In California water news today …
December storms can’t overcome dry fall in California
“The first snow survey in California was ambiguous. While it showed the mountains just southeast of Lake Tahoe contains a snowpack that is approximately average for this point of the winter, the automatic snow sensor network shows an impoverished snowpack throughout the Sierra, particularly in the southern reach of the range. The California Department of Water Resources conducted the manual survey at Phillips Station and found a snow depth of 30.5 inches, which represents 93% of the average for this point in the season. “It’s a little bit higher than we have been seeing through our statewide automatic sensor,” said Sean de Guzman, chief of the water department’s snow surveys and water supply. … ” Read more from Courthouse News Service here: December storms can’t overcome dry fall in California
SEE ALSO:
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- Snowfall in much of the Sierra remains sparse. Is California in another drought?, from the Sacramento Bee
- THIS JUST IN … Late December storms not enough to offset California’s dry fall, press release from DWR
Trump Administration advances plan to increase San Luis Reservoir water storage
“Today, the Bureau of Reclamation sent Congress the final feasibility report for the B.F. Sisk Dam Raise and Reservoir Expansion Project. This marks an important step forward in returning water supply reliability to south-of-Delta farmers, local communities, and wildlife refuges. “Reclamation has worked hard to make this important project for California’s water supply a reality,” said Commissioner Brenda Burman. “Dam safety improvements at B.F. Sisk are gearing up; now is the time to take advantage of this opportunity and increase water supply in San Luis Reservoir—a win-win for the many that benefit from San Luis Reservoir water.” … ” Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation here: Trump Administration advances plan to increase San Luis Reservoir water storage
Sites Reservoir would increase California’s existing water supply
“The Bureau of Reclamation recently released the final feasibility report for the North-of-the-Delta Off-stream Storage Investigation. The report documents the potential costs and benefits of the Sites Reservoir Project. As part of a continuing effort to increase storage capability throughout California, Reclamation and the Sites Project Authority worked together to evaluate new off-stream surface water storage north of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The Final Feasibility Report was transmitted to Congress on Dec. 22. … ” Read more from the Red Bluff Daily News here: Sites Reservoir would increase California’s existing water supply
Legal update: December Environmental Action News
This summary by Abbott & Kinderman, Inc. provides brief updates on recent environmental cases, legislation, and administrative actions in 2020, including County of Butte v. Department of Water Resources, Antelope Valley Groundwater Cases v. California Water Services Company, and other water rights and water quality cases. Read the update here: December Environmental Action News
Is farming with reclaimed water the solution to a drier future?
“On a Saturday in late October, Carolyn Phinney stands hip-deep in a half acre of vegetables, at the nucleus of what will one day be 15 acres of productive farmland. “You can’t even see the pathways,” she says, surrounded by the literal fruits of her labors. The patch is a wealth of herbs, tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, kale, winter squash, and zucchini. So much zucchini — fruits the size of bowling pins hidden under leaves as big as umbrellas. “Zucchini plants are supposed to be 30 inches across. Ours are 8 feet,” she says. “Everything looks like it’s on steroids.” Phinney is the farmer behind CoCo San Sustainable Farm of Martinez, Calif., a farm built on reclaimed land, using reclaimed water, and started with a simple mission: to get kids to eat more vegetables. … ” Read more from Salon Magazine here: Is farming with reclaimed water the solution to a drier future?
Toxic tires leads to suffering salmon
“On December 3rd, 2020, a new study published in Science Magazine led by the University of Washington and Washington State University identified a ubiquitous chemical used in tire production is responsible for killing Pacific Northwest coho salmon each year. The chemical is a highly toxic quinone transformation product of N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N’-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine) (6PPD) and is used to protect tires from ozone, a reactive atmospheric gas. … ” Read more from Cal Trout here: Toxic tires leads to suffering salmon
In regional water news and commentary today …
Half Moon Bay: Sewer authority investigates mystery contamination
“In October, engineers at the Coastside’s sewer authority saw a curious spike in one of their meters. The Sewer Authority Mid-coastside monitors a host of contaminants several times a week, and there appeared to be an inordinate amount of organic waste coursing through SAM’s system of sewer lines. When the contaminants reached the treatment plant, they were sucking up more oxygen than the treatment was designed to handle. This led to ocean-bound treated water that had unhealthy, low levels of oxygen. … ” Read more from the Half Moon Bay Review here: Half Moon Bay: Sewer authority investigates mystery contamination
Half Moon Bay: Talk of contaminated beaches mired in confusion
“An attempt to clean up Coastside beaches within the San Mateo County Harbor District may be muddied by misunderstanding between the regional water board and the Harbor District. Earlier this month, the Harbor District pushed back against the California Regional Water Quality Control Board’s request that the district take action to control possible contamination by boats, Porta-Potties, restaurants and other sources from within the harbor. … ” Read more from the Half Moon Bay Review here: Talk of contaminated beaches mired in confusion
Tulare County solar farm to pay county $3M up front
“The company building the nation’s largest solar farm in Tulare County said the project would invest over $200 million in the county directly and up to $1.1 billion indirectly. Now, just four months after being approved by the Planning Commission, 8Minute Solar Energy has already agreed to start off the project by paying the county $3 million. … Bock said most of the farmland is not being irrigated and the project would drastically reduce the “water footprint” of the area which was hit hard during the historic drought from 2012 to 2017. Southern Tulare County already has a water deficit problem as evidenced by issues with land subsidence. … ” Read more from the Foothills Sun-Gazette here: Tulare County solar farm to pay county $3M up front
Southern California: CDFW approves restoration project for Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve
“The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has certified the final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for a project to restore the largest coastal wetlands complex in Los Angeles County and increase public access to outdoor recreation and natural spaces in one of the most densely populated areas in the world. The Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve (BWER) project will enhance and establish native coastal wetlands and upland habitat on 566 of the reserve’s 577 acres south of Marina del Rey and east of Playa del Rey. It will restore ecological function to currently degraded wetlands, preserving sensitive habitat for future generations and build climate resilience on a coast vulnerable to sea level rise. ... ” Read more from the Department of Fish and Wildlife here: CDFW approves restoration project for Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve
Along the Colorado River …
Climate change spells trouble for the Colorado River. But there’s still hope
Sammy Roth writes, ” … 40 million people and five million acres of farmland drink from the Colorado. And the river is in trouble: Hotter temperatures caused by climate change are sapping its flow, and even without global warming the amount of water that’s been promised to cities, farmers and tribes over the last century is almost certainly unsustainable. Lake Mead and Lake Powell, the river’s two largest reservoirs, are currently 39% full and 42% full, respectively. With the seven western states that draw from the Colorado notifying the federal government this month that they’re ready to start renegotiating their water use ahead of a looming deadline, I decided to call up Jeff Kightlinger. … ” Read the full article at the LA Times here: Climate change spells trouble for the Colorado River. But there’s still hope
‘Divas’ and suckers: The fight to save endangered Colorado River fish
“The Colorado River is one of the most engineered river systems in the world. Over millions of years, the creatures that call the river home have adapted to the natural variability of its seasonal highs and lows. But for the past century, they have struggled to keep up with rapid changes in the river’s flows and ecology. Dams throughout the watershed create barriers and alter flows that make life hard for native fish. … ” Read more from Cronkite News here: ‘Divas’ and suckers: The fight to save endangered Colorado River fish
In national water news today …
Critical habitat definition and exclusions finalized under ESA rules
“A new habitat definition has been finalized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service. The final rule dictating how a habitat is determined will be used for identifying critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The updated definition will go into effect in 2021. There had previously not been a clear and decisive definition outlining what is to be considered a habitat under the ESA. “Given that this will improve implementation of the Endangered Species Act and how stakeholders engage with it, we are very happy to announce this final definition of habitat,” Fish and Wildlife Service Director Aurelia Skipwith said in a news release. ... ” Read more from Ag Net West here: Critical habitat definition and exclusions finalized under ESA rules
2020 was a year of climate extremes. What can we expect in 2021?
“2020 was a year of extreme weather around the world. Hot and dry conditions drove record-setting wildfires through vast areas of Australia, California and Brazil and Siberia. A record-breaking Atlantic hurricane season landed a double blow of two hugely destructive storms in Central America. Long-running droughts have destroyed agricultural output and helped to push millions into hunger in Zimbabwe and Madagascar. A super-cyclone unleashed massive floods on India and Bangladesh. And overall, 2020 may end up the hottest year on record—despite a La Niña event, the ocean-atmospheric phenomenon which normally temporarily cools things down. … ” Read more from Time Magazine here: 2020 was a year of climate extremes. What can we expect in 2021?
Bernhardt’s ‘plan for 1,461 days’ and one remarkable year
“Interior Secretary David Bernhardt started off 2020 empowering his most controversial public lands deputy, a move that a federal judge later deemed “unlawful.” He’s ending the year in quarantine, having tested positive for COVID-19. In between these bleak-sounding bookends, the 51-year-old Bernhardt rewrote how the Interior Department works. While the results get mixed reviews, and in some cases may get erased by the incoming Biden administration, 2020 was undeniably consequential for the department. … ” Read more from E&E News here: Bernhardt’s ‘plan for 1,461 days’ and one remarkable year
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
NOTICE: Update on proposed Statewide Suction Dredge Mining General Permit
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