DAILY DIGEST: Oroville Dam ready to withstand winter rains as first phase of repairs is finished; Effort to steward a rare free-flowing river gains traction; Wine industry escapes widespread damage from wildfires; State Water Board issues draft proposed water waste regulation; and more …

Maven
DAILY DIGEST
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In California water news today, Oroville Dam ready to withstand winter rains as first phase of repairs is finished; Oroville Dam: Phase 2 begins, DWR says spillway is ready for winter; California launches overall safety review at nation’s tallest dam; Water agency meets key Oroville deadline, but faces skepticism about future role; Effort to steward a rare free-flowing river gains traction; Wine industry escapes widespread damage from wildfires; Mono Lake shows lingering signs of human use; State Water Board issues draft proposed water waste regulation; California plans for climate change: fires, heat, and flooding; and more …

On the calendar today …

In the news today …

Also on Maven’s Notebook today …

Oroville Dam ready to withstand winter rains as first phase of repairs is finished:  “The Oroville Dam flood control spillway has been fixed.  Eight and a half months after the gravest emergency in the dam’s history forced 188,000 residents to flee, state officials said Wednesday that Oroville’s structures have been largely rebuilt and can withstand a rainy Northern California winter. A second phase of work will be completed next year.  “Lake Oroville’s main spillway is indeed ready to safely handle winter flows if needed,” said Grant Davis, director of the Department of Water Resources, in a conference call with reporters. … ”  Read more from the Sacramento Bee here:  Oroville Dam ready to withstand winter rains as first phase of repairs is finished

Oroville Dam: Phase 2 begins, DWR says spillway is ready for winter:  “With the final layer of concrete placed on the Oroville Dam spillway Wednesday morning, the state Department of Water Resources announced the start of phase two.  Grant Davis, director of DWR, began a press conference call Wednesday by acknowledging the “terrifying” evacuation of Oroville and downstream communities in February and thanked the men and women who aided in the reconstruction efforts of the more than 50-year-old structure. … ”  Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record here:  Oroville Dam: Phase 2 begins, DWR says spillway is ready for winter

California launches overall safety review at nation’s tallest dam:  “California is launching an overall safety review of the nation’s tallest dam to pinpoint any needed upgrades in the half-century-old structure, water officials said Wednesday, launching the kind of overarching review called for by an independent national panel of experts in September following the collapse of two spillways at Oroville Dam.  Experts from the national Association of State Dam Safety Officials and the U.S. Society on Dams concluded that state officials would have been able to catch the problems that led to the collapses if they had reviewed the 1960s’ design and construction of the dam using modern engineering standards. … ”  Read more from the AP via WRAL here:  California launches overall safety review at nation’s tallest dam

Water agency meets key Oroville deadline, but faces skepticism about future role:  “The California Department of Water Resources announced Wednesday it has completed the first phase of its massive reconstruction of Oroville Dam’s shattered main spillway — just in time for the first significant rainfall of the season.  The agency also announced that in the wake of the spillway’s failure last February — and several reports that found the concrete chute appeared to have been poorly designed, built and maintained — it will conduct a “comprehensive needs assessment” for the dam and its reservoir. ... ”  Read more from KQED here:  Water agency meets key Oroville deadline, but faces skepticism about future role

Effort to steward a rare free-flowing river gains traction:  “Every river draining the western Sierra Nevada mountains has a major dam, with the exception of the Cosumnes. As the last free-flowing river in the region, the Cosumnes’ 809,600-acre watershed harbors native habitat types and species found in few other places in California, including the largest oak riparian forest in the state.  While many scientists and conservationists laud the Cosumnes River as a model basin for ecological processes, the watershed has been highly modified over the past 150 years. Much of its natural habitat has been converted to agricultural and grazing land; the upper watershed has been extensively logged; the Cosumnes has been channelized and leveed in several sections; and the basin’s groundwater overdrafted. ... ”  Read more from Water Deeply here:  Effort to steward a rare free-flowing river gains traction

Wine industry escapes widespread damage from wildfires:  “As the fires in California’s wine country are mostly contained, most winery tasting rooms have reopened and are eagerly urging people who’d planned visits not to cancel their trips.  Authorities are still estimating the damage to agriculture from the 21 wildfires in October that forced 100,000 people to evacuate, destroyed an estimated 8,900 structures and killed 43 people, according to the state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.  But the San Francisco-based Wine Institute reiterates that only about 11 of the roughly 1,200 wineries in Mendocino, Napa and Sonoma counties were destroyed or heavily damaged, while some others sustained some damage but are still able to make wine and welcome visitors. ... ”  Read more from the Capital Press here:  Wine industry escapes widespread damage from wildfires

Mono Lake shows lingering signs of human use:  “Geoff McQuilkin likes to think of California’s Mono Lake as the Great Salt Lake’s sister.  Both lakes have no outlet, growing salty as minerals accumulate. Both serve as important stopovers for millions of migrating birds, who depend on the brine shrimp and flies that thrive in their salty environments. Both have shrunk considerably from human water consumption, and both have human protectors looking to save them.  “Things are bigger at the Great Salt Lake, in terms of the number of visiting birds, the surface area, so we’re a smaller sister,” McQuilkin said. “Mono lake is deeper, so our fluctuations, those would be huge swings for the Great Salt Lake.” … ”  Read more from the Standard-Examiner here:  Mono Lake shows lingering signs of human use

State Water Board issues draft proposed water waste regulation:  “The State Water Resources Control Board today released its draft proposed regulation to implement permanent prohibitions against certain wasteful water use practices, as directed by Gov. Jerry Brown under executive orders B-37-16 and B-40-17.  According to the State Water Board, the agency is conducting the rulemaking process under its “Waste and Unreasonable Use” authority as part of the Administration’s framework to make conservation a “California Way of Life.”  Under the proposed regulation, the following practices would be prohibited: ... ”  Read more from ACWA’s Water News here:  State Water Board issues draft proposed water waste regulation

California plans for climate change: fires, heat, and flooding:  “As massive fires that would kill more than 40 people ravaged his state last month, California Gov. Jerry Brown met with state emergency officials, jabbing at culprits of the latest disaster.  “That’s the way it is with a warming climate, dry weather and reducing moisture,” Brown warned. “These kinds of catastrophes have happened, they’ll continue to happen, and we have to be prepared to do everything we can to mitigate.”  California efforts to prepare for climate change already have begun. … ”  Read more from the Sacramento Bee here:  California plans for climate change: fires, heat, and flooding

In commentary today …

California’s water problem?  Demand keeps rising while supply stays the same, says David Cehrs:  He writes, “Last week I attended a town hall meeting in Fresno where the topic was new dams and, more importantly, water in general. The five-member panel included two California assemblymen and one state senator, all from the San Joaquin Valley. The politicians were all on their game with answers and non-answers depending upon the questions.  What struck me, most of all, was the disconnect between politics, political reality and science. One politician stated that California’s water supply has increased 1 percent since 1950, yet the population has tripled. He then mentioned how California needs more water; his fellow politicians reiterated this comment and expanded upon it referencing the need for more water for growth. … ”  Read more from the Sacramento Bee here:  California’s water problem?  Demand keeps rising while supply stays the same

How badly is California getting soaked on flood insurance?  Foon Rhee writes, “As California moves into rainy season, a growing number of voices are urging the state to explore getting out of federal flood insurance and creating its own program.  They point out that the National Flood Insurance Program is inundated with debt, and that California residents pay far more into the program than they are getting back.  Among the loudest proponents of this small version of Calexit is Nicholas Pinter, a professor at UC Davis and associate director of its Center for Watershed Sciences. ... ”  Read more from the Sacramento Bee here:  How badly is California getting soaked on flood insurance?

Four dams in the West are coming down – a victory wrapped in a defeat for smart water policy:  Jacques Leslie writes, “When a top Interior Department official acknowledged recently that the Trump administration wouldn’t try to block removal of four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River, he signaled a monumental victory for local Native American tribes, salmon fishermen and the national dam removal movement.  Yet this development is less momentous than it would have been in 2015, when dam removal was just one component of a broad plan for the Klamath Basin, which straddles the California-Oregon border. That plan included salmon habitat restoration, the return of tribal land and water-sharing among farmers, ranchers and tribes. It was the product of a decade of trust-building and honest negotiation among representatives of the basin’s constituencies, whose efforts turned one of the nation’s most contentious water basins into a model of collaboration. It helped that big money didn’t skew the process: Most of the basin’s residents are far from wealthy, and the only corporation involved is PacifiCorp, the utility that owns the dams. ... ”  Read more from the LA Times here:  Four dams in the West are coming down – a victory wrapped in a defeat for smart water policy

Keeping the seas as friends:  The Santa Maria Times writes,  “Scientists in Melbourne, Australia, have decided estimates of sea level increases are woefully inadequate. Instead of going up 2-4 feet by 2100, the increase will be more on the order of 6-7 feet.  A couple of feet may not seem like much of a jump, unless you happen to be one of the hundreds of millions of people who would, literally, be up to their eyelids in sea water.  On the other hand, teams of scientists in Europe and Asia, with a little help from the World Health Organization, reckon 2.3 billion people live in water-stressed areas of the planet, and another billion or so don’t have access to clean water.  Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink. ... ”  Read more from the Santa Maria Times here:  Keeping the seas as friends

In regional news and commentary today …

Klamath County Commissioners intervene in dam removal:  “The Klamath County Board of Commissioners is continuing efforts to intervene in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) process to remove four dams on the Klamath River and transfer ownership to the Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC).  The Klamath River Renewal Corporation is a nonprofit corporation formed in 2016 to oversee removal of four dams on the Klamath River.  The KRRC’s sole purpose is to oversee the decommissioning of Iron Gate Dam, Copco No. 1 Dam, Copco No. 2 Dam, and J.C. Boyle Dam in partnership with PacifiCorp, the owner of the facilities. … ”  Read more from the Herald & News here:  Klamath County Commissioners intervene in dam removal

Storm forecast brings fear of toxic runoff from wine country burn zones:  “With the first major storm of autumn threatening to dump snow and rain over Northern California this weekend, environmental officials are scrambling to contain potentially toxic runoff from the ash and debris of wine country burn zones.  The storm — a soggy cold front flowing south from Vancouver, Canada — will reach the state by Friday and drop up to 4 inches of rain in the northern Sierra Nevada, said Chris Hintz, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Sacramento. ... ”  Read more from the LA Times here:  Storm forecast brings fear of toxic runoff from wine country burn zones

Salt marsh project eyed for Tam Valley:  “A swath of the Tam Valley is being eyed for a wetlands restoration to revive a tidal salt marsh that will help re-energize life along the water.  Salt marshes are wetlands that are flooded and drained by salt water brought in by tides. The areas provide food, refuge and habitat for fish, shrimp and crabs, among other species, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.  “We also need those areas to trap sediment,” said Beth Huning, executive director of the Fairfax-based San Francisco Bay Joint Venture, an organization that works on wetland restoration projects. “They act as a buffer against sea-level rise and reduce flooding. They are critical, no matter how small.” ... ”  Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here:  Salt marsh project eyed for Tam Valley

That sinking feeling: Sacramento lands $100,000 for abandoned boat cleanup:  “Sacramento police hope risks caused by abandoned boats are about to be washed away by a $100,000 grant.  The Police Department received the grant in September from the California Division of Boating and Waterways. Known as SAVE, for “surrendered and abandoned vessel exchange,” the program gives local officers the financial means to pull empty and sometimes toxic boats out of portions of the Sacramento River surrounding the city. ... ”  Read more from the Sacramento News & Review here:  That sinking feeling: Sacramento lands $100,000 for abandoned boat cleanup

Galt meeting explains groundwater law impact:  “A community meeting on Oct. 26 about implementation of new groundwater law for a local groundwater basin that includes Galt and the surrounding area failed to lure residents who may be impacted by the recently passed sustainability law.  The meeting only had thee members of the general public attend.  It was conducted by Tom Gohring, executive director of the Water Forum, a private and public consortium formed in 2000 to protect Sacramento region water resources. … ”  Read more from The Galt Herald here:  Galt meeting explains groundwater law impact

Goleta developer eyes a trickle of Carpinteria’s state water:  “The Carpinteria Valley Water District has another nibble for State Water on its line. Ocean Meadows, a 38-unit residential development planned for Goleta, is seeking 18 Acre Feet a year, a small portion of Carpinteria’s 2,000 AF annual allotment that goes mostly unused.  CVWD boardmembers voted 3-0 (with Matt Roberts and Polly Holcombe absent) on Oct. 25 to approve the first step of negotiations toward a contract with Ocean Meadows. The processing agreement holds the developer responsible for all legal and staff costs associated with the deal, which would entail a $200,000 buy in and $32,000 annually for use. … ”  Read more from the Coastal View here:  Goleta developer eyes a trickle of Carpinteria’s state water

How much will water cost from a Doheney desalination plant?  South Coast board hears options:  “South Coast Water District’s board of directors received new details about a proposed desalination facility during a workshop Tuesday in Laguna Beach.  A 30-year loan and $10-million grant could be obtained, while multiple sources of power, including natural gas, could help fuel the plant as part of the Doheny Ocean Desalination Project.  Mark Donovan, senior engineer with GHD, Inc., briefed board members on alternative power supplies, potential hazards from sea-level rise and projected costs of water for various ownership scenarios at the proposed plant. … ”  Read more from the LA Times here:  How much will water cost from a Doheney desalination plant?  South Coast board hears options

Imperial Beach wants FBI to investigate sewage spill:  “The mayor of Imperial Beach and a city councilmember called for a federal investigation Wednesday after an alleged toxic plume of sewage that spilled in Tijuana made its way to U.S. beaches late last week and got them and others sick.  According to a city press release, Imperial Beach Mayor Serge Dedina was sickened after surfing at IB on Thursday, the first of two consecutive days that residents of the Playas de Tijuana community complained about the stench of sewage on their beachfront. ... ”  Read more from CBS Channel 8 here:  Imperial Beach wants FBI to investigate sewage spill

Precipitation watch …

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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