NASA says 10 percent of Valley water comes from underground mountain sources

NASA scientists say that up to 10 percent of the groundwater in the Central Valley flows underground from the Sierra Nevada mountain range. 

“We now know how much groundwater is going into and coming out of the aquifers during each season of the year, and during periods of drought and episodes of heavy precipitation,” Donald Argus of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California said. 

The volume of the inflow was surprising, according to Argus, because researchers believed they already had a good understanding of the amount of water entering and leaving the Central Valley. 

Source: Tulare Voice

This new understanding could be used, for example, to modify existing restrictions on watering during dry years versus wet years to better match usage with the available groundwater resources.

In a recent study, scientists found that a previously unmeasured source – water percolating through soil and fractured rock below California’s Sierra Nevada mountains – delivers an average of 4 million acre feet (5 cubic kilometers) of water to the state’s Central Valley each year. This underground source accounts for about 10% of all the water that enters this highly productive farmland each year from every source (including river inflows and precipitation).

Water shutoffs resume in August for past due bills

Residential water users with balances older than 60 days could have their service shut off starting in August if the bill remains unpaid. 

The City of Tulare halted water shut-offs because of the state moratorium on water shut-offs and because of the economic impacts of the pandemic.

Beginning August 3, all past due balances that are more than 60 days delinquent need to be paid to avoid any future shut-offs.

Democrats shoot down Valadao's efforts to lessen drought impact

Three legislative amendments aimed at easing drought impacts on the Central Valley were voted down by Democrats in the House of Representatives.

Rep. David G. Valadao (CA-21) recently added three changes to the FY23 Energy and Water Appropriations bill while the bill was being marked up by the House Appropriations Committee. Each of these changes would help to stop the drought in California from being so bad.

“The lack of reliable, clean water in the Valley has become an issue of national security. Farmers across the Central Valley are being forced to tear up their crops to conserve water – crops that would have fed families across the United States and the world,” said Congressman Valadao.

“The three amendments I offered today would improve water storage capacity, increase operational flexibility, and provide certainty for our farmers. It is extremely disappointing that the majority rejected all three of these amendments that would help my constituents who grow food for the nation. I will not stop fighting to bring more water to the Central Valley.”

All three amendments were voted down by the Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee.

Got water questions? County may have answers

If you have water questions regarding a private well, a private water source, or a community dependent on non-municipal supplies, Tulare County officials may have information to help.

Second District Supervisor Pete Vander Poel represents the southwest portion of Tulare County and represents the Board of Supervisors on the Tulare County Water Commission.

In a recent video message online, he said,"I'm here today to talk to you a little bit about water seeing is that the state is in another year of record drought. The topic of water has become a real hot issue.