Election section …
Biden to move fast to strike down Trump’s environmental agenda
“The EPA and Interior Department under President-elect Joe Biden will have a range of tools at their disposal to start undoing President Donald Trump’s deregulatory agenda on the environment, according to former agency officials, lawyers, and environmentalists. Many of the administration’s more ambitious environmental goals, such as reviving regulations on climate pollutants from power plants and automobiles, will take longer to change or put into place. But most observers expect Biden’s team to get working immediately after inauguration on smaller measures, such as the “secret science” rule that would block the EPA from using scientific research that isn’t or can’t be made public. … ” Read more from Bloomberg Law here: Biden to move fast to strike down Trump’s environmental agenda
Trump leaves unfinished business in environmental litigation
“Major environmental litigation is set for an abrupt shift after President-elect Joe Biden steps into the White House, as the Trump administration leaves behind a trail of unanswered legal questions. In four years, President Donald Trump and his appointees in the Environmental Protection Agency, Interior Department, and other agencies made dramatic regulatory changes that sparked an ongoing series of legal battles. Biden’s team is expected to reverse course on big-ticket items, stopping many of those lawsuits in their tracks. … ” Read more from the Bloomberg Law here: Trump leaves unfinished business in environmental litigation
Five things Joe Biden can do to fight climate change — without Congress’ help
“Climate change is fueling record-breaking fires, hurricanes and floods. Global emissions of greenhouse gases are returning to pre-pandemic levels. And America — which has emitted more planet-warming gases than any other nation — has just become the only country to quit the Paris climate agreement. President-elect Joe Biden is a few months away from inheriting a seemingly impossible situation: a country where the majority of people say they are in favor of climate action but where a divided government in Washington will complicate any efforts to do so. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Five things Joe Biden can do to fight climate change — without Congress’ help
Next president should strengthen Endangered Species Act: report
“Scientists have for years sounded the alarm on the wildlife extinction crisis. In the U.S., avoiding catastrophe will take more than reversing years of regressive policy-making — it will require bolstering landmark federal protections established decades ago, conservationists and scientists said in a report issued this week. Numerous species of wildlife have disappeared at frighteningly rapid rates and it’s estimated that globally more than a million species face extinction, according to the policy report published in the journal Science. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service here: Next president should strengthen Endangered Species Act: report
In California water news this weekend …
A statewide response to sea level rise
“The California Coastal Commission (CCC) has been issuing policy guidelines for sea level rise for the last six years. It has also been encouraging cities to employ a strategy called “managed retreat” and generally frowns upon “armoring” the coast with rocks and seawalls. The commission is now taking the first steps toward rethinking some of its current policies and looking at the state as a whole, realizing that one size does not fit all when it comes to ways of adapting to sea level rise. … “ Read more from the Malibu Times here: A statewide response to sea level rise
Cal Am re-files desal project application with Coastal Commission
“California American Water has re-filed its desalination project permit application less than two months after withdrawing it on the eve of a special Coastal Commission meeting. While the company made changes to its desal project proposal in the re-filed application, it has not yet met with Marina city officials to resolve the issues prompting the city to oppose the project. Cal Am president Rich Svindland acknowledged that opposition was a factor in the company’s decision to withdraw its project application. … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald here: Cal Am re-files desal project application with Coastal Commission
Santa Barbara County: Application for third Cat Canyon oil project withdrawn
“Cat Canyon Resources LLC, formerly ERG Operating Co. and then Terracore, has withdrawn its application to drill 233 new steam-injection oil production wells on its West Cat Canyon lease. The withdrawal Monday marks the last of three oil and gas production projects proposed for the East and West Cat Canyon areas that all were pulled from the Santa Barbara County permit process this year. … ” Read more from the Santa Maria Times here: Application for third Cat Canyon oil project withdrawn
Santa Clarita: Protect our groundwater recharge, says Stacy Fortner
She writes, “Recently the city of Santa Clarita Planning Commission approved a project that would qualify as “backward planning,” planning that pays no attention to modern issues, instead using methods long abandoned by others. To me, as a member of the local Groundwater Sustainability Advisory Committee, the worst of these is the plan to concrete a portion of Bouquet Creek along with the groundwater recharge areas and blue-line stream on the property. … ” Read more from the Signal here: Protect our groundwater recharge
Metropolitan Water District approves battery storage system at Skinner treatment plant
“The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California approved a battery energy storage system at the Robert A. Skinner Water Treatment Plant. The Oct. 13 MWD board vote amended MWD’s capital investment plan to include battery storage systems at three treatment plants and one pumping plant, authorized an agreement with Stantec Inc., for the design of the battery energy storage facilities and found the study portion of the project to be categorically exempt from California Environmental Quality Act review. … ” Read more from Valley News here: Metropolitan Water District approves battery storage system at Skinner treatment plant
Another fish die off at popular lake in Rancho Santa Margarita
“It’s a fishy mystery. Hundreds of fish turned up dead at Lago Santa Margarita lake recently. And it isn’t the first time this has happened. For years, the city of Rancho Santa Margarita has been trying to prevent algae blooms – and help the lake’s fish thrive – at the popular community fishing spot. … ” Read more from the OC Register here: Another fish die off at popular lake in Rancho Santa Margarita
Along the Colorado River …
Colorado river bugs spark two unprecedented experiments—with opposite goals
“In autumn swarms of flying insects cloud the skies on the lower Colorado River near Bullhead City. Caddisflies are a nuisance to recreationists who want to boat, swim or fish on the river. So city officials have started an unprecedented experiment to get rid of them. They recently tweaked the operation of Davis Dam to lower the river’s level and try to kill off the bugs. But just three hundred miles upriver another first-of-its-kind experiment is happening at Glen Canyon Dam, with the goal of SAVING caddisflies, not killing them. KNAU’s Melissa Sevigny reports on how the Southwest’s largest river ended up in a tug-of-war over a tiny bug. … ” Read more from KNAU here: Colorado river bugs spark two unprecedented experiments—with opposite goals
In people news this weekend …
PROFILES
Terry Fulp: A Colorado River leader who brokered key pacts to aid West’s vital water artery assesses his legacy and the river’s future
“Managing water resources in the Colorado River Basin is not for the timid or those unaccustomed to big challenges. Careers are devoted to responding to all the demands put upon the river: water supply, hydropower, recreation and environmental protection. All of this while the Basin endures a seemingly endless drought and forecasts of increasing dryness in the future. For more than 30 years, Terry Fulp, director of the Bureau of Reclamation’s Lower Colorado Basin Region, has been in the thick of it, applying his knowledge, expertise and calm demeanor to inform and broker key decisions that have helped stabilize the Southwest’s major water artery. … ” Read more from Western Water here: Terry Fulp: A Colorado River leader who brokered key pacts to aid West’s vital water artery assesses his legacy and the river’s future
POSITIONS
California’s Costa to seek ag committee chairmanship
“As anticipated, California’s U.S. Rep. Jim Costa is one of at least two Democrats in the House of Representatives seeking the chairmanship of the lower chamber’s Agriculture Committee. The Fresno lawmaker, who easily won a ninth term, put his hat in the ring Thursday after the defeat of long-time chairman Collin Peterson, D-Minn. The House is expected to remain under Democratic control. “Chairman Peterson is a friend and mentor and he leaves big shoes to fill,” Costa said. “Not only must this Committee address an unstable agricultural economy and a broken international trade system, but we must also feed millions of vulnerable Americans in the throes of a worldwide pandemic. This is a challenge I am ready to accept.” … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press here: California’s Costa to seek ag committee chairmanship
Marina Coast Water District’s general manager resigns to take job in Southern California
“After five a half years on the job, the general manager of Marina Coast Water District has announced his resignation as he prepares to take the top management position at a water district in Southern California on Jan. 1, 2020. Keith Van Der Maaten is heading to Laguna Beach County Water District in southern Orange County where his starting salary will be $272,000 on a three-year contract, according to the Oct. 19 agenda packet for the district’s board of directors. His 2019 salary at MCWD was $218,981. … ” Read more from Monterey Weekly here: Marina Coast Water District’s general manager resigns to take job in Southern California
O’Dowd resigns from CVWD Board of Directors to head Salton Sea Authority
“G. Patrick O’Dowd, a 6-year member of the Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) Board of Directors, announced Tuesday, November 3rd his resignation to take a post as Executive Director of the Salton Sea Authority. “It’s been a privilege to serve on the CVWD board,” said O’Dowd. “My time on the board has afforded me an opportunity to deeply understand the rich history and critical importance of this special organization. Since its inception, CVWD has been led by men and women who have passionately guided the organization to its position of prominence in the water community, both in the State and National arenas. I’m honored to have been able to contribute in some small way to the writing of that history”.
AWARDS
Daniel Errotabere named 2020 Agriculturalist of the Year
“Yesterday, the Fresno Chamber of Commerce and Moss Adams announced that Daniel Errotabere has been named as the 2020 Agriculturalist of the Year. This award is presented to an individual who exemplifies leadership and integrity in the Central Valley’s agricultural business community. Mr. Errotabere, president of the Westlands Water District, is a third-generation farmer, whose family has grown food and fiber in the District since the late 1920’s. Mr. Errotabere manages Errotabere Ranches with his two brothers, Jean and Remi, primarily growing tomatoes, garlic, onions, garbanzo beans and almonds in the Five Points/Riverdale area.
4 UCSD Scripps Institution scientists receive DWR Climate Science Service Award
“The Department of Water Resources (DWR) presented Climate Science Service Awards to four early-career scientists with the University of San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography at this year’s Winter Outlook Workshop. The award recognizes their ongoing assistance and partnership with the Department on climate science projects. These partnerships fuel innovations that help DWR and other water agencies respond to water supply and flood-risk management challenges associated with climate change adaptation and California’s growing population. … ” Read more from DWR News here: 4 UCSD Scripps Institution scientists receive DWR Climate Science Service Award
Podcasts …
EYES ON EARTH PODCAST: Watching the Water Supply with OpenET
Evapotranspiration is the process by which water transpires from the leaves and stems of plants and evaporates from the Earth’s surface. ET is an important metric for managing water use, but data availability has long been an issue. On this episode of Eyes on Earth, we talk about OpenET, a bold initiative whose goal is to improve water management by making that water consumption data more easily accessible to 17 western states. A consortium of agencies and organizations is working together to create a “one-stop shop” where users can access remotely sensed water consumption models on a single web-based platform.
WATER IS A MANY SPLENDOR’ED THING PODCAST: Mendenhall Glacier
Steve Baker writes, “A 30-minute bus ride from the docks of Juneau, Alaska is the most accessible glacier in Alaska… as long as you can get to Juneau, Alaska! These glaciers have been around a long time and have receded and advanced more than you know. Standing on the beach of Mendenhall Lake and gazing at the panoramic view and abundant wild life is a memory I will never forget. Water is a Many Splendor’ed Thing brings you another water relationship that has a personally significant impact to your life.” Produced by Steven Baker, Operation Unite® Bringing People Together to Solve Water Problems, Online at www.operationunite.co
In national water news this weekend …
Experts distrust the tap, but prefer it to bottles
“There could be lead in your tap water. There could be PFAS in your bottled water. Microplastics might be in both. Do you choose neurotoxic heavy metals or carcinogenic “forever chemicals”? That’s the predicament facing Americans every time they take a drink of water. “You know what, I don’t trust our water systems — tap or bottled,” says Bruce Lanphear, a scientist whose research underpins EPA regulations on lead and mercury. “It is really hard for any of us to know or trust that our water is free of contaminants, even if we say we have more confidence in some sources for some contaminants.” … ” Read more from E&E News here: Experts distrust the tap, but prefer it to bottles
Also on Maven’s Notebook this weekend …
WEEKLY WATER NEWS DIGEST for November 1-6: Updates on Delta Conveyance Project and San Joaquin River Restoration, plus all the week’s top stories and more …
CALL FOR ABSTRACTS: GRA’s The Future of Water Conference
FEATURED IMAGE CREDIT: Autumn waterfall in the Eastern Sierra; Photo by Jay Huang
