Water

DWR completes installation of emergency salinity drought barrier

After three weeks of round-the-clock work, the emergency drought salinity barrier was completed in late June. The barrier will help prevent saltwater contamination of water supplies used by millions of Californians who rely on Delta-based... more »

One-quarter of California’s irrigated farmland get a 95% cut in water supply

With depleted reservoirs and limited water supplies across California, Gov. Gavin Newsom recently expanded the drought emergency order to nine additional counties and signed an executive order calling on all Californians to voluntarily reduce water... more »

Western Growers releases video series ‘No Water = No Crops’

In "No Water = No Crops," a series of videos released July 12 by Western Growers, three California farmers show the impact the drought is having on their operations, and the cascading losses that result... more »

HIgh priority areas identified as NRCS California offers drought assistance

In the middle of California’s drought, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is meeting with landowners, Tribal representatives, and agencies to assess resource concerns and offer assistance to farmers and ranchers, as well as, forest and... more »

House Republicans sound alarm on Biden administration’s plan to undo water rule

Top Republican leaders in the House of Representatives on June 25 joined House Agriculture Committee Member David Rouzer, R-NC, in=n outlining their concerns regarding the Biden Administration’s intention to undo the Trump administration’s Navigable Waters... more »

Study finds that drought hurts urban farmers, too

Extreme drought is changing agriculture across California – and urban farming is no exception. Many community farms and gardens cultivate land owned by city or county departments, schools and private landowners. Lucy Diekmann, a University of... more »

ARS scientists tackle California climate woes

A team of USDA agricultural scientists in the Golden State are helping farmers make the most out of a natural resource that is becoming ever more precious – water. California produces two-thirds of the nation’s... more »

Greater investment to improve aging California water facilities essential

Severe drought highlights the need for greater investment to improve aging California water facilities, and increases calls for allocation of federal and state resources to tackle the problem. A national coalition that includes the California... more »