DAILY DIGEST: Delta tunnels costs soars to nearly $20 billion when accounting for inflation; Tax on California water to clean up drinking water revived – but its voluntary; Last ditch attempt to settle San Joaquin water wars; Judge rules against Trump attempt to delay Obama water rule; and more …

In California water news today, Delta tunnels costs soars to nearly $20 billion when accounting for inflation; Tax on California water to clean up drinking water revived – but its voluntary; Last ditch attempt to settle San Joaquin water wars; ‘Batnadoes’ can protect California’s crops; Invasive nutria problem could be worse than previously thought; El Nino tries to return, could make 2018 an even warmer year; Trump says blazes not a ‘global warming’ thing; Trump administration promises teamwork – not more money – to reduce fire risk; No relief in sight as wildfires char millions of acres, create smoky haze in western US; Judge rules against Trump attempt to delay Obama water rule; and more …

In the news today …

Delta tunnels costs soars to nearly $20 billion when accounting for inflation:  “The estimated cost of the Delta tunnels project, Gov. Jerry Brown’s controversial plan to re-engineer the troubled hub of California’s water network, has jumped to nearly $20 billion when accounting for inflation.  Tunnels backers say the higher cost reflects the impact from inflation over 16 years, not cost over-runs or design changes, and isn’t expected to hurt the project’s ability to move ahead.  The latest $19.9 billion price tag represents a 22 percent increase from the estimate of $16.3 billion, released by state officials last year. That $16.3 billion figure was provided in 2017 dollars. … ”  Read more from the Sacramento Bee here:  Delta tunnels costs soars to nearly $20 billion when accounting for inflation

Tax on California water to clean up drinking water revived – but its voluntary:  “Gov. Jerry Brown and state lawmakers are rebooting an effort to pass a new tax to attack unsafe drinking water in California.  But there’s a twist: The proposed tax on water bills would be voluntary, increasing its chances of success among skittish lawmakers in an election year.  After calling off a plan in June to apply a mandatory tax on water bills, the governor is backing a new pair of bills that would apply a voluntary levy on ratepayers to fund safe drinking water projects. Senate Bill 844 and 845, introduced by Sen. Bill Monning, would also raise taxes on dairies and fertilizer manufacturers. ... ”  Read more from the Sacramento Bee here:  Tax on California water to clean up drinking water revived – but its voluntary

Last ditch attempt to settle San Joaquin water wars:  “California Resources Secretary John Laird is making a final attempt to negotiate a deal with major water users to voluntarily reduce use before a separate agency imposes regulations.  Remind me: In July, the State Water Resources Control Board proposed dedicating much more water from the San Joaquin River and its tributaries to the environment and less to farms, industry, and individuals. A vote was set for Wednesday. … ”  Continue reading at Cal Matters here:  Last ditch attempt to settle San Joaquin water wars

‘Batnadoes’ can protect California’s crops:  “For anyone driving the Yolo Causeway, the sight can come as a shock. As the summer sun sets behind the marshy floodplain of the Yolo Bypass, a swirling stream of bats soars out from beneath the elevated thoroughfare. To the delight of bat-lovers and a local rice farmer, roughly a quarter-million bats have made the underside of the tall, 3.2-mile causeway their summer home.  The Yolo Bypass is a study in coexistence. Water routed there keeps the nearby city of Sacramento from flooding, and some of its 59,000 acres house the Yolo Basin Wildlife Area, a refuge for waterfowl, animals, and fish. … ”  Read more from Atlas Obscura here:  ‘Batnadoes’ can protect California’s crops

Invasive nutria problem could be worse than previously thought:  “For the small six-person team tasked with combating California’s nutria infestation, a typical day consists of working in 100-degree weather, wading through marshes and avoiding traps built to catch 20-pound rodents, targeting about 2 million acres.  Nutria, a destructive rat-like mammal, is currently burrowing into central California’s wetlands. In the spring, the Department of Fish and Wildlife began to warn the public about the dangers of the animal, which devastate agricultural infrastructure by burrowing into levees, roadbeds and canal beds. … ”  Read more from SF Gate here:  Invasive nutria problem could be worse than previously thought

El Nino tries to return, could make 2018 an even warmer year:  “In the tropical waters of the equatorial Pacific Ocean, conditions appear to be primed for the development of an El Niño event, with potentially far-reaching consequences.  Why it matters: If an El Niño does develop, even a weak one, it could influence weather patterns around the world — from increasing the odds of above-average winter precipitation in California to favoring drought conditions in Indonesia. It could also provide a natural boost to global average surface temperatures, nudging 2018 and possibly 2019 further up the ladder of the hottest years on record. … ”  Read more from Axios here:  El Nino tries to return, could make 2018 an even warmer year

Trump says blazes not a ‘global warming’ thing:  “President Trump was so pleased that Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke dismissed the connection between wildfires and climate change that he asked him to repeat it during yesterday’s Cabinet meeting.  That set off alarm bells among forestry experts and former Interior Department leaders. Climate science may play a small role for the firefighters responding to the blazes — but it’s key for anticipating fires and restoring the ecosystems they have burned, they said.  Zinke’s preferred policies have merit, they said, but the long-term success of his initiatives depends on understanding how global warming could alter forests in the coming decades. … ”  Read more from E&E News here:  Trump says blazes not a ‘global warming’ thing

Trump administration promises teamwork – not more money – to reduce fire risk:  “Trump administration officials unveiled a new plan Thursday to reduce the risk of forest fires, acknowledging “the urgent need to dramatically increase preventative forest treatment” that can keep fires from burning out of control.  The plan, which emphasizes state and local collaboration, was short on details, however. It does not address politically sensitive issues like climate change, which Democrats and scientists argue is at the root of the problem, or the role of environmental reviews for logging projects, which conservatives want to sidestep. And it did not address the possibility of additional funding, suggesting the burden to pay for the new efforts could fall to the states. … ”  Read more from McClatchy DC here:  Trump administration promises teamwork – not more money – to reduce fire risk

No relief in sight as wildfires char millions of acres, create smoky haze in western US: “The devastating western United States wildfire season may only grow worse in the coming weeks as dousing rainfall remains months away.  Over 100 large active wildfires, most of which are burning in the Western states, have charred nearly 2 million acres of land, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.  Six firefighters have died battling wildfires in California, making it the deadliest season for firefighters in the state since 2008, according to SF Gate. … ”  Continue reading at Accu-Weather here:  No relief in sight as wildfires char millions of acres, create smoky haze in western US

Judge rules against Trump attempt to delay Obama water rule:  “A district court judge issued a ruling Thursday that overturns the Trump administration’s delay of the implementation of the Clean Water Rule.  The decision put a nationwide injunction on the administration’s suspension rule, reinstating the Obama-era rule — otherwise known as the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) — in 26 states.  The United States District Court in South Carolina ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had not followed the rule-making procedures by failing to give an adequate public notice and comment period as stipulated under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). ... ”  Read more from The Hill here:  Judge rules against Trump attempt to delay Obama water rule

In commentary today …

Really want to share the river?  Then how about some realistic solutions:  Mike Wade writes, “Restoring California’s native fisheries is a daunting task that must strike a balance among all water users. Patrick Koepele, executive director of the Tuolumne River Trust, was right in his recent op-ed about one thing – the solution to California’s ecosystem troubles will require cooperative partnerships.  Unfortunately, Koepele then goes on in his story “If we’re smart, we can find enough water for all of us” (Aug. 15) to paint an imaginary scenario in which a 90,000-acre-foot water bank can magically replace the local water supply lost to the current State Water Quality Control Board plan. Conservative estimates show the water board plan will require over 350,000 acre-feet of river flow in dry years and up to 1.7 million in wet years – a a 300 percent increase over the current amount now dedicated to environmental flows. … ”  Read more from the Modesto Bee here: Really want to share the river?  Then how about some realistic solutions

Legislature must block desert water grab:  Mary Martin writes, “California policymakers are the last line of defense against the federal government’s attempt to facilitate a water heist from beneath our Mojave Desert.  Cadiz Inc. seeks to extract 50,000 acre-feet of water from an underground basin in the Mojave each year and pump it to urban users near the coast.  In 2015, President Barack Obama’s administration blocked the Cadiz Valley project. But under President Donald Trump, the federal Bureau of Land Management told Cadiz Inc. the company won’t need a permit to build the pipeline.  In addition to waiving the basic requirements for federal environmental review, the consider-no-evil Trump administration placed the Cadiz project on its list of “emergency and national security” infrastructure projects. ... ” Read more from Cal Matters here:  Legislature must block desert water grab

Trump administration has declared war on the environment, says Robert Garcia:  He writes, “The resignation of Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt was met with a collective sigh of relief across the nation. Pruitt, one of President Donald Trump’s most loyal foot soldiers in the Trump Administration’s ongoing war on environmental quality, environmental justice, and environmental health, had overseen some of the most egregious rollbacks of environmental protections in history during his brief and troubled tenure in office.  But anyone who thinks that Pruitt’s departure is the end of the fight – or even just a momentary pause in hostilities – hasn’t been paying close enough attention. … ”  Read more from Capitol Weekly here:  Trump administration has declared war on the environment

In regional news and commentary today …

Oroville Dam: Local oversight committee sends suggestions to DWR:  “The local oversight committee spearheaded by Assemblyman James Gallagher and Sen. Jim Nielsen had some suggestions this week for the state Department of Water Resources on its assessment of the Oroville Dam.  This comes about a month after the committee met for the first time on July 18.  Gallagher, R-Yuba City, said the committee plans to send DWR feedback after each of its quarterly meetings. After having time to reflect, the committee wanted to highlight some things, such as recommendations made in the independent forensic report, which aren’t currently included in the scope of the department’s comprehensive needs assessment. ... ”  Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record here:  Oroville Dam: Local oversight committee sends suggestions to DWR

Eel River spawners may face tough run this fall, local officials say:  “Critical pools on the lower Eel River where migrating salmon swim toward their upriver spawning grounds are once again saturated with sediment, according to local researchers and river surveyors.  Eel River Recovery Project board member and salmon surveyor Eric Stockwell said the shallow pools and channels make it more likely fish will contract disease or become stranded as had occurred in previous years.  “I feel like they’re the worst they’ve ever been,” Stockwell said about the pools. … ”  Read more from the Times Standard here:  Eel River spawners may face tough run this fall, local officials say

Scientists battle alien snails in an effort to restore native oysters:  “Wading into the water along the rocky shore off Aramburu Island in Richardson Bay, Brian Cheng reached 3 feet under water and pulled up an algae-covered rock.  “Here we go,” he yelled as he splashed ashore soaking wet and pointed out a tiny snail on the underside of the rock. “And, we got a bonus,” he said, gesturing toward a cluster of yellow gelatinous egg capsules.  The harmless-looking creature was a whelk snail, also known as an Atlantic oyster drill, one of the most voracious alien species in San Francisco Bay — a predator that has decimated native oysters and so far spoiled all efforts to restore their once thriving population. … ”  Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here:  Scientists battle alien snails in an effort to restore native oysters

Desalination plant in Santa Barbara now supplying 30% of city’s needs:  “Some ocean water on Santa Barbara County’s coastline is soon going to undergo a transformation. Roughly three million gallons of salt water is turned into drinking water a day at the City of Santa Barbara’s Charles E. Meyer Desalination plant.  The plant, which is just a few blocks from the ocean between West Beach and Highway 101, has been up and running for more than a year. Now for the first time, the media has been invited to tour the facility, and this weekend the public can see it. … ”  Read more from KCLU here:  Desalination plant in Santa Barbara now supplying 30% of city’s needs

Owens Valley Groundwater Authority comes of age:  “The decision to go high or low was more than a political strategy popularized by Michele Obama. For the Owens Valley Groundwater Authority it represented a total commitment to groundwater sustainability under state regulations.  Here’s the deal: the Owens Valley groundwater basin was ranked as a medium priority, requiring the development of a groundwater agency and sustainability plan. Local use would have landed the basin in the low category but the exports by Los Angeles Department of Water and Power landed the valley in the medium range. ... ”  Read more from the Sierra Wave here:  Owens Valley Groundwater Authority comes of age

Ridgecrest:  Indian Wells Valley Water District weighs in on Groundwater Authority:  “The Indian Wells Valley Water District board offered up its thoughts on the IWV Groundwater Authority ahead of the latter agency’s meeting today.  At the heart of those concerns was the continued request for a standing finance committee and questions on the Groundwater Authority’s budget as it prepares a groundwater sustainability plan for the IWV basin.  Peter Brown, the Water District’s representative on the board, said he submitted questions on the budget back in June. … ”  Read more from the Ridgecrest Independent here:  Indian Wells Valley Water District weighs in on Groundwater Authority

Along the Colorado River …

Colorado River states dodge shortage declaration for another year:  “Despite another dry winter on the Colorado River, Lake Mead and the millions of people who rely on it will avoid a water shortage for at least one more year.  According to new projections from the Bureau of Reclamation, there will be just enough water in the reservoir east of Las Vegas at the end of 2018 to stave off a first-ever federal shortage declaration that would trigger mandatory cuts in Nevada and Arizona.  But without a significant change in the weather — and additional human intervention — shortage could be unavoidable in 2020. … ”  Read more from the Las Vegas Review Journal here:  Colorado River states dodge shortage declaration for another year

As Colorado River Basin reservoirs drop to near-record low levels, possibility of unprecedented water shortage declaration rise: “The Colorado River is so strained amid population growth and a climate shift to hotter, drier conditions that federal water managers may declare an unprecedented “shortage” and cut releases from reservoirs.  The feds are imploring Western states to do more now to cut water use.  A U.S. Bureau of Reclamation forecast issued Wednesday for water in the Colorado River — an over-subscribed lifeline for 40 million people — anticipates declaration of a shortage in September 2019 that would trigger the reduced water releases from federal reservoirs in “lower basin” states including Nevada and Arizona. ... ”  Read more from the Denver Post here:  As Colorado River Basin reservoirs drop to near-record low levels, possibility of unprecedented water shortage declaration rise

Also on Maven’s Notebook today …

• NEWS WORTH NOTING: GAO Report on Delta restoration efforts; Reclamation awards nearly $2M in ag conservation/efficiency grants; LADWP begins enviro review process for new ranch leases in Mono County; Water and climate report
• DELTA eNEWS: ~~ Traffic Advisory~ Chili Contest~ Pie Contest~ Winter Island~ Public Webinar~ DPC Meeting ~~

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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.