DAILY DIGEST: Here’s where construction efforts on Oroville Dam spillway lie in early July; Winnemem Wintu work to bring salmon home from New Zealand; Heat wave kills thousands of cattle, overwhelms dairy industry; and more …

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DAILY DIGEST
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In California water news today, Here’s where construction efforts on Oroville Dam spillway lie in early July; Winnemem Wintu work to bring salmon home from New Zealand; California heat wave kills thousands of cattle, overwhelms dairy industry; Novato water tank vandalism forces draining of 200,000 gallons; Morro Bay to reconsider oceanside wastewater treatment plant to save money; Environmental group sues over alleged pollution from San Juan Capistrano equestrian center; San Luis Rey River work to begin this fall; and more …

On the calendar today …

  • Brown Bag Seminar at 12:00pm: Developing Tiered Environmental Flow Criteria using a Functional Flows Approach for CA Streams: Dr. Sarah Yarnell, Research Hydrologist with the UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences, will discuss her recent work using a functional-flows approach to develop statewide environmental flow recommendations. Click here for webcast information.

In the news today …

Also on Maven’s Notebook today …

Here’s where construction efforts on Oroville Dam spillway lie in early July:  “Drone video footage released Friday shows how construction progressed on the Lake Oroville main spillway from July 1 through July 6, 2017.  The reconstruction of Oroville Dam’s flood-control spillways began in May, more than three months after a near disaster forced the emergency evacuation of thousands of downstream residents.  Kiewit Corp. of Omaha, Neb., which was awarded a $275.4 million contract to fix the dam’s two spillways, has more than 200 employees on the site, a workforce that will balloon to 500 by August. … ”  Read more from the Sacramento Bee here:  Here’s where construction efforts on Oroville Dam spillway lie in early July  NOTE:  Scroll down for latest drone footage from Oroville.

Winnemem Wintu work to bring salmon home from New Zealand:  “With New Zealand’s Southern Alps looming above, about 30 members of the Winnemem Wintu tribe from Northern California sat on the windswept bank of the Rakaia River cradling in their hands dark and wormy salmon fry, a long-lost relative finally found.  As they released the salmon into a gurgling rivulet, a couple of Winnemem broke down in tears while others began softly singing a prayer song, barely louder than the breeze.  “I want you to have this relationship with the salmon, to have this in your hearts,” said Traditional Chief and Spiritual Leader Caleen Sisk. “So you’ll understand why we’re going to do whatever it takes to bring them back.” … ”  Read more from Indian Country Today here:  Winnemem Wintu work to bring salmon home from New Zealand

California heat wave kills thousands of cattle, overwhelms dairy industry:  “Thousands of cattle have died in California as a heat wave continues to bake the state.  California’s Central Valley has dealt with two bouts of prolonged triple-digit heat since mid-June, according to weather.com meteorologist Chris Dolce. Fresno observed nine consecutive days with afternoon readings in the 100s during the second half of June. Saturday marked the sixth day in a row with highs above the century mark in this latest heat wave to begin July, and it’s expected to continue through much of the week ahead. … ”  Read more from The Weather Channel here:  California heat wave kills thousands of cattle, overwhelms dairy industry

Novato water tank vandalism forces draining of 200,000 gallons:  “Almost 290,000 gallons of water are set to be drained from North Marin Water District’s supply after a water tank was vandalized in a remote area of northwest Novato on Friday.  Water officials were alerted prior to 6 p.m. of a 500,000 gallon tank near Wild Horse Valley Drive that had been accessed by a trespasser, said Drew McIntyre, general manager of the water district. Staff was notified by an intruder alarm attached to the tank. ... ”  Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here:  Novato water tank vandalism forces draining of 200,000 gallons

Morro Bay to reconsider oceanside wastewater treatment plant to save money: “Four years after the state Coastal Commission rejected a proposal to build a new wastewater treatment plant at its existing oceanside plant site, the Morro Bay City Council will consider revisiting that option.  On Tuesday, the council will review a recommendation by a peer review panel of local wastewater experts to investigate the feasibility of a new oceanside plant, and consult the Coastal Commission, to save an estimated $38 to $43 million.  The council currently has an inland site in mind at the intersection of South Bay Boulevard and Highway 1. ... ”  Read more from the San Luis Obispo Tribune here:  Morro Bay to reconsider oceanside wastewater treatment plant to save money

Environmental group sues over alleged pollution from San Juan Capistrano equestrian center:  “Pollution and damage to San Juan Creek from a neighboring horse-riding park in San Juan Capistrano are at the heart of a lawsuit filed against the city by environmental nonprofit Coastkeeper.  Coastkeeper filed the lawsuit in federal court Wednesday, July 5, alleging some 9,000 violations of the U.S. Clean Water Act over a five-year period by the city-owned Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park to the nearby environmentally sensitive San Juan Creek.  “We’ve never seen a site with more violations than this one,” said Coastkeeper Senior Staff Attorney Colin Kelly. … ”  Read more from the OC Register here:  Environmental group sues over alleged pollution from San Juan Capistrano equestrian center

San Luis Rey River work to begin this fall:  “Work is expected to begin this fall on a project to protect thousands of homes from flooding along the San Luis Rey River in Oceanside and, at the same time, beef up additional areas of the city’s eroding beach.  More than 200,000 cubic yards of sediment, over half of it beach-quality sand, will be removed from the riverbed, largely between Benet Road and Foussat Road, to improve the flow of water and lessen the danger of flooding for homes along the river.  The work will require the temporary closure of a popular public bike and pedestrian trail between Douglas Drive and Foussat Road, but officials said the results will be worth it. … ”  Read more from the San Diego Union Tribune here:  San Luis Rey River work to begin this fall

In commentary today …

California needs transparency in groundwater pumping, says Kirsten James:  ““What gets measured, gets managed,” is an old business adage about the importance of transparency that’s relevant to California’s groundwater situation today. Simply put, it’s about making sure you have the information you need to achieve what you set out do.  Currently, in some of the most at-risk basins in the state, those who rely on the groundwater for their sustenance and livelihood are not privy to the information that’s needed to responsibly manage the resource – such as when new wells go in, what they’re being used for or how much water they will be pumping out of the basin. The recently formed local groundwater sustainability agencies don’t have this information, either. So all they can do is cross their fingers and hope that the well – literally – does not run dry. … ”  Read more from Water Deeply here:  California needs transparency in groundwater pumping, says Kirsten James

Latest drone footage from Oroville …

“Drone video footage shows construction progress on the Lake Oroville main spillway from July 1 through July 6. Efforts continue to focus on excavation of debris on the lower chute, rock crushing, rock cleaning to prepare the foundation for concrete pouring. The concrete batch plant is producing materials for concrete that will be used for reconstruction.”

More news and commentary in the weekend edition …

Also on Maven’s Notebook today …

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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.

 

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