In California water news today, Oroville Dam spillway work on target to meet November 1st deadline; Latest issue of Estuary news covers twin tunnels, Dutch Slough, Salmon resilience, more; San Luis Obispo County claims a victory in ongoing legal battle with landowners over water rights; and more …
On the calendar today …
- The Delta Stewardship Council will meet beginning at 9am: Agenda items include a discussion on how collaborative science governance can support decision-making and environmental management and an update on the ecosystem amendment. Click here for the full agenda and webcast link.
- A free webinar from 12-12:30pm: 2018 Water Quality Status Report: The Status of California’s Surface Waters: The second edition of the 2018 Water Quality Status Report , which is organized around the watershed from land to sea, features interactive data visualizations created by Water Boards staff and partners. This webinar discusses the vision for the report in the context of data storytelling. Click here for webcast information.
In the news today …
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
- NEWS WORTH NOTING: Reclamation updates 2018 CVP water allocations for Friant Division; Blue Ribbon Committee on restoring Clear Lake to hold inaugural meeting; NRDC and City of Pasadena settle lawsuit over water conservation rules for new landscapes
- SCIENCE NEWS: No stone unturned: Little worlds inside stream riffles and pools; Fish for sport: Another chapter of California fish introductions; Impacts of El Niño and La Niña to intensify as climate warms; and more …
- WATER PLAN eNEWS: ~~Plenary Agenda~ Flood-MAR Extension~ Groundwater Survey~ Geoscience~ WaterFix Symposium~ Riverwalk ~~
- OROVILLE SPILLWAYS: Construction Update (with photos and video)
Oroville Dam spillway work on target to meet November 1st deadline: “Concrete placement on the Oroville Dam spillway is likely to meet the Nov. 1 public safety construction deadline despite some setbacks, the California Department of Water Resources said on Wednesday. One of the slabs in the middle chute of the spillway needed to be replaced earlier this month due to hot weather and high winds affecting its surface. That slab is one of 221 that have been placed on the spillway through the work process and DWR doesn’t expect that to affect the schedule. ... ” Read more from CBS Sacramento here: Oroville Dam spillway work on target to meet November 1st deadline
Deadline nears for Oroville Dam spillway concrete placement: “The state Department of Water Resources still expects to meet its quickly approaching Nov. 1 deadline to have all concrete placed on the Oroville Dam’s main spillway. Crews began by placing permanent concrete slabs at the bottom of the spillway of the nation’s tallest dam, making their way to the top. Now, the upper chute is about three-quarters of the way complete, DWR reported in a moderated media call on Wednesday. In the uppermost 730 feet of the chute, 108 of 150 erosion-resistant concrete slabs and 14 of 50 erosion-resistant concrete walls have been installed. … ” Read more from the Chico Enteprise-Record here: Deadline nears for Oroville Dam spillway concrete placement
- RELATED CONTENT: OROVILLE SPILLWAYS: Construction Update (with photos and video)
Latest issue of Estuary News now available: “This issue explores the latest on the twin tunnels and invasive species, details the ambitious experiment at Dutch Slough, and examines salmon resilience and dioxin persistence in the Estuary watershed. It also samples California’s late summer climate change action events, previews a new environmental justice policy for the State Lands Commission, and reports on recent drinking water victories in the San Joaquin Valley.” Read the issue here: September Issue of Estuary News
Effort to restore Upper Truckee Marsh gets financial boost: “California Tahoe Conservancy received a financial boost from the Department of Fish and Wildlife in its effort to restore the Upper Truckee Marsh. The award totaling $1.7 million cuts into the $9 million, multi-year restoration project of the marsh. “That money is going to be used to help restore the marsh and spread water flows out in the middle of the marsh and actually restore the ecology of this site,” said Stuart Roll, a senior environmental scientist with California Tahoe Conservancy. ... ” Read more from KCRA Channel 3 here: Effort to restore Upper Truckee Marsh gets financial boost
Yolo County Supervisors stay the course on North Davis Meadows water supply: “Yolo County supervisors on Tuesday declined a request by North Davis Meadows residents to hit pause on plans to connect the unincorporated community to the city of Davis water system. By a vote of 4-1, with Supervisor Duane Chamberlain of the rural Fifth District dissenting, the board instead increased by $22,000 a contract with West Yost Associates to continue design work on the connection. That increase will actually lead to cost savings down the line as it is related to design for a reduced fire flow requirement. … ” Read more from the Davis Enterprise here: Yolo County Supervisors stay the course on North Davis Meadows water supply
Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency looking at user fee options: From the Soledad Bee: “Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency is looking at two options to impose fees on groundwater users. The fee options come as the next phase in the state’s goal to manage groundwater resources. The ultimate goal of the agency is to create sustainable management practices considering the next 20 to 40 years of groundwater. The agency began with three options for a fee schedule to fund its operational costs. The fee revenue is projected to start funding costs in July 2019. … ” Read more from the Soledad Bee here: Groundwater agency looking at user fee options
San Luis Obispo County claims a victory in ongoing legal battle with landowners over water rights: From the San Luis Obispo Tribune: “A jury this week affirmed that public water suppliers in the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin have established rights to use underground water supplies consistent with historical practice even during times of shortage, San Luis Obispo County officials said in a news release. The jury reached the verdict Sept. 24 after a month-long trial, finding that public water suppliers —including the county, the city of Paso Robles, Templeton Community Services District and San Miguel Community Services District — have established a “prescriptive right.” … “ Read more from the San Luis Obispo Tribune here: SLO County claims a victory in ongoing legal battle with landowners over water rights
Jury reaches verdict in trial over Paso Robles Groundwater Basin rights: From KSBY: “A Santa Clara County jury decided this week that public water suppliers in San Luis Obispo County have the right to use water from the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin to supply the communities they serve, county officials announced Wednesday. Those suppliers include the City of Paso Robles, County of San Luis Obispo, Templeton Community Services District, and San Miguel Community Services District. North County property owners filed the “quiet title” lawsuit in 2013. At issue was whether the landowners’ right to use groundwater takes precedence over the public water suppliers and if, during times of shortage, the public suppliers would have to cease pumping from the groundwater basin. … “ Read more from KSBY here: Jury reaches verdict in trial over Paso Robles Groundwater Basin rights
Battle Over New San Diego Stadium Throws Doubt on Public River Access: “Not far from the parking lot of the Mission Valley stadium is a fenced-off river, the San Diego River. It isn’t always much of a river. Typically, there’s just a few feet of water lurching through the valley on its way out to sea. For a long time, the site – its 1.3 million square feet of concrete stadium, its 18,870 parking spaces – blocked off and bottled up the river, which begins in the mountains near Julian and ends in the ocean near Mission Bay. … ” Read more from Water Deeply here: Battle Over New San Diego Stadium Throws Doubt on Public River Access
Comparing seasonal snowfall during previous El Niño winters: “Forecasters are continuing to predict an El Niño this winter in the tropical Pacific Ocean. An El Niño Watch was issued earlier this summer in June. One of El Niño’s common “downstream” impacts is above-average winter precipitation across the southern United States, the result of a stronger than usual Pacific jet stream. When it comes to winter precipitation, of course, what most of us are really curious about is the snow. Is El Niño likely to mean more or less of it where you live? These maps provide a hint. They show the difference from average snowfall during the cold season months of October to April. ... ” Read more from Weather Nation here: Comparing seasonal snowfall during previous El Niño winters
Thousands of scientists send Trump a letter defending Endangered Species Act: “Thousands of scientists have signed a letter to the Trump administration this week urging the federal government’s protection of the Endangered Species Act. Three organizations representing about 9,000 biologists wrote to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross on Monday in an open letter accusing the Trump administration of trying to erode protections for endangered wildlife for commercial profit, according to Reuters. ... ” Read more from The Hill here: Thousands of scientists send Trump a letter defending Endangered Species Act
Along the Colorado River …
As flow gets low and permits get slow, will Lake Powell pipeline still go?, asks the Salt Lake Tribune: They write: “By the time the Lake Powell pipeline is built, will there be enough water to put in it? In a split decision, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ruled last week that its oversight of any pipeline project would be limited to the hydroelectric dams that may be built along the pipeline route. “The commission leaves to other state and federal authorities decisions regarding the purpose of and need for the water delivery project, the preferred route for the pipeline, and its cost and financial feasibility, matters that are far removed from the limited purpose of the hydroelectric power developments to be located in and along the pipeline,” the majority of commissioners wrote. ... ” Read more from the Salt Lake Tribune here: As flow gets low and permits get slow, will Lake Powell pipeline still go?
Precipitation watch …
Cooler weather will be returning to NorCal by the weekend with a chance for some light showers in the north.
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
- NEWS WORTH NOTING: Reclamation updates 2018 CVP water allocations for Friant Division; Blue Ribbon Committee on restoring Clear Lake to hold inaugural meeting; NRDC and City of Pasadena settle lawsuit over water conservation rules for new landscapes
- SCIENCE NEWS: No stone unturned: Little worlds inside stream riffles and pools; Fish for sport: Another chapter of California fish introductions; Impacts of El Niño and La Niña to intensify as climate warms; and more …
- WATER PLAN eNEWS: ~~Plenary Agenda~ Flood-MAR Extension~ Groundwater Survey~ Geoscience~ WaterFix Symposium~ Riverwalk ~~
- OROVILLE SPILLWAYS: Construction Update (with photos and video)
Sign up for daily email service and you’ll never miss a post …
Sign up for free daily email service and you’ll get all the Notebook’s aggregated and original water news content delivered to your email box by 9AM. And with breaking news alerts, you’ll always be one of the first to know …
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.
