On the calendar today …
- ONLINE MEETING: Central Valley Regional Water Board at 9am. Agenda items include a Review of Diazinon and Chlorpyrifos Control Programs and Revisions to the Basin Plan Amendments for the Salt and Nitrate Control Program (CV-SALTS). Click here for the full agenda and remote access instructions.
- SAFER Advisory Group Meeting and Q&A Webinar from 9am to 1pm. Agenda items include reviewing 2020 progress and accomplishments, reviewing 2021 timeline and milestones, announcing appointed 2021-23 Advisory Group members, and Advisory Group Members share their project stories. Click here for full agenda and remote access instructions.
- FREE WEBINAR: The New NEPA Regulations: A Practical Guide to What You Need to Know from 10:30am to 12pm. The panel will give practitioners a nuts and bolts guide to the new rules and will discuss the most important changes made to NEPA, how the new rules differ from the old, how to apply new rules to your project, and possible issues that might arise when applying the new rules and how this might affect project development. Nossaman invites you to submit your questions for our panel prior to or during the webinar so that we may address your top concerns during the session. Click here to register.
- WATER COMMISSION WORKSHOP: Southern California conveyance from 2:45pm to 5:00pm. The workshop will discuss the potential state role in financing conveyance infrastructure projects to meet climate-driven regional needs. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
Delta dilemma: fishing or fresh water?
“The quiet of morning broke as a battery of boats roared toward first light on the open water. Dozens of anglers, competing in teams of two for the biggest bass they could find, disappeared beyond the weed beds and tule thickets into the maze of rivers and sloughs. Each was chasing a cash prize and the satisfaction of conquering one of the West’s premier spots for sportfishing: the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. “You come out and have a good day, it gets you known,” said David Poteras, a 25-year-old resident of Elk Grove (Sacramento County), before motoring his 20-foot Ranger through Franks Tract, a large, watery expanse and state recreation area that serves as a hub for bass tournaments, off Contra Costa County’s Bethel Island. “The money is good, too.” … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Delta dilemma: fishing or fresh water?
State’s largest water district ignores tribes, conservationists, ratepayers on Delta tunnel
“The Metropolitan Water District’s board of directors voted Tuesday to spend another $58 million to support the study and design of an underground tunnel in the North Delta that would divert large amounts of fresh water and send it to municipalities and agribusinesses in southern California. The board voted after hours of public comment in opposition from environmental groups, Native American tribes and MWD’s own ratepayers. One word that was repeatedly used was “unconscionable.” … ” Read more from the Sacramento News & Review here: State’s largest water district ignores tribes, conservationists, ratepayers on Delta tunnel
Big data offers promise of better groundwater management in California
“To ensure that California’s groundwater is sustainably managed in the future and over the long-term, current state definitions of what constitutes groundwater may need to be revised, according to research published this week in PNAS. A McGill University-led research team has analyzed big data of more than 200,000 groundwater samples taken from across the state and found that there are problems with the guidelines used for groundwater management. Known as the ‘Base of Fresh Water’, the guidelines are close to fifty years old and don’t reflect current uses, knowledge, concerns or technologies related to managing groundwater in this coastal state with a multi-billion-dollar agricultural industry. … ” Read more from McGill University here: Big data offers promise of better groundwater management in California
RADIO SHOW: California Winter Forecast, Water Storage / Managing Groundwater, Water Market Value / Impact Of ‘Forever Chemicals’
“The rainy season in California is off to a slow start following another dry year. Millions across the state are touched by the extreme drought in some fashion, and there are signs we might be entering another extended dry stretch. We take a closer look at the likelihood for rainfall as we head into California’s historically wettest months, how current storage looks, and forever chemicals tainting what’s available. Plus, how the state’s water will soon join gold and oil as commodities traded on the futures markets. … ” Listen to the show at Capital Public Radio here: California Winter Forecast, Water Storage / Managing Groundwater, Water Market Value / Impact Of ‘Forever Chemicals’
Toxic tap water in Latino towns is a legacy of racist policies, California officials say
“In the San Joaquin Valley, agricultural runoff from fertilizer and manure leaches into groundwater, contributing to some of the highest levels of nitrate pollution in community water systems in the country. Residents in Tipton were warned months ago not to drink or cook with tap water because of dangerous levels of nitrate. For two years, Estella Bravo, 78, has been advocating for her neighbors to get free bottled water. “It’s been about 20 years that the water’s gotten really bad,” Bravo said. … ” Read more from the Fresno Bee here: Toxic tap water in Latino towns is a legacy of racist policies, California officials say
December 2020 La Niña update: walking in a La Niña winter wonderland
“La Niña continued to gain strength in November as we approach the normal peak for these events in the Northern Hemisphere winter—usually November–January. Forecasters estimate at least a 95% chance that La Niña will last through the winter, with a potential transition to ENSO-Neutral during spring 2021 (~50% chance). La Niña sticks out like a sore thumb when taking a gander at a map of sea surface temperature anomalies (the difference from the long-term average) over the Pacific Ocean. … ” Read more from Climate.gov here: December 2020 La Niña update: walking in a La Niña winter wonderland
From droughts to flooding, here’s how California is trying to better understand atmospheric rivers
“California weather is rarely average. Historically, the state has well above or well below average rain and snow. One of the keys to prepare for these wild swings is a better understanding of atmospheric rivers. The Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes or CW3E is at the heart of this research. … ” Read more from ABC 10 here: From droughts to flooding, here’s how California is trying to better understand atmospheric rivers
Stanford ecologists study how soil fungi respond to wildfire
“In the wake of the 2017 North Bay fires, the golden hills of Santa Rosa, California, were unrecognizable. Smoky, seared and buried under ash, the landscape appeared desolate, save for some ghostly, blackened – but still alive – oak trees. For Stanford University graduate student, Gabriel Smith, whose family lives in Santa Rosa, the devastation was heartbreaking, but it also offered a unique scientific opportunity: a natural experiment on the effects of wildfires on the microbes that live in soil, which Smith studies in the form of fungi. So, Smith and his mother spent his winter break collecting soil samples from burned areas near trees in Santa Rosa’s Trione-Annadel State Park and Hood Mountain Regional Park and Preserve. For comparison, they also gathered samples from unburned locations. … ” Read more from Stanford University here: Stanford ecologists study how soil fungi respond to wildfire
Video: Should we fight wildfires with … more fire?
“While wildfire season is winding down in California, there’s still some risk due to seasonally high winds and lack of rain. Living with catastrophic wildfires has become an unfortunate reality for many residents of the United States, particularly in the West. And climate change has made the fire season even longer and more intense than previous years. Deliberately setting “good fires,” also called prescribed burns, could help prevent future fires by clearing away unwanted brush and debris. But organizing controlled burns is a lot of work, and it has its risks, too. KQED Science’s Danielle Venton, who has reported extensively on wildfires, speaks with Myles Bess about the challenges of fire management in the latest episode from KQED’s Above the Noise series.” Watch the video from KQED here: Video: Should we fight wildfires with … more fire?
In regional water news and commentary today …
Paradise Town Council funds EIR on sewer pipe to Chico
“The Paradise Town Council voted unanimously to name Steve Crowder as mayor and Jody Jones as vice mayor Tuesday night. Crowder was nominated by Steve “Woody’ Culleton, who is back after November’s election. The biggest issue facing the council Tuesday night was the city sewer. It was the second time in the past two years that the council has voted on the subject, and this time the council voted unanimously to support it. … ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record here: Paradise Town Council funds EIR on sewer pipe to Chico
Walnut Creek pipeline crack leaks 30K-40K gallons of gasoline into channel
“A cracked pipeline in Walnut Creek has leaked thousands of gallons of gasoline into a local water channel, but no wildlife appears to have been threatened. In an early analysis, energy company Kinder Morgan estimated that 750 to 1,000 barrels, or 31,400 to 42,500 gallons of gasoline, discharged from the crack before its workers shut down the pipeline that runs from Concord to San Jose. State environmental officials say much of the gasoline is underground beneath soil and rocks. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: Walnut Creek pipeline crack leaks 30K-40K gallons of gasoline into channel
San Joaquin County in severe drought
“All of San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties are now in severe drought. So is most of Merced County. And the three watersheds in the Central Sierra that the Northern San Joaquin Valley counties rely on to meet urban and agricultural needs are in moderate drought. Topping that, all three of the Central Sierra reservoirs that do the heavy lifting for water storage for the Northern San Joaquin Valley as of Tuesday were all significantly below average capacity for Dec. 8. It includes New Melones — critical to water supplies for the South San Joaquin Irrigation District along with the cities of Manteca, Lathrop, and Tracy — that is at 25 percent of normal for this time of year. … ” Read more from the Manteca Bulletin here: San Joaquin County in severe drought
Restrictions at Isabella dams, spillway as work continues, COVID-19 concerns remain
“As the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continued work on the Isabella Lake dams and spillway, the agency is imposing public use restrictions in the area. “The site, including Engineers Point, is an active construction area and is off-limits to the public,” the Corps of Engineers said in a December release. It is also against Corps policy to operate a drone “on or above” federal lands the Corps of Engineers manages, the agency said in the release. … ” Read more from the Kern Valley Sun here: Restrictions at Isabella dams, spillway as work continues, COVID-19 concerns remain
Corps report details Rindge Dam removal
“Plans to remove the 100-foot high dam next to Las Virgenes Road south of Agoura Hills have been in the works for more than two decades. The Corps’ signing of the Malibu Creek Ecosystem Restoration Report puts removal of the dam closer to reality. The feasibility study, signed Nov. 13 by Corps of Engineers commander Lt. Gen. Scott Spellman, explains how removal of the aging concrete dam will benefit Malibu Creek and the Malibu Canyon environment. The document still must be approved by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget and U.S. Congress before actual demolition work can begin. … ” Read more from The Acorn here: Corps report details Rindge Dam removal
Orange County: Winter swell brings thrills to the coast, but also dangers at the beach
“A punchy winter swell brought strong surf to the region, thrilling wave riders but creating ocean hazards. A high surf advisory by the National Weather Service is in place for the Southern California coastline, from Ventura down through Los Angeles and into Orange County and San Diego. In some stand-out spots, waves were expected to reach up to 12 feet. The advisory for Los Angeles and Ventura is in place until 9 p.m. Wednesday night. The San Diego NWS office, which covers Orange County’s coast, also issued a warning that is in place until 1 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 11. … ” Read more from the OC Register here: Winter swell brings thrills to the coast, but also dangers at the beach
Along the Colorado River …
Metropolitan Water District, Southern Nevada Water Authority collaborate to explore development of recycled water project
“In a bold step toward a new kind of collaboration in the Colorado River Basin, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and Southern Nevada Water Authority are partnering to explore development of a drought-proof water supply that could reduce reliance on the over-stressed river. Under an agreement approved Tuesday by Metropolitan’s Board of Directors and SNWA’s Board of Directors last month, SNWA will contribute up to $6 million for environmental planning of the Regional Recycled Water Program, a proposed large-scale project to produce high quality water from purified wastewater. … ”
Beneficial moisture coming to Southwest US
“As extreme drought continues across portions of the Southwest United States, some much-needed precipitation will fall from the sky and onto the arid ground. Thursday and Friday will hold our best chances for rain and snow. In fact, winter weather alerts have been issued for parts of the Four Corners. Take a look … ” Read more from Weather Nation here: Beneficial moisture coming to Southwest US
Colorado water forecast worsens as state activates municipal drought response for second time ever
“The State of Colorado has activated the municipal portion of its emergency drought plan for only the second time in history as several cities say they need to prepare for what is almost certainly going to be a dangerously dry 2021. Last summer, the state formally activated the agricultural portion of the plan, calling on government agencies that serve farmers and livestock producers to begin coordinating aid efforts among themselves and with growers. … ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record here: Colorado water forecast worsens as state activates municipal drought response for second time ever
In national water news today …
Several U.S. populations and regions remain exposed to high arsenic concentrations in drinking water
“A new national study of public water systems found that arsenic levels were not uniform across the U.S., even after implementation of the latest national regulatory standard. In the first study to assess differences in public drinking water arsenic exposures by geographic subgroups, researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health confirmed there are inequalities in drinking water arsenic exposure across certain sociodemographic subgroups and over time. Community water systems reliant on groundwater, serving smaller populations located in the Southwest, and Hispanic communities were more likely to continue exceeding the national maximum containment level, raising environmental justice concerns. The findings are published online in Environmental Health Perspectives. … ” Read more from Columbia University here: Several U.S. populations and regions remain exposed to high arsenic concentrations in drinking water
The year in water, 2020: Societies confront the fallout from rapid environmental change
“Five years ago, the World Economic Forum asked its members to rank the calamities that posed the greatest threat to society. That year, in the middle of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa and while SARS-CoV-2 was still only circulating among bats, respondents deemed the spread of infectious disease the number two risk in terms of impact. The citizens of 2020, who have endured lockdowns, job losses, travel restrictions, and the deaths of friends and family during the pandemic, would surely agree. In retrospect they might even lift infectious disease to the top spot. What was the top-ranked risk in that survey of five years ago? Water crises. … ” Read more from Circle of Blue here: The year in water, 2020: Societies confront the fallout from rapid environmental change
Today’s featured article …
WESTERN GROUNDWATER CONGRESS: Dispute Resolution Processes and Multi-Agency Groundwater Management
At the Western Groundwater Congress held in September of 2020, Dr. William Blomquist gave the following presentation on a study done with colleagues from other institutions that focused on the multi-agency groundwater sustainability agencies that have been formed under SGMA and to what extent their multi-agency agreements included dispute resolution provisions.
Click here to read this article.
