- The Delta Stewardship Council meets beginning at 9am. Agenda items include the Lead Scientist’s report, a review of the public draft of the Council’s public participation plan, and a Delta conveyance update. Click here for the full agenda.
- CDFW’s Annual Salmon Information Meeting from 10am to 4pm in Santa Rosa. Click here for more information.
- Lecture: From California to Cambodia – Surface Water Mapping Using Cloud-Based Remote Sensing at 7pm at the USGS Campus in Menlo Park. Click here for a flyer for event.
‘Surviving is a real question’: can small farms endure under California’s landmark water law? “Nikiko Masumoto began her farming career in the summer of 2011, just as California was entering its worst drought in recorded history. Masumoto is the fourth generation of her family to farm this land in Del Rey: 80 organic acres of stone fruit in eastern Fresno county in California’s fertile Central Valley, its most perfect peaches bound for the epicurean Chez Panisse restaurant in Berkeley. For four years in a row, the farm survived only on the water it could draw from underground. And as the drought persisted, the perfect peaches grew less perfect – smaller, malnourished. The farm lowered its wells and pumped more so Masumoto could keep the trees alive. The farm made it through by way of grit and preparation. But even with plenty of both, said Masumoto, “surviving is a real question.” … ” Read more from The Guardian here: ‘Surviving is a real question’: can small farms endure under California’s landmark water law?
State refuses to accept groundwater plans for the Madera subbasin: “In the first indication of how strict state officials will be with new groundwater sustainability agencies, the Department of Water Resources has refused to accept groundwater plans covering the Madera subbasin because one of those agencies did not sign a coordination agreement. The DWR has not posted the submitted groundwater sustainability plans on its website and notified all the GSAs that it is talking with the State Water Resources Control Board — the state’s enforcement arm — about the issue. … ” Read more from SJV Water here: State refuses to accept groundwater plans for the Madera subbasin
SEE ALSO: Everything you need to know about California’s historic water law, from The Guardian
Explainer: Water is life. It’s also a battle. So what does the future hold for California? “Water plays a lead role in the state’s political theater, with Democrats and Republicans polarized, farmers often fighting environmentalists and cities pitted against rural communities. Rivers are overallocated through sloppy water accounting. Groundwater has dwindled as farmers overdraw aquifers. Many communities lack safe drinking water. Native Americans want almost-extinct salmon runs revived. There is talk, too, of new water projects, including a massive new tunnel costing billions of dollars. Scientists say climate change will bring more unpredictable weather, warmer winters and less snowpack in the mountains. These challenges and some ideas for remedies are outlined in a new plan, called the California Water Resilience Portfolio, released by Gov. Gavin Newsom in January to a mix of praise and disappointment. Below, an explanation of the state’s water development — as well as the challenges, today and tomorrow, of providing water for California’s people, places and things. ... ” Read more from Cal Matters here: Explainer: Water is life. It’s also a battle. So what does the future hold for California?
Drought concerns rising as reservoirs dip lower amid dry weather: “A dry month of February has taken its toll on California reservoirs and the Sierra snowpack, raising concerns over drought conditions this summer. The California drought monitor map produced by the National Weather Service lists most of California as abnormally dry, with some counties in the Central Valley already experiencing drought conditions. After a historic winter in 2019, the Sierra snowpack, regarded as the state’s largest reservoir, is currently at 51% of average for the end of February. ... ” Read more from KCRA here: Drought concerns rising as reservoirs dip lower amid dry weather
Looming drought ties Reclamation’s hands, officials say: “Despite much-heralded changes in the way federal water officials will determine Central Valley Project water allocations, bone-dry conditions since mid-January are forcing the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to initially allocate only 15 percent of normal supplies this year to many agricultural customers south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, officials say. After a decent start to the water year, the average snowpack statewide has fallen to 41 percent of the April 1 average as of Feb. 24, and current Northern Sierra precipitation is about 51 percent of the seasonal average, according to the California Department of Water Resources. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press here: Looming drought ties Reclamation’s hands, officials say
SEE ALSO: Water allocations highlight new biological opinions and need for storage, from Ag Net West
California wants to kill every one of these swamp rats by 2025. Congress is ready to help: “A California Democrat trying to eradicate invasive swamp rats from his state highly recommends using an animal carcass to get action in a typically deadlocked Congress. Rep. Josh Harder, D-Turlock, again hauled the large, stuffed rodent — which Harder’s spokesman has affectionately named “Nellie” — onto the House floor Wednesday before the House unanimously approved his bill granting millions of dollars to California officials trying to eliminate nutria from California. “Especially on agriculture issues, the biggest problem we have in Congress is getting awareness and understanding, so Nellie has been a great spokesperson,” Harder said. “Having something people can see and look at and know the scale of the problem is hugely helpful.” ... ” Read more from the Modesto Bee here: California wants to kill every one of these swamp rats by 2025. Congress is ready to help
Letter lets state know where Plumas stands on watershed concerns: “Just meeting the governor’s deadline of Friday, Feb. 7, members of the Plumas County Board of Supervisors submitted comments on the state’s long-term water resilience and ecosystem health. Gov. Gavin Newsom, through Executive Order N-10-19, and Nancy Vogel, director of the Governor’s Water Portfolio Program, invited comments on “a suite of actions,” aimed at the state’s long-term water goals. “Plumas County is pleased to have the opportunity to submit comments,” on the January 2020 Draft Water Resilience Portfolio,” according to the board’s letter. “The county is encouraged to see the state is continuing its commitment to all stakeholders of being a wise steward of the California’s natural resources. ... ” Read more from the Plumas County News here: Letter lets state know where Plumas stands on watershed concerns
State Water Board proposes plan to provide relief for Californians struggling to pay water bills (press release from NRDC): “California residents and clean water advocates commend the State Water Board for releasing its proposed plan for a statewide water affordability program on Tuesday. While families can currently get help to pay unaffordable energy bills through a long-running federal program, no similar universal program exists for water — often forcing families to choose between paying for water or meeting other basic needs. Research shows that the inability to pay water bills has clear links to eviction and homelessness in California and across the country, underscoring the need for urgent action. ... ” Read more from the NRDC here: State Water Board proposes plan to provide relief for Californians struggling to pay water bills
California’s new plan to deal with climate change, sea-level rise OKd: “A bold new plan to protect California’s ocean ecosystem from climate change and prepare for sea-level rise was approved Wednesday, setting the stage for sweeping coastal restoration, trash cleanup, research and rule-making involving numerous state agencies. The strategic plan, adopted unanimously by the state’s Ocean Protection Council, is a blueprint for how state agencies should collaborate over the next five years with tribal groups, research organizations and underserved communities to prepare for ocean warming, acidification, rising seas and plastic pollution. … ” Read more from the SF Chronicle here: California’s new plan to deal with climate change, sea-level rise OKd
SEE ALSO: California Ocean Protection Council approves bold plan to protect state’s coast and ocean in the face of climate change and pollution threats, press release from Natural Resources Agency
Insights: Trump’s Clean Water Act Rollback—Implications for California: “The Trump administration’s redefinition of waters protected by the Clean Water Act lets states decide how to protect these waters, and California is one of the first to take action. Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP attorneys examine the effect of the Trump roll-back and California’s response and suggest steps business owners can take while waiting for clarity, especially those planning to develop real estate with wetlands or other waters. ... ” Read more from Bloomberg here: Insights: Trump’s Clean Water Act Rollback—Implications for California
Bill Lyons, Newsom’s agriculture czar, is out: “Former California Food and Agriculture Secretary Bill Lyons has left the Newsom administration, the Governor’s Office confirmed. Lyons’ stint with Team Newsom lasted a few days beyond one year. A Modesto native, Lyons serves as CEO of Mape’s Ranch and operates Lyons Investments, a development firm. He was a one-time Supervisor in Stanislaus County and member of the Modesto Irrigation District. Lyons’ appointment was a signal to leaders in the agricultural community of its importance to Newsom’s “California For All” vision. … ” Read more from the San Joaquin Sun here: Bill Lyons, Newsom’s agriculture czar, is out
Importance of sustainable logging: “Balance is so important in agriculture, and nowhere is that more evident than in California’s logging industry. We are experiencing what happens when land stewards aren’t allowed to fully manage our natural resources. Shaun Crook is a 2nd generation logger in Tuolumne County and the 2nd Vice President of California Farm Bureau. ... ” Read more from Ag Info here: Importance of sustainable logging
What would it take to get more farmers fighting climate change? “As signs of a new drought loom over California farm country and a potential return of last spring’s catastrophic floods haunts the Midwestern corn belt, Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) is out with a new plan to ready US agriculture for the insults of climate change. Called the Agriculture Resilience Act, the bill would enlist growers to help slow global warming by using their soil to sponge up carbon dioxide. Agriculture is responsible for nearly 10 percent of our country’s carbon emissions. Pingree’s plan would establish a “national goal” of net zero greenhouse emissions from agriculture by no later than 2040. ... ” Read more from Mother Jones here: What would it take to get more farmers fighting climate change?
Steelhead survival: The Ninth Circuit affirmed a lower court’s ruling that the United Water Conservation district violated the Endangered Species Act by jeopardizing steelhead survival and recovery in the Santa Clara River due to its inadequate fish ladder and diversion of river flows at a dam. Via Courthouse News.
- SEE ALSO: Appeals court victory secures steelhead protection on California’s Santa Clara river, press release from the Center for Biological Diversity
Plastic pollution: The Earth Island Institute sued Crystal Geyser Water Co., Clorox, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, et al. in San Mateo County Court, claiming they have negligently produced plastic for decades, injuring the environment, oceans and marine life. Via Courthouse News.
Cap and Trade: The federal government may pursue its claims against the California Environmental Protection Agency secretary and the Western Climate Initiative relating to the state’s cap-and-trade agreement with Quebec, a federal court in California ruled. Via Courthouse News.
New Interior rule would limit which scientific studies agency can consider: “The Interior Department is pushing ahead with a controversial proposal that would prohibit the agency from considering scientific studies that don’t make all of their underlying data public. Critics argue that the move, described by the agency as an effort to increase transparency, would sideline landmark scientific research, particularly in cases where revealing such data would result in privacy violations. ... ” Read more from The Hill here: New Interior rule would limit which scientific studies agency can consider
Military may be bound by state laws on ‘forever chemicals’: “The Pentagon may be forced to follow new state environmental pollution standards for a family of manmade “forever chemicals” that may have been spilled at hundreds of military sites in the U.S., Defense Secretary Mark Esper told lawmakers. Esper was pressed Wednesday at a House Armed Services Committee hearing over the military’s use of widely used firefighting foam containing chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, that never degrade. He said the Pentagon will report to Congress in about two weeks on pollution that may have occurred at hundreds of U.S. military sites. ... ” Read more from Bloomberg BNA here: Military may be bound by state laws on ‘forever chemicals’
EPA handling multiple PFAS-related criminal investigations: “The EPA is involved in multiple PFAS-related criminal investigations, the agency said Wednesday, adding another knot to an already complex legal landscape for “forever chemicals.” The Environmental Protection Agency acknowledged the probes in a new progress report on its 2019 PFAS Action Plan. The document says the agency “has multiple criminal investigations underway concerning PFAS-related pollution.” … ” Read more from the Bloomberg BNA here: EPA handling multiple PFAS-related criminal investigations
- SEE ALSO: EPA Handling Multiple PFAS-Related Criminal Investigations, press release from EPA
Ecosystem-based management – a critical tool for achieving the coequal goals, says Delta Stewardship Council Chair Susan Tatayon: She writes, “The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is the most valuable estuary and wetland ecosystem on the west coast of North and South America. It is also a highly engineered and managed system, one that demands creative approaches to restore its declining freshwater environment while continuing to serve as the hub of California’s water supply. When combined with strong governance and best available science, ecosystem-based management – a holistic approach that considers the full array of interactions within a system – holds tremendous potential for both restoring the Delta and improving the reliability of statewide water deliveries. … ” Read more from the Delta Stewardship Council here: Ecosystem-based management – a critical tool for achieving the coequal goals
President Trump continues to fight for our agriculture communities, says Congressman Kevin McCarthy: He writes, “California is an agricultural giant — the fifth largest ag producer in the world. Much of that produce, I’m proud to recognize, comes from our very own backyard in Kern and Tulare Counties. From citrus to specialty crops to dairy and everything in between, our community is one of the most agriculturally-productive in the nation. Though I often say that California feeds the world, it is only because water is the lifeblood of our farms that this is possible. Californians need water, and we should be able to enjoy access to the water that we contract and pay for. Unfortunately, actions by federal and Sacramento bureaucrats throughout the years have left our farming communities reeling. … ” Read more from the Foothills Sun-Gazette here: President Trump continues to fight for our agriculture communities
Dan Walters: Climate change and water supply: “California, as everyone knows, receives virtually all of its precipitation during a few fall and winter months and in 2019, some early rain and snow storms promised a bountiful water year. This year, Mother Nature kept that promise in Southern California, where precipitation is running at or above the normal, but Northern California — far more important from a water supply standpoint — has been a different story. The north has seen almost no precipitation since Christmas, the all-important Sierra snowpack is less than half of its average depth, and the region’s balmy, springlike weather shows no signs of ending. … ” Read more from Cal Matters here: Climate change and water supply
Klamath River Renewal Corporation awards contract for Klamath dam removal: “The Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC) continued progress toward implementing the Amended Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement (KHSA) to remove the Klamath dams and restore a free-flowing Klamath River by selecting McMillen Jacobs Associates to provide owner’s representation services, according to a news release. “We are thrilled to be partnering with McMillen Jacobs to help ensure that all the various phases of this landmark project are running smoothly and in concert with one another,” said Mark Bransom, KRRC chief executive officer. ... ” Read more from the Herald & News here: Klamath River Renewal Corporation awards contract for Klamath dam removal
Historically dry: This could be first February on record in Redding with no rain: “This is shaping up to be the driest February on record in the North State. Not a drop of precipitation has fallen this month. This could be the first February since records started in 1893 that that has occurred. There is a slight chance of showers late Saturday, which thanks to a leap year, is the final day of February. “One of our models is a little bit wetter on Saturday,” Craig Shoemaker, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Sacramento, said Monday. “There is a lot of different models for late Saturday and Saturday night, so there is a chance. Still, it looks like it’s really light.” … ” Read more from the Redding Record Searchlight here: Historically dry: This could be first February on record in Redding with no rain
Forest trust proposes helping Plumas with watershed restoration: “Promoting healthy watersheds, forests and jobs, a representative of Healthy Watersheds California, a Pacific Forest Trust (PFT) program, was before the Plumas County Board of Supervisors in January, seeking letters of support for funding through assembly bills. While one supervisor had many questions to pose to Jill Harris, PFT project manager, another supervisor threw his verbal support behind the proposal. “I have a lot of questions, that’s why I’m glad you came,” said Supervisor Lori Simpson, who led an invitation to the board for questions. “Who’s climbing on board this?” … ” Read more from the Plumas County News here: Forest trust proposes helping Plumas with watershed restoration
Tuolumne Utilities District awards $536K contract for construction management on Phoenix Lake project: “The Tuolumne Utilities District Board of Directors unanimously approved a nearly $537,000 contract at a public meeting Tuesday for construction management on a long-planned restoration of Phoenix Lake Reservoir that’s scheduled to break ground this summer. Anchor QEA, LLC, an environmental consulting firm with offices throughout the United States, was awarded the contract despite not being the lowest bidder because TUD staff felt they were the most qualified and experienced to manage the complex project. ... ” Read more from the Union Democrat here: Tuolumne Utilities District awards $536K contract for construction management on Phoenix Lake project
Record-dry February in Sonoma County is cause for concern, fire authorities say: “A bone-dry February is about to go into the local record books, punctuating the rising unease among residents and fire officials over the specter of renewed drought and an early fire season that could lead to calamitous conditions come fall. No measurable rain has fallen — or is expected — this month in Sonoma County, marking the first time in more than a century that February has delivered zero precipitation in Santa Rosa, where records go back to 1902. Since this month, the most arid February on the books was in 1953, with a mere 0.08 inch of rain in the city. … ” Read more from the Sonoma Index here: Record-dry February in Sonoma County is cause for concern, fire authorities say
Groups pushing for more public access to Hetch Hetchy reservoir; SF not interested: “Hetch Hetchy reservoir is considered San Francisco’s main water supply and the city is very protective of it. But it’s also a part of Yosemite National Park and some people are pushing for more public access to the area. Hetch Hetchy has a lot of the same features as Yosemite: picturesque waterfalls, huge granite monoliths, even the Hetch Hetchy Dome that looks a bit like Half Dome. But one thing is doesn’t have is a lot of visitors. Compared to Yosemite, it’s deserted. … ” Read more from CBS San Francisco here: Groups pushing for more public access to Hetch Hetchy reservoir; SF not interested
Silicon Valley suburb scrambles to tackle ‘forever chemicals’: “The City of Pleasanton, California –– a suburb just 30 miles north of California’s tech hub, San Jose –– offers residents a sleepy escape from bustling Silicon Valley. On shady Main Street, dog walkers and stroller-pushers pass pioneer-style storefronts boasting yoga studios and coffee shops. In a city where median home prices top $1 million, residents pay a premium for small-town charm. But last October, residents here learned that their zip code came with an unexpected cost: water contamination. … ” Read more from Earth Island Journal here: Silicon Valley suburb scrambles to tackle ‘forever chemicals’
California Natural Resources Agency lays out aggressive Salton Sea mitigation goals: “The California Natural Resources Agency this week released its Salton Sea Management Program annual report, which trumpeted the first completed dust suppression project and set ambitious goals for upcoming mitigation efforts. The report lays out an aggressive target of 3,800 acres on which the agency hopes to complete efforts to tamp down dust by the end of 2020 to catch up with its long-term benchmarks. ... ” Read more from the Desert Sun here: California Natural Resources Agency lays out aggressive Salton Sea mitigation goals
San Diego falls behind on storm water improvements: “San Diego has fallen behind its annual funding targets. Elected officials would need to raise more than a $1 billion in new revenue over the next decade to get back on track, reported the San Diego Tribune. Under San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, the city laid out what it would cost to fix the problem, creating a financial blueprint over two decades to prevent flooding and to come into compliance with state mandates under the Clean Water Act. City auditors warned elected leaders that San Diego’s storm water needs were being dramatically underfunded, according to the San Diego Tribune. … ” Read more from Storm Water Solutions here: San Diego falls behind on storm water improvements
Bills that would strengthen rural groundwater rules die in Arizona Legislature: “Two bills that would make it easier for state regulators and county officials to limit well-drilling and groundwater pumping have died in the Arizona Legislature despite support from lawmakers and pleas from county officials who are asking for help to protect their rapidly declining aquifers. Republican and Democratic legislators proposed 12 bills this year that would strengthen groundwater rules and oversight in rural areas where pumping is unregulated and where farms aren’t required to report how much water they’re using. ... ” Read more from Arizona Central here: Bills that would strengthen rural groundwater rules die in Arizona Legislature
Rain-on-snow flood risk: “When a warm storm front moves over a snow-capped mountain range, floods often follow. These events aren’t common on the Colorado Plateau, where winter precipitation usually falls as snow. But scientists say that’s going to change as the world continues to heat up. Researchers at the University of Colorado-Boulder ran simulations of the United States’ future climate in the supercomputer at the National Center for Atmospheric Research. They discovered some areas of the country, such as the Pacific Northwest, will see fewer floods from rain-on-snow events. That’s because those regions will have less snow on the ground in a warmer world. ... ” Read more from KNAU here: Rain-on-snow flood risk
CA WATER COMMISSION: Delta Conveyance update; Tribal engagement in the Delta Conveyance process
SCIENCE NEWS: Spinal deformities in Delta fish linked to selenium; Study reveals hidden risks of estuary development for young salmon; Using sound and light to measure sediment in water; and more …
Image credit: CA streamflow assessment map, courtesy of Belize Lane. From this paper: Lane, B. A., Dahlke, H. E., Pasternack, G. B., & Sandoval‐Solis, S. (2017). Revealing the diversity of natural hydrologic regimes in California with relevance for environmental flows applications. JAWRA Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 53(2), 411-430.
