On the calendar today …
ONLINE EVENT: Squaring the Hydro Circle: Tapping Water Reuse in Silicon Valley from 10am to 11:30am
The Cure for any election hangover. Dr. Anne Thebo and Cora Kammeyer discuss the Pacific Institute’s investigation into Silicon Valley water reuse and their insights from their CEO Mandate work. Sherwood’s Amelia Luna explores the thinking behind reuse project design, engineering and implementation. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
Rain, snow in California forecast — though climate experts warn of deepening drought
“California is expecting its first rain of the season this weekend, a major shift in weather that’s likely to bring scattered showers and chilly breezes to the Bay Area, and freezing temperatures and snow to the Sierra. While the unavoidable turn toward winter, starting Friday, is sure to offer at least some relief from this year’s unrelenting fire season, forecasters warn that wildfire risk is likely to persist for another month — possibly much longer. The state’s hills and valleys remain tinder dry. And the prospect of dangerous, seasonal winds generally lingers into December. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Rain, snow in California forecast — though climate experts warn of deepening drought
SEE ALSO:
CW3E AR outlook: First significant precipitation event of the season likely in California and the Four Corners Region
“A shortwave trough and an associated AR are forecast to bring significant precipitation to portions of California and the Four Corners Region over the next several days. The highest precipitation amounts (1–3 inches) are forecast over far northern California, the Sierra Nevada, coastal Southern California, and across the higher terrain in central Arizona, Utah, and western Colorado. Significant snowfall is also possible in the Sierra Nevada and San Juan Mountains.” More from the Center for Western Water and Weather Extremes here: CW3E AR outlook: First significant precipitation event of the season likely in California and the Four Corners Region
Repairs set to begin on local portion of Friant-Kern
“After years of efforts to provide needed repairs of the Friant-Kern Canal, the first stage of those repairs is on the verge of finally happening. And the repairs will be done to the canal in Southeastern Tulare County. On Wednesday, the Bureau of Reclamation signed a record of decision to advance construction to repair a portion of the Friant-Kern Canal. The decision gives final approval on the required environmental reviews for the first phase of repairs to the canal. … ” Read more from the Porterville Recorder here: Repairs set to begin on local portion of Friant-Kern
Online debate rages in campaign to raise awareness about toilet leaks
“With the election over—if not behind us—it’s time to focus on another raging debate—which is the proper way to hang toilet paper? Over or under? The debate, in the form of a Facebook poll that has attracted hundreds of comments, is part of a regional campaign by Sacramento-area water providers to raise awareness about toilet leaks, which waste more water inside homes than any other kind of household leak. The grand prize for weighing in? A $50 gift certificate to a local hardware store AND a case of toilet paper. … ” Read more from Be Water Smart here: Online debate rages in campaign to raise awareness about toilet leaks
A lesson in learning to live with fire, and each other
“Within days of sparking on Sept. 4, California’s Creek Fire was powerful enough to produce its own pyrocumulonimbus — a thunderhead of wind, rain, smoke and fire. The mushroom-cloud-like plume was the largest ever seen in the U.S., a monumental illustration of a catastrophic fire season and of the scale of loss below: tens of thousands of acres burning in the Sierra National Forest, at the southern end of the mountains John Muir called the Range of Light. ... ” Read more from Bloomberg here: A lesson in learning to live with fire, and each other
Changing Pacific conditions raise sea level along U.S. West Coast
“Ask your average resident of California, Oregon or Washington to name the natural hazard that concerns them most and sea level rise probably won’t bubble to the top of the list. After all, the region is better known for its wildfires, earthquakes, heat waves, and mudslides. But those who live along the coastline know better. They’ve seen first-hand the effects of coastal erosion, beach loss, storm damage, and tidal flooding resulting from sea level rise. In some locations, it’s a constant battle to hold back the sea. Yet during the 1990s and 2000s, natural climate cycles actually suppressed the rate of sea level rise off the U.S. West Coast. That lull appears to be over. Changing Pacific Ocean and atmospheric conditions have stirred up Earth’s largest ocean and redistributed its heat, piling up warm waters along U.S. western shores and raising sea level in the process. ... ” Read more from NASA here: Changing Pacific conditions raise sea level along U.S. West Coast
In regional water news and commentary today …
Santa Clara County: Wetland habitat restored in south Morgan Hill
“A stretch of Llagas Creek in south Morgan Hill will soon be thriving with native plants and animals as Valley Water completes the largest wetland restoration project in the agency’s history. As part of the Llagas Creek Flood Protection project, Valley Water has created the new wetland habitat at Lake Silveira, located in unincorporated Morgan Hill near San Martin. The project aims to restore steelhead habitat in Llagas Creek, according to Valley Water officials. … ” Read more from the Morgan Hill Times here: Wetland habitat restored in south Morgan Hill
Monterey: California American Water refiles Coastal Commission application for water supply project
“California American Water refiled its application for the Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project, to obtain a Coastal Development Permit for a desalination facility, with the California Coastal Commission and urged the commission to schedule a new hearing date as soon as possible. “We needed to take time to put forth the best possible project for the Monterey Peninsula,” said California American Water president Rich Svindland. “It was a necessary step. It’s made the project better and will help build support from the local community and decision makers.” … ” Read more from Yahoo Finance here: California American Water refiles Coastal Commission application for water supply project
California water board orders mandatory solution to East Orosi water situation
“After more than a decade of East Orosi residents struggling without clean drinking water, the State Water Board on Tuesday took a huge and critically necessary step by issuing a mandatory consolidation order for a neighboring district to connect East Orosi to safe water, ushering in the long-overdue promise of safe drinking water for the marginalized Tulare County community. East Orosi, a rural community in the San Joaquin Valley with about 700 residents, has fought for reliable access to safe drinking water for more than 10 years. … ” Read more from Valley Voice here: California water board orders mandatory solution to East Orosi water situation
Santa Barbara: Local geologist’s new book explores local resources
“Over his four-decade career working as a geologist and hydrogeologist through his geological consulting firm Hoover Consulting, Santa Barbara resident Mike Hoover has learned a great deal about local water resources and is spending his retirement years getting the information he knows into books. In his latest book, “Drought & Flood: The History of Water in Santa Barbara and Montecito,” Mr. Hoover argues two primary theses: That Santa Barbara has been short of water for hundreds of years with very few respites of sufficient water, and that putting a measure for desalination on the same ballot as the State Water Project in 1991 was a “horrible mistake.” ... ” Read more from the Santa Barbara Independent here: Santa Barbara: Local geologist’s new book explores local resources
Orange County: Desal proponent Poseidon spends big, gets modest election results
“Poseidon Water, developer of the controversial desalination proposal for Huntington Beach, spent big in an effort to win water board seats for sympathetic candidates in the election Tuesday, Oct. 3. Backing five candidates for two water boards important to the future of the $1 billion plant, Poseidon spent at least $419,000 in the past two months on independent campaign expenditures outside of the candidates’ own efforts. That’s more than twice what the those five favored candidates themselves raised for their campaigns. In fact, Poseidon’s spending was 50% more than that collectively raised by all 18 candidates for those five seats. … ” Read more from the OC Register here: Orange County: Desal proponent Poseidon spends big, gets modest election results
Along the Colorado River …
Slideshow: Sixty days to salad
“U.S. consumers sitting down to a salad in the winter months can thank farmers who, around Labor Day, prepared the ground and planted the seed necessary to grow it. In this case, we chronicled the progression of romaine lettuce grown near Yuma, Ariz. over a two-month period. Harvest crews should be entering the field in the next week or two to harvest lettuce that will be packed and shipped within a couple days of harvest. Sun, soil and the Colorado River all combine this time of year to grow America’s winter vegetable crops, which currently are carpeting the desert Southwest in a sea of green. … ” Check out the slideshow from the Western Farm Press here: Slideshow: Sixty days to salad
In national water news today …
Dam advocates welcome salmon survival rate study
“Advocates of using the Columbia-Snake river system for agricultural transportation say a new study questioning the basis for the push to breach dams will help their cause. “This research casts even further doubt on the already shaky assertion that Snake River dam breaching would meaningfully assist our region’s salmon recovery efforts,” said Kristin Meira, executive director of the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association, a collaboration of ports, businesses and other stakeholders in the region. … ” Read more from the Capital Press here: Dam advocates welcome salmon survival rate study
NASA watches sea level rise from space, and its centers’ windows
“The two-thirds of Earth covered by water may jeopardize up to two-thirds of NASA’s infrastructure built within mere feet of sea level. Some NASA centers and facilities are located in coastal real estate because the shoreline is a safer, less inhabited surrounding if something goes wrong. But now these launch pads, laboratories, airfields and testing facilities are potentially at risk because of sea level rise. … ” Read more from NASA here: NASA watches sea level rise from space, and its centers’ windows
In commentary today …
Seven lessons we’ve learned from wildfires, says George Wuerthner, an author and ecologist
“Back in 1988, I was writing a book about the massive fires that charred Yellowstone National Park. In researching historical accounts of previous fires in the park, I came upon a description of a fire suppression effort from the 1930s. In that faded typewritten account, the author noted: “finally got the fire under control. Had a hell of a time breaking camp in the rain!” I don’t know if the author of the report saw the irony in his comments, but his perspective represents a typical attitude towards wildfire. There is an assumption that firefighters put out fires. … ” Read more from The Hill here: Seven lessons we’ve learned from wildfires, says George Wuerthner, an author and ecologist
National water and climate update …
The Natural Resources Conservation Service produces this weekly report using data and products from the National Water and Climate Center and other agencies. The report focuses on seasonal snowpack, precipitation, temperature, and drought conditions in the U.S.
dmrpt-20201105Today’s featured articles …
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
DELTA eNEWS: ~~ East Levee~ Duck Bucks~ ISB Meeting~ CWC Meeting~ DWR Survey ~~
RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY: Requests for cultured Delta smelt
OPPORTUNITY: California Water Data Consortium Now Accepting Applications for Working Group Co-Chairs
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: USDA Announces Funding of WaterSMART Initiative Priority Areas in Kern, Kings, and Tulare Counties
