In California water news today, Study: Heavy storms may be enough to recharge groundwater; What’s the best weapon for battling species invading California waters? Data; Crews continue race to rebuild Oroville Dam spillway; Yuba City: Water Agency lines up its supporters; Calaveras County Water District moves forward with Lake Tulloch sewer design; and more …
In the news today …
Study: Heavy storms may be enough to recharge groundwater: “California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, passed in 2014, requires some 250 groundwater basins throughout the state to halt the overdraft in their aquifers. The big question for everyone is: Where will the water come from to do that? It could come from “high-magnitude flows” – flooding events, essentially, that occur from just a handful of storms every winter. Tiffany Kocis, a PhD student in hydrologic sciences at University of California, Davis, is the lead author of a new study that attempts to quantify these high flows. It’s one of the first efforts to measure how much water might be available for groundwater recharge from these storm events, and the results are surprising. … ” Read more from Water Deeply here: Study: Heavy storms may be enough to recharge groundwater
Proposal would commit California to slow shrinking of Salton Sea: “Months after California outlined a $383 million plan to slow the shrinking of the state’s largest lake, agencies will try to make sure officials honor the commitment. The plan announced in March involves building ponds at the ends of the Salton Sea, a salty, desert lake that has suffered a string of environmental setbacks since the 1970s. Agencies in the Imperial Valley questioned whether the state would follow through. ... ” Read more from CBS Sacramento here: Proposal would commit California to slow shrinking of Salton Sea
What’s the best weapon for battling species invading California waters? Data: “There’s an invasion plaguing the coastal waters of Southern California. Waves of tiny interlopers spark havoc at fisheries, clog municipal water pipes and frustrate boaters who must dislodge buckets of sea crud. They’ve altered our coastal regions’ ecosystems, endangered native fish and birthed such nasty problems as “swimmer’s itch.” Accelerated in recent decades by international trade, invasive sea creatures have hitchhiked here in and alongside massive cargo vessels from around the globe. … ” Read more from the Long Beach Press Telegram here: What’s the best weapon for battling species invading California waters? Data
Crews continue race to rebuild Oroville Dam spillway: “A video released by the state Department of Water Resources shows construction crews at Oroville Dam, the nation’s tallest, continuing to rebuild the severely damaged main spillway and emergency spillway. Hundreds of construction workers are racing on a $500 million project to rebuild enough of the main spillway by Nov. 1 so that it can be ready for heavy rains this winter. The job is scheduled to be finished in 2018. Crews this week are filling in crevices with concrete, in preparation of laying roller compacted concrete on top of that. … ” Read more from the Ventura County Star here: Crews continue race to rebuild Oroville Dam spillway
In commentary today …
Water bonds should be used to fund Sites Reservoir, says the East Bay Times: They write, “Now that there’s a list of projects vying for the $2.7 billion in Proposition 1 money dedicated to water storage, you’d think the chances of the proposed Sites Reservoir in Colusa County getting some of that cash would be clearer. Not so. There are few surprises in the list of projects. The uncertainty is because the decision will be made by the California Water Commission, a panel whose members are appointed by the governor, without a confirmation process so there’s no accountability. And, there is no real track record for such decisions. ... ” Read more from the East Bay Times here: Water bonds should be used to fund Sites Reservoir
The scheme to pump desert water to LA could destroy the Mojave. California’s legislature needs to block it, says the LA Times: They write, “Unlike some deserts, California’s Mojave Desert is full of life. There are tortoises and bighorn sheep, breathtaking wildflower blooms and Joshua trees. Many of the state’s plant and animal species can be found only there. It’s a unique and beautiful ecosystem, but also a fragile one. Life in the Mojave is sustained by underground aquifers and springs, many of them formed over thousands of years. These aquifers support surrounding communities, including Native American tribes, and some 2,100 jobs in tourism, mining, ranching and other industries. A world-renowned travel destination, the Mojave generated more than $155 million in the tourism sector last year alone. ... ” Read more from the LA Times here: The scheme to pump desert water to LA could destroy the Mojave. California’s legislature needs to block it
In regional news and commentary today …
North Coast dairies affected by new effort to bolster water quality rules: “North Coast water quality regulators are ramping up development of a new permitting program for the region’s dairies in an effort designed to enhance and streamline efforts to safeguard surface and groundwater supplies from contamination with bovine waste. Cows produce the stuff in abundance, a factor that governs major aspects of dozens of dairy operations scattered across rural Sonoma County and elsewhere on the North Coast. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat here: North Coast dairies affected by new effort to bolster water quality rules
Nevada County: We need a sensible approach to water management, says Diana Suarez: She writes, “Is the NID board abdicating its responsibility for sound and sensible water management? The question before the board on Aug. 9 was whether to authorize their general manager to spend your money on the preparation of an application for a billion-dollar dam proposal without looking at the pools of money available under Proposition 1 for other opportunities, including groundwater storage and meadow restoration. They voted to give Rem Scherzinger this authority. ... ” Read more from The Union here: We need a sensible approach to water management
Yuba City: Water Agency lines up its supporters: “As the Yuba County Water Agency pursues a new license for the Yuba River Development Project, the agency is trying to line up community support. Much of that community support so far comes from local government and special districts. They’ve sent letters to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which has posted them to its website. Most of the letters carry similar wording, as if they came from the same template. Not surprisingly, Yuba County supports the Water Agency with an argument that has been made frequently. … ” Read more from the Appeal Democrat here: Water Agency lines up its supporters
Calaveras County Water District moves forward with Lake Tulloch sewer design: “A sewer pipe that runs the risk of spilling into a portion of Lake Tulloch is slated for alteration, according to a CCWD press release. The Calaveras County Water District unanimously approved a contract for design and engineering services to replace and upgrade 5,200-feet of sewer infrastructure in the Lake Tulloch area near Copperopolis. “It’s hard to find another project that has more compelling public health and safety reasons to complete,” said Dave Eggerton, CCWD general manager. “The current situation is particularly egregious with the sewer line under the lake. We can’t get this done fast enough. If we didn’t have the Renovation and Replacement funds, we wouldn’t be able to do this project. We owe our thanks to our customers for making critical projects like this possible.” … ” Read more from the Calaveras Enterprise here: Calaveras County Water District moves forward with Lake Tulloch sewer design
Vacaville: ‘Water tax’ measure may spur mayor’s letter: “A “water tax” in a proposed state Senate bill will spur a letter from Mayor Len Augustine opposing the legislation if the City Council goes along Tuesday with a staff recommendation. The bill by State Sen. William Monning, D-Carmel, deals with paying for safe drinking water solutions for disadvantaged communities in California, said a city report. Augustine’s draft letter says Vacaville agrees with assisting such communities but that requiring local water agencies across the state to collect a new tax is not the solution. … ” Read more from the Daily Reporter here: ‘Water tax’ measure may spur mayor’s letter
Water contaminant to cost Chino $5 million: “The Chino city council approved an emergency resolution to spend up to $5 million in a contract with RC Foster Corporation of Corona to begin water treatment services for the contaminant 1,2,3 Trichloropropane (1,2,3 TCP) at the Eastside and Benson water treatment facilities. The Eastside water treatment facility is located at 7537 Schaefer Ave. in Ontario. The Benson facility is located at 11840 Benson Ave., Chino. “That’s a lot of money,” councilman Earl Elrod muttered when the council started discussing the matter during the Aug 15 council meeting. … ” Read more from the Chino Champion here: Water contaminant to cost Chino $5 million
More news and commentary in the weekend edition …
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
- RESERVOIR AND WATER CONDITIONS for August 21st
- NEWS WORTH NOTING: NOAA launches ‘atmospheric river’ project in San Francisco Bay area; 321 East Porterville households now connected to reliable water supply
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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.
