In California water news today, How wet weather impacted California’s groundwater deficit; Big risk, big ideas: Flood control no longer just levees; Board now advises DWR to address bottom of spillway first; Oroville Dam to begin releasing water on Wednesday; Sacramento Valley rice crop off to a late start due to continued rains; Owens Valley: LADWP preparing for massive runoff; San Luis Obispo farmers got creative to survive this drought. Are they ready for the next one?; and more …
In the news today …
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
- RESERVOIR AND WATER CONDITIONS for May 8, 2017
- DAILY DIGEST, weekend edition: Silicon Valley’s mission to save California ag; North Coast lawmakers urge Brown to declare statewide salmon disaster; Fluctuating Feather hurting fish habitat; States move to roll back environmental rules in Trump’s wake; and more …
- ANNOUNCEMENT: Applicants Sought for Klamath River Coho Habitat Restoration Projects
- ANNOUNCEMENT: Early Release of $3 Million to Fund Oroville Community Projects
How wet weather impacted California’s groundwater deficit: “The heavy rain and snow over the past six months in California could reverse the infamous decline of the state’s groundwater stores, but the relief may last only a season or two, according to a hydrologist with University of California, Davis, who says water agencies must find efficient ways to refill depleted aquifers. Thomas Harter, a professor with the university’s Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, says the rainy winter will make a dent in the state’s groundwater deficit, especially for the Central Valley. … ” Read more from Water Deeply here: How wet weather impacted California’s groundwater deficit
Big risk, big ideas: Flood control no longer just levees: “Think outside the levee. As concerns about the state’s aging flood-control infrastructure grow, experts are seeking ways to address the San Joaquin River’s big-time risks in less traditional ways. We’ll still need to strengthen our levees and dams in the future, of course. But a recently released draft plan contains some new and creative ideas that could help save hundreds of lives and prevent billions of dollars in damages. … ” Read more from the Stockton Record here: Big risk, big ideas: Flood control no longer just levees
Board now advises DWR to address bottom of spillway first: “The independent board overseeing the repair of the damaged main Oroville Dam spillway has recommended the state Department of Water Resources change its priorities and focus on the damaged bottom chute rather than the top. The latest memorandum by the Board of Consultants was published Wednesday night on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s website, with “Critical Energy Infrastructure Information” redacted, according to DWR, citing national security concerns. ... ” Read more from the Appeal-Democrat here: Board now advises DWR to address bottom of spillway first
In commentary today …
A billion dollar boondoggle to increase California water supply: “As former Sen. Barbara Boxer noted in her op-ed “South state desalination project is a ‘no-brainer’ ” (Viewpoints, April 30), California is facing a hotter and drier future. In order to keep our communities and economy thriving, we need to develop smart and reliable local water supplies. Fortunately, we can meet long-term needs without resorting to billion-dollar boondoggles like the proposed Huntington Beach desalination plant. There is a reason desalination companies are spending millions of dollars in lobbying. Proposals like the Huntington Beach plant can’t stand on their own merit. Desalinated water costs twice as much as imported water, and up to 8 times as much as harvesting the rain that has fallen all around us lately. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: A billion dollar boondoggle to increase California water supply
Barbara Boxer’s desalination plant lobbying betrays her legacy, says Vern Nelson: He writes, “As Orange County’s smarter conservatives – including some on the O.C. Water District board – begin to realize what an unnecessary, unaffordable piece of corporate welfare Poseidon’s proposed Huntington Beach desalination plant is, the Boston-based hedge fund group has begun to focus its bottomless lobbying resources at liberals and Democrats instead (“Barbara Boxer will lobby for an environmentally controversial desalination plant in Huntington Beach,” April 19). Heads spun, in bewilderment and dismay, to see how quickly liberal icon and four-term Sen. Barbara Boxer morphed, at the age of 76, into a paid Poseidon lobbyist, betraying in one fell swoop at least two of her proudest legacies. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Barbara Boxer’s desalination plant lobbying betrays her legacy
In regional news and commentary …
Oroville Dam to begin releasing water on Wednesday: “The Department of Water Resources (DWR) will be increasing outflows from the Oroville Dam to 30,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) later this week. … ” Read more from KRCR here: Oroville Dam to begin releasing water on Wednesday
Sacramento Valley rice crop off to a late start due to continued rains: “April would normally be a busy month for Sacramento Valley rice farmers who fire up their tractors to prepare fields before the busy planting season. However, repeated rainstorms made for some idle time. Up until recently, the fields were still to wet. Tractors will get stuck in mud and working wet soil causes clumps. More than 3 inches of rain fell in April in Chico, compared to the average of about 3/4 of an inch. ... ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record here: Sacramento Valley rice crop off to a late start due to continued rains
Santa Cruz County’s endangered coho salmon and the fight to save it: “On the wooded banks of Scott Creek, on Santa Cruz County’s North Coast, a dozen people formed a human bucket chain on Wednesday — not to put out a fire, but to save an endangered fish. Each of the buckets was swarming with young coho salmon, which were born and raised at the nearby Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project hatchery. The human chain — staff and volunteers from the hatchery and NOAA Fisheries — quickly emptied a truckload of live fish into the creek. Within the hour, most of the fish would end up in the Monterey Bay, hopefully to survive to adult stage and boost the endangered species. ... ” Read more from the Santa Cruz Sentinel here: Santa Cruz County’s endangered coho salmon and the fight to save it
Owens Valley: LADWP preparing for massive runoff: “The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) continues to work proactively to prepare for the arrival of anticipated massive runoff water resulting from this year’s near record snowpack in the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains. These efforts are in partnership with Inyo County, the Inyo Sheriff’s Department, Bishop Police Department, Cal-Trans, Southern California Edison and others, as a member of the Inyo County Interagency Emergency Preparation team. Work to prepare for the anticipated high water flows began in late February. The efforts have been assisted by an Emergency Declaration from the Mayor of the City of Los Angeles to allow LADWP to take immediate steps to protect infrastructure and aid in managing flood waters while also protecting public safety. Inyo County issued a similar declaration. ... ” Read more from the Sierra Wave here: Owens Valley: LADWP preparing for massive runoff
San Luis Obispo farmers got creative to survive this drought. Are they ready for the next one? “As winter rains replenished wells and coaxed hills into displays of brilliant green, the drought’s impact has begun to ease for many local farmers and ranchers — brightening their long-term picture. “We are seeing reservoir levels rise, groundwater recharge, increased soil moisture and a leaching of salts in the soil that have accumulated during the drought and hindered crop production,” said Martin Settevendemie, San Luis Obispo County agricultural commissioner. … ” Read more from the San Luis Obispo Tribune here: San Luis Obispo farmers got creative to survive this drought. Are they ready for the next one?
Solvang reluctantly agrees to join groundwater agency: “Solvang agreed to form a groundwater sustainability agency with three other agencies, but some City Council members are leery of the light weight the city’s vote will carry and the perception it could end up shouldering a disproportional amount of any costs that might crop up. Those concerns led to the 3-2 split vote to join the Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District, the SYRWCD’s Improvement District No. 1 and the County Water Agency to form the agency for the Eastern Management Area of the Santa Ynez River Valley Groundwater Basin. … ” Read more from the Santa Maria Times here: Solvang reluctantly agrees to join groundwater agency
Cachuma Lake likely at peak level for the season: “With the weekend’s low-pressure area predicted to drop as little as 0.10 to at most 0.50 of an inch of rain, forecasters said Cachuma Lake is probably not far from it’s peak level for the water year, which started Sept. 1, 2016, and will end Aug. 31. Showers over the weekend could represent the last significant precipitation for the season, and the approaching summer heat combined with downstream releases is expected to eventually set the lake on a slow decline toward the start of the next water year. … ” Read more from the Santa Maria Times here: Cachuma Lake likely at peak level for the season
EPA to pay for new well in Arvin: “The Kern County city of Arvin has received funding to drill a new drinking water well to serve its nearly 21,000 residents. … ” Read more from Valley Public Radio here: EPA to pay for new well in Arvin
Santa Clarita: Tweaked chloride plan offered for public review: “As sanitation officials fall behind in their four-year plan to reduce the amount of chloride that ends up in the Santa Clara River – as promised to state officials, they released a tweaked version of their plan Wednesday, hoping it meets with the satisfaction of the court that put them off schedule over environmental concerns. The report is being made available to the public for public review and comment until June 19, as required by law. … ” Read more from the Santa Clarita Valley Signal here: Santa Clarita: Tweaked chloride plan offered for public review
New LA County Public Works director focuses on 21st century infrastructure: “In March, Mark Pestrella was unanimously appointed by the Board of Supervisors as director of the largest public works department in the country: the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works. Pestrella, a veteran of the county, joins TPR for an exclusive interview to lay out his priorities. In addition to working on stormwater infrastructure as a part of Supervisor Sheila Kuehl’s announced funding proposal, Pestrella is working on the LA River Master Plan, improving community health through increasing tree canopy, and coordinating with other agencies to provide safe affordable housing options. … “ Read more from The Planning Report here: New LA County Public Works director focuses on 21st century infrastructure
‘One Water LA’ update: Region’s progress on building a resilient water supply: “When Mayor Garcetti announced his ambitious plans to reduce the City of Los Angeles’ purchase of imported water by 50% by 2024, skeptics were unsure the region was up to the challenge. Even faced with a historic drought, it would take a prodigious effort to dramatically change water management within a single decade. Enter One Water LA, an integrated approach for water supply, wastewater treatment, and stormwater management that has been championing by Los Angeles’ water leadership. Now, three years into the One Water LA planning process, The Planning Report sits down with Martin Adams (LADWP), Adel Hagekhalil (LA Sanitation), Adam Krantz (NACWA), and Jack Baylis (The Baylis Group) to discuss the status of the One Water LA Plan and this summer VerdeXchange-sponsored Water Charrette. … ” Read more from The Planning Report here: ‘One Water LA’ update: Region’s progress on building a resilient water supply
Supervisors call for San Jacinto Master Drainage Plan: “The County of Riverside’s Flood Control and Water Conservation District will be developing a master drainage plan focusing on the San Jacinto River. The Riverside County board of supervisors’ members are also the board of the Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, and April 11, the county supervisors voted 3-0, with Chuck Washington not present and one vacancy, to receive the Stage 3 conceptual planning report for the San Jacinto River and to direct the district to develop a master drainage plan consistent with the conceptual planning report. ... ” Read more from the Valley News here: Supervisors call for San Jacinto Master Drainage Plan
More news and commentary in the weekend edition …
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
Today’s Announcements …
- ANNOUNCEMENT: Applicants Sought for Klamath River Coho Habitat Restoration Projects
- ANNOUNCEMENT: Early Release of $3 Million to Fund Oroville Community Projects
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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.
