In California water news today …
Federal spending bill includes funding for dam repairs, snow measurement technology
“The proposed federal spending bill for 2021 includes funding for the Oroville Dam, Sites Reservoir Project and new snow measurement technology. If passed by Congress, part of the massive omnibus spending bill would allocate $1 billion towards restoration projects and drought relief efforts. In the Northstate, $7.5 million is expected to fund ongoing repair work at the Oroville Dam. … ” Read more from KRCR here: Federal spending bill includes funding for dam repairs, snow measurement technology
Sites Reservoir awarded $13.7 million in 2021 federal budget bill
“Sites Reservoir picked up more momentum this week as it was awarded $13.7 million in the 2021 federal spending bill, authorized through the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act. With the passage of this legislation, Congress has now appropriated roughly $23.7 million in WIIN Act funding to the Bureau of Reclamation for Sites Reservoir. … ”
Reclamation announces mitigation project to reduce wildfire threats in Granite Bay
“The Bureau of Reclamation, in partnership with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, has begun construction of a shaded fuel break in the Granite Bay area of the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area in Placer County. Reclamation partnered with CAL FIRE’s Placer Center which provides fire protection and prevention, environmental conservation, land maintenance and emergency response to natural disasters in the surrounding community. The shaded fuel break project will be managed and administered by Reclamation, and project activities will be carried out by the Placer Center fire crews. … ” Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation here: Reclamation announces mitigation project to reduce wildfire threats in Granite Bay
California Coastal Commission staff concerned about Point Reyes’ ag plan
“While Point Reyes National Seashore staff has approved a plan to allow the ranching industry to remain in business at the seashore for two more decades, staff at the California Coastal Commission is concerned that the plan fails to adequately protect marine resources. National Park Service staff in September issued their final environmental impact statement on how to manage the seashore’s native Tule elk herds alongside cattle herds. While the plan called for maintaining the seashore’s free-ranging Tule elk, it also allows for the killing of elk near livestock operations. … ” Read more from the National Parks Traveler here: California Coastal Commission staff concerned about Point Reyes’ ag plan
Newark: Judge rejects bid to stop housing development next to wetlands
“A controversial development plan roughly 30 years in the making to build 469 large homes on the edge of Newark’s wetlands can proceed, a judge has decided. Alameda County Superior Court Judge Frank Roesch on Dec. 24 rejected a lawsuit filed against the city of Newark by two environmental groups that sought to block the project. The two groups and others opposed to the project now must pin their hopes on regional regulatory agencies. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: Newark: Judge rejects bid to stop housing development next to wetlands
Legal brief: Sunnyvale water quality lawsuit
“A federal court in California denied the city of Sunnyvale’s request to dismiss San Francsico Baykeeper’s Clean Water Act suit alleging the city’s sewer system unlawfully releases polluted stormwater and raw sewage into waterways.” Via Courthouse News.
Large energy storage project would create new reservoir above Isabella Lake
“A $3 billion pumped-water energy storage project has been proposed along Isabella Lake that would help even out power delivery from California solar and wind farms at a volume and longevity dwarfing the large battery installations envisioned for eastern Kern. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is reviewing a Walnut engineering company’s plan to create a new reservoir above the lake then use pumps and underground pipes to turn it into a rechargeable dam and hydroelectric generator putting out a whopping 2,000 megawatts of power for up to 12 hours at a time. … ” Read more from the Bakersfield Californian here: Large energy storage project would create new reservoir above Isabella Lake
San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency prepared for another drought year
“With the dry start to the winter rainy season, the probability of the Pass area entering a multi-year drought is increasing. But that isn’t such a bad thing here due to the fires scorching vegetation, creating instability if it rains and possible flooding said San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency General Manager Lance Eckhart. “A dry year here is good because of the fires, but a wet year in Northern California would be beneficial for us,” Eckhart said. … ” Read more from the Banning Record-Gazette here: San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency prepared for another drought year
Couple continues fight for illegal Laguna Beach seawall
“Despite losing twice in court in their effort to preserve the seawall protecting one of their beachfront homes, Jeffrey and Tracy Katz are continuing their legal battle and have petitioned an appellate court to reverse its Dec. 4 ruling on the Laguna Beach property. The state Coastal Commission determined in 2018 that the Katzes had violated the permit for the seawall, which was erected in 2005 to protect a house from high seas, a low beach and stormy weather. … ” Read more from the OC Register here: Couple continues fight for illegal Laguna Beach seawall
San Diego scientist gets closer to understanding why the coast collapses
“Adam Young spent the last three years firing a laser from the back of his truck at Del Mar’s cliffs which are crumbling into the Pacific Ocean. Cliff collapses along the California coast killed three Encinitas beachgoers in 2019. That same year, another bluff collapse in Del Mar destabilized a set of train tracks regularly carrying passengers between Los Angeles and San Diego. Policymakers need to make big decisions about how best to reckon with earth that seems to fall at random, but scientists still don’t understand what truly causes them to fall. … ” Read more from the Voice of San Diego here: San Diego scientist gets closer to understanding why the coast collapses
Port of San Diego approves pilot project to develop rapid stormwater monitoring device
“The Port of San Diego has approved a pilot project with FREDsense Technologies Corp. to develop a portable five-in-one field-testing sensor device to provide real-time metals analysis for stormwater monitoring. FREDsense will utilize their pre-existing titration platform optimized for the environmental remediation industry to produce an automated testing system for stormwater analysis, which will test the levels of various metals in San Diego Bay including aluminum, copper, lead, zinc and nickel, all of which are currently manually monitored under the Port’s stormwater programs. … ” Read more from the San Diego News here: San Diego Community News Group – Port of San Diego approves pilot project to develop rapid stormwater monitoring device
Along the Colorado River …
If ancient drought choked the Southwest for centuries, what does the future hold?
“The ancient people of western Utah’s Danger Cave lived well. They ate freshwater fish, ducks and other small game, according to detritus they left behind. They had a lush lakeside view with cattails, bulrushes and water-loving willows adorning the marshlands. But over time, the good life became history. As heat and drought set in, the freshwater dried up, and the ancients were forced to survive by plucking tiny seeds from desert shrubs called pickleweed. Archaeologists know this from a thick layer of dusty chaff buried in the cave’s floor. … ” Read more from Cronkite News here: If ancient drought choked the Southwest for centuries, what does the future hold?
In national water news today …
Biden Interior nominee discusses environmental injustice with tribal leaders
“Rep. Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) discussed environmental injustice with tribal leaders on Monday in her first meeting after being named President-elect Joe Biden’s nominee to lead the Department of the Interior. In the meeting, Haaland committed to “fully” honoring the U.S.’s treaty obligations to tribal nations and working with leaders to address the “disproportionate harm” Native Americans face “from long-running environmental injustices” and climate change. Haaland, if confirmed, would become the first Native American Cabinet secretary in U.S. history. … ” Read more from The Hill here: Biden Interior nominee discusses environmental injustice with tribal leaders
Wildfire smoke can carry dangerous microbes thousands of miles, scientists warn
“Scientists are warning that wildfire smoke can carry microbes that cause infectious diseases, adding another public health concern to the worsening severity of wildfires across the globe. The analysis, published in the journal Science, said there while the pulmonary and cardiovascular consequences of wildfire smoke inhalation have been well researched, the risk of potential infection from airborne microbes has not. … ” Read more from Yale E360 here: Wildfire smoke can carry dangerous microbes thousands of miles, scientists warn
Erin Brockovich blasts U.S. regulation of toxic chemicals
“In 2000, Julia Roberts won the Oscar for best actress for portraying a scrappy young lawyer who fought water contamination and corporate greed. Twenty years later, Erin Brockovich—the real woman who inspired the film—is broadening her battle to water pollution around the world. Her efforts now center on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group of chemicals linked to cancer and other health effects. … ” Read more from Scientific American here: Erin Brockovich blasts U.S. regulation of toxic chemicals
In commentary today …
For forests resilient to wildfire, the time to act is now, say Stuart Bewley, Mendocino County landowner and a board member of Pacific Forest Trust and David Daley, chairman of the California Cattle Council
They write, “In California, we learn from every fire season. This year, the lessons have been abundant and alarming. The primary lesson is this: Because we are confronted with climate-driven dangers beyond our immediate control, coupled with decades of management that has left our forests and rangelands in an unnatural state, we must take urgent action to address those things we can control – forest health, the condition of our landscapes and the resiliency of communities in fire-prone areas. … ” Read more from Cal Matters here: For forests resilient to wildfire, the time to act is now
