In California water news today, How changing marijuana laws may affect California’s water and wildlife; Groundwater agencies begin to take shape; Bigger walls, thicker concrete, more rebar: How a 21st-century spillway compares to Oroville’s 1968 structure; Lake Oroville inflows double in 24 hours; near 45k outflows; What this week’s storm systems mean for California’s flood system; California’s drought may be over, but its water troubles aren’t; Delays in water allocations hinder grower’s planting decisions; UCLA conservation biologists witness wildlife’s comeback after intense drought; Trump’s cut to flood map program could trigger insurance rate hikes; Why is water sacred to Native Americans?; and more …
On the calendar today …
- The Delta Conservancy board will meet from 9am to 1pm. The agenda includes a discussion of the Proposition 1 Grant Program and the presentation of an initial working draft of the 2017 Strategic Plan. Click here for agenda and meeting materials.
- The Southern California Water Dialog will meet from 12pm to 2pm at Metropolitan headquarters. The topic is groundwater replenishment. Click here for more information.
In the news today …
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
How changing marijuana laws may affect California’s water and wildlife: “In November 2016, California legalized recreational marijuana. The decision, supported by 56 percent of the state’s voters, allows marijuana to be shared, traded, grown at home and smoked without a medical reason. Using it medically has been legal for 20 years. Though complex and strict regulations still apply to growing, selling and buying marijuana, things will probably simplify over the next year. The heart of the state’s industry has long been in the north coast region known informally as the emerald triangle. Most growers – thousands of them in the heavily wooded counties of Humboldt, Trinity and Mendocino – currently operate illegally. However, many are now lining up at county offices to apply for cannabis production permits, and conservationists, growers and scientists are asking how the new era of pot production will affect the environment. … ” Read more from Water Deeply here: How changing marijuana laws may affect California’s water and wildlife
Groundwater agencies begin to take shape: “With a June 30 deadline approaching, agencies, farmers and others in affected California groundwater basins are working to finalize the formation of locally controlled groundwater sustainability agencies. The groundwater sustainability agencies, or GSAs, required under the 2014 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, will guide groundwater management in basins and sub-basins classified by the state as medium or high priority. Under SGMA, local agencies must work together and with groundwater users to develop local groundwater sustainability plans that would guide decisions affecting groundwater use and fees. 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 Ag Alert here: Groundwater agencies begin to take shape
Bigger walls, thicker concrete, more rebar: How a 21st-century spillway compares to Oroville’s 1968 structure: “In the nearly 50 years since the Oroville Dam was completed, construction methods have changed. Chico State University construction management professor Chris Souder consulted on the Folsom Dam auxiliary spillway project which began construction in 2008 and is on pace to be completed in October. He also got a tour March 1 of the work going on at the Oroville Dam through the engineering contractor Syblon Reid out of Folsom. Souder said he wanted to take his college students to show them what their future careers might entail, but the Department of Water Resources wouldn’t allow it. ... ” Read more from the Oroville Mercury Register here: Bigger walls, thicker concrete, more rebar: How a 21st-century spillway compares to Oroville’s 1968 structure See also: Oroville dam builders share insight on original construction
Lake Oroville inflows double in 24 hours; near 45k outflows: “Lake Oroville continues to drop, but inflows to the reservoir are beginning to catch up to the amount of water sent down the broken spillway and through the Hyatt Powerhouse. The lake elevation was at 848.78 feet at 2 p.m. Tuesday, down from 850 feet Monday and about 52 feet from the top of the emergency spillway.After storm clouds dumped more than an inch of water on the north valley, the inflow more than doubled in about 24 hours to 41,651 cubic-feet per second by Tuesday afternoon. Water coming into the lake from the three forks of the Feather River had slowly increased over the weekend from about 18,000 cfs Friday to just over 20,000 cfs by Monday. ... ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record here: Lake Oroville inflows double in 24 hours; near 45k outflows
What this week’s storm systems mean for California’s flood system: “While a nearly record-breaking rainy season has battered California’s dams and stretched the limits of local levees, the storms that began to hit Sacramento on Tuesday aren’t expected to put much additional strain on the state’s flood-control system. Spanning into next week, the storms are expected to drop as much as two inches of rain in Sacramento and two feet of snow in the higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada. But federal weather forecasters said Tuesday they aren’t too worried about widespread problems. “These series of storms are definitely wet, but they’re not what we saw in January and February, by any means,” said Michelle Mead with the National Weather Service in Sacramento. “They’re more typical of our winter-into-spring storms, meaning we’re getting into that shower and thunderstorm season.” ... ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: What this week’s storm systems mean for California’s flood system
California’s drought may be over, but its water troubles aren’t: “In the years before California’s civil engineers got around to confining the Sacramento River, it often spilled over its banks, inundating huge swaths of the Central Valley. Sometimes the floodwater would stand for a hundred days at a time. The botanist William Henry Brewer, writing in 1862, after a season of torrential rains, described the valley as “a lake extending from the mountains on one side to the coast range hills on the other.” The water was so deep, he reported, that cargo steamers could navigate it. “Nearly every house and farm over this immense region is gone,” Brewer wrote. “America has never before seen such desolation by flood as this has been, and seldom has the Old World seen the like.” Half a century later, to solve the problem, California built a number of flood-control systems, including the Sacramento Weir, a series of forty-eight hand-operated gates placed strategically along the Sacramento and American Rivers. When the waters rose, they would now be shunted into an unpopulated expanse known as the Yolo Bypass, a floodplain roughly equivalent in size to twenty Central Parks. … ” Read more from the New Yorker here: California’s drought may be over, but its water troubles aren’t
Delays in water allocations hinder grower’s planting decisions: “Growers in some parts of California have been putting off planting decisions or relying on guesswork as state and federal agencies take their time in determining their water allocations. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation on Feb. 28 announced full allocations for many growers served by the Central Valley Project, including the settlement and exchange contractors on the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers, respectively, and the Friant division in the eastern San Joaquin Valley. But the bureau is still working to determine allocations in other areas, most notably the western San Joaquin Valley, which received only 5 percent last summer despite late-season storms that provided more water elsewhere. ... ” Read more from the Capital Press here: Delays in water allocations hinder grower’s planting decisions
UCLA conservation biologists witness wildlife’s comeback after intense drought: “After five years of excruciating drought, California’s wildlife finally has a reason to celebrate. This vernal equinox — the first day of spring — flora and fauna from Palos Verdes to the Yosemite Valley have been rejuvenated by a historically wet and snowy winter. Life is sprouting, hopping, buzzing and flapping everywhere as ecosystems recharge. It has been good for people too. Hikes are greener, and the signs and sounds of nature are perking up. The surge in moisture has stirred UCLA conservation biologists who monitor wildlife in the mountains around Los Angeles, the White Mountains and the Sierra Nevada farther north. … ” Read more from UCLA here: UCLA conservation biologists witness wildlife’s comeback after intense drought
Trump’s cut to flood map program could trigger insurance rate hikes: “A proposal by the Trump administration to cut $190 million in funding for updating U.S. maps of flood-prone areas would trigger higher insurance rates or more homebuilding in risky locations, a consumer group said on Monday. Flood-mapping provides important details about where it is safe to build, whether flood insurance is needed and how to price coverage, Robert Hunter, director of insurance for the Consumer Federation of America, said in a statement. Slashing funding for the National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) retooling of U.S. flood maps will lead to relying on old maps and construction in areas that are now flood prone, or hiking insurance premiums to pay for new maps, Hunter said. ... ” Read more from Reuters here: Trump’s cut to flood map program could trigger insurance rate hikes
Why is water sacred to Native Americans? “The Lakota phrase “Mní wičhóni,” or “Water is life,” has become a new national protest anthem. It was chanted by 5,000 marchers at the Native Nations March in Washington, D.C. on March 10, and during hundreds of protests across the United States in the last year. “Mní wičhóni” became the anthem of the almost year-long struggle to stop the building of the Dakota Access Pipeline under the Missouri River in North Dakota. This chant mirrors the civil rights anthems of the past, which emerged out of the African-American church. “Mní wičhóni” in the Lakota language also has spiritual meaning, which is rooted in a connection to nature. As a Native American scholar of environment and religion, I understand what makes the relationship between Native people and the natural world unique. For Native Americans, water does not only sustain life – it is sacred. … ” Read more from the Conservation here: Why is water sacred to Native Americans?
Reducing and reusing wastewater: Six essential reads for World Water Day: “Every year on March 22, the United Nations observes World Water Day to highlight the global water crisis. This year the focus is on reducing and reusing wastewater from homes, farms, factories and other sources. Ensuring access to water and sanitation for all people is one of the U.N.‘s Sustainable Development Goals, adopted in 2015 by the United States and 192 other nations. Specifically, the goals call on member nations to “improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally.” Read on to learn about what it will take to meet this goal, and some potential solutions. … ” Read more from The Conversation here: Reducing and reusing wastewater: Six essential reads for World Water Day
In regional news and commentary today …
Sonoma County: Meetings will update well owners about new groundwater governance: “A series of public meetings begin this week to update well owners and others about the formation of three new agencies that will implement California’s new groundwater law in Sonoma County. The meetings will take place in Sonoma County’s three groundwater basins immediately affected by California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA): Santa Rosa Plain, Sonoma Valley and Petaluma Valley. … The meetings will include a brief overview of Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) requirements and a description of the recommended governance structure of the proposed new Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs). … ” Read more from Sonoma West here: Sonoma County: Meetings will update well owners about new groundwater governance
Wary water managers try to guard against flooding in Northern Nevada: “As the first wet storm of the spring sweeps into the mountains around Lake Tahoe, wary water managers are watching the sky and already releasing water from swollen reservoirs to guard against flooding across northern Nevada. After a winter that saw more than double the normal snowfall in some parts of the Sierra and nearly three times what the region received last year, the people who control water releases say the threat of flooding could extend into July. … ” Read more from the Las Vegas Review-Journal here: Wary water managers try to guard against flooding in Northern Nevada
Davis hosts 35th salmon restoration conference: “Salmonid Restoration Federation, a California-based nonprofit organization dedicated to watershed restoration and salmon recovery, will be hosting the 35th Annual Salmonid Restoration Conference in Davis — the hub of the Central Valley heartland where academia, scientific research, and California policy decisions regarding watershed management evolve. The theme of this year’s conference is “Restoring Watersheds and Rebuilding Salmon Runs.” The conference is set for March 29 through April 1. The conference agenda will highlight innovative efforts to restore legacy watersheds, salmon reintroduction to historical habitats, and efforts to revive and restore ecological function to Central Valley working landscapes. … ” Read more from the Daily Democrat here: Davis hosts 35th salmon restoration conference
San Joaquin River flowing fast after heavy rain this winter and melting snow: “After heavy rain in the months of January and February the water levels are high and the current is moving fast along the San Joaquin River. The water release from Friant Dam has some business owners who rely on the river monitoring the conditions. “The water can be deceptive and so now we have high flows of about 7,500 cubic foot per second. A normal flow on this river would be anywhere from three to five hundred depending on the water releases,” said Steve Starcher, Fresno River Sports Center. ... ” Read more from the KFSN here: San Joaquin River flowing fast after heavy rain this winter and melting snow
Don Pedro managers doubt spillway will reopen: “A second opening of the Don Pedro Reservoir spillway is unlikely this year, managers said Tuesday, despite a “staggering” amount of snow waiting to melt. The prediction came at a meeting of the Turlock Irrigation District board, which approved a full allotment for farmers this year to help draw the reservoir down. The Modesto Irrigation District, partner with TID on the Tuolumne River, has similar plans for its customers. The spillway opened Feb. 20 for only the second time in the 46-year history of Don Pedro. Managers did so because the reservoir was nearing capacity and the snowpack above stood at about 200 percent of average for the date. … ” Read more from the Modesto Bee here: Don Pedro managers doubt spillway will reopen
Turlock Irrigation District to provide plenty of water for local growers this year: “After five years of severe drought conditions, the Tuolumne River Watershed is in the midst of one of the wettest years on record. What this means for local growers is plenty of water this irrigation season, which Turlock Irrigation District Board of Directors voted on Tuesday to begin at the end of this month. Since the Tuolumne River Watershed has received 189 percent of average precipitation to date, TID is able to provide 48 inches of water per acre for the 2017 irrigation season. The District will also make available replenishment water for those customers who need more within TID’s boundaries. “We are going to encourage customers to flood irrigate,” said Water Distribution Department Manager Mike Kavarian. “We understand that the last four years during the drought a number of you have put drip and micros, but we’re going to do what we can to advise people to maybe flood a little more often than they have in the past to help recharge our groundwater.” ... ” Read more from the Turlock Journal here: Turlock Irrigation District to provide plenty of water for local growers this year
LADWP ‘channelizing’ water near Owens Lake: “We all knew it was in the works, but listening to Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power staff announce the emergency declaration for the length of the aqueduct system and describe the danger to life, property, hydroelectric plants and especially the Owens Lake dust mitigation measures was intimidating. Maybe we all should have toned down our rain dances over the past five years. Garcetti made the announcement at a press conference in LA, streamed live over the internet, calling the declaration a pre-emptive strike to protect homes and lives. The department, he said, is managing the flow out of Crowley Lake with the hope of preventing habitat and infrastructure damage. The biggest concern is the billion dollar dust mitigation measures on Owens Lake that have reduced emissions by 97-percent. That infrastructure could end up under seven-feet of water Garcetti said. … ” Read more from the Sierra Wave here: LADWP ‘channelizing’ water near Owens Lake
LA lawmakers can’t let stormwater capture plan go down the drain, says Cindy Montanez: “When it rains, it pours … and when it doesn’t, it doesn’t. This is the essence of Southern California’s water conundrum. A year ago, who would have thought golden-brown Los Angeles would be complaining about too much rain?Then, a record five-year drought wreaked havoc on Angelenos and our environment, causing us to think long and hard about how we use water. Now, the pendulum has swung to the opposite extreme, with torrential rains this winter flooding roadways, causing chaos and washing a toxic stew of polluted runoff into our rivers and ocean. The problem is: These weather extremes — wetter wets and drier dries — are the new normal. The question is: How will we respond? ... ” Read more the LA Daily News here: LA lawmakers can’t let stormwater capture plan go down the drain
Lois Henry: Water districts stuffing Kern River water in every nook and cranny they can: “The good news is that not a drop of Kern River water is going into the California Aqueduct to fill Southern California taps. Yet. But water managers are keeping an eagle eye on the snowpack and the weather hoping there are no sudden moves from either in the near future. A warm rain or rapid run-up in temps could bring a huge slug of water down and overwhelm ongoing efforts to squirrel it away, said Kern River Watermaster Dana Munn. “It’s amazing,” he said. “It’s such a big water year and we’ve managed to push water into all these places.” … ” Read more from the Bakersfield Californian here: Lois Henry: Water districts stuffing Kern River water in every nook and cranny they can
Precipitation watch …
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
- A review of pending Delta Plan Amendments
- NEWS WORTH NOTING: Natural Resources Agency announces awards for the Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Grant Program; Threatened green sturgeon rescued from Fremont Weir; Final sign-up deadline set for East Porterville homeowners
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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.
