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2026 Snowpack: 18 Percent of Average. The Reliability Math Just Got Worse.
California's April 1 snowpack came in at 18 percent of average — the second lowest reading on record at Phillips Station. In the Northern Sierra, where Zone 7's State Water Project deliveries originate, snowpack is just 6 percent of average. The reliability case is no longer a forecast. It is the current data.
Delta Conveyance: A Court Closes One Door, A Council Opens Another
In eight days, the California Supreme Court ended DWR's bond-financing pathway and the Delta Stewardship Council remanded the project on two Delta Plan policies. Here is what changes for Zone 7's $443 million share.
Many Sources, One Bill: What Zone 7's $874 Million Plan Means for Tri-Valley Water Customers
On April 15, the Zone 7 board adopted a $874.7 million ten-year plan. Here is what it does, how it will reach your water bill, and what it does not yet tell ratepayers.
The Chain of Lakes: Zone 7's Local Water Future
A $356.5 million pipeline project that connects Zone 7's local reservoirs to its treatment plant. This is the infrastructure bet on local water supply.
Delta Conveyance: A $443 Million Question
Zone 7's share of the Delta Conveyance Project is estimated at $443 million — and the board hasn't committed to construction yet. Here's how I think about it.
Groundwater: The Aquifer Under Our Feet
Zone 7's groundwater basin holds 254,000 acre-feet — but PFAS has taken 40% of production offline. The Regional Groundwater Development project aims to bring it back.
Sites Reservoir: New Water North of the Delta
Zone 7 is one of 24 agencies investing in Sites Reservoir — a new water source that doesn't depend on Delta conveyance. Construction decision expected this year.
What the Capital Plan Means for Water Rates
Zone 7's new CIP shifts $209 million from developer-funded to ratepayer-funded projects. That rate pressure signal deserves an honest conversation.
Our Water Supply Is Less Reliable Than You Think
The State Water Project delivers just 54% of Zone 7's contractual allocation — and that number is heading down. Local supply investment is not optional.
37 Miles of Flood Protection
Zone 7 manages 37 miles of engineered flood channels across the Tri-Valley. Deferred maintenance isn't savings — it's a bill we're handing to our neighbors.
PFAS in the Tri-Valley: Trust the Science, Verify the Data
Zone 7 is doing serious work on PFAS. A board member's job is to make sure the monitoring keeps pace with the treatment.