In California water news today, Water wars head upstream as state considers cutbacks for senior Central Valley irrigation districts; California Water Commission to allocate Prop 1 water storage funds; California farms’ water use still unclear, despite new reporting rules; Natural chromium sources threaten California groundwater, Stanford scientists find; Appropriations: Energy and environment fights, deals play out this week; and more …
On the calendar today …
- Webinar: California Nevada Drought and Climate Outlook from 11am to 12:30pm. Click here to register.
In the news today …
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
- NEWS WORTH NOTING: Delta Counties oppose federal deal to help build Delta tunnels; WaterFix project’s draft certification of consistency – Ex parte communication prohibition now in effect at Delta Stewardship Council; Water and climate report: Alaska experiences heat wave and record snow
- RESERVOIR AND WATER CONDITIONS for July 23
Water wars head upstream as state considers cutbacks for senior Central Valley irrigation districts: “More than two decades after Los Angeles was forced to cut water diversions to protect California’s natural resources, the state is poised to impose similar restrictions on San Francisco and some of the Central Valley’s oldest irrigation districts. The proposal represents a dramatic new front in one of California’s most enduring water fights: the battle over the pastoral delta that is part of the West Coast’s largest estuary and also an important source of water for much of the state. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Water wars head upstream as state considers cutbacks for senior Central Valley irrigation districts
California Water Commission to allocate Prop 1 water storage funds: “During California’s recent five-year drought, it was common to hear people asking why the state doesn’t build more dams. On Tuesday, flush with cash from voters, the administration of Gov. Jerry Brown is expected to finally do just that, committing nearly $1 billion to build two huge dam projects in the Bay Area, and another $1.5 billion for six more big water projects from the Sacramento Valley to Bakersfield. The California Water Commission, whose eight members are appointed by the governor, will likely vote to fund $2.5 billion overall for the eight projects — four new dams and four groundwater storage proposals. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: California Water Commission to allocate Prop 1 funds; $1 billion coming to Bay Area
The great era of dam building may be over: here’s what’s next: “For a century, California has harnessed its water with concrete, building dams and reservoirs on an epic scale. Now, as the state prepares to hand out $2.7 billion for new water storage projects, it looks as though that era of dam-building might be ending. During the height of the California’s 5-year drought, state voters approved new funding for water storage as part of Proposition 1. This week, the California Water Commission will allocate those funds to the eight projects that have qualified after a lengthy analysis. … ” Read more from KQED here: The great era of dam building may be over: here’s what’s next
California farms’ water use still unclear, despite new reporting rules: “A new program in California aimed at tracking agricultural water consumption is off to a bumpy start, highlighting the challenges of monitoring an industry that has historically enjoyed limited oversight. Agriculture is the biggest consumer of water in the West, with many states using more than 70 percent of developed freshwater supplies for agriculture. So you would think state governments watch water consumption on farms carefully to look for conservation opportunities. In fact, some do not. … ” Read more from Water Deeply here: California farms’ water use still unclear, despite new reporting rules
Natural chromium sources threaten California groundwater, Stanford scientists find: “When Erin Brockovich sued a major utility company in the 1990s for contaminating drinking water with hexavalent chromium, a toxic and carcinogenic metal, national attention turned to California. Now researchers have determined that natural sources of the element may be geographically more important when it comes to the state’s groundwater management. In a study that appeared online June 27 in Environmental Science & Technology, Stanford scientists used a statewide groundwater database and a new means of tracing sources to identify wells containing hexavalent chromium from industry versus those that became contaminated from naturally occurring sources – some of which may also have resulted from human activity. … ” Read more from Stanford News here: Natural chromium sources threaten California groundwater, Stanford scientists find
Another prolonged heatwave for southern & interior California: “One of the most impressive heatwaves in recorded history brought truly blistering heat to Southern California earlier this month. Nearly every kind of of temperature record was broken in at least a few locations, from all-time daily maximum to all-time overnight minimums, and a countless daily/monthly records. This heatwave was especially notable at least three distinct ways. First, extreme temperatures made it very close to the coast (for example, UCLA hit 111 degrees–an all-time record in any month). ... ” Read more from the California Weather Blog here: Another prolonged heatwave for southern & interior California
Drought forces emergency measures for wild horses in the West: “Harsh drought conditions in parts of the American West are pushing wild horses to the brink and spurring extreme measures to protect them. For what they say is the first time, volunteer groups in Arizona and Colorado are hauling thousands of gallons of water and truckloads of food to remote grazing grounds where springs have run dry and vegetation has disappeared. Federal land managers also have begun emergency roundups in desert areas of Utah and Nevada. … ” Read more from SF Gate here: Drought forces emergency measures for wild horses in the West
Appropriations: Energy and environment fights, deals play out this week: “Congress this week will seek to make headway on fiscal 2019 spending bills that cover most of the federal government’s energy and environment programs. The Senate is expected to begin consideration today of a package that for now contains the fiscal 2019 Interior-Environment and Financial Services-General Government appropriations bills. It’s expected to be amended to also include the fiscal 2019 Agriculture and Transportation-Housing and Urban Development spending measures. The Senate’s $35.9 billion Interior-EPA proposal moves to the floor after the House advanced its $36.3 billion version last week as part of a two-bill package with the Financial Services measure. … ” Read more from E&E News here: Appropriations: Energy and environment fights, deals play out this week
Lawmakers, lobbyists, and the administration come together to overhaul the Endangered Species Act: “The Endangered Species Act, which for 45 years has safeguarded fragile wildlife while blocking ranching, logging and oil drilling on protected habitats, is coming under attack from lawmakers, the White House and industry on a scale not seen in decades, driven partly by fears that the Republicans will lose ground in November’s midterm elections. In the past two weeks, more than two dozen pieces of legislation, policy initiatives and amendments designed to weaken the law have been either introduced or voted on in Congress or proposed by the Trump administration. … ” Read more from the New York Times here: Lawmakers, lobbyists, and the administration come together to overhaul the Endangered Species Act
In commentary today …
Stop efforts to kill salmon and fishing jobs, says John McManus: He writes, “Today, many Northern California commercial fishermen sit in harbors along our coast worrying about their bills and waiting for another disastrously shortened salmon season to begin. Many businesses that serve the normally robust sport salmon fishery also have suffered because of the delay. River fishing guides have lost half their season as well. Salmon numbers are predicted to be down from the lingering effects of the last drought and the damaging water allocation decisions that put salmon fishing families last. Meanwhile, San Joaquin Valley congressmen are hard at work tilting the balance of water in California toward valley agricultural barons. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat here: Stop efforts to kill salmon and fishing jobs
Dan Walters: Splitting California runs afoul of the constitution: “Not too many years ago, when California’s government appeared to be totally dysfunctional, some reform-minded folks considered sponsoring a broad overhaul of the state’s governance structure. However, the reformers, led by the Bay Area Council, a coalition of business and civic groups, ran afoul of one of the state constitution’s most obscure, rarely invoked provisions. Article 18 says that while voters can amend the constitution by initiative, bypassing the Legislature, a “revision” can be placed before voters only by the Legislature or a constitutional revision commission appointed by the Legislature after it asked for and obtained permission from voters to do so. … ” Read more from Cal Matters here: Dan Walters: Splitting California runs afoul of the constitution
No one can live on the 55 gallons per day limit California is imposing, says Marie Waldron: She writes, “So can you live on 55 gallons of water a day? No one can. But legislation just enacted broadens authority of the state Water Resources Control Board, an unelected, unaccountable board to require this. The new mandates establish an indoor water use budget of 55 gallons per day for all Californians until 2025, reduced to 50 gallons/day after 2030. Civil penalties apply to water districts that are unable to meet the new guidelines. I opposed both Senate Bill 606 and Assembly Bill 1668, which created these regulations. It’s all so unnecessary. San Diego County has largely divorced itself from Northern California water, Over the last 5 years 72 percent of our water has come from the Colorado River, and another 15 percent from local sources, including reclamation and desalination. … ” Continue reading at the Times of San Diego here: No one can live on the 55 gallons per day limit California is imposing
More news and commentary in the weekend edition …
In regional news and commentary today …
Klamath: Wait and see on water decision: “Tulelake irrigator Scott Seus might have been seated on a mint harvester on Friday had the scenario been different. Instead, Seus was among about 25 water users and their representatives, some of whom drove all night, who were seated in a San Francisco courtroom and awaiting word on the status of water supply for the Klamath Project through 2020. Seus was among a number of local representatives who watched as Judge William H. Orrick did not rule on litigation filed by the Klamath Tribes against the Bureau of Reclamation, a case holding the weight of the future of endangered Lost River and shortnose sucker as well as the future outlook of irrigation in the Klamath Project, an outcome continues to hang in the balance. … ” Read more from the Herald & News here: Klamath: Wait and see on water decision
A ‘Grand Bayway’ is envisioned for Highway 37: “A massive, two-decade, $1 billion project to widen Highway 101 through Sonoma County is wrapping up now that officials have secured funding for the last piece of the project in Petaluma. Transportation officials are now beginning in earnest to turn their attention to the next big regional infrastructure challenge: a redesign of Highway 37, an effort they acknowledge could take as long and cost more than the Highway 101 project. North Bay leaders have been meeting regularly for the past several years, imagining the future of Highway 37, a major transportation route along the top of San Pablo Bay, but one that is prone to flooding as sea levels rise and congestion as the population increases. … ” Read more from the Sonoma Index-Tribune here: A ‘Grand Bayway’ is envisioned for Highway 37
Owens Valley: Well test resolved – not with a bang but with a whimper: “The Technical Group approved two resolutions dealing with the pumping test of Well 385 in the Five Bridges area Thursday morning, 18 months after this whole mess started. The resolutions adopted the monitoring and management plan for the test and amended the 1999 revegetation plan to allow the well turned back on for that test. The action put in motion the settlement agreement between Inyo County and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power reached last month. … ” Read more from Sierra Wave here: Owens Valley: Well test resolved – not with a bang but with a whimper
Desalination deal draw criticism from groups concerned with water affordability: “Last night, Orange County Water District voted 6-2 to approve terms for a new, non-binding agreement with privately-owned Poseidon Water for a Huntington Beach desalination project. If the District decides to move ahead with the deal once the plant is fully permitted, the agreement would commit Orange County ratepayers to buying Poseidon’s desalinated water for 30-35 years, while guaranteeing a significant profit for Poseidon’s investors. The billion-dollar desalination proposal has been widely opposed by local activists. Conservation and equity groups are concerned about its impact on water affordability, as well as its anticipated pollution of groundwater and ocean water, harm to sea life, and carbon emissions. … ” Read more from the OC Breeze here: Desalination deal draw criticism from groups concerned with water affordability
SANDAG wants more time to study lagoon restoration options: “Approval of a life-restoring makeover for the Buena Vista Lagoon, first scheduled for a decision in January, has been postponed again until the end of the year. San Diego County’s only freshwater lagoon covers more than 200 acres at the border of Carlsbad and Oceanside. A low weir, or dam, near the mouth has kept out seawater since the 1940s, holding back the Buena Vista Creek, stormwater, and irrigation run-off. The San Diego Association of Governments, the region’s planning agency, released the final environmental impact report on the project in October, and concluded that the best way to restore the lagoon to a healthier and more natural state would be to remove the weir and let the ocean flow in. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune here: SANDAG wants more time to study lagoon restoration options
Along the Colorado River (and beyond) …
Supervisors ask Interior secretary for help against water rights transfers: “The Mohave County Board of Supervisors is turning up its opposition to any plan to transfer water rights from within the county to entities outside the area, sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke to enlist his help in the ongoing matter. A copy of the letter, signed by board chairman Gary Watson, was sent to Zinke late last week. Copies also were sent to Preisdent Donald Trump, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich, Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman and several other state and federal agencies as well as to the directors of the Mohave Valley Irrigation Drainage District and the Central Arizona Project. … ” Read more from the Mojave Valley Daily News here: Supervisors ask Interior secretary for help against water rights transfers
Texas lawmaker to Trump: Don’t overlook Mexican water treaty: “A top Texas lawmaker is asking President Donald Trump to renegotiate a longstanding agreement between the United States and Mexico that dictates how to divvy up water in the Rio Grande and Colorado rivers amid the president’s push to re-evaluate international treaties. The key message for the administration: Don’t forget about the water. Concerned about the impact to Texas agriculture in the fertile Rio Grande Valley, state lawmakers have long tried to get the federal government to better enforce a 1944 water treaty with Mexico that entitles the United States to one-third of the water from the Rio Grande — an agreement they say is all the more vital with drought gripping much of Texas. … ” Read more from the Texas Tribune here: Texas lawmaker to Trump: Don’t overlook Mexican water treaty
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
- NEWS WORTH NOTING: Delta Counties oppose federal deal to help build Delta tunnels; WaterFix project’s draft certification of consistency – Ex parte communication prohibition now in effect at Delta Stewardship Council; Water and climate report: Alaska experiences heat wave and record snow
- RESERVOIR AND WATER CONDITIONS for July 23
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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.
