DAILY DIGEST: ‘Atmospheric river’ slams California again as state decides whether to keep drought restrictions; Oroville dam releases halted after hole found in spillway; Planners report on implementing groundwater law; and more …

In California water news today, ‘Atmospheric river’ slams California again as state decides whether to keep drought restrictions; Coalition calls for end to California drought emergency; Oroville dam releases halted after huge hole is found in spillway; Spillway crumbles as California reservoirs max out capacity; Planners report on implementing groundwater law; Advocates consider nitrate fees to fund clean water; Bay Delta water case against the EPA advances; Giving the Delta a voice: Assembly members, state senators form Delta caucus; Drought increases severity of West Nile epidemics; California’s history of dry and wet spells in photos; California water venture tied to Trump sees prospects rise after years of setbacks; Trump team’s infrastructure plan has some big gaps; and more …

On the calendar today …

• The State Water Board will meet this morning beginning at 9am. They will be holding a public workshop the Affordable, Safe Drinking Water Initiative in the morning, and in the afternoon, they will consider a proposed Resolution amending and readopting drought-related emergency regulations for urban water conservation.  Click here for more information.  Click here to watch on webcast.

In the news today …

‘Atmospheric river’ slams California again as state decides whether to keep drought restrictions:  “The “atmospheric river” returned with a vengeance Tuesday to Northern California, where snow piled up in the Sierra Nevada and coastal riverbanks were overwhelmed, flooding rural towns.  It’s at least the third major storm series to hit the region since the beginning of the year, building Sierra Nevada snowpack to heights not seen in years. Many of the state’s reservoirs are brimming and the earth around them is beginning to soak in the moisture.  The rain has ended the drought in much of Northern California, but it leaves state water officials with a dilemma. … ”  Read more from the LA Times here:  ‘Atmospheric river’ slams California again as state decides whether to keep drought restrictions

Coalition calls for end to California drought emergency:  “A coalition of state and local leaders is pressing California to lift restrictions on urban water use after the wettest winter for years.  Water regulators in Sacramento on Wednesday will decide on a recommendation to extend the drought rules, uncertain if rain and snow will continue through spring.  Republican State Sen. Jim Nielsen of Gerber, who leads a swelling coalition of law makers and local water districts statewide, says it’s time for Gov. Jerry Brown to end the drought emergency, or lose the public’s trust. … ”  Read more from the Daily Progress here:  Coalition calls for end to California drought emergency

Oroville dam releases halted after huge hole is found in spillway:  “State engineers halted the release of water from Oroville Dam’s spillway Tuesday after a massive hole was discovered in its bottom half. Pictures showed a jagged chunk eroded out of the towering concrete structure.  With Lake Oroville kept about 20 percent empty to maintain flood safety, the state Department of Water Resources and outside experts consulted by The Sacramento Bee said the dam isn’t likely to fail. … ”  Read more from the Sacramento Bee here:  Oroville dam releases halted after huge hole is found in spillway

Spillway crumbles as California reservoirs max out capacity:  ” … The northern Sierra’s Feather River swelled with so much mountain runoff Tuesday that state officials considered shutting the road beneath Lake Oroville, California’s second largest reservoir, to allow dangerously swift waters to pour out the foot of the dam.  “I’ve been told that when it’s spilling that much, there’s so much moisture in the air that car engines conk out,” said Doug Carlson, a spokesman for the California Department of Water Resources. “This really shows how much rain we’ve had.”  After he spoke, a real emergency broke out, and the agency had to temporarily close the spillway. So much water was gushing down it — 55,000 cubic feet per second — that the concrete surface eroded, like a city street with a sinkhole…. ”  Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here:  Spillway crumbles as California reservoirs max out capacity

Planners report on implementing groundwater law:  “With a key deadline approaching, people involved in groundwater management say cooperation will be needed to accomplish goals set forth in the 2014 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.  Local agencies must form Groundwater Sustainability Agencies by June 30. The local GSAs will make decisions that affect groundwater use and fees, as they develop local Groundwater Sustainability Plans. Plans for groundwater basins identified as “critically overdrafted” must be in place by 2020; all others must be in effect by 2022.  Jack Rice, an associate counsel for the California Farm Bureau Federation, said participation by farmers will be essential to local implementation of the law, known by its acronym SGMA. … ”  Read more from Ag Alert here:  Planners report on implementing groundwater law

Groundwater management will require cooperation:  “With a key deadline approaching, people involved in groundwater management say cooperation will be needed to accomplish goals set forth in the 2014 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.  Local agencies must form Groundwater Sustainability Agencies by June 30. The local GSAs will make decisions that affect groundwater use and fees, as they develop local Groundwater Sustainability Plans. Plans for groundwater basins identified as “critically overdrafted” must be in place by 2020; all others must be in effect by 2022. … ”  Read more from the Daily Democrat here:  Groundwater management will require cooperation

Advocates consider nitrate fees to fund clean water:  “Clean water advocates want state leaders to create a safe and affordable drinking water fund for hundreds of communities throughout California.  One idea is to impose a fee on nitrates, commonly found in fertilizers, to fund clean, affordable water. Nitrate can lead to cancer when ingested in large amounts over many years.  Laurel Firestone, Community Water Center cofounder and codirector, acknowledges similar efforts have stalled in the past but hopes this year will be different. … ” Read more from Capital Public Radio here:  Advocates consider nitrate fees to fund clean water

Bay Delta water case against the EPA advances:  “A federal judge refused Tuesday to dismiss allegations that the Environmental Protection Agency shirked its duty to review temporary changes California made to its water-quality standards during the drought, an action that environmentalists say shrank the state’s salmon and steelhead fish populations.  U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar denied a motion by the EPA to dismiss the lawsuit filed against it last year by the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Bay Institute and Defenders of Wildlife. Tigar said their claims are not moot and that they plausibly alleged that the EPA was required under the Clean Water Act to review the changes to more than two dozen water quality standards to protect fish and wildlife in the Bay-Delta Estuary. ... ”  Read more from Courthouse News here:  Bay Delta water case against the EPA advances

Giving the Delta a voice: Assembly members, state senators form Delta caucus:  “Area lawmakers are taking the protection of the California Delta into their own hands.  On Monday, Assemblyman Jim Frazier, D-Oakley, and State Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, delivered a letter to Gov. Jerry Brown announcing the formation of a Legislative Delta Caucus.  Initial members include State Sen. Cathleen Galgiani, D-Stockton, and Assemblyman Jim Cooper, D-Elk Grove, who both represent the Lodi area. … ”  Read more from the Lodi News-Sentinel here:  Giving the Delta a voice: Assembly members, state senators form Delta caucus

Drought increases severity of West Nile epidemics:  “Drought increases the severity of West Nile epidemics, according to a new study by researchers at UC Santa Cruz.  Researchers analyzed 15 years of data on human West Nile virus infections across the U.S. They found that in drought years, outbreaks of the mosquito-borne disease were much more severe, particularly in regions where large epidemics have not occurred in the past.  “We were totally shocked that drought was such an important driver,” says Sara Paull, a post-doctoral researcher at UC Santa Cruz and the study’s lead author. She says drought doesn’t influence the abundance of mosquitos, but the percentage infected. … ” Read more from Capital Public Radio here:  Drought increases severity of West Nile epidemics

California’s history of dry and wet spells in photos:  “Dry spells come and go in California, where the difference between a wet and dry year often depends on how much precipitation the state gets from just a few storms during winter. During the period of recorded water history, California’s most significant statewide droughts were 1929-34, 1976-77, 1987-1992, 2007-09 and the current five-year drought, according to the state department of water resources. The 2007-09 drought was was the first for which a statewide emergency was declared. Note that the measurements cover only a small part of California history because rainfall data and other information did not begin until around the start of the 20th Century. These photos, including images of the state’s major reservoirs, show changing conditions dating from the mid-1970s through January 2017, one of the state’s wettest months in years.”  Check it out here:  California’s history of dry and wet spells in photos

California water venture tied to Trump sees prospects rise after years of setbacks:  “Until Donald Trump won the presidency, prospects looked bleak for Cadiz, a California company that has struggled for years to secure federal permits to transform Mojave Desert groundwater into liquid gold.  With the change of administration, a new day is dawning. In December, the National Governors Association circulated a preliminary list of infrastructure projects provided by the Trump transition team, and Cadiz’s was on the list. The company’s stock price rose on that news, part of a trend that has seen Cadiz’s valuation more than double – to roughly $14 a share – since the election.  Cadiz has worked hard to raise its profile among consultants compiling lists of possible infrastructure projects, says Scott Slater, CEO for the company. ... ”  Read more from the McClatchy DC here:  California water venture tied to Trump sees prospects rise after years of setbacks

Trump team’s infrastructure plan has some big gaps:  “President Donald Trump has promised to revitalize America’s aging roads, bridges, railways and airports, but a plan put forward by his economic advisers relies on a transportation financing scheme that hasn’t been tried before and comes with significant risks.  The plan was set out just before the election by billionaire leveraged buyout specialist Wilbur Ross, Trump’s pick for commerce secretary, and conservative economics professor Peter Navarro, whom Trump has tapped to head his National Trade Council. They recommended the government allocate $137 billion in tax credits for private investors who underwrite infrastructure projects. … ”  Read more from CBS News here:  Trump team’s infrastructure plan has some big gaps

In commentary today …

California should let emergency drought regulations expire, says Susan Rohan:  She writes, “At a recent workshop to discuss whether the state’s emergency drought regulations should be extended beyond February, two government agencies scheduled to report on drought conditions were noticeably absent because they were busy responding to flooding issues.  Apart from this ironic twist, one cannot brush aside this winter’s record rainfall, snowpack and reservoir conditions. A week after this workshop, Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for 50 counties from flooding, erosion and mud flows. So one wonders why an editorial in The Sacramento Bee encouraged the Brown administration to keep its emergency drought regulations in place through April. Cities in our region, along with hundreds of water agencies throughout California, are urging state regulators to let these rules expire. … ”  Read more from the Sacramento Bee here:  California should let emergency drought regulations expire

In regional news and commentary today …

Rainfall, dam water releases may cause flooding in Tehama County:  “Tehama County Public Works Director Gary Antone gave an update Tuesday on road closures, flooding and other storm related information including water levels for the Sacramento River and levees within county jurisdiction caused by recent rainfall.  The Bureau of Reclamation incrementally increased releases below Keswick Dam from 26,000 cubic feet per second to 36,000 Monday afternoon. ... ”  Read more from Courthouse News Service here:  Rainfall, dam water releases may cause flooding in Tehama County

Winter storms take toll on Marin’s salmon:  “The parade of storms dumping water on California has been a welcome sight to most everyone the Bay Area — at least almost everyone.  Swollen, rampaging creeks in West Marin have hampered the nesting of critically endangered coho salmon returning to their native streams to spawn. After years of devastating impacts by drought — it seems the spigot has turned the other direction.  “I guess I would say it’s almost too much of a good thing,” said Gregory Andrew, Fishery Program Manager for the Marin Municipal Water District. ... ”  Read more from the NBC Bay Area here:  Winter storms take toll on Marin’s salmon

How California’s South Coast is still coping with severe drought:  “Remember those pictures of drought-stricken California, the ones that show dried lakebeds and bathtub rings around reservoirs? With precipitation twice the normal average in many places and a statewide snowpack in the Sierra Nevada at 173 percent of normal, those images are a thing of the past.  Except if you live on the South Coast.  The U.S. Drought Monitor shows that less than 2 percent of California is still experiencing severe drought impacts, but that small area is concentrated in southern Santa Barbara County and parts of neighboring Ventura and Los Angeles counties. ... ”  Read more from Water Deeply here:  How California’s South Coast is still coping with severe drought

Check out this breathtaking view of the Colorado Plateau as seen from the International Space Station:  “When I first spotted this stunning image on NASA’s Earth Observatory site, it stopped me dead in my tracks. It’s a view over Lake Powell on the Colorado River, the second-largest artificial reservoir in the United States, after Lake Mead further downstream.  Almost the entire lake is visible in this photograph, taken by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station last September. I was really struck by the clarity, the color, and the oblique angle at which it was taken. The photograph almost looks like it was taken from an aircraft — not from orbit almost 25o miles above the surface. … ”  Read more from Discovery’s ImaGeo here:  Check out this breathtaking view of the Colorado Plateau as seen from the International Space Station

Precipitation watch …

Another storm for rain-weary California this week, then … yet more storms to come:  “Given the widespread and somewhat more significant than anticipated storm impacts across Northern California today, the next storm bearing down on the state bears close watching. An intense atmospheric river brought widespread heavy rain and strong winds to much of NorCal early this morning, causing widespread flooding of streams, smaller rivers, and coastal areas (especially near the Bay Area). Observed flooding and other storm impacts were more severe than initially anticipated–partly because the frontal structure (and therefore rainfall rates) were a bit more impressive than expected, but also because soils throughout the region have now reached total saturation (and, in some cases, “supersaturation”). Thus, virtually all rainfall at this point is generating rapid runoff and flowing into bodies of water that are already experiencing residually high flows. Additionally, the threat of both smaller mudslides and deeper landslides is now quite high across much of California–as evidenced by numerous road closures in recent days. … ”  Read more from the California Weather Blog here:  Another storm for rain-weary California this week, then … yet more storms to come

Also on Maven’s Notebook today …

• METROPOLITAN SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON THE BAY-DELTA: Project implementation considerations for California Water Fix; Dr. Jacob Katz on managing floodplain productivity for multiple benefits
• NEWS WORTH NOTING: New report calls for transforming California water governance to meet social and ecological needs; 100s of California irrigators work with The Freshwater Trust to tackle new water measurement law; Cindy Messer appointed chief deputy director at the DWR
• THIS JUST IN … DWR halts flows down Oroville Dam spillway; Engineers investigating erosion *UPDATED with link to pictures
• THIS JUST IN … District Court denies motion to dismiss NRDC suit against the EPA over waivers of water quality standards during drought

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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.