On the calendar today …
The State Water Board meets this morning beginning at 9am.
The main agenda item is an update on the Safe and Affordable Funding for Equity and Resilience (SAFER) aquifer risk map. For the full agenda, click here.
In California water news today …
First weekend of November could see snow, rain in Northern California
“After a very warm and dry October for Northern California, some big changes are coming for the first weekend in November. Most of this week will be warm, sunny and dry with high temperatures well above the average of 70 degrees. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday will see highs close to 80 degrees and remain rain-free. Friday morning the entire pattern changes … ” Read more from ABC 10 here: First weekend of November could see snow, rain in Northern California
California’s wildfire risk stays high as other regions cool down
“The risk of large wildfires remains high in California, the National Interagency Fire Center says. Fall is the windy season, and dry fuels remain in much of the state. “The fall fire season in California is always a concern,” NIFC meteorologist Nick Nauslar said. “This is the time of year for them to get offshore wind. … And given how dry the fuels are going into the fall season and the late start to cool-season rain, any offshore-wind events are going to be concerning for new ignitions and potentially rapid rates of spread.” … ” Read more from the Capital Press here: California’s wildfire risk stays high as other regions cool down
Rice fields provide crucial refuge for migrating birds
“As a rice farmer in Yolo County, Kim Gallagher should be used to the sight of thousands of birds swarming her flooded fields this time of year—but when she sees a flock take off, scattering the sky with a confetti of fluttering wings, her enjoyment is clear. “I see that multiple times every winter when I’m out here, but it’s always impressive,” she said. “It’s so neat that we’ve got this food for them.” Nearly 230 wildlife species rely on Sacramento Valley rice fields for nourishment and as a rest stop, according to the California Rice Commission, including some 7 million ducks, geese and other waterfowl that migrate along the Pacific Flyway. … ” Read more from Ag Alert here: Rice fields provide crucial refuge for migrating birds
Small genetic difference determines Chinook salmon migration timing, new study shows
“The annual migration of Chinook salmon up West Coast rivers from the ocean has enriched ecosystems, inspired cultures, and shaped landscapes. Yet the timing of their migration is controlled by one small section of their genome, according to research published this week in Science. This is the first time scientists have linked a single gene region to such an influential difference in a vertebrate species. For salmon, it determines whether they return upriver from the ocean in spring or fall. This has crucial implications for other species that rely on them for food. First author Neil Thompson of the University of California Santa Cruz and NOAA Fisheries’ Southwest Fisheries Science Center said that this small genetic difference can have a major effect on a complex pattern of migration and reproduction. … ” Read more from NOAA here: Small genetic difference determines Chinook salmon migration timing, new study shows
CW3E launches public subseasonal-to-seasonal (S2S) experimental forecast webpage for winter 2020-2021
“Demand for subseasonal-to-seasonal (S2S; 2-week to 6-month lead time) forecasts of precipitation and other meteorological variables is historically high in the stakeholder and applications communities. In particular, water managers, energy and insurance companies, agriculture producers, and other end users are keenly interested in improved prediction of precipitation, atmospheric river (AR) activity, and circulation patterns that may serve as precursor patterns for future wet or dry conditions relative to normal. … ” Read more from the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes here: CW3E Launches Public Subseasonal-to-Seasonal (S2S) Experimental Forecast Webpage for Winter 2020-2021
In regional water news and commentary today …
Big snow for Tahoe? Forecasters talk about winter possibilities
“With last year’s ski season coming to an early end, many skiers and snowboarders are itching to make up for the lost turns this year and the biggest question out there is, will there be snow? And the experts say … Maybe. Old Farmer’s Almanac, which boasts of an 80% accuracy rate, is calling for a fairly dry winter. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune here: Big snow for Tahoe? Forecasters talk about winter possibilities
SEE ALSO: Weather forecasters predict possibly big snow for Lake Tahoe, from SF Gate
Mokelumne River: Fish managers hopeful despite low numbers of fall-run Chinook salmon
“The numbers of fall-run Chinook salmon that have gone over the Woodbridge Diversion Dam fish ladder on the Mokelumne River to date are much lower than those in recent years, but fish managers are hopeful that a lot more fish will show soon. In 2017, a year of high flows and heavy precipitation, an all-time record of 19,954 fish went over the dam. … ” Read more from the Stockton Record here: Fish managers hopeful despite low numbers of fall-run Chinook salmon
Monterey: The sardine war hits a lull, but the tides are rising
“With catch limit regulations staying at the status quo, the commercial fishing industry has apparently landed a victory in the fight over Pacific sardine management. The Pacific Fishery Management Council, which oversees fishing of Pacific sardines, voted unanimously in September to maintain the current sardine fishery management process that calls for reassessments after each year’s stock assessments. … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald here: The sardine war hits a lull, but the tides are rising
Coping strategies shared for Valley climate impacts
“The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) has published an educational guide for people living in California’s San Joaquin Valley to better understand how climate change threatens their communities and what they can do to prepare for worsening living conditions. Rural communities throughout the state will bear the burden of the state’s slow action on climate change, according to the recent UCS report, which pointed out that communities in the San Joaquin Valley have fewer water supply options, are located in areas more likely to flood and experience extreme heat, suffer the worse air and water quality in the state, and have less capacity to do their own climate risk planning. … ” Read more from the Escalon Times here: Coping strategies shared for Valley climate impacts
Tulare County prepares for flooding in wake of SQF Fire
“The last evacuation warnings for mountain communities were removed last week, the SQF Complex Fire is 80% contained and work begins this week to pick up the pieces in the aftermath. On Oct. 28, Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux removed voluntary evacuation orders for all areas of South Fork Drive, Mineral King and Silver City. The only areas still closed to the public are the Mountain Home Demonstration Forest, Balch Park campground, some wilderness areas in Sequoia National Park and portions of the Sequoia National Forest including Sherman Pass Road and all areas west of Osa Meadows. … ” Read more from the Foothills Sun-Gazette here: Tulare County prepares for flooding in wake of SQF Fire
Terracore abandons new oil wells project in Cat Canyon
“The last oil company with permit applications in Cat Canyon withdrew its proposal for 187 new wells, the Environmental Defense Center announced with satisfaction today. The project has been in Santa Barbara County’s planning pipeline for such a long time — six years — that the applicant went through three name changes and two companies. It was filed in June 2014 by ERG, a Texas-based company that went bankrupt a year later and was bought in 2019 by Terracore, a Colorado company that changed its name for this project to Cat Canyon Resources. … ” Read more from the Independent here: Terracore abandons new oil wells project in Cat Canyon
Appeals court denies rehearing request over Oxnard wastewater ruling
“The 2nd District Court of Appeal has denied a request made last week for a rehearing of an Oxnard wastewater rate repeal case. On Friday, the state appellate court denied the petition made by Aaron Starr, who had successfully led a repeal of wastewater rates at the ballot box but the city is challenging it in court. On Sunday, Starr indicated that he will now petition the California State Supreme Court. … ” Read more from the Ventura County Star here: Appeals court denies rehearing request over Oxnard wastewater ruling
Michael Abatti seeks US Supreme Court ruling on Abatti v IID
“Michael Abatti has pivoted away from the California Supreme Court as the final arbiter in his prolonged battle with the Imperial Irrigation District after it refused to take his case on who owns water rights in the Valley. The California Supreme Court denied to hear Abatti’s appeal after California’s Fourth District Appeal Court ruled in favor of the IID that the irrigation district has the right to deliver water in a beneficial manner to all users. The case began in 2013 when Abatti sued the District concerning the Equitable Distribution Plan (EDP) and won at the Superior Court with Judge Brooks Anderholt ruling in favor of the Abattis. The IID immediately appealed and recently won. … ” Read more from the Desert Review here: Michael Abatti seeks US Supreme Court ruling on Abatti v IID
San Diego County supervisors agree on conservation plan for North County
“A draft plan to preserve thousands of acres of natural habitat in North County was unanimously approved by supervisors last week, but changes were called for. The San Diego Multi-Species Conservation Plan aims to balance habitat protection with the need for housing, recreation, and agriculture. The South County rolled out a plan in 1998, and has conserved over 79,000 acres. … ” Read more from the San Diego Reader here: San Diego County supervisors agree on conservation plan for North County
San Diego: 500 California halibut released into Mission Bay as part of replenishment program
“The Hubbs SeaWorld Research Institute released over 500 adolescent California Halibut in San Diego’s Mission Bay as part of the Dick Laub Fisheries Replenishment program committed to getting the California Halibut back into the wild. Mark Drawbridge is a senior research scientist at Hubbs and he and his team have raised the California Halibut from eggs. ... ” Read more from Channel 8 here: 500 California halibut released into Mission Bay as part of replenishment program
In national water news today …
Water quality: a matter of perspective
“There are so many ways to assess water quality: if you fish, your idea of “good” water is whether it supports trout, bass or walleye; if you farm, there must be enough clean water to irrigate your crops; if you’re a recreational swimmer, you like your water to be clear and safe.Ca n these different points of view be harmonized? Would you drink the water you swim in, for instance, or irrigate your plants with it? What does good water quality mean, anyway, and how do we measure it? … ” Read more from Phys Org here: Water quality: a matter of perspective
U.S., Mexico sign Rio Grande water agreement
“U.S. and Mexican officials settled a water dispute that had been simmering for several months and led to protests by Mexican farmers concerned about water access. Mexico is obligated under a 1944 treaty to deliver to the United States a set amount of water from the Rio Grande and its tributaries over a five-year period. As the end of the most recent period approached in late October, Mexico was behind on deliveries for a second consecutive cycle. … ” Read more from the Circle of Blue here: U.S., Mexico sign Rio Grande water agreement
Climate-related weather events to break records in US this year, data shows
“Extreme weather events caused by climate change will break records across the United States this year in all probability, new data has shown, even as the country is voting for its next president November 3, 2020. Between January and September, the United States has been hit by 16 billion-dollar weather / climate disaster events, according to recent data released by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) October 7. … ” Read ore from Down to Earth here: Climate-related weather events to break records in US this year, data shows
Climate change—and research—raced forward as Trump turned his back
“The Trump administration has spent four years consciously ignoring—and often working against—scientists’ efforts to raise the alarm about climate change. In the wake of hurricanes, floods, wildfires and extreme heat, President Trump has continually questioned the science of global warming. A deep cynicism of scientists flavored his policy decisions, such as withdrawing the U.S. from a global climate agreement and unraveling dozens of environmental regulations. … ” Read more from Scientific American here: Climate change—and research—raced forward as Trump turned his back
In commentary today …
CFBF president’s message: State must fulfill promise of Proposition 1 water bond
Jamie Johansson writes, ” … Storage projects partially funded by Proposition 1 should help the state balance the swings in precipitation that characterize the California climate, and that scientists say could become more severe due to global climate change. Yet, six years after the bond’s passage, the water storage projects that will benefit from Proposition 1 likely remain at least a decade away from becoming operational. That may be frustrating to farmers, ranchers and other Californians who voted for the bond during a debilitating drought. … ” Read more from Ag Alert here: CFBF president’s message: State must fulfill promise of Proposition 1 water bond
Oregon must stop sending Klamath water to California, say
They write, ” … Oregon has many resources that are a critical foundation to our communities and economy. This year we have struggled to overcome a global pandemic, recession, record wildfires — and a chronic shortage of water. Why are our food producers, including many century-old family farms with 100-year-old water rights, facing a shortage of water? Because we drain Oregon’s largest lake to artificially increase water supply in California. Oregon’s citizens access to water, our wildlife habitats and our economies are hit hard. … ” Read more at the Herald & News here: Oregon must stop sending Klamath water to California
Reform the Brown Act to enhance transparency and public access, says Shawn Landres, chair of the Santa Monica Planning Commission
He writes, “The Ralph M. Brown Act represented major progress for transparency in California government when it was enacted in 1953. The law has ensured that generations of Californians have access to their local officials, that the public’s business be conducted in public and that decision-makers hear from their constituents before they take action. After nearly 70 years, the Brown Act is showing its age. Not only has the internet transformed access to public information as well as public expression and debate, but it also has transformed officials’ capacity to interact with one another and the residents they serve. … ” Read more from Cal Matters here: Reform the Brown Act to enhance transparency and public access
Today’s featured articles …
DELTA CONVEYANCE: Metropolitan Committee discusses funding planning costs, how to account for project benefits, and who is in and who is out
At the October meeting of Metropolitan’s Bay-Delta Committee, staff continued preparing the committee members for the upcoming decision on funding the planning costs for the Delta Conveyance Project which is anticipated to be before the full board at the December meeting.
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