In California water news today, Understanding Streamflow Is Vital to Water Management in California, But Gaps In Data Exist; How Feds New Water Plan Could Affect Customers In SoCal; Updated opinions on Delta fish could boost CVP flexibility; EPA and Army Repeal Clean Water Rule and Move Forward with Plan to Redefine Waters Subject to Federal Regulation under Clean Water Act; WOTUS lawsuits start long, muddy legal battle; As climate changes, more U.S. cities must brace for high heat, bitter cold and worse; San Luis Obispo Supervisors react to ag board letter regarding Paso basin; Lois Henry: Kern groundwater shortfall numbers closer to reality; and more …
On the calendar today …
- The Central Valley Flood Protection Board meets beginning at 9am. Agenda items include updates on the American River common features and Natomas Basin levee project; an informational item on using Drones in flood management; and an informational briefing on the Sacramento and San Joaquin Drainage District Assessment Feasibility Study. Click here for the full agenda and webcast link.
- The Delta Stewardship Council with hold a retreat beginning at 9am to informally discuss Council authorities, responsibilities, and priorities in relation to implementation of the Delta Plan. Click here for the meeting notice. This meeting will not be webcast.
In the news today …
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
- NEWS WORTH NOTING: Reclamation exchange program for Mendota Pool Group offers affordable, reliable water for farmers; Reclamation to provide water for El Dorado County’s future; U.S. EPA invites 13 projects in California to apply for a total of $1.6 billion in water infrastructure loans
- DELTA eNEWS: ~~ Gate Closure~ DSC Meeting~ Duck Bucks~ Broadband Plan ~~
Understanding Streamflow Is Vital to Water Management in California, But Gaps In Data Exist: “California is chock full of rivers and creeks. Yet nearly half the state’s stream gauges are dormant, limiting real-time tracking of data that’s vital for flood protection, forecasting water supplies and knowing what the future might bring. A new law might help fill in the gaps.” Read more from Western Water here: Understanding Streamflow Is Vital to Water Management in California, But Gaps In Data Exist
Radio show: How Feds New Water Plan Could Affect Customers In SoCal: “The Trump administration on Tuesday unveiled new rules to govern California’s scarce water, committing to send more to farmers in the Central Valley despite warnings from environmental groups that it would imperil endangered species in the fragile San Joaquin Delta. … Today on AirTalk, we’ll explain what’s in the plan, what it means for farmers and wildlife in the San Joaquin Delta and find out how Metropolitan Water District customers here in SoCal could be affected.” Lauren Sommer (KQED) and Jeffrey Kightlinger (Metropolitan) are the guests. Listen to the radio show from KPCC here: Radio show: How Feds New Water Plan Could Affect Customers In SoCal
Updated opinions on Delta fish could boost CVP flexibility: “Farm groups say new biological opinions for fish in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta could bring more water to often-parched San Joaquin Valley orchards and fields. The opinions, finalized Oct. 21 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, could add flexibility to operations of the Central Valley Project, argue the California Farm Bureau Federation and other organizations. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press here: Updated opinions on Delta fish could boost CVP flexibility
EPA and Army Repeal Clean Water Rule and Move Forward with Plan to Redefine Waters Subject to Federal Regulation under Clean Water Act: “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) published a rule on October 23, 2019, repealing the Clean Water Rule promulgated by the Obama administration in 2015. The rule, which goes into effect on December 23, 2019, puts the pre-2015 regulations governing areas subject to federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act back into place nationwide. Environmental groups and state attorneys general have vowed to challenge the repeal in court. … ” Read more from the National Law Review here: EPA and Army Repeal Clean Water Rule and Move Forward with Plan to Redefine Waters Subject to Federal Regulation under Clean Water Act
WOTUS lawsuits start long, muddy legal battle: “Get ready for a surge of lawsuits over the Trump administration’s decision to walk back Obama-era protections for wetlands and streams. Opponents to the administration’s take on which water bodies are considered “waters of the United States” under the Clean Water Act already launched at least two challenges this week, kicking off the next round of courtroom action. The cases add a new dimension to what could soon be a complicated legal quagmire over the Obama administration’s WOTUS rule and the Trump administration’s efforts to both erase and replace the regulation. ... ” Read more from E&E News here: WOTUS lawsuits start long, muddy legal battle
As climate changes, more U.S. cities must brace for high heat, bitter cold and worse: “The potential risks from climate change facing U.S. cities read like a disaster movie. From floods and tornadoes to droughts and insect invasions, urban areas face a range of threats as the planet continues to warm, a recent report shows. Although a handful of cities are taking action to brace for impact, most metro areas around the country are lagging, according to the environmental nonprofit group CDP. Meanwhile, cities around the country are already feeling the effects. Wildfires in Butte County, California, last November claimed 85 lives and charred more than 18,000 structures. Hurricane Harvey flooded more than 150,000 homes around Houston and caused $125 billion in damage in Texas. ... ” Read more from CBS News here: As climate changes, more U.S. cities must brace for high heat, bitter cold and worse
In commentary today …
For once, a major win for San Joaquin Valley farmers when it comes to water, says the Fresno Bee: They write, “Chalk one up for the Valley’s farmers in the latest round of California’s ongoing water wars. Federal officials on Tuesday announced that they were implementing a new plan to move more water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta south to Valley farmers. The move fulfills a promise President Trump made to growers a year ago. ... ” Read more from the Fresno Bee here: For once, a major win for San Joaquin Valley farmers when it comes to water
In regional news and commentary today …
Klamath suckers: Survival of the biggest: “Most of the Klamath Basin suckers testing the waters of Upper Klamath Lake this summer in floating net pens are thought to have died during a federally-funded summer pilot project. When U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service visited the pens on the lake last week to release them into the wild, 10 of the 1,000 endangered fish were found alive, according to Evan Childress, sucker recovery supervisor for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The fish that remained from the group were plagued by open flesh wounds from Lamprey in addition to numerous parasites. … ” Read more from the Herald & News here: Klamath suckers: Survival of the biggest
Chico: Tense negotiations: County supervisor presses Cal Water for documents ahead of study of PID pipeline: “Supervisor Debra Lucero was on the receiving end of public outcry near the end of a day-long meeting of the Butte County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday (Oct. 22). Several attendees who shouted from the gallery appeared to be spurred by the accusation Supervisor Doug Teeter levied at his colleague: “You’re holding us hostage.” The controversial topic at the center of his chiding involved a study examining a proposed water pipeline that would run down the Skyway, connecting Paradise Irrigation District (PID) and California Water Co.’s Chico branch. … ” Read more from the Chico News & Review here: Tense negotiations: County supervisor presses Cal Water for documents ahead of study of PID pipeline
Big benefits from fences on Olema Creek: “A study published this month by the Point Reyes National Seashore and the University of California’s Marin cooperative extension shows that fecal coliform levels in the Olema Creek watershed have dropped by 95 percent over the last 19 years—the result of local ranches implementing new best management practices around streams. The initiative, which the seashore facilitated in collaboration with ranchers, conservation organizations and regulatory agencies, began in 1999 and included three main types of best practices: fencing, hardened stream crossings and the creation of separate water systems for cattle. … ” Read more from the Point Reyes Light here: Big benefits from fences on Olema Creek
San Luis Obispo Supervisors react to ag board letter regarding Paso basin: “San Luis Obispo County supervisors offered their reactions on Oct. 22 to a recent California State Board of Food and Agriculture letter that levied criticism against the county’s approach to groundwater management in Paso Robles. The Sept. 30 ag board letter shared concerns about “limited” ag industry involvement in developing sustainability plans for the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin, as part of complying with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). … ” Read more from New Times SLO here: San Luis Obispo Supervisors react to ag board letter
Lois Henry: Kern groundwater shortfall numbers closer to reality: “New numbers coming in from water districts to the Kern Groundwater Authority show a groundwater overdraft of 249,644 acre-feet a year — and that’s a good thing. “At the last meeting, I admonished water managers to get serious about this, and I’m pleased to report that they have,” said Dennis Mullins, chairman of the KGA, during Wednesday’s meeting. He referred to the Sept. 25 meeting at which he said it was “obvious that some districts have created water with their paperwork” and that the state would not accept such “phony numbers.” … ” Read more from the Bakersfield Californian here: Lois Henry: Kern groundwater shortfall numbers closer to reality
Apple Valley: Public will have voice in new utility, town lawyer says: “Exorbitant water bills, earthquake-prone reservoir tanks, a lack of public input in setting rates and a corporation from Canada not operating transparently. These were just some of the reasons that justify Apple Valley taking over its largest supplier of water, Liberty Utilities, a lawyer for the town argued on Thursday. Opening arguments continued today in Superior Court Judge Donald Alvarez’s courtroom, with Best Best & Krieger attorney Kendall MacVey outlining his client’s position in the eminent domain suit. ... ” Read more from the Herald & News here: Public will have voice in new utility, town lawyer says:
How Thirsty is Montecito?: “The seven-year drought is over, rationing has ended, and there’s enough water on hand for the next three years, but Montecito, a small but wealthy community of one-acre lots, large estates and luxury resorts, is thirsting for new supplies. After years of negotiations, the Montecito Water District is closing in on a deal to buy 1,430 acre-feet of water from the City of Santa Barbara, every year for the next 50 years. That’s enough water to meet a third of Montecito’s annual demand. The city would produce the extra supply at its $72 million desalination plant, at a yearly cost to Montecito of $4.3 million. … ” Read more from Edhat here: How Thirsty is Montecito?
Water agency closer to getting permits to fix Lake Casitas diversion issues: “An Ojai Valley agency continued its wait this week for permission to start cleaning up a 9-foot pile of silt, sand and gravel that led to costly repairs last winter. The Casitas Municipal Water District planned a roughly $1 million project to clear part of the buildup from its Robles diversion facility. That’s where Ventura River water gets diverted into a canal and down to Lake Casitas. Without the work, the agency could face another winter of emergency shutoffs, clogged fish screens and lost water. ... ” Read more from the Ventura County Star here: Water agency closer to getting permits to fix Lake Casitas diversion issues
How Dana Point is grappling with its beach being swept away by erosion: “If you could remake a beach, how would you do it? It’s a question communities increasingly are faced with as beaches along the Southern California coast and beyond are dwindling: What is the best way to maintain — or re-create — a battered and disappearing beach? A packed community meeting, attended by more than 100 citizens, held this week in Dana Point shows how one small coastal town is trying to cope with coastal erosion, with the added threat of rising sea levels in the coming decades. … ” Read more from the Long Beach Press Telegram here: How 1 small seaside town is grappling with its beach being swept away by erosion
Fitch Boosts Desalination Plant Bond Rating: “Bonds from the Carlsbad Desalination Plant and pipeline were upgraded to BBB and given a stable outlook in a new report from Fitch Ratings, affirming the project’s sound management and its ability to provide a stable, reliable source of drinking water to the San Diego region. As the largest, most technologically advanced and energy-efficient plant of its kind in the nation, the Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant’s stability stems from an effective collaboration between Poseidon Water and the San Diego County Water Authority. … ” Read more from the Water News Network here: Fitch Boosts Desalination Plant Bond Rating
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
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.
