‘Finite' water mandates increased scrutiny

Surface water levels are noticeably low in Glenn County.

In the third year of a drought, high waterlines are obvious in the Sacramento River and at Black Butte Lake. And a quick look shows many, if not most, local stream beds are dry or about dry.

The eastern part of the county has the lowest levels, according to Lester Messina, Glenn County's water resources coordinator.

Water resources experts are trying to determine the relationship between surface water levels and ground water levels, he said.

No one knows just how much ground water is in Glenn County. But county officials and the state Department of Water Resources are doing their best to find out.

"We don't have all the necessary information," Messina said. "But, the ground water and surface water systems are interactive — they work together. There's a level of connectivity."

Since the Glenn County Water Advisory Committee was formed in 1994, there has been "increased scrutiny of restrictions on water," Messina said.

"We're learning more and more all the time," he said, adding that much of what they know about hydrogeology came from the state's Department of Water Resources.

For one thing, water resources experts such as Messina know enough to dispel the rural myth that a lake of water sits under Glenn County.

Larry Domenighini said, "Water is a complex issue. We can't defend ourselves without information." A farmer, he was the Water Advisory Committee chairman for four years and now serves as the Farm Bureau representative to the WAC.

"Water is a finite resource that requires infinite management," Domenighini said.

To increase knowledge, a regional water management group is forming. "It will be an equal partnership with irrigation districts and water management districts," Messina said. It will be a few months before the regional team starts working, he added.

He pointed to the importance of cooperation between the federal Bureau of Reclamation and local irrigation and water districts in moving forward on the Stony Creek Fan Project.

Collecting water data

In a recent interview, Messina and Domenighini detailed efforts to collect scientific data that will establish groundwater levels in the county.

Domenighini said concerns about the amount of ground water in the area did not arise until the early 1990s, when the issue came to the forefront after a lawsuit was filed relating to an existing drought. Prior to that, most concerns related to surface water, he said.

Domenighini and Messina estimated the current distribution at 65 percent surface water and 35 percent ground water.

To gather data on ground water levels, officials are monitoring 25 dedicated wells in Glenn County. A dedicated well is used only to monitoring water levels.

The goal of the research is "better integrated water management," Messina said.

Officials know water levels in the eastern area are lower than the rest of the county. But, Messina said, they are not as low as during the drought 30 years ago.

As weather goes in cycles, so do water levels. "There are natural cycles," Messina said.

He and Domenighini said the pattern moves from one extreme to another, flowing from drought conditions — when people have concerns about wells running dry — and an over-abundance of water, resulting in well overflows and floods. In between, the extremes are "normal" conditions.

The most extreme droughts recorded in the region occurred in the 1880s and 1930s, Messina noted. While less severe droughts have hit the area, "We haven't seen one like this since the 1970s," Domenighini said.

Messina added that predicting an end to the current drought is impossible. It could on a year or two or more, or next year there could be floods, he said.

Local farmer Joe Taylor said that in 1997 a gravel-pit pond on his property "came over the road. We had to add gravel to it to get across."

When he was growing up, the pond was full and the surroundings were lush. "There were toulies and we hunted pheasants," Taylor said.

Agricultural use

Joanne Overton of Orland said she and her husband are concerned about ground water levels in their almond orchard. This year, they plan to irrigate their crops twice instead of the normal three times, she said.

Taylor said "water wells do better when their plum full, but it's not bad this year. Right now we're doing OK."

On the other hand, the pond near his home — which flooded 12 years ago — has little water in it now. Domenighini and Messina said about eight weeks ago, a small gravel strip showed above the water line. But July 17, they estimated one area to be only one-foot deep.

"Last year, you couldn't see any gravel," Domenighini said. "In '98 it was full to the brim."

Messina suggested the gravel pond is "mimicking what goes on underground."

Another issue related to agricultural water use is an increasing number of crops that put an "increased demand on the water supply," Domenighini said.

Messina also noted that increased domestic usage reduces the surface water supply, thus increasing the demand on ground water.

DWR will gather the quarterly data from Glenn County wells during the first week in August.

Contact Lydia Harris at 934-6800 or lharris@tncpress.com.