In California water news this weekend …
Storm train to chug along in West through midweek
“Following a storm that pummeled some areas of California with over a foot of rain, yards of snow and hurricane-force winds, another storm is moving ashore this weekend for the same area. This storm will have similarities, but it will also have some stark differences as well. The storm that sat over California for the better part of this past week finally began to move away Friday, leaving impressive storm reports in its wake. … ” Read more from AccuWeather here: Storm train to chug along in West through midweek
How much of a dent did the storm put in California’s drought? The lowdown on that atmospheric river
“The storm that pounded California this week, unleashing mudslides on the coast and blanketing the Sierra with several feet of snow, chipped away at the state’s slowly emerging drought. But California’s water woes still loom. Hills and valleys across the state that a week ago reeled from a third or less of average seasonal rainfall now stand at only around 50% of average or so. More wet weather is expected in coming days, though water experts say the trajectory of a year that’s been as dry as any recent drought year won’t change unless a number of storms like this week’s follow. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: How much of a dent did the storm put in California’s drought? The lowdown on that atmospheric river
How the atmospheric river storm affected California’s water supply
“This week’s big storm soaked the Bay Area. It brought blizzards of much-needed snow to the Sierra Nevada. It triggered evacuations in the Santa Cruz Mountains and wrecked Highway 1 in Big Sur. The soaking system — the region’s first atmospheric river storm of the winter — made an impressive dent in California’s very dry winter. But precipitation totals are still behind historical averages, experts noted Friday. And the state’s water picture, while improved, remains shaky with two months left to go in the winter season. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: How the atmospheric river storm affected California’s water supply
-
- SEE ALSO: Heavy rains help Northern California water supply, but more needed, from KPIX
Graphically, here’s where we’re at …
In the heart of the San Joaquin Valley, two groundwater sustainability agencies try to find their balance
“Groundwater keeps the San Joaquin Valley’s orchards, vineyards and fields vibrant and supports a multibillion-dollar agricultural economy. But that bounty has come at a price. Overpumping of groundwater has depleted aquifers, dried up household wells and degraded ecosystems. Now, hundreds of agencies in California have the task of making things right in their respective groundwater basins – no easy task considering the enormity of the problem and the need to protect both the farm economy and the drinking water for vulnerable communities. Western Water examined how two San Joaquin Valley groundwater sustainability agencies are striving to find that balance.” Read more from Western Water here: In the heart of the San Joaquin Valley, two groundwater sustainability agencies try to find their balance
Citing climate change, LADWP ends free water deal for Long Valley ranchers and sparks anger among conservationists
“Since the early 1920s, the Long Valley plains east of Yosemite have inspired comparison to a rustic Western paradise — an idyllic frontier where sparkling creeks meander through lush pastures, waters teem with feisty trout and sage grouse make ostentatious displays of romance. Much of this great, green expansiveness, however, owes to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, which aggressively purchased land and water rights here more than a century ago. The department’s routine annual deliveries of free surplus water to its tenants have helped sustain ranching operations and habitat here for many decades. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Citing climate change, LADWP ends free water deal for Long Valley ranchers and sparks anger among conservationists
FERC declines to find that denials without prejudice justify a Section 401 waiver
“On January 19, 2021, FERC declined to find that the State of California waived its authority to issue a water quality certification under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act (CWA) for the Don Pedro and La Grange Hydroelectric Projects where the California State Water Resources Control Board (Water Board) denied the licensees’ applications without prejudice for two successive years. The licensees argued that denying certification without prejudice is the functional equivalent of the withdraw and resubmit practice that was invalidated by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (D.C. Circuit) in Hoopa Valley Tribe v. FERC. FERC disagreed, finding that unlike a withdraw and resubmit scenario, the Water Board acted on the application in this case, even though it was not a substantive denial on the merits. FERC also found that unlike other Section 401 waiver cases, the licensees and the Water Board did not coordinate to circumvent the one-year deadline under Section 401. In response to the licensees’ arguments that FERC was obligated to determine whether the Water Board’s denial is valid as a matter of federal law, FERC held that it is not its role to review the appropriateness of a state’s decision to deny certification. … ” This article and more in the FERC Hydropower Newsletter from the National Law Review here: Hydro Newsletter – Volume 8, Issue 2
State fisheries biologists continue efforts to eradicate deadly fish bacteria
“Eight months after a bacterial outbreak in CDFW fish hatcheries led to the massive depletion of stocks, state fisheries biologists are still working hard on recovery efforts and a plan to stock California’s waters for anglers in 2021 and beyond. Prior to the initial discovery at the Mojave River Hatchery in April 2020, the bacteria, Lactococcus garvieae, had not been found in California in aquaculture facilities or in the wild. Extensive testing of all CDFW hatcheries found the bacteria to be present in fish at the Fish Springs Hatchery and Black Rock Hatchery as well. Fish at all three hatcheries were immediately quarantined and ultimately 3.1 million trout were euthanized after treatment efforts were unsuccessful. … ” Read more from the Department of Fish & Wildlife here: State fisheries biologists continue efforts to eradicate deadly fish bacteria
How do you measure snow in the remote mountain west? Use a snow pillow, of course
“The recent snowstorm that clobbered the mountainous West produced several feet of snow in many remote locations. Places way up in the mountains from the Sierra through Cascades, Wasatch and Rockies are extremely difficult to get to, even in the summer months. In winter, when there may be as much as 20 to 25 feet of snow on the ground and full-blown blizzards may be raging, it is impossible to reach these spots to measure snow. So how do they do it and why? … ” Read more from The Weather Channel here: How do you measure snow in the remote mountain west? Use a snow pillow, of course
First wildfires, now mudslides. California endures year-round disaster season.
“It was 4 a.m. when Crystal Urite and her family were awakened by firefighters knocking at the door of her home in Monterey County. Mudslides were starting to flow in the burn scar left by last summer’s River Fire, and the firefighters recommended she evacuate. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, Urite didn’t want to go to a crowded shelter. Thirty minutes later, her SUV was submerged in mud. The driveway was covered in thick sludge, which had blown through the garage door, lining the interior with rocks and debris picked up on the mudslide’s miles-long route through the coastal foothills south of the Santa Cruz Mountains. … ” Read more from NBC News here: First wildfires, now mudslides. California endures year-round disaster season.
In people news this weekend …
From the Office of the Governor:
APPOINTMENTS
Nicholas Avdis, 46, of Sacramento, has been appointed to the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board.
Avdis has been Of Counsel at the Thomas Law Group since 2013. He was a Partner at the Law Offices of Lo Duca & Avdis LLP from 2008 to 2013, an Associate at the Law Offices of Sandberg & LoDuca LLP from 2004 to 2008 and Corporate Counsel at KT Development Corporation from 2003 to 2004. Avdis is a member of the Capitol Area Development Authority, Reclamation District 1000 and Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Avdis is a Democrat.
Sean Yang, 42, of Sacramento, has been appointed to the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board.
Yang has been a Medical Imaging Specialist Engineer at Kaiser Permanente since 2016. He was a Medical Liaison at Open Advantage MRI in 2017, Medical Imaging Engineer at BC Technical from 2014 to 2016 and a Computerized Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Engineer at Consensys Imaging Service Inc. from 2011 to 2014. Yang was Manager and Owner of Weiberts Meats from 2005 to 2011 and Magnetic Resonance Engineer at Hitachi Medical Systems America from 2001 to 2011. Yang is a member of the board of the Elk Grove Unified School District and a member of the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Yang is a Democrat.
H. David Nahai, 68, of Los Angeles has been appointed to the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board.
Nahai has been President of David Nahai Consulting Services Inc. and Partner at Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard and Smith since 2010. He was General Manager and CEO of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power from 2007 to 2009, Vice President of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Board of Commissioners from 2005 to 2006 and President of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Board of Commissioners from 2006 to 2007. Nahai was a Partner at Nahai Law Corporation from 1992 to 2007, at Stroock & Stroock, & Lavan from 1986 to 1992 and at Memel, Jacobs, Ellsworth, Pierno and Gersh from 1982 to 1986. He was an Associate at Loeb and Loeb from 1979 to 1982. He is a member of the Los Angeles Business Council, California League of Conservation Voters and Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator. He was a board member of the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board from 1997 to 2007. Nahai earned a Master of Laws degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Nahai is a Democrat.
Michael Mendez, 43, of Long Beach, has been appointed to the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board.
Mendez has been an Assistant Professor in the Department of Urban Planning and Public Policy at the University of California, Irvine since 2019. He was a Faculty Fellow and Associate Research Scientist at the Yale School of the Environment from 2016 to 2019 and a Postdoctoral Scholar and Lecturer at the University of San Francisco Department of Environmental Science from 2015 to 2016. Mendez was Legislative Director at the University of California, Office of the President from 2008 to 2010, Senior Government Affairs Advocate at Blue Shield of California from 2006 to 2008, and Senior Legislative Aide in the Office of California State Assemblymember Cindy Montañez from 2003 to 2006. He is a member of the National Academies of Sciences’ Board on Environmental Change and Society and the Alliance for a Better Community. Mendez earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in environmental planning from the University of California, Berkeley and a Master of Public Policy degree in environmental planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Mendez is a Democrat.
Podcasts …
LET’S TALK WATER PODCAST: A conversation with Felicia Marcus
“Felicia Marcus is one of America’s most important water protectors. Felicia is an attorney and consultant with a distinguished background in water management and policy. She’s been a board member on a number of national and international bodies, including one that oversees Canada-U.S. water issues. Speaking from her current post at Stanford University in California, this veteran environmentalist tells her old friend Jay about her new hope for cleaner, safer water thanks to change in America.”
WATER IS GOLD PODCAST: Water Is Gold : How Central Valley Communities are Still Fighting the Drought
“California, the golden state, is known for many things, chief among them is its status as the breadbasket of the nation and the world. Yet, the ability to sustain agriculture and support the communities is limited by access to water. This podcast examines how access to groundwater is influenced by drought and climate change, but also, how the persistence of drought conditions can be tied to histories of human decision-making and structural racism within the Central Valley. This story features guest co-producers Dr. Clare Gupta and Cristina Murillo-Barrick; two social scientists on a team of hydrologists, engineers and economists at UC Davis. As part of a larger National Science Foundation research project, Clare and Cristina partnered with the Community Water Center to collect bilingual narratives of impacted residents who don’t have access to safe and affordable drinking water.”
WATER IS A MANY SPLENDOR’ED THING PODCAST: Build it and They Will Come
Steve Baker writes, “Build it and they will come”, is a cliché that describes society’s confidence that if you put the effort in, up front, success will follow. Montana is one example of a state that has seen an increase in population that depends on private groundwater wells. The big question has become; “How do you know when you have gone too far?” Water is a Many Splendor’ed Thing brings you another water relationship that has a personally significant impact to your life.” Produced by Steven Baker, Operation Unite® Bringing People Together to Solve Water Problems, Online at www.operationunite.co
ASCE’S PLOT POINTS PODCAST: Are civil engineers doing enough to combat climate change?
“It’s a simple question with a complicated answer. Or maybe it’s a complicated question with a simple answer. Either way, Emily Grubert, an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, makes sense of the chaos on today’s episode. “
In regional water news this weekend …
What will Iron Gate, Copco, JC Boyle reservoirs look like after dam removal? KRRC says it will be beautiful
“The plan to remove four Klamath dams took another small step forward on Friday as the Klamath River Renewal Corporation announced they’ve signed a contract with a Texas-based company to restore the area where dams and their reservoirs currently exist. Once the dams are removed and the Klamath River returns to its pre-dam path, Resource Environment Solutions has been tapped to restore native vegetation to the area currently covered by water and reestablish fish habitat by reconnecting tributaries. … ” Read more from the Siskiyou Daily News here: What will Iron Gate, Copco, JC Boyle reservoirs look like after dam removal? KRRC says it will be beautiful
Sea level rise on the North Coast
“A few weeks ago, local pilot Tim Hanan flew over the southern portion of the Eel River delta in the area of Centerville Beach. Our 5-year design effort with The Wildlands Conservancy and agricultural landowners included the former tidelands just to the north of Centerville. Small wave incursions over the dunes began about 20 years ago, and have been slowly increasing, but earlier this month all hell broke loose. A major portion of the Centerville dune system is now washed away by high tides and large storm surge, a catastrophic loss. A large area of productive agricultural lands were damaged. It appears the whole dune system south of the Eel River mouth is slowly unzipping, moving south to north. ... ” Read more from Cal Trout here: Sea level rise on the north coast
Scientists tie climate change to increasing storm severity in Northern California
” … As we all know, it’s not unusual for the rainy season to start out relatively, well, un-rainy, and then for the state to get hit with a big storm — though not quite like this one. “This storm definitely has more water in it because of climate change,” explained Michael Wehner, a senior scientist who studies extreme weather events and their relationship to climate change at the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. According to research from Wehner, climate change is driving processes that make winter storms drop more precipitation than has historically been the case in NorCal. … ” Read more from the Mendocino Beacon here: Scientists tie climate change to increasing storm severity in Northern California
Lake Tahoe: Climate change leads discussion at Operation Sierra Storm
“Lake Tahoe’s annual Operation Sierra Storm, a national weather conference usually held at Stateline, was streamed online Monday from Hard Rock Lake Tahoe’s showroom. The conference featured experts from UCLA, California Department of Water Resources and California Tahoe Conservancy along with a keynote presentation by Al Roker from the NBC’s Today Show. Daniel Swain, Ph. D, Climate Scientist at UCLA’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, said that while changes are still to come regarding climate change, predictions strongly suggest a less snowy, more rainy and drier future. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune here: Climate change leads discussion at Operation Sierra Storm
Marin: Restored Corte Madera marshland opens to public
“A newly restored marsh in Corte Madera three decades in the making opened to the public on Friday, restoring vital habitat for endangered species and a new path along the bayfront. The 4-acre tidal marsh restores a small piece of the lost wetlands on San Francisco Bay and provides new habitat and food for the endangered Ridgeway’s rail and the endangered salt marsh harvest mouse. The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District was required to build the wetlands to make up for dredging at its Larkspur ferry terminal in the late 1980s and its use of high-speed ferries starting in 1996. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Restored Corte Madera marshland opens to public
Bay Area climate change hotspots
“Our NBC Bay Area meteorologists fanned out across the Bay Area to get a read on problems climate change is creating in the waters that surround us, our forests, our rivers and streams, and the air we breathe. We’ve talked with the scientists or environmental advocates who are studying and working on solutions for the problems. … ” Read more from NBC Bay Area here: Bay Area climate change hotspots
Bay Area rep introduces San Francisco Bay environmental restoration bill
“Rep. Jackie Speier, D-San Francisco/San Mateo, announced a bill on Thursday that seeks to use federal funding to improve the San Francisco Bay’s environmental health. H.R. 1132 — also called the San Francisco Bay Restoration Act — would authorize $50 million per year for five years to pay for environmental restoration activities within the Bay and the creation of a San Francisco Bay Program Office inside the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. … ” Read more from SF Gate here: Bay Area rep introduces San Francisco Bay environmental restoration bill
Commentary: Why new leadership at SF’s water agency can help heal our bay
William Martin writes, “Most San Franciscans know that their drinking water, among the best in the world, comes from Hetch Hetchy in the Sierras. Hetch Hetchy dams the Tuolumne River which originates in Yosemite National Park. However, many San Franciscans probably have no idea that the state has determined that more water is needed in the Tuolumne to help heal severe harm done to the salmon population and the health of the San Francisco Bay and Delta. Instead of doing its part, at the urging of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission staff, the City has sued the state to block these stronger protections. … ” Read more from the Sierra Club here: Commentary: Why new leadership at SF’s water agency can help heal our bay
What role should onsite water reuse play in Silicon Valley water?
“Water systems in most large urban areas like California’s Silicon Valley are linear and highly centralized. Water is cleaned at a central treatment plant, distributed to homes and businesses through a vast and decades-old system of pipes, used once, and then returned through another set of pipes to a wastewater treatment plant, before being discharged into a nearby waterway like the San Francisco Bay. This 20th-century approach to the urban water system is no longer sufficient to address 21st-century water challenges like climate change, growing populations and economies, and aging infrastructure. There is a growing opportunity to build urban water systems that are distributed and circular, adding flexibility and providing back-up when integrated with centralized systems. ... ” Read more from the Pacific Institute here: What role should onsite water reuse play in Silicon Valley water?
Commentary: There is enough water in Monterey County, if only we agreed to cooperate
“This is Asaf Shalev, writing to you on my last day with the Weekly. It’s been an honor to work in this community and a pleasure to connect with our readers. But before I move on, I wanted to highlight one of my last stories because it encapsulates much of what I have learned in the process of covering water for the past two years. The first thing I learned about water in Monterey County was that there isn’t enough of it. On the Peninsula, long dependent on the Carmel River, the choice seemed to be either fish or faucets. In the Salinas Valley, the pumps have been working so hard for so long that they are sucking the ocean in, spoiling precious aquifers. That lesson turned out somewhat false. … ” Continue reading at the Monterey Weekly here: There is enough water in Monterey County, if only we agreed to cooperate
Yosemite may reopen Monday but Mariposa sequoia grove closed indefinitely
“Yosemite National Park will remain closed until at least Monday and its spectacular Mariposa Grove of giant sequoia trees, damaged by fierce winds two weeks ago, will remain closed indefinitely, the park announced. The park was shut down Jan. 19 after a storm downed trees, carried debris across roads and maimed several visitor facilities. The Mariposa Grove sustained the most damage, with several large trees falling across boardwalks and fences. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Yosemite may reopen Monday but Mariposa sequoia grove closed indefinitely
SoCal: Water Replenishment District removes board president in aftermath of GM hiring controversy
“The Water Replenishment District of Southern California’s board stripped its president of her title at a special meeting Friday, Jan. 29, in a rebuke of her months-long push to hire former Carson Mayor Albert Robles as the district’s general manager. Board member Rob Katherman, who authored the recommendation to revoke Vera Robles DeWitt’s presidency, said the now-former board president damaged WRD’s reputation in her determination to find a job for Robles. The attempted hiring of Robles was publicly opposed by more than a dozen state and federal legislators, 16 cities, two county supervisors and the union representing the district’s employees. … ” Read more from the Daily Breeze here: Water Replenishment District removes board president in aftermath of GM hiring controversy
Group files lawsuit against CDFW for approving project that would destroy Ballona Wetlands
“On January 29, Defend Ballona Wetlands and two individuals, Molly Basler and Robert van de Hoek, filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court challenging the California Department of Fish & Wildlife’s (CDFW) approval of an environmental impact report (EIR) that they claim would allow for the “complete destruction” of the fragile Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve in Los Angeles County. In 2000, California voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 12, creating a $2.1 billion bond “to spend on acquisition, development, and protection of recreational, cultural, and natural areas,” according to the lawsuit. … ” Read more from the Daily Kox here: Group files lawsuit against CDFW for approving project that would destroy Ballona Wetlands
SEE ALSO: Second Group Challenges State’s Approval of Ballona Wetlands Project, from Spectrum 1 News
A desalination skeptic now sees Carlsbad plant’s ‘undeniable value’
“It is no secret that I wasn’t the biggest fan of the Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant when it was proposed, and I still wasn’t completely on board when the plant began operations in 2015, or even when I was elected to the Carlsbad City Council in 2016. But time has given me perspective, and I recognize now that the value that the Carlsbad Desalination Plant provides our region is undeniable. … ” Read more from the Times of San Diego here: A desalination skeptic now sees Carlsbad plant’s ‘undeniable value’
Along the Colorado River …
Shrinking Lake Mead inches closer to water shortage declaration
“Projections from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation show Lake Mead is in danger of dropping low enough to trigger its first federally declared water shortage next year. A study this month from the Bureau of Reclamation, based on minimum probable inflow, shows Lake Mead, now at 1,085 feet, could end the year below 1,070 feet. If projections in August show the lake level dropping below 1,075 feet at that time, a federal shortage will be declared. ... ” Read more from the Las Vegas Review-Journal here: Shrinking Lake Mead inches closer to water shortage declaration
Tensions rise over company’s plan to sell Colorado River water in Arizona
“Mayors and county supervisors in towns along the Colorado River were already upset five months ago when the state water agency endorsed an investment company’s plan to take water from farmland near the river and sell it to a growing Phoenix suburb. Now, they’re incensed that the agency, which initially suggested holding back a large portion of the water, changed its stance and will let the company sell most of the water to the town of Queen Creek. … ” Read more from Arizona Central here: Tensions rise over company’s plan to sell Colorado River water in Arizona
Upper Colorado River Drought Plan triggered for first time
“Increasingly bleak forecasts for the Colorado River have for the first time put into action elements of the 2019 upper basin drought contingency plan. The 24-month study released in January by the Bureau of Reclamation, which projects two years of operations at the river’s biggest reservoirs, showed Lake Powell possibly dipping below an elevation of 3,525 feet above sea level in 2022. That elevation was designated as a critical threshold in the agreement to preserve the ability to produce hydropower at Glen Canyon Dam. … ” Read more from KUNC here: Upper Colorado River Drought Plan triggered for first time
Some Colorado water officials balk at Wall Street buying rights
“The prospect of Wall Street buying water rights in Colorado has seemingly brought the water community on the Front Range and Western Slope together – a rare occurrence between two sides of the state often at odds over water use. In recent weeks, much attention has been focused on an issue not new to officials in the water world: private interests or hedge funds purchasing water rights from agricultural communities and diverting that water to cities. … ” Read more from The Journal here: Some Colorado water officials balk at Wall Street buying rights
In national water news this week …
The covid-19 pandemic’s continued toll on drinking water systems and their customers
“Water systems across the country are facing budget shortfalls as a result of the pandemic and need assistance. For small water systems (systems serving 10,000 people or fewer) total budget shortfalls are estimated to be $4 to 6 billion, primarily caused by decreased demand, delayed payments, and additional costs for protective equipment and sick time. At the end of 2020, an estimated 12 million workers still remained unemployed due to job loss or other impacts from the pandemic. These individuals, in addition to those already unemployed or struggling to make ends meet prior to the pandemic, are unlikely to be able to afford regular monthly bills, such as for water. This only adds to utility revenue challenges. … ” Read more from the Pacific Institute here: The covid-19 pandemic’s continued toll on drinking water systems and their customers
What those in agriculture can expect under a Biden administration
“As past Farm Progress surveys show, farmers traditionally vote more conservatively and now find themselves trying to reconcile what the future political outlook will be under the Biden administration after four years of President Donald Trump. As we recently detailed in our five-part series, the sky is not falling, but farmers need to be aware of what could be coming to best navigate the waters ahead. The first 100 days of any presidency lay the groundwork for what can be accomplished by that administration. There is undoubtedly a push and pull over different agendas, especially with a shift to complete Democrat control from a Republican-controlled White House and House and Senate just four years ago. It’s hard to claim a voter mandate and hopefully bipartisanship will find its way into proposals. The 50-50 split in the Senate and the narrow majority in the House elevates more moderate members on both sides of the aisle and offers hope for Congress to avoid gridlock. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press here: What those in agriculture can expect under a Biden administration
With Democrats in power, an emboldened environmental movement confronts them
“When Joe Biden last month was mulling whom to name as his Interior secretary, entrusted with hundreds of millions of acres of public land, a network of nascent environmental groups eager for clout made a move that defied the usual Washington playbook. They launched a campaign to publicly shame the person believed to be at the top of the president-elect’s shortlist — retiring New Mexico Sen. Tom Udall, a longtime Biden friend and former aide whose father held the post in John F. Kennedy’s Cabinet. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: With Democrats in power, an emboldened environmental movement confronts them
Biden’s climate change agenda will face big obstacles with evenly divided Senate
“President Joe Biden has passed an early flurry of executive action on climate change during his first weeks in office, reversing environmental rollbacks from the Trump administration and quickly acting on campaign promises to address global warming. The president’s orders, though significant, don’t substitute for the administration’s plans to implement more permanent climate legislation, including parts of the $2 trillion proposal to cut planet-warming carbon emissions to zero by 2035 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. … ” Read more from CNBC here: Biden’s climate change agenda will face big obstacles with evenly divided Senate
Catch up on last week’s news in the Weekly Digest …
WEEKLY WATER NEWS DIGEST for Jan. 24 – 29: The What, Why, and How of Groundwater Modeling; DWR Director Nemeth gives an update on Delta conveyance; Water Commission screening for new projects; and more …
Also on Maven’s Notebook this weekend …
NOTICE: CDFA announces stakeholder engagement opportunities on farmer- and rancher-led climate-change solutions
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: 2021 CDFW Prop 1 FAQ, Application Workshop Recording and Presentation
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: 2021 Fisheries Restoration Grant Program PSN and Guidelines for Public Comments
CA WELL STANDARDS: Updating Bulletin 74, California Well Standards: DWR Convenes Technical Advisory Committee for Update of Well Standards
SGMO NEWS: Joint DWR-State Water Board general SGMA webinar; SGMA water year type dataset now available; How to report domestic wells going dry; and more …
