In California water news today, Five things to know about the water bonds on upcoming ballots; Trump appoints new EPA head in SF who led ‘lock her up’ chants against Clinton; Crisis on the High Plains: The Loss of America’s Largest Aquifer – the Ogallala; and more …
In the news today …
Five things to know about the water bonds on upcoming ballots: “Californians this year will vote on not one but two water bond measures totaling $13 billion. Given that the state still hasn’t spent all of the $7.5 billion from the Proposition 1 water bond passed in 2014, it raises a crucial question: Does California really need another $13 billion in water bonds? As of December 2017, the state had allocated only about $1 billion from Proposition 1. About half of the total money available from the bond is dedicated to new water storage under a complicated new process that funds only the “public benefits” of such projects. The first dribble of money from that pot is expected to be awarded later this year. ... ” Read more from Water Deeply here: Five things to know about the water bonds on upcoming ballots
Prop 68: Will California voters approve $4.1 billion for parks and water projects? “The last time California voters passed a statewide ballot measure to provide funding for parks, beaches, wildlife and forests, it was 2006. Arnold Schwarzenegger was in his first term as governor, Twitter was a fledgling app, and the iPhone hadn’t been invented yet. Since then, California’s population has grown from 36 million to 39.5 million — the equivalent of adding a new San Francisco, San Jose and San Diego. So environmentalists say it’s time for voters to pass Proposition 68, a $4.1 billion bond measure to spruce up run-down parks, upgrade water projects and protect scenic open space from sprawl development. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: Prop 68: Will California voters approve $4.1 billion for parks and water projects?
Ballot measures could send funds to Lake Tahoe: “Voters could approve spending $127 million for projects in Lake Tahoe through a series of ballot measures this year. A portion of the money from the two ballot measures totaling $13 billion could go toward helping make Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada mountain range more resilient to climate change and other environmental stressors, said Chris Mertens, government affairs director for the Sierra Business Council in Truckee. Other projects eligible for funding would include bike trails and restoration projects on the Upper Truckee River, the Reno Gazette-Journal reported last week. ... ” Read more from Fox News here: Ballot measures could send funds to Lake Tahoe
Proposition 72: Capture Rainwater, Get a Tax Break: “What You Need to Know About Proposition 72: Exempts rainwater catchment systems from property tax assessments; Applies to systems constructed on or after Jan. 1, 2019; The rainwater system is included in the value of the home when it is sold. … ” Continue reading from KQED here: Proposition 72: Capture Rainwater, Get a Tax Break
Trump appoints new EPA head in SF who led ‘lock her up’ chants against Clinton: “A Santa Barbara County attorney who has fought for farmers and fossil fuels and led the “lock her up” chants in opposition to Hillary Clinton was appointed by the Trump administration Friday to head the Environmental Protection Agency’s Pacific Southwest office in San Francisco. The appointment of Mike Stoker, a former county supervisor and GOP stalwart, infuriated environmentalists and further annoyed Bay Area Democrats and San Francisco power brokers reeling from what they view as assaults by the administration on environmental policies. Stoker, 62, will oversee hundreds of scientists, enforcement officers and employees in charge of promoting clean air, clean water and public health in EPA Region 9, which covers California, Arizona, Nevada and Hawaii. ... ” Read more from SF Gate here: Trump appoints new EPA head in SF who led ‘lock her up’ chants against Clinton
Trump administration names former oil spokesman who led “lock her up” chants against Hillary Clinton as EPA chief for West Coast: “The Trump administration on Friday named Mike Stoker, a Santa Barbara County attorney and former oil company spokesman who some credit with coining the “lock her up!” chants against Hillary Clinton at the Republican Convention in 2016, as the new West Coast head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Stoker will lead the U.S. EPA Region 9 office, which is based in San Francisco. The office oversees a wide variety of subjects, from air pollution fines against oil refineries to drinking water issues and wetlands permits for developers in California, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada and the Pacific Islands. … ” Read more from the East Bay Times here: Trump administration names former oil spokesman who led “lock her up” chants against Hillary Clinton as EPA chief for West Coast
Crisis on the High Plains: The Loss of America’s Largest Aquifer – the Ogallala: “The grain-growing region in the High Plains of America—known as America’s breadbasket—relies entirely on the Ogallala Aquifer. But long term unsustainable use of the aquifer is forcing states in the region to face the prospect of a regional economic disaster. As the High Plains states reach the verge of a major crisis, the states have taken different approaches to conservation with varying results. The Ogallala Aquifer supports an astounding one-sixth of the world’s grain produce, and it has long been an essential component of American agriculture. … ” Read more from University of Denver Water Law Review here: Crisis on the High Plains: The Loss of America’s Largest Aquifer – the Ogallala
In commentary today …
A Washington bomb set to go off in Delta tunnels water war, says Jacques Leslie: He writes, “A congressman set off a legislative bomb in California’s water wars last week. Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Corona) inserted a rider into an Interior Department appropriations bill that would exempt from all judicial review the intensely contested Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta twin tunnels project. Passage of the rider — it’s scheduled for a House committee vote Tuesday — would mean that the water diversion scheme wouldn’t have to follow federal or state law. The project, known formally as California WaterFix, would bury two 35-mile-long, 40-foot-diameter tunnels beneath the delta. ... ” Read more from the LA Times here: A Washington bomb set to go off in Delta tunnels water war, says Jacques Leslie
Valley farms, cities need Temperance Flat Dam to assure secure water future, say Buddy Mendes and Justin Mendes: They write, ““Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated” is a quote made famous by Mark Twain upon hearing rumors that he had died in 1897. This is the same thought that we had in reaction to news that the most important project for securing a long-term water supply for the Central Valley, the construction of Temperance Flat Dam, was not fully funded by the California Water Commission. On May 2, the California Water Commission, which is in charge of selecting the projects that will get funding, proposed that Temperance Flat would only be eligible for $171 million from the water bond – a small fraction of what it will cost to build the $2.7 billion project. ... ” Read more from the Fresno Bee here: Valley farms, cities need Temperance Flat Dam to assure secure water future
More news and commentary in the weekend edition …
In regional water news today …
Butte County: Direction sought on groundwater management organization: “The process of managing the groundwater beneath Butte County may take another step forward Tuesday, as the Board of Supervisors are being asked to provide direction on how to set up the agency that would actually do the managing. The “groundwater sustainability agency” in question is for the Vina Sub-Basin, which covers the valley floor from Big Chico Creek north to the Tehama County line. … ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record here: Direction sought on groundwater management organization
Conservation group sues Republic Services, alleging water pollution: “The California Sportfishing Protection Alliance filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California claiming that Republic Services of Sonoma County Inc. is violating the Clean Water Act by dumping polluted storm water into area rivers. “The failure on the part of industrial facility operators, such as defendant, to apply for and comply with the General Permit is recognized as a significant cause of the continuing decline in water quality of receiving waters.” The alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and preserving the environment, wildlife, and natural waters. … ” Read more from the NorCal Record here: Conservation group sues Republic Services, alleging water pollution
Marin water districts team to ease Nicasio water shortages: “Two water districts have hammered out an agreement to help Nicasio residents whose wells sometimes go dry. While the community of Nicasio is near the Marin Municipal Water District’s massive Nicasio Reservoir, it does not draw water from it. Instead it relies on wells, which can go dry during the summer. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Marin water districts team to ease Nicasio water shortages
Del Mar considers unpopular ‘planned retreat’ strategy due to rising sea level: “Herb Montgomery and his wife, Janet, have lived in Del Mar’s low-lying Beach Colony just east of Camino Del Mar for 20 years. He knows the ocean is creeping closer to his property and he says the city has an obligation to protect his home, valued at $3.2 million, from the rising waters. But considering a strategy that allows for the eventual removal of threatened structures, even as a last resort, would be tantamount to financial ruin for him and other property owners in the small, wealthy coastal city. “It won’t work for Del Mar,” Montgomery said. ... ” Read more from the San Diego Union Tribune here: Del Mar considers unpopular ‘planned retreat’ strategy due to rising sea level
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
- RESERVOIR AND WATER CONDITIONS for May 21st
- NEWS WORTH NOTING: Legislative hearing requested for State Water Project contract extension amendment; Long-term conservation legislation maintains appropriate local control; California Water Alliance issues statement opposing Prop 68
- CALENDAR NOTES: Upcoming webinars cover Communicating with ratepayers about water rate increases; PFAS in groundwater & surface waters; Groundwater adjudications and SGMA; Watershed solutions through data sharing & collaboration; and more …
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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.
