DAILY DIGEST: Continued erosion of Oroville Dam’s main spillway part of ‘normal process’, officials say; Dams remain in line for bulk of funding over cheaper alternatives; Don Pedro Reservoir spillway opens for the first time in 20 years; and more …

Maven
DAILY DIGEST
0
In California water news today, Lake Oroville level expected to fluctuate with the rains; Continued erosion of Oroville Dam’s main spillway part of ‘normal process’, officials say; Despite Oroville crisis, California has the ‘Cadillac’ of dam safety programs; Not just Oroville; More Northern California infrastructure that need fixes; Dams remain in line for bulk of funding over cheaper alternatives; ‘Farmers are optimistic people’; Creeks, rivers top banks after latest California storm; How food companies can help drive agricultural conservation; New research shows how atmospheric rivers wreak havoc around the world; and more …

In the news today …

Also on Maven’s Notebook today …

Lake Oroville level expected to fluctuate with the rains:  “After the state Department of Water Resources reached its goal early Monday morning of lowering the water level at Lake Oroville by 50 feet, officials said heavy rains would likely cause lake levels to rise several feet.  Bill Croyle, acting director of the state Department of Water Resources, said inflow into the lake could peak around 105,000 cubic-feet per second Monday night. Releases from the reservoir were expected to be maintained at 60,000 cfs. … ”  Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record here:  Lake Oroville level expected to fluctuate with the rains

Continued erosion of Oroville Dam’s main spillway part of ‘normal process’, officials say:  “Oroville Dam’s badly damaged main spillway is still deteriorating from an onslaught of fast-paced water, but state officials insist that it is “stable” as they make repairs.  State officials expected the concrete main spillway to erode last week when they opened its gates, betting that it was a safer option than the dam’s little-used emergency spillway.  Since then, the crater-like hole in the main spillway that triggered concerns about the dam’s condition has expanded. As seen from the top of the dam, the spillway’s left side now bleeds into earth, with water pouring off the concrete and around an outcropping of bedrock. ... ”  Read more from the LA Times here:  Continued erosion of Oroville Dam’s main spillway part of ‘normal process’, officials say

Despite Oroville crisis, California has the ‘Cadillac’ of dam safety programs:  “The state of California missed one of its two annual Oroville Dam inspections last year. It has one field engineer for every 57 dams it must inspect. And there’s a potential conflict of interest in how the state inspects dams.  Yet despite those concerns, California’s dam safety inspection program – which is drawing increased scrutiny after last weekend’s Oroville Dam crisis – is considered the best in the nation.  “Everybody is understaffed and underfunded,“ says Lori Spragens, who runs the Association of State Dam Safety Officials. “Every other state is more understaffed and underfunded.” ... ”  Read more from Capital Public Radio here:  Despite Oroville crisis, California has the ‘Cadillac’ of dam safety programs

Not just Oroville; More Northern California infrastructure that need fixes:  “The Oroville Dam crisis reminded many Californians of something we only associate with earthquakes: Our crumbling state infrastructure. … Even before Oroville, the state was putting forward a major proposal to fix the state’s aging infrastructure. Recently, Gov. Jerry Brown revealed the details of a $100 billion infrastructure proposal to President Trump, asking for upgrades to roads, levees, veterans services, ports and more. The proposal is a catch-up wish list; the state’s already in a $136 billion backlog of road repairs, according to the San Francisco Business Times. ... ”  Read more from SF Gate here:  Not just Oroville; More Northern California infrastructure that need fixes

Dams remain in line for bulk of funding over cheaper alternatives:  “Despite the spectacular near failure of Oroville Dam, a linchpin of California’s vast plumbing system, Congress and the state remain focused on building new dams and repairing existing ones.  But they are giving short shrift to cheaper, more environmentally benign alternatives for water storage.  With more rain this week, the state’s water system is under stress. Thousands of miles of earthen levees in the Central Valley are of dubious integrity, their soils weakened by five years of drought. The 440-mile California Aqueduct, built in the 1960s, is buckling in stretches where overuse of groundwater has caused the land to sink more than 2 feet in places. … ”  Read more from the SF Chronicle here:  Dams remain in line for bulk of funding over cheaper alternatives

‘Farmers are optimistic people’:  “One problem San Joaquin County farmers won’t have to worry about in 2017 is a lack of water.  The county’s leading industry shed more than $500 million in value during the worst of the drought, or about a 15 percent hit.  Now growers are hoping that better times are in store. Unless, of course, they get too much water. Regardless of what the weather brings, the outlook is clouded somewhat by lower prices for some commodities and uncertainty over immigration, trade and other new government policies and regulations. … ”  Read more from the Stockton Record here:  ‘Farmers are optimistic people’

Creeks, rivers top banks after latest California storm:  “Creeks and rivers topped their banks, hundreds of homes were evacuated and several thousand people found themselves trapped in a rural hamlet as Northern California emerged Tuesday from yet another winter storm.  The atmospheric river of moisture that has saturated drought-parched ground with a series of drenching storms in recent weeks returned with a vengeance to the north on Monday after briefly focusing its fury on Southern California.  The downpours swelled watercourses that already teetered near or above flood levels and left about half of the state under flood, wind and snow advisories. … ”  Read more from the Fresno Bee here:  Creeks, rivers top banks after latest California storm

How food companies can help drive agricultural conservation:  “Last week I was a guest on an “inspection” trip of the Colorado River Aqueduct, the engineering marvel that delivers up to 1 billion gallons (3.8 billion liters) of water daily to Southern California from the Colorado River hundreds of miles to the east.  Organized by the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) of Southern California, these inspections are a relic of an old piece of administrative code. Today they’ve become a well-choreographed public relations effort – right down to the framed MWD mission statement on the walls of the bedrooms provided to guests. ... ”  Read more from Water Deeply here:  How food companies can help drive agricultural conservation

New research shows how atmospheric rivers wreak havoc around the world:  “An “atmospheric river” is a colorful term for a sinuous plume of moisture that travels up from the tropics — a single plume can carry more water than the Mississippi River at its mouth. But new research shows that atmospheric rivers are also among the most damaging weather systems around.  The atmospheric rivers that soaked California this winter did some good — they ended an epic drought in the state.  “This has been a very active winter, atmospheric river-wise,” reports Jeff Zimmerman of the National Weather Service.  … ”  Read more from Capital Public Radio here:  New research shows how atmospheric rivers wreak havoc around the world

In commentary today …

Water projects protect us from droughts and floods, says the Modesto Bee:  “Floods are nothing new in California, but that doesn’t make them any less painful.  A state better known for cyclical and serious drought actually suffers equal or greater pain when there’s too much water, not too little. Ask your neighbors in Waterford, along Dry Creek or in South Modesto or living along the San Joaquin River. The drought might have ruined their lawns, but when the water spilling from Don Pedro Reservoir reaches these areas, the costs could be far greater.  Should we simply beseech the heavens for drier skies? Or should we hold elected officials accountable and ask them to get off their dam hands? … ”  Read more from the Modesto Bee here:  Water projects protect us from droughts and floods

Eight water bonds since 2000 and we still have the Oroville disaster, says Aubrey Bettencourt:  She writes, “After six years of drought and a few months of flooding, California’s decades-long political commitment to ideology of being either for the environment or against progress has endangered the state’s water supply system and is threatening public safety, environmental health and economic stability.  Rather than upgrade California’s water collection and delivery systems, for 50 years state bureaucrats, political appointees and many elected officials focused their priorities on an onslaught of environmental standards, regulations, projects and programs committed to their rose-colored-glasses vision of California. … ”  Read more from the Fresno Bee here:  Eight water bonds since 2000 and we still have the Oroville disaster

Governor Brown’s never ending drought emergency:  Aubrey Bettencourt writes, “Question: When is California’s drought emergency over?  Answer: When Gov. Jerry Brown says it’s over.  In January 2014, acting after two successive dry years, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. declared a State of Emergency for the entire state of California. He cited the extreme and prolonged drought.  Seven executive orders followed from April 2014 to May and California remains to the present day in a state of what amounts to marshal law with respect to its water supply. … ”  Read more from the Western Farm Press here:  Governor Brown’s never ending drought emergency

In regional news and commentary today …

Water concerns arise from Napa area vineyard’s plan to fell 14,000 oak trees:  “In the small community of Circle Oaks, California, a few miles east of the wine-soaked Napa Valley, residents are fuming over a wealthy Texas couple’s plans to cut down 14,000 adult oak trees and replant the cleared woodland with 209 acres (85 hectares) of irrigated grapevines. The project, opponents warn, will destroy fish and wildlife habitat, reduce the environment’s resilience to climate change, and drain groundwater reserves.  “They’re going to be using about two times the water our community uses,” says Ron Tamarisk, who has lived in the small town of Circle Oaks with his wife, Nancy, since the 1960s. Tamarisk says the community’s wells have never run dry before, but locals are concerned the proposed vineyard will deplete their supply. … ”  Read more from Water Deeply here:  Water concerns arise from Napa area vineyard’s plan to fell 14,000 oak trees

Sacramento: Congresswoman Matsui: There’s nothing to fear about region’s levee system, Folsom Dam:  “Democratic Congresswoman Doris Matsui says the Sacramento area has nothing to fear from Folsom Dam and the Capital region’s levee system during this big winter storm.  Matsui opened up a health care town hall meeting she held Monday morning in Sacramento by reassuring the crowd:  “Just a little weather report here, or maybe a report about the levees and Folsom Dam – we’re fine. We’re fine,” said Matsui.  … ” Read more from Capital Public Radio here:  Sacramento: Congresswoman Matsui: There’s nothing to fear about region’s levee system, Folsom Dam

Winter storms pour pollution into San Francisco Bay, Delta:  “The heavy storms that washed away California’s drought this season have come with a side effect: large slugs of pollution and sewage washing into San Francisco Bay and the Delta.  More than 120 sewage overflows were reported in three stormy weeks in January, and 85 sent waste into the bay or waterways leading to the bay, according to a report by the San Francisco Regional Water Quality Board, the state water pollution agency for the region. ... ”  Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here:  Winter storms pour pollution into San Francisco Bay, Delta

Anderson Reservoir spills over for the first time in 11 years as storms slam Bay Area:  “A roaring waterfall is pouring over Santa Clara County’s Anderson Reservoir for the first time in 11 years.  The town of Morgan Hill now has its own Niagra Falls–like attraction, and over the weekend many came out to take photographs and videos of the spectacular surge.  The man-made lake reached full capacity and began cascading over the spillway and into Coyote Creek on Saturday, the latest dramatic event to unfold amid a relentless rainy season. … ” Read more from SF Gate here:  Anderson Reservoir spills over for the first time in 11 years as storms slam Bay Area

Camanche Reservoir likely to spill over if storm conditions persist:  “Continuous rainfall in February has swelled a couple of Calaveras County reservoirs to the point of over spilling, according to new reservoir levels compiled by the California Department of Water Resources.  Camanche Reservoir, downstream of Pardee Reservoir on the Mokelumne River between Calaveras and Amador counties, is expected to spill on Monday or Tuesday if storms persist as expected, according to Andrea Pook, public information officer with the East Bay Municipal Utility District, which manages the lake. ... ”  Read more from the Calaveras Enterprise here:  Camanche Reservoir likely to spill over if storm conditions persist

Don Pedro spillway opens; could nearly triple Tuolumne River flow:  “The spillway gates opened at Don Pedro Reservoir at 3 p.m. Monday, and over the next four or more days could nearly triple the flow of the Tuolumne River as it comes through Stanislaus County and Modesto.  The amount released will vary from 18,000 to 30,000 cubic feet per second, said officials with the Turlock Irrigation District, which manages the dam’s operations. The first of the increased flow should reach the Tuolumne at Ninth Street in Modesto 23 hours after the gates opened – which means 2 p.m. Tuesday.  At the highest flow, the Tuolumne as measured at Ninth Street should reach 65 feet – 10 feet above flood stage, officials said. … ”  Read more from the Sacramento Bee here:  Don Pedro spillway opens; could nearly triple Tuolumne River flow

Tense flood watch in San Joaquin River community:  “It’s been years since the San Joaquin River Club’s floodplain last disappeared underneath a tide of river water.  The club — an old fishing and hunting neighborhood surrounded by almond farms — hasn’t seen such dangerous flood levels since 1997. That winter, water from the river came about a foot from spilling over the levee.  The floodplain is gone again, hidden beneath about 5 feet of water that spilled over from the river and is now climbing up the levee that protects the quiet community of about 1,000 retirees, children and others from being underwater. … ”  Read more from SF Gate here:  Tense flood watch in San Joaquin River community

Don Pedro Reservoir spillway opens for the first time in 20 years:  “Turlock Irrigation District workers made good on their promise to open the Don Pedro Reservoir on Monday afternoon.  It’s the first time the reservoir has been opened in 20 years.  The water began spilling out at 3 p.m.  Turlock Irrigation District which operates the dam says water will be released over the next four days at the least.  Officials made the decision Friday anticipating a series of storms. ... ”  Read more from ABC 10 here:  Don Pedro Reservoir spillway opens for the first time in 20 years

San Joaquin River levee break forces 500 out; Don Pedro spillway opens:  “A 20-foot breach in a San Joaquin River levee that forced an evacuation order for a large swath of rural farmland was plugged by emergency crews late Monday, a levee engineer confirmed.  For the time being, however, an evacuation order for about 500 people issued shortly after 7 p.m. remained in place.  The levee break came at the end of a long, sopping wet day that saw officials at Don Pedro Reservoir east of Modesto open a gated spillway for the first time since the 1997 floods.  That action released a torrent of water that eventually will put even more strain on the levees of San Joaquin County. … ”  Read more from the Stockton Record here:  San Joaquin River levee break forces 500 out; Don Pedro spillway opens

Modesto area braces for evacuations as Tuolumne River surges:  “Few people had evacuated homes next to the Tuolumne River as of Monday afternoon, but that could change as a massive surge of water heads down the channel.  The boost in the already high-flowing river will take about 23 hours to arrive in Modesto after the opening of the Don Pedro Reservoir spillway at 3 p.m. Monday. Emergency officials watched the gates open on a live video screen and calmly made plans for keeping people out of harm’s way.  “There are no mandatory evacuations now,” said Division Chief Alan Ernst of the Modesto Fire Department, incident commander for several agencies working the emergency at police headquarters. “It’s all dependent on the flows.” … ”  Read more from the Modesto Bee here:  Modesto area braces for evacuations as Tuolumne River surges

Inyo Supervisors to talk SGMA:  “Inyo County’s administrator and Water Department have outlined their perspective on how best to bring the Owens River Groundwater Basin into compliance with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. Sounds simple, right?  It’s not. There are 13 public agencies, including two counties. Community Service Districts, a groundwater management district and the City of Bishop plus Tribal Councils, federal and state agencies and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. LADWP’s majority portion of the basin is considered an adjudicated basin governed by the Long Term Water Agreement and exempt from SGMA but LADWP will still have involvement in the process in terms of coordination with the final Groundwater Sustainability Plan. … ”  Read more from the Sierra Wave here:  Inyo Supervisors to talk SGMA

Cachuma Lake water level rising after recent storms:  “The water level at Cachuma Lake is on the rise following the most recent storms.  The lake has risen more than 30 feet in the past few days and it will continue to fill up in the weeks to come. Robert Bonette is a host at Cachuma Lake. His last shift was Thursday, so what he saw Monday morning was a pleasant surprise.   “All of a sudden I come up here, three to four days later, and we have water. It’s just unbelievable,” said Bonette.  … ”  Read more from KSBY here:  Cachuma Lake water level rising after recent storms

Southern California: Wet winter taking mammoth toll on trees:  “Fierce, wet weather this winter is bringing welcome relief to drought-parched Southern California. But the storms, coming one after another, are also carving out sinkholes, unleashing floodwaters, and tossing around our prized trees like matchsticks.  Again this past weekend, hundreds of trees came tumbling down across the region when a much-hyped deluge slammed ashore with hurricane-force winds.  The result: Trees fell on power lines, streets, cars and buildings.  Who could forget the image of the uprooted giant that crashed through an apartment window near UCLA, narrowly missing a college student? … ”  Read more from the Daily News here:  Wet winter taking mammoth toll on trees

Precipitation watch …

Also on Maven’s Notebook today …

Sign up for daily email service and you’ll never miss a post …

Daily emailsSign up for free daily email service and you’ll get all the Notebook’s aggregated and original water news content delivered to your email box by 9AM. And with breaking news alerts, you’ll always be one of the first to know …

Sign me up!

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.

 

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
© 2013-2022 Maven's Notebook, et al. All Rights Reserved.