In California water news today, Damaged Oroville spillway may need to be used next week, state officials say; Flows through Oroville Dam power plant increased to maximum discharge rate; After near-record Northern California storms, signs of El Nino rise; California is having its wettest year since 1895; Drought’s over, right? Not so fast, say state officials; California regulators expand focus on climate change; Climate change puts California snowpack in jeopardy in future droughts; The important role of the Yolo Bypass: The inland sea of Sacramento; EPA chief Scott Pruitt questions basic facts about climate change; and more …
In the news today …
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
Damaged Oroville spillway may need to be used next week, state officials say: “A damaged flood control spillway at the Oroville Dam may have to be used as early as next week as storm runoff and snowmelt continue to fill the massive reservoir on the Feather River, state water officials said. The spillway has been dry since Feb. 27, when engineers with the Department of Water Resources rapidly reduced the flow of water down the concrete chute from 50,000 cubic feet per second to zero so they could repair the spillway and restart a nearby hydroelectric plant. But since that shutdown, the water level in the reservoir has climbed 21 feet, even though the power station began operating last week. The reservoir’s water level was at 859 feet Thursday afternoon, 41 feet below capacity and only 6 feet shy of the threshold at which engineers have said they’ll want to use the spillway again. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Damaged Oroville spillway may need to be used next week, state officials say
Flows through Oroville Dam power plant increased to maximum discharge rate: “Water flows through the Hyatt Powerplant under Oroville Dam were increased to the plant’s maximum discharge rate Thursday, giving water officials another avenue to get water out of the reservoir outside of the damaged main spillway. Bill Croyle, acting director of the state Department of Water Resources, said releases through the hydroelectric plant would reach about 13,000 cubic-feet per second by Thursday evening. “That’s huge for us,” Croyle said, noting the importance of having “another dial” on the reservoir to manage the inflows into the lake and monitor work done at the debris channel below the damaged main spillway. … ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record here: Flows through Oroville Dam power plant increased to maximum discharge rate
Oroville power plant at full force; spillway in line to be used next week: “The damaged main Oroville Dam spillway is tentatively scheduled to be used again March 17, according to the California Department of Water Resources. Until then, flows at Hyatt Powerplant reached maximum discharge Thursday night, pumping out 12,925 cubic feet per second. “This delay will allow the continued removal of the debris at a higher production rate, permitting additional measures to be implemented on the Flood Control Spillway,” a DWR press release said. Inflows are averaging between 10,000 to 15,000 cfs, which has resulted in the lake rising to 859.57 feet as of 8 p.m. Thursday. … ” Read more from the Appeal Democrat here: Oroville power plant at full force; spillway in line to be used next week
See also: Lake Oroville crisis explained, from the SF Chronicle
After near-record Northern California storms, signs of El Nino rise: “If you don’t think California has seen enough rain this year, just wait. There may be more to come. Federal forecasters said Thursday that the chances of an El Niño developing by fall are on the rise — now between 50 and 55 percent —an outlook that could skew the odds in favor of yet another wet winter. “There are a lot of players on the (weather) field,” said Emily Becker, a research scientist with the Climate Prediction Center, the federal agency that released the latest report on the El Niño climate pattern. But “El Niño is associated with an increased chance — not a 100 percent chance, but an increased chance — of higher-than-average rainfall in California.” … ” Read more from SF Gate here: After near-record Northern California storms, signs of El Nino rise
California is having its wettest year since 1895: “California is having its rainiest water year since record-keeping began in 1895 — a phenomenon that has lifted tens of millions of residents from drought, according to government records. It has rained 27.81 inches across the state, on average, from Oct. 1, 2016 to Feb. 28, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Centers for Environmental Information reported. A water year begins on Oct. 1. ... ” Read more from the LA Times here: California is having its wettest year since 1895
Drought’s over, right? Not so fast, say state officials: “The Hollywood Reservoir is nestled in a basin surrounded, usually, by dusty brown hillsides, broken up by the occasional dry wisp of shrubbery. Not these days. After yet another burst of rain the other day, the hills were transformed into lush fields of knee-high grass, spotted with purple flowers. And the reservoir? As high as it has been in years. In Northern California, snow could be seen on top of Mount Diablo outside San Francisco last weekend. Across the state, dams are under siege and reservoirs are overflowing. … ” Continue reading at the New York Times here: Drought’s over, right? Not so fast, say state officials
California regulators expand focus on climate change: “California’s water regulators are looking to strengthen their focus on climate change, adopting policies aimed at helping the state prepare for more severe floods, more extreme droughts and shrinking snowpack. The State Water Resources Control Board approved a resolution this week outlining plans for what it calls a “comprehensive response” to climate change. In the document, the board says given the seriousness of global warming’s impacts on California, “our response to climate change must be comprehensive and integrated” into all of the agency’s work. The plan lays out a list of commitments and policies, in many cases specifying dates for the staff to produce reports or collect new data in areas from drinking water regulation to water quality protection. ... ” Read more from The Desert Sun here: California regulators expand focus on climate change
Climate change puts California snowpack in jeopardy in future droughts: “Skiing in July? It could happen this year, but California’s days of bountiful snow are numbered. After five years of drought and water restrictions, the state is reeling from its wettest winter in two decades. Moisture-laden storms have turned brown hillsides a lush green and state reservoirs are overflowing. There’s so much snow, Mammoth Mountain resort plans to be open for business on Fourth of July weekend. But while all that precipitation has put a dent in the current drought — Governor Jerry Brown won’t decide whether to declare it over until the Sierra Nevada snowpack is assessed again in April — new UCLA research paints a worrying picture of how drought could affect the snowpack in the future. … ” Read more from UCLA here: Climate change puts California snowpack in jeopardy in future droughts
The important role of the Yolo Bypass: The inland sea of Sacramento: “Land or sea? The recent rains early this year brought much-needed relief from the five-year drought in California. Reservoirs are full, mountains are covered with snow and flood control structures are being used, some for the first time since 2006. Interstate 80 causeway commuters frequently, though perhaps unknowingly, witness one of the most important floodplains in California – the Yolo Bypass, which is now filled with water as far as the eye can see. The recent events at Oroville Dam help highlight the Yolo Bypass’ vital role in flood protection for the Sacramento area. Despite the risk of flooding from the potential failure of Oroville Dam’s emergency spillway in February, flood control managers and experts emphasized the limited risk to the Sacramento area. The bypass was a big reason why communities near Sacramento didn’t experience the same risk as those closer to the dam. ... ” Read more from Water Deeply here: The important role of the Yolo Bypass: The inland sea of Sacramento
EPA chief Scott Pruitt questions basic facts about climate change: “President Trump’s head of the Environmental Protection Agency says he does not believe that carbon dioxide is a major cause of global warming. “I would not agree that [CO2] is a primary contributor to the global warming that we see,” Scott Pruitt said Thursday in an interview with CNBC’s Joe Kernen. “I believe that measuring with precision human activity on the climate is something very challenging to do, and there’s tremendous disagreement about the degree of impact,” Pruitt said. ... ” Read more from KQED Science here: EPA chief Scott Pruitt questions basic facts about climate change
In commentary today …
If the feds won’t protect our water, California has to do the job itself, says the LA Times: They write, “President Trump’s directive to roll back key protections for the nation’s waters helps to crystallize California’s challenge in the Trump era — and points the way toward a workable strategy for preserving and promoting the state’s environmental values despite an administration that is pushing in the opposite direction. At issue is a rule that defines the reach of the landmark Clean Water Act, the 1972 law to prevent contamination of drinking water and degradation of U.S. waterways. The law operated well for more that 30 years until a pair of Supreme Court rulings left lawyers and administrators mystified as to just what streams and other waters it covered. The Obama administration adopted a thoughtful but controversial (and widely mischaracterized) “Waters of the United States” rule in 2015, but a number of states sued and implementation was blocked in court. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: If the feds won’t protect our water, California has to do the job itself
La Malfa’s position on water storage leaves out key facts, says Kim Taylor: She writes, “On his campaign web page, LaMalfa states “Building new storage projects is a win on every level. We gain more water for our communities, agriculture and the environment while creating good paying jobs. Storage is something we need every year, either for flood protection or drought relief.” This statement is somewhat misleading as it leaves out of few key pieces of information. First, you need to have water before you can store it. A recent UC Davis study analyzed all of the water rights the State has already allocated and found that 10 times more water has been locked up in rights in the Sacramento River watershed than flows through in an average water year. That means no one is going to get “more” water until all of those previous rights have been satisfied and that will only happen in very wet years. ... ” Read more from Yuba Net here: La Malfa’s position on water storage leaves out key facts
Recycling California’s water key to preserving supply: Colin Sabol writes, “Kale or quinoa? Free range chicken or seasonal veggie medley? Pellegrino or … recycled water? Californians could soon start drinking purified wastewater. In response to a five-year drought, the State Water Resources Control Board recently informed legislators that regulating recycled, drinkable water is perfectly feasible. California would be the first state in the nation to implement such regulations. Exploring water reuse is a smart move. ... ” Read more from the OC Register here: Recycling California’s water key to preserving supply
Do we have a water shortage or a shortage of water storage? Richard Selzer writes, ” … When it comes to water, most folks immediately think of California’s drought and our local water shortage. I agree we’re in a drought, but I’d argue we have plenty of water—if only we’d hold onto it. Our real problem is that we have a severe water storage shortage, a problem not easily solved. There are significant challenges in locating a potential storage site, from property ownership to geography to the watershed. Even if all those issues were easy to resolve, you’d have to overcome the enormous cost of constructing a storage facility (and complying with the state and federal regulations that accompany such construction). Let’s say you had infinite financial resources, those still wouldn’t resolve the legal, ethical, political and environmental issues of rerouting or damming the water. Are you beginning to see the incredible dilemma we have here? … ” Read more from the Ukiah Daily Journal here: Do we have a water shortage or a shortage of water storage?
Governor Brown, turn on our state beach showers, says the Pasadena Star-News: They write, “After a thankfully long, wet season, one of the last weekends of Southern California’s winter promises to be a warm and clear one, with temperatures even along the coast heading into the low 80s. That means lots of locals will head to the beaches Saturday and Sunday to reacquaint themselves with the Pacific Ocean at our back door. Surfline reports a modest northwest swell will peak out with chest-high waves mid-day Saturday, so, even though the water is still seasonally cool, lots of surfers and body-surfers will take the plunge. And plenty who do will be at one of our California state beaches, from Leo Carillo and Malibu down to Bolsa Chica and San Onofre. No “locals only” attitude there — we all own the sand. ... ” Read more from the Pasadena Star News here: Governor Brown, turn on our state beach showers
In regional news and commentary today …
Sacramento: Drought over? San Juan Water District says yes: “The San Juan Water District is calling on the governor to rescind California’s drought emergency declaration. The district argued the state should no longer be under a drought emergency because of the exceptional rainfall totals this season. “It’s time. This is the end of the three rainiest months. We’ve had more than 200 percent of normal rainfall,” San Juan Water District General Manage Paul Helliker said outside the Capitol Thursday. “So, from our point of view, it’s time to get back to normal.” … ” Read more from KCRA here: Drought over? San Juan Water District says yes
Lodi: Local floods having long lasting impact on agriculture industry: “At Heritage Oak Winery, acres of 10-year-old grapevines are still underwater. It’s been days since Lodi’s last rainfall, but for Heritage Oak’s owner, Tom Hoffman, it may be a while before the flooding brought by two wet months begins to recede. Plenty of farmers still have fields, vineyards and other land covered by standing water. Not Hoffman. “I don’t have standing water, I have running water,” he said. … ” Read more from the Lodi News-Sentinel here: Lodi: Local floods having long lasting impact on agriculture industry
Visalia: Cal Water picks option ahead of regulation: “California Water Service announced how it will meet a new state-mandated quality standard. Cal Water, which owns and operates the Visalia municipal system, said it will use granular-activated carbon technology to remove 1,2,3-Trichloroproprane of five parts per trillion –– a fancy way of saying the company will adhere to cleaner water standards. On Monday, the California State Water Resources Control Board announced a draft on the maximum containment level for TCP. … ” Read more from the Visalia Times-Delta here: Cal Water picks option ahead of regulation
San Luis Obispo County to form Groundwater Sustainability Agencies: “Winter rains have helped replenish reservoirs on the Central Coast but groundwater is another story with much at stake in terms of future access to groundwater basins. The future is now in San Luis Obispo County as it scrambles to inform the public about SGMA, or California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. “This law went into effect in 2015 and there’s all these fast-paced deadlines associated with the state law”, says Carolyn Berg with San Luis Obispo County Public Works Department, “by June 30 of this year we have to form our new, what’s called Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSA), they are essentially a management agency, over the groundwater basin.” … ” Read more from KEYT here: San Luis Obispo County to form Groundwater Sustainability Agencies
Recycled water project gets permit to inject highly treated wastewater into Seaside Basin: “Pure Water Monterey now has permission to inject highly treated recycled wastewater into the Seaside basin for later use as drinking water. With staff offering its full-throated support, the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board on Thursday unanimously approved a permit blessing the recycled water project’s advanced treatment plan for purifying a variety of wastewater sources prior to pumping the water into the basin. The hearing was held at Watsonville City Hall. Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency official Mike McCullough celebrated the latest step forward for the project. ... ” Read more from the Monterey Herald here: Recycled water project gets permit to inject highly treated wastewater into Seaside Basin
State, federal crews survey storm damage at Twitchell Reservoir: “The recent storms tore up the roadways surrounding the Twitchell Reservoir leaving potholes of all sizes. It’s a visual reminder of how much the rain impacted the area. “We are feeling the impacts of that and that’s why we are seeing such large damage amounts,” says Ryan McMahon, with the Santa Barbara Office of Emergency Management. It’s damage the Office of Emergency Management says can be found all throughout Santa Barbara County. … ” Read more from KEYT here: State, federal crews survey storm damage at Twitchell Reservoir
Water rules in Santa Barbara may change after wet winter: “With a wet winter in Santa Barbara soaking the drought dry region, conditions have improved and local officials are considering a plan to ease on part of its strict water use rules. That decision is expected later this month or in April, but nothing widespread is expected. The first sign of a change came Tuesday at the city council meeting when Water Resources Manager Joshua Haggmark said the ban on lawn watering that just began could be discontinued in the next couple of months. … ” Read more from KEYT here: Water rules in Santa Barbara may change after wet winter
Big Pine Paiute Tribe asks LADWP for help: “On March 7, 2017, Chairwoman Shannon Romero of the Big Pine Paiute Tribe of the Owens Valley appeared before the Los Angeles Board of Water and Power Commissioners with a plea for help. Snow from winter storms will soon be melting from peaks of the Sierra Nevada above Big Pine, but the Tribe may lose out on its allotment of water due to a broken pipe line. Chairwoman Romero and other Tribal representatives requested the City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) replace the pipe and compensate the Tribe for water not delivered by LADWP in 2015 and 2016. LADWP is supposed to deliver to the Big Pine Indian Reservation an allotment of water equal to four acre-feet of water per acre of Reservation land, based on a 1939 agreement made between the City of Los Angeles and United States of America. ... ” Read more from Sierra Wave here: Big Pine Paiute Tribe asks LADWP for help
Tiny mussels could create big problem for Metropolitan: “The wet winter has raised water levels for many lakes in SoCal, but the discovery of microscopic larvae in an underground pipe system at one Inland Empire lake could lead to an expensive problem. Paul Rochelle, with the Metropolitan Water District, said the recent discovery of the larvae could lead to a massive infestation of invasive mussels throughout the water project at Diamond Valley Lake. “Everyone should be concerned. They are a nuisance,” he said. … ” Read more from KABC here: Tiny mussels could create big problem for Metropolitan
Salton Sea: Why the state’s biggest lake is dying: “California’s biggest lake, about 350 square miles, is dying. It’s not the first time. The Salton Sea, straddling the Imperial and Coachella Valleys, is the latest incarnation of a body of water that has been drying and refilling over eons with water from the Colorado River. Native Americans once fished and camped on Lake Cahuilla, a prehistoric and larger version. The Salton Sea was born in the early 1900s after a canal burst sent water from the Colorado flooding into the valley over a period of two years. … ” Read more from the New York Times here: Why the state’s biggest lake is dying
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.
