On the calendar today …
FREE WEBINAR: Using Tableau Server to visualize Water Board data from 12pm to 1pm. Rafael Maestu will demonstrate how all staff can access Tableau Server to explore and visualize Water Board data. Click here to register.
FREE WEBINAR: Refuge Rails and Tales from 5pm to 6:30pm. Behind the peaceful refuge and beautiful bay are many fascinating tales: the little rail vs. the big rail, the mouse with the mighty tail, the amazing mistake that led to the discovery of the bay, the marsh named after Chicago, how the bay was nearly destroyed (twice!), how three women saved the bay, why the Don Edwards refuge was created, and many more. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
2020 megafires create risks for California’s water supply
“The forested watersheds of the Sierra Nevada are the origin of more than 60 percent of the state’s developed water supply. Sierra Nevada megafires that kill all, or nearly all, vegetation across large landscapes pose serious risks to this system. In the immediate aftermath of a fire, high-severity burn areas lack vegetation to stabilize soils. Making matters worse, the intense heat can cause the soils themselves to change in ways that reduce their ability to absorb water during rain or snowmelt events. This means that high-severity burn areas can experience runoff and erosion rates five-to-ten-times greater than low- or moderate-severity burn areas. The resulting sediment enters nearby creeks and rivers, degrading water quality and adversely affecting regional aquatic habitats. … The 2020 North Complex, Creek, and SQF Complex megafires created high-severity burn areas of unprecedented size in three watersheds important for California’s water supply. … ” Read more from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy here: 2020 megafires create risks for California’s water supply
More storms headed toward soggy West Coast
“A stormy March is helping combat the ongoing drought in California following an abnormally dry February. After one soaking storm helped remove a chunk out of the water deficit this week, another is on the way. … By the end of the weekend, however, a second storm will be poised to impact the Pacific West Coast. Wet weather is likely to move in and dampen outdoor plans in the afternoon on Sunday across portions of coastal Oregon and Northwestern California. … ” Read more from AccuWeather here: More storms headed toward soggy West Coast
But … despite recent storms, a drought may still be ahead for California
“Hail and rain blanketed much of the Greater Sacramento Area this week, though experts say it’s not likely to play a major role in the state’s drought position. “Well it’s no surprise that we are dry for this year and it’s going into the second year,” said ABC10’s Chief Meteorologist Monica Woods. “Historically it just doesn’t look good that we’re gonna catch up in any way shape or form for the big losses that we’ve seen in rain and snow.” … ” Read more from Channel 10 here: Despite recent storms, a drought may still be ahead for California
Groundwater: DWR helps locals protect this valued resource
““You never know the worth of water till the well runs dry,” warns an old English proverb. Fortunately for Californians, the State recognized several years ago that groundwater, which is accessed by wells, is a valuable resource that must be protected. Groundwater supports families, farms, communities, jobs, and the economy. The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), passed in 2014, prioritized local groundwater management. It directed local water managers to work with their communities to develop plans on how to ensure groundwater availability for the long-term. … ” Read more from DWR News here: Groundwater: DWR helps locals protect this valued resource
Q&A: Vicky Espinoza with CaliWaterAg
“Vicky Espinoza is a Ph.D. Candidate advised by Dr. Joshua Viers in the Environmental Systems Graduate Group at the University of California Merced. As a Latina in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), she has been actively involved in making science and mathematics accessible to underrepresented, Spanish-speaking communities throughout her educational career. Q: Can you share a brief introduction of your research and CaliWaterAg? A: Many studies have projected that more than 10% of agricultural land will need to go out of production to address groundwater overdraft in the San Joaquin Valley. Taking land out of production is difficult and something that cannot be done randomly since there are impacts to people’s livelihood and the economy. My doctoral work addresses how and where this is going to happen in a way that minimizes impacts to already vulnerable communities and farmers in the Valley. ... ” Continue reading at the NGO Groundwater Collaborative here: Q&A: Vicky Espinoza with CaliWaterAg
Bay Area salmon season is expected to be much shorter this year, bringing higher prices
“Bad news for salmon lovers: The quantity of fish in Bay Area coastal waters this year is expected to be far lower than in 2020. And fewer fish means less work for local fishers and fewer salmon in stores. The number of adult king salmon from the Sacramento River fall run is projected to be 271,000 this spring and summer, compared with last year’s estimate of 473,200. So the state’s commercial salmon season, due to start May 1, is expected to be much shorter than last year, which means fishing boats will spend less time at sea and consumers will pay higher prices. ... ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Bay Area salmon season is expected to be much shorter this year, bringing higher prices
5 rivers Congress should safeguard now (one here in California)
“Free-flowing rivers are the lifeblood of wild landscapes, providing habitat and food to myriad species both in the water and on the surrounding land. Rivers also help drive local economies: Boating, fishing, and other river activities account for nearly $56 billion in U.S. annual gross output, according to the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis—a figure that does not include significant additional consumer spending on lodging, food services, and so on. Further, these waterways are the source of drinking water for more than two-thirds of people in the United States. And yet fewer than 2% of American rivers are federally designated as wild and scenic, a status that would help protect their ecologic, economic, and recreational value. Congress can increase that percentage, and the International Day of Action on Rivers, observed on March 14, is a good time to remind lawmakers why they should do so. ... ” Read more from the Pew Charitable Trust here: 5 rivers Congress should safeguard now (one here in California)
Is this the end of forests as we’ve known them?
“Camille Stevens-Rumann never used to worry about seeing dead trees. As a wildland firefighter in the American west, she encountered untold numbers killed in blazes she helped to extinguish. She knew fires are integral to forests in this part of the world; they prune out smaller trees, giving room to the rest and even help the seeds of some species to germinate. “We have largely operated under the assumption that forests are going to come back after fires,” Stevens-Rumann said. But starting in about 2013, she noticed something unsettling. In certain places, the trees were not returning. For an analysis she led of sites across the Rocky Mountains, she found that almost one-third of places that had burned since 2000 had no trees regrowing whatsoever. Instead of tree seedlings, there were shrubs and flowers. ... ” Read more from the Guardian here: Is this the end of forests as we’ve known them?
In commentary today …
Commentary: Racial justice requires equitable access to reliable drinking water
Jose Barrera, California’s state deputy director for the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) writes, “Vice President Kamala Harris was right on point last year when she said that clean water is a fundamental human right. President Biden has put those words into action by signing an executive order establishing a White House council on environmental justice. Every Californian has a right to clean, reliable affordable drinking water. As the California Chapter of the oldest Hispanic civil rights organization in the United States, the California League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) shares this administration’s belief that investing in modern water infrastructure is a starting point to ensure the state meets this obligation. This requires an “all-of-the-above” strategy that addresses enhancing our water infrastructure hardware and software as well as building needed new facilities like wastewater recycling, stormwater capture and seawater desalination. ... ” Read more from the OC Register here: Racial justice requires equitable access to reliable drinking water
In regional water news and commentary today …
Native American curriculum aims to bring culturally informed education and representation to Humboldt County high schools
“Save California Salmon, along with the Blue Lake Rancheria, the Yurok Tribe’s Visitor Center, Klamath-Trinity Joint Unified School District’s Indian Education Program, Humboldt State University’s Native American Studies Department and the Hoopa High School Water Protector’s club created a curriculum that meets California standards and responds to the state’s “urgent water, climate and educational crises” and “need for Native American culturally informed education and representation in schools.” … ” Read more from the North Coast Journal here: Native American curriculum aims to bring culturally informed education and representation to Humboldt County high schools
Humboldt County: Column: Reward water’s worth
J. A. Savage writes, “When you think of shipping Humboldt’s Finest in Ziplocs to Southern California, you’re not thinking of bags of river water. But, putting Humboldt’s water in giant baggies on a boat to Southern California was a plan actually taken seriously in 2003 to encourage more water use. Humboldt historically has an outsized allocation of water from the state because the former pulp mills consumed an astronomical amount of water. Squandering water in order to preserve our state water allocation was the idea of some political leaders and business people. … ” Read more from the North Coast Journal here: Reward water’s worth
Supervisors add conditions but narrowly deny appeal of Rolling Meadow Ranch cannabis project in remote SoHum
“At the end of a lengthy public hearing on Tuesday, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2, narrowly denying an appeal of the Planning Commission’s Jan. 21 approval of a controversial cannabis cultivation and processing project near the remote Southern Humboldt community of McCann. The project, developed by Rolling Meadow Ranch, LLC, calls for 5.73 acres of mixed-light cultivation and processing facilities located in four distinct cultivation areas in up to 16 greenhouses, with a total project footprint of 8.5 acres. … ” Read more from the Lost Coast Outpost here: Supervisors add conditions but narrowly deny appeal of Rolling Meadow Ranch cannabis project in remote SoHum
Satellite imagery shows Northern California kelp forests have collapsed
“The coastal waters of Northern California are changing. A decade ago, hundreds of miles of the rugged seaside were flanked by thick, swaying underwater forests of amber-green bull kelp that were home to fish, abalone and a host of other species. Now, those forests have been nearly wiped out by a series of environmental events that have been falling like ill-fated dominos since 2013. A new study using satellite imagery and underwater surveys is the latest to confirm that these majestic marine ecosystems have all but disappeared, reports Tara Duggan for the San Francisco Chronicle. … ” Read more from Smithsonian Magazine here: Satellite imagery shows Northern California kelp forests have collapsed
Healdsburg debuts biggest floating solar farm in nation
“Over the last four months, two ponds at Healdsburg’s wastewater treatment plant were transformed by workers assembling rows of solar panels and pushing them out one by one to float gently on the water’s surface. The project covered roughly half the combined 15 acres of ponds with 11,600 panels. It is likely the largest floating solar farm in the United States, the builders said, and will provide 8% of the city’s annual electrical needs. The farm puts Healdsburg’s municipal power utility, itself a unique electricity model in the county, at the cutting edge of solar energy development. … ” Read more from the North Bay Business Journal here: Healdsburg debuts biggest floating solar farm in nation
Fecal bacteria poisons Point Reyes beaches
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On any given summer day, scores of families gambol and picnic on the shores of Abbotts Lagoon and Kehoe Lagoon at Point Reyes National Seashore. The stream-fed waters are warmer than the Pacific Ocean into which they periodically drain, beckoning waders and swimmers, toddlers and adults alike. But humans are not the only life forms splashing in the pools. It turns out that microscopic fecal bacteria known as E. Coli are at home in the brackish waters. … ” Read more from The Bohemian here: Fecal bacteria poisons Point Reyes beaches
Boat threatens Tomales Bay with oil slick
“A derelict fishing boat is wrecked on the rocky shoreline north of Dillon Beach, and engineers are assessing the state of the vessel with the goal of preventing pollution. Their biggest concern is an oil spill: The boat can carry up to 29,000 gallons of fuel, and its hull is punctured. Shoreline assessment teams observed light sheening in the immediate vicinity of the vessel, but engineers arriving by helicopter have found no evidence of a leak in 13 of 17 fuel tanks. The four remaining tanks have not been accessed because of the tides, and over two miles of containment boom has been placed in Tomales Bay just in case. … ” Read more from the Point Reyes Light here: Boat threatens Tomales Bay with oil slick
How a Bay Area marsh was saved from a $1 billion housing project
“It’s 11 a.m. on a Tuesday morning, and the tide is out at Cullinan Ranch, a former oat hay farm just northwest of Vallejo. Yards of greenish-brown mud glisten in the sun, like the surface of some sort of pretty-ugly soap bubble, thick with silt deposited from the Napa River. That’s just the way Francesca Demgen likes it. Once upon a time, this stretch of land along the north edge of Highway 37 was an oat hay farm, supplying 7% of the oat hay for Marin and Sonoma counties’ dairy industry. Before that, it was a part of San Pablo Bay, a crucial tidal wetland where waterfowl, fish and mammals flourished. And in the 1980s, it looked like it was going to be Egret Bay, the Bay Area’s latest luxury development ... ” Read more from SF Gate here: How a Bay Area marsh was saved from a $1 billion housing project
Farmers seek to reverse Kern County’s loosened restrictions on oil exploration
“The Kern County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Monday to reinstate a streamlined process for obtaining local oil drilling permits, angering environmentalists and prompting concerns about the health impact on nearby minority communities. The new process amends an existing county ordinance approving new oil and gas exploration and the drilling of 2,697 new oil wells in a 3,700 square mile section of the county. The area in question is predominately used by farmers for agriculture and under the newly approved process, no further environmental reviews would be required for projects going forward. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service here: Farmers seek to reverse Kern County’s loosened restrictions on oil exploration
How the wildflower season is shaping up in SoCal
“Rain showers and mountain snow are a welcomed sign as the State Drought Monitor shows much of California still falls under the moderate to severe drought level. With the rain comes a chance of seeing wildflowers in the springtime cover the once thirsty ground, but a super bloom of the magnitude of 2019 it will not be. You remember the one when freeways turned into parking lots, and the flowers could be seen from outer space. And let’s not forget the crowds that, in their search of a selfie, failed to remember to leave no trace behind when in nature. Here’s how the wildflower season is shaping up at six popular places. … ” Read more from Spectrum News here: How the wildflower season is shaping up in SoCal
Commentary: Mike Feuer and the fallout of the highly questionable LADWP settlement
Editorial writer Susan Shelley writes, “There are political scandals, and there are corruption scandals, and then there’s the level of scandal that becomes a movie starring Jack Nicholson. Hollywood may have to cut a big check to screenwriter Robert Towne and get director Roman Polanski on a Zoom call to tell the story. Watch for the big scene where Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer can’t recall anything about how attorneys connected to his office represented both sides of a lawsuit over the failed billing system at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, a case that ended in a highly questionable settlement, an FBI investigation, and a growing list of sanctions and fines. ... ” Read more from the LA Daily News here: Commentary: Mike Feuer and the fallout of the highly questionable LADWP settlement
Deep-sea ‘Roombas’ will comb ocean floor for DDT waste barrels near Catalina
“When Californians learned in October that the waters off Santa Catalina Island once served as a dumping ground for thousands of barrels of DDT waste, the ocean science community jumped into action. A crew was swiftly assembled, shipping lanes cleared, the gears set in motion for a deep-sea expedition aboard the Sally Ride, one of the most technologically advanced research vessels in the country. By Wednesday, the ship was ready to leave San Diego and head for the San Pedro Basin, where 31 scientists and crew members will spend the next two weeks surveying almost 50,000 acres of the seafloor — a much-needed first step in solving this toxic mystery that the ocean had buried for decades. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Deep-sea ‘Roombas’ will comb ocean floor for DDT waste barrels near Catalina
Huntington beach desalination plant hearings expected to resume in April
“Hearings have been scheduled to resume in April for Poseidon Water’s controversial proposed Huntington Beach desalination plant. Last April the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Santa Ana Region was expected to vote on renewing a permit for the proposed $1 billion project but the workshop was canceled due to COVID-19. A hearing scheduled for September was also delayed so Poseidon could have more time to address water board concerns. Hearings have once again been set for April, this time to consider adoption of a tentative order revising the waste discharge requirements of the plant. The exact date of the hearing has not yet been released. ... ” Read more from The Log here: Huntington beach desalination plant hearings expected to resume in April
Cannabis cultivation company settles with Colorado River Basin Water Board for illegal discharges
“A cannabis cultivation company in San Bernardino County agreed to pay$125,000 for diverting industrial wastewater to its septic tank, potentially threatening the City of Needles’ drinking water supply. The Colorado River Basin Regional Water Quality Control Board approved the settlement agreement today. … ” Continue reading this press release from the State Water Board here: Cannabis cultivation company settles with Colorado River Basin Water Board for illegal discharges
San Diego: Women In Water symposium flows with the change
“This year’s Women in Water Symposium conference theme “Flow With The Change” is fitting. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 2021 event is online with a new virtual format. The online format generated just as much enthusiasm from participants as prior in-person meetings. And, the virtual conference also meant people from throughout the United States could Zoom in too. A record 230 registrants signed up to attend live sessions covering a variety of career development topics. Three specific career levels tracks are offered to address needs at each level: entry level for those new to water careers; mid-career for those transitioning and advancing within the industry; and upper level, for senior professionals looking to leave a legacy. … ” Read more from the Water News Network here: Women In Water Symposium Flows With The Change
Along the Colorado River …
Western states debate water supply in the Colorado River
“As persistent drought and climate change threaten the Colorado River, the seven states that rely on the river’s water are coming to the realization they likely won’t get what they were promised a century ago. A recent white paper published by The Future of the Colorado River Project, Center for Colorado River Studies at Quinney College of Natural Resources, Utah State University, basically says that it’s time for radical new management strategies to safeguard the Southwest’s water supplies. The study or white paper is meant to guide discussions among the seven states on how to renegotiate certain parts of the Law of the River that will expire in 2026. … ” Read more from the Digital Journal here: Western states debate water supply in the Colorado River
Western states chart diverging paths as water shortages loom
“As persistent drought and climate change threaten the Colorado River, several states that rely on the water acknowledge they likely won’t get what they were promised a century ago. But not Utah. Republican lawmakers approved an entity that could push for more of Utah’s share of water as seven Western states prepare to negotiate how to sustain a river serving 40 million people. Critics say the legislation, which the governor still must sign, could strengthen Utah’s effort to complete a billion-dollar pipeline from a dwindling reservoir that’s a key indicator of the river’s health. … ” Read more from the AP here: Western states chart diverging paths as water shortages loom
Attempts to protect Arizona’s groundwater and rivers meet legislative resistance
“The Arizona Legislature has taken up a range of water-related measures this year, but some bills that would strengthen the state’s water rules to protect declining groundwater and desert streams have run into opposition and have failed to move forward. Republican and Democratic legislators introduced several bills that would establish some groundwater rules in unregulated rural areas where there are no limits on pumping and where water levels are dropping. Those bills, which were opposed by the agriculture industry and key Republican leaders in the Legislature, haven’t been heard. Similar measures died in the Legislature last year. ... ” Read more from the Arizona Central here: Attempts to protect Arizona’s groundwater and rivers meet legislative resistance
In national water news today …
Water scarcity at center of Florida-Georgia supreme court battle
“A source water dispute between Florida and Georgia has been on the radar of the country’s highest court for years, and it is now again attempting to find some kind of reconciliation as drought conditions worsen and drinking water sources are more imperiled than ever. The controversy revolves around the Flint, Chattahoochee, and Apolachiola rivers, with Florida arguing that by the time water runs through the first two bodies in Georgia to reach the third in its borders, there isn’t enough left for its oyster farms. Meanwhile, Georgia blames Florida for mismanaging the resource and overfishing. ... ” Read more from Water Online here: Water scarcity at center of Florida-Georgia supreme court battle
Louisiana: Groundwater threats compounded by a changing climate
“Louisiana is ground zero for climate change. Its coast is disappearing at a rate of a football field every hour and a half and hurricanes are growing more fierce, forcing residents to move north to higher ground. Rainfall is also increasing, creating floods so severe that, in 2017, some reporters covered New Orleans by canoe. But while climate change has brought an abundance of water from above, it also threatens valuable water below — the groundwater in Louisiana’s aquifers that the majority of the population relies on for drinking water. In some parts of the state, officials are already envisioning a future where underground water runs dry. … ” Read more from New Orleans Public Radio here: Louisiana: Groundwater threats compounded by a changing climate
Biden delays Trump changes to lead and copper drinking water rule
“The Biden administration announced on Wednesday that it is delaying the implementation of a Trump administration update to a rule governing lead and copper in drinking water. The rule in question is expected to quicken the speed at which cities need to notify people who may have been exposed to lead but gives utilities a longer timeline to replace lead-tainted service lines. ... ” Read more from The Hill here: Biden delays Trump changes to lead and copper drinking water rule
Fish and Wildlife Service under Trump faulted for lack of opinions
“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) did not provide an opinion on the majority of consultation requests reviewed by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), despite a requirement in the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (CBRA), according to a report released Wednesday by the GAO. CBRA requires FWS to consult with federal agencies ahead of any major projects likely to affect federally protected coastal zones. However, of 31 projects in fiscal 2018 and 2019 analyzed by the GAO, FWS did not provide an opinion for 18, according to the report. … ” Read more from The Hill here: Fish and Wildlife Service under Trump faulted for lack of opinions
And lastly …
10 marine animals you can (easily) spot off of California’s coast
“California has miles upon miles of coastline. Marine wildlife is abundant in the Pacific Ocean, where many animals can be seen, depending on the time of year. You might witness cetaceans or blue or gray whales migrating between Alaska and Mexico. You just need to be in the right place during the right season…and know where to look. Sometimes you’ll need to hop aboard a boat for optimal whale viewing but sometimes, with just a pair of binoculars, you can be in for a magical surprise. Observing marine wildlife in their habitats is exciting, especially when you catch a glimpse of harbor or elephant seals playing on the sand (or even mating), or sea otters cracking open sea urchins on their chests, especially since they are listed as threatened on the Endangered Species Act. These marine animals can be easily spotted throughout the coast of California. ... ” Continue reading at Fodor’s Travel here: 10 marine animals you can (easily) spot off of California’s coast
Today’s featured articles …
CA IRRIGATION INSTITUTE CONFERENCE: Urban and Agricultural Water Use in California, 1960 – 2015
Water managers forecast future water demand for a variety of purposes, including planning future water purchases or building new infrastructure. There are several methods for estimating future water demand; the simplest and most traditional means is to estimate current per-capita water consumption and multiply this by expected future population.
In California, urban per capita water demand has declined dramatically over the past several decades, driven in part by greater uptake of water-efficient devices. These reductions have important implications for estimating future water demand. However, failure to account for the long-term trend of declining per capita water demand can lead to overestimation of future water demand, resulting in costly investments in unneeded infrastructure and new sources of supply.
At the California Irrigation Institute’s annual conference held in February of 2021, Heather Cooley, Director of Research for the Pacific Institute, shared some of the research the Institute has done evaluating urban and agricultural water use in California.
Click here to read this article.
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
WATER PLAN eNEWS: ~~Delta Tool~ Drought Mitigation~ SWP Briefings~ UWMP Materials~ Sites Reservoir~ Water Wars~ Resource Planning ~~
