Forbes

An amendment to a standing water treaty between the United States and Mexico has received publicity over the past six months as an example of progress in water sharing agreements. But the amendment, called Minute 319, is simply a glimpse into ongoing mismanagement of the Colorado River on the U.S. side of the border. Over-allocation of the river’s waters 90 years ago combined with increasing populations and economic growth in the river basin have created circumstances in which conservation efforts — no matter how organized — could be too little to overcome the projected water deficit that the Colorado River Basin will face in the next 20 years.

In 1922, the seven U.S. states in the Colorado River Basin established a compact to distribute the resources of the river. A border between the Upper and Lower basins was defined at Lees Ferry, Ariz. The Upper Basin (Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and New Mexico) was allocated 9.25 billion cubic meters a year, and the Lower Basin (Arizona, California and Nevada) was allotted 10.45 billion cubic meters. Mexico was allowed an unspecified amount, which in 1944 was defined as 1.85 billion cubic meters a year. The Upper and Lower basins — managed as separate organizations under the supervision of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation — divided their allocated water among the states in their jurisdictions. Numerous disputes arose, especially in the Lower Basin, regarding proper division of the water resources. But the use of (and disputes over) the Colorado River began long before these treaties.

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Siskiyou Daily

A team of University of California, Davis, scientists – in cooperation with the Scott Valley Groundwater Advisory Committee – is developing a groundwater management tool that could lead to better stream flow conditions in Scott Valley.

A recent press release from UC Davis explained that their hydrologic modeling tool could help inform decision-makers and regulatory agencies involved in the issue of balancing salmon protection and water management along the Scott River.

While the Scott River watershed contains habitat critical to several species of salmon and trout, it also supports an agricultural economy composed of family farms and ranches raising hay, pasture and cattle.

“Regulatory agencies, farmers, ranchers and the local community are working to find win-win solutions for both fish habitat and agriculture,” stated the release.

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The Fresno Bee

Continued dry conditions have caused the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to reduce the allocation of water to east San Joaquin Valley farmers from 50% to 45%.

The adjustment was announced Tuesday and affects high priority water use for about 15,000 farmers in the Friant Water Authority.

The first 800,000 acre-feet of San Joaquin River runoff is high-priority. It is more expensive and more crucial to keeping crops alive than the lower-priority water, which often is used to recharge underground water levels for wells.

The allocation for low priority water remains unchanged at 0%

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The Modesto Bee

Farmers in the Turlock Irrigation District got a small boost Tuesday in the amount of water available this year.

The district board voted 3-2 to raise the cap to 34 vertical inches per acre, up from the 30 inches approved in February amid concern about low rainfall and snowpack numbers.

The level still is much less than the 48 inches per acre — four acre-feet — that farmers typically can get when water is adequate.

Board member Joe Alamo, who proposed the change, said it especially will help growers of feed crops in soil that drains quickly. He also noted that dry, windy weather this spring has drawn moisture from crops.

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