In California water news today, A ‘quick yes’ on Delta tunnels? Advocates concerned over new language; Despite drought’s end, conservation rules were still in place, until now; State Water Board rescinds stress test requirements, remaining mandatory conservation standards; 100 million dead trees: A danger that persists long after the drought; Power industry consultant proposes dual design Oroville Dam spillway; Mystery foam appears below damaged Oroville spillway; Oroville: Experts review DWR secret memos; After the storms: A fresh look at the work of setback levees; Rising seas claiming California’s coast faster than scientists imagined;’Fossil’ groundwater’s modern secret; Which national monuments in California are threatened by Trump order?; and more …
On the calendar today …
- The Delta Stewardship Council meets this morning at 9am. Agenda items include an update on the Delta Plan performance measures amendment to the Delta Plan, and a panel on the outlook for the 2017 Water Year. This is the first of a two day meeting. Click here for the meeting notice. Click here for the webcast.
- EPA Webinar on Innovative State Water Agency Practices: Working Toward Resilience from 10am to 12pm. Click here for more information.
- Water Storage Investment Program: Application Walk-Through and Quantification Example Webinar, from 10am to 11:30am. Click here for more information.
- Brown bag seminar/webinar: Data Resources for GIS Analysis at the Water Boards from 12pm to 12:30pm. Click here for more information.
In the news today …
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
- SCIENCE NEWS: Follow the flow: The state of the San Lorenzo River; Ancient groundwater may not be as clean as once thought; Mystery of the missing mercury at the Great Salt Lake; and more …
- NEWS WORTH NOTING: Legislation chaning California water management one step closer to becoming law; Ocean Protection Council adopts resolution incorporating latest sea-level rise projections; Metropolitan, agencies outline responsibilities for recreational growth around Diamond Valley Lake
- THIS JUST IN … State Water Board Rescinds Mandatory Conservation Standards
A ‘quick yes’ on Delta tunnels? Advocates concerned over new language: “Proposed changes to a plan that is supposed to guide the Delta through the 21st century have advocates on red alert, as they worry that the new language locks in Gov. Jerry Brown’s $15 billion twin tunnels. The revised plan does not explicitly endorse the California Water Fix, as the tunnels proposal is formally known. It does, however, promote building one or more new intakes to pump water from the Delta, with a new underground conveyance system that would be operated in tandem with existing Delta channels. … ” Read more from the Stockton Record here: A ‘quick yes’ on Delta tunnels? Advocates concerned over new language
Despite drought’s end, conservation rules were still in place, until now: “First the drought ended. Now the last vestiges of mandatory conservation rules are over, too. California’s main water regulatory agency ended mandatory conservation regulations for urban residents Wednesday, following Gov. Jerry Brown’s official declaration that the drought ended April 7. The decision by the State Water Resources Control Board means urban water agencies no longer have to submit to “stress tests” proving they have enough water to withstand three straight years of dry weather. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: Despite drought’s end, conservation rules were still in place, until now
State Water Board rescinds stress test requirements, remaining mandatory conservation standards: “State Water Resources Control Board Executive Director Tom Howard on Wednesday rescinded the water supply “stress test” requirements and remaining mandatory conservation standards for urban water suppliers. Current prohibitions against wasteful water use practices and requirements for monthly water use reporting remain in place. The action was in response to Gov. Jerry Brown’s announcement earlier this month ending the drought state of emergency and transitioning to a permanent framework for making water conservation a California way of life. … ” Read more from ACWA’s Water News here: State Water Board rescinds stress test requirements, remaining mandatory conservation standards
100 million dead trees: A danger that persists long after the drought: “The drought in California may be officially over, but that doesn’t mean all the problems are fixed. One of the biggest lasting problems from the state’s five-year drought is a vast quantity of dead trees. In November the U.S. Forest Service, based on aerial surveys, estimated the drought killed more than 102 million trees on national forests in California, with the greatest concentration in the southern Sierra Nevada. New surveys set to begin in June may raise that number even higher. … ” Read more from Water Deeply here: 100 million dead trees: A danger that persists long after the drought
Power industry consultant proposes dual design Oroville Dam spillway: “A power industry consulting firm has proposed a design for the Oroville Dam spillways which involves not repairing the current one, but building a new, wider spillway. The designer says the structure’s capacity would handle flows of 300,000 cubic-feet per second. Kenneth Viney, manager of CoastalGen Inc., based in Napa, filed suggestions Monday with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC. He said he first shared his ideas with engineers with the state Department of Water Resources about a month ago and was encouraged by FERC and DWR spokespeople to submit his plans through a FERC filing. He has not heard back from either agency since. “We want it done once, and we want it done right,” Viney said. ... ” Read more from the Oroville Mercury Register here: Power industry consultant proposes dual design Oroville Dam spillway
Mystery foam appears below damaged Oroville spillway: “Foam floated downstream and made circles on the water last week in the pool below Oroville Dam. Water quality experts are trying to determine why. Foam can happen naturally, or it can be a result of something else in the water. At this point the cause of the foam is unknown. Water tests were planned Wednesday, with lab results available in about two weeks, said Bryan Smith, supervising engineer with the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board. ... ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record here: Mystery foam appears below damaged Oroville spillway
Oroville: Experts review DWR secret memos: “Two experts weighed in on the memos that the Board of Consultants assessing the current operations and future spillway options sent to the Department of Water Resources. The formerly-secret memos call a plan to have “the entire lower section of the chute training walls and flip bucket be rebuilt” to be questionable. However, the consultants looked at DWR’s proposed plans released to the public April 6 and think replacing the concrete of the unbroken upper main spillway and filling the holes in the hillside with roller compact concrete as something that can be accomplished by Nov. 1, when the rainy season begins. … ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record here: Oroville: Experts review DWR secret memos
After the storms: A fresh look at the work of setback levees: “Rivers were swift and wide this winter with heavy storms adding up to the wettest winter in 122 years. People who have lived in the Sacramento Valley for decades remember flooding from their youth, when towns were evacuated, homes were lost and topsoil washed away. The Marysville area has been a historically flood-prone area, but this year a billion dollars worth of setback levees did the job they were designed to do. … ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record here: After the storms: A fresh look at the work of setback levees
Rising seas claiming California’s coast faster than scientists imagined: “A slow-moving emergency is lapping at California’s shores — climate-driven sea-level rise that experts now predict could elevate the water in coastal areas up to 10 feet in just 70 years, gobbling up beachfront and overwhelming low-lying cities. The speed with which polar ice is melting and glacier shelves are cracking off indicates to some scientists that once-unthinkable outer-range projections of sea rise may turn out to be too conservative. A knee-buckling new state-commissioned report warns that if nothing changes, California’s coastal waters will rise at a rate 30 to 40 times faster than in the last century. … ” Read more from KQED here: Rising seas claiming California’s coast faster than scientists imagined
‘Fossil’ groundwater’s modern secret: “The world’s oldest and deepest waters are not immune from contamination, warn scientists. It had been assumed that “fossil” reserves found hundreds of metres underground would be largely untouched by modern water sources. But sampling from some 10,000 wells shows this not to be the case. The new study reveals that about half of the deep groundwater has had contact with rains and snows that fell in the past 60 years. ... ” Read more from the BBC here: ‘Fossil’ groundwater’s modern secret
Which national monuments in California are threatened by Trump order? “Declaring an end to “another egregious abuse of federal power,” President Donald Trump on Wednesday ordered a review of two dozen national monuments, a move that environmentalists say will roll back protections on historic sites and scenic places where logging, mining, oil drilling and commercial fishing are often limited. The executive order could put about six California national monuments up for reconsideration, ranging from the wildflower-rich Carrizo Plain National Monument in the San Joaquin Valley to Giant Sequoia National Monument in the Sierra, according to environmentalists. … ” Read more from the East Bay Times here: Which national monuments in California are threatened by Trump order?
In commentary today …
Water wars pale compared to mounting ag waste impasse, says Rory Crowley: He writes, “Byproduct waste is poised to be the next major environmental issue facing California agriculture. While many continue to worry about pesticides, labor and water — rightfully I might add — the ag byproduct storm has quietly been gaining strength, and it could decimate industries — and our environment. Take the almond industry. Currently, the California almond industry generates about 2.3 million tons of byproduct — sometimes called biomass. That’s 2.3 million tons of product not in the form of a nut. … ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise Record here: Water wars pale compared to mounting ag waste impasse
Remember, the drought could come back next year, says Kevin Smith: He writes, “When it comes to emergencies and disasters, people tend to have short memories. Much of this is human nature. When something bad happens and we’re in the thick of it we generally do whatever’s necessary to deal with the situation. But once the crisis has past we want to move on with our lives. That’s fine because it’s certainly not healthy to wallow in despair over something that has already come and gone. But I say again that people have short memories. And I don’t mean that literally. I simply mean that we tend to forget how bad something really was. California’s recent drought is a case in point. ... ” Read more from the Pasadena Star-News here: Remember, the drought could come back next year
In regional news and commentary today …
FERC requests more information on Klamath Dam request: “The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is currently considering an application to transfer the license for four dams on the Klamath River, and a recent letter from FERC to the dam owner’s general counsel gives a slight indication of where the agency is in that process.
Over the past several years, a number of groups in the Klamath River Basin have been attempting to initiate the removal of four dams – operated by utility company PacifiCorp – on the river. In April of 2016, a number of those groups, including PacifiCorp, the states of Oregon and California, the Karuk Tribe, the National Marine Fisheries Service, and others, signed an amended agreement setting forth a new path for dam removal. … ” Read more from the Siskiyou Daily News here: FERC requests more information on Klamath Dam request
UC Davis study: North Coast water changes affecting marine life: “Scientists at the UC Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory say a new study shows that the response by certain aquatic animals to warming ocean temperatures may make them more vulnerable to growing acidification, a secondary effect of climate change already measurable off the Sonoma Coast. The research showed that organisms called bryozoan changed the composition of their skeletons in warm water to ones that quickly dissolved when exposed to water of higher acidity, causing the animals to shut down, lead author Dan Swezey said. He said the study mimicked condititions expected to be widespread by the end of the century. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat here: UC Davis study: North Coast water changes affecting marine life
State closes fishing on section of Sacramento River: “For anyone who wants to get out on the Sacramento River and fish the section of water from Keswick Dam to Highway 44, time is running out. The California Fish and Game Commission on Wednesday approved permanently closing that section of the river to all fishing from the beginning of April to the end of July every year. The closure, however, does not go into effect immediately, according to Jordan Traverso, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. … ” Read more from the Redding Record-Searchlight here: State closes fishing on section of Sacramento River
Yuba County pushes legislation on illegal diversion of water for pot grows: “In 2015, a Nevada County man believed to be running a marijuana cultivation site hauled a 500-gallon tank into Yuba County and filled it by diverting water from the Yuba River, which is not illegal under current law. Yuba County supervisors and the district attorney recently signed a letter of support for a bill that would amend the Water Code to address that type of situation. “Water rights and water ownership is very legally complicated,” said District Attorney Patrick McGrath. “The way it sits now in California, water that is in the rivers is not subject to theft laws. It isn’t necessarily owned by someone, rather it’s considered to be owned by everyone.” ... ” Read more from the Appeal Democrat here: Yuba County pushes legislation on illegal diversion of water for pot grows
Windsor opts in to groundwater agency while Sebastopol opts out: “Sebastopol is rejecting as too costly the idea of joining a regional groundwater agency while the Windsor Town Council split 3-2 in favor of grabbing a place at the groundwater governance table. The Sebastopol City Council voted 5-0 on April 18 not to join the Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) being created to manage groundwater in the basin known as the Santa Rosa Plain. Council members said the projected $119,000 price tag over two years was too high and they determined that water users in the city get most of theirs from wells in a separate aquifer. … ” Read more from Sonoma West here: Windsor opts in to groundwater agency while Sebastopol opts out
Santa Cruz harbor waiting for $164,000 dredging payment from the feds: “Congress’ ongoing federal budget delays have trickled down to local waters, with the Santa Cruz Small Craft Harbor waiting on $164,000 in remaining dredging reimbursements. This month, Port District officials penned letters to local Congressional representatives to ask that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers pay up an overdue portion of the local dredging costs, per an agreement between the district and federal government. So far, the government has paid $221,000 of its 2016 bill, district leaders said. … ” Read more from the Santa Cruz Sentinel here: Santa Cruz harbor waiting for $164,000 dredging payment from the feds
Drought relief well in Porterville nearly done: “The $2.2 million well to bring drought relief to East Porterville residents is nearly done. Denise England, the county’s water resources program director, said the project is 99 percent complete. What’s missing is mainly administrative tasks and paperwork to make the project complete. Already, the well is connected to Porterville’s municipal system, England said. The next step would be to transfer the well’s ownership to Porterville. ... ” Read more from the Visalia Times-Delta here: Drought relief well in Porterville nearly done
Ventura’s water supply still strained, officials say: “For several years running, the city of Ventura’s water supply has been tight, with demand projected to outpace the supply because of the drought. Water officials responded by implementing water-saving restrictions, with residents heeding calls for conservation, cutting usage by 22 percent in 2016 compared to 2013. But supply remains an issue for the city, which has moved to tap into state water and implement a large-scale potable reuse water project. … ” Read more from the Ventura County Star here: Ventura’s water supply still strained, officials say
Algae bloom of doom: Birds, seals and other sea life affected by possible domoic acid poisoning off Ventura coast: “Spring is here and while flowers are visible on Ventura County hillsides, another, more lethal bloom is bringing sickness to birds and sea lions along the coast. Domoic acid is suspected, a byproduct of a certain type of algae and not an uncommon cause — but this year, officials say, has been particularly bad. On a bright Saturday morning at the San Buenaventura State Beach, a pair of park officials using a large net gently captured a bird sitting near the popular bike path. Without a fight, the bird was brought in for rehabilitation, suspected of being a victim of domoic acid poisoning. … ” Read more from the VC Reporter here: Algae bloom of doom: Birds, seals and other sea life affected by possible domoic acid poisoning off Ventura coast
Drought no more: Water flows into Silver Lake Reservoir: “After two years of sitting empty, Silver Lake’s namesake and signature icon is being refilled. City officials cranked open the tower valves to begin refilling the Silver Lake Reservoir complex on Tuesday, nearly a year ahead of schedule. The 96-acre reservoir is expected to be fully refilled by the middle of June. Officials previously said refilling would begin in May and take about one year. Now water is expected to reach the Silver Lake Reservoir’s historic level of 440 feet above sea level within two months. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Drought no more: Water flows into Silver Lake Reservoir
Summer heat, vegetation growth could bring large wildfires to Southern California: “Even though record-breaking rainfall brought California’s long-lived drought closer to manageable levels, temperatures will soon spike and some experts believe this year’s fire season across the state may challenge the severity of last year’s record. “Recent rains have created a large crop of grass that will cure in the peak of summer thereby creating a readily available fuel which can catch fire quickly,” Cal Fire Capt. Elizabeth Brown said. “Fast-moving fire with a light wind can have devastating effects for residents.” In just a few days this week, several small-scale wildfires erupted in San Bernardino and Riverside counties, charring fields and some mountainsides. ... ” Read more from the San Bernardino Sun here: Summer heat, vegetation growth could bring large wildfires to Southern California
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
- SCIENCE NEWS: Follow the flow: The state of the San Lorenzo River; Ancient groundwater may not be as clean as once thought; Mystery of the missing mercury at the Great Salt Lake; and more …
- NEWS WORTH NOTING: Legislation chaning California water management one step closer to becoming law; Ocean Protection Council adopts resolution incorporating latest sea-level rise projections; Metropolitan, agencies outline responsibilities for recreational growth around Diamond Valley Lake
- THIS JUST IN … State Water Board Rescinds Mandatory Conservation Standards
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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.
