In California water news today …
Water futures to start trading amid growing fears of scarcity
“Water is joining gold, oil and other commodities traded on Wall Street, highlighting worries that the life-sustaining natural resource may become scarce across more of the world. Farmers, hedge funds and municipalities alike will be able to hedge against — or bet on — potential water scarcity starting this week, when CME Group Inc. launches contracts linked to the $1.1 billion California spot water market. According to Chicago-based CME, the futures will help water users manage risk and better align supply and demand. … ” Read more from BNN Bloomberg here: Water futures to start trading amid growing fears of scarcity
Is California heading for a multi-year drought?
“Yes, California will have another multi-year drought. California has immense hydrologic variability, with more droughts and floods per average year than any other part of the country. California’s water users, managers, and regulators should always be prepared for droughts (and floods). Eventually, California will have a multi-year drought worse than any we have ever seen. More immediately, since the 2020 water year was dry in northern California, will this current 2021 Water Year be dry enough to put us into year two of a multi-year drought? ... ” Read more from the California Water Blog here: Is California Heading for a Multi-Year Drought?
Fire danger in December? Forecasters predict high winds, dry conditions with no rain in sight
“An abnormal weather pattern sweeping through the Bay Area until Monday is raising wildfire concerns at the start of the December, usually among the wetter months for this part of the state. The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for much of the Bay Area Sunday as gusty offshore winds sucked more moisture out of the already desiccated hillsides, another grim reminder of the unusually dry weather Northern California has been experiencing all year. The entire North Bay, the East Bay Hills and Interior Valley, the Santa Cruz Mountains and San Francisco Peninsula Coast were all under red flag warnings as forecasters predicted winds of 15 to 25 miles per hour and gusts of up to 45 miles an hour above 1,000 feet. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: Fire danger in December? Forecasters predict high winds, dry conditions with no rain in sight
California farmers work to create a climate change buffer for migratory water birds
“On a warm, sunny afternoon in late November, Roger Cornwell stopped his pickup near the edge of a harvested rice field to avoid spooking a great blue heron standing still as a statute, alert for prey. He pointed to a dozen or so great egrets at the opposite end of the field as a chorus of killdeer sang a high lonesome tune in the distance. “We started bringing in the water this morning,” said Cornwell, general manager of River Garden Farms, which grows rice, alfalfa, corn, walnuts and other crops on 15,000 acres just west of the Sacramento River, in California’s Central Valley. “When we push water across a field, we’ll have tons of egrets in it because the mice and moles are being flushed.” … ” Read more from Inside Climate News here: California farmers work to create a climate change buffer for migratory water birds
Roly polies transfer environmental toxins to threatened fish populations in California
“Roly poly bugs may be a source of fun for kids and adults but these little bugs that form into balls at the slightest touch are causing problems for some threatened fish. New research finds steelhead trout in a stream on the California coast accumulate mercury in their bodies when the fish eat roly polies and similar terrestrial bugs that fall into local waterways. The new study corroborates earlier findings that mercury can make its way to the top of the food chain in coastal California. … ” Read more from Science Daily here: Roly polies transfer environmental toxins to threatened fish populations in California
In a first, California considers allowing housing project on San Diego ecological reserve
“Normally, sitting on the California Wildlife Conservation Board is a feel-good job, mostly consisting of unanimously approving millions in state dollars to protect natural habitats, from mountain meadows in Lassen County to lagoons in Newport Beach. That’s why it was so jarring when the seven-member board was asked a few months ago to allow the construction of an opulent housing development on 219 acres of ecologically prized San Diego County land — pristine coastal sage scrub that’s home to the federally endangered Quino checkerspot butterfly. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune here: In a first, California considers allowing housing project on San Diego ecological reserve
RELATED:
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- Agenda and remote access instructions for tomorrow’s meeting of the Wildlife Conservation Board
- Wildlife Conservation Board must reject controversial land exchange in San Diego County, commentary by Dan Silver, executive director of Endangered Habitats League, and Pamela Flick, California Program Director for Defenders of Wildlife
Q&A: Are all farmers held to same standards as cannabis growers?
“Question: I understand that the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) plays a regulatory role in commercial cannabis operations, because poor grow practices harm the environment and California’s fish and wildlife. But are farmers of other legal crops — say, almonds, or wine grapes — held to the same standards? Cannabis cultivation usually occurs in remote areas, not in locations zoned for agricultural use. Answer: Any farming activity that has the potential to impact California’s native fish, wildlife and plant resources must comply with the laws and regulations in place to protect them. This is true for farm-to-fork operations and commercial cannabis growers. … ” Read more from Noozhawk here: Q&A: Are all farmers held to same standards as cannabis growers?
US Fish and Wildlife Service under Trump denies another round of Endangered Species Act listings
“The Trump Administration has protected the fewest number of threatened plants and animals under the Endangered Species Act of any president since the Act became law in 1973. As the number of days remaining in the Trump presidency dwindle, a look back at the past four years shows the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has denied federal protection to more than 60 species, with 11 more denials coming on December 2, to include species in northern California and Nevada. … ” Read more from the Sierra Nevada Ally here: US Fish and Wildlife Service under Trump denies another round of Endangered Species Act listings
California adopts toxicity protections for water, wildlife
“After nearly 20 years of negotiating, the State Water Resources Control Board has adopted statewide toxicity provisions to improve the health of California’s rivers, lakes, and streams, and the wildlife that depend on its water. … ” Read more from the Santa Barbara Independent here: California adopts toxicity protections for water, wildlife
Slew of logging bills would worsen wildfires as well as climate change
“Wildfires have spanned over seven million acres this year, mostly in California and Oregon. Dozens of lives have been lost, with numerous towns devastated. People are desperate for solutions. Unfortunately, amidst the unfolding human tragedy, some pro-logging politicians are attempting to exploit hardship, loss, and confusion. Instead of focusing on approaches proven to save homes and lives from wildfires, such as home-hardening and “defensible space” pruning within 100 feet of homes, they are promoting logging bills in Congress. This would only make matters worse. ... ” Continue reading at Earth Island Journal here: Slew of logging bills would worsen wildfires as well as climate change
In regional water news and commentary today …
Healdsburg: Floating solar array project nearing completion
“A city floating three-megawatt solar array project that will produce roughly 6.5 million kilo-watt hours — enough energy to supply 8% of Healdsburg’s annual energy needs — is nearing completion and will likely be up and running and energized by the end of this year. “Discussions of the concept date as far back as 2010 but detailed planning started in 2017. As part of a larger statewide project through the Northern California Power Agency (NCPA), the City was able to revive the concept and turn it into the project that’s being built today,” explained Terry Crowley, the city’s utilities director. … ” Read more from Sonoma West here: Healdsburg: Floating solar array project nearing completion
PG&E faces millions in fines for ‘egregious and reckless’ logging, roadwork in Santa Cruz Mountains fire area
“PG&E is facing fines that could total millions of dollars from Cal Fire and the California Coastal Commission — along with possible criminal penalties — for what those agencies say is overzealous logging and grading work the utility has been doing without permits in the Santa Cruz Mountains following the CZU Lighting Fire. After the devastating fire, which was fully contained Sept. 22, the utility and its contractors aggressively cut hundreds of large trees, including redwoods, Douglas firs, madrones, cypress and ponderosa pines up to 100 feet away from power lines in communities near Boulder Creek, Ben Lomond and Bonny Doon, according to the agencies. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: PG&E faces millions in fines for ‘egregious and reckless’ logging, roadwork in Santa Cruz Mountains fire area
Water Replenishment District postpones meeting about controversial hiring
“The Water Replenishment District of Southern California’s board has postponed its next meeting to Tuesday, Dec. 8, when it is expected to clarify a controversial vote to hire former Carson Mayor Albert Robles as general manager. The board had initially continued its Thursday meeting to the next day, but board President Vera Robles DeWitt changed the date just four hours before the Friday meeting was slated to begin. … ” Read more from the Grunion Gazette here: Water Replenishment District postpones meeting about controversial hiring
Pico Rivera: Storm water management system helps filtration efforts
“An integrated storm water management system at The Albert Roles Center (ARC) for Water Recycling & Environmental Learning is helping to maximize on-site filtration and on/off-site groundwater recharge in Pico Rivera, California. The ARC is a multi-purpose site on 5.2 acres that houses a 48,000 square-foot, 14 million gallon per day, advanced water treatment facility, digital 25,000 square-foot learning center and demonstration gardens. The technologies at the water treatment facility purify 10,000 acre-feet of tertiary-treated recycled water per year. … ” Read more from Stormwater Solutions here: Storm water management system helps filtration efforts
Coachella Valley: This $250 million, 400-acre surf resort in California desert is on track for 2021 start
In national water news today …
NACWA: Clean water funding excluded from final WRDA package
“Friday evening, Congress released its long-awaited conferenced Water Resources and Development Act (WRDA). Over the past several cycles, this bill has become the vehicle of choice for authorizing essential funding for clean and drinking water infrastructure. While both the House and Senate Committee versions of WRDA 2020 included clean water investment, the conferenced language released is limited to the Army Corps of Engineers titles. The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) has released a statement expressing disappointment that Congress was unable to include funding that apparently had bipartisan support. … ” Read more from Water Finance & Management here: NACWA: Clean water funding excluded from final WRDA package
Millions of Americans lack access to running water. An ancient method of capturing rainwater could help solve this
“On Navajo Nation land, a mostly rural area removed from the extravagant artificial waterways that sustain Southwestern cities, roughly two-thirds of people have access to running water. Just beyond, on the Hopi Reservation in Black Mesa, Arizona, Diné (as the Navajo call themselves) sheep herders Arvin Bedonie and Marie Gladue lack both running water and a well. … Last spring, Bedonie and Gladue turned to an ancient method to help address their water travails. They began to harvest rain. … ” Read more from The Counter here: Millions of Americans lack access to running water. An ancient method of capturing rainwater could help solve this
Weekend Daily Digest …
In California water news this weekend …
- As fires rage, California science center aims to better understand their remedy: Atmospheric rivers
- When the floods came
- Flying the foothills: Stanford researchers lead an airborne survey effort to investigate where water could recharge groundwater aquifers in California’s Central Valley
- Zero Delta smelt, longfin smelt and Sacramento splittail found in October CDFW Midwater Trawl
- Feds, Cargill appeal Redwood City salt pond ruling
- Bone-dry weather conditions continue grip on San Francisco Bay Area; Lake, Napa Counties in extreme drought
- California’s miserable year ending in drought, fire and darkness
- Awards and appointments in people news
- Podcasts with Felicia Marcus, Peter Gleick
- Does a dry fall in Los Angeles always lead to a parched, fire-prone winter?
- Water Replenishment District postpones meeting on hiring former Carson mayor
- PFAS power lawyers steer multibillion-dollar litigation boom
- And more …
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: Draft Prop 1 Groundwater Grant Program Guidelines
NOTICE: Public workshop to focus on water conveyance needs and funding options in Colorado River and South Lahontan region
NOTICE: Consideration for Adoption of Revisions to the Salt and Nitrate Control Program (CV-SALTS)
