Friant-Kern Canal
Temporary Canal Use Plan Moves Ahead
There has been no Central Valley Project Friant Division water supply this year but temporary non-project water sources using Friant-Kern Canal as a means of conveyance continue to keep a little water moving.
The latest proposal is edging closer to reality.
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has released environmental documents that analyze a temporary reduction in water quality requirements for groundwater introduced into the Friant-Kern Canal.
The proposal would temporarily allow introduction of water from specific wells.
The temporary reduction would stretch limited water supplies available to Reclamation’s Friant Division water contractors who this year received a Zero allocation.
Sampling of the water in the canal would be conducted weekly to ensure nitrate and salinity levels do not exceed specified limits.
The proposed action would continue through February 2016 or as long as the drought continues.
TULARE COUNTY
Grant Awarded For School Water
The Friant Division’s water shortage crisis continues to plague much more than farms and communities.
Local contaminated water systems, some of which have gone dry altogether, have been a major problem in parts of the Friant Division.
The Tulare County Board of Supervisors accepted a $1 million grant from the State Water Resources Control Board to provide bottled water to schools with contaminated water systems.
The grant is part of $100 million made available to communities to deal with drought effects. Tulare County is the first to use the funds to purchase bottled water.
About 20 Tulare County schools are expected to qualify.
The Visalia Times-Delta reported that Tulare County already is arranging to deliver bottled water to communities with well and water system problems under a pair of other grants.
MADERA IRRIGATION DISTRICT
Long-Time Staff Member Retires
Jill Low, a Madera Irrigation District staff member for 28 years, has retired.
She was an integral part of MID’s finance and administration Departments during her career.
Low became the Controller-Assessor in March 1997 and served as one of MID’s main contacts for growers and landowners.
In May 2010, she was promoted to Assistant General Manager in addition to continuing to be a resource to the finance staff.
She retired October 31.
