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State Agencies to Host Webinar on Executive Order Regarding Flood Water and Groundwater Recharge

By Vanessa Gonzales posted 03-20-2023 03:45 PM

  
Gov exec order webinar March 23 on flood water capture for recharge

To further capitalize on recent storms and above-average snowpack, Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent executive order, N-4-23, establishes conditions that allow water users to divert water for recharge without first obtaining state permits. A webinar to unpack this order and provide an opportunity for Q&A with the state agencies overseeing it is scheduled for Thursday, March 23 from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM. Register here.

The California State Water Resources Control Board (“Water Board”) has given the green light to increase water storage as a result of historically wet winter conditions. The change came on the heels of Governor Newsom’s Executive Order N-3-23 directing the Water Board to “consider modifying requirements for reservoir releases or diversion limitations in Central Valley Project or State Water Project facilities”. The Water Board Order was issued after a period of consultation with the Bureau of Reclamation and California Department of Fish and Wildlife, who support the claim that environmental impacts will be minimal, especially when compared to the water supply benefits likely to be seen in drought-parched regions of the Central Valley where federal water allocations in recent years bottomed out at 0%. Both federal and state water allocations for irrigation districts are currently set at 35% for 2023, the highest since 2019.

California’s Department of Water Resources (“DWR”) is also taking steps to increase stormwater storage, to capitalize on extreme weather such as the deluges received in early 2023 that left parts of the state flooded but still likely to face shortages later in the dry season. In addition to streamlining the permitting process for temporary stormwater diversion permits, the DWR recently awarded the Pixley Irrigation District $2M to construct a new 5.5-mile long canal to provide surface water for irrigation and flood control protection for downstream communities. The Integrated Regional Water Management grant package also provided funding to the Kings Basin Water Authority and City of Bakersfield to increase stormwater storage and flood protection, while also providing groundwater-reliant communities access to alternate surface water sources.

To learn more about temporary permits for groundwater recharge, follow this link, or click here for information on the Stormwater Grant Program. You can subscribe to DWR email updates here.


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