojave Water Agency (MWA), has constructed a series of regional water-table maps for intermittent years in a continuing effort to monitor groundwater conditions in the Mojave River and Morongo groundwater basins. The previously published data, which were used to construct these maps, can be accessed on the interactive map. The associated reports describing the groundwater conditions for the Mojave River groundwater basin for 1992 (Stamos and Predmore, 1995), the Morongo groundwater basin for 1994 (Trayler and Koczot, 1995), and for both groundwater basins for 1996 (Mendez and Christensen, 1997); for 1998 (Smith and Pimentel, 2000), for 2000 (Smith, 2002), for 2002 (Smith and others, 2004), for 2004 (Stamos and others, 2004), and for 2006 (Stamos and others, 2007) can be accessed using this web site.

Water-Power with High Pressures and Wrought-Iron Water-Pipe

Scientific American | September 13th, 1884

For the purpose of supplying the placer mines in California with water, many ditches were built on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada, taking their source high up in

For the purpose of supplying the placer mines in California with water, many ditches were built on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada, taking their source high up in the mountains, and delivering the water on the tops of the foot hill ridges, at elevations from 1,000 to 3,000 feet above the great valley of California, formed by the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. In many cases, the mines for which these aqueducts were constructed have been exhausted or abandoned, and their water is now largely used for power for quartz ruining and milling, and for other purposes.

Water-Resources Data for the Devils Hole Area, Nye County, Nevada, July 1978 - September 1988

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | July 1st, 1993

Data on water levels, spring discharge, and consumption of electric power by irrigation pumps collected at Devils Hole and vicinity from July 1978 through September 1988

Data on water levels, spring discharge, and consumption of electric power by irrigation pumps collected at Devils Hole and vicinity from July 1978 through September 1988 are reported herein. These data were collected to document the effects of irrigation pumping on the pool level at Devils Hole and the recovery following cessation of irrigation pumping in August 1982. The pool contains the endangered species of pupfish, Cyprinodon diabolis. Data on fluctuations in water level and springflow are presented in graphic form. Data on consumption of electric power by pumps in irrigation wells, useful as an index of the pumpage, are presented in tabular form.

Water, energy and environment nexus: The California experience

International Journal of Water Resources Development (Taylor & Francis) | July 21st, 2010

The paper addresses the local and inter-state connections between water, energy and the environment. Using California and the western USA as a case study, the paper highl

The paper addresses the local and inter-state connections between water, energy and the environment. Using California and the western USA as a case study, the paper highlights the difficulties of balancing the needs of diverse stakeholders and protecting valuable resources while providing reliable and safe supplies of both water and energy to agricultural, industrial and residential customers. The investigation of these complex relationships is necessary to inform local and national policy decisions regarding the management of water, energy and the environment.

Water, environment, and socioeconomic justice in California: A multi-benefit cropland repurposing framework

Science of the Total Environment (Elsevier) | November 22nd, 2022