DAILY DIGEST, weekend edition: Rain, snow on the way to NorCal; Court rules against California’s wetlands regulatory program; Wall Street eyes billions in the Colorado’s water; and more …

In California water news this weekend …

Time to hunker down: Northern California in for stormy days with winter storm watch looming

“Northern California is in for a stormy few days, as three separate storm systems are forecast to descend on the region, dumping snow over the Sierra Nevada and bringing rain elsewhere. The first of three systems has already entered the capital region, bring light showers Saturday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service’s Sacramento office. The relatively weak system — bringing less than a tenth of an inch of rain to Sacramento — will soon develop into more substantial precipitation. … ”  Read more from the Sacramento Bee here:  Time to hunker down: Northern California in for stormy days with winter storm watch looming

Semi-active winter pattern likely across NorCal, but magnitude of pattern change uncertain (and good riddance to 2020)

” … In the short term, the California weather outlook is…mixed, and more than a little uncertain. There has been much buzz regarding the potential for a major pattern change that would favor much wetter conditions over California. And while early hopes have been tempered somewhat, I do still expect at least a 7-10 period of more active weather across NorCal. But as it often is: the devil’s in the details. … ”  Read more from Weather West here:  Semi-active winter pattern likely across NorCal, but magnitude of pattern change uncertain (and good riddance to 2020)

Michael Hiltzik Column: Wall Street can now bet on the price of California water. Watch out

“Wall Street’s reputation as one of America’s premier innovation machines can only be enhanced by a new futures contract that began trading publicly on Dec. 7. It allows investors to bet on the price of water in California.  Those who take the gamble are effectively betting that the spot price for water will rise during the life of the contract; they’ll pocket the difference. Sellers are betting that the price will fall.  The new commodities contract has inspired not a few projections of a “Mad Max” dystopia in which precious resources become the objects of violent tribal battles.  … ”  Continue reading at the LA Times here:  Wall Street can now bet on the price of California water. Watch out

Legal alert: Court rules against California’s wetlands regulatory program

“Last week, the Sacramento Superior Court delivered a serious blow to California’s regulatory program for the protection of wetlands and other waters of the State.  The State’s wetland protection program (commonly known as the “Procedures”), which became effective in May, was intended to create a regulatory structure to fill the gap left by recent Trump administration regulations that dramatically narrowed Federal wetland protections.  Ironically, the court’s order prohibits the State of California from applying the Procedures to any waters other than those already protected by Federal law, thus leaving in place the very regulatory gap that the Procedures were intended to fill. … ”  Read more from Cox Castle Nicholson here:  Court rules against California’s wetlands regulatory program

Clues from wines grown in hot, dry regions may help growers adapt to a changing climate

“Wine connoisseurs can talk endlessly about how terroir—the mysterious alchemy of soil, climate and landscape conditions—conjures the classic flavor profiles of their favorite wines.  Climate change will likely disrupt these conditions, leaving some regions too warm and dry to produce their storied wines, and researchers are looking for ways to help.  In California, where the $43-billion industry produces more than 80 percent of U.S. wine, growers are particularly concerned about shifting temperatures and water availability, according to a 2009 Stanford University report, commissioned by the California State Legislature. … ”  Read more from Inside Climate News here: Clues from wines grown in hot, dry regions may help growers adapt to a changing climate

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In commentary this weekend …

Even after the pandemic, water should be a basic right, says Daniel McVey, utility maintenance supervisor for the city of Pleasanton

“Many of us are lucky enough to go through life and not worry about the air we breathe, the food we eat or the water we drink. When was the last time that you got a bill for the oxygen you inhaled last month? This would seem preposterous to many of us, but with water it is a different story.  Imagine not having water in your home. No way to wash your hands, take a shower or flush the toilet. Not because you don’t have access to it, but because you cannot afford to pay for it. I believe that access to clean, potable water is a human right that should be available to everyone. ... ”  Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: Even after the pandemic, water should be a basic right

Commentary:  French Laundry lobbyist’s second-biggest client? Poseidon Water, a Gavin Newsom funder, says Andrea Leon-Grossman, climate action director at Azul

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In regional water news this weekend …

Timber tax cuts cost Oregon towns billions. Then polluted water drove up the price.

” … In rainy Oregon, communities tap a network of streams and creeks to supply millions of residents with cold, clean water. The problem is that the land surrounding drinking water streams is, in many cases, owned not by the towns or the residents who drink the water, but by private timber companies that are now logging more intensively than ever, cutting trees on a more rapid cycle and spraying herbicides to kill other plants that compete with replanted seedlings for sunlight. … ”  Read the full story from Pro Publica here: Timber tax cuts cost Oregon towns billions. Then polluted water drove up the price.

Green crabs invading Coos Bay, Pacific Northwest coastlines

“A recent report by the Science Program at the South Slough Reserve says European green crab populations have steadily grown in the Coos Bay estuary over the last five years. Their population is now large enough that they could start negatively impacting native species, including Dungeness crabs, an economic staple for this region.  “The public around here are seeing more green crabs and are linking it with declines in recreational shellfish harvesting as well,” says state researcher Shon Schooler. … ”  Read more from Jefferson Public Radio here:  Green crabs invading Coos Bay, Pacific Northwest coastlines

Klamath Dams may fall, but for some, their controversy will always stand

“The Biden administration may seal the fate of four aging dams on the Klamath River and decades-long efforts to save what indigenous peoples call a priceless fish habitat.  Beginning in the high deserts of Northern California, the Klamath River flows for some 257 miles north through the mountain ranges of Southern Oregon before reaching the Pacific Ocean.  As a passageway for migrating Chinook salmon and steelhead trout, the river was a millennia-old source of food and trade for the Klamath tribes, who include the Klamath, the Modoc and the Yahooskin. … ”  Read more from the Blue Mountain Eagle here: Klamath Dams may fall, but for some, their controversy will always stand

Heritage High School graduate advocating for the Delta

“One of the many lessons to come from this challenging year has been that young people take seriously their ability to be catalysts for change, and Brentwood resident Layne Fajeau has taken on dual roles in that paradigm.  Fajeau is an environmental activist concentrating on issues in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, and he’s actively engaging other students in environmental issues. During a recent board meeting of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which was held to discuss funding the planning stage of the Delta Conveyance Project, Fajeau had a cadre of 10 Heritage High School students prepared to make public comments opposing the funding. He appears to have found his calling. … ”  Read more from The Press here: Heritage High School graduate advocating for the Delta

Pajaro River: Conservation organization implores public to stop dumping trash into rivers

“Monica Garcia can be frequently found along the Pajaro River watershed, chucking tires, concrete, beer bottles and other trash out of the habitat and transporting it to where it belongs: the landfill.  She does it all from the seat of her motorized wheelchair, and in between regular chemotherapy, blood transfusions and surgeries.  Garcia has been battling lupus for more than 20 years, an autoimmune disease where the body attacks its own tissues, causing damage to the heart, lungs and other organs.  But the debilitating condition doesn’t slow her down. … ”  Read more from the Gilroy Dispatch here: Conservation organization implores public to stop dumping trash into rivers

Monterey: Enter this contest for your chance to pursue an eminent domain case involving a multibillion-dollar corporation

“If you’re selected for this role, your vote could swing a transaction that’s worth upward of $500 million. There are no set requirements to qualify except that you live in a certain geographic area that encompasses most of the city of Monterey.  No, this is not a scam—it’s a chance vacancy on the board of the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District. ... ”  Read more from Monterey Weekly here:  Enter this contest for your chance to pursue an eminent domain case involving a multibillion-dollar corporation

Hundreds of birds gather at San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge

“Hundreds of birds made a New Year’s Day stop at the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge.  KCRA 3 spotted a few types of geese in the fields, among other varieties of birds. … ”  Read more from KCRA Channel 3 here:  Hundreds of birds gather at San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge

Agencies finalize environmental documents on proposed reservoir expansion

“The federal Bureau of Reclamation and San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority recently finalized the B.F. Sisk Dam Raise and Reservoir Expansion Project’s Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report.  This joint proposed project would create an additional 130,000 acre-feet of storage space in San Luis Reservoir, producing additional water supply for two million people, over one million acres of farmland and 200,000 acres of Pacific Flyway wetlands. … ”  Read more from Westside Connect here: Agencies finalize environmental documents on proposed reservoir expansion

PG&E sells Kern Canyon hydroelectric project

“PG&E has sold its Kern Canyon hydroelectric project to Kern and Tule Hydro LLC after the California Public Utilities Commission approved the sale and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the license transfer. Escrow closed Tuesday.  This brings to a close maneuvers that began in 2018 when PG&E issued a request for offers to buy the 11.5-megawatt facility near Highway 178, about 15 miles east of Bakersfield. … ”  Read more from KGET here:  PG&E sells Kern Canyon hydroelectric project

Malibu: Bay Foundation hopes plants hold the key for dune restoration

“The Malibu Living Shoreline Project, with The Bay Foundation nonprofit as lead agency, aims to restore approximately three acres of dune habitat at Zuma Beach and Westward Beach (agencies call it Point Dume Beach).  The theory is that Malibu’s sand dunes can be brought back from their current degraded condition simply by getting rid of all the non-native invasive plants like ice plants, and replacing them with native dune plants that not only help restore the ecology, but also serve as dune builders.  Larger dunes are seen by scientists as perhaps the most natural way to protect the coast in the future from sea level rise, storms and erosion—preferable to putting up sea walls or rock revetments. ... ”  Read more from the Malibu Times here: Malibu: Bay Foundation hopes plants hold the key for dune restoration 

Los Angeles:  Restoration plan for Ballona Creek wetlands advances

“A plan to restore the largest coastal wetlands complex in Los Angeles County has received state approval as it advances through a lengthy process.  The California Department of Fish and Wildlife said this week that it has certified the final environmental impact to restore the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve.  The project aims to restore the ecological function of 566 acres (229 hectares) of the reserve, which lies between the Santa Monica Bay community of Playa del Rey and sprawling Marina del Rey. … ”  Read more from the AP here: Restoration plan for Ballona Creek wetlands advances

Some criticize Ballona Wetlands project moving forward with state approval

“Defend Ballona Wetlands Thursday criticized the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s decision to certify the final Environmental Impact Report for the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve, allowing a restoration project to move forward.  “They call it the ‘most restorative,’ yet it’s the most destructive,” Los Angeles attorney and executive board member of Democrats for the Protection of Animals Christina Ku said in a statement for Defend Ballona Wetlands.  “Our organization just wrote to the governor, asking him to withdraw this project. We urge him to stop wasting public money on something that would be tragic for animals he is supposed to protect.” … ”  Read more from Spectrum 1 News here:  Some criticize Ballona Wetlands project moving forward with state approval

SEE ALSO: Here’s What Could Happen To The Ballona Wetlands, from the Patch

Lake Hodges water levels dry up prospects for grebes

“For years, pairs of grebes would zoom across the water at Lake Hodges in a dazzling mating dance, and then build their nests on mats of dried brush suspended above the waterline.  This year, some of the birds are still pairing up, but their nesting area near Interstate 15 no longer floods with seasonal rains, and can’t sustain them. The eastern finger of the lake, which long alternated between riparian woodland and seasonal ponds, is permanently drained because of state-ordered changes to the water level. … ”  Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune here: Lake Hodges water levels dry up prospects for grebes

Tired of waiting on Salton Sea fixes, Desert Shores residents take a stand

” … the residents of Desert Shores believe they have a cost effective answer to their woes, one that won’t fix the Salton Sea but will at least improve the quality of life in one town along the retreating lake.  Called the Desert Shores Channel Restoration Project, their plan would build a berm across the opening that once let the lake flow in, pump water back into the channels and clean it. Proponents say it would cut down on dust and potentially add habitat for wildlife. It also is as close to a shovel-ready project as exists around a lake where solutions have proven elusive. … ”  Read more from the Desert Sun here:  Tired of waiting on Salton Sea fixes, Desert Shores residents take a stand

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Along the Colorado River …

Wall Street eyes billions in the Colorado’s water

“There is a myth about water in the Western United States, which is that there is not enough of it. But those who deal closely with water will tell you this is false. There is plenty. It is just in the wrong places.  Cibola, Ariz., is one of the wrong places. Home to about 300 people, depending on what time of year you’re counting, the town sits on the California border, in a stretch of the Sonoran Desert encircled by fanglike mountains and seemingly dead rocky terrain. … ”  Read more from the New York Times here: Wall Street eyes billions in the Colorado’s water

Climate’s toll on the Colorado River: ‘We can weather maybe a couple of years’

“Beside a river that winds through a mountain valley, the charred trunks of pine trees lie toppled on the blackened ground, covered in a thin layer of fresh snow.  Weeks after flames ripped through this alpine forest, a smoky odor still lingers in the air.  … The fires in Colorado spread ferociously through the summer and fall of 2020 after months of extreme heat that worsened the severe drought.  As smoke billowed over the headwaters, the wildfires raised warning signs of how profoundly climate change is altering the watershed, and how the symptoms of heat-driven drying are cascading down the heavily used river — with stark implications for the entire region, from Colorado’s ranchland pastures to the suburbs of Phoenix. … ”  Read more from Arizona Central here:  Climate’s toll on the Colorado River: ‘We can weather maybe a couple of years’

SEE ALSO: Photo gallery: Drought, climate change and fire hit the Colorado River’s headwaters, from Arizona Central

Paradox Valley salt injection well could shut down

“The Dolores and Colorado rivers could face lower water quality according to a recent decision by the Bureau of Reclamation that could cause the closure of the Paradox Valley Salinity Control Project.  The bureau has decided on a no-action alternative after an environmental analysis to find solutions for a brine injection that has neared its capacity and caused earthquakes. … ”  Read more from The Journal here:  Paradox Valley salt injection well could shut down

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In national water news this weekend …

Desalination breakthrough could lead to cheaper clean water

“A major advancement in water filtration technology revealed Thursday may lead to lower water prices and greater availability throughout otherwise dry areas of the globe.  The vast majority of water on Earth is found in oceans, so lowering the cost of filtering seawater could dramatically improve the quality of life for people living in regions without much rainfall or groundwater.  Whether found in a home kitchen or a giant industrial facility, most water filters work the same way. … ”  Read more from the Courthouse News Service here: Desalination breakthrough could lead to cheaper clean water 

DuPont loses bid for mistrial after $50 Million PFAS verdict

“A federal judge won’t order a new trial in a closely watched PFAS case against DuPont that resulted in a $50 million verdict against the company earlier this year.  The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio on Thursday denied DuPont’s request to declare a mistrial after a jury in March sided with cancer survivor Travis Abbott and his wife, Julie, awarding them damages for exposure to a type of PFAS the company produced at a facility along the Ohio River. ... ”  Read more from Bloomberg Law here: DuPont loses bid for mistrial after $50 Million PFAS verdict

Much still unknown about PFAS destruction and disposal

“EPA has released for public comment guidance on destruction and disposal of certain PFAS and PFAS-Containing Materials. This guidance, published Dec. 18, 2020, highlights how much is still unknown about how to effectively remove these materials from the environment. As characterized by EPA, “This interim guidance serves as a baseline of destruction and disposal capabilities and uncertainties.”  EPA was required to publish the guidance under the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (NDAA). The guidance is not a rule or a statement of EPA policy. It is intended to provide a manager of PFAS-containing materials with information on commercially available technologies that may be feasible and effective in meeting the goals of PFAS destruction or control of PFAS mitigation into the environment. … ”  Read more from the National Law Review here: Much still unknown about PFAS destruction and disposal

2020 saw the worst drought conditions across the U.S. in seven years

“Nearly half of the United States will end the year in some level of drought, according to the New Year’s Eve update of the United States Drought Monitor (USDM). The country slipped into the most widespread drought since the summer of 2013, and the effects of the extended dryness were apparent throughout the year. While there could be some relief in hard-hit areas over the next few weeks, forecasters expect the drought to stick around well into 2021. ... ”  Read more from Forbes Magazine here: 2020 saw the worst drought conditions across the U.S. in seven years

What this year’s rulings and court fights mean for 2021

“President Trump’s four years in office brought a steady stream of courtroom brawls over environmental issues before an increasingly conservative judiciary. 2020 was no exception.  The last 12 months have been marked by a fresh crop of Supreme Court rulings on environmental questions, major courtroom victories for Black communities fighting energy projects and a notable loss for a group of kids who want the government to help protect the next generation from the harms associated with a rapidly warming planet.  This was also the year that Trump shattered records for judicial appointments in a single term, including the confirmation of a sixth conservative Supreme Court justice, boosting the odds that aggressive climate action by President-elect Joe Biden — or any other future president — will land before a skeptical judiciary. … ”  Read more from E&E News here:  What this year’s rulings and court fights mean for 2021

The most important environmental stories of 2020

“How do we even begin to wrap our minds around this heartbreakingly difficult year? From a pandemic that has killed close to 2 million people worldwide and continues to upend our lives in so many ways, to a nation brought face-to-face with its ugly, racist underpinnings, to a divisive election season, which too, continues to drag on — it feels like 2020 packed a decade’s worth of high-impact events in 52 weeks.  In putting together this list of the most important stories of 2020 that are likely to have long-term impacts on the environment, we sought — as we often do — the collective wisdom of Earth Island’s diverse range of environmental projects, which work on everything from wildlife conservation, to environmental justice, to food and agriculture issues, to climate policy. As many of them pointed out, while it has indeed been an incredibly hard year, there have been some silver linings as well. … ”  Read more from Earth Island Journal here:  The most important environmental stories of 2020

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Sunday read …

Charles Hatfield made it rain in San Diego. The problem was he couldn’t make it stop.

” … One of the most famous of these rainmakers—or “moisture accelerators,” as he preferred to be called—was Charles Hatfield. A proponent of the “smell-maker” school of weather control, Hatfield concocted a secret and proprietary blend of 23 chemicals that, for a small sum, he would release into the heavens from a high tower to bring down the rain.  “I do not make rain. That would be an absurd claim. I simply attract clouds, and they do the rest,” he explained.  His business boomed for over a decade until the end of 1915, when he received his biggest commission to date—a contract to provide rain to the thirsty city of San Diego. The problem was not that he failed to dispel the drought, rather that Hatfield was a little too successful. ... ”  Read the full story at the Daily Beast here: Charles Hatfield made it rain in San Diego. The problem was he couldn’t make it stop.

And lastly …

Amazing Earth: Satellite Images from 2020

“In the vastness of the universe, the life-bringing beauty of our home planet shines bright. During this tumultuous year, our satellites captured some pockets of peace, while documenting data and striking visuals of unprecedented natural disasters. As 2020 comes to a close, we’re diving into some of the devastation, wonders, and anomalies this year had to offer.  NASA’s fleet of Earth-observing satellites and instruments on the International Space Station unravel the complexities of the blue marble from a cosmic vantage point. These robotic scientists orbit our globe constantly, monitoring and notating changes, providing crucial information to researchers here on the ground.  Take a glance at 2020 through the lens of NASA satellites ... ” Check out the pictures from NASA here: Amazing Earth: Satellite Images from 2020

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Catch up on last week’s news in the Weekly Digest …

WEEKLY WATER NEWS DIGEST for Dec 27 – 31: All the week’s top water news stories

WEEKLY WATER NEWS DIGEST for Dec 20 to 24: Preparing for possible dry times ahead in the Delta, Implementation of the SWP’s Incidental Take Permit, plus all the top news stories of the week

FEATURED IMAGE CREDIT: Mt. Shasta and the Sacramento River; photo by Cyclotourist

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