DAILY DIGEST: The Oroville Dam spillway failed miserably, so California is blowing it up; Officials worried about Trinity Dam safety; They built it, but couldn’t afford to run it – Clean drinking water fight focuses on gaps in funding; and more …

In California water news today, The Oroville Dam spillway failed miserably, so California is blowing it up; Oroville Dam disaster will end up costing about $400 million; Officials worried about Trinity Dam safety; They built it, but couldn’t afford to run it – Clean drinking water fight focuses on gaps in funding; Many growers are still dealing with wet fields; Water savings slip in April, after drought ended; Gray’s bill looks to provide fair water rights; Public support for water infrastructure depends on how you ask the question; and more …

In the news today …

The Oroville Dam spillway failed miserably, so California is blowing it up:  “The cause of one of the year’s most memorable weather disasters is getting the boom this month — the spillway on the Lake Oroville Dam in California. In February, the spillway failed spectacularly, to the tune of 200,000 people evacuated from their homes.  After torrential winter storms, water poured over the lake’s spillways. The main spillway, which was ostensibly designed to bear the weight, crumbled on one side and allowed a torrent to flow out of the spillway onto the wall of the dam itself. That’s problematic because this area of the dam is literally just a hill. … ”  Read more from the Washington Post here:  The Oroville Dam spillway failed miserably, so California is blowing it up

Oroville Dam disaster will end up costing about $400 million:  “The Oroville Dam spillway failure in February proved to be the first major infrastructure crisis of the Trump Administration, a presidency that has vowed to make infrastructure a priority, though so far with little to show for the promise. A new report from the Sacramento Bee shows what the likely costs will be if such efforts stall: hundreds of millions dollars on contractors in crisis situations, over and over again.  The Bee estimates that over $400 million will be spent on efforts related to the fracturing of the 770 foot tall dam’s main flood-control spillway, which forced the evacuation of 200,000 people. The economic boomlet shows how far infrastructure stretches. Everything from gravel contractors, trucking firms, drone operators, engineering consultants, and food for the all of the above come into the equation. ... ”  Read more from Popular Mechanics here:  Oroville Dam disaster will end up costing about $400 million

Officials worried about Trinity Dam safety:  “Concerned Trinity Dam could suffer the same fate as Oroville Dam — which had a near catastrophic failure this past winter — the Trinity County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday agreed to continue to pursue getting an emergency spillway built on the dam.  Supervisor Bill Burton said residents in his district watched the Oroville Dam incident unfold in February and became concerned something similar could happen in Trinity County.  “I’m the downriver supervisor, so my constituents would be very concerned if we ever had these troubles,” Burton said during a presentation Tuesday on Trinity Dam safety. ... ”  Read more from the Redding Record Searchlight here:  Officials worried about Trinity Dam safety

They built it, but couldn’t afford to run it – Clean drinking water fight focuses on gaps in funding:  “This is the third installment in our series Contaminated, in which we explore the 300 California communities that lack access to clean drinking water. When we began the series, we introduced you to the community of Lanare, which has arsenic-tainted water while a treatment plant in the center of town sits idle.  Today, we return to Lanare to learn why infrastructure projects aren’t always enough, and how Sacramento is trying to ensure Lanare never happens again. … ”  Read more from Valley Public Radio here:  They built it, but couldn’t afford to run it – Clean drinking water fight focuses on gaps in funding

Many growers are still dealing with wet fields:  “It may not be raining much anymore, but all that water is still doing a number on some growers of California peaches, walnuts and almonds.  Exactly how big of a number is still unknown.  Janine Hasey, a University of California Cooperative Extension farm advisor in Yuba, Sutter and Colusa counties, said that her area was seeing two separate issues. One involved river bottom orchards inside the levees, which flooded several times this year.  “The growers actually know that there’s that risk involved,” Hasey said. “It’s just that this year, the rivers ran high for a long time.” … ”  Read more from Ag Alert here:  Many growers are still dealing with wet fields

Water savings slip in April, after drought ended:  “Californians used more water this April than they did in April 2016, according to state data, and that jump in water use came thanks to residents of Southern California. The numbers were released Tuesday by the State Water Resources Control Board, which requires urban water districts across the state to report on local water use.  Gov. Jerry Brown declared an end to the state’ drought emergency in April, following a wet winter across California. That included lifting the mandatory water conservation limits imposed by the state. The new data represents the first look at water use by Californians after the five-year drought. ... ”  Read more from KPCC here:  Water savings slip in April, after drought ended

Gray’s bill looks to provide fair water rights:  “California lawmakers took a step toward restructuring water rights hearings throughout the state last week when Assembly Bill 313, introduced by Assemblyman Adam Gray (D-Merced), overwhelmingly passed the Assembly, moving the bill which aims to fix the state’s broken water management structure closer to becoming law.  “Anyone who deals with California water knows the system is broken,” said Gray following the vote. “Today’s vote sends a clear message that we realize it’s time to get to work, starting with restoring the fairness our water rights holders expect and deserve.” … ”  Read more from the Turlock Journal here:  Gray’s bill looks to provide fair water rights

Public support for water infrastructure depends on how you ask the question:  “Many of President Donald Trump’s campaign promises have sparked controversy, but one of his proposals ­– spending $1 trillion to fix the nation’s decrepit infrastructure – has broad, bipartisan support, according to numerous public opinion surveys.  Water projects are only expected to be a small part of that potential infrastructure spending, but polling data suggests that the public is willing to pay for such improvements – up to a point. … ”  Read more from Water Deeply here:  Public support for water infrastructure depends on how you ask the question

In commentary today …

Senator Feinstein should study the facts before rejecting Cadiz’s desert water project, says Winston H. Hickox:  He writes, “While I was California Environmental Protection Agency secretary, Sen. Dianne Feinstein and I often worked collaboratively on important statewide water issues. That is why I found her op-ed regarding the Cadiz water project so troubling (Water extraction project would be destructive to California’s Mojave Desert, May 24). The project has followed the law and offers immense benefits for her constituents. Yet the senator’s opinions are disconnected from facts in this case.  The project will conserve enough water for 400,000 Californians each year for 50 years without causing a single adverse environmental impact. ... ”  Read more from the Sacramento Bee here:  Senator Feinstein should study the facts before rejecting Cadiz’s desert water project

In regional news and commentary today …

Chico’s iconic water towers will be coming down:  “It’s the end of an era for Chico’s iconic water towers, which have stood above the treeline for generations.  California Water Service recently learned the four towers don’t meet modern earthquake standards, and would cost up to 10 times more to upgrade than to remove, according to Pete Bonacich, general manager of Cal Water in Chico.  The cost to make the towers earthquake safe is estimated at $800,000-$1.2 million each, compared to $150,000-$200,000 each for removal. ... ”  Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record here:  Chico’s iconic water towers will be coming down

Research paper IDs cause of 2015 toxic algal bloom in Monterey Bay:  “Upwelling caused the toxic algal bloom that poisoned large numbers of marine animals and led to the closure of commercial fisheries in Monterey Bay in 2015, but a research paper published Monday shows an imbalance between two nutrients may have caused high toxicity levels.  The bloom, considered the most toxic ever observed in the bay, happened in late spring 2015, when scientists from Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, UC Santa Cruz, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration were conducting a large-scale biology experiment in the bay called Ecology and Oceanography of Harmful Algal Blooms. … ”  Read more from the Monterey County Herald here:  Research paper IDs cause of 2015 toxic algal bloom in Monterey Bay

A field guide to aiding salmon (as preferred by SF and other Tuolumne diverters):  “To no one’s surprise Tuesday, the Turlock Irrigation District board endorsed Tuolumne River fishery improvements that do not involve boosting reservoir releases.  Directors voted 5-0 to support a proposal made by San Francisco in response to a state effort to sharply increase flows for salmon and other native fish on this and nearby rivers.  The city, which gets most of its water from the Tuolumne, calls for projects such as spawning gravel restoration, planting of riverside trees, and control of non-native predators and aquatic weeds. ... ”  Read more from the Modesto Bee here:  A field guide to aiding salmon (as preferred by SF and other Tuolumne diverters

Full canals, rising water tables wipe away irrigation concerns for Fresno grower:  “The 2017 bloom began in Chandler Farms’ 100 acres of vineyards near Selma, Calif., when 20 acres of Fiesta raisin grape vines started flowering the second week of May. Within a week after that the Rubired wine grape vines in the remaining 80 acres were also blooming.  “We’re off to a pretty normal start,” says Tom Chandler. … ”  Read more from the Western Farm Press here:  Full canals, rising water tables wipe away irrigation concerns for Fresno grower

Water release to recharge Ventura County basins:  “Over the next several weeks, millions of gallons of water will leave the Vern Freeman Diversion Dam near Saticoy, bound for groundwater basins throughout Ventura County.   The water, 10,000 acre-feet, will have traveled by way of Castaic Lake, Castaic Creek and the Santa Clara River, and will have originated in Northern California. At the river, it’s being joined by 15,000 acre-feet from United Water Conservation District’s Lake Piru. ... ”  Read more from the Ventura County Star here:  Water release to recharge Ventura County basins

Santa Clarita: No change in special water tax – for now:  “Local water users who pay for water delivered from Northern California through a special annual property tax levied by the Castaic Lake Water Agency, will likely see that rate go up in the next couple of years – but not this year.  Members of the agency’s Budget and Rates Committee voted Monday to recommend the agency keep the tax rate it has had in place this past fiscal year, with the understanding that the rate would likely have to be increased in the next couple of years, perhaps in fiscal year 2019/20. ... ”  Read more from the Santa Clarita Signal here:  Santa Clarita: No change in special water tax – for now

Southern California: These fish are all about sex on the beach:  “With summer just around the corner, Southern California beaches are ready to welcome the yearly arrival of some very unique and amorous guests. That’s right, the grunion are running!  California grunion are fish that spend their lives in the ocean. But when the tides are at their highest during spring and summer, grunion make a trip up onto beaches to mate and lay eggs. … ”  Read more from KQED here:  Southern California: These fish are all about sex on the beach

Also on Maven’s Notebook today …

• DELTA STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL: Examining the science supporting the proposed Delta conveyance amendment
• NEWS WORTH NOTING: CDFW seeking grant proposals to restore habitat impacted by cannabis cultivation; California announces commitments to address ocean acidification and other threats to coastal communities and ecosystems

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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.