In California water news today, Outflow reduced as Lake Oroville inches down; U. S. Senator Kamala Harris tours damaged Oroville Dam; Rural California levees besieged by pounding wet winter; Skiing on July 4. More rain than Seattle. Yes, the drought is receding; California drought levels at lowest levels since 2011; Extended break from rain and snow in California may follow after two storms next week; and more …
On the calendar today …
- The Delta Stewardship Council meets today at 9am. Today’s agenda is focused mainly on the Delta Levee Investment Program. Click here for more information. Click here for the webcast.
- The Central Valley Flood Protection Board meets at 9am. Click here for the agenda and webcast link.
In the news today …
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
Outflow reduced as Lake Oroville inches down: “As the water level at Lake Oroville continues to inch down, the Department of Water Resources scaled back releases through the damaged main spillway Thursday afternoon. Releases were cut back to 50,000 cubic feet per second from 60,000 cfs. The inflow was averaging about 30,000 cfs as of 7 p.m. … ” Continue reading from the Appeal Democrat here: Outflow reduced as Lake Oroville inches down
U. S. Senator Kamala Harris tours damaged Oroville Dam: “U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris on Thursday toured the damaged spillways at Oroville Dam and was briefed by local, state and federal officials on the ongoing crisis at the lake. Harris, in an exchange with reporters at Oroville Airport where she arrived by helicopter, expressed gratitude for the work done at the dam, adding she wanted to see firsthand what has happened there so she could advocate for the resources California needs. “We need to make sure that we’re putting enough resources into maintenance of the infrastructure writ large,” she said. ... ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record here: U. S. Senator Kamala Harris tours damaged Oroville Dam
Rural California levees besieged by pounding wet winter: “Billions of dollars in flood projects have eased fears of levee breaks near California’s capital and some other cities, but state and federal workers are joining farmers with tractors in round-the-clock battles this week to stave off any chain-reaction failure of rural levees protecting farms and farm towns. As the wet winter forces operators of dams to send more water roaring downstream, the struggle to spot and shore up weak spots in nearly 1,600 miles of levees in the Central Valley is unrelenting, said Rex Osborn, spokesman for emergency operations in San Joaquin County, one of the nation’s main farm and dairy counties. Hundreds of workers with the state conservation corps, engineers, water experts, emergency-management officials and others were scrambling again Thursday to lay down more rock and earth on levees where flood water was threatening to burst through saturated berms. ... ” Read more from the Associated Press here: Rural California levees besieged by pounding wet winter
Skiing on July 4. More rain than Seattle. Yes, the drought is receding: “How much precipitation has fallen on Northern California this winter? So much that Squaw Valley expects to be open for skiing July 4. So much that Sacramento’s rainfall has surpassed that of traditional rainy meccas like Seattle and Portland, Ore. So much that the U.S. Drought Monitor, a study produced weekly by scientists from multiple federal agencies, reported Thursday that only 17 percent of California is still gripped by drought. … ” Continue reading at the Sacramento Bee here: Skiing on July 4. More rain than Seattle. Yes, the drought is receding
California drought levels at lowest levels since 2011: “After a few wet winter months, scientists said Thursday that California is 83 percent drought-free compared with just 6 percent a year ago — the lowest drought levels have been since 2011. The U.S. Drought Monitor reported that Northern California is completely in the clear and this is the first time in four years that no part of the state is under an “extreme drought” designation. The only counties in the state showing lingering drought indicators are in the Southern California area, primarily in Santa Barbara, Ventura and Imperial counties. … ” Read more from SF Gate here: California drought levels at lowest levels since 2011
Why is it raining so much in California? “Why is it raining so much this year in California? Two words: Pineapple Express. In a typical year, California has between 10 to 15 “atmospheric river” storms — the fire hoses that rampage in from Hawaii and account for up to 50 percent of the state’s annual rainfall — and nearly all of its floods. But since the rainy season began on Oct. 1, there already have been 30. And there are two months of winter to go. “We are well beyond double what is normal,” said Marty Ralph, director of the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes at UC San Diego. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: Why is it raining so much in California?
California needs atmospheric rivers; but like, not this many: “California likes whiplash weather. The state’s greenery, rivers, and dams are used to dry summer and wet winters. But recently—as the land has gone from parched and on fire to a complete deluge—things have gotten out of hand. From the strained Oroville dam to the flooding in San Jose last weekend, all this water, water everywhere has a single meteorological source: atmospheric rivers. And while these long, narrow bands of moisture are all part of California’s climate status quo, they’re arriving too frequently—and they’re coming in too hot—for the state to keep up. That’s how you get satellite images like the ones above, showing massive brown rivers of sediment kicked up by the storms diffusing out into the Pacific. ... ” Read more from WIRED here: California needs atmospheric rivers; but like, not this many
How this wet, wild winter in wine country could have unexpected benefits: “Unusual weather throughout much of the United States this winter has been the subject of speculation, consternation, and obsession across the country. Springlike heat in the Mid-Atlantic and flooding rains in the West have wreaked havoc across a wide range of industries. In the past two months, both the Napa River and the Russian River, the latter in Sonoma County, hit flood levels. How, then, is this weather affecting the great wine regions of California? And what will the impact be for the 2017 vintage? … ” Read more from Forbes here: How this wet, wild winter in wine country could have unexpected benefits
Extended break from rain and snow in California may follow after two storms next week: “Some rain and pass-level snow aiming at California from Sunday to Monday could be the last significant storm through the middle of March. Chillier and drier air will settle southward along the Pacific coast over the next few days. Through Saturday, only spotty rain will fall along the coast from Washington to Oregon and Northern California as one storm system dives southward but mainly offshore over the Pacific Ocean. During Sunday, this storm will turn inland over California. A second storm is likely to follow over Southern California on Monday. … ” Read more from Accu-Weather here: Extended break from rain and snow in California may follow after two storms next week
In regional news and commentary today …
Shasta Dam makes history as water flows from top gates for first time in 20 years: “While California’s other major dam has been the focus of national attention, the Shasta Dam was making history itself this week. For the first time in almost two decades, water was released Wednesday from the topmost gates of the dam impounding Lake Shasta, California’s largest reservoir, marking another milestone in what is shaping up to be the state’s wettest year on record. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Shasta Dam makes history as water flows from top gates for first time in 20 years
Levee managers: need five miles of repairs to Feather River levees: “A state management and local reclamation district in Yuba City say repairs are required to Feather River levees as they connect to the Highway 99 bridge. Last week the districts asked the Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency for help. Mike Inamine is with the agency. It paid $5 million for work on two miles of levees, but does not have the money required for the next five miles. … ” Read more from Capital Public Radio here: Levee managers: need five miles of repairs to Feather River levees
Did drought contribute to severe flooding in San Jose? Officials search for answers: “For five long, drought-plagued winters, Mother Nature refused to refill Coyote Creek. Foliage filled its dry bed, and without regular rains, the vegetation remained in the creek rather than being flushed out to sea. Then an epic winter of rain hit Northern California, and the dry creek suddenly became wet again. This week, the creek swelled to record heights after water from a dam spilled into it, creating widespread flooding in central San Jose. Officials acknowledged they badly miscalculated how much flooding would occur, which left residents unprepared for the water that would inundate their neighborhoods. By Thursday, the hunt was on for answers. ... ” Read more from the LA Times here: Did drought contribute to severe flooding in San Jose? Officials search for answers
San Joaquin River stops rising: “The mighty San Joaquin River finally stopped rising on Thursday, and even receded a couple of inches, but the danger is far from over. The river is now flush with water being dumped from nearly full Don Pedro Reservoir, upstream on the Tuolumne River. Don Pedro’s releases are expected to continue for more than a week. So the California Nevada River Forecast Center expects the San Joaquin at Vernalis to plateau above 30 feet for the foreseeable future. ... ” Read more from the Stockton Record here: San Joaquin River stops rising
‘Normal’ never better at New Melones, the last major reservoir to recover from the drought: “Stubborn New Melones Lake finally decided to join the party. New Melones this week topped 100 percent of normal, the last of California’s major reservoirs to climb out of the deep drought hole. A healthy New Melones is good news for just about everyone, especially farms and communities in south San Joaquin County, as well as Stockton and eastside farmers. ... ” Read more from the Stockton Record here: ‘Normal’ never better at New Melones, the last major reservoir to recover from the drought
Modesto works to stem river water from overwhelming sewer system: “Modesto appears to have bought itself some time before it may have to release partially treated wastewater that poses a public health risk into the San Joaquin River. The city’s sewer system has been overwhelmed by the recent storms and rising river water, and it is reaching its capacity to store the wastewater. Utilities Director Larry Parlin said the culprit appears to be water from the swollen Tuolumne River entering the sewer system through a hole in a sewer trunk line along the riverbank. The trunk line – which is submerged under a few feet of water – ends at the city’s Sutter Avenue sewage treatment plant. … ” Read more from the Modesto Bee here: Modesto works to stem river water from overwhelming sewer system
Heaviest storm in seven years pushes up level of Cachuma Lake by 31 feet: “One of the worst storms in a decade pounded the Santa Ynez Valley and surrounding areas Friday, dumping more than 4 inches of wind-lashed rain, downing trees and power lines, sending mud and water into homes, flooding roadways, and contributing to a slew of vehicle crashes, highway closures, flash flood watches and evacuation warnings. … The storm left county officials marveling at the rise in the water level at Cachuma Lake, which had been one of the last reservoirs in the state classified as remaining in “extreme drought.” ... ” Read more from the Santa Maria Times here: Heaviest storm in seven years pushes up level of Cachuma Lake by 31 feet
Parts of Santa Barbara, Ventura counties remain in ‘severe drought’: “California may be out of the ‘Extreme Drought’ thanks to the recent rain storms, but there are still parts of Santa Barbara and Ventura County still in ‘Severe Drought’. The two counties, which have been the epicenter of drought in California in recent weeks, received much needed rainfall. “Over 8 inches of rain was reported at two stations near Santa Barbara and over 6 inches at Ojai (6.97 inches) and Thousand Oaks (6.59 inches) in Ventura County,” according to the Drought Monitor report. … ” Read more from KEYT here: Parts of Santa Barbara, Ventura counties remain in ‘severe drought’
And lastly …
Could Oroville Dam break flood Illinois River drainage of Agness? (Apparently, Oregon has an Illinois River): “Curry County’s Emergency Services Department has issued a statement in response to a Facebook post and flyers regarding the Illinois River drainage above Agness and recent concerns about the potential failure of the Oroville Dam in California. … ” (You have to see the map to truly appreciate the absurdity): Read it from KCBY here: Could Oroville Dam break flood Illinois River drainage of Agness?
Precipitation watch …
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
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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.
