On the calendar today …
- MEETING: The State Water Board meets beginning at 9am. Agenda items include the Yuba County Water Agency’s Yuba River Development Project, the Delta Watermaster’s semi-annual report, and the Board’s 2021 strategic work plan. Click here for the full agenda and remote access instructions.
- VIRTUAL TOUR: Orange County’s Groundwater Replenishment System with Mike Markus and Jim Herberg at 10am. You are invited to join OCWD General Manager Mike Markus and OCSD General Manager Jim Herberg for a unique Virtual Tour highlighting the two special districts and the world-renowned Groundwater Replenishment System. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
Ongoing litigation muddies state’s water outlook
“Amid long-term forecasts indicating California could be headed into another dry winter, discussions at the California Farm Bureau Annual Meeting focused on current and future water policy and the challenges facing short- and long-term supplies. During a breakout session as part of the virtual Annual Meeting, Ernest Conant, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation regional director for the California-Great Basin Region, described how regulatory constraints have affected water allocations from the federal Central Valley Project. “If you compare the early 1990s, when we were in a severe drought, we were able to make some nominal deliveries, compared to the most recent drought in 2014-15, when we were not able to make any deliveries to south of delta and north of delta” water contractors, he said. … ” Read more from Ag Alert here: Ongoing litigation muddies state’s water outlook
Widespread rain, mountain snow, and travel impacts Wednesday
“Dry weather early this week with areas of morning valley fog and frost. An impactful winter storm will move into Northern California Wednesday into Thursday bringing widespread rain and mountain snow. Dry weather returns Friday. Winter Storm Watch from Wednesday evening through Thursday morning above 5,500 ft. … ” Read more from YubaNet here: Widespread rain, mountain snow, and travel impacts Wednesday
Water boards: Pathways to community power
“Every election season, most of the attention goes to the top of the ballot. Races to decide who serves on water boards – often opaquely named community services districts or public utility districts – get little notice. For the most part, water boards operate with an engineering mindset. This culture attracts board members who frequently have backgrounds in water agencies, business, or large-scale agriculture. This approach is very effective in delivering safe water to most US residents. But there are unintended consequences to this uniformity. … ” Read more from the Water Foundation here: Water Boards: Pathways to Community Power
Plastic pipes are polluting drinking water systems after wildfires – it’s a risk in urban fires, too
“When wildfires swept through the hills near Santa Cruz, California, in 2020, they released toxic chemicals into the water supplies of at least two communities. One sample found benzene, a carcinogen, at 40 times the state’s drinking water standard. Our testing has now confirmed a source of these chemicals, and it’s clear that wildfires aren’t the only blazes that put drinking water systems at risk. In a new study, we heated plastic water pipes commonly used in buildings and water systems to test how they would respond to nearby fires. The results, released Dec. 14, show how easily wildfires could trigger widespread drinking water contamination. They also show the risks when only part of a building catches fire and the rest remains in use. In some of our tests, heat exposure caused more than 100 chemicals to leach from the damaged plastics. … ” Read more from The Conversation here: Plastic pipes are polluting drinking water systems after wildfires – it’s a risk in urban fires, too
Assemblyman Adam Gray says he’s lost another committee assignment over water battles
“Assemblyman Adam Gray, D-Merced, said he was removed from the chairmanship of the Governmental Organization Committee over the No. 1 issue in his district — water. The Merced Democrat lost a previous committee assignment because of his opposition to State Water Board proposals to take flows away from agriculture and other water users on the Tuolumne, Stanislaus and Merced rivers. … ” Read more from the Modesto Bee here: Assemblyman Adam Gray says he’s lost another committee assignment over water battles
Indigenous people in the US hope to save salmon by removing dams
“Salmon in the Klamath River in the United States were once abundant and the fish were an integral part of the ways of life of local indigenous people. The river supported rich habitats and spawning grounds to Chinook and Coho salmon along hundreds of kilometers in clean river water. But then came the dams. The river began to be dammed to produce electricity and as many as eight dams were built on the river. In tandem, the number of salmon dramatically decreased. … ” Read more from Sustainability Times here: Indigenous people in the US hope to save salmon by removing dams
Applications being accepted for Sustainable Groundwater Management Grants
“Applications are being accepted for Sustainable Groundwater Management (SGM) grants. The final proposal solicitation package has been released for the Proposition 68 SGM Grant Program. A total of $26 million is being made available for the current round of funding for projects located within critically overdrafted basins. The packages will need to be submitted by Friday, January 8. … ” Read more from Ag Net West here: Applications being accepted for Sustainable Groundwater Management Grants
Ocean heatwave has triggered new toxic algal blooms on the US west coast
“Fishermen, swimmers and seafood enthusiasts may already know the dangers of “red tides,” but a recent study in Frontiers in Climate shows that climate change is increasing the frequency of one type of highly toxic algal bloom off the US west coast. These algae produce a neurotoxin — called domoic acid — that causes severe and potentially lethal digestive and neurological symptoms. This threat to marine wildlife and humans is restricting shellfish harvest in the region, but local bulletins are helping to forecast the blooms. “This study shows that climate change can influence the occurrence and intensity of some harmful algal blooms (HABs) by creating new seed beds for their survival and distribution,” says lead author Dr Vera L Trainer, of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Seattle, Washington. … ” Read more from EurkAlert here: Ocean heatwave has triggered new toxic algal blooms on the US west coast
In commentary today …
Single-issue decisions are over. Let’s bring water and land back together, says Mike Myatt, program officer at the Water Foundation
He writes, “Water planning and land use planning in the US have too often been separate activities for local, state, and federal governments. In a climate crisis that is hitting people of color first and worst, we are living with the consequences of bureaucratic systems based in structural inequity and decision-making that has little practice in cross-issue collaboration. … [This] underscores an important lesson: to adapt to a changing climate and address long-standing inequities, we need to leave behind the era of single-issue decision-making. One place to start is by connecting water and land. … ” Read the full post at the Water Foundation here: Single-issue decisions are over. Let’s bring water and land back together
In regional water news and commentary today …
State water officials levy $6.4M fine against Healdsburg luxury resort
“The company behind a luxury resort and residential project near Healdsburg is facing a $6.4 million fine over dozens of alleged water quality violations involving streams that feed into the Russian River, according to state water officials. Sonoma Luxury Resort LLC, the company behind the Montage Healdsburg resort – formerly called Saggio Hills – is alleged to have violated state and federal water rules 38 times in 2018 and 2019 and to have discharged “9.4 million gallons of highly turbid water into Russian River tributaries,” according to officials with the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board. … ” Read more from SF Gate here: State water officials levy $6.4M fine against luxury resort
Folsom finds early success solving its pinhole water leak problem
“The City of Folsom has experienced a significant decrease in pinhole leaks in copper water pipes in local residences since adding orthophosphate to the water system. This past summer, the California city of 80,000 experienced what residents dubbed “a pinhole leak apocalypse.” Water leaks in homes have developed nearly 1,400 times since the onset of the problem. … ” Read more from TB News Watch here: Folsom finds early success solving its pinhole water leak problem
Sea level projections drive San Francisco’s adaptation planning
“As a utilities planner for the City and County of San Francisco, David Behar knows that access to the latest information about sea level rise is crucial to his job — and his city. Behar is climate program director for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. He tracks the latest climate science and leads the translation of that work for the agency and other city departments, working with a team of engineers and planners. His work includes assessing the vulnerability of the city’s water supply, a role for which his expertise as the founding chair for the Water Utility Climate Alliance has prepared him well. … ” Read more from NASA here: Sea level projections drive San Francisco’s adaptation planning
Pacifica pier engulfed by water and waves amid king tide
“Big waves and an unusually high tide over 7 feet overlapped Monday morning, causing coastal flooding around the Bay Area. Along San Francisco’s bayside Embarcadero, water lapped sidewalks, and in the town of Pacifica, just south of the city, the community pier was fully engulfed by waves and rising waters. Savannah Peterson, who has lived in Pacifica for four years, caught the scene on camera from a distance. … ” Read more from SF Gate here: Pacifica pier engulfed by water and waves amid king tide
Valley Water prepared to continue ensuring a reliable water supply to Santa Clara County during project to strengthen Anderson Dam
“Valley Water began lowering water levels in Anderson Reservoir on Oct. 1 as part of our effort to strengthen the existing dam so it can safely withstand a large earthquake. This project will help keep the public safe and eventually allow Valley Water to fill Anderson Reservoir in Morgan Hill and store more water. While Valley Water does this critical work, we will not be able to use Anderson Reservoir to store water until the project is completed. But Valley Water has a plan to make sure we continue to provide safe, clean water to Santa Clara County. … ” Read more from Valley Water News here: Valley Water prepared to continue ensuring a reliable water supply to Santa Clara County during project to strengthen Anderson Dam
Central Valley farmers glad for recent rain, hopeful for more
“Central Valley farmers are glad for the recent wet weekend. “This is definitely needed now as we move into the later part of December,” said Fresno County Farm Bureau CEO Ryan Jacobsen. ... ” Read more from Your Central Valley here: Central Valley farmers glad for recent rain, hopeful for more
New Imperial Irrigation Board seated amid tensions over labor agreement
“Sparks were flying even before the Imperial Irrigation District’s newly elected directors were sworn in, and questions remain as to how the board’s two newest faces will fit into the powerful, five-member panel. Community activist Javier Gonzalez’s and 24-year-old JB Hamby’s tenure got off to a rocky start on Dec. 4, as both skipped their official swearing-in ceremony because the district barred them from bringing guests due to COVID-19 precautions. Instead they held their own event in front of several dozen supporters, overseen by a superior court judge, on the steps of the Imperial County courthouse, which Hamby said was legally allowed under the California Water Code. … ” Read more from the Desert Sun here: New Imperial Irrigation Board seated amid tensions over labor agreement
Carlsbad desalination plant celebrates 5th anniversary
“The Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant is celebrating its fifth year of operation this month. More than 65 billion gallons of water from the plant have provided a sustainable and reliable supply to businesses and residents of San Diego County since December 2015. The Carlsbad Desalination Plant produces more than 50 million gallons of high-quality, locally controlled, water every day. It’s a foundational water supply for the San Diego region that minimizes the region’s vulnerability to drought or other water supply emergencies. … ” Read more from the Water News Network here: Carlsbad desalination plant celebrates 5th anniversary
Along the Colorado River …
6 Arizona counties may be uninhabitable in the next 30 years due to climate change, study shows
“Six of Arizona’s counties are at-risk of being uninhabitable in the near-future due to climate change, a ProPublica and Rhodium Group study found. The study predicted which counties in the U.S. would face climate change issues to the point of having an uninhabitable climate for humans in the next 20 to 40 years by combining multiple metrics. The Arizona counties listed, which included Pinal, Graham, Cochise, Mohave, Yuma, and Maricopa, were in the top 100 most at-risk counties in the United States. For context, there are 3,700 counties in the nation. … ” Read more from KPNX here: 6 Arizona counties may be uninhabitable in the next 30 years due to climate change, study shows
‘We need water to survive’: Hopi Tribe pushes for solutions in long struggle for water
“At the end of a dusty road, beside two water tanks in the desert shrubs, a windmill spins in the breeze. From a spigot, water flows through a blue hose and gushes into a bucket. When the water reaches the brim, Kayla Johnson heaves the bucket into the back of her family’s car. Her younger brother, Terron, holds the hose and keeps the stream running into a 5-gallon jug. … ” Read more from Arizona Central here: ‘We need water to survive’: Hopi Tribe pushes for solutions in long struggle for water
Connecting the Drops – Nikki Tulley, Navajo Nation
“Imagine a hot summer day spent herding sheep in the semi-arid desert of southwest America. The idea of cooling down in a community swimming pool to escape the summer heat is unthinkable, with the closest water source being the livestock-well water troughs. While jumping into one of the troughs would be immensely refreshing, there’s an unspoken understanding about respecting water and livestock in the area. It’s well known that the livestock trough is one of the limited water sources shared by the Navajo Nation community. So slightly wetting the face and hair will have to be sufficient enough to cool down in the summer heat before returning home. This is a typical summer experience for many children of the Navajo Nation who were raised around livestock in the vast rural areas of the reservation. This memory in particular is from my childhood. My name is Nikki Tulley. I’m a member of the Navajo Nation on a mission to help my community protect its most vital resource: water. … ” Read more from NASA here: Connecting the Drops – Nikki Tulley, Navajo Nation
In national water news today …
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries finalize regulatory definition of habitat under Endangered Species Act
“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service have finalized a regulatory definition of the term “habitat” that will be used for designating critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The definition is part of the efforts of the Trump Administration to balance effective, science-based conservation with common-sense policy designed to bring the ESA into the 21st century. “This action will bring greater clarity and consistency to how the Service designates critical habitat,” said Rob Wallace, Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks. “Making the Endangered Species Act more effective at conserving imperiled wildlife and more transparent and user friendly for stakeholders represents a win-win for everyone.” … ” Read more from the US FWS here: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries finalize regulatory definition of habitat under Endangered Species Act
New Mexico gets water victory over Texas at U.S. Supreme Court
“New Mexico has won a U.S. Supreme Court victory over Texas in a Pecos River water case, but State Engineer John D’Antonio said an even more critical matter — before the same court, against the same opponent — still looms in the coming year. Though clearly pleased by the court’s 8-0 decision Monday in favor of New Mexico, D’Antonio acknowledged the second case, which pits New Mexico and Colorado against Texas, could be critical for the future of the lower Rio Grande and the farmers who live there. … ” Read more from the Santa Fe New Mexican here: New Mexico gets water victory over Texas at U.S. Supreme Court
Long-term drought harms mental health in rural communities
“Public health experts increasingly recognize that adverse weather and climate conditions can have negative impacts on people’s mental health as well as physical health. Many national and international organizations, for example, have established or expanded postdisaster services to include mental health assistance and support. However, little is understood about how mental health is affected by the duration of such conditions, especially when they last for months or years on end, as can happen in droughts. … ” Read more from EOS here: Long-term drought harms mental health in rural communities
Legal commentary: EPA’s Clean Water Act groundwater guidance says little, will likely be rescinded
write, “EPA’s recent draft guidance memorandum on applying the Supreme Court’s decision in County of Maui v. Hawai’i Wildlife Fund, 140 S. Ct. 1462 (2020), provides little clarity for determining when a release to groundwater is the “functional equivalent” of a direct discharge such that it requires an NPDES permit. Instead, the guidance largely stresses how the Maui decision did not fundamentally change permitting under the Clean Water Act (CWA), while explaining how permit writers might consider system design and performance in assessing functional equivalence. Comments on the memo are due by January 11, 2021, but the incoming Biden administration will likely pull this guidance back as new leadership starts to redefine the agency’s priorities. … ” Read more from Beveridge & Diamond here: EPA’s Clean Water Act groundwater guidance says little, will likely be rescinded
Conservation groups blast Trump logging plan aimed at reducing wildfires
“Conservation groups are blasting a Trump administration decision officials said will reduce wildfires by streamlining environmental reviews of timber salvage projects. WildEarth Guardians, Western Watersheds Project and seven other groups say the rules approved Thursday fast-track projects to benefit logging, grazing and mining while eliminating public comments. The new rules also speed the cutting down of pinyon-juniper woodlands in the U.S. West. … ” Read more from KTLA here: Conservation groups blast Trump logging plan aimed at reducing wildfires
New contenders emerge for Biden’s EPA administrator
“The Washington parlor game has revved up as more candidates are in the mix to be President-elect Joe Biden’s EPA administrator. Basil Seggos, who has led the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation since 2015, is under consideration to be Biden’s head of EPA, a source familiar with the transition team’s discussions told E&E News. The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades has backed Seggos for the job, saying he has always stood up for “the American worker and our environment.” … ” Read more from E&E News here: New contenders emerge for Biden’s EPA administrator
Who will spearhead Biden’s climate, energy and agriculture policies?
“President-elect Joe Biden has vowed an overhaul of U.S. energy and environment policy to fight climate change, with a goal of bringing the economy to net-zero emissions by 2050. While the plan has yet to be clearly defined, it includes things like ramping up clean energy technology and usage, reducing dependence on fossil fuels, federal procurement of clean energy technology and reengaging the United States in a global pact to fight warming. Here are the people who have made Biden’s shortlist for central roles in his energy and environment agenda … ” Read more from Successful Farming here: Who will spearhead Biden’s climate, energy and agriculture policies?
Fed joins global network to fight climate change through financial system
“The Federal Reserve Board announced Tuesday that it has joined an international network of central banks and regulators devoted to fighting climate change through the global financial system. The Fed is now a member of The Central Banks and Supervisors Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS), the bank announced Tuesday. The Fed board approved the decision to join the NGFS by a 6-0 vote on Dec. 7. … ” Read more from The Hill here: Fed joins global network to fight climate change through financial system
Today’s featured articles …
WESTERN GROUNDWATER CONGRESS: Rock, Paper, Physics: SGMA and Water Transfers
At the 3rd Annual Western Groundwater Congress, Anona Dutton with EKI Environment and Water gave a presentation on water transfers and the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, providing an overview of how water transfers are typically implemented, some of the implications under SGMA, and then gave some case studies for additional information.
“Water transfers are an important tool for managing California’s water supply, and the implementation of SGMA is only going to increase and incentivize the need for the development of new transfer markets,” she said. “These water transfers can have impacts both at the origin of the transfer and at the receiving end of the transfer, which can present a challenge for GSAs for achieving sustainability.”
Click here to read this article.
BLOG ROUND-UP: Grassroot farmers fight for water policies, Bringing water and land back together, Water wars by other means, Holiday gift ideas, and more …
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Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: CDFW Endangered Species Conservation and Recovery Grant Program
