In California water news today, Is the great California drought finally quitting?; Reservoirs start to fill in California, putting a dent into drought; Why record precipitation may not be a cure-all for California’s water issues; California’s stormwater regulations are themselves a toxic mess; Storm surge: Levees under patrol as problems in the Delta grow; Lawmakers tour location of proposed Sites Reservoir; Brown’s budget proposal contains funds for drought and other key water issues; and more …
On the calendar today …
- Brown Bag Seminar: Flow Dynamics and Transport of Water-Quality Constituents in the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta from 12:00pm – 1:00pm: In this seminar, Dr. Schoellhamer will discuss these advances focusing on water-quality constituents (heat, oxygen, nutrients, contaminants, salinity, organic particles, and inorganic particles), drivers of flow and transport, advances in techniques, sediment, and connections among the watershed, Delta, and San Francisco Bay. Click here to watch on webcast.
- The Delta Independent Science Board meets today and tomorrow. Agenda items today include discussion of the Delta ISB Review of the State Water Resources Control Board’s Working Draft Scientific Basis Report for New and Revised Flow Requirements on the Sacramento River and Tributaries, Eastside Tributaries to the Delta, Delta Outflow, and Interior Delta Operations (Phase 2). Meeting begins with closed session and is expected to begin open session at approximately 1:40pm. Click here to watch on webcast.
In the news today …
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
Is the great California drought finally quitting? “The state’s biggest reservoirs are swelling. As of this date, the Sierra Nevada have seen as much snow, sleet, hail and rain as during the wettest years on record. Rainy Los Angeles feels more like London than Southern California. So is the great California drought finally calling it quits? Yes. Or at least maybe. If the storm systems keep coming, state and regional water managers say, 2017 could be the end of a dry spell that has, for more than five years, caused crops to wither, reservoirs to run dry and homeowners to rip out their lawns and plant cactus. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Is the great California drought finally quitting?
Reservoirs start to fill in California, putting a dent into drought: “As a result of the nearly weeklong deluge, water is flowing into California lakes and reservoirs, prompting dam operators to release supplies in advance of a storm expected next week. But it’s too early to say if the series of storms is a drought-buster. “Very generally, the storms are very beneficial to reservoir storage,” said Ted Thomas, spokesman for the California Department of Water Resources. But dam operators are watching the skies, he said. … ” Read more from the Fresno Bee here: Reservoirs start to fill in California, putting a dent into drought
Big storms end drought across Northern California: “Deluged with a series of relentless storms this winter, nearly half of California is no longer in a drought for the first time four years, including the Bay Area, a stark turnaround after one of the worst natural disasters in state history, according to a new federal report out Thursday morning. A year ago this week, only 3 percent of the state was classified as not being in drought conditions. But now because of this winter’s soaking, 42 percent is. Nearly all of Northern California from the Santa Cruz Mountains to the Oregon border has now returned to normal water conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, a weekly report issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. … ” Read more from the Mercury News here: Big storms end drought across Northern California
Photo gallery: Before and after photos show storms’ insane impact on water levels: “As three raging storms pummeled Northern California in early January, the lakes rose, the floodgates opened, the rivers swelled, and the waterfalls roared. The landscape that became dry and parched during five years of drought turned into a wet, soggy mess. Trickles of water became surging flows, and floodplains transformed into massive seas of water. The gallery above of before-and-after images shows the dramatic impact the heavy rains have had on water levels at lakes, reservoirs, dams and rivers across the top half of the state. … ” More from SF Gate here: Before and after photos show storms’ insane impact on water levels
Storms make significant dent in California drought, new federal records show: “A week of powerful storms in Northern California has significantly eased the state’s water shortage, with a large swath of the state emerging from drought conditions, officials said Thursday. The numbers underscore what officials have been saying for several months about the drought. As a series of storms have hit Northern California this winter, the drought picture there is easing, but is still more of a factor in Southern California and the Central Valley. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Storms make significant dent in California drought, new federal records show
Why record precipitation may not be a cure-all for California’s water issues: “Californians may be getting all the precipitation they wished for, and then some. A wet October followed by a series of big rain- and snowstorms kicking off the new year has made for one of the wettest rainy seasons so far in California’s record-keeping. “It’s undoubtedly in the top five,” said Doug Carlson, an information officer with the state’s Department of Water Resources. As of Tuesday, the rainfall for Northern California was just over 200 percent of average, according to the Department of Water Resources. And the water content of the snowpack statewide was 135 percent of average. … ” Read more from Water Deeply here: Why record precipitation may not be a cure-all for California’s water issues
California’s stormwater regulations are themselves a toxic mess: “Thousands – perhaps tens of thousands – of California businesses are polluting streams, bays and the ocean, but state environmental regulators don’t know how many companies are doing how much damage. In places like Logan Heights or National City, industry-filled neighborhoods send metals and toxic chemicals into the water, helping to ruin it for humans and poison it for marine life. An entire regulatory system exists to prevent this – to keep businesses honest, residents safe and fish alive. That system is a mess. … ” Read more from Water Deeply here: California’s stormwater regulations are themselves a toxic mess
Storm surge: Levees under patrol as problems in the Delta grow: “Flooding concerns intensified in the the Delta on Wednesday as huge volumes of water surged down creeks and streams into the low-lying river estuary. Higher than expected water levels had crews patrolling levees and watching carefully for any sign of trouble. An estimated 245,098 cubic feet of water per second was pouring into the Delta, the equivalent of nearly three Olympic-sized swimming pools every second. And it didn’t end on Wednesday: By high tide late Thursday, the rivers may be even higher as the slug of water from earlier storms passes out to San Francisco Bay. ... ” Read more from the Stockton Record here: Storm surge: Levees under patrol as problems in the Delta grow
Lawmakers tour location of proposed Sites Reservoir: “As Northern California skies begin to clear, California lawmakers are using the storm that pelted the region over the last week as a catalyst to talk about the state’s water management system. Assemblyman James Gallagher, R-Yuba City, is leading a troupe of lawmakers today on a tour of the Sites Reservoir, a $4.4 billion proposed water storage project four decades in the making. Unlike most of California’s reservoirs, Sites would be off-stream and collect water from the Sacramento River via a 14-mile pipeline. Backers of the project say Sites could add 500,000 acre-feet of water to the state’s system per year, which Gallagher says is enough to serve 1.2 million families. ... ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: Lawmakers tour location of proposed Sites Reservoir
Brown’s budget proposal contains funds for drought and other key water issues: “Gov. Jerry Brown on Tuesday released a $177.1 billion spending plan that contains funds for drought, water rights management, continuation of the statewide conservation program Save Our Water and other key water programs. In releasing his budget proposal, Brown warned of a possible economic downturn due to a slowing of revenue increases. The budget contains $3.2 billion in what the governor’s statement calls “solutions” that would close a potential a $2 billion deficit. Among those “solutions” are proposals such as adjusting Proposition 98 spending and “recapturing” unspent allocations from 2016. … ” Read more from ACWA’s Water News here: Brown’s budget proposal contains funds for drought and other key water issues
In regional news and commentary today …
Redding: Recent storms unleash raging waters: “When Sylvia Welke got to work Tuesday she had to navigate her way across the little streams running through the parking lot at Cave Springs Resort in Dunsmuir. The rain was falling, melting the snow and water was everywhere, she said. Outside her office window she could look down and see the Sacramento River running fast and strong. “We’re getting a ton of water. It’s immensely more water” than normal, Welke said. … ” Read more from the Redding Record Searchlight here: Recent storms unleash raging waters
Project to help salmon in Sacramento River complete: “Local, State, and Federal agencies partnered on a project in Redding to help salmon in an area previously uninhabitable by fish. The Bureau of Reclamation, in partnership with Glenn-Colusa Irrigation District, Western Shasta Resource Conservation District, California Department of Water Resources, and California Department of Fish and Wildlife, completed a project on January 2, to restore side channel rearing habitat in the Sacramento River, immediately upstream of the Cypress Avenue Bridge on the east side of the river. ... ” Read more from KRCR here: Project to help salmon in Sacramento River complete
Big river moves water every which way during flood control: “The Sacramento River is rolling in all its glory this week, with 36,000 cubic feet per second of water planned to be released at Lake Shasta beginning today. Wednesday the water flow was 19,000 cubic feet per second, and 14,000 the day before. One cubic foot per second of water flow moves 449 gallons a minute and more than 646,320 gallons a day, which is about two acre-feet of water a day. Multiply that by 36,000. ... ” Read more from the Oroville Mercury Register here: Big river moves water every which way during flood control
Martin Slough moves forward with multiple grants: “The Redwood Community Action Agency’s Natural Resources Services Division was awarded five grants from the state and federal government totaling nearly $3.4 million for estuary and river restoration and rehabilitation projects in Humboldt Bay. According to RCAA executive director for the Natural Resources Services division, Craig Benson, the grants are highly significant to California wetlands, which contribute to Humboldt County’s growing restoration economy. … ” Read more from the Eureka Standard here: Martin Slough moves forward with multiple grants
Mass flooding and some relief as Russian River peaks in Guerneville: “The Russian River surged Wednesday afternoon to its highest level in a decade, forcing hundreds of people in and around the Sonoma County town of Guerneville to flee to higher ground, often by boat. But in the wake of several days of rain, there was not only sorrow over the extensive damage but some relief that the river wasn’t quite as swollen as originally expected. Scores of homes and businesses in the small communities of Guerneville and Monte Rio, east of Santa Rosa, have been taking in water since the weekend storms, and the toll was expected to grow to roughly 650 houses. … ” Read more from SF Gate here: Mass flooding and some relief as Russian River peaks in Guerneville
American Canyon looking at distant reservoir, recycled water for homes to expand water supply: “American Canyon is exploring ways to expand its water supply sources after enduring years of drought-related cutbacks from the state. Wanting to reduce its reliance on the State Water Project, city planners are studying two far-off options that would involve getting water from a distant reservoir and using recycled water in homes. Both options are years away from becoming a reality, even if the city leaders choose to go in these directions. ... ” Read more from the American Canyon Eagle here: American Canyon looking at distant reservoir, recycled water for homes to expand water supply
American River Parkway to reopen on Thursday though several sections remain flooded: “Large sections of the American River Parkway and several popular Sacramento County parks are expected to open by 8 a.m. Thursday after days of massive rainfall and heavy releases from reservoirs flooded recreation areas around the region. Sacramento County Regional Parks announced this afternoon that the parkway is scheduled to reopen, along with River Bend Park, William B. Pond, Sunrise Recreation Area and Sailor Bar. The county is also planning to open Mather Regional Park and Gibson Ranch. But much of the western half of the parkway, from still-flooded Discovery Park to about Watt Avenue, will remain inaccessible for the time being. Dirt hiking and equestrian trails throughout the parkway also will be closed. ... ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: American River Parkway to reopen on Thursday though several sections remain flooded
Storm break levees, floods roads in Lodi area and beyond: “Water spilled onto New Hope Road just northeast of Thornton along Grizzly Slough on Wednesday morning as water levels there and in the nearby Mokelumne River reached flood stage. The Sacramento County Office of Emergency Services reported a levee break at Grizzly Slough with water flowing to the east. A second breach occurred along another portion of New Hope Road near the Mokelumne River. They did not report that any structures were threatened and were monitoring the flow by helicopter Wednesday morning, according to Steve Cantelme, chief of the Sacramento County OES. … ” Read more from the Lodi News-Sentinel here: Storm break levees, floods roads in Lodi area and beyond
Water levels for the San Joaquin River are highest in years due to downpours and runoff: “A wave of wet weather and snow fall sweeping the area is prompting water levels to rise. Bass lake levels are currently well above the spill way. The water pouring out of the Crane Valley Dam prompted mountain communities in North Fork to evacuate. Experts with the Friant Dam said they had to ramp up their release last week, because of the heavy downpour and runoff from the mountains. They are now releasing 6,000 cubic feet per second proving beneficial to the San Joaquin River and surrounding areas. … ” Read more from ABC 30 here: Water levels for the San Joaquin River are highest in years due to downpours and runoff
State report in concerning West Bishop water issues: “If the residents of West Bishop were hoping for the silver bullet to solve their high water table issues, they were disappointed. On the bright side, the report from the California Department of Water Resources arrived at the theories expressed by Inyo County’s Water Department: seepage from the ditch system and residential ponds probably caused the high water table and subsequent seepage out of yards and into crawl spaces. ... ” Read more from the Sierra Wave here: State report in concerning West Bishop water issues
More rain means less water stored for Santa Barbara: “For City of Santa Barbara water czar Joshua Haggmark, cruel ironies are piling up fast and furious. The good news, of course, is that it’s raining — so hard and sustained, in fact, that for the first time in many moons, there’s water running down the Santa Ynez River and into Lake Cachuma. The bad news, less obviously, is that the rain is falling most plentifully on the wrong side of the mountains, away from the three reservoirs upon which South Coast water agencies rely. This week’s wet optics provided a particularly inauspicious backdrop for Haggmark to drop his latest bombshell on city councilmembers over the escalating price tag for rebuilding the city’s long-mothballed desalination plant. The desal plant, he revealed, will cost $15 million more to build than the $55 million initially projected and nearly $10 million more than the last time he reported $6 million in cost overruns. ... ” Read more from the Santa Barbara Independent here: More rain means less water stored for Santa Barbara
Despite the wet winter, using less water is still a good idea: “It feels like it’s been one storm after another. Southern California has gotten a lot of rain over the last six weeks, filling reservoirs and groundwater basins. “In the last six weeks, we’ve captured about 4300 acre-feet and an acre-foot is enough water for a family of four for a year,” Steve Elie, of Inland Empire Utilities agencies, said. The rain and snow has also been falling in Northern California, where more than 30 percent of our water comes from. … ” Read more from CBS LA here: Despite the wet winter, using less water is still a good idea
Orange County Water District hopes to use recent rains to fill groundwater basin: “Since July 2016, the start of the Orange County Water District’s (OCWD; the District) “water year,” north and central Orange County has received a total of 7.85 inches of rain. Storm events from December 15 through the January 6 weekend alone brought in 5.72 inches. Rather than big flashes of heavy rain, slow and steady rainstorms, spaced out by one to two weeks are optimal, since this allows temporary capture of stormwater behind Prado Dam in Riverside County and subsequent release of the captured stormwater to flow down the Santa Ana River and be diverted into groundwater recharge basins in Orange County, owned and managed by OCWD. … ” Read more from Water World here: Orange County Water District hopes to use recent rains to fill groundwater basin
Precipitation watch …
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
- SCIENCE NEWS: More extreme storms ahead for California; Study examines ocean acidification effects on rockfish; Anthropogenic groundwater extraction impacts climate; and more …
- BAY DELTA SCIENCE CONFERENCE: The scientific challenge of establishing appropriate baselines for restoration
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About the Daily Digest: The Daily Digest is a collection of selected news articles, commentaries and editorials appearing in the mainstream press. Items are generally selected to follow the focus of the Notebook blog. The Daily Digest is published every weekday with a weekend edition posting on Sundays.
