In California water news today, Winter Storm Ryan brings snow to Sierra, flood threat returns; Trump to set up science panel to counter his own government’s climate change consensus, officials say; LA County wants authority over L.A. River flood-control channels owned by U.S. government; Gila River Community reaches deal with Arizona over drought plan; and more …
In the news today …
Another winter storm set to soak the Bay Area on Monday: “Here we go again. Forecasters say another winter storm driven by an atmospheric river could bring up to 9 inches of rain and likely flooding to the Bay Area, and drop another 6 to 8 feet of snow in the Sierra Nevada between Monday and Wednesday. As with the last round of storms to hit the region, the North Bay is expected to take the brunt of the wet weather, with meteorologists forecasting 4 to 6 inches of rain, leading to renewed flood concerns on the Russian and Napa rivers. ... ” Read more from KQED here: Another winter storm set to soak the Bay Area on Monday
Winter Storm Ryan Brings Snow to Pacific Northwest, Northern Rockies and Sierra Nevada; California Flood Threat Returns: “Winter Storm Ryan will impact the Northwest, Sierra Nevada and northern Rockies with more snow to start the week while bringing a renewed threat of flooding to Northern California. A stripe of accumulating snow will also spread from the Midwest into the Northeast during the first half of the week. Snow from Ryan is currently falling from the Pacific Northwest into the Sierra Nevada and northern Rockies. This includes the Interstate 5 corridor in Oregon’s Willamette Valley where snow was falling Monday morning in Eugene and Portland. … ” Read more from the Weather Channel here: Winter Storm Ryan Brings Snow to Pacific Northwest, Northern Rockies and Sierra Nevada; California Flood Threat Returns
Trump to set up science panel to counter his own government’s climate change consensus, officials say: “The White House plans to create an ad hoc group of select federal scientists to reassess the government’s analysis of climate science and counter its conclusions that the continued burning of fossil fuels is harming the planet, according to three administration officials. The National Security Council initiative would include scientists who question the severity of climate impacts and the extent to which humans contribute to the problem, according to these individuals, who asked for anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. The group would not be subject to the same level of public disclosure as a formal advisory committee. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Trump to set up science panel to counter his own government’s climate change consensus, officials say
White House committee to reassess climate science conclusions: report: “The Trump administration is planning to create an ad hoc group of federal scientists to reassess and counter the government’s conclusions on climate change, The Washington Post reported Sunday. The National Security Council (NSC) initiative would feature scientists who challenge the seriousness of climate change and the degree to which humans are the cause of climate problems, three unidentified administration officials told the Post. … ” Read more from The Hill here: White House committee to reassess climate science conclusions: report
In commentary today …
George Skelton: How can California capture more water? Competing interests will have to compromise: “Storm water has been rampaging down the Sacramento River, carrying ripped out docks, uprooted trees and homeowners’ backyards, hellbent for the Golden Gate. But very little of this precious water can be saved. Environmental restrictions limit the amount of water that can be pumped into southbound aqueducts. That’s because the pumps are deadly for fish, particularly young salmon trying to reach the ocean. Moreover, there aren’t many places to store the water and reservoirs are filling up fast. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: George Skelton: How can California capture more water? Competing interests will have to compromise
In regional news and commentary today …
Shasta County property owners fined for water violations at cannabis grows: “Three property owners in Shasta County face thousands of dollars in fines due to violations involving cannabis grows. The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board issued the fines over water quality violations at two properties one in Ono, the other near Cottonwood Creek. … ” Read more from KRCR here: Shasta County property owners fined for water violations at cannabis grows
Water regulators halt construction of Healdsburg luxury resort: “A long-delayed Healdsburg luxury resort has run into another major hurdle after regulators ordered the developer Thursday to halt construction upon finding numerous and ongoing alleged violations of laws meant to safeguard waterways. The developer of Montage Healdsburg, formerly known as Saggio Hills, is responsible for more than a dozen state and federal violations found in routine inspections starting in November, according to the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board. Three of the inspections occurred this year, the most recent on Feb. 4, when many of the most serious cases were documented. ... ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat here: Water regulators halt construction of Healdsburg luxury resort
EPA orders Greka to conduct tests of hazardous waste storage in Santa Maria: “The Environmental Protection Agency has ordered Greka to conduct tests to determine whether improper storage and management of hazardous wastes have contaminated the soil and groundwater at its refinery west of Santa Maria. “Poor management of hazardous waste can release contaminants into the environment and affect local communities,” said Deborah Jordan, EPA Pacific Southwest deputy regional administrator. “Today’s order requires Greka to determine if its refinery is affecting nearby farmlands, groundwater and the communities of Santa Maria and Guadalupe.” … ” Read more from Noozhawk here: EPA orders Greka to conduct tests of hazardous waste storage in Santa Maria
LA County wants authority over L.A. River flood-control channels owned by U.S. government: “Los Angeles County officials are proposing to take ownership of 40 miles of flood-control channels along the Los Angeles River from the federal government in order to expedite maintenance and water conservation improvements as climate change increases the frequency of extreme weather. The move was spurred by concerns that the Army Corps of Engineers’ World War II-era channels, including a lush soft-bottom stretch of the Los Angeles River between Griffith Park and downtown, have not been adequately maintained because of dwindling federal funds, county officials said on Sunday. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: LA County wants authority over L.A. River flood-control channels owned by U.S. government
Garcetti pledges LA will recycle 100% of its wastewater by 2035: “Mayor Eric Garcetti pledged last week that Los Angeles will recycle 100 percent of its wastewater by 2035 as part of an effort to reduce the city’s dependence on imported water. “Conservation is about more than how we respond to a dry year — it should shape how we prepare our city for tomorrow,” Garcetti said. “Maximizing L.A.’s recycling capacity will increase the amount of water we source locally, and help to ensure that Angelenos can count on access to clean water for generations to come.” Garcetti made the announcement with City Councilman Mike Bonin and senior leadership from the L.A. Department of Water and Power and the Bureau of Sanitation at the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant in Playa del Rey. … ” Read more from the Daily Breeze here: Garcetti pledges LA will recycle 100% of its wastewater by 2035
Rain barrels work with Long Beach sustainability efforts: “For the next 75 days, Cindy Berglund will be traveling around Southern California in her motor home, lugging rain barrels with her. Last weekend, her company, Rain Barrels International, joined with the city’s Office of Sustainability to offer a free class on rainwater harvesting. More than 80 people signed up in advance for the class at Recreation Park but the presentation ended up being to a standing room only crowd. … ” Read more from The Gazette here: Rain barrels work with Long Beach sustainability efforts
Along the Colorado River …
Gila River Community reaches deal with Arizona over drought plan: “The Gila River Indian Community will provide the promised 500,000 acre-feet of water for the state’s drought-contingency plan after being assured that legislation the tribe opposed is dead. In a prepared statement, tribal Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis said Rep. T.J. Shope, R-Coolidge, told him in a meeting Friday that there is no way that HB 2476 will be resurrected this year. Lewis said Shope’s guarantee is important, as he is the speaker pro-tem of the House of Representatives. ... ” Read more from Tucson.com here: Gila River Community reaches deal with Arizona over drought plan
Precipitation watch …
Dual atmospheric rivers in NorCal bring flood concerns & yet more Sierra snow: “It has turned out to be a pretty remarkable February, weather-wise, throughout most of California. A prolonged period of wet, unsettled, and pretty cold conditions have brought widespread heavy precipitation to the state, focused especially on the central and southern regions. Some flooding has resulted, but in general these rains have been largely beneficial. Particularly notable was the extremely heavy precipitation (and associated widespread flooding) that last week’s atmospheric river brought to the high deserts of SoCal. In fact, Palm Springs received one of its wettest days on record (in any month!). This February has also been a pretty incredible month in the Sierra Nevada, where a phenomenal amount of snow has fallen over the course of just a few weeks. ... ” Read more from the California Weather Blog here: Dual atmospheric rivers in NorCal bring flood concerns & yet more Sierra snow
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
https://ygx.b0d.mwp.accessdomain.com/2019/02/25/news-worth-noting-cdfw-approves-yolo-habitat-conservation-plan-and-natural-community-conservation-plan-placer-county-water-agency-acts-to-protect-integrity-of-pge-water-supply/
https://ygx.b0d.mwp.accessdomain.com/2019/02/25/reservoir-and-water-conditions-for-february-25-2019/
Today’s announcements …
- STATE WETLAND DEFINITION: Documents available for proposed amendments to statewide dredged or fill procedures
- FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: Bay-Delta Restoration Program: CALFED Water Use Efficiency Grants
- PRIZE COMPETITION: Bureau of Reclamation launches new prize competition seeking ideas to lower cost of continuous streamflow monitoring
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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.
