In California water news today, Mayors: State not operating damaged dam safely; Standing to lose $60 million, Oroville considers jumping on DWR settlement; Oh, well. California water info can remain secret, court rules; Why California can’t go back to ‘normal’ after the drought; Farm creates new river habitat for salmon; End of California drought doesn’t bring relief for produce prices; and more …
In the news today …
Mayors: State not operating damaged dam safely: “California is putting communities downstream in danger of flooding with the way it runs the now-crippled Oroville Dam, mayors and county leaders wrote this week in a strongly worded letter to Gov. Jerry Brown. The letter — signed by mayors of the city of Oroville and six other communities downstream, county leaders, state lawmakers and others — comes in the wake of a February spillway emergency at the dam that forced the evacuation of 188,000 people. That ongoing emergency “dramatically highlights the fact that those who suffer the greatest consequences from dam malfunction or failure have little or no say in the construction, operation or maintenance of that structure,” said the letter, also signed by members of local chambers of commerce and other community groups downstream. … ” Read more from SF Gate here: Mayors: State not operating damaged dam safely
Standing to lose $60 million, Oroville considers jumping ship on DWR settlement: “Pursuing exiting the settlement agreement with the state Department of Water Resources was on the table Tuesday night at a special meeting of the Oroville City Council, but the decision was set aside for later. Most of the council expressed interest in gathering more public opinion on the issue before taking a vote, with a town hall date set for May 22 at 5:30 p.m. in the Municipal Auditorium. Councilors Marlene Del Rosario and Jack Berry were the sole dissenters on not taking immediate action to pursue leaving the agreement with DWR. DWR asked for an extension to July 20, 2017 on the 10-year settlement agreement contingent upon the receipt of the Oroville Dam relicensing. The city, along with more than 50 entities, signed the contract with the department back in 2006, with the promise of seeing over $61 million in slow trickling benefits. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: Standing to lose $60 million, town considers jumping ship on DWR settlement
Oh, well. California water info can remain secret, court rules: “Crucial details about the location and depth of certain California water wells can be kept secret, and out of the hands of an environmental group, a top federal appeals court ruled Tuesday. Although targeting a specific request for California information, the ruling by what’s sometimes called the nation’s second-highest court could shape at least a few of the other Freedom of Information Act requests nationwide. More than 700,000 FOIA requests were filed in Fiscal 2014, and the question of what can be denied recurs often. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: Oh, well. California water info can remain secret, court rules
Why California can’t go back to ‘normal’ after the drought: “California’s five-year drought was officially declared to be over in April. By many measures, it was the worst drought in the state’s recorded history. And it was brought to an end by one of the wettest single winters ever. As a result, most water agencies across the state have dropped their emergency water conservation rules. And, presumably, life will get back to normal in that interface between people and water. But is the drought really over? And even if it is, should we allow life to return to “normal”? To begin poking at these important questions, Water Deeply recently spoke with Lester Snow, one of California’s most experienced water managers. … ” Read more from Water Deeply here: Why California can’t go back to ‘normal’ after the drought
Farm creates new river habitat for salmon: “Twenty-five salmon shelters called “refugios”—made of large tree trunks and root wads, bolted to 12,000-pound limestone boulders—have been lowered into the Sacramento River near Redding. A Northern California farm partnered with state and federal agencies in what’s considered a first-of-its-kind project to benefit chinook salmon in the river. “The overall goal is to improve the ecosystem,” said Roger Cornwell, general manager at River Garden Farms, a diversified farm in Knights Landing that is leading the project. “This is our opportunity to get involved and to improve salmon numbers in the Sacramento River. A healthy ecosystem makes the whole river better for everybody.” … ” Read more from Ag Alert here: Farm creates new river habitat for salmon
End of California drought doesn’t bring relief for produce prices: “From “farmageddon” to good fortune. Five years after the drought, farmers across California’s Central Valley say produce is finally plentiful, but that doesn’t mean better prices. When the water ran out, farmers let go of their land. But after five years of California’s devastating drought, farmers markets are ripe for business. … ” Read more from CBS Sacramento here: End of California drought doesn’t bring relief for produce prices
What broke the Safe Drinking Water Act? “It was 1997 when Californians began to worry in earnest about a chemical called perchlorate. For decades, the ingredient in jet fuel had been seeping from missile factories and rocket testing sites into groundwater across the state and, thanks to a new testing method, it was suddenly clear it had reached hundreds of drinking water wells. Soon, researchers discovered that the toxic chemical had reached Lake Mead, the picturesque reservoir that supplies water to 25 million people in the American Southwest and irrigates the fields that grow the lion’s share of the nation’s winter produce. … ” Read more from Politco here: What broke the Safe Drinking Water Act?
In commentary today …
Dithering must end in California’s too-long desalination debate, says the Sacramento Bee: They write, “Last winter’s extreme storms notwithstanding, water remains scarce in this state. Between climate change and ongoing growth, California can’t afford to squander a single gallon. Yet in Orange County, a project that could increase water supply by 50 million potable gallons daily has been awaiting approval since 1998. There are pros and cons aplenty to the $1 billion desalination plant proposed for Huntington Beach by Poseidon Water. And in the nearly 20 years during which state and local authorities mulled it, all have been masticated thoroughly. Like the plant Poseidon recently opened to the south in Carlsbad, the Huntington Beach facility would add a critical, if pricey, source of freshwater in drought years. Would it be a silver bullet? No. Would it pose some environmental risks? Yes. ... ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: Dithering must end in California’s too-long desalination debate
Huntington Beach desal plant is a ‘no-brainer’, says Barbara Boxer: She writes, “I will never forget the extraordinary experience California voters gave me over my 40 years in elected life, from local office, to congresswoman and then 24 years in the U.S. Senate representing the entire state. And when people ask me to recount the issues that are forever sealed in my memory, one of them is the very difficult challenge of climate change and the strain we are already experiencing from drought and extreme weather in our beloved state. I believe in science and the recent five-year drought was a clear and agonizing reminder of what scientists say lies ahead. I saw the terrible impacts and heartache that face Californians when they cannot count on a reliable water supply, and sadly I watched different groups turn on each other as that water resource diminished. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: Huntington Beach desal plant is a ‘no-brainer’
The future of our water, grey and otherwise, is in good hands, says Lois Henry: She writes, “When a friend asked if I’d like to meet a group of teenage boys who A) had read “The Big Thirst” and B) were inspired to engineer a water reclamation process because of what they’d read, you KNOW what my answer was. I was honored on Tuesday to meet Michael Dauterive, Brendan Dishman and Jordan Reimer, all 17-year-old Centennial High School students. Unfortunately, the fourth man on their team, Matthew Ghilarducci, was taking his AP calculus test and couldn’t meet. (I can barely spell calculus!) The four are all seniors in Colin Smith’s “Engineering Design and Development” class. … ” Read more from the Bakersfield Californian here: The future of our water, grey and otherwise, is in good hands
In regional news and commentary today …
Firm asks to discuss sewer bills with the Ukiah City Council: “The private investigator looking into how the City of Ukiah calculates its sewer bills is formally requesting to be placed on the agenda for the Ukiah City Council’s next meeting May 17. “We believe this is of great public concern and should be put before the council,” said Joseph Soldis, a private investigator with California Judicial Investigations, a firm with offices in San Francisco and Los Angeles. “Without having access and open dialogue with the council, the only alternative is for the community to seek redress through the courts. This would become very burdensome and expensive for the city.” ... ” Read more from the Ukiah Daily Journal here: Firm asks to discuss sewer bills with the Ukiah City Council
West Sacramento breaks ground on largest levee project: “Federal, state and local leaders broke ground Tuesday on the biggest levee project ever undertaken in West Sacramento. The Southport Levee Improvement Project along the Sacramento River is one of four designed to bring West Sacramento up to the state-mandated 200-year level of flood protection. ... ” Read more from Capital Public Radio here: West Sacramento breaks ground on largest levee project
Oakhurst’s water is radioactive, but cleanup is right around the corner: “In late April, we launched a series called “Contaminated” where our team explores communities in the region affected by water unsafe to drink. In our first story, we visited a Fresno County community that can’t afford to maintain the arsenic treatment plant the federal government funded 10 years ago. We continue today with a look at a Madera County mountain community where residents have been exposed to a different hazardous material in water for decades—but they could have clean water by the end of the year. ... ” Read more from Valley Public Radio here: Oakhurst’s water is radioactive, but cleanup is right around the corner
Snowmelt triggers a flood warning in Yosemite and a closure in the Central Valley: “The melting of this year’s record snowpack is continuing to create problems, with authorities warning of more flooding in Yosemite National Park and fast-moving, high water at a popular Central Valley river. The National Weather Service issued a flood warning Tuesday as Yosemite’s Pohono Bridge was expected to be swamped overnight. By 4 a.m. Wednesday, the Merced River probably will reach its flood stage of 10 feet, said Christine Riley, a weather service meteorologist in Hanford, Calif. Water levels should drop below flood stage Wednesday morning and then rise again — possibly reaching 10.3 feet between 3 and 5 a.m. Thursday, Riley said. On Friday, the river peaked at 11.7 feet and caused minor flooding of the park’s campgrounds and bridges, she said. …. ” Read more from the LA Times here: Snowmelt triggers a flood warning in Yosemite and a closure in the Central Valley
Rising waters at New Melones lift boaters, businesses, morale: “John Liechty tried to take a break Monday from helping customers at one of the cash registers at Glory Hole Sports, a primary outfitter for people going fishing and boating at New Melones outside Angels Camp. But it was busy Tuesday like it’s been all this spring and winter, because the state’s fourth-largest capacity reservoir is filling up now more than it has since spring and summer six long years ago. “Overall morale in the area has definitely been uplifted,” Liechty said between customers. “We’re not talking about the drought and its impact on the economy any more. People are upbeat.” … ” Read more from the Union Democrat here: Rising waters at New Melones lift boaters, businesses, morale
County meets state deadline for groundwater management: “The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors gave the green light Tuesday to formation of two groundwater sustainability agencies aimed at managing the resource in North County, while also keeping the state out of local water issues. With a 4-0 vote — 4th District Supervisor Peter Adam recused himself — the supervisors approved a joint powers agreement allowing establishment of a groundwater sustainability agency (GSA) to manage the water-strapped Cuyama Valley. … ” Read more from the Santa Maria Times here: County meets state deadline for groundwater management
Santa Barbara’s desal plant to start delivering water this month: “Parts of Santa Barbara will soon be receiving water from the city’s reactivated desalination plant. City officials announced The Charles E. Meyer Desalination Plant will start distributing water this month, although an exact date is not known. Joshua Haggmark, the City’s Water Resources Manager told NewsChannel 3 that the start date could come within the next three weeks, optimistically, by Monday. City officials said the desalinated water will meet and exceed all state and federal drinking water regulations. ... ” Read more from KEYT here: Santa Barbara’s desal plant to start delivering water this month
San Diego’s water rate dispute heads back to court: “The San Diego County Water Authority hopes to recover more than $250 million in fees it says it was overcharged by the Los Angeles-based Metropolitan Water District. Local water managers already won a lower court ruling. A judge found Metropolitan over-charged San Diego for water during a four-year period. Attorney Dan Purcell was hired by San Diego water managers to litigate the case. He argued the San Diego Water Authority negotiated a long-term contract to buy water from the Imperial Valley, replacing the water they had bought from Metropolitan. ... ” Read more from KPBS here: San Diego’s water rate dispute heads back to court
Imperial Beach remains closed after rain pushes sewage from Tijuana to San Diego: “The entire Imperial Beach shoreline remains closed Tuesday after storm-driven sewage out of Baja California was likely pushed into the area by recent rains. An existing border-area water contact closure was expanded Monday to include Imperial Beach. The ocean pollution warning for Border Field State Park and the Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge has been in effect since November. … ” Read more from KPBS here: Imperial Beach remains closed after rain pushes sewage from Tijuana to San Diego
Along the Colorado River …
Lake Mead at historic low as storage dispute heats up: “Officials from Arizona have hit a snag in negotiations over a plan to store more water in Lake Mead from the Colorado River. A 2015 multi-state agreement between Nevada, California and Arizona set up a drought contingency plan to prevent Lake Mead from hitting such a low level. If the level is reached it would trigger a federal shortage declaration. Not only would it be the first time this ever happened, but also it would force Nevada and Arizona to diminish each of their uses of the Colorado River. Once the states approve this plan, there will be some federal legislation required to codify it. … ” Read more from Fox News here: Lake Mead at historic low as storage dispute heats up
Lessons from the intersection of science and history at the Colorado River’s headwaters: “Historian Thomas Andrews delves into the history of the headwaters of the Colorado river through the lens of geology, archaeology, biology and more. His book “Coyote Valley: A Deep History in the High Rockies” is a Colorado Book Award finalist. The book explores the interaction of humans and environment in Coyote Valley, also called the Kawuneeche, about 100 miles northwest of Denver in Rocky Mountain National Park. Andrews is an associate professor of history at the University of Colorado Boulder. He spoke with Colorado Matters host Ryan Warner. … ” Read more from Colorado Public Radio here: Lessons from the intersection of science and history at the Colorado River’s headwaters
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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.
