In California water news today, Endangered winter-run chinook expand range, giving hope for species; Changes to California Water Fix have opponents requesting new permit approval; Why meteorologists say even a ‘Miracle March’ can’t save California’s dismally dry winter; Water use in California enclaves climbs as drought returns; Sierra snowpack, far below normal, is a ‘wakeup call’; Dry weather expected to persist in most of California; Zinke to implement massive Interior overhaul despite criticism; Benthic macroinvertebrates: Nature’s water quality detectives assisting scientists; and more …
In the news today …
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
Endangered winter-run chinook expand range, giving hope for species: “A lot can be discovered by studying the bones in a fish’s ear, including that winter-run chinook salmon — which spawn mainly in the Sacramento River in the Redding area — have been straying farther from home than originally thought. Straying from home may be a good thing in this case. The endangered species’ expanding range may give it a better chance at long-term survival, according to the authors of a recent paper published in the scientific journal Biological Conservation. … ” Read more from the Redding Record-Searchlight here: Endangered winter-run chinook expand range, giving hope for species
Changes to California Water Fix have opponents requesting new permit approval: “A radical change in scope for the California WaterFix project has tunnels opponents calling for the state to scrap the permit approval and begin anew. In a memo dated Feb. 7, Karla Nemeth, director of the DWR, announced that WaterFix will be developed in two stages. The first stage will include a single tunnel and two intakes with a capacity of 6,000 cubic feet per second (cfs). The second phase will add another tunnel and a third intake expanding the capacity to 9,000 cfs. … ” Read more from the Brentwood Press here: Changes to California Water Fix have opponents requesting new permit approval
Why meteorologists say even a ‘Miracle March’ can’t save California’s dismally dry winter: “Amid a winter marked by more sun than storms, California is desperate for rain and snow. An end-of-winter burst of wet potent California storms, aka a Miracle March, is the only hope to bolster the Sierra Nevada snowpack and boost the rainfall totals, but meteorologists say the odds of this happening are almost none. Even if a few wet weather systems sweep across the state in March, they’re unlikely to bump the state up to normal precipitation totals for the season. ... ” Read more from SF Gate here: Why meteorologists say even a ‘Miracle March’ can’t save California’s dismally dry winter
Water use in California enclaves climbs as drought returns: “Overall water use is climbing in Southern California as that part of the state plunges back into drought, driving state and regional water managers as they consider permanently reinstating some watering bans and conservation programs. Gov. Jerry Brown lifted California’s drought emergency status a year ago, after a wet winter that snapped a historic 2013-2017 drought, and the state ended his 25 percent mandatory conservation order. Water use has been moving steadily upward since then, especially in a six-county area of Southern California that includes the biggest chunk of the state’s nearly 40 million people. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service here: Water use in California enclaves climbs as drought returns
Sierra snowpack, far below normal, is a ‘wakeup call’: “California’s “frozen reservoir” is already melting. With California locked in the embrace of unseasonably dry weather and high temperatures, water content of the Sierra snowpack is currently 22 percent of the long-term average for early February. That’s less than it was on this date in 2015, in the most dismal depths of California’s five-year drought. In these three graphic sliders of satellite images from Yosemite, Tahoe, and Mammoth Lakes, you can see the dramatic difference in the snowpack — a key source of water for the state — from just a year ago. … ” Read more from KQED and view satellite images here: Sierra snowpack, far below normal, is a ‘wakeup call’
Dry weather expected to persist in most of California: “The odds of a March miracle rescuing California from a desperately dry winter are not looking good. Thursday’s monthly report from the federal Climate Prediction Center cites below-average rain and snow as the most likely weather scenario for almost all of the state for the next three months. ... ” Read more from SF Gate here: Dry weather expected to persist in most of California
Zinke to implement massive Interior overhaul despite criticism: “Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke is pressing ahead with a massive overhaul of his department, despite growing opposition to his proposal to move hundreds of public employees out of Washington and create a new organizational map that largely ignores state boundaries. Zinke wants to divide most of the department’s 70,000 employees and their responsibilities into 13 regions based on rivers and ecosystems, instead of the current map based mostly on state lines. The proposal would relocate many of the Interior Department’s top decision-makers from Washington to still-undisclosed cities in the West. The headquarters of some of its major bureaus also would move to the West. ... ” Read more from the Capital Press here: Zinke to implement massive Interior overhaul despite criticism
Benthic macroinvertebrates: Nature’s water quality detectives assisting scientists: “Teeming communities of life inhabit the bottoms of nearly all waterways everywhere. Hidden from most observers, whether by lack of access or lack of awareness, these benthic macroinvertebrates form much of the foundation of any aquatic food web and ecosystem. However, these tiny denizens of the nation’s waterways are also a mostly captive audience when it comes to poor water quality; they spend most of their lives in water, and unlike fish, cannot flee pollution or disruption. For this reason, scientists see benthic macroinvertebrates as indicators, nature’s water quality detectives. … ” Read more from Environmental Monitor here: Benthic macroinvertebrates: Nature’s water quality detectives assisting scientists
In commentary today …
The Case for California Water Fix: Tony Butka writes, “After a recent presentation by DWP about the status of remediation of underground water in the San Fernando Valley, I realized two things; first, they are doing a great job at building facilities to remove the underground toxins in these areas from the useful water for us Angelinos, and second, none of these measures are going to directly increase the water supply to Southern California. Which leaves us with a big question — how do we ensure our water supply in this desert we inhabit? ... ” Read more from City Watch here: The Case for California Water Fix
Ninth Circuit ruling on Clean Water Act raises more questions: Holly Doremus writes, “It was a great exam question (at least I thought so – you’ll have to ask my Environmental Law and Policy students if they agree): Does the disposal of treated wastewater from a municipal wastewater treatment plant into the ground through injection wells located a short distance from the ocean require a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit under the Clean Water Act? Like most great exam questions, this one was drawn from real life. That means it has a real (albeit not necessarily conclusive) answer, which the Ninth Circuit provided on February 1 in Hawaii Wildlife Fund v. County of Maui. I’m giving the panel a high grade. … ” Read more from Water Deeply here: Ninth Circuit ruling on Clean Water Act raises more questions
And now from California, a little water music and other songs for those dry times: David Mas Masumoto writes, “As another drought looms in California, I’ve been thinking about a whimsical project at a statewide think tank where I serve on the board. The Water Policy Center at the Public Policy Institute of California recently made a “Water Playlist.” It may be unusual for one of California’s more established water organizations, but it did give me the chance to hear what researchers had to say (sing?) about the state’s water future. ... ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: And now from California, a little water music and other songs for those dry times
In regional news and commentary today …
Siskiyou County: New Basin Advisory Committee seeks members: “The Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors recently took action to form a Basin Advisory Committee for the Scott Valley Groundwater Basin. The Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors recently took action to form a Basin Advisory Committee for the Scott Valley Groundwater Basin. The board is seeking interested persons to serve on the Basin Advisory Committee for the purpose of developing Groundwater Sustainability Plans for each groundwater basin. … ” Read more from the Siskiyou Daily News here: Siskiyou County: New Basin Advisory Committee seeks members
Oroville Dam: Assemblyman Gallagher brings legislators to Oroville: “Assemblyman James Gallagher rounded up a group of bipartisan legislators to visit Oroville on Thursday, where they met with community members and toured the now-infamous dam. Representatives of districts ranging from southern to northern California came to better understand the place where the evacuation of about 188,000 people occurred just over a year ago. They said they wanted to educate themselves about the dam — what happened during the crisis, the repairs now being done and other outstanding issues — and also just see what the community is like. … ” Read more from the Oroville Mercury Register here: Oroville Dam: Assemblyman Gallagher brings legislators to Oroville
Toxic plume a concern for South Lake Tahoe water companies: “Cleaning up the groundwater contamination at the Y area of South Lake Tahoe is moving at a glacial pace. And while more than 60 people last week attended a meeting at Lake Tahoe Airport about PCE, or tetrachloroethylene, not much new was presented by the three water agencies affected by the solvent nor the regulatory agency responsible for overseeing the cleanup. … ” Read more from Lake Tahoe News here: Toxic plume a concern for South Lake Tahoe water companies
SIP Certified partnering with SF water board: “The San Francisco Bay Regional Quality Water Board has approved a partnership between SIP Certified, LandSmart and Fish Friendly Farming to help vineyard owners along the Napa River and Sonoma Creek watersheds comply with the new water quality control regulations adopted in July 2017. This partnership announcement allows a variety of third-party programs to assist growers in complying with the new permit. SIP Certified has a long history of regulatory relief throughout California. Now, all SIP Certified growers qualify for Agricultural Order Region 3 compliance, automatically placing all certified vineyards in Tier 1 and verifying compliance with most Tier 1 requirements. … ” Read more from the Paso Robles Daily News here: SIP Certified partnering with SF water board
Monterey County supervisors overturn first-ever denial of a new well based on seawater intrusion concerns: “With seawater intrusion advancing in the lower Salinas Valley, a new trend may take hold in Monterey County: denial of applications for new agricultural wells. On Feb. 13, the county Board of Supervisors heard the first-ever appeal of such a denial on the grounds of seawater intrusion concerns. The County Health Department denied an application for the well on Dec. 7, based on concerns expressed by the Monterey County Water Resources Agency. … ” Read more from Monterey County Weekly here: County supervisors overturn first-ever denial of a new well based on seawater intrusion concerns
Severe drought spreads across San Luis Obispo County – and its getting worse every week: “The majority of San Luis Obispo County is now experiencing severe drought conditions, according to a new U.S. Drought Monitor report. The report — released on Thursday with data recorded on Tuesday — shows the severe dryness that began to creep into the southwest corner of the county a week ago has now spread throughout the region. Only the northwest corner of the county is spared the “severe” designation — even so, it’s experiencing abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions. A very dry winter has caused drought conditions to spread quickly from Southern California up the Central Coast and into the Central Valley. ... ” Read more from the San Luis Obispo Tribune here: Severe drought spreads across San Luis Obispo County – and its getting worse every week
Manteca: Call to stop building: “A group led by rural South Manteca residents are petitioning the Manteca City Council to place a moratorium on growth in the 200-year floodplain until all flooding impacts have been identified and mitigated. The push for a building moratorium includes land where the city is pursuing a 500-room resort hotel and indoor water park, the envisioned family entertainment zone, as well as 4,012 housing units in southwest Manteca that includes at least one that grading has been started on. … ” Read more from the Manteca Bulletin here: Call to stop building
Kern County: Warm, dry winter season a major concern for local growers: “While residents may be enjoying the sunnier, warmer weather this winter season, it has posed a challenge for some Kern County agriculture businesses. The warmer temperatures have caused some crops to begin blooming early, speeding up a process that usually doesn’t get going until March or April. Some businesses are concerned that the early blooming may have a negative impact on the health of trees and the crops. … ” Read more from Bakersfield.com here: Kern County: Warm, dry winter season a major concern for local growers
Indian Wells Valley: Water fees discussed at Thursday Groundwater Authority meeting: “At its January meeting, the Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority directed its staff to develop a plan for introducing water fees to pumping in the Indian Wells Valley. These fees would go towards funding IWVGA as it works towards its state-mandated goal of developing a Groundwater Sustainability Plan by 2020. At IWVGA’s February meeting on Thursday, IWVGA attorney and IWV Water District legal counsel Jim Worth gave the IWVGA board an update on the planning process for the fees. He stated that it was IWVGA staff’s original intention to have a full plan ready to present at the meeting, but he said they decided that it isn’t quite ready for a final draft just yet. Worth said that California Water Code 10730 authorizes an agency such as IWVGA to impose fees on water pumping to fund itself. … ” Read more from the Ridgecrest Independent here: Water fees discussed at Thursday Groundwater Authority meeting
Water Replenishment District of Southern California expands groundwater de-salter facility amid concern of possible drought: “The United States Drought Monitor (USDM), a project of government agencies and other partners, recently released a heat map of California, which indicates that some regions of the state are already experiencing early drought conditions as the winter season comes to a close. In an effort to conserve water, the Water Replenishment District (WRD) of Southern California expanded the capacity of brackish groundwater it can recycle from the Robert W. Goldsworthy Groundwater Desalter facility based in Torrance. The $18-million expansion of the plant allows for double the amount of groundwater to be cleaned and delivered for daily use by Torrance’s 105,000 residential and business customers. … ” Read more from the Signal Tribune here: Water Replenishment District of Southern California expands groundwater de-salter facility amid concern of possible drought
Along the Colorado River …
Restrictions won’t affect all users of Colorado River: “As water levels in Lake Powell and Lake Mead drop, the potential for restrictions on water use in 2019 rise, but not for all Colorado River water users. Under the 2007 drought plan guidelines Arizona adopted, Central Arizona Project will take the full hit for whatever that reduction is, said Mark Clark, Mohave Valley Irrigation and Drainage District manager. CAP’s hit, Clark said, is about 349,000 acre-feet of water. “The local folk here along the river really won’t see any change due to a shortage declaration at a tier one level,” Clark explained. … ” Read more from the Mojave Valley News here: Restrictions won’t affect all users of Colorado River
For better or worse, the Colorado River’s first dam transformed the desert Southwest: “Jim Cuming is a retired farmer, third generation. His grandfather immigrated to the U.S. from Ireland, by way of Canada. Edward Cuming got 160 acres in the Yuma Valley from the federal government. The land was as undeveloped as a dry riverbed, Jim Cuming said. In order to survive and develop the farm, his grandfather had to make a living. “This Laguna Dam project opened up. So they moved up to the dam and he worked on the dam there as a carpenter,” he said. ... ” Read more from KJZZ here: For better or worse, the Colorado River’s first dam transformed the desert Southwest
Precipitation watch …
Cooler weather on the way, but outlook for next three months remains warm and dry …
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.
