DAILY DIGEST: Can CA tap carbon markets to save the Delta?; Q&A and a little bit of scorn for DWR at Oroville meeting; Report: CA 9th worst in the nation for drinking water violations; EPA asks what rules to cut; gets an earful about dirty water; and more …

In California water news today, Can California tap carbon markets to save its Delta and its drinking water?; Questions, answers, and a little bit of scorn for DWR at Oroville meeting; Assemblyman Gallagher advances legislation in response to Oroville Dam crisis; Floods possible as warmth melts heavy Sierra snowpack; Drinking water is a human right, but these Valley residents don’t have it; It’s farmer versus oil companies in case of alleged water contamination; Guide helps farmers navigate water reporting; Report: California 9th worst in the nation for drinking water violations; EPA asks what rules to cut; gets an earful about dirty water; and more …

On the calendar today …

• The State Water Resources Control Board will meet today beginning at 9am.  The Board will hold a workshop on the Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program.  Click here for the full agenda.  Click here to watch on webcast.

In the news today …

Can California tap carbon markets to save its Delta and its drinking water?  “Fifty miles inland from San Francisco, cows are grazing on lush grass, and small purple flowers seem to pop out of every bush. In the distance, a sailboat glides across the treetops – and it’s not a mirage.  It’s because I’m looking up.  This idyllic farmland is twenty feet below sea level, on a sinking island called Twitchell – one of many in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, where the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers converge. ... ”  Read more from the Ecosystem Marketplace here:  Can California tap carbon markets to save its Delta and its drinking water?

Questions, answers, and a little bit of scorn for DWR at Oroville meeting:  “Will there be a viewing platform where the public can watch work being done on the Oroville spillway?  That’s the plan, according to Cindy Messer, Chief Deputy Director of the Department of Water Resources.  The “green spot” on the dam, will that cause the dam to fail? That’s another question that has been circulating through people who live in Oroville.  The green spot is from rain, said Christy Jones, deputy director of statewide emergency preparedness and security for DWR. ... ”  Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record here:  Questions, answers, and a little bit of scorn for DWR at Oroville meeting

Floods possible as warmth melts heavy Sierra snowpack:  “The historic snow that piled up in the Sierra this winter has started to come down a mountain melt-off that’s swelling rivers and creeks with a dazzling, and potentially dangerous, flow of water.  Several waterways, including Yosemite Valley’s Merced River, are expected to approach and even surpass flood stage in coming days as a warm spell keeps overnight lows on many snow-covered peaks above freezing for the first time this year, accelerating the thaw. ... ”  Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here:  Floods possible as warmth melts heavy Sierra snowpack

Drinking water is a human right, but these Valley residents don’t have it:  “In 2012, California made history when it became the first U.S. state to declare that clean drinking water is a human right. But five years later, nearly 300 communities still can’t drink their water, according to new state data—many of which are in the San Joaquin Valley.  Today we debut a series about drinking water, in which we explore where these communities are and why it’s so difficult to get clean water. We begin in rural Fresno County north of Lemoore. … ”  Read more from Valley Public Radio here:  Drinking water is a human right, but these Valley residents don’t have it

It’s farmer versus oil companies in case of alleged water contamination:  “Every day, oil companies in California dump millions of gallons of wastewater underground. Most of it is getting injected deep under the Central Valley, which also happens to be the state’s agricultural heartland.   CBS San Francisco reports that some farmers, like Mike Hopkins, suspect that wastewater might be what’s killing their crops, and impacting our food supply.  The problem began about eight years ago when the leaves of his newly planted cherry orchard started turning brown, Hopkins said. Soon the almond trees followed. … ”  Read more from CBS News here:  It’s farmer versus oil companies in case of alleged water contamination

Guide helps farmers navigate water reporting:  “New Surface Water Measurement and Reporting Regulations from the state government impose additional requirements on water users. For farmers and ranchers with remote or complicated diversions, compliance can be particularly difficult and expensive. Farm Bureau wants to help.  Visit a county Farm Bureau office and pick up a copy of our Compliance Guide for Surface Water Measurement and Reporting.  Recognizing both the difficulties of understanding the regulatory requirements and the importance of compliance to avoid penalties, Farm Bureau developed the Compliance Guide as a resource for farmers and ranchers. The six-page guide explains the rules in a set of clear charts, and includes a worksheet to help keep track of information about an individual’s water right and relevant requirements. ... ”  Read more from Ag Alert here:  Guide helps farmers navigate water reporting

Report: California 9th worst in the nation for drinking water violations:  “Water systems in California have the nation’s ninth-worst record for violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act, according to a new report from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).  Researchers pored over Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data from 2015 and found more than 1,900 violations in 832 different water systems that together serve 2.5 million people – in the Golden State alone.  Erik Olson, a report coauthor and director of the NRDC’s Health Program, said many of the violations are for water conditions that can make people sick, and listed a few of the concerns … ” Read more from the Public News Service here:  Report: California 9th worst in the nation for drinking water violations

EPA asks what rules to cut; gets an earful about dirty water:  “The Trump administration got an earful Tuesday from people who say federal rules limiting air and water pollution aren’t tough enough, even as it was seeking suggestions about what environmental regulations it should gut.  The Environmental Protection Agency held a three-hour “virtual listening session” on Tuesday to collect public comments by phone about which clean water regulations should be targeted for repeal, replacement or modification. The call was part of the agency’s response to President Donald Trump’s order to get rid of regulations that are burdensome to business and industry. … ”  Read more from the Daily Democrat here:  EPA asks what rules to cut; gets an earful about dirty water

In commentary today …

Politicians, public must demand answers on Oroville Dam, says the San Jose Mercury News:  ““The emergency spillway worked.” That is the latest tone-deaf assessment from the leader of the state Department of Water Resources about the Feb. 11 crisis around the Oroville Dam.  Worked? If by “worked” he means held together by the grace of God, then, yes, it worked. By any reasonable standard, however, it was an abject failure.  To hear that remark made by Bill Croyle, the DWR’s acting director, to the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee only heightened the shock for the 180,000 people who were repeatedly reassured and then given an hour to run for their lives. … ”  Continue reading at the San Jose Mercury News here:  Politicians, public must demand answers on Oroville Dam

Compounding the water issue:  Madera County Supervisor David Rogers writes, “The adage “One thing leads to another” is reaching new heights in California.  For 150 years we have attempted to suppress forest fires instead of managing them, hindering nature’s way of thinning our forests. Prior to the spotted owl and the Endangered Species Act, we selectively logged the forests which replenished themselves every decade. We also used prescribed burns and grazing to accomplish forest thinning. Grazing and logging also provided jobs and revenue.  The results of ending these practices have been abysmal; forests overgrown up to four times sustainable capacity is at the top of pile of cascading problems. ... ”  Read more from the Sierra Sun here:  Compounding the water issue

In regional news and commentary today …

A brutal winter leaves behind mountains of mess:  “All along the Sierra Nevada at Ebbetts Pass, Sonora Pass and Tioga Pass, people and animals are digging out from the winter.  The 2016-17 precipitation season, recorded from Oct. 1 through April 1, brought near-record rainfall to the foothills and frigid, densely snow-packed conditions to the higher elevations.  Along the Sierra ridgeline in Calaveras and Tuolumne counties, a balanced application of force and precision has been required to record season data, clear the passes and prepare for the transition into spring.  Sonora has gotten 50.54 inches of rain since October, said Hannah Chandler, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service. The San Joaquin 5-Station Index, which charts precipitation at locations in Calaveras Big Trees, Hetch Hetchy, Yosemite Headquarters, North Fork Ranger Station and Huntington Lake, has recorded 71 inches of precipitation since October, about 191 percent of average for the current date. … ”  Read more from the Union Democrat here:  A brutal winter leaves behind mountains of mess

Nevada Irrigation District may join groundwater agency:  “The Nevada Irrigation District may join other nearby water agencies in forming a groundwater sustainability plan, which could be good news for well users in the long term, as groundwater supplies have depleted across some areas of the state following years of drought conditions.  The NID board of directors will vote to approve a memorandum of agreement forming a groundwater sustainability agency at their May 10 meeting. … ”  Read more from The Union here:  Nevada Irrigation District may join groundwater agency

Menlo Park: Developer to assist city on flood protection:  “An aging system that provides flood protection along Menlo Park’s bayfront received approval Tuesday for a complete rebuild.  A plan in the works since 2014 to upgrade the Chrysler pump station, the only city-run stormwater collection facility, received a boost recently when Bohannon Development Co. offered to swap land with the city and spend roughly $500,000 toward design and construction of the new station’s exterior. Bohannon is the developer of the 16-acre Menlo Gateway development going up along Independence and Constitution drives adjacent to Highway 101. ... ”  Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here:  Menlo Park: Developer to assist city on flood protection

Residents startled by crimson canals in Stanislaus County:  “Among the muted tones of brown dirt and tree branches, the color of some canals in Stanislaus County stands out where the water had been flowing with a shade of crimson. An alarming sight for some, but the Modesto Irrigation District is telling residents not to worry.  “The red dye is non-hazardous. There is no threat to public health or safety,” said Melissa Williams, a spokeswoman with MID. … ”  Read more from Fox News here:  Residents startled by crimson canals in Stanislaus County

Santa Clarita:  Newhall deserves a water vote, says Rick Drew:  He writes, “Newhall County Water District was formed 60 years ago by a vote of the people. Voters in this district have been voting ever since. I have lived in Canyon Country for 28 years, have water service from this district and have always voted in its elections.  But apparently none of us will have this privilege much longer. We will not be allowed to vote on what is perhaps the most important issue in the water district’s history – whether it will continue to exist and be served by a board elected by us, or rather be dissolved into a huge “new” district, which is essentially the Castaic Lake Water Agency – without our approval. … ”  Read more from The Signal here:  Newhall deserves a water vote

Southern California: Yay, the drought is over.  Now let’s save our dying trees:  “When Gov. Jerry Brown pronounced an end to the drought emergency last month — but not to the possibility of another drought — it would have been just like him to quote another eminent Californian, the naturalist John Muir, who said that “we all travel the Milky Way together, trees and men.”  Not enough trees, though, which is why making “urban forests” come true truly matters.  That’s where Igor Lacan can help out. He’s an expert tree advisor with the University of California’s cooperative extension, a kind of Johnny Appleseed of urban forestry, planting the seeds of knowledge about what trees can do for us. And it’s high time for us to ask what we can do for our trees. … ”  Read more from the LA Times here:  Southern California: Yay, the drought is over.  Now let’s save our dying trees

Dana Point: Poseidon interested in exploring public-private partnership in desalination plant:  “The South Coast Water District’s proposal to build a desalination facility in Dana Point has drawn the interest of a company with an established presence in water treatment in Southern California.  Officials from Poseidon Water, the Boston-based company that proposes to build a controversial desalination facility up the coast in Huntington Beach, last week sent a letter to South Coast expressing the desire to pursue the prospects of a public-private partnership on the Doheny Ocean Desalination Project. … ”  Read more from the LA Times here:  Dana Point: Poseidon interested in exploring public-private partnership in desalination plant

Cadiz announces $255 million in construction financing for desert water project:  “With the Trump administration soon likely to approve its long-sought desert water storage and transmission project, Cadiz Inc. announced Tuesday it has arranged up to $255 million in construction financing from giant private equity firm Apollo Global Management.  Cadiz signed agreements with several funds managed by Apollo affiliates that will provide an immediate injection of $60 million, including $45 million to refinance senior secured mortgage debt and $15 million for initial construction expenditure.  Apollo affiliated funds have also conditionally committed $240 million in construction financing to complete the first phase of the Cadiz project, though in the announcement, Cadiz warned investors that this commitment is “highly conditional” and is not guaranteed to close. … ”  Read more from the LA Business Journal here:  Cadiz announces $255 million in construction financing for desert water project

Also on Maven’s Notebook today …

• METROPOLITAN BAY-DELTA COMMITTEE: Update on Bay Delta Water Quality Control Plan update, California Water Fix proceedings
• CALIFORNIA WATER FIX: Ruling Letter for May 2

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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.