On the calendar today …
- FREE WEBINAR: Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Science and Management Series: What is Traditional Ecological Knowledge? from 10:30am to 11:10am. California Salmon and Humboldt State University – Native American Studies are hosting an education series on Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Science and Management. All webinars will feature traditional practitioners, scientists and managers from Tribes from across Northern California. Students and adults are encouraged to participate during the zoom. All webinars will feature traditional practitioners, scientists and managers from Tribes from across Northern California. This session: Brittani Orona, Hupa/Save California Salmon/UC Davis and Ron Reed, Karuk Time. Register at: http://tinyurl.com/scsTEKseries.
- FREE WEBINAR: Traditional Ecological Knowledge Science & Management Webinar Series: Fires & Forests from 11:30 to 12:10pm. California Salmon and Humboldt State University – Native American Studies are hosting an education series on Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Science and Management. All webinars will feature traditional practitioners, scientists and managers from Tribes from across Northern California. Students and adults are encouraged to participate during the zoom. All webinars will feature traditional practitioners, scientists and managers from Tribes from across Northern California. This session: Ali Meders-Knight, Mechoopda Master Traditional Ecological Practitioner; Margo Robbins, Yurok/Co-founder & Executive Director of the Cultural Fire Management Council (CFMC). http://tinyurl.com/scsTEKseries
- FREE EVENT: Beaver Dynamics: Ecosystems and Restoration from 1pm to 5pm. Keynote Address: Beavers & Fire Refugia – Emily Fairfax. Beavers, Amphibians and Birds, Human Dimensions of Beaver Management,Beavers, BDAs & Coho Salmon Recovery, and more. Click here for more information and to register.
In California water news today …
SF Baykeeper sues Biden administration to list local longfin smelt as endangered species
“A tiny silver fish few people in the Bay Area have heard of could be a new symbol of the state’s continuing battle over water resources. San Francisco Baykeeper sued the Biden administration on Thursday to list the local population of longfin smelt as an endangered species. The environmental group’s legal action comes nine years after the federal government first declared that the fish warranted that status. Once an important source of food for marine mammals, birds and chinook salmon, the local population of the longfin smelt has dropped by 99.9% since the 1980s. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: SF Baykeeper sues Biden administration to list local longfin smelt as endangered species
Delta tunnel authority changes leaders as Newsom fights the recall by turning to billionaire champions of the project
“The little-known Joint Powers Authority charged with getting the embattled Delta tunnel across its finish line recently changed executive directors, marking an exit for Kathryn Mallon, who had stirred controversy for her exorbitant pay and alleged pressuring of a citizens advisory committee to work through the most dangerous part of the pandemic. Meanwhile, as California Governor Gavin Newsom begins campaigning against the effort to remove him from office, he’s soliciting huge donations from the same south-state barons of agriculture who have promoted the environmentally fraught tunnel concept for years. ... ” Read more from the Sacramento News & Review here: Delta tunnel authority changes leaders as Newsom fights the recall by turning to billionaire champions of the project
California spends $12.8M more on the Salton Sea, finally appoints analyst to study seawater importation
“California remains far behind its targets for addressing exposed playa around the Salton Sea, according to data released in the 2021 Salton Sea Management Program annual report. But state officials expressed optimism in a public workshop that they are finally beginning to catch up to those goals. The state was supposed to implement dust suppression projects or build wetlands habitat across 3,500 acres of exposed playa by the end of 2020 to tamp down dust that’s imbued with a century’s worth of salts, pesticides and other agricultural runoff. Only 755 acres around the mouth of the New River had been completed in that timeframe, although 2020 represented the first year that any state-led dust mitigation projects was finished at the lake. … ” Read more from the Desert Sun here: California spends $12.8M more on the Salton Sea, finally appoints analyst to study seawater importation
Commentary: Silver lining to water woes could be farmers putting their lands to new uses besides crops
Calif. bill to sharply reduce lead leaching from faucets and fixtures passes key committee
“State legislation to set a legally enforceable limit on the amount of lead leaching from drinking water faucets and fixtures passed out of the California Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee on Wednesday. Assembly Bill 100, by Assemblymember Chris Holden (D-Pasadena), would create the nation’s most legally stringent lead leaching standard for faucets – no more than 1 microgram. California would be the first state to pass a performance standard to ensure faucets and fixtures are truly lead-free. Legislators are working with the plumbing industry to also require consumer-friendly labeling of faucets that meet the new standard. … ” Read more from the Environmental Working Group here: Calif. bill to sharply reduce lead leaching from faucets and fixtures passes key committee
Anti-fracking bill could severely curtail oil and gas extraction in California
“California may soon take one of its most aggressive steps yet to fight climate change. A bill before the state Legislature seeks to ban the controversial practice of hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking, in response to a high-profile request by Gov. Gavin Newsom, who last year urged lawmakers to move to halt the fossil fuel extraction technique. But Senate Bill 467 wouldn’t stop there. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Anti-fracking bill could severely curtail oil and gas extraction in California
Calif. bill would ban toxic ‘forever chemicals’ from cookware and food packaging
“State legislation that would ban the toxic “forever chemicals” called PFAS from plant-based food packaging passed out of the California Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee on Wednesday. Assembly Bill 1200, by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), would also require manufacturers to label cookware that contains toxic chemicals, and to publish on their websites a list of those chemicals present in their pots and pans. … ” Read more from the Environmental Working Group here: Calif. bill would ban toxic ‘forever chemicals’ from cookware and food packaging
Cloud-based well controller system provides community water system with pumping control and data collection to meet regulatory reporting
“The City of Tehama, like thousands of other small cities and towns, provides drinking water to roughly 400 people through 195 service connections. According to the US EPA, over 65% of the nation’s nearly 60,000 Community Water Systems deliver potable water to 500 people or fewer. The City obtains drinking water from two groundwater wells that feed into the distribution system via a pair of hydro-pneumatic pressure tanks. Since 2014, the City has been required to report the total volume of water pumped from each well and the highest daily pumping totals under California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). As a small community water system, the City of Tehama did not own any type of SCADA system. … ” Read more from Water & Wastes Digest here: Cloud-based well controller system provides community water system with pumping control and data collection to meet regulatory reporting
Irrigation Innovation Consortium funds seven projects for 2021 (2 in CA)
“The Irrigation Innovation Consortium, a collaboration between Colorado State University and other land-grant universities and industry to accelerate the development and adoption of water- and energy-efficient irrigation technology, is funding seven research projects in 2021. The consortium awarded a total of $533,126 in funding from the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research to selected projects. Through collaboration with partnering institutions and companies, these teams are bringing an additional $979,424 in match funds to support their innovative research and outreach efforts. ... ” Read more from Colorado State University here: Irrigation Innovation Consortium funds seven projects for 2021 (2 in CA)
The precision ag payoff: The environmental benefits of implementing precision agriculture practices and technologies are impressive
“Farmers make huge investments in precision ag technology for various reasons. To improve profitability and yields is key. Environmental benefits also come into play as consumption of chemicals, fuel, fertilizer and energy is decreased. To provide a baseline in quantifying environmental benefits of U.S. precision agriculture, a new study conducted by four agricultural organizations looked at the impact of selected precision ag technologies on productivity and use of fossil fuel, water, fertilizer and herbicide. … The study looked at five precision ag technologies — autoguidance, machine section control, variable rate, machine and fleet analytics, and precision irrigation. It also considered a range of crops — corn, soybeans, cotton, peanuts, wheat, sorghum, tubers, sugarbeets, hay and alfalfa. … ” Read the story at the Western Farm Press here: The precision ag payoff
California unveils sweeping wildfire prevention plan amid record fire losses and drought
“After the worst fire season in California history and as drought conditions raise fears of what’s to come, Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders unveiled a $536-million proposal Thursday to boost efforts at firefighting and a variety of prevention measures, including vegetation management and the construction of fire-resistant structures across the state. The proposal, which the Legislature could send to the governor’s desk as soon as Monday, marks an early agreement by the governor and lawmakers to spend more than half of the $1 billion in wildfire funding Newsom called for in his state budget proposal in January. The gravity of the issue became clear last week after state officials reported the water content in the Sierra Nevada snowpack stood at 59% of the average for early spring. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: California unveils sweeping wildfire prevention plan amid record fire losses and drought
SEE ALSO: California wildfire threat likely to get worse, experts say, from the San Jose Mercury News
In drought and hydrology news …
La Nina is fading but California, Gulf Coast still face risks
“La Nina, the cooling of the equatorial Pacific that shifts weather patterns the world over, is fading away. But California may still be prone to dryness, and the U.S. Gulf Coast faces the risk of another busy hurricane season. Water temperatures in the Pacific Ocean will likely return to normal in the next few months, the U.S. Climate Prediction Center said in a report Thursday. … ” Read more from Bloomberg Green here: La Nina is fading but California, Gulf Coast still face risks
Snow drought current conditions and impacts in the West
“Snow drought conditions that have persisted throughout winter remain locked in place over a large expanse of the Western U.S. during the climatological peak of the snow season. Warm and dry weather over the past week has led to early and accelerated snowmelt throughout the West. The Upper Colorado River Basin–averaged snow water equivalent indicates peak snowpack a week earlier than normal and early, record or near-record melt from March 29–April 5, which raises major concerns for water supply and fire danger heading into the summer. A very similar situation is unfolding throughout the Sierra Nevada that will impact California and western Nevada this summer. … ” Read more from NIDIS here: Snow drought current conditions and impacts in the West
Drought hitting home in California, Arizona
“As drought deepens in the West and the water used by farms and people alike dwindles, farmers in Arizona and California are bracing for cutbacks in the two major federal systems that supply irrigation and drinking water to millions of people. Water storage is shrinking with no snowpack to replenish reservoirs managed by the Bureau of Reclamation in California and Arizona. Shasta Lake in northern California is about half full while lakes Mead and Powell, the two giant reservoirs designed to contain more than 50-million-acre feet of water behind Hoover and Glen Canyon dams, respectively, are precariously low with under 20-million-acre feet of total storage combined. ... ” Read more from the Western Farm Press here: Drought hitting home in California, Arizona
In regional water news and commentary today …
Haaland dives headfirst into Klamath water issues
“Interior Secretary Deb Haaland withdrew a number of Trump-era memoranda concerning the Klamath Project on Thursday, citing a lack of consultation with Klamath Basin tribes, and committed her staff to work with stakeholders on a long-term solution to the Basin’s water crisis. “These documents were issued without government-to-government consultation with affected Tribes and do not reflect the current administration’s goals for long-term water recovery and economic restoration in this region,” Haaland said. “The documents also conflict with longstanding departmental positions and interpretation of governing law and should not be relied upon for any purpose.” … ” Read more from Herald & News here: Haaland dives headfirst into Klamath water issues
SEE ALSO: Secretary Haaland withdraws seven letters regarding Klamath Project issued from Trump Administration; provides statement, from Klamath Falls News
Lack of rain leaving ‘Lake Mendocino like we’ve never seen it before,’ water official warns
“A local water official this week described the current drought conditions as possibly creating the driest year yet for Lake Mendocino. “The data is really pretty stark,” Sean White, director of water and sewer utilities for the city of Ukiah, told the Ukiah City Council Wednesday. “There was no ‘Miracle March’ to change the course of things, and now some of the driest precipitation to date is going to leave Lake Mendocino really like we’ve never seen it – at (maybe) its lowest level since it was built.” … ” Read more from the Ukiah Daily Journal here: Lack of rain leaving ‘Lake Mendocino like we’ve never seen it before,’ water official warns
City of St. Helena fails drinking water standard
“The city of St. Helena’s water system recently failed a drinking water standard, city officials said Thursday evening. “Although this is not an emergency, and our water is safe to drink and use, as our customers, you have a right to know what you should do, what happened, and what we are doing to correct this situation,” said Jo Ann Burkman, acting chief operator for the city’s water division. … ” Read more from The Patch here: City of St. Helena fails drinking water standard
U.S. EPA program funds California watershed restoration
“The California State Water Resources Control Board (the State Board) will use $4.4 million of a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant to fund projects in seven counties around the state. EPA’s Nonpoint Source Program grant assists the State Board in implementing programs to address pollution caused by runoff moving over the ground, known as nonpoint source pollution. The Marin Resource Conservation District was awarded over $700,000 by the State Board for its Conserving Our Watersheds Program. This project helps ranchers within the Point Reyes National Seashore prevent nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment, and bacteria from livestock operations from running off into Tomales Bay. Tomales Bay supports oyster production and recreational activities including kayaking and fishing. … ” Continue reading this press release from the EPA here: U.S. EPA program funds California watershed restoration
Livermore: Zone 7 to oversee the Tri-Valley’s water retailers amid new state water standards
“Zone 7 Water Agency held a virtual workshop April 1 to cover state standards the Tri-Valley’s water retailers are expected to meet. This year marks the deadline for water retailers to prepare plans for 2021 through 2040. The state expects adoption by July this year. As the Tri-Valley’s water wholesaler, Zone 7 is not required to meet the standards. Instead, it will act as a supervisory entity, ensuring retailers are prepared to meet water demands. … ” Read more from the Livermore Independent here: Zone 7 to oversee the Tri-Valley’s water retailers amid new state water standards
Hanford: Hurtado seeks district ideas to shape response to drought
“With California water allocations slashed to only 5 percent following another dry winter, Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger) announced that she is seeking ideas from her Central Valley constituents for ways that California can conserve water and remain resilient in the face of devastating drought conditions. “California needs our best ideas, and no region is affected by drought more than the Central Valley – our families and farmers power the greatest agricultural region in the world,” Hurtado said. “I’m asking the residents of Senate District 14 to share their policy ideas and budget suggestions for how we cope with reduced water. We can overcome these difficult times, but only when we hear from all Californians.” … ” Read more from the Hanford Sentinel here: Hurtado seeks district ideas to shape response to drought
Salas announces over $6M in water improvements for Stratford
“Assemblymember Rudy Salas (D-Bakersfield) applauded the decision by the State Water Resources Control Board to award the City of Stratford with $6,568,100 in financing for the Stratford Public Utility District’s Wastewater Facilities Improvement Project, which will help build a new treatment and disposal system that is affordable to ratepayers and addresses aging infrastructure to ensure proper management of the facility, according to a release. … ” Read more from the Hanford Sentinel here: Salas announces over $6M in water improvements for Stratford
San Luis Obispo County sticks with plan for new Paso Robles water basin rules
“San Luis Obispo County supervisors are proceeding with a new regulatory framework for pumping water in the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin that organized agriculture opposes. The Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 on April 6 to move ahead on an environmental impact report for a proposed ordinance that would replace the existing ordinance, which essentially prohibits increased pumping from the struggling North County aquifer. The new ordinance would allow a higher level of groundwater use for hopeful small farmers—allowing up to 25 acre-feet per year of unchecked pumping per property, instead of the 5 acre-feet per year currently allowed. ... ” Read more from New Times SLO here: San Luis Obispo County sticks with plan for new Paso Robles water basin rules
Santa Barbara County’s 10-year rainfall average at ‘all-time low’
“With drought-like conditions looming large over the entire state, Santa Barbara County is reporting its lowest 10-year average for rainfall ever. “We’re at an all-time low,” said Tom Fayram, county Water Agency director. Fayram acknowledged the numbers are less dramatic if only the last seven years are counted. Two weeks ago, statewide managers of the State Water Project put participating water agencies on notice they could count on deliveries of only 5 percent of the water to which they are contractually entitled. For agencies south of the Sacramento Delta, they were told they could not expect even that “until further notice.” … ” Read more from the Santa Barbara Independent here: Santa Barbara County’s 10-year rainfall average at ‘all-time low’
Drought conditions worsen in Ventura after prolonged warm, dry weather
“Ventura County has moved into severe drought conditions as it wraps up what is typically the rainiest months of the year. The U.S. Drought Monitor released new maps Thursday downgrading the area’s designation from “moderate” to “severe” and showing nearly all of California in moderate drought or worse. Precipitation shortfalls and high temperatures reduced streamflows, dried out soils and stressed vegetation throughout the state, according to the National Drought Mitigation Center’s weekly update. Reservoirs have shrunk and, locally, Lake Casitas stood at just 38.5% of its full capacity this week. … ” Read more from the Ventura County Star here: Drought conditions worsen in California after prolonged warm, dry weather
Sun Valley recycling company ordered to stop polluting area
“The California Department of Toxic Substances Control announced Thursday that state regulators ordered Express Metals Recycling in Sun Valley to stop releasing hazardous waste and is seeking penalties of up to $25,000 per violation. The facility, which is operated by CSC Auto Salvage and Dismantling Inc., sorts and stockpiles metal waste, such as old appliances, for shipment to buyers. DTSC took soil samples at the site and allegedly found elevated levels of contaminants — including cadmium, lead, mercury and zinc — which can have harmful effects on people, particularly children. … ” Read more from the LA Daily News here: Sun Valley recycling company ordered to stop polluting area
Huntington Beach: Restoration within Upper Magnolia Marsh approved with conditions
“On March 10 the California Coastal Commission approved, with conditions, an application for the restoration and removal of a Plains All American Pipeline within the Upper Magnolia Marsh. The application was approved with a series of eight conditions that ranged from providing a nesting bird survey 72 hours before construction during the bird breeding season to construction and liability responsibilities for impacts on threatened and/or endangered species. … ” Read more from The Log here: Huntington Beach: Restoration within Upper Magnolia Marsh approved with conditions
Rancho Water awarded FEMA grant for Vail Dam rehab
“Grant funding of nearly $3.5 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will allow Phase 1 of a rehabilitation project at Vail Dam to begin immediately, the Rancho California Water District (Rancho Water) has announced. The grant will fund up to 75% of Phase 1 of the Vail Dam Hazard Mitigation project which includes pre-construction activities such as design, environmental compliance, and permitting to upgrade the dam at Vail Lake located east of Temecula. … ” Read more from International Water & Power here: Rancho Water awarded FEMA grant for Vail Dam rehab
San Diego: Water agencies in rural Fallbrook and Rainbow move forward with plans to leave County Authority
“The water agencies in Fallbrook and Rainbow announced Thursday they will move forward with an effort to leave the San Diego County Water Authority and join the Eastern Municipal Water District in southwest Riverside County. The two agencies say current water rates are decimating agriculture in the rural North County area and there is limited connection with the main water supply network in the rest of San Diego County. As a result, the agencies say, Fallboook and Rainbow residents don’t benefit from expensive projects like the Carlsbad desalination plant and San Vicente dam raising that free San Diego from full reliance on the Colorado River. … ” Read more from the Times of San Diego here: San Diego: Water agencies in rural Fallbrook and Rainbow move forward with plans to leave County Authority
San Diego to re-evaluate La Jolla’s water needs before proceeding with reservoir replacement project
“After a series of meetings, the La Jolla View Reservoir project is taking a brief hiatus so the scope of what will be needed from La Jolla’s next reservoir can be determined. New findings are expected to be released in mid- to late April. The project would replace the 720,000-gallon, above-ground La Jolla View Reservoir water storage tank and the 990,000-gallon, partially above ground Exchange Place Reservoir with one new 3.1-million-gallon underground reservoir in La Jolla Heights Natural Park above the La Jolla Country Club area. … ” Read more from the La Jolla Light here: San Diego to re-evaluate La Jolla’s water needs before proceeding with reservoir replacement project
Port of San Diego’s native oyster living shoreline project awarded nearly $1 million grant
“The Native Oyster Living Shoreline Project, a partnership of the Port of San Diego and California Coastal Conservancy, has been awarded a $960,533 grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The grant is one of eight Coastal Wetlands Conservation Projects selected as part of the Service’s National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grants Program for 2021. “We are honored to be among other great projects that received grant funding for wetlands restorations and enhancements throughout California,” said Chairman Michael Zucchet, Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners, in a March 12 released statement. … ” Read more from The Log here: Port of San Diego’s native oyster living shoreline project awarded nearly $1 million grant
Along the Colorado River …
The drought’s getting worse, particularly in the Southwest, says new study
“Drought conditions in the West, particularly the desert Southwest, have intensified over the past 45 years, with less precipitation and longer and more frequent dry spells between storms, a new study says. The Southwestern deserts that include Tucson were slammed the hardest by far, the study found. Annual precipitation in our region dropped by eight times more than in the West as a whole from 1976 to 2019. The total decline of 3.2 inches in the Southwest compared to 0.4 inches regionwide. … ” Read more from Tucson.com here: The drought’s getting worse, particularly in the Southwest, says new study
In the West, signs in the snow warn that a 20-year drought will persist and intensify
“Lack of monsoon rainfall last summer and spotty snowfall this winter combined to worsen the Western drought dramatically in the past year, and spring snowmelt won’t bring much relief. Critical April 1 measurements of snow accumulations from mountain ranges across the region show that most streams and rivers will once again flow well below average levels this year, stressing ecosystems and farms and depleting key reservoirs that are already at dangerously low levels. As the climate warms, it’s likely that drought conditions will worsen and persist across much of the West. Dry spells between downpours and blizzards are getting longer, and snowpack in the mountains is starting to melt during winter, new research shows. The warming atmosphere may also be suppressing critical summer rains from the western monsoon. … ” Read more from Inside Climate News here: In the West, signs in the snow warn that a 20-year drought will persist and intensify
When water is scarce, some researchers go underground to find out why
“When it comes to water in the West, a lot of it is visible. Snow stacks up high in the mountains then eventually melts and flows down into valleys. It’s easy to see how heavy rains and rushing rivers translate into an abundance of available water. But another important factor of water availability is much harder to see. Beneath the surface, the amount of moisture held in the ground can play a big role in how much water makes it down to rivers and reservoirs – and eventually into the pipes that feed homes and businesses. … ” Read more from Utah Public Radio here: When water is scarce, some researchers go underground to find out why
Drought and dry soils again will diminish Colorado’s spring runoff
“Water forecasting agencies in Colorado have released their April streamflow predictions, confirming what many already knew: Drought and dry soils will diminish rivers this spring. “The main story of this water supply outlook season is the effect of last year’s drought going into winter,” said Karl Wetlaufer, a hydrologist and assistant supervisor with the Natural Resources Conservation Service Colorado Snow Survey. “We are anticipating significantly lower runoff compared with the snowpack because we entered winter with such dry conditions that the soils are going to have to soak up a ton of moisture before it actually makes it through the system into the river.” … ” Read more from Aspen Journalism here: Drought and dry soils again will diminish Colorado’s spring runoff
In national water news today …
Winter storm most costly ever as drought expands in the West
“The winter storm that choked power from much of Texas while killing at least 136 people will preliminarily cost the United States more than $10 billion, making it the most costly winter storm in U.S. history, according to a report released Thursday by the National Centers for Environmental Information. While Texas was the epicenter of the winter storm, more than a dozen other states also sustained costly damage to their infrastructure. Despite this cold snap that persisted into spring, March temperatures were above average throughout the contiguous United States, falling in the upper third of the 127-year old record. ... ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service here: Winter storm most costly ever as drought expands in the West
Federal agencies plan to investigate links between PFAS exposure and viral illness
“Two federal health agencies are planning to investigate potential links between exposure to toxic PFAS chemicals and susceptibility to viral illnesses like Covid-19. The study would build on federally funded investigations of PFAS exposure in nine communities near U.S. military bases where the chemicals were found in drinking water. Researchers hope to enroll 4,075 people from those previous investigations in the new assessment. A collaboration between the National Center for Environmental Health and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, the study will be based on health questionnaires sent to people who have already had blood samples drawn for the PFAS exposure assessments. … ” Read more from the Circle of Blue here: Federal agencies plan to investigate links between PFAS exposure and viral illness
Having your desalination and eating it, too
“Residents of the parched, volcanic Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago in the North Atlantic, have relied heavily on desalination to supplement their scant fresh water for the past 50 years. But there is growing evidence that plumes of waste brine from the hundreds of desalination plants on the islands are destroying seagrass along the coastline by reducing photosynthesis, and leaf and root growth. The waste brine—a toxic mix of concentrated seawater, acids, and biocides—also depletes oxygen in the seawater. Aware of the critical role of seagrass in the marine ecosystem, David Jiménez-Arias, an agrobiotechnologist at the Spanish National Research Council, has been leading a project to reduce the amount of brine dumped into the ocean by recycling it as plant food. His team has designed and piloted a process to produce a mineral solution from recycled brine, and used it to grow hydroponic tomatoes. … ” Read more from Hakai Magazine here: Having your desalination and eating it, too
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
SCIENCE NEWS: Reopening a NorCal creek to steelhead; It’s tern up time in CA; How 100-year old salmon scales help better manage salmon populations; and more …
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