RCRC press releases and related news clips about RCRC and our member counties. Please note that a subscription may be required to read some external publications.
One Central Valley dam project gets nearly $95 million in funding; two others still in proposal phase – SJV Water
Three dam expansion projects in California's Central Valley will increase water storage by 304,000 acre-feet, benefiting communities, agriculture districts, and wildlife refuges. The B.F. Sisk Dam in Merced County is already being raised, expanding the San Luis Reservoir's capacity by 130,000 acre-feet. Two other projects are in the proposal stage: one aims to raise the Buchanan Dam in Madera County by 50,000 acre-feet, and the other seeks to increase the Pine Flat Dam in Fresno County's capacity by 124,000 acre-feet. These projects address water supply security, seismic safety, and mitigation of downstream flood impacts.
Proposed California coast marine sanctuary will protect vast area – San Francisco Chronicle
A new national marine sanctuary, the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, is set to protect a 5,617 square mile stretch of the California coast along San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara County. Proposed to honor Indigenous people who have lived in the area for millennia, it has been endorsed by President Joe Biden and is the first sanctuary nominated by Indigenous groups and the first in California in 30 years. While the sanctuary's boundaries and name remain subject to debate, it aims to safeguard ocean biodiversity in a region where cold and warm waters converge, creating a crucial ecosystem for marine life, including Pacific leatherback sea turtles. The sanctuary also preserves culturally significant heritage sites of the Chumash people and involves various Indigenous groups in its planning. However, concerns persist over the sanctuary's proposed boundaries and name, with some areas excluded to accommodate offshore wind development, and some tribes objecting to the name.
Depleted Groundwater Could Be Refilled by Borrowing a Trick from Solar Power – Scientific American
Depleted groundwater is a growing concern in many regions worldwide, with over-pumping causing various issues, including land subsidence and threats to water supplies. To address this, a new model suggests a solution inspired by solar power: distributed groundwater recharge projects. In Pajaro Valley, California, an initiative known as recharge net metering (ReNeM) is already working to demonstrate the concept. Landowners are compensated for infiltrating water into the ground, replenishing groundwater in a distributed and decentralized manner. The system can be adapted for various landscapes and communities and offers incentives like rebates, payments, or tax discounts. These efforts represent a cultural shift towards collective responsibility for groundwater as a shared resource.